Dino Impact Gave Earth the Chill
May 31, 2004Evidence shows that a global winter followed the asteroid impact that is thought to have killed off the dinosaurs 65 millions years ago. (BBC)
Blackout Gave Cities a Breath of Fresh Air
May 29, 2004The blackout that left 50 million North Americans without power in August 2003 had an unexpected benefit -- the air became cleaner, according to research meteorologists at the University of Maryland. (New Scientist)
Looming Atlantic Hurricane Season Seen as Busy
May 28, 2004The Atlantic-Caribbean hurricane season that starts June 1 will be busier than average, with 14 named storms, eight of which will become hurricanes, says Dr. William Gray of the University of Colorado. (Associated Press, Reuters)
More and More Disturbing Climate News
May 28, 2004Researchers from several academic and government institutions discuss the rise in evidence pointing towards human-induced global warming. (Associated Press)
'Dead Zones' Threaten Fisheries
May 27, 2004The number of coastal 'dead zones,' or oxygen-depleted waters, has been doubling every decade since 1960, and researchers say coastal fisheries near populous regions are most at risk. (Christian Science Monitor)
'Slips' Complicate Science of Earthquakes
May 27, 2004Liquids under high pressure deep beneath the Earth's surface allow some faults to move in a slow, gradual way, potentially delaying earthquakes in some areas, but increasing the threat elsewhere. (Associated Press)
Scientists Look at Moon to Shed Light on Earth's Climate
May 27, 2004According to a new NASA-funded study, the light the Earth casts on the dark side of the Moon is waning, perhaps a signal of climate change or worsening pollution. (Associated Press, Reuters, Scripps Howard)
Biomass Could Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Report Says
May 27, 2004Using biomass, a type of fuel made of materials such as wood and manure, instead of coal, to generate electricity could lower the world's carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new report. (Reuters)
Global Warming Could Lead to Fast Freeze, Warns Scientist
May 26, 2004Dramatic climate changes as a result of global warming could happen in a single lifetime, instead of being a slow process evolving over the centuries, says a University of Ulster academic. (Innovations Report, Germany)
Arctic Thaw Heralds Climate Change Crisis
May 25, 2004The Arctic is warming at more than double the rate of the rest of the planet, and scientists say the thaw is a predictor of catastrophic climate changes. (Reuters, Associated Press)
Volcano Drove Up UK Death Toll in 1783
May 25, 2004UK experts suggest that a cloud of volcanic gases and particles sweeping south from the Laki Craters volcanic eruption in Iceland during the summer of 1783 2004-05-have killed more than 10,000 people in England. (BBC)
As Smog Thickens, So Does the Debate
May 24, 2004As Southern California experiences a resurgence of smog, a growing number of scientists say the government's long-standing strategy for reducing air pollution 2004-05-be making it worse. (Los Angeles Times)
Leading Environmentalist Urges Radical Rethink on Climate Change
May 24, 2004Global warming is advancing so swiftly that only a massive expansion of nuclear power as the world's main energy source can prevent it from overwhelming civilization, says a UK researcher. (The Independent, UK)
Climate Change Affecting Crops
May 24, 2004Agricultural researchers are being called upon to put more efforts into research on the effects of high temperatures and pests in order to adapt Chinese farming to the warming climate. (China Daily)
Computers Help Study Global Warming
May 24, 2004Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Center for Atmospheric Research are building a new massive computer model that will let them tinker with the environment and try to fix it, without harming the real world. (The Albuquerque Tribune)
Mercury and Tides Climb as Climate Change Rises on Global Agenda
May 23, 2004The "greenhouse effect" has increasingly become a central political topic since the late 1970s as warming temperatures and rising oceans are linked to extreme weather events. (Associated Press)
Canada, U.S. Scientists Impatient for 'Slow Quake'
May 22, 2004Scientists are eagerly awaiting the return of a "slow earthquake" that could give them clues to when and where the next major quake will strike the Pacific Coast of North America. (Reuters)
New Underwater Volcano Discovered
May 21, 2004A previously unknown underwater volcano has been discovered off the coast of Antarctica, say scientists with the National Science Foundation. (Associated Press)
Scientists Say Chicago Sinking Every Year
May 20, 2004Shifting land caused by the melting of Canadian glaciers is causing Chicago to sink at the rate of about a millimeter a year, a Northwestern University study has found. (Associated Press)
Seas, Ice, Animals Show Global Warming Impact
May 20, 2004Scientists examine how greenhouse gases impact all aspects of the Earth�s ecosystem. (Associated Press)
The Earth Moves, and You Can Watch
May 20, 2004Satellites can "see" the landscape gently heaving or subsiding at rates of up to one centimeter a year, say scientists. (Guardian Life, UK)
Sun Was Born in Violent Burst, Experts Say
May 20, 2004The Sun burst into existence in a brilliant explosion of supernovas, rather than being born quietly from swirling dust and gases in a dark corner of the universe, say U.S. scientists. (Reuters)
Thaw of Icy Gas 2004-05-Worsen Global Warming
May 19, 2004Thawing deposits of gas under oceans and in permafrost could sharply accelerate global warming in the 21st century, say British scientists. (Reuters)
Climate Change Will Have Catastrophic Effect on Key Rivers
May 19, 2004Climate change will have a disastrous effect on the flow of rivers that provide water for most of Earth�s cities. (New Scientist)
NOAA Expects Above Normal 2004 Hurricane Season
May 18, 2004There is a 50 percent probability that the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season will feature above-normal activity, NOAA meteorologists say. (Reuters)
Climate Change Boom or Bust for Biodiversity
May 18, 2004Scientists debate whether climate change will trigger major mass extinctions or spur new life. (Reuters)
Thriving Bald Eagle Finding Its Way Off Endangered List
May 18, 2004The bald eagle has returned in such a force that only two states lack breeding pairs, and the bird is likely to be removed from the list of threatened species by the year�s end. (Associated Press)
NASA's Terra Satellite Tracks Global Pollution
May 18, 2004Data from NASA's Terra satellite is adding to our understanding of how pollution spreads around the globe, helping scientists better protect and understand the Earth. (Innovations Report-Germany, Spaceflightnow)
NASA and USGS Magnetic Database "Rocks" the World
May 17, 2004NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are teaming up to create one of the most complete databases of magnetic properties of Earth's rocks ever assembled. (UPI, Washington Times)
Arctic Temperatures Warming Rapidly, Says Polar Explorer
May 17, 2004Summer temperatures in the Arctic have risen at an incredible rate over the past three years and large patches of what should be ice are now open water, say a British explorer. (Reuters)
Scientists Says He Knows Why Earth Wobbles
May 17, 2004A Reno scientist and his team of researchers have uncovered the mystery of why the Earth wobbles on its axis as it spins through space. (Associated Press)
NASA Plans to Put an Aura Around the Earth
May 17, 2004On June 19, NASA will launch Aura, a next generation Earth-observing satellite, to supply the best information yet about the health of Earth's atmosphere. (Ascribe News Wire, Space.com)
Ozone Smog Increasingly a Global Problem
May 16, 2004German experts say the ozone smog problem has reached beyond areas traditionally affected by air pollution in Europe and the United States. (BigNewsNetwork.com)
Researchers Study Undersea Volcanoes
May 14, 2004Oregon State University oceanographic researchers just completed a study of undersea volcanoes in the Mariana Arc, and they say some of the volcanic cones look like an underwater version of Mount Hood. (Associated Press)
Canada 2004-05-Face Worst Drought in Years
May 13, 2004Water experts say British Columbia 2004-05-experience its worst drought since the Great Depression as dry weather is predicted for a third consecutive summer. (Associated Press)
Globe Grows Darker as Sunshine Diminishes 10 to 37 Percent
May 13, 2004Hundreds of instruments around the world recorded a drop in sunshine reaching the surface of Earth, as much as 10 percent from the late 1950�s to the early 1990�s, while Hong Kong experienced a reduction of 37 percent. (New York Times)
Inuit 'Poisoned from Afar' Due to Climate Change
May 12, 2004The Inuit living in the Arctic region are being "poisoned from afar" as climate change takes it toll on the area and threatens their existence. (Reuters)
Water Tests Could Measure Global Warming
May 11, 2004U.S. geologists say two water-testing methods could help measure the progress of global warming. (United Press International)
Wetter World Counters Greenhouse Gases Say Scientists
May 11, 2004Australian scientists have found the Earth 2004-05-be more resilient to global warming than first thought, and they say a warmer planet means a wetter planet, encouraging more plants to grow and soak up greenhouse gases. (Reuters)
Heatwaves Can Make Trees Pollute
May 11, 2004Trees are supposed to be one of nature�s greatest defenses against pollution, but new data suggests they can sometimes have the opposite effect. (BBC)
Indian Ocean Could Lose Coral Islands in 50 Years
May 10, 2004The Indian Ocean could lose most of its coral islands in the next 50 years if sea temperatures continue to rise and reefs badly damaged by global warming do not recover, say marine scientists. (Reuters)
Summer Heat Will Cause Deadly Ozone
May 9, 2004Scientists say thousands of Britains 2004-05-be forced to wear charcoal masks and stay indoors this summer to avoid deadly fogs of ozone that will pollute the country during heat waves. (The Observer Guardian, UK)
Global Warming Threatens Beaches
May 7, 2004Miles of British coastline and dozens of beaches are under threat from rising sea levels, environmentalists warn. (Associated News Media, UK)
Rare Seabird Disappearing from Alaska
May 7, 2004A rare seabird found only in Alaska and eastern Russia 2004-05-be disappearing in part due to Alaska�s receding glaciers. (Associated Press)
Satellite Data Confirms Global Warming
May 6, 2004New research suggests that the Earth�s troposphere has been warming slower than atmospheric models predict given the rate of temperature increase on the Earth�s surface. (Nature)
To Cut Daytime Smog, Attack It at Night
May 6, 2004A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research team has found that certain nighttime chemical reactions may partially cleanse the air of smog-making ingredients. (Christian Science Monitor)
Climate Change Is a Serious Issue in South Africa
May 6, 2004A leading climatologist has warned the South African government to take a long-term view of changing climate conditions, or face serious consequences. (Independent Online)
Effects of Climate Warming Are Here and Now
May 5, 2004University of Wisconsin researchers say the impact of global warming is �becoming overwhelming� with varying degrees of severity around the globe. (Scripps Howard)
Snakehead Fish Reveal Ancient Climate Shifts
May 5, 2004A new study finds that appearance of snakehead fish in U.S. lakes may be indicators of ancient climate shifts elsewhere in the world. (Discovery News)
Plankton May Influence Climate Change, Says UCSB Scientist
May 5, 2004New research suggests that tiny ocean plants may influence the Earth�s carbon cycle, impacting the Earth�s climate. (Ascribe NewsWire)
Fossil Trees Help Scientists Understand Climate Change
May 5, 2004A new study of giant fossil trees has allowed scientists to establish the time when mountains first became forested. (NewsWise)
U.S. Agency to Replace Weather Satellite
May 4, 2004The GOES-8 weather satellite is being retired; similar observations will now be taken by the more advanced GOES-12. (Associated Press)
Study: Traditional Fishing Damages Coral Reefs
May 4, 2004Even traditional fishing methods can disturb the delicate balance of fragile ecosystems and are destroying some of the world�s finest coral reefs. (Reuters)
The Warming West: UCSC Researchers Forecast Global Warming Effects
May 2, 2004Researchers at the University of California-Santa Cruz say that temperatures may rise by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of California during the next 50 to 100 years. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Warm Climate�s Effects Striking in West
May 1, 2004New research is being conducted to determine if recent swings in the climate of the western United States will become the norm. (Associated Press)