by Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa. [Note from the editor: This is the tenth in a series of blog entries that will focus on introductory topics in climate dynamics and modeling, and will be a great insight into the current understanding of the science.] The concepts of radiative forcing (previously discussed […]
Historical Climatic Data and Infectious Disease: Messages from the Past Help Forecast Epidemics of the Future
May 26, 2012
By Jason Klein, Environmental Writer and Editor The connections between climate change and infectious diseases are far more complex and numerous than the scope of this article can entail, as a search on your favorite search engine will tell you. Our specific question is: can an analysis of historical climatic data help us to understand […]
Capacity Building Workshop on Data Rescue and Climate Change Indices: A Contribution to the Implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services in the Caribbean
May 23, 2012
By Teddy Allen, IEDRO Science Applications Manager May 7-10, 2012 –The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica. IEDRO recently participated in the Capacity Building Workshop on Data Rescue and Climate Change Indices as part of the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). The remaining ETCCDI members supporting the workshop represented NOAA, […]
Part 9: What drives climate changes?
May 20, 2012
by Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa. [Note from the editor: This is the ninth in a series of blog entries that will focus on introductory topics in climate dynamics and modeling, and will be a great insight into the current understanding of the science.] The climate system can be influenced by different […]
Methane: It’s Not Just for Jupiter Any More
May 15, 2012
By Jason Klein, Environmental Writer and Editor The molecule methane (CH4) can be found on many planets in our solar system, including Earth. Its presence is essential for life as we know it, and can be found in the guts of cattle and termites. Methane is also a by-product of plant decomposition, and is the […]
Ocean acidification
May 13, 2012
By Gavin Roy, MS candidate. When thinking about climate change, one’s mind often turns to smokestacks, smoggy skies, and the image of mirages on a hot, hazy day. Less considered is what has been called global warming’s “evil twin”: the acidification and warming of the world’s oceans. In a new research study, marine chemists warn […]
Part 8: Climate modeling
May 10, 2012
By Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa. [Note from the editor: This is the eighth in a series of blog entries that will focus on introductory topics in climate dynamics and modeling, and will be a great insight into the current understanding of the science.] Simply stated, climate models are mathematical representations of […]
Tree Rings: A Type of Weather Data
May 8, 2012
By Penny Paugh Trees grow on every continent except Antarctica, and the rings they contain embody a record of climate change going back thousands of years. Each ring represents a single year’s growth, so not only can a ring count tell us how old a tree is, but they can also help reconstruct climatic history […]
A Q&A with ICOADS: Historical Marine Data for Climate Research Severely Reduced
May 8, 2012
By Pennell Paugh and Joan O’Brien IEDRO recently interviewed Scott D. Woodruff, director of NOAA’s International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS) program. Q: First, can you explain what the ICOADS program does? A: We collect and store in situ (data collected from the ground) surface marine meteorological data. Data presently extending back to the late […]
Historical Weather Data Rescue: Baseline for Transformative Action
May 5, 2012
By Joan O’Brien When nations consider the potential risk of extreme climate events within their boundaries, vulnerability and exposure to disasters are factors that must be included in order to develop disaster risk management programs and adaptation plans. The International Environmental Data Rescue Organization (IEDRO) strives to help nations use data rescue to enhance their […]