Articles tagged with Atmosphere
Geologists at MIT identified ancient tectonic collisions as the trigger for two ice ages, 80 million and 50 million years ago. The collisions exposed rock to the atmosphere, leading to chemical reactions that absorbed large amounts of carbon dioxide.
A class of super-Earths with gaseous atmospheres is stripped away due to intense stellar radiation. This phenomenon occurs when planets lie close to their host stars, resulting in the loss of planetary 'envelopes', according to a new study.
A new study suggests that global climate models have underestimated the impact of clouds on warming, leading to lower projections. Clouds and aerosol particles significantly influence atmospheric temperatures, and recent data show that certain ice formation processes are less common than previously thought.
Researchers found that atmospheric circulation patterns, including the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge, are more frequent in recent decades, increasing the risk of drought. The study also showed that temperature plays a significant role in drought development.
A new study has mapped the climate patterns on a super-Earth planet, revealing a significant temperature difference between its dayside and nightside. The research found that processes similar to those on Earth, such as high winds or lava flows, are at work on this distant world.
A new study of the young, Sun-like star Kappa Ceti found that a magnetic field played a key role in making a planet conducive to life. The presence of such a field helped shield the atmosphere from intense stellar winds and superflares.
A new climate model developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison can better predict changes to the ocean-carbon sink, a crucial factor in understanding future climate change. The improved predictive capacity allows scientists to distinguish human-induced effects from natural variability.
Astronomers have measured the rotation rate of a massive exoplanet using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, revealing patchy and colorless cloud layers. The super-Jupiter completes one rotation every 10 hours, similar to Jupiter, with temperatures reaching 2,200-2,600 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using video footage and geodesic Lagrangian coherent structures theory, researchers found unsteady material transport barriers surrounding Jupiter's Great Red Spot and jet streams. This analysis enhances knowledge of the planet's atmosphere, with potential applications in oceanography, meteorology, and environmental monitoring.
Fiamma Straneo has been chosen by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for the Sverdrup Lecture, a top honor in ocean sciences. Her research focuses on the role of high-latitude oceans in climate change and ice sheet dynamics.
A new study shows the Arctic tundra now releases more carbon than it gains during winter, resulting in a net loss to the atmosphere. Meanwhile, a training initiative in Europe supports young atmospheric researchers with unique skills and collaboration opportunities.
Researchers at University College London have detected hydrogen and helium gases in the atmosphere of a super-Earth called 55 Cancri e. The discovery reveals clues about the planet's formation, evolution, and composition, with potential implications for understanding carbon-rich atmospheres.
A study by Duke University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory finds that global temperature remains stable in the long run due to the Planck Response and other mechanisms. Natural climate cycles alone are insufficient to explain large, sustained changes in global temperature.
Scientists at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found a unique relationship between summer insolation and atmospheric CO2 that explains past eight ice ages. Moderate human interference with the planet's natural carbon balance can postpone the next glacial inception by up to 100,000 years.
Cheyenne will be a critical tool for researchers studying climate change, severe weather, and other important geoscience topics. The new system will help scientists lay the groundwork for improved predictions of various phenomena, including thunderstorm outbreaks and solar cycles.
A UCL-led study reveals that oxygen levels in oceans and atmosphere rose to support animal life 100 million years earlier than previously thought. This finding suggests that increased oxygen may have kick-started early animal evolution, rather than a change in animal behavior.
Researchers at UTA are analyzing the energy entering the upper atmosphere following space weather events to refine models used for satellite trajectory forecasting. Current estimates can be off by as much as 100%, resulting in an error of up to 30% in tracking satellites.
Astronomers have studied ten hot Jupiter-sized exoplanets in detail using Hubble and Spitzer telescopes. The results show that planetary atmospheres are more diverse than expected, with some planets containing clouds and haze that hide water from view. This solves the mystery of why some exoplanets appear to have less water than expected.
A team of astronomers has solved the long-standing mystery of missing water in hot Jupiter-sized exoplanets by analyzing atmospheric data from NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. The study found that cloudy atmospheres are responsible for hiding water, ruling out dry hot Jupiters.
Scientists have finally shed light on the atmospheres of a group of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. A team of experts analyzed observations from NASA and ESA telescopes, revealing that water was hidden by haze and cloud on some hot-Jupiter exoplanets.
Researchers found that most climate models underestimate the increase in absorption of sunlight by water vapor, leading to overestimation of global precipitation. The team's study suggests that improving radiation representation in models can lead to more accurate predictions of future precipitation change.
Researchers found clouds in Arctic warming surface, especially in fall and winter, contrary to previous expectations. The warm air's insulating properties allow clouds to amplify regional warming, making the situation even hotter.
A new study by Princeton University researchers suggests that warmer nights may lead to more carbon being released into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. The research found a strong correlation between tropical nighttime temperatures and variations in plant respiration rates, which produce carbon dioxide.
Researchers found that arsenic concentrations in ancient oceans varied greatly over time, coinciding with the rise and fall of atmospheric oxygen and global glaciations. This suggests that ocean toxicity played a significant role in shaping the evolution of complex life on Earth.
A new study analyzing data from 1901 to 2008 found that dams and irrigation significantly raise the global human consumption of freshwater by increasing evapotranspiration. The study's results indicate a 20% increase in the global human freshwater footprint, corresponding to around 4,370 km3 per year.
Climate change impacts on global food security are projected to be larger in tropical and subtropical regions due to changes in crop and livestock productivity. The report warns that warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns can disrupt transportation systems, degrade food safety, and threaten food production.
A new study suggests that vast quantities of radiation from superflaring Red Dwarf stars like Kepler-438 can strip away an atmosphere and make a planet uninhabitable. The energy released by each superflare is equivalent to 100 billion megatons of TNT, posing a significant threat to life on Earth-like planets.
Yingcai Zheng, an assistant professor at the University of Houston, has received the 2015 J. Clarence Karcher Award for his significant contributions to exploration geophysics. His research focuses on characterizing fractured reservoirs, a key area of study in the field.
A new technique allows for faster monitoring of magnetic field changes before solar flares, providing advance warning of potentially devastating space storms. The method, developed by Queen's University Belfast, enables scientists to examine the precursors responsible for destructive space weather.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have created the first ever weather map of a planet outside our solar system, revealing wind speeds of over 2km per second. The winds on exoplanet HD 189733b are 20 times faster than the fastest recorded on Earth.
The discovery of GJ 1132b, a rocky planet orbiting a red dwarf star, has sparked excitement among astronomers. With temperatures potentially conducive to hosting an atmosphere, this planet is close enough (39 light-years away) to be studied in detail with the Hubble Space Telescope and future observatories.
A computer model developed by University of Hawaii researchers can accurately forecast the movement of vog around the state, posing a serious threat to health and ecosystems. The model uses sulfur dioxide emissions and wind predictions to provide near-real-time forecasts.
A new study using state-of-the-art computer models finds that most aerosol species will increase under climate change associated with greenhouse-gas-induced warming. This could lead to reduced air quality and increased atmospheric aerosols, outweighing the decrease in precipitation in certain regions.
Researchers study past abrupt climatic changes in North Atlantic and find global impacts, highlighting ocean and atmosphere coupling. They confirm 'bipolar ocean seesaw' concept and warn of climate instability triggered by forcing the climate system into a different state.
The Martian atmosphere is losing gas to space via stripping by the solar wind, with erosion rates increasing significantly during solar storms. Researchers have determined that almost 75% of escaping ions come from Mars' tail region.
NASA's MAVEN mission has determined that Mars is losing gas to space via stripping by the solar wind, a process that may have contributed to the planet's dry climate. The research suggests that powerful solar storms can accelerate this process, potentially playing a significant role in changing Mars' climate over billions of years.
A study by University of Miami researchers found a weakening of the Walker circulation due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, leading to changes in rainfall patterns. The analysis used historical cloud cover observations as a proxy for wind velocity in climate models.
A new study reveals the source of near-annual pressure and wind changes in the Southeast Asian Monsoon system, attributing them to El Niño's interaction with solar radiation. The research demonstrates that these oscillations are more predictable than previously assumed and provide a new mechanism for understanding climate phenomena.
Data from New Horizons' flyby of Pluto suggest the dwarf planet has been frequently resurfaced by erosion or crustal recycling. The study also reveals large regions of differing brightness on Pluto's surface, carved out by structures similar to terrestrial glaciers.
A University of Miami-led study suggests the atmosphere drives the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO), a decades-long climate variation affecting global weather patterns. The research finds that atmospheric circulation alone can explain the pattern, without ocean circulation's role.
Researchers used climate models to predict how greenhouse warming could be the source of water on early Mars, which would support a warm and habitable environment. The study found that volcanic fluxes caused by plate tectonics may have led to a high percentage of hydrogen in the atmosphere, driving global warming.
A University of Southampton study suggests that an abrupt collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) could lead to cooling, rather than warming, for a period of 20 years. Global warming would continue after this initial cooling, with a globally averaged temperature offset of about 0.8°C.
A recent study by Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research and Institute of Catalysis and Environment in Lyon reveals that oceans produce significantly more isoprene, a gas formed by both vegetation and oceans. This finding suggests that the climate models need to be improved to accurately predict temperature and precipitation changes.
Copepods, tiny crustaceans that form the base of marine food webs, rely on omega-3s to survive. The new study found that copepods are resilient to short-term climate change but their long-term survival is threatened by reduced food supply.
Researchers from the University of Washington will observe and measure dusty plasmas in Earth's outer atmosphere using a rocket launch. The CAREII mission aims to improve models and understand how dusty plasmas disrupt radio-based communications and tracking systems.
Scientists have discovered a young Jupiter-like exoplanet, 51 Eridani b, with the strongest methane signature ever detected in an alien planet's atmosphere. The exoplanet is roughly twice the mass of Jupiter and offers insights into planet formation and the early stages of star development.
A 700-mile-long airspace has been designated as a Warning Area in the Arctic to facilitate research and exploration while ensuring safety for scientists, oil companies, and pilots. The area will be used for various experiments, including search-and-rescue operations and tracking retreating sea ice.
A team of astronomers led by Gregg Hallinan has discovered that brown dwarfs, which are cool and dim objects, host powerful auroras near their magnetic poles. The findings suggest that these so-called failed stars behave more like giant planets with highly active magnetic fields.
Researchers are working to reduce uncertainty in carbon cycle science by harmonizing data on key components, including Mexico and the US. This will help better understand how diverse regions respond to climate change and improve confidence in models.
Researchers studied extreme precipitation events in coastal regions near warm seas and found a strong link between ocean warming and increased precipitation intensity. The Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean have warmed by about 2C since the early 1980s, leading to more frequent and intense convective storms.
Researchers found a connection between climate and airline flight times, suggesting a feedback loop between carbon emissions and warming climate. The study suggests that climate variability determines flight times, with faster winds resulting in shorter flights and increased fuel consumption.
Researchers reconstructed nearly 300 individual volcanic eruptions, revealing 15 of the 16 coldest summers between 500 BC and 1,000 AD followed large eruptions. The eruptions injected sulfate particles into the atmosphere, shielding the Earth from solar radiation and causing widespread summer cooling.
Leap seconds are added to account for Earth's slow rotation, which has slowed down by about 2 milliseconds per year since the 1820s. The extra second on June 30 helps maintain consistency between the atomic time standard and Coordinated Universal Time.
A Dartmouth-led study suggests that some forestlands may be more valuable without trees, as snow-covered ground can act as a natural mirror to cool the climate. The research highlights the importance of surface reflectivity in forests and its impact on climate change.
Researchers found that jet contrails depress daytime-highs and nighttime-lows, mimicking the effect of ordinary clouds, with a 5-6 degree Fahrenheit reduction in daily temperature range in regions like the South and Midwest.
Researchers at MIT propose that Saturn's polar cyclones are caused by small thunderstorms building up angular momentum, leading to the formation of large and long-lasting vortices. The team developed a model that predicts which planets would form such cyclones based on two parameters: atmospheric energy and storm size.
Researchers found that variations in atmospheric oxygen levels over the past 500 million years may have contributed to changes in global temperatures. The study suggests that lower oxygen concentrations led to higher temperatures and increased precipitation during the Cenomanian time period, a warmest period in the past 100 million years.
Scientists will measure trace gas concentrations, aerosols, and cloud properties in Alaska's North Slope to improve estimates of carbon emissions. The goal is to reduce uncertainty in global climate simulations and projections.
A new study critiques the geological and geophysical evidence supporting competing models for the origin of the Albian Gap, a feature along the Brazilian continental margin. The researchers suggest that much of this evidence is not diagnostic of either model, highlighting the need for a revised understanding of the structure's origin.
The US and Cuba have formed a groundbreaking meteorological partnership after a 20-year process, enabling the sharing of critical weather data and GPS monitoring equipment. This collaboration marks a significant improvement in forecasting accuracy for hurricanes and tropical storms, benefiting both countries.