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Arctic Sea Ice Extent returns to average trend

Submitted by takver on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 6:07am
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During March 2010 sea ice extent has continued to grow bucking the trend of a slow reduction in sea ice at this time of year. Sea Ice Extent is just below the 1979-2000 average sea ice extent. This data is still in accord with the long term trend of reduction in arctic sea ice.

Climate tipping point: Global Atmospheric Methane on the rise

Submitted by takver on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 5:18am
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The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is rising, according to measurements made by the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) at its Baring Head Station near Wellington.

Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas whose affect on climate is 21 times stronger than Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and is the second most important contributor to global warming behind carbon dioxide. It is produced naturally mainly by biological breakdown of organic substances in oxygen-deficient conditions, such as the digestive system of ruminant animals and the decay of plant material in swamps or landfills. It is also prevalent in fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas (which is mainly methane).

A Global Warming Story You Haven't Heard

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/28/2009 - 11:37pm
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Strange Climate Bedfellows: Black Carbon Bill Unites Boxer, Kerry, Inhofe

Arctic ice feeling the heat of Climate Change

Submitted by takver on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 12:17pm
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Arctic Sea Ice extent is still shrinking according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The thickness of Arctic ice is also reducing. Over the 2009 winter the Arctic had the fifth lowest maximum ice extent on record. The six lowest maximum events since satellite monitoring began in 1979 have all occurred in the past six years (2004-2009).

Greenland Ice Cap Melting Anomaly 2008

Submitted by takver on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 11:30am
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"The northern fringes of Greenland’s ice sheet experienced extreme melting in 2008, according to NASA scientist Marco Tedesco and his colleagues. This image shows the number of days when melting occurred on the ice sheet compared to the average number of melt days between 1979 and 2007. Red outlines the northern rim and parts of the west coast of Greenland, indicating that the summer melting period in 2008 was longer than average in many places. Many locations in northern Greenland experienced a record number of melt days. Temperatures at nearby ground-based weather stations were correspondingly high.

Antarctic Warming: Wilkins Ice Bridge Collapses

Submitted by takver on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 10:47am
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Antarctica Warming Trends 1957-2006In early April 2009 the Wilkins Ice Bridge connecting Latady and Charcot Island on the Antarctic Peninsula collapsed. The disintegration of this ice bridge will allow the further disintegration of the Wilkins ice shelf. A large part of the Wilkins Ice Shelf disintegrated in February 2008.

Wilkins Ice Bridge Collapse April 2009

Submitted by takver on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 9:35am
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Image: NASA - Wilkins Ice Bridge Collapse - April 8, 2009
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=37806

Antarctic Warming Trends 1957-2006

Submitted by takver on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 9:29am
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Image: NASA - Antarctic Warming Trends - January 23, 2009

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php

Civil Society says “No” to geo-engineers hacking the planet

Submitted by takver on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 6:21pm
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Over 80 Civil society groups from around the world have condemned plans being put to climate scientists meeting in Copenhagen regarding geo-engineering the earth as a fix for climate change. The ETC group based in North America has released a statement initiated at the World Social Forum in Belém, Brazil in January 2009.

Scientists confirm Rising Sea Levels may exceed one metre this century

Submitted by takver on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 6:12pm
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Scientists meeting in Copenhagen have said that sea level rise this century may exceed a metre, far beyond the estimates of the International Panel on Climate Change released two years ago which projected a sea level rise of 18 - 59 centimeters to 2100.

"Unless we undertake urgent and significant mitigation actions, the climate could cross a threshold during the 21st century committing the world to a sea level rise of metres", said Dr John Church, lead speaker in the sea level session and from the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research in Hobart.

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