Research on measuring and modeling the climate. Covers climate extremes, carbon sequestration, monitoring methods, and urban heat exposure.
Researchers are working to understand regional climate change in North America, using models to predict impacts on agriculture and weather patterns. The Iowa State team has observed increased annual precipitation by about an inch over the past 30 years, which could be beneficial for Midwest agriculture.
Researchers from the University of Alberta have recorded alarming evidence that Arctic ponds are drying out rapidly, affecting waterfowl habitats and biodiversity hotspots. The study, published in PNAS, reveals a drastic shift in water levels and chemistry over 24 years, consistent with increased evaporation and warmer temperatures.
The GBIF Data Portal offers instant mapping and plotting of biodiversity data on Google Earth, facilitating ecological studies and predicting species response to climate change. The portal is expected to significantly increase the number of participating institutions, making global biodiversity data freely available worldwide.
The Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite has captured the first occurrence of mysterious iridescent polar clouds. The clouds form during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season and are being seen more frequently at lower latitudes than ever before. Preliminary information suggests a connection with global climate change.
Two newly discovered species of giant prehistoric penguins lived in equatorial Peru during the Eocene epoch, contradicting previous hypotheses on penguin evolution and climate change. The species, Icadyptes salasi and Perudyptes devriesi, stood up to 5 feet tall and had unique beak features.
A new study reveals that Antarctic icebergs are hotspots of ocean life, supporting thriving communities of seabirds above and a web of phytoplankton, krill, and fish below. The researchers found that the icebergs produce a halo effect with increased phytoplankton, krill, and seabirds out to a radius of more than two miles around them.
Long-term monitoring programs help society understand environmental issues like acid rain, clean air, and global warming. The absence of monitoring hinders evaluation of environmental policies and contributes to the development of appropriate experimental design.
Scientists at the Woods Hole Research Center are expanding a two-year pilot phase to create a national biomass and carbon dataset for US forests. The dataset will improve current methods of determining carbon flux between vegetation and the atmosphere.
A recent experiment confirmed what NASA satellites are telling us about how changes in clouds can affect climate in the coldest regions on Earth. Researchers found extremely high ice water content in snowstorms and embedded layers of liquid water in very cold multi-layer cloud systems.
Researchers are setting up observatories to examine changes under the Arctic ice cap, investigating water properties in the upper layers of the Arctic Ocean. The goal is to understand annual change and measure mechanisms that lead to ice melting from below.
Researchers at Yale and Wesleyan Universities have found that the sensitivity of Earth's climate to changes in carbon dioxide has been consistent for 420 million years. The study confirms that each doubling of atmospheric CO2 translates to an average global temperature increase of about 3° Celsius.
The new CarbonTracker tool will distinguish between natural and human-produced carbon cycle changes, providing verification for climate models. It will also enable policymakers to compare emissions from urban centers and businesses.
The Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) data management system has been updated with new microbial genomes from NCBI's RefSeq collection, model eukaryotic genomes, and plasmids. This update brings a total of 2,782 genomes to the system, including 481 new public microbial genomes.
Researchers use a new technique to analyze rainfall trends, finding systematic patterns in heavy and light rain, but no consistent trend in moderate rain. The study resolves the challenge of detecting long-term global rainfall trends, providing insight into climate change's impact on weather events.
A new European satellite project, Polar View, is contributing to the International Polar Year by offering real-time monitoring of polar regions. The project provides comprehensive services to over 40 international users, including government agencies and commercial interests, to help guide responses to environmental and human pressures.
Researchers used satellite imagery and radar sensors to study Pacific walrus habitats in the Bering and Chukchi seas. They found that walruses prefer medium-thickness first-year ice, which is critical for their survival and way of life.
The COSMIC satellite system provides unprecedented information on the atmosphere's temperature and water vapor structure, enabling more accurate long-range weather forecasts and climate change analysis. The system's unique global coverage and ability to gather data above hard-to-reach locations enhance global-scale monitoring.
Researchers at UC Davis are developing a virtual library of data from hundreds of environmental sensors to study the interconnectedness of air, water, land, and living things in California. This 'God's-eye view' will help understand how climate change affects the state, including precipitation patterns, wildfires, and ocean upwelling.
The ILTER network, with over 34 countries as members, will benefit from a joint management structure, ensuring sustainable support for environmental monitoring sites. Long-term data is crucial for understanding climate change, invasive species, and ecosystem health.
A University of Wisconsin-Madison team developed a map that incorporates environmental and human factors to pinpoint areas most vulnerable to devastating wildfires. The map highlights the critical role humans play in causing fires, particularly near wildland-urban interfaces.
The U.S. will maintain a leadership role in science and technology thanks to Argonne's involvement in the SciDAC program. Projects focus on creating software and infrastructure for petascale supercomputers.
A study by University of Illinois researcher Patrick Weatherhead found a direct correlation between the North Atlantic Oscillation and the decline in red-winged black bird population. The population decreased by 50% due to warmer, wetter winters in the southeastern United States.
Researchers use novel technique to analyze regional changes in Greenland's massive ice sheet, finding dramatic losses concentrated in coastal regions. The study shows an annual net loss of ice equal to nearly six years of average water flow from the Colorado River, with 20% more mass lost than received from new snowfall each year.
A new workflow language, Martlet, enables the analysis of large datasets in a changing environment by adjusting to data requirements at runtime. This approach has potential for use in various e-Science applications and demonstrates how core computer science can be used to meet exciting challenges.
Researchers are working to project the impacts of climate change on municipal water supplies by refining global climate models and customizing them for specific basins. This allows local governments and water planners to prepare for changes in tap water availability.
A new study reveals a significant decline in Arctic winter sea ice cover, with losses of six percent per year over the last two winters. This reduction is attributed to rising greenhouse gas emissions and warmer temperatures, posing a threat to marine ecosystems.
A NASA-funded study uses satellite data to monitor forest growth and health, detecting the effects of climate change on tree species and forest composition. The MODIS dataset shows a strong link between forest productivity and the number of tree species, enabling scientists to better predict future changes.
Satellite images from ESA's ENVISAT and NASA's Aura Satellite reveal a UK record heatwave and significant increases in nitrogen dioxide pollution. The data shows extreme temperature and pollution effects on large conurbations, while smaller cities display more moderate levels.
PLANKTON*NET offers a vast database of over 3000 images and 500 species descriptions, promoting global collaboration in biodiversity research. The project aims to network all data bases and integrate them into the World Data Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences.
UNH researchers created the most comprehensive global land-use history description to assess impacts on carbon and climate models. The study reveals that 42-68% of the global land surface has undergone substantial changes due to historical land-use practices, affecting carbon sinks and ecosystems.
The VENUS facility offers a unique window into the world under the sea, with a centralized data management system providing unrestricted access to long-term ocean observations. The observatory has already archived over 35 million measurements and dozens of gigabytes of acoustic and visual data.
The study found total hip and knee replacement surgery to be safe with low post-operative complications, while patient satisfaction levels remained high at 85-90%. However, disparities in utilization exist across race and gender lines.
New Jersey Institute of Technology physicists have used Earthshine observations to study changes in the earth's climate, with a focus on cloud cover and global warming. The research also has implications for the search for life on other planets, as evidenced by the detection of oxygen, water, and ozone in the Earth's spectrum.
Researchers from Kansas State University develop a low-cost remote sensing tool that can collect high-resolution images and reliable data on small ecosystems. The tool, made available to climate scientists, aims to provide flexible and affordable data collection for environmental research.
A team of scientists has found that Pakistan experienced its wettest period in over 1,000 years during the 20th century, with precipitation rates increasing significantly. The study used ancient juniper tree rings to estimate humidity conditions and found parallels with global warming.
A comprehensive mineral history of Mars reveals that conditions became increasingly dry and acidic around 3.5 billion years ago, making it an unlikely place for life to thrive. The study identifies clay-rich rocks and soil as potential targets for future lander missions.
The COSMIC satellite network measures atmospheric data daily in real time over thousands of points on Earth using GPS signals. Temperature and water vapor profiles will help meteorologists forecast storms and study long-term climate change trends.
A new study by an international team finds that climate change may contribute to malaria's rise, with rising temperatures creating favorable conditions for mosquitoes and pathogen development. The researchers also suggest that other factors such as drug resistance and human migration play roles in the disease's resurgence.
A study reviewed over 100 scientific studies and found that the global water cycle is intensifying, with increasing precipitation, runoff, and evapotranspiration. However, the effects on tropical storms and floods are not consistent with predictions.
High-resolution images of ice crystals provide detailed information about ice clouds, including particle size and shape, which influence the longevity of the cloud. The Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment, led by the ARM Program, combines aircraft and surface data to better understand cirrus structure in the tropics.
The year 2005 may have been the warmest year in a century, with global temperatures returning to levels seen in 1998. The Earth has warmed by 0.6° C or 1.08° F over the past 30 years and 0.8° C or 1.44° F over the past 100 years.
The ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) will collect atmospheric data on absorbing aerosols from desert dust in the dry season and deep convective clouds during the summer monsoon. This information will help improve model simulations of global climate and increase understanding of the influence of the West African Monsoon.
A new software developed by Ohio State University's Noel Cressie and his colleagues can fill in missing data on satellite images with remarkable speed and accuracy. The software uses statistical techniques, including Bayesian analysis, to weight available data and calculate missing values at different image resolutions.
Researchers use microfossils to analyze coastal sediment cores, revealing evidence of less frequent major storms in recent centuries. However, results may be affected by other environmental factors, such as rising sea levels.
A NASA study suggests that a warmer climate may not result in a wetter world, with simulations showing an increase in global evaporation and precipitation. However, the atmospheric storage of water vapor decreases as temperatures rise.
Researchers at Ohio State University have detected the largest-ever recorded movement of Earth's crust under the weight of flooded Amazon, suggesting a way to estimate total fresh water on the planet. The study reveals an annual oscillation pattern three inches deep in the bedrock beneath the Amazon River Basin.
Satellites have recorded a significant loss in Arctic sea ice extent, with the minimum concentration reaching 2.05 million sq. miles in 2005. The decline is attributed to warming trends and climate changes, which are expected to continue due to projected Arctic warming.
The Arctic sea ice has been declining at an accelerating rate since the 1990s, with temperatures increasing and causing earlier springtime melting. The lowest sea-ice extent yet recorded was seen in September 2005, 20% lower than the previous average.
Researchers at University of Oregon found a 10-15% increase in solar radiation in Oregon over the last 25 years, indicating sunnier summers despite reports of global dimming. This data will help refine regional climate models and track global warming in the Pacific Northwest.
The space shuttle Columbia's exhaust plume caused a significant increase in polar mesospheric cloud activity over Antarctica, forcing scientists to rethink their role in monitoring global climate change. The clouds formed at an altitude of about 52 miles due to the high concentrations of water vapor released into the atmosphere.
A new $1.4 million ARM Mobile Facility is stationed near the beach to collect data on marine stratus clouds, which are thin, low-level clouds that cover the sky like a blanket. The facility will gather data on cloud properties, suspended particles and other atmospheric variables to analyze aerosol effects.
NASA's National Lightning Safety Awareness Week aims to educate summer swimmers, picnickers, and others on the dangers of thunderstorms. The agency's research has created lightning maps that reveal uneven global distribution of lightning strikes, indicating areas prone to storms.
The WVSS II sensors gather data more often, at higher vertical resolution, and at lower cost than satellites and balloons. This improves forecasts of thunderstorms, microbursts, turbulence, fog, ceiling visibility, rotating wakes from other aircraft, snow and ice storms, and year-round precipitation.
A study found that adopting direct malpractice reforms led to a significant increase in the overall supply of physicians. The researchers discovered that these reforms had a larger effect on nongroup vs. group physicians, specialties with high malpractice insurance premiums, and states with high levels of managed care.
The NOAA-N satellite will collect data on Earth's surface and atmosphere for weather forecasts, climate predictions, and search and rescue operations. With advanced imaging and sounding capabilities, the satellite aims to improve understanding of environmental changes worldwide.
Two UW ocean-diving gliders, Seagliders, have set a new record by traveling across the Pacific Ocean. They were deployed in September and traveled over 1,860 miles in 191 days. The gliders' autonomous technology allows them to collect oceanographic measurements without propellers, setting a precedent for the longest range of any autono...
A new study suggests that natural climate change may be more significant than previously thought, with a notable cold period in the 17th century and similarities between historical reconstructions and computer simulations. The findings highlight the importance of considering natural variability in future climate scenarios.
A team of international scientists is measuring the Arctic atmosphere to validate NASA's Aura satellite data. The focus is on understanding ozone depletion in this sensitive region, which can have severe effects on humans and ecosystems.
The ARM Mobile Facility is a moveable, atmospheric-measuring suite designed to withstand temperatures from minus-40 to plus-120 degrees Fahrenheit. The station measures physical properties of air and heat radiating from clouds and the ground, providing critical information missing in climate models.
Scientists use NASA Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer to analyze vegetation and soil changes in response to rain variation over large areas. The study found a long-term decrease in litter cover, bare soil areas, and shifts in plant responses to precipitation events.