U.S., European Satellite Agencies Sign Cooperation, Data-sharing Accord.  Press release (dtd 24 June 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 5 July 2003)

Joint Statement of the United States and Italy on Climate Change Science and Technology.  Press release (dtd 17 June 2003) from U.S. Department of State. (link posted 5 July 2003)

New Weather & Climate Supercomputer Helps Advance NOAA Weather Service Forecasts.  Press release (dtd 6 June 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 5 July 2003)

AGI Receives Grant for Environmental Science Textbook.  Press release (dtd 4 June 2003) from American Geological Institute. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Ocean Observatories Initiative: Project Office to Coordinate Ocean Observing Activities.  "The Division of Ocean Sciences requests proposals from interested groups for the establishment of a Project Office to coordinate and assist with activities related to ocean observing systems leading to the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI)."  Program solicitation from the National Science Foundation.  Letter of Intent Due Date: September 29, 2003.  Full Proposal Deadline: October 27, 2003. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Charles Petit, Patric Senson, and Jim Handman win AGU journalism awards.  Press release (dtd 2 June 2003) from  the American Geophysical Union (AGU). (link posted 5 July 2003)

Research Announcement: New Investigator Program in Earth Science.  Solicitation released by NASA on 27 May 2003.  Proposals Due Date:  August 15, 2003.  "The New Investigator Program (NIP) in Earth Science was established in Fiscal Year 1996 to encourage the integration of Earth system science research and education by scientists and engineers at the early stage of their professional careers." (link posted 5 July 2003)

Background to the 91st Dahlem Workshop on Earth System Analysis for Sustainability.  Material prepared for meeting held on 25-30 May 2003.(link posted 9 July 2003)

Three Earth Institute Scientists Featured in New National Video; Search for Solutions video explores the nature and process of science.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from the Earth Institute at Columbia University. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Hydrogen fuel could widen ozone hole: Likely leaks blot green power's perfect reputation.  Article (dtd 17 June 2003) from Nature "Update." (link posted 5 July 2003)

Scientists seek data on greenhouse gas emissions.  Press release (dtd 16 June 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 5 July 2003)

Atmospheric mercury has declined -- But why?  Press release (dtd 10 June 2003) from the American Geophysical Union (AGU). (link posted 5 July 2003)

Earth & Sky.  Daily science radio series, currently funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Both transcripts & audio files are provided:   (link posted 6 July 2003)

• Sky Dust  "The sky is full of invisible dust that can help scientists study weather patterns, pollution, and the history of the solar system. But this dust isn't just for scientists -- kids are collecting and studying it, too."  (original broadcast date:  31 July 2003)

Scientists say 'save our seas'.  Press release (dtd 17 June 2003) from University of Newcastle upon Tyne. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Simulated global environmental changes impact plant diversity.  Press release (16 June 2003) from Carnegie Institution. (link posted 5 July 2003)

The Year of Biodiversity and Conservation.  Press release (dtd 11 June 2003) from the Field Museum. (link posted 5 July 20

Independent Oceans Commission Calls for Immediate Reforms.  Press release (dtd 4 June 2002) from Pew Oceans Commission. See also: Ocean policies haven't kept up with science.  Press release (dtd 4 June 2003) from Oregon State University. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Early Birds: Is Warming Changing U.K. Breeding Season?  Article (dtd 3 June 2003) from National Geographic. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Life Support: NURP Unfolds the Mystery of Gas Hydrates.  Press release (dtd 2 June 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 5 July 2003)

Earth & Sky.  Daily science radio series, currently funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Both transcripts & audio files are provided:   (link posted 6 July 2003)

• Great Plains Trees.  "The treeless landscape of the North American Great Plains prompted European explorers to call it the "Great American Desert". A listener asks why trees don't grow in the Great Plains."   (original broadcast date:  14 July 2003)

West Nile Climate study.  Press release (dtd 19 June 2003) from Cornell University. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Hydrogen fuel could widen ozone hole: Likely leaks blot green power's perfect reputation.  Article (dtd 17 June 2003) from Nature "Update." (link posted 5 July 2003)

Changing global nitrogen cycle impacting human health, says Colorado University-led study.  Press release (dtd 12 June 2003) from University of Colorado at Boulder. (link posted 5 July 2003)

More floods, population: more costs at the coast.  Press release (dtd 6 June 2003) from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) (Australia).   (link posted 5 July 2003)

Study Finds Space Shuttle Exhaust Creates Night-Shining Clouds.  Press release (dtd 3 June 2003) from Office of Naval Research's Naval Research Laboratory. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Upper Yellowstone River Flow and Teleconnections with Pacific Basin Climate Variability during the Past Three Centuries.  Article (dtd July 2003) from Climatic Change.

23-30 July 2003.  Reno, Nevada.  The XVI INQUA Congress. "Shaping the Earth: A Quaternary Perspective."  "Held every four years, the INQUA Congress is the largest gathering of scientists studying the Quaternary period, the last 2.6 million years of Earth's history. " Sponsor:  International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA),  Geological Society of America and others.  Contact:  Mary Berthelson.  Email: mberthelson@geosociety.org.  Tel: +1 303 357 1083. 

PAGES [Past Global Changes] News.   Most recent issue: April 2003 [PDF].  PAGES is a core project of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme. "PAGES seeks to provide a quantitative understanding of the Earth's environment in the geologically recent past and to define the envelope of natural environmental variability against which anthropogenic impacts on the Earth System may be assessed." (link updated 11 June 2003)

Leading climate scientists reaffirm view that late 20th Century warming was unusual.  Press release (dtd 7 July 2003) from American Geophysical Union.  (link posted 8 July 2003).

According to the World Meteorological Organization Extreme Weather Events Might Increase. [MS Word]   Press release (dtd 2 July 2003) from the World Meteorological Organization.  "Record extremes in weather and climate events continue to occur around the world.   Recent scientific assessments indicate that, as the global temperatures continue to warm due to climate change, the number and intensity of extreme events might increase..." (link posted 5 July 2003)

A Delicate Balance: Signs of Change in the Tropics.  Feature article (dtd 19 June 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory.  (link posted 5 July 2003)

Recent Atmospheric Conditions & Impacts:

• Up-to-Date Weather, Climate & Wildfire Summaries

• Global Hazards and Significant Events
  May 2003.  Report from the National Climatic Data Center.

• Climate of 2003.  May in Historical Perspective.  Report (updated 13 June 2003)  from the National Climatic Data Center.

Hurricanes.  Links to background information on the connection between climate change and hurricanes.  Other useful links related to hurricanes also provided.

• Salt Levels in Rain Provide Clues to Hurricane Formation.  Press release (dtd 9 June 2003) from University of Houston. (link posted 5 July 2003)

• Researchers able to monitor hurricanes' effects on North Carolina's barrier islands, sounds.  Press release (dtd 9 June 2003) from Duke University. (link posted 5 July 2003)

Climate Change: Information on Three Air Pollutants' Climate Effects and Emissions Trends. [PDF]  "This new GAO report looks at current scientific understanding of, and efforts underway to control soot, ground-level ozone, and sulfate aerosols in seven nations -- four that are economically developed (Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and three that are developing (China, India, and Mexico)."  Highlights [PDF] also available.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

NASA to Mentor Students in Earth Science Research.  Press release (dtd 22 May 2003) from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Earth from Space.  A dataset of selected astronaut acquired imagery of Earth.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

NSF-funded scientists study climate change factors at North Pole environmental observatory.  Press release (dtd 16 May 2003) from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  (link posted 31 May 2003)

Cape Farewell Expedition's Arctic Voyage, 26 May - 8 June 2003.  From the Southampton Oceanography Center (U.K.).  "As the North Atlantic spring moves towards the Arctic, the [schnooner] Norderlicht leaves Tromso in Norway, for a voyage through the North East Atlantic to Spitsbergen - the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. The voyage crosses a region of the ocean that plays in important role in the Earth's climate system.  During the voyage the Cape Farewell team will explore this unique region of the Arctic. Artists, teachers, education policy writers and ocean scientists will record their experiences from the voyage in their different ways. In this way we hope to make more people aware of this remarkable area, and its importance to the Earth as a whole." (link posted 31 May 2003)

Just back from expedition: Scientists taking pulse of Arctic Ocean.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from University of Washington.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

U.S. Official Cites Need for Integrated Earth Observing System.  Press release (dtd 9 May 2003) from US Department of State.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

A Survey of the Information Divide in the Climate Sciences.  "The gap between the availability of information in developed and developing countries in the fields of climate and meteorology is described and detailed in this report."  Report (posted 9 May 2003) from the Environmental and Societal Impacts Group (ESIG) of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). (link posted 31 May 2003)

NSF Invites Media to Report on U.S.-Sponsored Antarctic Research (2003-2004 Season).  Press release (dtd 8 May 2003) from the National Science Foundation (NSF). (link posted 31 May 2003)

NSF Invites Applications for Television Documentary Production at South Pole, Antarctica.  Press release (dtd 8 May 2003) from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  (link posted 31 May 2003)

NASA Goddard Celebrates 40 Years of Achievement in Atmospheric Sciences.    Press release (dtd 7 May 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Climate Change.  Hearing (7 May 2003) on the National Academy of Science review of the Administration's Draft U.S. Climate Change Science Program Strategic Plan.  The hearing was held before the U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation.  Testimony available online from the following witnesses: (links posted 31 May 2003)

• Dr. Richard Alley,    Professor of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, Earth System Science Center
• D. Thomas E. Graedel.     Professor of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, Department of Industrial Ecology

Destination Deadhorse ... and beyond.  "Office of Naval Research sends scientists to Arctic ice camp."  Press release (dtd 29 Apr 2003) from Office of Naval Research, U.S. Navy.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

Personal Views Have Strongest Impact on Television Weathercaster Knowledge.  Press release (dtd 14 April 2003) from College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Uncertain Science... Uncertain World.  Information on book (dated February 2003) published  by Cambridge University Press.  "In this engaging book, Henry Pollack guides the reader through the maze of contradiction and uncertainty, acquainting them with the ways that uncertainty arises in science, how scientists accommodate and make use of uncertainty, and how in the face of uncertainty they reach their conclusions. Taking examples from recent science headlines and every day life, Uncertain Science � Uncertain World enables the reader to evaluate uncertainty from their own perspectives, and find out more about how science actually works." (link posted 31 May 2003)

Rocky Mountain /  Great Basin Regional Climate Change Assessment.  A Report (dated 2003) of the Rocky Mountain / Great Basin Regional Assessment Team of the U.S. Global Change Research Program.  (posted 14 May 2003).

FY 2004 Program Announcement.   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate and Global Change Program, Program Announcement for Federal Agencies and Federal Joint Institutes.  Due Dates:  Letters of Intent are due May 16, 2003.  Proposals are due July 11, 2003.  See also Federal Register (5 May 2003) announcement. (link posted updated 5 May 2003)

Scientists Dust Off Desert Sands from the French Alps.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory. See also: Chinese Dust Found Atop French Alps.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from American Geophysical Union (AGU). (links posted 31 May 2003)

Aquarius, World's Only Underwater Laboratory, Studies Coral Reefs During 2003 Mission Season.  Press release (dtd 16 May 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 31 May 2003)

Fossil Record Accurately Reflects Recent Flowering of Marine Biodiversity.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from the National Science Foundation. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Greenhouse gas might green up the desert.  Press release (dtd 8 May 2003) from Weizmann Institute (Israel). (link posted 31 May 2003)

14-18 June 2003.  Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.  Chapman Conference on Ecosystem Interactions with Land Use Change (Chapman).  Sponsor: American Geophysical Union (AGU).  Contact: AGU Meetings Department, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA.  Tel: +1 202 462 6900.  Fax: +1 202 358 0566.  Email: meetinginfo@agu.org.   (link posted 31 May 2003)

NOAA's Stormready and Tsunamiready Programs.  Press release (dtd 21 May 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 31 May 2003)

Climate Adaptation:  Risk, Uncertainty and Decision-Making.  "Guidance to help decision-makers handle climate risk and uncertainty."  New report (posted 20 May 2003) from the UK Climate Impacts Programme and the U.K. Environment Agency's Centre for Risk and Forecasting. (link posted 31 May 2003)

New research to identify climate impacts on energy   Press release (dtd 20 May 2003) from National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (New Zealand).   (link posted 31 May 2003)

Hidden in plain sight.  "Aerosols' effects could change current understanding of global climate change."  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from University of Washington.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

Global warming's local crop impacts forecast.  Article (dtd 14 May 2003) from  Nature's Science Update. (link posted 31 May 2003)

EU greenhouse gas emissions rise for second year running.  Press release (dtd 6 May 2003) from European Environment Agency. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Annual European Community greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2001 and inventory report 2003 (Final draft).  Report (dtd 2003)  from the European Environment Agency. (link posted 31 May 2003)

5-7 June 2003.  Raipur, India.  International Conference on Regional Climate Change and Agriculture (ICRCCA 2003).  Contact:  A.S.R.A.S Sastri. Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur (C.G.) , 492001, India.  Tel: +91/771-2442557 and 2442572.  Fax: +91-771-2442557 and 2442131. Email: asastri@yahoo.com

Building Knowledge for a Changing Climate.  The Impacts of Climate Change on the Built Environment. [PDF].  Report (dtd February 2003)  from the UK Climate Impacts Programme and EPSRC, 21 pp., (2003).Download PDF file.   (link posted 31 May 2003)

Warming to the Idea.  Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change in the South West [United Kingdom]. Summary Report (dtd January 2003) from the UK Climate Impacts Programme.  (links posted 31 May 2003)

• Intro & Key Messages [PDF] (1,047 KB)
• Changing climate [PDF] (966 KB)
• Natural environment [PDF] (654 KB)
• Society & Infrastructure [PDF] (1,140 KB)
• Economy [PDF] (1,119 KB)
• LA's, The way forward & Summary  [PDF] (506 KB)

NOAA Paleoclimatology Probes the Past.  Press release (dtd 21 May 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 31 May 2003)

Coaxing nature to reveal 1,000 years of the Earth's climate.  Article (dtd 20 May 2003) from the Boston Globe. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Fossil Record Accurately Reflects Recent Flowering of Marine Biodiversity.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from the National Science Foundation. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Descent into 'deep-time': NSF workshop highlights earth's ancient paleoclimate.  Press release (dtd 12 May 2003) from the National Science Foundation.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

Seafloor sediments hold clues to runaway global warming. Article (dtd 12 May 2003) from  UC Santa Cruz Currents. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Coastal Cities Turn up the Heat on Rainfall.   Press release (dtd 27 May 2003) from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.  (link posted 31 May 2003)
 

Earth & Sky.  Daily science radio series, currently funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Both transcripts & audio files are provided:   (link posted 31 May  2003)

• Sun-Climate Connection   "[P]article physicist Jasper Kirkby talks about some possible links between cosmic rays, clouds and global climate change". (original broadcast date: 20 June 2003)

Model helps scientists home in on tropical climate controls.  Press release (21 May 2003) University of Wisconsin.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

Feedback could warm climate fast: Holistic model hints next century could get even hotter than we thought.  Article (dtd 19 May 2003) from Nature's "Science Update."   See also: New climate model predicts greater 21st century warming.  Press release (19 May 2003) from the American Geophysical Union.   (links posted 31 May 2003)

Aerosols' effects could change current understanding of global climate change.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from University of Washington.   (link posted 31 May 2003)

NASA Finds Soot Has Impact on Global Climate.    Press release (dtd 13 May 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Chinese Dust Found Atop French Alps.  Press release (dtd 15 May 2003) from American Geophysical Union (AGU). (link posted 31 May 2003)

Second Report on the Adequacy of the Global Observing Systems for Climate (Full Report) [PDF].  Also available: Executive Summary and Report to SBSTA-18 [both PDF files].  From the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).  GCOS was established in 1992 to ensure that the observations and information needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available to all potential users. It is co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU).  (link posted 31 May 2003)

16-20 June 2003.  Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada.  18th Stanstead Seminar: Climate Variability and Predictability from Seasons to Decades.  Sponsor:  Canadian CLIVAR Research Network.  Contact: Ms. Lisa LeBlanc, Network Manager, The Canadian CLIVAR Research Network c/o Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montr�al, Qu�bec, Canada H3A 2K6.  Tel: (514) 398-6361.  Fax: (514) 398-6115.  Email: lisa.leblanc@mcgill.ca.

Livermore researchers discover uncertainties in satellite data hamper detection of global warming.  Press release (dtd 1 May 2003) from the University of California, Berkeley.  See also New Look at Satellite Data Supports Global Warming Trend, press release (dtd 1 May 2003) from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. (posted 2 May 2003).

Recent Atmospheric Conditions & Impacts:

• Up-to-Date Weather, Climate & Wildfire Summaries

• Climate of 2003 - April.  Report (last updated  15 May 2003 ) from the National Climatic Data Center. (link posted 31 May 2003)

• NOAA Reports Drought Conditions Improving in Parts of U.S. With Wetter-than-average February-April.  Press release (15 May 2003) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (link posted 31 May 2003)

• New USGS Fact Sheet on Past and Present Droughts in Utah: Present Drought One of Most Severe in a Century.  Press release (dtd 6 May 2003) from USGS. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Hurricanes.  Links to background information on the connection between climate change and hurricanes.  Other useful links related to hurricanes also provided.

NOAA Forecasters Say Six to Nine Hurricanes Could Threaten in 2003.   Top hurricane experts from NOAA today said the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season will likely have above normal levels of activity. The outlook calls for the potential of 11 to 15 tropical storms, with six to nine hurricanes, and two to four classified as major hurricanes. (link posted 22 May 2003)

Updated Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity and U.S. Landfall Strike Probability for 2003.  Report (dtd 30 May 2003) from William M. Gray, Philip J. Klotzbach, and Christopher W. Landsea; and published by the Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University. (link posted 30 May 2003)

Proceedings of the Tenth U.S. -Japan Workshop on Global Change: Climate and Water.  Workshop held 15-17 January 2003, Irvine, California.  Draft dated 30 April 2003.   Also available as MS Word file.   (link posted 30 May 2003)

Coastal Cities Turn up the Heat on Rainfall.   According to a new NASA-funded study, "urban heat islands, created from pavement and buildings in big coastal cities like Houston, cause warm air to rise and interact with sea breezes to create heavier and more frequent rainfall in and downwind of the cities. Analysis of Houston-area rain-gauge data, both prior to and since urbanization, also suggests there have been observed increases in rainfall as more heat islands were created. " Press release (dtd 27 May 2003) from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.  (link posted 31 May 2003)

Unique NASA Satellite Watches Rainfall from Space.  Press release (dtd 12 May 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Mapping The Greenland Ice Sheets.    Press release (dtd 7 May 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory. (link posted 31 May 2003)

Vanishing Ice.  "Konrad Steffen arrived on the Greenland Ice Sheet for the 2002 fieldwork season and immediately observed that something significant was happening in the Arctic. Pools of water already spotted the ice surface, and melting was occurring where it never had before.:  Feature (dtd 7 May 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory.  The article focuses on the extraordinary melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and Arctic sea ice in 2002, and on increased ice melt recorded over recent decades. (link posted 31 May 2003)

NASA Discovers a Soggy Secret of El Niño    Press release (dtd 1 May 2003) from NASA's Earth Observatory. (link posted 31 May 2003)

11-13 June 2003.  Boulder, Colorado.  Water, Climate, and Uncertainty: Implications for Western Water Law, Policy, and Management. Sponsor: Natural Resources Law Center, University of Colorado. "Both short-term and long-term climate variability impact natural resources in a variety of ways. In the west, the most obvious concern is the impact on water supplies. Advances in climate science and forecasts offer increasingly valuable insight into what the future holds."  Contact: Natural Resources Law Center, University of Colorado School of Law, 401 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0401; (303) 492-1272; e-mail: nrlc@spot.colorado.edu.

21-24 July 2003.  Seattle, Washington. Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Americas Prediction Project (GAPP) 2003 PIs Meeting.  Contact: Kathy Watson, NOAA Office of Global Programs, 1100 Wayne Ave, Suite 1210, Silver Spring, MD 20910.  Telephone: 301-427-2089 ext. 110.  Fax: 301-427-2073.  Email: watson@ogp.noaa.gov.  (posted 20 May 2003)