Articles tagged with Atmosphere
Changes in atmospheric pressure and wind patterns cause forces that act on the solid Earth, leading to slight slowdowns in Earth's rotation during El Niño years. This effect is tied to the law of conservation of angular momentum, which connects the Earth's rotation rate with its overall mass.
Warren Washington predicts that the global climate will continue to warm into the 22nd century, albeit at a slower rate than if emissions are not controlled. Climate extremes such as heat waves, floods, and droughts are expected to become more severe and frequent.
Researchers predict a significant warming trend in global temperatures, with the greatest impact felt in winter hemispheres, due to retreating snow and ice in high latitudes. The range of predicted temperature changes is 1.5-6 degrees centigrade, with most models predicting a 2-4 degree rise.
Early Mars research suggests that the planet may have been too cold to melt water, contradicting Dr. James F. Kasting's theory of a greenhouse effect. However, Kasting proposes that methane-producing bacteria could have warmed the planet, allowing for the formation of features like Nanedi Vallis.
Researchers have detected layers of high-level moisture and cirrus clouds using NCAR's instrument package, indicating a significant impact on long-term climate. These clouds, often missed by standard weather balloons and sensors, can warm the planet and trap radiation.
Researchers gather data from an unusual storm over the Amazon rainforest to analyze the storm's inner workings, revealing a two-phase process where both precipitation forms at lower altitudes and higher in the atmosphere. The study provides new insight into storm intensity and hazards, which should be avoided by aircraft.
A new study of snow accumulation on Mount Logan provides evidence that significant climate change has occurred in Western Canada, with both surface and atmospheric temperatures rising since the mid-19th century. The research warns of warmer winters and changes in weather patterns if current trends continue.
Researchers found tundra soils unexpectedly responsive to increased nitrogen, impacting carbon storage and potentially affecting atmospheric CO2 levels. The study highlights the potential risks of rising nitrogen levels worldwide, particularly in warmer regions.
Scientists discovered well-preserved carbon dioxide and other compounds in deep-sea basalt, providing a rare glimpse into the Earth's mantle composition. This data may help determine the rate at which carbon dioxide is supplied to the atmosphere through volcanoes.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that urban areas in the US now have an average of 10 more very warm nights a year than rural areas, which has significant implications for heat problems. The growth was highest on the East Coast, with cities like Miami and Los Angeles showing the most extreme temperature trends.
The Community Climate System Model, version 2 (CCSM-2) is a new computer model that will help scientists understand the Earth's climate system. It has increased capabilities allowing for more detailed climate projections and will be used to produce improved simulations of average climate and climate variability.
A NASA study suggests that mixed croplands can lead to a cooler and wetter climate in certain regions. The researchers used satellite measurements of vegetation to simulate regional climate and found that this type of land use can alter atmospheric circulation, leading to increased convection and precipitation.
Researchers found that volcanic eruptions can completely reverse the influence of sunspots on global climate, contradicting previous assumptions about their relationship. By studying ice cores, they discovered that explosive volcanic activity coincides with correlation reversals between sunspot activity and climate.
Global Aerospace Corporation wins NASA award to develop DARE system, which uses autonomous balloons to explore planetary atmospheres and surfaces from atmospheric altitudes. The system can deploy micro probes to study the atmosphere, surface, and subsurface, offering high-resolution imaging and direct measurements.
NASA is investing $22.8 million in 11 research teams to develop software infrastructure for climate and space science modeling. The partnerships aim to create a framework that enables seamless sharing, reuse, and comparison of scientific approaches from multiple sources.
A team of researchers has found that the continents have warmed significantly over the past half-century, similar to the warming of the oceans, atmosphere, and ice. The study used temperature readings from six continents to reconstruct a temperature history for the Earth's surface over the past 500 years.
PARSL's suite of instruments measures key elements contributing to climate change, including solar energy and atmospheric conditions. The system provides immediate access to data, enabling researchers to gain insights into the earth's climate and climate change.
A new study finds that global warming will increase the length of the day by 0.11 seconds over the century due to changes in Earth's angular momentum. The effect is expected to be small and difficult to distinguish from natural variations, but measurable on a decade scale.
A study suggests that a massive release of frozen methane from ocean sediments may have warmed the prehistoric Earth around 55 million years ago. The researchers propose that similar scenarios could occur in the future if oceans warm substantially, highlighting the importance of considering multiple greenhouse gases beyond carbon dioxide.
Astronomers detected sodium in the atmosphere of a gas giant exoplanet orbiting a yellow star. The team used Hubble's spectrometer to analyze light passing through the planet's atmosphere, revealing less sodium than expected, which may indicate high-altitude clouds blocking some light.
New estimates suggest that Earth's temperature could rise between 1.7 and 4.9 degrees Celsius over the next 100 years, with a 90% likelihood of warming within this range. The likelihood of more extreme warming scenarios is low, but still poses significant risks to society if not addressed through climate control measures.
Scientists have observed a sudden shift in Mars' atmosphere, with temperatures increasing by about 30 degrees Centigrade, due to a massive dust storm. This phenomenon is similar to Earth's global warming, but much more extreme and potentially leading to a significant cooling of the planet.
A team from Michigan State University has found a new source of nitrogen fixation in spirochetes, corkscrew-shaped bacteria abundant in termite guts. This discovery opens up new possibilities for nitrogen availability and highlights the importance of microbes in animal nutrition and health.
Researchers propose that deep mantle volcanic plumes caused a sudden increase in oxygen levels, allowing for the emergence of life. The theory suggests that these plumes, rich in iron oxide, were fueled by buried magma and led to the formation of glaciers.
A NASA scientist has solved the century-old mystery of the Chandler wobble, attributing it to fluctuating ocean pressure changes. The study found that two-thirds of the wobble is caused by these changes, while one-third is attributed to atmospheric fluctuations.
A new study by Dr. Laurie A. Leshin found that the crust of Mars may hold two to three times more water than scientists had previously believed. The research compares the amount of deuterium in a meteorite with the Martian atmosphere, suggesting that significant groundwater reservoirs currently exist on the planet.
A team of Boston University astronomers has captured new ground-based photos of Mercury's surface, revealing details similar to those on the Moon. The images, taken in August 1998, show bright craters and dark lunar mare-like markings, providing insights into Mercury's geology.
A new method suggests that trees and large plants led to an increase in atmospheric oxygen over 300 million years ago. This period saw higher concentrations of oxygen lasting for 100 million years, significantly higher than current levels of 21 percent.
A study using satellite instruments reveals that the atmosphere has gotten warmer and wetter over the past decade. Water vapor levels in the atmosphere have increased by 2%, indicating a significant change in climate dynamics.
Scientists can estimate ancient atmosphere mass and composition using mayfly fossils due to their consistent flight mechanism, which records air density. The study suggests the atmosphere's mass remained relatively constant over the last quarter-billion years.
Cornell researchers use the Palomar High Angular Resolution Observer (PHARO) camera to take near-infrared images of Neptune, revealing a massive cloud and numerous smaller clouds. The camera's high spatial resolution allows for detailed analysis of the planet's clouds and atmospheric circulation.
Scientists from NASA and Colorado State University present research on the link between water vapor and climate change, highlighting its significant impact on global warming. Water vapor's unique molecular structure and potential heat stored within it influence storm formation and atmospheric circulation.
NASA's PICASSO-CENA mission aims to measure the impact of tiny particles from industrial pollution on sunlight and climate change. The mission will use lidar technology to gather data on aerosols, clouds, and their effects on regional climate.
The US Energy Department has established a long-term climate research station on Nauru in the Central Pacific Ocean. The facility will collect data on the sun's energy transmission, absorption, and reflection in the tropics, focusing on cloud effects on heating and cooling the atmosphere.
Scientists have identified several elements in the lunar atmosphere, including oxygen, silicon, and aluminum, but only in small amounts. The study aims to learn which other atoms the regolith may release and form part of the Moon's atmosphere.
Astronomers have observed a significant increase in Triton's surface temperature, causing its thin atmosphere to thicken, and potentially leading to global warming. The moon is approaching an unusually warm summer season, with temperatures rising by 5% over the past nine years.
Scientists propose that interplanetary dust accumulation could have triggered gradual extinctions, such as the demise of dinosaurs, and influenced Earth's climate over long periods. The research challenges current understanding of the Milankovich Effect, which is believed to drive climate change on a 100,000-year scale.
A team of scientists is tracking El Niño changes using a remote cloud observatory in the Western Pacific. Continuous measurements are being collected to evaluate and develop cloud property and radiation algorithms for global climate models.
A University of Michigan model reveals that carbon and sulfur emissions can cool the planet by up to -4.4 Wm-2, potentially offsetting human-caused warming. However, the models' uncertainty due to poorly known estimates for natural aerosol sources may limit the findings.
Researchers detected intense X-rays in seven bursts, each lasting for half an hour, emanating from the Earth's upper atmosphere. The high-energy bursts were recorded during the day with no auroral activity overhead, posing a scientific mystery that scientists are struggling to explain.
The Mars Global Surveyor mission will spend nearly two years collecting data as it maps Mars' surface and atmosphere. The spacecraft will use aerobraking to trim its path around the planet, allowing for a global portrait of Mars' topography, mineral composition, and interior.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered that millions of tiny, previously undetected invaders enter the Earth's atmosphere daily. These micrometeorites are thought to be leftover material from the formation of the solar system and carry significant energy, potentially damaging satellites and spacecraft.
Astronomers have detected a thin oxygen atmosphere on Ganymede, the largest of Jupiter's moons. The presence of this atmosphere is similar to that of Earth and Jupiter itself, with evidence suggesting polar aurorae created by charged particles colliding with atmospheric gases.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University created a scale model of Jupiter that simulates the banding pattern, lending support to the idea that the atmospheric bands have deep roots. The model's findings are backed by data from the Galileo spacecraft, which shows that wind speeds persist deep into the atmosphere.