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American Geophysical Union


Novel spots found on Jupiter

Researchers have found unexpected luminous spots on Jupiter's atmosphere caused by the moon Io's volcanic eruptions. The discovery challenges previous models of the Io footprint and reveals a new interpretation where beams of electrons travel from one hemisphere to another.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 17, 2008

AGU journal highlights -- Feb. 26, 2008

A study on Mercury's gravity reveals a comet-like tail extending over 2.5 million kilometers away from the planet. Meanwhile, research finds that rising carbon dioxide levels are linked to increased ground-level ozone concentrations, harming lung function and respiratory systems.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 26, 2008

AGU journal highlights -- Feb. 13, 2008

Researchers investigate anorthosites as a forgotten source of planetary magnetic anomalies, finding strong signatures of the Earth's magnetic field direction in ancient rocks. Another study proposes that gas hydrates in shallow marine sediments are the dominant source of methane in ice core records. A third study explores the feasibili...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 13, 2008

AGU journal highlights -- Jan. 28, 2008

Scientists have found that snow accumulation in western Antarctica has doubled since the 1850s, with a shift in atmospheric circulation patterns contributing to the increase. In contrast, larch trees are benefiting from warmer climates, with fire return intervals decreasing due to their dependence on fires for seed germination. Researc...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 28, 2008

AGU Journal highlights -- Jan. 10, 2008

Saturn's rings exhibit fine-scale structures with periodic radial variation in optical depth, while daily fluctuations in streamflow can be influenced by flow velocity. Internal waves in the Pacific Ocean are also studied for their impact on oceanic mixing and energy transport.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 14, 2008

AGU journal highlights -- Dec. 31, 2007

Researchers isolated the signal of ocean global warming by analyzing historical temperature records. Volcanic loading in Hawaii triggered earthquakes with divergent mechanisms. Climate scientists found anticorrelated precipitation patterns between China and Brazil, suggesting oceanic circulation triggers abrupt climate events.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 31, 2007

AGU journal highlights -- Sept. 6, 2007

Researchers have made significant discoveries in the AGU journal, including a new understanding of booming sand dunes, a reduction in the North Asian monsoon's incursion since AD 1400, and improvements in global ocean analysis. The study on booming sand dunes reveals that sound waves channeled through the dune amplify as they construct...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 9, 2007

AGU Journal Highlights -- Aug. 14, 2007

Recent tsunami and storm events, such as the 2004 Sumatra tsunami, caused widespread damage along North America's Atlantic coast. In contrast, the Antarctic Bottom Water has warmed within recent decades, with temperatures rising by 0.0028ºC each year. Additionally, climate changes around 8,200 years ago were linked to the final drainag...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 14, 2007

AGU Journal Highlights -- July 12, 2007

Scientists analyze data from the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Moon's surface to predict tropical cyclone development, assess ocean temperature and salinity changes, develop new tsunami forecasting methods, and understand lunar surface composition. These findings shed light on the impacts of climate change on extreme weather e...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 12, 2007

AGU Journal Highlights -- June 7, 2007

Climate researchers predict salt marshes in Venice Lagoon may not survive future climate changes due to increased sea-level rise. Meanwhile, scientists have observed high-speed streams of charged particles called sprites, which blaze at incredible brightness and brief duration. The Amazon rainforest also emits large amounts of methane,...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 8, 2007

AGU Journal Highlights -- May 16, 2007

The Three Gorges Dam in China is shrinking the Yangtze delta due to sediment retention. Meanwhile, a new model suggests that massive methane releases from Arctic permafrost are unlikely in this century. Satellite data also reveals complex flood wave patterns in the Amazon River, which can improve hazard identification. Additionally, hi...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 16, 2007

AGU Journal Highlights -- May 3, 2007

A new report suggests that ocean warming may cause changes to the planet's rotation, potentially shortening the length of day by approximately 0.12 milliseconds. Additionally, researchers have found a link between seasonal seismicity in the Himalayas and fluid infiltration, which could modulate earthquake generation.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 3, 2007

AGU Journal Highlights -- April 16, 2007

Scientists have discovered that earthquake-induced gravity field changes can slowly recover to initial conditions, possibly due to simultaneous diffusion of mantle water. This self-healing system could significantly reduce permanent shifts in the Earth's rotation axis by earthquakes. Meanwhile, recent trends in Arctic Ocean mass distri...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 16, 2007

AGU Journal highlights -- March 21, 2007

A burst of protons from the Sun in 1859 caused unprecedented ozone destruction, with energy released six times larger than a 1989 solar flare. Simultaneously, research suggests that ancient Farallon plate movement may have triggered massive earthquakes in the central US, shedding light on seismic hazards.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 21, 2007

AGU Journal highlights -- February 23, 2007

A new satellite method has overcome an obstacle to measuring atmospheric water vapor, providing valuable insights for studying climate and weather. Meanwhile, researchers suggest that irrigation may be causing regional cooling that masks the effects of greenhouse gas warming in certain regions.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 23, 2007

AGU journal highlights -- Feb. 1, 2007

Researchers modeled Martian radiation environment to determine if life can survive; three-dimensional models improve predictions for glacial isostatic adjustments. A new method using seismic noise images volcanoes in three dimensions, offering improved volcanic hazard assessment.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 1, 2007

AGU journal highlights -- Jan. 2, 2007

Researchers studied the effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption on Earth's climate, finding that natural aerosols have a cooling effect and that coupled climate models should be tested for their response times. Additionally, scientists investigated the link between Antarctic and Indian Ocean temperatures, suggesting Subantarctic Mode Wate...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 2, 2007

AGU journal highlights -- Dec. 19, 2006

Scientists analyzed data from a devastating 2006 Java earthquake that triggered a tsunami, leading to the development of an early warning system for earthquakes. Researchers also studied tectonic processes causing subsidence in Louisiana, while investigating ways to monitor volcanic explosivity through ground deformation near vents.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 19, 2006

AGU journal highlights -- Nov. 6, 2006

Two studies show that land surface evaporation increased during the second half of the 20th century. Researchers also found a more stable geomagnetic field with greater symmetry, while a third study analyzed the October 2005 Pakistan earthquake and found shallow slip with structural control.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 6, 2006

AGU journal highlights -- Oct. 11, 2006

Researchers found a connection between Antarctic ice sheet mass balance and weather systems worldwide, suggesting that storms in the Pacific Ocean may influence calving and iceberg breakup. This discovery provides new insights into past climate shifts and potential mechanisms linking global climate and weather patterns.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 11, 2006

AGU Journal highlights -- Sept. 18, 2006

Researchers found that plasmaspheric drainage plumes can overload the dayside reconnection site, reducing solar wind coupling and influencing auroral activity. Climate models also predict increased carbon emissions due to rising temperatures, especially in southern regions of the US. Additionally, remote wind forcing played a role in t...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 18, 2006

AGU Journal highlights -- Aug. 29, 2006

Climate scientists analyzed data to determine that global warming is increasing Atlantic hurricane intensity. Additionally, the water cycle is changing, with seasonal trends shifting into spring. The study also found a connection between atmospheric tides and weather in the tropics influencing the equatorial ionosphere.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 29, 2006

AGU journal highlights -- August 1, 2006

Research papers explore the effects of glacier shrinkage on alpine uplift, challenge previous theories on the mantle transition zone, and use stratospheric oxygen/nitrogen ratios to constrain carbon uptake budgets by the biosphere and ocean. Mineral dust aerosol emission is also enhanced by electric forces.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 1, 2006

AGU journal highlights -- 24 July 2006

Researchers found Alpine glaciers lost 35% of surface area between 1850-1970, with potential disappearance by 2100 under 3 degree Celsius warming. Meanwhile, weekly wobble in Earth's rotation pole was observed and predicted using atmospheric models, explaining centimeter-level displacements during the 2005-2006 winter season.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 24, 2006

AGU journal highlights -- 23 June 2006

Researchers studied particle flow inside coronal streamers to understand space weather hazards. Turbulence within an oceanic mixed layer was found to inhibit sedimentation of planktonic particles. Zonal currents in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean were observed to flip direction, affecting water transport and zonal mass balance.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 23, 2006

Hurricanes and the US Gulf Coast

The American Geophysical Union convened an interdisciplinary conference to discuss the science behind hurricane protection and rebuilding on the US Gulf Coast. Key findings include the need for improved seasonal forecasts, better wind data, and enhanced shoreline topography to simulate storm surge and flooding probabilities.

AGU journal highlights - 31 May 2006

Research papers in Geophysical Research Letters highlight climate change impacts on Mars, with data from orbiting spacecraft and rovers revealing a hemispheric dichotomy. In the Arctic, sea ice reduction is linked to inflows from the Pacific Ocean, while the Indian Ocean experiences decadal variability in its circulation. Scientists st...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 31, 2006

AGU journal highlights - 4 May 2006

Research papers highlight the influence of Himalayan topography on monsoon rainfall and reveal self-gravity wakes in Saturn's A ring. Additionally, studies show complex ion chemistry on Titan's nightside and suggest ammonia ions in Titan's ionosphere.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 4, 2006

AGU journal highlights - 10 April 2006

Research papers in Geophysical Research Letters and Paleoceanography reveal the connection between terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and intracloud lightning, as well as the potential of dinoflagellate microfossils to document past climate changes. The findings suggest that these marine organisms can provide valuable information on ocean c...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 10, 2006

AGU journal highlights - 31 March 2006

Research papers predict increased solar flares and storms due to enhanced solar radiation. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is expected to strengthen with climate change induced by increasing greenhouse gases. Deep atmospheric convection enhances natural greenhouse gas feedbacks, leading to an amplified positive water vapor effect.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 31, 2006