NASA: National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationEarth Observatory

Media Alerts: July 2004

  1. June 2004
  2. August 2004
  1. New Study to Investigate Demise of Coral Reef Ecosystems July 30, 2004

    Scientists are embarking on a project which will explore how global warming is devastating one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, coral reefs. (University of Newcastle press release)

  2. Monsoons, North American Style: NCAR Helps Probe the Southwest's Summer Rains July 29, 2004

    From Mazatlán to Tucson, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is analyzing moisture-laden skies as part of the largest study yet of the North American Monsoon, the summer rains that affect dry land farming, ranching, and wildfire control across the southwest United States and northwest Mexico. (National Center for Atmospheric Research press release)

  3. Ocean Study Explores Link with Australian and Indonesian Rainfall July 27, 2004

    Scientists are investigating fluctuations in the flow of warm waters from the western Pacific Ocean draining through the Indonesian Archipelago into the Indian Ocean north of Australia. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization-Australia press release)

  4. Satellites Are Tracing Europe's Forest Fire Scars July 27, 2004

    Burning with a core heat approaching 800°C (1472°F) and spreading at up to 100 meters (328 feet) per minute, woodland blazes bring swift, destructive change to landscapes: the resulting devastation can be seen from space. (European Space Agency press release)

  5. Springtime Blooms Seen Earlier Now Than in the Past, Say Boston University Biologists July 26, 2004

    Taking something of a back-to-the-future approach, biologists from Boston University have looked into the past to find that flowering plants growing today blossom more than a week earlier than a century ago. (Boston University press release)

  6. Plant Respiration Not Just an Evolutionary Leftover, Study Shows July 22, 2004

    A biological process in plants, thought to be useless and even wasteful, has significant benefits and should not be engineered out -- particularly in the face of looming climate change, says a team of UC Davis researchers. (University of California -- Davis press release)

  7. Geologists Discover Water Cuts Through Rock at Surprising Speed July 22, 2004

    In the first study to measure when and how quickly rivers outside of growing mountain ranges cut through rock, University of Vermont geologists have determined that about 35,000 years ago the Susquehanna and Potomac rivers began carving out the Great Falls of the Potomac. (University of Vermont press release)

  8. Mediterranean Sun Seekers Should Thank Antarctic July 20, 2004

    Europeans who enjoy sunning themselves on the shores of the Mediterranean should thank Antarctica for their good fortune. (University of New South Wales press release)

  9. Impact of Earth’s Rising Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Found in World’s Oceans July 15, 2004

    An international team of scientists has completed the first comprehensive study of the ocean storage of carbon dioxide derived from human activity, called anthropogenic carbon dioxide, based on a decade-long survey of global ocean carbon distributions in the 1990s. (National Science Foundation press release)

  10. Climate-based Model to Predict West Nile Activity July 13, 2004

    Funded by a Global Programs grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Cornell University scientists plan to develop a system to study the influence of climate on mosquito populations. (Cornell University press release)

  11. Some of the Biggest Raindrops Found in Both Clean and Dirty Air July 13, 2004

    On two occasions, separated by four years and thousands of miles and in very different conditions, raindrops were measured at sizes similar to or greater than the largest ever recorded. (University of Washington press release)

  12. Water Study Yields a Few Surprises for New England July 8, 2004

    New England's legacy of urban and industrial activities, together with recent development in forested areas, has affected the quality of rivers and ground water in cities and rural areas, according to a new report. (U.S. Geological Survey press release)

  13. Gearing Up for Flooding Season July 6, 2004

    Using data gathered over the past 19 years, Dartmouth Flood Observatory experts know that most flooding worldwide happens in July and August, and they can point out where and when floods are likely to occur. (Dartmouth College press release)

  14. Climate May Play Role in Lynx&rsqo;s Hunting Ability July 5, 2004

    Snow quality may affect the Canadian lynx's ability to kill its prey, according to new research suggesting climate may be impacting one of the most fascinating ecological systems to intrigue biologists for decades. (University of Alberta press release)

  15. New Space-borne Instrument to Track Greenhouse Gases, Ozone Destroyers, and Other Pollutants July 4, 2004

    The High-Resolution Dynamic Limb Sounder instrument headed to space on the Aura satellite, and will send back long-sought answers about greenhouse gases, atmospheric cleansers and pollutants, and the destruction and recovery of the ozone layer. (National Center for Atmospheric Research press release)