Researchers measured aerosols in clean marine conditions and under polluted conditions, revealing large concentrations of particulate material including mineral dust. The findings will help reduce uncertainties in global climate models and develop better policies.
A study by NASA researchers found that the eastern U.S. has cooled by 0.1° Celsius per decade, contrasting with global warming. The researchers attribute this cooling to increased cloud cover caused by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific.
A Penn State researcher has created a model that explains why flowering plants in Norway bloom earlier after warmer winters. The study incorporates biological factors and provides insight into the ecological responses to climate change.
Researchers at MIT found that urban air pollution will not have a big effect on global temperature change, with some regional effects possible. The study used a new method to couple urban air chemistry models with global climate models, allowing for more accurate predictions.
The Geophysical Fluid Flow Cell experiment simulated Earth's climate, the Sun's atmosphere, and other planets' atmospheres in microgravity. Scientists created models of fluid flows in planetary atmospheres using a nickel-coated steel ball, silicone oil, and artificial gravity.
A Penn State meteorologist suggests that tilt is the key to understanding both the Faint Young Sun problem and the Snowball Earth problem, proposing a solution where the Earth's axis is tilted at 70 degrees. This theory could potentially explain why the Earth was warmer in the early Precambrian despite a weaker sun.
Arctic sea ice has been declining at an alarming rate, with a downward trend of 37,000 square kilometers per year over the past 19.4 years. A new study suggests that human-induced global warming may be contributing to this decline.
Researchers used a computer climate model to find that vegetation interactions significantly drive the Sahel region's drought. The study suggests that natural vegetation causes enhanced drying, leading to cooler climates and reduced rainfall.
Ship emissions of nitrogen oxides can increase ozone concentrations by twofold and hydroxyl radical levels fivefold, resulting in a cooling effect on the atmosphere. This has significant implications for future international policy decisions regarding atmospheric change.
German scientists used a climate model to conclude that the Sahara's desertification began abruptly 5,440 years ago due to subtle changes in Earth's orbit. The resulting desertification had significant impacts on ancient civilizations, with some of the most severe changes occurring between 4,000 and 3,600 years ago.
Northern Hemisphere winters have warmed by up to nine degrees Fahrenheit over the last 30 years, likely due to human activities increasing greenhouse gases. Warmer winters will bring more wet weather to Europe and Western North America.
Climate models project a 23-30% decline in mountain snowpack by 2025, and up to 61% by 2095. This could drastically alter hydrology and water resource management in the region.
The regional climate change model suggests a 50% decrease in snow cover over Washington state and warmer temperatures, while also increasing winter precipitation. The impacts on water resources could be significant, with less snow melt in the spring and reduced stream flow for irrigation.
An international team of scientists, led by Colorado State University's Scott Denning, aims to resolve the mystery of the 'missing sink' that absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The TransCom3 project will use advanced modeling techniques and data analysis to narrow down the location and mechanisms of this natural process.
A new statistical analysis of 115 years of global temperature data strengthens the argument that human-caused emissions are warming the earth's atmosphere. The study found strong year-to-year correlations between actual temperature data and simulations from two leading computer models, indicating a consistent long-term trend.
A new computer model predicts that climate events like El Nino can affect Aedes aegypti mosquito populations, potentially leading to outbreaks of dengue disease. The model takes into account climatic variables such as precipitation, temperature, and humidity to forecast population booms and peaks.
Researchers at Penn State used global and regional climate models to investigate climate change differences. They found that regional models produced warmer temperatures, leading to more rain and less snowfall in the Northeastern United States.
A computer model developed by Penn State researchers can predict the probability of land use change and microclimate formation in urban areas. The model uses satellite image data to calculate land use types, vegetation, and surface climate parameters, providing insights into urban growth and its impact on local liveability.
A new Yale University study estimates the lifetime economic cost of each person to society, taking into account global warming and other factors. The study suggests that the shadow price of a person comes out to about 30% of per capita Gross Domestic Product.
Scientists argue that computer models and satellites are useful tools, but only when their limitations are well understood. They found that most of the difference between MSU and surface trends could be explained by two significant drops in MSU data for 1981 and 1991.
Using NCAR computer models of climate and vegetation, Benjamin Felzer found which plant types ancestors would have walked among during the last glacial maximum. The model reveals a global picture of vegetation 21,000 years ago, with significant changes in central Asia and Africa.