By Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa [Note from the editor: This is the thirteenth in a series of blog entries that will focus on introductory topics in climate dynamics and modeling, and will serve to provide insight into the current understanding of the science.] In addition to the low frequency variability of […]
Protocell Tech, Limestone and the Future of Architecture
June 25, 2012
by Bea Kylene Jumarang These days, words like protocell belong in biology laboratories. Even words like carbon cycle confuse the majority of people. Still, you may be asking, why is protocell being described in relation to architecture? In biology, and as Biology-Online puts it, a protocell is a large, ordered structure enclosed by a membrane, […]
Part 12: The Timescales of Climate Change: Climate since Earth’s formation to the last million years
June 22, 2012
By Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa. [Note from the editor: This is the twelfth in a series of blog entries that will focus on introductory topics in climate dynamics and modeling, and will serve to provide insight into the current understanding of the science.] The study of the climate of the far past […]
Role of Phytoplankton in Atmospheric Regulation
June 19, 2012
By Penny Paugh Scientists have been examining the self-regulating factors of climate and the oceans. A study conducted at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, WA, has been looking at the role of the tiny organisms and the planet’s atmosphere. “For many years, we thought that chemical emissions from phytoplankton was the major player in […]
Part 11: The Timescales of Climate Change: Internal Climate Variability
June 16, 2012
by Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa [Note from the editor: This is the eleventh 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.] Since the beginning of Earth’s history, climate has […]
Abrupt Climate Change: The Danger of the Unforeseen
June 13, 2012
By Jason Klein “Nothing like this has ever happened before.” – Professor Terry Rapson, from the movie “The Day After Tomorrow” The study of climate change is by no means an exact science. It is subject to a large number of variables. Forecast models can employ the most sophisticated machines we have ever built, and […]
A Study of the Good and Bad Effects of Volcanic Ash
June 10, 2012
By Pennell Paugh A study that has been conducted for the past six years by Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of Miami is revealing a link between large dust storms on Iceland and glacial melting. While the dust is accelerating glacial melting it also is contributing important nutrients to the […]
On the way to Rio+20: Adaptation Futures
June 7, 2012
By Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa. In a couple of weeks, on June 20-22, 2012, the countries of the United Nations (UN) will gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the Conference on Sustainable Development: Rio+20. The conference is an historic opportunity to define a safer, cleaner, greener and more prosperous future […]
Climate and Famine: Two Examples
June 4, 2012
By Jason Klein, IEDRO’s Environmental Writer and Editor We have all witnessed the effects of famine – malnourished children, dead herds of cattle, the plaintive appeals of Sally Struthers. But what if a famine could be predicted, and then we could work to prevent it? The good news is that by delving into past instances […]
Melting from underneath
June 1, 2012
By Torben Stichel, PhD., University of Hawaii at Manoa The ongoing debate on global climate change tends to give the impression that there is nothing new on this front. Of course, the candidates and media outlets involved in the upcoming election for the presidency of the United States will again use this topic as a political […]