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Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
38 percent of world's surface in danger of desertification A team of Spanish researchers has measured the degradation of the planet's soil using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a scientific methodology that analyses the environmental impact of human activities, and which now for the first time includes indicators on desertification. The results show that 38 percent of the world is made up of arid regions at risk of desertification. Contact: SINC Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
Animals cope with climate change at the dinner table Professor Yoram Yom-Tov of Tel Aviv University's Department of Zoology has been measuring the evolving body sizes of birds and animals in areas where climate change is most extreme. In higher latitudes, Professor Yom-Tov has identified a pattern of birds getting smaller and mammals getting bigger. The change, he hypothesizes, is likely a strategy for survival. Contact: George Hunka Public Release: 5-Feb-2010
Understanding past and future climate The notion that scientists understand how changes in Earth's orbit affect climate well enough for estimating long-term natural climate trends that underlie any anthropogenic climate change is challenged by findings published this week. The new research was conducted by a team led by Professor Eelco Rohling of the University of Southampton's School of Ocean and Earth Science hosted at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. Contact: Dr. Rory Howlett Public Release: 4-Feb-2010
Cyclone Oli reaches category 4 strength on its way to open waters Oli has exploded in strength and as of February 4 it was a Category 4 cyclone with peak sustained winds of 132 mph (115 knots/213 km/hr). NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites observed Oli's clouds grow colder and rainfall become heavier over the last day. Residents of French Polynesia should watch for local weather advisories. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 4-Feb-2010
GOES-P all fueled up The GOES spacecraft continues its processing at the Astrotech Facility in Titusville, Fla., and fuel was loaded into the GOES-P spacecraft on Saturday, Jan. 30. The fuel will keep GOES-P in orbit for about 14 years. Contact: Cynthia O'Carroll Public Release: 3-Feb-2010
Now a hurricane, Oli passing Bora Bora Tropical cyclone Oli has attained hurricane strength today, Feb. 3, with maximum sustained winds near 74 mph. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 3-Feb-2010
NASA's Aqua Satellite sees Tropical Depression Fami fading fast Now that Fami has crossed Madagascar, its fading fast. NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared satellite image earlier today that showed the storm was elongating and losing its circulation. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 3-Feb-2010
Invasive plants are beneficiaries of climate change in Thoreau's woods Invasive plants could become even more prevalent and destructive as climate change continues, according to a new analysis of data stretching back more than 150 years. The Harvard University scientists who conducted the study say that non-native plants, and especially invasive species, appear to thrive during times of climate change because they're better able to adjust the timing of annual activities like flowering and fruiting. Contact: Steve Bradt Public Release: 2-Feb-2010
Tropical Storm Oli kicking up waves in South Pacific Tropical Storm Oli is headed between the islands of Bora Bora and Raratonga in the South Pacific, while maintaining its intensity as a tropical storm. Infrared satellite data from NASA's Aqua satellite reveals that Oli is a large storm, so those islands will experience gusty winds, some moderate to heavy rainfall, and heavy swells along their coasts. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 2-Feb-2010
NASA satellite sees Tropical Storm Fami form, fast and furious NASA's Aqua satellite caught the thirteenth tropical cyclone in the southern Indian Ocean form very quickly. In 12 hours a low grew into a tropical storm named Fami and made a fast landfall in Madagascar around 1 a.m. ET today, Feb. 2. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 2-Feb-2010
New research rejects 80-year theory of 'primordial soup' as the origin of life For 80 years it has been accepted that early life began in a "primordial soup" of organic molecules before evolving out of the oceans millions of years later. Today the "soup" theory has been over turned in a pioneering paper in BioEssays which claims it was the Earth's chemical energy, from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, which kick-started early life. Contact: Ben Norman Public Release: 1-Feb-2010
Tropical Storm Oli forms in the southern Pacific The twelfth tropical cyclone in the Southern Pacific Ocean has formed today, Feb. 1, 2010, and because of its proximity to the Fiji islands, it has been dubbed "Oli." The GOES-11 satellite passed over Oli early this morning and captured an infrared image of the storm's clouds. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 1-Feb-2010
Olga now raining on third of 5 Australia territories Australians in three of five territories have had enough of Tropical Cyclone Olga. After two landfalls, and three times a tropical storm, and traveling through Queensland and the Northern Territory, Olga's remnants are now raining on Australia's New South Wales Territory today, Feb. 1. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 1-Feb-2010
Glacier-melting debate highlights importance of satellites The intense public debate on how rapidly the Himalayan glaciers are retreating highlights the necessity for the constant monitoring of glaciers worldwide by satellites. Contact: Mariangela D'Acunto Public Release: 29-Jan-2010
2 NASA satellites see TD11S going extra-tropical NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission or TRMM satellite and NASA's Aqua satellite have observed the rainfall patterns and temperatures within Tropical Depression 11S, and they indicate the storm is becoming extra-tropical. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 29-Jan-2010
Tropical Storm Nisha being battered by wind shear Nisha is not expected to maintain its tropical storm status this weekend, because it is being battered by wind shear. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 29-Jan-2010
Tropical Storm Olga: Three times a lady Just like 1980s song by the Commodores, "Three Times a Lady," Olga has become a tropical storm for the third time in northern Australia. NASA satellite imagery showed that Olga's center moved back into the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria and it has regained strength. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 28-Jan-2010
Tropical Depression 11S forms in the southern Indian Ocean The eleventh tropical depression formed today in the Southern Indian Ocean south of Port Louis. It will continue on a southeasterly track, and move into open ocean. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 28-Jan-2010
NASA's TRMM sees Depression 10P strengthen into Tropical Storm Nisha The tenth tropical depression in the Southern Pacific Ocean has strengthened overnight and has been dubbed "Tropical Storm Nisha," and NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission has watched the storm's precipitation increase since yesterday. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 28-Jan-2010
Olga's track is a puzzle forecasters are putting together One of the most complicated things about tropical cyclones is forecasting their tracks, and Olga is a prime example of that problem. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center believes that Olga will remain inland over Australia's Northern Territory, while the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has forecast Olga's reemergence into the Gulf of Carpentaria. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 28-Jan-2010
Better food makes high-latitude animals bigger New research suggests that animals living at high latitudes grow better than their counterparts closer to the equator because higher-latitude vegetation is more nutritious. The study, published in the February issue of the American Naturalist, presents a novel explanation for Bergmann's Rule, the observation that animals tend to be bigger at higher latitudes. Contact: Kevin Stacey Public Release: 27-Jan-2010
NASA satellite sees Tropical Depression 10P Strengthening in south Pacific NASA's Aqua satellite is keeping an eye on the tenth tropical depression to form in the southern Pacific Ocean. Tropical Depression 10P has formed overnight and is expected to continue strengthening. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 27-Jan-2010
Olga restrengthens into a tropical storm Residents of the northern coastal areas of Australia's Northern Territory and NASA's Aqua satellite have seen new life "blown into" a low pressure system that is once again Tropical Storm Olga. Contact: Rob Gutro Public Release: 27-Jan-2010
Effects of forest fire on carbon emissions, climate impacts often overestimated A recent study at Oregon State University indicates that some past approaches to calculating the impacts of forest fires have grossly overestimated the number of live trees that burn up and the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result. Contact: Beverly Law Public Release: 27-Jan-2010
A forensic analysis of Hurricane Katrina's impact: methods and findings A recent special edition of the Elsevier journal Ocean Engineering provides an analysis of the impact of Hurricane Katrina and an overview of the lessons learned in the aftermath of the disaster. Contact: Gaelle Hull |