Earth
- Humans
Really bad year for Arctic sea ice
On October 4, the National Snow and Ice Data Center posted information on its website indicating that the summer melt of sea ice in the Arctic, this year, approached — but did not quite match — the record set four years ago. A team of European scientists now concludes NSIDC underestimated those Arctic losses.
- Humans
Study recalibrates trees’ carbon uptake
Photosynthesis appears to be somewhat speedier than conventional wisdom had suggested, a new study finds. If true, this suggests computer projections are at risk of overestimating the potential for trees to sop up carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.
- Humans
Arctic ozone: ‘Hole’ or just not whole?
This past spring, the Arctic stratosphere’s ozone layer suffered unprecedented depletion. But whether the record loss constituted a “hole” depends on which experts you consult.
- Earth
Arctic ozone loss in 2011 unprecedented
Report describes a ‘hole’ comparable to conditions observed over Antarctica during the mid-1980s.
- Earth
Earth/Environment
Diamonds from the depths have shallow elements, New Zealand earthquake helped triggered its successor and more in this week’s news.
- Earth
Pole flips tied to plate tectonics
A lopsided arrangement of continents could lead to reversals in Earth's magnetic field.
- Humans
BPA: What to make of pollutant-laced kids’ foods
The San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Fund has just released some provocative data on the presence of bisphenol A — a hormone-mimicking pollutant — in every brand-name canned food it tested.
- Earth
Pacific volcanoes share split personality
The dual chemistry of island chains reflects variations in the distribution of ancient material bubbling up from deep within the Earth.
- Earth
Earth & Environment
Toxic consequences of solar power, enduring effects of ancient landslides and more in this week's news.
- Earth
Summer Arctic melt among worst ever
With no obvious weather pattern to explain this year’s near-record annual ice retreat, generally warming climate appears to be the culprit.
- Oceans
Synthetic lint ends up in oceans
Microplastics from clothes and other consumer products evade sewage treatment and end up on beaches, studies find.
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