Climate Change Threatens Siberian Forests
July 31 — Catastrophic forest fire outbreaks in Siberia are happening more frequently because of climate change, new research has found. (University of Leicester press release) More

Atlantic Hurricane Frequency Doubles
July 29 — About twice as many Atlantic hurricanes form each year on average than a century ago, according to a new statistical analysis, and warmer sea surface temperatures and altered wind patterns associated with global climate change are fueling much of the increase. (The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) More

New Clues to Ozone Depletion
July 26 — Large quantities of ozone-depleting chemicals have been discovered in the Antarctic atmosphere, including iodine oxide - a finding that surprised researchers, as the chemical has not been detected in the Arctic. (University of Leeds) More

Ozone Reduces Plant Growth, Adds to Global Warming
July 25 — Increasing levels of ozone near Earth�s surface could lead to significant reductions in regional plant production and crop yields, and could also damage plants, affecting their ability to soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and accelerating global warming. (University of Exeter) More

Los Angeles Enjoying 1,000-Year Seismic Lull
July 24 — The Los Angeles basin appears to be in a seismic "lull" characterized by relatively smaller and infrequent earthquakes, according to a study, which has implications for seismic hazard assessment. (University of Southern California press release) More

Flooding Changes Course of British History
July 19 — A catastrophic megaflood separated Britain from France hundreds of thousands of years ago, changing the course of British history. (Imperial College London) More

Creeping Vines Signal Shift in U.S. Forests
July 17 — A new study of bottomland hardwood forests in the southeastern United States suggests that the increased growth of vines may change the landscape of these forests. (Ohio State University) More

Volcanic Mudflow Witnessed in New Zealand
July 13 — A volcanologist had an opportunity to study volcanic hazards first hand, when a volcanic mudflow broke through the banks of a volcanic lake at Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand. (National Science Foundation press release) More

Sea Ice Getting Thinner
July 13 — Large areas of Arctic sea ice are only about 3.3 feet (1 meter) thick this year, equating to an approximate 50 percent thinning as compared to the year 2001, according to initial results from an expedition to the North Polar Sea. (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research press release) More

Plants Learned to Respond to Changing Environments
July 12 — Scientists have discovered how plants evolved the ability to adapt to changes in climate and environment. (John Innes Centre press release) More

Faults� Structure May Dampen Earthquakes
July 12 — New evidence suggests that the fragmented structure of seafloor faults, along with previously unrecognized volcanic activity, may be dampening the effects of quakes in the deep ocean. (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution press release) More

Melting Ice Drives Polar Bear Mothers to Land
July 12 — Melting sea ice is driving mother polar bears onto dry land to give birth in northern Alaska, U.S. Geological Survey scientists reported � with 37 percent of polar bear dens built on sea ice between 1998 and 2004, compared to 62 percent between 1985 and 1994. (Reuters)

Changing Climate will Challenge Northeast Agriculture
July 11 — Farmers will be the first to feel the heat from global warming as they grapple with new and aggressive crop pests, summer heat stress and other sobering challenges, experts warn. (Cornell University press release) More

Invisible Gases Form Most Organic Haze
July 9 — A new study shows that invisible, reactive gases hovering over Earth's surface, not direct emissions of particulates, form the bulk of organic haze in both urban and rural areas around the world. (University of Colorado, Boulder press release) More

Ancient DNA Reveals Greenland's Warm Past
July 5 — Researchers have collected the oldest samples of DNA ever recovered and used them to show Greenland was much warmer during the last Ice Age than previously believed. (University of Alberta press release) More

Global Warming is Evaporating Arctic Ponds
July 3 — High Arctic ponds � the most common source of surface water in many polar regions � are now beginning to evaporate due to recent climate warming. (Queen�s University press release) More

Urban Growth and Changing Rainfall Patterns Linked
July 2 — For the first time, scientists have used satellite images to demonstrate a link between rapid city growth and rainfall patterns, as well as to assess compliance with an international treaty to protect wetlands. (Stanford University press release) More

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