Ozone Loss in Arctic Stratosphere
May 30, 2000Another significant loss of ozone occurred over the Arctic this year. Scientists attributed the loss to clouds in the stratosphere which persisted into the spring. (Richard Harris, National Public Radio's "All Things Considered")
Earth Snapshots Delight RIT
May 24, 2000For the first time there is a complete cloud-free and sunlit global map of the Earth thanks to Landsat 7. John Schott of Rochester Institute of Technology reports that Landsat 7 is mapping places like the coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, which have not been mapped by a high-resolution satellite in 15 years. (Corydon Ireland, Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle)
Dry Times for Farmers
May 23, 2000Farming regions of West Texas, the Southeast, and the Midwest's corn belt are in the midst of the driest and most damaging drought in decades, say meteorologists. Mark Svoboda of the University of Nebraska says this kind of drought is often a 20- to 50-year event and believes that drought is link to La Ni�a. (Michael James, ABC News)
Seas and Soils Emerge as Keys to Climate
May 16, 2000As the difficulty of reducing carbon dioxide emissions at the source becomes more obvious, efforts are under way to manipulate the carbon cycle so that it will remove more of the heat-trapping gases from the air. Kevin Gurney of Colorado State University discusses options for terrestrial absorption of carbon to meet Kyoto Protocol targets. (William K. Stevens, The New York Times)
Soot Eats Clouds, Turns Up Global Thermostat
May 12, 2000Soot reduces cloud cover and enhances global warming according to scientists. Andrew Ackerman at NASA Ames Research Center, says the large amount of pollution coming from the Indian subcontinent absorbs sunlight, heats the surrounding area, and evaporates clouds. (Environmental News Network)
Stronger Hurricanes Forecast in 2000
May 10, 2000Hurricane season is fast approaching and scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the outlook is not good. James Baker, head of NOAA says 11 tropical storms are predicted for the hurricane season with seven of those storms becoming hurricanes. At least three of the hurricanes will be severe. (Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press)
La Niña Is Dying. Or Is It?
May 9, 2000According to NASA scientists, La Niña is running out of steam. Tony Busalacchi of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center says La Niña isn't over yet, but that is weakening and will die out by summertime. (Natalie Pawelski, CNN Interactive)
Disruptive Weather Phenomenon La Niña May Be Easing
May 9, 2000La Niña, the Pacific cooling that caused last summer's drought, may finally be over. David Adamec of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center says that La Niña has disappeared in the eastern Pacific Ocean and is easing over the rest of the Pacific according to satellite data. (Randolph E. Schmidt, Associated Press)
Catching Greenhouse Gases
May 1, 2000Carbon sequestration or the disposal of industrial carbon dioxide is an idea that is growing in popularity across the United States. Possible disposal sites include oil fields, coal seams, deep underground, and in the ocean. Dan Lasloff of the National Resources Defense Council warns that carbon sequestration in the ocean could pose environmental risks. (Malcolm Ritter, Associated Press)