Snow-loving Wolverines Threatened by Climate Change
When 18th century zoologists gave the largest land-dwelling member of the weasel family the scientific name Gulo gulo — which translates, not so roughly, to gluttonous glutton — they were foreshadowing what would be mankind’s rather one-dimensional view of the creature we now know as the wolverine. The black-and-white, 30-pound, bushy-tailed … Read More
Looking for Love as the Climate Heats Up
The interbreeding has several consequences, none well understood: It could increase genetic diversity, helping species weather rapid ecosystem changes. It also could dilute the genetics of at-risk animals such as polar bears – perhaps even diluting them beyond recognition. And the changes threaten to wreak havoc with conservation efforts. Not all e… Read More
Good News, Bad News Continues for Drought Across U.S.
Thursday’s release of the latest U.S. Drought Monitor brought slivers of good news for some parts of the continental U.S., while more bad news for other regions. Storms that swept across the Southeast over the past week made a significant dent in drought conditions, eradicating the areas of “exceptional” drought — the worst category. Those rains … Read More
Thinning Ice Is Turning Arctic into an Algae Hotspot
Shrinking, thinning Arctic sea ice appears to be accelerating the growth of algae in polar waters, a new study finds, a development that could alter the region’s ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Scientists cruising central Arctic waters last summer aboard the research ship Polarstern were stunned to discover dense, shaggy deposits of… Read More
NOAA: February 2012 to January 2013 Warmest on Record
January was warmer and wetter than average in the contiguous United States, despite the persistent drought in the central U.S., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday. The average temperature in the lower 48 states reached 32.0 degrees Fahrenheit last month. At 1.6 degrees above the 20th century average, January 2013 ties… Read More
NASA to Launch New Earth-Observing Satellite
If the weather holds, NASA will launch its newest Earth-observing satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in southern California late Monday morning. An Atlas V rocket is scheduled to carry Landsat 8 into space just after 11 a.m. Pacific time. Once in orbit, the $855 million probe will begin capturing detailed images of Earth’s surface, adding to… Read More
Ongoing Coverage of Historic Drought in U.S.
After a warm and dry spring and a scorchingly hot start to the summer, the U.S. is in the grips of one of its top 10 worst drought events on record. The drought extends from Delaware to California, with the most intense drought conditions centered in the nation's heartland. Corn growers and ranchers have been hard-hit this year, prompting fears of … Read More
Drought to Last Through April; Southwest May Improve
Large storms brought some short-term relief to drought afflicted areas over the past week, and allowed the footprint of the national drought to shrink slightly. However, while similar rainstorms are forecasted to continue during the coming weeks, there is only slight potential for drought recovery expected for the rest of the season.… Read More
