Study Hints at Extreme Climate Change
October 28 — Abrupt climate changes could be normal in Earth's climate future, report climate researchers. Scott Lehman at the University of Colorado's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research says there is clear evidence that the Atlantic Ocean was undergoing very large and rapid temperature changes during the last glacial period that affected global temperatures by up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. (Environmental News Network)

Climate Can Change Quickly
October 28 — Researchers have found evidence that the world's climate can change suddenly, almost like a thermostat that changes from cold to hot. Jeffrey P. Severinghaus at Scripps Institution of Oceanography reports there was an abrupt 16-degree warming at the end of the last ice age and that greenhouse warming may trigger another one of these rapid climate changes. (Paul Recer, Associated Press)

Warmer Winter Seen for South
October 27 — Americans across the South can anticipate a milder than usual winter, but stormy weather is the outlook for the Northwest and Great Lakes states, according to meteorologists. James Baker, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says that La Niña is to blame for the predicted warm, dry winter in the South and the wet, snowy winter in the North. (Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press)

Under Antarctica, Clues to an Icecap's Fate
October 26 — Images of Antartica from NASA's Radarsat satellite are expected to help in forecasting low-lying parts of the world, including Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and even New York City say researchers. Ghassem Asrar, associate administrator for Earth sciences at NASA headquarters, says that Radarsat and other new satellites are showing a holistic view of the continent and are opening a new window on Antarctica. (Malcolm W. Browne, New York Times)

La Niña Keeps Northern California Forecasters Guessing
October 26 — Northern California faces a second winter with a threat of major flooding, warn state officials. Elizabeth A. Morse, of the National Weather Service says that there is a tendency for La Niña events to last more than one year, and even during dry events there is always one month where precipitation levels are above normal. (John D. Cox, Sacramento Bee)

La Niña Reappears in Pacific
October 22 — Scientists are predicting a wet winter across the Northwest and a dry one in the Southwest of the U.S. after discovering the reappearance of La Niña in the Pacific Ocean. William Patzer, an oceanographer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said that the resurgence of La Niña will undoubtedly exert a strong influence on North America's climate this fall and winter. (Associated Press)

Warming Trends -- Global Effects Felt Worldwide
October 19 — New York and Tokyo may face flooding, Latin America will suffer from drought, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef may be destroyed unless more is done to stop global warming, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Nature warned today. With no action to curb emissions, the climate on Earth over the next century could become warmer than any human species has lived through reports the group reports. (Associated Press)

Model May Help Predict Hurricanes
October 14 — Accurately predicting the intensity of a hurricane may be easier than previously thought suggest scientists. Kerry Emanuel, an atmospheric scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says that the goal of this climate model is to understand what controls the intensity of a hurricane, but the model may also be useful in hurricane predictions. (Matthew Fordahl, Associated Press)

Talks Focus on Most Abundant Greenhouse Gas
October 12 — The effect of water vapor, the most abundant greenhouse gas, on global climate is significant report scientists. At the Chapman Conference on Water Vapor and the Climate System, organized by the American Geophysical Union, scientists will present results on water vapor as a greenhouse gas and water vapor's role in the hydrologic cycle. (Environmental News Network)

Report Plays Down Global Warming in Antarctic Ice Melt
October 8 — The massive West Antarctic Ice Sheet may be headed for a complete meltdown in a process that was triggered thousands of years ago and not as a result of global warming, a new study suggests. Scientists at the University of Washington say that complete disintegration of the ice sheet could be inevitable. (Associated Press)

Melting Arctic Slab to Lift Sea Levels 20 Feet
October 7 — A melting ice sheet half the size of Alaska has scientists predicting a sea level rise of about 20 feet over the next 7,000 years. Scientists from the University of Washington and the University of Maine report that the 360,000-square-mile West Antarctic Ice Sheet should be completely melted in the next 7,000 years. (Eric Sorensen, Seattle Times)

Global Warming Fight May Cost Less
October 7 — Fighting global warming could cost the United States and other industrial nations much less money than analysts have predicted. The cost of complying with the Kyoto Protocol maybe up to 60 percent less than estimated when efforts are made to reduce all six types of gases covered by the Protocol, says John Reilly at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Chris Tomlinson, Associated Press)

NASA Images Show Shrinking Ozone Hole
October 1 — NASA images reveal the ozone hole is shrinking. Paul Newman, atmospheric physicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, says that the hole is still really big, but it is slightly smaller than last year. Newman predicts that the hole won't disappear completely till 2060. (Ann Kellan, CNN Interactive)

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