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 […]
atmosphere
Part 4: The Land
March 20, 2012
Luisa Cristini, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa. [Note from the editor: This is the fourth 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.] Many characteristics of the climate are influenced by the […]
Tracking Pollutants in the Atmosphere
March 6, 2012
By Penny Paugh Researchers have launched the 5-phase HIPPO (HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observation) project that generates detailed mapping, vertically and across latitudes, of the global distribution of greenhouse gases, black carbon and related chemical species in the atmosphere. Scientists hope HIPPO’s detailed view will allow them to more realistically approximate the global atmosphere’s chemical distribution and […]
The Medieval Climate Anomaly
January 21, 2012
By Gavin Roy Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels has increased from 280ppm (parts per million) to 390ppm across the globe. This has led to a net warming in the atmosphere to a magnitude that is still being quantified. Complicating […]
Climate-Observing Satellite Launched
October 29, 2011
To refresh NASA’s aging satellite fleet a satellite was launched on October 28, 2011, that will make observations about the atmosphere, earth and oceans to help understand climate change. NASA is developing a new fleet of research satellites for NOAA. One of the satellite’s main jobs is to test key technologies for the planned fleet. […]
Self-Cleaning Capability of Atmosphere Is Stable
September 18, 2011
by Dale Elizabeth Corey Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) international research team took a look at the atmosphere’s ability to cleanse itself of pollutants and some greenhouse gases. Findings were more positive than expected. The atmosphere is doing pretty well against environmental changes. A new analysis shows […]