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 […]
Part 10: How does the climate system respond to a perturbation?
May 29, 2012
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 […]