Climate
- Climate
Winter forecast: Sustained blizzard of climate news
At least in our area of the country, consumers are already being assaulted — well before Halloween — with Christmas music, decorations and holiday-themed goods. Reporters are smack in the throes of their own early seasonal blitz: News items carrying a climate or global-warming theme. And I don’t expect the crush of climate news and seminars to diminish until around Christmas. That’s when the next United Nations COP — or Conference of the Parties — will end this year’s pivotal round of negotiations in Copenhagen aimed at producing a new climate treaty.
- Climate
Carbon emissions: Trend improves, but …
Sometimes what’s bad for the economy can be good for the planet. Or so argued Lester Brown, president of Earth Policy Institute, yesterday. This environmental trend spotter pointed to several developments that may have escaped our attention as the global economy alternately sputtered and entered periods of freefall throughout the past 18 months. Trend one: U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas, have taken a tumble.
- Climate
Giant snakes warming to U.S. climes
Some were pets whose bodies and appetites apparently got too big for their owners to support. Most are probably descendants of released pets. Today, thousands of really big non-native snakes — we’re talking boa constrictors, anacondas and pythons — slither wild in southern Florida. And there’s nothing holding them in the Sunshine State. Which is why a report that was released today contends they pose moderate to high ecological threats to states on three U.S. coasts. Indeed, the homelands of these snakes share climatic features with large portions of the United States — territory currently inhabited by some 120 million Americans. Based on comparisons of the temperatures, rainfall and land cover found in the snakes’ native range, it’s possible that these slithering behemoths could stake claims to territory as far north as coastal Delaware and Oregon.
- Ecosystems
As climate shifts, birds follow
Most of the birds in California’s Sierra Nevada range are on the move in response to recent climate changes.
- Earth
Unusual advances
New glacier model helps explain how ice masses can grow even in a generally warming climate.
- Earth
Cash for clunkers II: Appliances
States could soon roll out programs that help consumers replace energy hogging home appliances.
- Earth
A source of haze
Scientists identify how a hydrocarbon commonly emitted by plants is converted to light-scattering aerosols.
- Science & Society
News of science: Choose wisely
As the 'news' industry evolves, consumers who value quality science journalism may need to become ever more discriminating.
- Ecosystems
Churning the numbers
Some of the ocean’s small swimmers may be having a big impact on ocean mixing.
- Chemistry
CO2 sponge
Macromolecule that was accidentally discovered seems to trap carbon dioxide from the air.
- Earth
A hundred new nukes?
Here are some issues to contemplate while deciding whether to welcome the nuclear-power renaissance that Sen. Alexander has just proposed.
- Earth
Signs of ancient sea ice
New analyses of Arctic seafloor sediments suggest floating ice debuted in the ocean at least 47.5 million years ago.
