Fresh Air. The Scent of Pine.
Oceans
The Monthly Climate: March 2011
In Brief March 2011 began with a major setback to improving NASA climate observation capabilities with the launch failure of the Glory satellite. Intended to improve both solar monitoring and aerosol impacts on global climate, Glory suffered a fate similar to its 2009 predecessor, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), which also experienced a launch … Continue reading
Should The Earth Be Cooling?
Current Climate Running Against the Grain When considering whether or not the human influence on the Earth’s climate is discernible, one of the immediate questions that comes to mind is, “What would the climate be doing in the absence of human interference?” Indeed all climate models strive to identify the impact of natural mechanisms as … Continue reading
Ocean acidification threatens entire marine food chains
Not all of the CO2 emitted by human industrial activities remains in the atmosphere. Between 25% and 50% of these emissions over the industrial period have been absorbed by the world’s oceans, preventing atmospheric CO2 buildup from being much, much worse. But this atmospheric benefit comes at a considerable price. As ocean waters absorb CO2 … Continue reading
Environmental Headlines, Week of July 17, 2010
The continued impacts and actions revolving around the BP oil spill continued to command the majority of headlines this week with BP becoming cautiously optimistic after finally capping the leak that has spilled tens of millions of gallons of oil over the last 4 1/2 months since its Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf … Continue reading
State of the Climate, Indicators of Change
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen gets into full swing, it’s a good time to take a look around and assess the current state of things. In the 30 years of direct satellite observation… Solar irradiance has declined (Source: PMOD/WRC) which should drive temperatures down, and we are currently in the middle … Continue reading
Climate Change Indicators Updated: Glacial Retreat
The Climate Change Indicators page has been updated to include information on global glacial retreat as documented by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). Earlier this year, the WGMS posted glacier mass balance data for 2006 and 2007 for 115 glaciers located around the world from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Antarctica. Additional … Continue reading
National Science Academies Warn of Oceanic Acidifcation
Seventy National Science Academies from around the world have issued a joint statement today warning of increasing oceanic acidification in advance of a conference of governmental representatives from around the world in Bonn, Germany this week to discuss climate change. The Academies urged the participants to include acidification on the agenda for the governmental talks … Continue reading
Record setting dead zone expected in Gulf of Mexico
Scientists with Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium expect the dead zone forming in the Gulf of Mexico near the Louisiana coastline to be the largest since measurements began in the 1980’s. The dead zone is an area of oxygen-deprived ocean water that forms annually as a result of runoff from the … Continue reading
Federal Government Receives Failing Grade in Ocean Policy
The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative released its third annual report card on the actions of the federal and state governments in implementing the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission, as well as the actions described in the Administration’s own U.S. Ocean Action Plan. While regional and state government … Continue reading
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The Indicators
Climate Change Indicators
Global Temperature
Global Sea Level
Arctic Ice Melt
Glacial Retreat
Atmospheric CO2 Level
Fresh Air. The Scent of Pine. 