Articles tagged with Atmosphere
Hubble made its one millionth science observation while analyzing the exoplanet HAT-P-7b's atmosphere, revealing spectroscopic patterns that can indicate water vapor presence. The milestone marks Hubble's continued legacy in characterizing exoplanet atmospheres.
A University of Arizona planetary scientist has determined Neptune's rotation with high accuracy by tracking atmospheric features in its atmosphere. The discovery improves upon previous measurements and provides a better understanding of the planet's fundamental properties.
Researchers have pinned down the timing of the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), an ancient global warming event that occurred around 56 million years ago. The study suggests that the event was triggered by a different mechanism, possibly related to volcanism, rather than cyclic variations in Earth's orbit.
A new study found significant organic material buried in deoxygenated layers of sediment, indicating a mass mortality event in the oceans during a greenhouse effect. The research suggests that subtle changes in temperature and CO2 levels can trigger catastrophic effects on ocean sustainability.
Cities globally are failing to prepare for climate change impacts, despite billions of urban dwellers being vulnerable to heat waves, sea level rise, and other changes. Many cities lack effective strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect residents.
Research suggests that oxygen-depleted waters during the Neoproterozoic era, due to a global ice sheet, may have enabled the survival of early life forms. This harsh climate could have been a vital step in the evolution of animals.
NASA's Glory satellite is scheduled to launch on March 4 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The mission will study the effects of sun particles and aerosols on Earth's climate. The launch also carries three CubeSats, designed and built by university students.
Researchers studying the origin of Earth's first breathable atmosphere have found that ancient plankton played a critical role in providing oxygen. This discovery builds on earlier work that showed a reverse-greenhouse effect cooled the oceans, spawning giant plankton blooms and sending oxygen into the atmosphere.
A UC Santa Cruz scientist is tracking bat populations using mobile storm-chasing radars, revealing insights into their behavior and population changes. The emerging field of aeroecology combines ecology, meteorology, and physics to study the interactions between organisms in the lower atmosphere.
The research aims to mitigate Arctic climate change by reducing black carbon emissions at mid-latitudes and Europe. The study will assess the impact of black carbon on Arctic climate and its links with warming caused by carbon dioxide.
New research from the University of Michigan reveals that decreasing snow and ice cover in the Northern Hemisphere has exacerbated global warming, with a stronger positive feedback mechanism than initially predicted. The study shows that the cryospheric albedo feedback is almost twice as strong as models have simulated, contributing to...
A study found that dust particles in the atmosphere break apart in patterns similar to shattered glass, indicating a higher number of large fragments than previously thought. This discovery has implications for understanding future climate change and improving weather forecasting.
A new study suggests that dust particles in the atmosphere can be used as a predictor of future climate change. The research found that the size distribution of dust particles follows similar patterns to those produced by broken glass and other brittle objects.
Kieran T. Bhatia, a meteorology and physical oceanography doctoral student, has been awarded the 12th annual Alumni Fellow at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School. The fellowship provides tuition and stipend support for his graduate career. Bhatia is working on research related to hurricane dynamics and development.
Researchers measured carbon dioxide fluxes in the North Atlantic using an autonomous system, making nearly 4,000 flux measurements. The study found that formation of bubbles in breaking waves may increase gas transfer at high wind speeds.
The team made the first measurements of GJ 1214b's atmosphere, revealing a featureless spectrum that could be caused by a thick cloud or haze. The data suggests that the atmosphere is either dense with hydrogen or composed of steam vaporized by the nearby star.
A Texas A&M University geoscientist is mapping the meaning of mid-level clouds using NASA satellite data. She aims to develop a common nomenclature for these understudied clouds, which play a crucial role in the climate-change equation. Her research has revolutionized atmospheric studies and will help create more accurate climate models.
More intense storms will occur in the Southern Hemisphere year-round, while the Northern Hemisphere will experience stronger storms during winter and weaker ones in summer. Global warming's effects on storm patterns can lead to increased air pollution and changes in ocean circulation.
A new study predicts widespread droughts across much of the globe within decades, with most of Western Hemisphere and Eurasia at risk. Drought conditions are expected to worsen as warming temperatures lead to reduced rainfall and increased evaporation.
The study predicts that severe and prolonged droughts will affect much of the globe in the next 30 years, with dry conditions increasing substantially across Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and parts of North America. By the end of the century, densely populated regions may face extreme drought conditions.
A UT Dallas professor designed a mass spectrometer that analyzed soil samples from Mars, revealing the ratio of carbon dioxide isotopes and their reaction to volcanic activity. This provides a more complete understanding of the current Martian atmosphere and climate history.
Researchers discover biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles formed from vegetation are solid and glass-like, affecting their ability to absorb water and act as cloud nuclei. This finding redirects the atmospheric fine particle research worldwide.
Research found a decline in global evapotranspiration, a key component of the global climate system, over the past decade, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. The shift coincided with reduced precipitation and increased drought stress on vegetation.
A study published in PNAS reveals that large predatory fish and vascular plants emerged around 400 million years ago, coinciding with a significant increase in oxygen levels. This finding suggests that animals evolved under lower oxygen conditions than previously thought.
The Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (CAICE) will use a wave tank simulator to study aerosol particles' impact on climate. Researchers will add various atmosphere-changing ingredients to measure effects of different variables, aiming to improve representation of aerosol mechanisms in global climate models.
The sun uses its solar wind and ultraviolet radiation to strip Mars' atmosphere, making it cold and dry. MAVEN will examine the ways the sun loses the Martian atmosphere and measure hydrogen isotope ratios to discover how much water has been lost to space.
Researchers have found potassium in the atmosphere of a giant planet, HD 80606 b, using narrow-band transit spectrophotometry. The discovery supports previous computer models and demonstrates the value of this observational technique for characterizing planets that might support life.
Researchers find that increasing Antarctic sea ice extent is due to stabilization of the upper ocean by increased precipitation, which reduces melting from both above and below. Climate models predict faster melting in the future, leading to a potential decrease in sea ice extent.
A new analysis suggests that a prolonged phase of low activity in solar cycle 23 could be caused by changes in the sun's conveyor belt. The study's findings provide insight into factors controlling solar cycles and may lead to improved predictions.
Researchers demonstrate how rain causes air movement that breaks down and builds up cloud walls, forming honeycomb clouds with self-organizing patterns. These clouds cycle regularly due to the interaction between rising and falling air, resulting in shifting showers over time.
A team of researchers has discovered that Saturn's aurora pulses in tandem with its radio emissions, providing a long-suspected link between the two phenomena. The discovery offers new insights into Saturn's irregular heartbeat and has significant implications for understanding the planet's rotation period.
A team of 300 scientists and students from 14 countries drilled over 1.5 miles into the North Greenland ice sheet, recovering ice from the Eemian interglacial period. The cores will provide crucial information on past temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations, helping to predict future climate change.
A new study by Mark Z. Jacobson suggests that reducing soot emissions is the best hope for saving Arctic sea ice within the next two decades. Soot contributes to global warming and kills over 1.5 million people prematurely, but eliminating it could reduce warming above parts of the Arctic Circle in just 15 years.
Researchers found that marine microorganisms are attracted to dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a chemical involved in ocean sulphur and carbon cycles. The team's study visualized microbial behavior for the first time using microfluidic technology, shedding light on the importance of these tiny organisms in climate regulation.
A new study has accurately measured global carbon cycles, enabling more precise predictions of climate change's impact. The research found tropical forests and savannahs are key drivers of carbon dioxide uptake, with precipitation playing a significant role in determining global productivity.
Two international studies reveal the world's plant life inhales an estimated 123 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, with tropical forests accounting for 34% of this uptake. The research also shows that factors like water availability and soil transformations play crucial roles in long-term ecosystem carbon balances.
Researchers at the Carbfix Project have found a way to capture and dissolve CO2 in water, then inject it into basalt rocks where it forms solid carbonates. This method aims to provide a long-term, thermodynamically stable solution for storing excess CO2.
Associate Professor Huiming Bao has published research in Nature about massive volcanic eruptions and their atmospheric consequences. The study used computer models and geological data to simulate the sulfur gas oxidation chemistry and atmospheric conditions of North America long before human activities impacted air quality.
Researchers developed a new model to understand the impact of urbanization on human health and comfort. By analyzing the urban boundary layer in Phoenix, Arizona, they created a framework to predict periods of high particulate pollution and extreme temperature fluctuations.
A breakthrough discovery by Colette Heald simplifies our understanding of atmospheric organic aerosols, a key factor in climate change. By identifying common characteristics among these tiny particles, scientists can now accurately represent their composition in climate models.
Researchers from the University of the Basque Country and American scientists publish first results of a study on the impact of a large-sized celestial body on Jupiter last July. The impact created a massive ash cloud of around 5,000 km in size, with surrounding halo effects.
Researchers verified reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions from Chinese power plants using satellite monitoring. The study also predicts the evolution of central Pacific El Niño events, finding links to thermocline depth and its impact on weather patterns.
A recent study published in Nature found that rapidly melting sea ice is a major cause of warming in the Arctic. The research, conducted by the University of Melbourne, discovered a positive feedback loop between sea ice melting and atmospheric warming, leading to increased warming rates in the region.
Scientists found 7,000 times less methane and plenty of carbon monoxide on GJ 436b, challenging standard chemistry theories about planetary atmospheres. The discovery suggests that scientists should be more flexible in their theories about similar planets.
A new study led by Ohio University scientists suggests that early Native Americans left a bigger carbon footprint than previously thought. By analyzing chemical composition of stalagmites, the researchers found evidence of greenhouse gas emissions due to land use practices such as burning trees for nut production.
Researchers at NCAR suggest that half of the heat believed to have built up on Earth is unaccounted for due to inadequate measurement tools. The scientists call for additional ocean sensors and better data analysis to track the flow of energy through the climate system.
Researchers develop a method to determine wine vintages using radioactive carbon dioxide produced by atomic bomb tests. The technique uses accelerator mass spectrometry to analyze the carbon-14 levels in wine alcohol, allowing for reliable detection of vintage authenticity.
Scientists discover a disused SCUBA tank filled with air in 1968, extending the longest record of greenhouse gases in the Southern Hemisphere. The find uses archived data to analyze propellants, refrigerants and aluminium smelter emissions not widely used in Melbourne at that time.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are studying how increasing carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures may impact atmospheric blocking, a rare but significant weather event. They aim to improve forecasting accuracy by identifying cues that can warn people of long-lasting, severe weather.
Researchers found that small increases in carbon dioxide led to substantial global warming about 4.5 million years ago. Slow changes in ice sheets and other factors amplify the effects of greenhouse gas composition.
PNNL scientists Scott Chambers, Yuehe Lin, Moe Khaleel, Philip Rasch, John Wacker, and Sotiris Xantheas recognized for their groundbreaking research in semiconductors, nanotechnology, computational engineering, climate modeling, nuclear signature analysis, and aqueous systems.
Meteorology Professor Evgeni Fedorovich has been recognized with the Humboldt Research Award for his contributions to fundamental discoveries in atmospheric flow dynamics. He will conduct research on numerical algorithms for simulating turbulent flows in Germany.
Astronomers have discovered a 'super-Earth' orbiting a red dwarf star 40 light-years from Earth. The planet, GJ1214b, is about 6.5 times as massive as the Earth and orbits its star once every 38 hours.
A major study led by Jose-Luis Jimenez from the University of Colorado at Boulder has discovered a common ground in organic material floating through the skies, leading to more accurate predictions of air quality and climate. The finding presents a workable solution that will improve the speed and accuracy of prediction models.
The study documents spatial and temporal distributions of atmospheric CO2 over China, with varying levels of human activity influence. Long-term observations show changes in CO2 mixing ratios at multiple sites, shedding light on carbon source and sink distribution.
Scientists have discovered that extremely strong turbulent convection can lead to two distinct states of heat transport, defying the previously established law. The researchers found an exponential increase in heat transport that decreases by a power of two as the turbulence strengthens.
A team of researchers has created a technique using traditional GPS satellite signals to measure snow depth and soil/vegetation moisture. This new method has the potential to benefit climate modelers, atmospheric researchers, farmers, and water resource managers by providing accurate and relatively inexpensive data.
Carbon dioxide emissions from human activities reached an all-time high of 1.3 tonnes of carbon per capita per year in 2008, driven mainly by increased use of coal. The global effort to reduce emissions from human activity must be accelerated to avoid the worst-case scenario of climate change.
Global fossil fuel CO2 emissions increased by 29% between 2008 and 2000 due to growing coal use and international trade. The natural carbon sinks' efficiency has decreased, allowing more CO2 to remain in the atmosphere. This rise highlights the need for drastic reduction in global CO2 emissions.
Researchers have found two Earth-sized bodies with oxygen-rich atmospheres, which are not planets but rather unusual white dwarf stars. The discovery was made using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and suggests that these stars may have descended from massive progenitor stars.