Higher temperatures in recent decades have encouraged the growth of bristlecone pines along the tree line in California and Nevada. Since the ancient pines preserve growth records in their rings, researchers can tell that rapid growth like this has not occurred in thousands of years. This article links to a slideshow from the NSF with further information.
“California experienced centuries-long droughts in the past 20,000 years that coincided with the thawing of ice caps in the Arctic, according to a new study by UC Davis doctoral student Jessica Oster and geology professor Isabel Montañez.” Quoted from the UCDavis press release.
New research shows that daily record high temperatures have occurred twice as often as record lows over the last decade across the continental United States.
Warming ocean temperatures and runoff waters are contributing to flourishing jellyfish populations. The jellyfish swarms, or blooms, cause problems for fish and humans alike. This article links to a slideshow with photos.
Foraminifera fossils are tiny calcium carbonate shells, as small as a grain of sand. These fossils yield numerous clues about the water depth, water temperature, climate and other environmental conditions present at the time that they were alive.
Canada’s oil sands resource is one of the most valuable resources in that country. Many people want to develop it and many others do not. Lisa Raitt, Canadian Natural Resources Minister and her staff are lobbying in the United States to promote development.
What impact will climate change legislation have on the creation of jobs? An article at Bloomberg considers legislation and opinions in the United States Congress.
“The arctic could potentially alter the Earth’s climate by becoming a possible source of global atmospheric carbon dioxide. The arctic now traps or absorbs up to 25 percent of this gas but climate change could alter that amount.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
In North Carolina, sea level is rising three times more rapidly now than in the past 5 centuries. The Tump Point and Sand Point salt marshes were analyzed for this study.
A previously unknown volcanic eruption in 1809 kicked off the coldest decade in the past 500 years. This eruption was larger than the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo and was followed in 1815 by the eruption of Tambora. The result was a global lowering of temperature.
The new climate bill has politicians examining some security concerns linked to climate change. Political relations can be strained and hostility might erupt as a changing climate transforms the Earth.
“The 20th century is the only period during the past 200 millennia in which aquatic indicators reflect increased warming, despite the declining effect of slow changes in the tilt of the Earth’s axis which, under natural conditions, would lead to climatic cooling.” Quoted from the University at Buffalo press release.
This audio slideshow features Evelyn Mervine, a graduate student doing research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She is investigating the Samail Ophiolite of Oman and how it can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“New ground measurements made by the West Antarctic GPS Network project, composed of researchers from The University of Texas at Austin, The Ohio State University, and The University of Memphis, suggest the rate of ice loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet has been slightly overestimated.” Quoted from The University of Texas at Austin press release.
A San Francisco Chronicle article explores the current status and future of shipping in the Arctic. As an example of what is happening: “Nome’s ship traffic is eight times what it was in 1990.”
The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second warmest September on record, according to NOAA, based on records going back to 1880.
At the December climate summit in Copenhagen, Saudi Arabia and other countries might demand compensation for any loss in revenue that they suffer as a result of fuel switching to combat climate change.
Join PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) for a special live event celebrating Earth Science Week 2009, “How We Know What We Know: Looking at Climate Change Through Polar Science.” Polar researchers Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette and Dr. Ross Powell and PolarTREC teacher Tim Martin will discuss climate research conducted in the Arctic and Antarctica through sediment coring.
The live online event will take place Friday, October 16, at 9 a.m. Alaska Daylight Time (7 a.m. HST, 10 a.m. PDT, 11 p.m. MDT, 12 p.m. CDT, 1 p.m. EDT).
NASA will be looking for changes in Antarctic ice using a DC-8 equipped with instruments that are capable of “seeing” through the ice and collecting information about its thickness and the presence of water.
During Earth Science Week (October 11 to 17), NASA will release five short educational videos, all part of a series entitled “Tides of Change.” The videos, focusing on the connection between ocean and climate, will be posted at NASA Global Climate Change (http://climate.nasa.gov), a one-stop shop for NASA Earth Science Week education resources related to understanding climate.
A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that glaciers in the Himalayas are melting rapidly and could be gone by 2035. The loss of meltwater from these glaciers will be an enormous problem for agricultural economies downstream.
Researchers are monitoring the speed of Greenland’s Helheim Glacier and other glaciers using GPS receivers. They don’t move at a steady rate of speed but instead accelerate abruptly and slow down. These dynamics of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have not been entered into sea level rise calculations.
“The Smithsonian is addressing the global challenge of climate change with special exhibitions and ongoing research. You will be able to participate in these investigations and deepen your understanding through the Smithsonian Online Education Conference: Climate Change. Throughout the days of September 29 through October 1, 2009, you’ll explore Smithsonian research and collections related to the evidence, impact, and response to climate change.” Quoted from The Smithsonian website.
You can view a copy of Earth Science Week Update which contains lots of information about Earth Science Week Programs such as….
* ‘No Child Left Inside’ Day Comes to Your School
* Field Notebook for Students Featured in 2009 Toolkit
* One Month Left to Enter Earth Science Week Contests
* How to Put Your Event on the Map – Online!
* Shine a Media Spotlight on Your Great Activities
* Online Climate Change Conference by Smithsonian
* NASA Offers Educators ‘Eyes on the Earth’
* Women in the Geosciences Day Coming in October
* PolarTREC Now Accepting Applications for 2010-2011
* You’re Invited: Geoscience Outreach and Dinner
In this video, Penn State professor Richard Alley, one of the world’s leading climate researchers, explores some of the basic research behind climate change and explains how climate change might impact our future. He is interviewed by Patty Satalia, host of the Penn State “Conversations” interview series.
“An explosion of knowledge has been made in the last few years about the basic biology of corals, researchers say in a new report, helping to explain why coral reefs around the world are collapsing and what it will take for them to survive a gauntlet of climate change and ocean acidification.” Quoted from the Oregon State press release.
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Hobart King
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