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Oxygen measurements yield greenhouse clues

CSIRO scientists have measured a minuscule decline in oxygen over the past 20 years, which has shed new light on the role of forests and oceans in absorbing carbon dioxide. The oxygen reduction, just 0.03%, is negligible for human breathing but highlights the importance of plant life in capturing half of the CO2 generated by fossil fuels.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 19, 1999

Simple Method Will Help Test Theories About Nanotubes

Researchers have created a technique to measure the electrical characteristics of individual carbon nanotubes, confirming their potential in making small circuits and computer chips. The new method enables scientists to conduct electricity without heating up, addressing a major obstacle in producing smaller electronic components.

Clouds Foretell Biggest Ozone Hole Ever

Scientists have found that unusually extensive stratospheric clouds over the South Pole contributed to the near-record-size ozone hole in Antarctica. POAM III measurements provide valuable insights into how Earth's ozone layer responds to global temperature changes and decreasing atmospheric chlorine levels.

Gas Releases At Mammoth Mountain More Complex Than Expected

Researchers continuously monitored carbon dioxide flux at a 35-acre tree-kill area near Horseshoe Lake, discovering daily cycles that defy temperature explanation. The data suggests barometric pressure oscillations and Earth tides may influence the degassing rate, highlighting the complexity of volcanic gas emission.

How Dry Is The Tropical Free Troposphere? Implications For Global Warming Theory

Recent satellite and in-situ measurements reveal no definitive warming trend in the tropical free troposphere over the past two decades. The low humidity in this region allows more infrared radiation to escape from the Earth, cooling the atmosphere. Current computer models inaccurately handle humidity processes in this region.

SourceNASA/Marshall Space Flight Center--Space Sciences Laboratory·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateJul 14, 1997