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Warm climate -- cold Arctic?

Researchers used sediment cores to study climate conditions during the Eemian period, which may not be a suitable analogue for current climate change. The Atlantic Ocean showed higher-than-Holocene temperature signals, while the Nordic Seas indicated cold conditions, suggesting a significant difference in oceanic circulation.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 14, 2012

800,000 years of abrupt climate variability

A team of scientists predicts that Earth's climate has undergone rapid transitions over the last 800,000 years, with evidence from ancient snow layers and volcanic eruptions. The study extends the current 100,000-year record to create a new testing ground for climate models.

SourceCardiff University·JournalScience·DateSep 8, 2011

Air quality worsened by paved surfaces

A new study suggests that widespread urban development can lead to reduced nighttime winds and increased air pollution in coastal cities. Researchers found that paved surfaces absorb heat, reducing the temperature contrast between land and sea, and causing stagnation. This can result in a buildup of pollutants during warm summer weather.

Research suggests climate change target 'not safe'

A new study suggests that current climate change targets are unsafe, as global temperatures appear to be comparable to projections for the end of this century. The analysis of geological records reveals that sea levels will rise significantly higher than anticipated, with a rate of rise more than double recent observations.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Quaternary Science·DateOct 1, 2010

Scientists map penguins from space

Scientists have successfully mapped emperor penguin breeding colonies in Antarctica using satellite images, providing a reliable indication of their location through visible guano stains. The study identified 38 colonies, with 10 new discoveries, and will enable researchers to monitor population changes over time.

SourceBritish Antarctic Survey·JournalGlobal Ecology and Biogeography·DateJun 2, 2009