NASA’s Latest Hit: Ice Show from Space
If you don’t know what causes the seasons, you’re not alone: a mini-documentary made in the 1980’s showed that lots of Harvard grads don’t, either. For the record, the reason is that Earth’s spin axis is slightly tilted. In the months surrounding June, the Northern Hemisphere leans toward the Sun. There’s more sunlight, days are longer, and the … Read More
Long-Range Ice Forecast: Things Could Get Very Grim
The best guess now is that a worst-case rise of 2 feet is no longer in the cards. The likely increase in sea level by 2100 now stands at 3 feet, with worst-case scenarios going as high as 6 feet. Three feet would threaten many coastal cities around the world with frequent, powerful floods, as the mildest of storms could send water coursing through … Read More
Image of the Day: Low Water Flow Triggers Avian Cholera
More than 10,000 migrating birds in the U.S. have died from an outbreak of avian cholera caused by reduced water flowing through marshlands of Oregon and California, according to federal wildlife officials. The drier conditions force the birds to gather in smaller areas and those crowded conditions help spread the disease. Avian cholera appears in… Read More
Image of the Day: ‘Come See Glaciers Before They Melt’
Greenland has been taking center stage in the talks about climate change, with its ice caps and glaciers melting at a rapid pace. And while the conversation is troubling, the attention has proved to be a good thing for Greenland as its tourism is booming… Read More
‘Snowpril’ Dumps Nearly 2 Feet of Snow in Northeast
While snowfall amounts underperformed compared to initial forecasts in cities such as Buffalo and Pittsburgh, higher elevation regions that had colder temperatures received more significant amounts. The jackpot was Laurel Summit, Pa., which recorded an impressive 23.2 inches of snow.… Read More
Rare Late April Snowstorm Knocks Out Power in Northeast
This storm, dubbed “Snowpril,” is reminiscent of “Snowtober,” when nearly three feet of snow fell in parts of New England. Both storms spun up at a time when trees have had their foliage, making them highly vulnerable to the weight of the wet snow.… Read More
Image of the Day: Emperor Penguins’ Census from Space
Since the penguins live in very remote areas, the satellite images are a successful way to count the populations. Research suggests that emperor penguin colonies will be dramatically affected by climate change, according to British Antarctic Survey biologist Phil Trathan.… Read More
March Was the Hottest! No, Wait, it Wasn’t. No, Wait . . .
On the other hand, as of last year, NOAA reported that all 11 years of the 21st century up to that point were among the 13 warmest years on record. That’s the most significant statistic to appear in this story so far. The warmest March ever in the U.S. can be balanced out by an unusually cold March in other places. Even a record warmest March for t… Read More
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