Blog Feed: A Very Different Earth

An Earth Too Hot For Humans?

Published on 2013-02-25 11:55:41

In worst-case but possible warming scenarios, much of Earth could become too hot for human habitation. That's the gist of recent research by Steven C. Sherwood of the Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales and Matthew Huber o

What is the "Greenhouse Effect" and How Does It Work?

Published on 2012-09-17 12:19:09

This post will help you understand Why the "greenhouse effect" has to do with gases in the atmosphere, How these "greenhouse gases" in the atmosphere warm the Earth (and what that has to do with things that are "red hot"), What this implies for future warming as we put more of these gases into the atmosphere. The use of a toaster is not required, but it helps if you know how one works. What Is The Greenhouse Effect? The "greenhouse effect" refers to how gases in the atmosphere which absorb i [..]

Rapid Change in the Arctic

Published on 2011-05-10 10:05:55

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) has issued its latest Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic report (SWIPA), with recent data on changes in the arctic and how they will affect us all. The major finding is that changes the

Is "Dangerous Interference" Inevitable?

Published on 2010-10-05 17:19:52

Should We Just Throw In The Towel? The Stern Review warned that adapting to climate change would be significantly more expensive than avoiding it in the first place (see this earlier post). But the opportunity to slow or reduce ("mitigate") climate c

Geoengineering Today

Published on 2010-09-29 12:54:13

Geoengineering . . . You're Looking At It [crossposted from Doc's Green Blog] "Geoengineering" refers to large-scale efforts to manipulate the climate. There are several current and recent activities that have been undertaken for other purposes, but

Storms of My Grandchildren--James Hanson

Published on 2010-09-13 21:10:58

Serious Science for Critical Times [Crossposted from Doc's Green Blog.] Dr. James Hansen has written a personal, idiosyncratic, urgent, heartfelt book about climate change, past and future. The reader can feel his frustration at the stubborn inactio

Geoengineering No Simple Solution

Published on 2010-09-07 13:21:03

Can we use geoengineering to avoid the worst effects of climate change caused by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide? Don't count on it, say two recent scientific articles. Sea Level Rise Can't Be Halted By GeoengineeringResearcher from China/Finl

Plants Unhappy About Global Warming

Published on 2010-09-02 15:56:26

Rice field in Bangladesh New science raises serious concerns about the negative impact of global warming on crop yields and plant productivity in general. This could be one of the most severe social and economic effects of climate change. Rice Yiel

The Rising Sea--Book Review

Published on 2010-07-29 10:36:50

The Rising Sea by Orrin Pilkey and Rob Young (details here from Island Press or from Amazon), is well worth reading. Pilkey (Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences, and Founder and Director Emeritus of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines

How Much Warming Are We Asking For?

Published on 2010-07-19 14:08:03

"A New Epoch"A recent report from the U.S. National Research Council does not mince words. "Emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels have ushered in a new epoch where human activities will largely determine the evolution of Eart

The Temperature's Rising--It Isn't Surprising

Published on 2010-07-13 21:58:01

Weather and Climate--Uncomfortable TruthsRecent heat waves in Eastern North America and Eastern Asia call attention to some sticky trends. While it's important to distinguish between "weather", what you see outside at a particular place and time, an

Rain Won't Go Away

Published on 2010-06-19 11:48:46

Recent deadly heavy rains in the U.S., France and China may be part of a long-term trend toward heavier downpours due to climate change. (See earlier post.) If you can't see the video, watch it on YouTube here. Scientists from the Met Office, the U

A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

Published on 2010-06-19 10:32:19

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have analyzed 60 years' worth of National Weather Service rainfall records in nine Northeastern states and found that storms that produce an inch or more of rain in a day are coming more frequently. An