Climate in the News Archive

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Diseases

“Researchers find malaria turning up in Alaska birds.” – Anchorage Daily News, September 23, 2012 –
The recent warming trend has made the transmission of avian malaria within Alaska’s bird populations possible, creating a new, significant risk for several bird species.

“Why Is West Nile Virus So Bad This Year?” – Scientific American, August 29, 2012 – The combination of mild winter temperatures and summer drought conditions have contributed to the prevalence of West Nile Virus.

“Climate Change Increases Cholera Cases In Africa, Study Suggests.” – Science Daily, April 27, 2009.
Researchers have discovered a correlation between pre-rainy season temperature and cholera occurrence in the southern African country of Zambia.

“Role of Climate Change in Disease Spread Examined.” Science Daily, February 9, 2009.
Researchers evaluated the relative role recent climate change has played in the spread of four arthropod-carried viruses: West Nile virus; Chikungunya virus; Rift Valley Fever virus; and Bluetongue virus.

Brown, Colin. “Farmers braced for second virus crisis.” The Independent, September 24, 2007.
The bluetongue virus, a livestock disease that has been spreading northward from Africa over the last decade, has been documented for the first time in Britain. Winds blowing across the English channel from the continent are suspected to have transmitted the disease.

“Deadly Dengue Fever Surging in Mexico.” Associated Press, March 20, 2007.
The incidence of deadly dengue fever is increasing in Mexico, with experts predicting an increase in cases throughout Latin America due to climate change, migration, and poor mosquito control.

Santana, Rebecca. “Winter No Relief for Allergy Sufferers.” The Washington Post, January 7, 2007.
Most mold spores die during cold snaps. This winter’s current lack of such cold snaps has prevented allergists and allergy sufferers from having their usual off-season.

Extreme Weather

McDermott, Mat. “Extreme Drought Areas in US Nearly Triple in One Week.” – Treehugger, July 27, 2012 –
The percentage of the United States suffering extreme drought increased from 11.9 percent to 28.9 percent in just one week.

Healy, Jack. “Heat Leaves Ranchers a Stark Option: Sell.” – The New York Times, July 15, 2012 –
Shrinking irrigation ponds and lack of forage are prompting many ranchers across the country to cut their losses and sell large portions of their herds.

Misniewski, Mary. “Relief comes for U.S. Midwest, Northeast following heat wave.” – Reuters, July 8, 2012 –
The heat wave is letting up in the Midwest and Northeast, while forecasters are predicting a round of extreme heat for the Western states.

“Early tree flowering puts Midwest fruit harvest in jeopardy.” – Chicago Tribune, April 6, 2012 –
Warm March temperatures caused fruit trees in the Midwest to bloom early, leaving them vulnerable to spring frosts.

“Using 61 Years of Tropical Storm Data, Scientists Uncover Landfall Threat Probabilities.” Science Daily, September 9, 2011.
While the relationship between El Niño/La Niña and Atlantic hurricane season counts has been well established, a new study points to the influence the two phases likely have on hurricane landfall frequency.

Spinner, Kate. “Pacific may hold key to Atlantic hurricanes.” Herald-Tribune, August 12, 2011.
Experts are studying recent trends in ocean surface temperatures and global hurricane activity.

“Montana Weather Linked to Ocean Temperatures Near Peru.” ScienceDaily, August 5, 2011.
By analyzing 100 years of data, a Montana State University researcher has found significant links between ocean temperatures near Peru and extreme weather in Montana.

“Two Plagues Hit Louisiana: Farmers Suffer Floods Near the Mississippi While Drought Ravages Higher Ground.” The Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2011.
Almost 70 percent of Louisiana’s agricultural land is in a low or very low moisture condition, in contrast to the abundance of water that is causing the Mississippi to flood.

Eckholm, Erik. “The Heat Goes On, Scorching Much of the Nation” New York Times, July 24, 2010.
2010 is on track to become the hottest year on record, and the heat is being acutely felt in the mid-Atlantic states.

“Unique computer model used to predict active 2010 hurricane season” Science Daily, June 1, 2010.
A model at Florida State University’s Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS), which has accurately hindcast the last 14 hurricane seasons, predicts 17 named Atlantic storms this year.

“Earth’s ‘hum’ may reveal stormier climate.” New Scientist, May 21, 2009.
Seismic listening stations provide information about how energy reaching the world’s shores may be changing with climate.

“Fewer Days of Extreme Cold and More Days of Extreme Heat in Europe.” Science Daily, January 31, 2009.
According to data recorded at 262 European weather observatories, between 1955 and 1998 there was a decreasing trend in the number of extreme cold events and an increasing trend in extreme heat events throughout the continent.

“2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Sets Records.” – Science Daily, November 30, 2008.
Above average North Atlantic sea surface temperatures and the lingering effects of La Niña worked together to make the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane season one of the more active seasons of the last 64 years.

Early and Intense Tornado Season Could be Record.” Science Daily, June 14, 2008
A particularly active storm track stretching from the Rockies to the East Coast has helped make this year’s tornado season the most active since 1998.

Drye, William. “Winter Tornadoes Can Be Faster, Deadlier, Experts Say.” National Geographic News, February 6, 2008.
Winter tornadoes tend to move faster than those that develop in the summer months, and this year’s La Niña may have some connection to the recent rash of tornadoes in the southeast.

Thompson, Andrea. “Study: Cities Make Storms More Fierce.” LiveScience.com, August 10, 2007.
A new study demonstrates how cities can experience more intense storms than surrounding rural areas. The heightened intensity is attributed to the urban heat island effect, tall buildings, and high concentrations of aerosols.

Rincon, Paul. “European heat waves ‘have doubled.’” BBC News, August 4, 2007.
A study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres, states that European temperature records have consistently over-reported the actual temperature. Trends in extreme heat calculated using corrected data show that the frequency of extremely hot days nearly tripled during the past century while the duration of heat waves doubled.

Hecht, Jeff. “Tropical storms stepping up with climate change.” New Scientist, July 30, 2007.
A new study links rises in sea-surface temperatures to increases in tropical storm frequency in the Atlantic. Other researchers attribute increases in tropical storm numbers to better monitoring.

“China warns of floods, mudslides in west.” Reuters, June 17, 2007.
Heavy rains have arrived in China’s drought stricken west. These rains are causing floods and mudslides, however, and scientists are warning that global warming is likely to intensify extreme precipitation, thus making both droughts and floods more likely.

Ice

“Study Reveals Ice Melt Impact on Sea Level Rise.” – ABC News, October 22, 2012 – A new report indicates that Antarctic ice may be contributing less to sea level rise than was previously believed.

“Sky News: Voyage to uncover Antarctic secrets” – Sky News, September 17, 2012 –
Australian researchers are embarking on a mission to study the largely unknown thickness of Antarctica’s sea ice and sea ice ecosystems.

“Arctic Climate More Vulnerable Than Thought, Maybe Linked to Antarctic Ice-Sheet Behavior.” – Science Daily, June 21, 2012 – A sediment core collected in the Arctic documents over three million years of climate fluctuations and suggests that past glacial-interglacial cycles were more dramatic than previously thought.

“Saltier Arctic sea ice linked to ozone depletion, pollution: NASA.” – Nunatsiaq News, March 2, 2012 –
Younger and saltier sea ice in the Arctic is intensifying bromine releases to the atmosphere.

“New Cores from Glacier in Eastern European Alps May Yield New Climate Clues.” – ScienceDaily, January 9, 2012 – Two 250-foot long ice cores taken from a glacier in northeastern Italy are providing insights into how recent climate shifts affected that part of Europe.

“2010 Spike in Greenland Ice Loss Lifted Bedrock, GPS Reveals” – ScienceDaily, December 9, 2011 –
A warm melting season in 2010 accelerated ice loss in southern Greenland by 100 billion tons, with portions of the island’s bedrock rising an additional quarter-inch in response.

“International Team to Drill Beneath Massive Antarctic Ice Shelf.” – ScienceDaily, November 9, 2011 –
The Pine Island Glacier ice shelf is being investigated up close in order to better understand the dynamics of ice flow into the oceans.

“As Alaska’s glaciers retreat, scientists look for links to climate.” Juneau Empire, October 30, 2011.
Most of Alaska’s glaciers are retreating, while a few are growing, prompting questions about glacier dynamics and climate.

“NASA Creates First Complete Map of Antarctic Ice Flow.” International Business Times, August 19, 2011.
NASA scientists working in collaboration with Canadian and Japanese space agencies have assembled the first complete map of Antarctic ice flow.

“Fast-Shrinking Greenland Glacier Experienced Rapid Growth During Cooler Times.” ScienceDaily, July 15, 2011.
The Jakobshavn Isbrae ice tongue on Greenland’s west coast has shrunk rapidly as temperatures have warmed over the last few decades and it grew at a similar pace during a cool period 200 years ago.

“Antarctica’s Pine Glacier Melts 50 Percent Faster Than in 1994, Study Says.” Bloomberg, June 26, 2011. – Currently losing 30 cubic miles of ice each year, Antarctica’s Pine Island glacier is melting 50 percent faster than it was in 1994.

“Arctic Snow Can Harbor Deadly Assassin: Killer Fungal Strains.” ScienceDaily, June 19, 2011.
The insulating effects of heavy and prolonged snowfall in the Arctic can help plant growth, but can also promote a fungal pathogen that causes extensive damage.

“Glacier calving reveals secrets of the deep.” The Baltimore Sun, April 17, 2011.
Last year’s break-off of a 48-mile glacier tongue around Antarctica exposed previously hidden ocean bottoms and stimulated a phytoplankton bloom.

“Ridge clue to Antarctic ice loss” BBC, June 20, 2010.
Warmer bottom waters facilitated the detachment of Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier from an underwater ridge, allowing for an acceleration of the glacier’s flow into the ocean.

“Greenland ice loss driven by warming seas: study.” AFP, February 14, 2010.
Recent acceleration of ice loss from Greenland is primarily driven by warm deep water currents.

“Earlier Glacial Melt Rate Revised Downward, but Recent Melt Is Accelerating Dramatically.” ScienceDaily, February 7, 2010.
Previously believed to have contributed an average of 0.17 mm per year to global sea level rise between 1962 and 2006, new satellite data suggests that Alaska’s glaciers actually contributed an average of 0.12 mm per year to global sea level rise during this period. This average includes the acceleration of 0.25 to 0.3 mm a year since the mid-1990′s.

“Keeping It Frozen: In Alaska, a low-tech solution helps the ground stay cold enough, for now.” The Wall Street Journal, December 7, 2009.
Thawing of Alaska’s permafrost since the early-1980′s threatens the integrity of structures such as pipelines, railways, roads and buildings. This has prompted investments in thermosiphons that work to keep the ground frozen.

“Global warming fulfils icy dream.” The Scotsman, September 13, 2009.
Two German vessels are en-route to complete a first-of-its-kind journey from a Siberian port through the now-thawed Arctic waters to Rotterdam.

“Melting glaciers threaten ‘Nepal tsunami” AFP, August 30, 2009.
Glaciers in Nepal are melting and creating lakes that threaten to flood residents living downhill.

“New Research Provides Insight Into Ice Sheet Behavior.” Science Daily, August 10, 2009.
Better mapping of the topography beneath the ice may help scientists better understand how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet responds to warmer temperatures.

“Ice shelf breaks up: Tenth mass to recede or float away since 1950.” The Dominion Post, April 4, 2009.
A 40 kilometer (25 mile) strip of ice, which holds the Wilkins Ice Shelf to the Antarctic continent, snapped at its narrowest point on Saturday.

“Rubber ducks dropped into Greenland’s Jakobshavn Glacier to track ice flow.” Palm Beach Daily News, March 21, 2009.
Alberto Behar at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California is using rubber ducks to track ice movements from the world’s fastest moving glacier.

“Arctic Saw Fastest August Sea Ice Retreat on Record, NASA Data Show.” Science Daily, September 28, 2008.
While the 2008 Arctic melt season did not break the 2007 melt record, sea ice melted faster than ever before during a four-week period in August 2008.

Lydersen, Kari. “Sea-Ice Melt Imperils Walruses, and Economy Based on Them.” The Washington Post, August 29, 2008.
Melting sea-ice is causing walrus ranges to shift and limiting the hunting season for Alaska Natives.

“Patagonian Glacier Yields Clues For Improved Understanding of Global Climate Change.” Science Daily, August 4, 2008.
Ice core samples from Patagonian glaciers show how global climate change affects Southern Hemisphere weather systems.

“Intensified Ice Sheet Movements Do Not Affect Rising Sea Levels.” Science Daily, July 11, 2008.
While meltwater is rapidly increasing the pace of ice sheet movement in Greenland, new research suggests that this process is not likely to be a major contributing factor to rising sea levels.

“Scientists Head to Warming Alaska on Ice Core Expedition.” Science Daily, May 1, 2008.
A team of scientists are traveling to Alaska to find the perfect “layer cake” ice core, which will hopefully provide insights on the last 2,000 years of Alaska’s climate.

“Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, Largest in Northern Hemisphere, Has Fractured into Three Main Pieces.” Science Daily, April 16, 2008.
In 2002, the Arctic’s Ward Hunt Ice Shelf cracked into two pieces, and a recent expedition has confirmed that the shelf is now in three pieces, which satellite data had indicated.

Allen-Mills, T. “Global warming scientists eagerly await first Nenana ice cracks” Times Online, March 23, 2008.
For the past 91 springs, the exact minute when the winter ice breaks on Alaska’s Tanana River has been recorded.

Calamai, P. “Vanished “bridge” jolts ice pack sleuths.” The Toronto Star, March 17, 2008.
Attempts to study the Arctic are being impaired by the rapid melting of the region’s ice cover.

Leifert, Harvey. “Southern Snowmelt.” Nature Reports Climate Change, October 11, 2007.
In Antarctica, snow is melting at higher elevations and farther from the ocean than at any other point on record.

Joling, Dan. “Walruses Abandon Sea Ice for Alaska Shore.” USA Today, October 4, 2007.
The loss of their usual sea ice habitat is forcing unprecedented numbers of walruses to seek shelter on the shores of Alaska and Russia.

“Warming ‘opens Northwest Passage.’” BBC News, September 14, 2007.
A faster than predicted retreat of the Arctic sea ice means that it is now possible during the boreal summer to sail between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans through areas that have previously been clogged with sea ice.

Boswell, Randy. “25 years of Arctic ice left.” Vancouver Sun, August 18, 2007.
The Arctic sea ice cover is at its smallest extent ever recorded, and the melting is expected to continue to accelerate.

Wynn, Gerard. “Climate change threatens Latam water supply.” Reuters, July 20, 2007.
Climate change is altering precipitation regimes and melting glaciers in the Andes region, and mountain lakes and wetlands are drying-up as a result. This trend is threatening the region’s water security.

Phuyal, Surendra. “Mountaineers’ fear of global warming.” BBC News, May 21, 2007.
Rising temperatures in Nepal are changing snowfall patterns and making glaciers less stable. This trend is making mountaineering more dangerous and creating more glacial meltwater lakes.

Oceans

“Mysterious Changes in Ocean Salt Spur NASA Expedition” – Live Science, September 9, 2012 –
A new NASA led study is investigating recent changes in ocean salinity and the possible links to climate change.

“Long stretch of above-normal ocean temps off N.J.” – NorthJersey.com, August 11, 2012 – Water temperatures off the coast of New Jersey have been between five and 10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for almost a year, making these waters more like Florida

“Ocean Circulation: Heat Loss Strengthens the Gyre Circulation.” – Science Daily, June 8, 2012 –
Scientists are discovering more about the decadal variability of the Arctic’s subpolar gyre.

Mascarelli, Amanda. “Source found for missing water in sea-level rise.” – Nature, May 20, 2012 –
Groundwater withdrawals for human use are having a larger impact on the global sea level budget than was previously believed.  

“New Comparison of Ocean Temperatures Reveals Rise Over the Last Century.” – Science Daily, April 1, 2012 –
A reanalysis of ship records from the 1870s shows that Earth’s ocean has been warming for at least a century.

“Ancient environment found to drive marine biodiversity.” – ScienceDaily, November 24, 2011
Sea levels and water chemistry have influenced marine diversity throughout geologic time.

“Freshwater Content of Upper Arctic Ocean Increased 20 Percent Since 1990s, Large-Scale Assessment Finds.” ScienceDaily, March 27, 2011.
An evaluation of over 5,000 measured salt concentration profiles reveals a 20 percent increase in the freshwater content of the upper Arctic Ocean since the 1990s.

Niiler, Eric. “King crabs invade Antarctica.” The Washington Post, March 21, 2011.
The recent rise in temperature around the Antarctic Peninsula has been accompanied by the movement of King Crabs into the shallow waters of the Antarctic continental shelf.

“Ocean’s sudden cooling linked to mass extinction: Scientists find evidence on Quebec island that 5-degree drop killed 75% of marine species 450 million years ago.” Vancouver Sun, January 31, 2011.
Scientists have found evidence on Canada’s Anticosti Island that Earth’s second largest extinction was caused by a rapid drop in ocean temperatures.

“Bering Sea Chill Yields Fatter Plankton, Pollock Diet Changes” ScienceDaily, December 11, 2010.
The 2000s featured both record warm and record cold temperatures in the Bering Sea, providing researchers with an opportunity to analyze how warm and cold conditions affect plankton and pollock populations.

“Heat Stress to Caribbean Corals in 2005 Worst on Record; Caribbean Reef Ecosystems May Not Survive Repeated Stress” ScienceDaily, November 16, 2010.
The most severe Caribbean coral bleaching event to date occurred in 2005; that year, more than 80 percent of surveyed corals bleached and 40 percent died.

“Divers and fishers help chart warmer Tasmanian waters.” ABC News Australia, October 10, 2010.
A new interactive website called Redmap, has been launched by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute in order to better monitor changes in ocean life as water temperatures warm.

“Searching for Dense Water Cascades in the Arctic Ocean.” Science Daily, October 2, 2010.
As part of the HERMIONE project, scientists are observing water movements in the Arctic Ocean for possible changes in dense water cascades, which are important for the survival of deep sea ecosystems.

Degener, Richard. “Research attributes shrinking horseshoe crab population to global warming.” Press of Atlantic City, September 19, 2010.
East Coast horseshoe crab populations show sensitivity to temperature rise, which is reflected in the species’ numbers and geographic range.

Mann, Adam. “Ocean conveyor-belt model stirred up.” NatureNews, September 12, 2010.
The overall “conveyor belt” outline conceptualized in the 1980s is still useful, but as researchers continue to analyze ocean current data, the ocean circulation system appears more complex and variable.

“Source of Essential Nutrients for Mid-Ocean Algae Discovered” ScienceDaily, July 12, 2010.
Researchers are investigating how mid-ocean algal blooms obtain the deep water nitrate that is crucial to their existence.

“New ‘ocean acidification’ monitoring equipment deployed off LaPush” Peninsula Daily News, July 18, 2010.
A high-tech buoy was deployed last Friday off the Washington Coast to monitor the chemistry of the water coming into the Puget Sound and Hood Canal. These waters are becoming more acidic, threatening the region’s shellfish industry.

“Ocean Stored Significant Warming Over Last 16 Years, Study Finds.” ScienceDaily, May 22, 2010.
An analysis of nine different estimates of heat content concludes that the upper 2,000 feet of the oceans have warmed since 1993.

“Andaman Sea coral reefs hit by bleaching.” Bangkok Post, May 8, 2010.
Warm sea surface temperatures are causing what is believed to be Thailand’s worst case of coral bleaching in 20 years.

Black, Richard. “Gulf Stream ‘is not slowing down” BBC, March 29, 2010.
Despite lots of short-term variability, there does not appear to be any recent significant trend in the strength of the Gulf Stream.

“Southern Ocean Winds Open Window to the Deep Sea” ScienceDaily, March 17, 2010.
The winds that blow around Antarctica control how much heat and carbon dioxide is exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere, which has implications for the climate system as a whole.

“Climate Change and Coral Reefs: Coral Species Has Developed the ‘Skills’ to Cope With Rising Temperatures” ScienceDaily, February 27, 2010.
Researchers are studying how ocean species are responding to climate change to improve plans for marine reserves.

“Long Term Cooling Trend in the Arctic Abruptly Reverses, Signaling Potential for Sea Rise” ScienceDaily, September 4, 2009.
New research indicates warming is occurring in the Arctic, despite the region receiving less energy from the sun over the past 8,000 years. The period from 1999 to 2008 was the warmest in the Arctic in 2,000 years.

“Coral Bleaching Likely in Caribbean” ScienceDaily, July 27, 2009.
High Caribbean sea-surface temperatures, which are favorable for coral bleaching events, are likely to continue through October.

“Oysters in deep trouble: Is Pacific Ocean’s chemistry killing sea life?” The Seattle Times, June 14, 2009.
Changes in ocean conditions off the Pacific Northwest coast have been linked to declines in oyster reproductive success.

“Elevated Water Temperature And Acidity Boost Growth of Key Sea Star Species” ScienceDaily, June 5, 2009.
A species of sea star, common on the Pacific Coast of North America, has been shown to respond favorably to elevated temperatures and higher carbon dioxide concentrations.

“Unique Survey Of Ocean Climate May Improve Climate Predictions.” ScienceDaily, May 11, 2009.
A new analysis of data records extending back to the 1950s suggests that year-to-year variability in the Norwegian Sea can be traced to changes in the behavior of the Gulf Stream.

“The Agulhas Current, In the Southern Hemisphere, May Influence Climate in Europe.” ScienceDaily, 16 March 2009.
Recent evidence suggests that the strength of the current running from the Indian Ocean to the southern tip of Africa influences the circulation in the Atlantic Ocean.

“Climate change delaying gray whale vacations, scientists say.” Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 13, 2009.
On their annual journey from the Arctic to Baja, gray whales are passing through Monterey Bay about a week later than they did 20 years ago.

“Decline Of Plankton That Gobble Carbon Dioxide Coincided With Ancient Global Cooling.” Science Daily, January 12, 2009.
New research on the evolution of diatoms, which form the base of marine food webs, shows that their numbers declined markedly during a period of global cooling, as opposed to rising along with the development of grassland ecosystems 18 million years ago.

“Sea Rise Over Continental Shelves Significantly Affected Past Global Carbon Cycle.” ScienceDaily, January 5, 2009.
The rise in sea level since the last glacial maximum has corresponded to changes in the behavior of the “continental shelf pump” that moves carbon from the shelves to the ocean depths.

“Scientist Uses Tracer to Predict Ancient Ocean Circulation.” ScienceDaily, October 24, 2008.
Chemical tracers in samples of fish fossils help scientists understand ocean circulation in a carbon rich ancient climate.

“Antarctic Climate: Short-term Spikes, Long-term Warming Linked To Tropical Pacific.” ScienceDaily, August 15, 2008.
Recent analyses of ice core samples reveal connections between weather conditions in the tropcial Pacific Ocean and West Antarctica.

“Climate Change Brings Jellyfish Plague to Europe’s Beaches.” Deutsche Welle, July 5, 2008.
Warming waters combined with the overfishing of jellyfish predators have resulted in significant increases in jellyfish populations along Europe’s coastlines.

“Fish Fade Away, Crabs Take Over.” LiveScience, June 27, 2008.
A warming of Narragansett Bay over the last fifty years has corresponded to changes in the structure of the bay’s ecosystem.

Milstein, Michael. “Researchers scramble to deal with dying oysters.” OregonLive, June 9 2008.
Changing ocean conditions off the Pacific Northwest coast have led to a population explosion of Vibrio tubiashii, a bacteria that in large enough concentrations is fatal to oysters and other shellfish.

“Scientists Reveal Presence of Ocean Current ‘Stripes.’” ScienceDaily, April 26, 2008.
Several decades of data appear to confirm the existence of subtle crisscrossing patterns of ocean currents, or striations, that run perpendicular to major ocean currents.

“Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Microbes Could be the Key to Coral Death.” ScienceDaily, April 5, 2008.
Changes in ocean temperatures have altered the composition of the bacterial communities that are integral parts of coral reef ecosystems.

“Invasion of the giant oysters.” The Independent, March 8, 2008.
A string of mild winters and a general trend of warming waters have enabled the Pacific Oyster to escape from oyster farms and dominate the floor of the North Sea.

“Study: Sea’s Thermostat Protects Reefs.” MSNBC, February 14, 2008.
While 40 percent of the world’s coral reefs have been hit by bleaching since 1980, a negative feedback cycle seems to prevent already warm ocean waters from exceeding a certain temperature threshold.

Ryall, Julian. “Crustacean ‘Swarm’ Destroying Small Hiroshima Island.” National Geographic News, January 3, 2008.
A warming of the waters around the uninhabited Japanese Island of Hoboro has led to an explosion of plankton and a species of crustacean that feeds on them. The crustacean population is promoting high rates of erosion on the island.

Weiss, Kenneth R. “A Giant of the Sea Finds Slimmer Pickings.” LA Times, July 6, 2007.
Scientists from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest are noticing higher numbers of thin gray whales this year, possibly due to warming Arctic waters where the whales typically feed.

“Changing Ocean Conditions Led to Decline in Alaska’s Sea Lion Population.” ScienceDaily, March 25, 2007.
A naturally occurring climatic cycle may be responsible for the recent decline in Alaska’s Steller Sea Lion population.

Hopkin, Michael. “Sea levels ‘rising faster than predicted.” Nature News, February 1, 2007.
The 2001 IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Report predicted average annual sea level rises of 2 mm. Satellite data, however, shows that since 1990, this rate has been closer to 3.3 mm per year. Some have expressed skepticism that 16 years of data is enough time to accurately assess this trend.

Doyle, Alister. “Indian Ocean Shift Seen Stoking Indonesia Droughts.” Reuters, January 18, 2007.
A shift in the temperature of the Indian Ocean has been linked to stronger Asiatic monsoons. New evidence indicates that this temperature shift also may be linked to the current droughts in Indonesia and Australia.

Bornstein, Seth. “Warmed-Up Oceans Reduce Key Food Link.” Washington Post, December 6, 2006.
NASA satellite data, which has been compiled over the past nine years, shows that less phytoplankton are produced in warmer oceans than cooler ones. This trend is particularly troublesome as phytoplankton are the base of marine ecosystems and ocean waters are 0.6°C warmer today than they were at the beginning of the 20th century.

Plants and Animals

“Lack of apples hurting attendance at Metro orchards.” – The Detroit News, October 13, 2012 – Due to the exceptionally warm spring temperatures coupled with a late April frost, Michigan’s apple production for the year is estimated to be around three million bushels, down from the usual production of 20 to 23 million bushels.

“Massachusetts Butterflies Move North as Climate Warms” – ScienceDaily, August 19, 2012 – Trip accounts from the Massachusetts Butterfly Club show an increasing presence of butterflies in the state that were formerly restricted to areas further south.

“Researchers: Conditions have to be right for beetles to play big role in wildfire recipe.” – Washington Post, July 1, 2012 –  Expert understanding of the connection between beetle infestations and wildfire in the West has grown more sophisticated over the past few years, demonstrating a relationship that is far from simple.

“Arctic tree line not moving as fast as thought, despite climate change.” – Alaska Dispatch, March 18, 2012 –
The Arctic tree line is moving north at an average rate of around 100 meters per year as warmer temperatures allow trees to replace tundra.

“Dangerous drought: Effect of 2011 dry spell produces struggle for deer season.” – San Angelo Standard-Times, February 11, 2012 –

The Texas drought has reduced deer numbers and antler quality, with resulting impacts on local deer hunting related businesses.

“Yellow-cedar decline mystery solved: study.” – The Vancouver Sun, February 2, 2012 –
U.S. Forest Service researchers have found that Yellow-cedar die-off along the Pacific coast of British Columbia and Alaska is the result of reduced snow cover and occasional cold snaps that cause the trees’ shallow roots to freeze.

“On the calendar, winter. In the garden, spring.” – The Inquirer, January 29, 2012 –
Mild winter weather in the eastern United States is causing plants to bloom earlier than normal, which reflects an overall warming trend over the past few decades accompanied by a northward movement of more southerly plants.

“Drought threatens only surviving whooping cranes” – Plushnick-Masti, Ramit, The State, January 9, 2012 –
The recent Texas drought has made rare the blue crabs and wolf berries that sustain whooping cranes as they winter in the marshes along the Texas Coast, imperiling the survival of the last remaining flock of these birds.

“Thanks to La Niña, it’s cool to be a spider” – Bridie Smith, The Sydney Morning Herald, December 19, 2011 –
Noticeably absent during recent drought years, Australia’s spider populations are booming thanks to the arrival of La Niña and a mild, wet winter and spring.

“Drought mars Texas landscape.” The Detroit News, October 17, 2011.
Historic drought conditions in Texas are having noticeable impacts on the state’s forest cover.

“Gray Jays’ Winter Survival Depends on Food Storage, Study Shows.” ScienceDaily, October 7, 2011.
Boreal conifers secrete resins that help to preserve Gray Jay food caches. Gray Jays are no longer present in areas of Algonquin National Park, Canada, where deciduous trees have come to dominate.

“Pacific Walruses Studied as Sea Ice Melts.” Science Daily, August 25, 2011.
Scientists are tagging walruses living along the Alaska coast in order to better understand their movements in response to sea ice declines.

“Coral genomes could aid reef conservation.” Nature News, July 25, 2011.
An analysis of Branching coral genes, particularly sequences that help the species adapt to environmental stress, may help conservation efforts.

“On a pilgrimage to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.” Los Angeles Times, July 10, 2011.
Some of the oldest living things on Earth, the Bristlecone Pines of California’s White Mountains, have recorded in their rings the weather conditions that have affected their growth over the millennia.

“Study: Where have all the critters gone?” Salt Lake Tribune, June 4, 2011.
Climate change, grazing and fire suppression have changed the ecosystems of the basin-and-range province; only about half of the small mammals present in Utah’s Ruby Mountains in the 1920s are there today.

Warming Climate Means Red Deer Rutting Season Arrives Early.” ScienceDaily, January 14, 2011.
Rutting and calving seasons on the Isle of Rum are arriving up to two weeks earlier than they did 30 years ago.

“Climate Risk Greater for Long Distance Migratory Birds” BBC News, September 25, 2010.
A new study suggests that early arrival of spring means that birds migrating from Africa to southern or northern Europe have a harder time finding mates and food.

“Butterflies Shed Light on How Some Species Respond to Global Warming” ScienceDaily, August 9, 2010.
Scientists studying two species of butterfly have found evidence suggesting that a number of genetic variables affect whether and how well a species will relocate.

Staats, Eric. “Collier getting wetter and Lee warmer, UCF climate study shows.” Naples Daily News, August 22, 2010.
The historic relationship between temperature, rainfall and plants in Florida is discussed in a recent University of Central Florida study.

“Conference to focus on 5 pine species at risk from bugs, climate change” Missoulian, June 27, 2010.
Warming temperatures across the Intermountain West are allowing pine beetles to survive at higher elevations than they did several decades ago, causing changes in alpine ecosystems.

“Trees shift upward as climate warms, data show” SFGate, June 12, 2010.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have observed tree species moving their ranges upslope as California’s climate has warmed.

“Pole-to-Pole Climate Research: Adaptation Lessons from Tiny Springtails” ScienceDaily, June 7, 2010.
Scientists are studying how springtail communities respond to climate changes and invasive species introductions.

“Arctic climate change: some species win, others lose” Nunatsiaq Online, March 21, 2010.
Warming over the past four decades has favored the success of species from the southern Arctic while creating challenges for species inhabiting areas farther north.

Terry, Lynne. “Brown pelicans won’t fly south from Oregon coast and this worries scientists” Oregon Live, March 12, 2010.
Instead of flying south, a Brown Pelican population has been overwintering on the Oregon coast, an event with possible links to conditions in the equatorial Pacific.

“Drastic Musk Ox Population Decline 12,000 Years Ago Due to Climate, Not Humans, Study Finds” ScienceDaily, March 9, 2010.
Analysis of ancient musk ox DNA suggests that the decline of the species was primarily due to rapid environmental changes at the end of the Pleistocene.

Climate in the News: “Less fog may threaten coastal redwoods, experts say.” Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 22, 2010.
Foggy summer days along the northern California coast were less common in the second half of the 20th century than the first a trend that may be affecting the region’s iconic redwoods.

“Connecticut scientist leads the way in freezing coral to give it life later.” The Day: Connecticut, December 14, 2009.
Mary Hagedorn, a senior scientist at the Smithsonian Institution, is leading efforts to cryogenically preserve corals, which are threatened by rising ocean temperatures and acidity levels.

“New Fossil Plant Discovery Links Patagonia to New Guinea in a Warmer Past” ScienceDaily, November 30, 2009.
Recent fossil discoveries in Patagonia suggest that the area was warm and wet between 47 and 52 million years ago.

“Scientists investigate phenomenon of ‘winter bees.’” Telegraph U.K., November 7, 2009.
Sightings of active bumblebees during the winter months are becoming increasingly common in Britain.

“Sierra Nevada Birds Move in Reponse to Warmer, Wetter Climate.” ScienceDaily, October 4, 2009.
The vast majority of bird species in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains have responsed to the last century’s climate change by adjusting their ranges.

“Woody Plants Adapted To Past Climate Change More Slowly Than Herbs.” ScienceDaily, September 27, 2009.
Paleorecords from the last 100 million years show that herbs are better able to keep pace with climate shifts than woody plants.

“Wheat gets worse as CO2 rises.” NewScientist, August 17, 2009.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide fluctuations affect grain size, protein levels and trace element concentrations in wheat crops.

“Large Trees Declining in Yosemite National Park, U.S.” ScienceDaily, August 3, 2009.
Warmer temperatures, longer dry seasons and decreased snowpack are likely contributors to the decline of large-diameter trees that has been occurring in Yosemite National Park since the 1930′s.

“Fish ‘shrinking due to global warming.’” Agence France Press, July 20, 2009.
Temperature rises in Europe’s marine and freshwater environments over the last 20-30 years have been cited as contributing to the decline in average fish size that occurred during the same period.

“Climate Change May Spell Demise Of Key Salt Marsh Constituent.” ScienceDaily, July 13, 2009.
Salt marshes along the northeast coast of the the U.S. are losing much of the forb cover that feeds migratory waterfowl.

“New Crops Needed For New Climate.” ScienceDaily, June 29, 2009.
Experimental evidence suggests that higher levels of carbon dioxide and drought conditions cause plants to produce more toxins and less protein.

“Climate Change Hurting Hares: White Snowshoe Hares Can’t Hide On Brown Earth.” Science Daily, March 6, 2009.
In the west, a decline in the average annual number of days when there is snow on the ground is making life more precarious for snowshoe hares, which most forest carnivores are at least partially dependent upon for food.

Leahy, Stephen. “Biodiversity: So Long, Salamanders.” IPS News, February 21, 2009.
Climate change is one of the likely factors behind the severe amphibian population declines observed in Central America over the last 30 years.

Blake, Laurie. “Birds warm up to north.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 17, 2008.
The last 40 years of results from the Audubon Society-sponsored Christmas Bird Count reveal a northward range shift for the majority of America’s bird species.

“Explosion In Marine Biodiversity Explained By Climate Change.”- Science Daily, July 28, 2008.
The first appearance of complex living organisms occurred during a period when Earth’s oceans were cooling.

“Brown Argus Butterfly Sees Positive Effects of Climate Change.” Science Daily, June 2, 2008.
Over the last 30 years, there has been a northward range expansion of Britain’s Brown Argus butterfly. This move has helped the species escape its traditional parasites.

Fleming, Nic. “Alien Parasite Fear for UK Butterfly.” UK Telegraph, March 29, 2008.
A northward range expansion of a fly is believed to be at least partially responsible for the decline of UK’s Tortoiseshell Butterfly.

Bouma, Katherine. “More migratory birds flocking to northern Alabama.” The Birmingham News, March 3, 2008.
Northern Alabama’s winter bird populations are changing. This change includes and influx of birds that have traditionally wintered in Florida and the Gulf Coast.

“Drought Length Influences Survival of Fish in Stream Ponds.” Science Daily, January 18, 2008.
Researchers from the University of Arkansas found that diversity of fish species in stream ponds varied from year to year, depending on water depth, volume, and other factors.

Johnson, Andrew. “Where have all the birds gone?” The Independent, January 29, 2007.
For almost 30 years, Great Britain’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has led the annual Big Garden Birdwatch. This year’s results suggest that there has been a shift in seasonal bird behavior.

“Mountain Summits In the Alps Becoming Increasingly Similar.” TerraDaily, December 3, 2007.
An “upward” shift in the distribution of Europe’s flora has resulted in increased species diversity in individual areas but decreased diversity across ecosystems.

“Top five of the UK species affected by climate change.” icwales, November 10, 2007.
The United Kingdom’s marine ecosystems are changing along with the climate. Five examples are highlighted in this article.

Lyall. Sarah. “Warming Revives Flora and Fauna of Greenland.” New York Times, October 28, 2007.
Life is becoming more lucrative for Greenland’s human population as warming temperatures are stimulating crop production and causing influxes of animal species.

Schmid, Randolph E. “Rising Temperatures Said Endanger Arctic.” San Francisco Gate, October 17, 2007.
A temperature rise is permeating the Arctic. This rise is affecting Caribou, vegetation, and water fowl.

O’Connor, Kevin. “Global swarming: Is climate change bringing the state more bugs?” Times Argus, August 27, 2007.
Growing numbers of ticks, mosquitoes, and hemlock woolly adelgids are being documented in Vermont. Warmer temperatures, especially during winter, are likely contributing to this trend.

Loeterman, Dan. “Insects Spreading to More Hemlocks.” Metrowest Daily News, July 14, 2007
A recent string of warm winters in New England has allowed the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid to thrive throughout the region.

“Scientists discuss warming’s effect on boreal forests.” Anchorage Daily News, June 1, 2007.
Recent changes in the world’s boreal forests have been observed in recent years, particularly in Alaska. Researchers are worried that plants and animals may not be able to adapt to these rapid changes.

Clarke Jeremy. “Kenyans Plant Trees to Coax Back Flamingos.” Reuters, April 23, 2007.
After populations of the famous flamingos at Kenya’s Lake Nakuru declined due to deforestation, climate change, and pollution, communities are planting saplings around the lake to bring the birds back.

“Fewer Leaves Behind Frog Demise.” BBC News, April 17, 2007.
Changes in Costa Rica’s weather have resulted in a reduction in the amount of leaf litter present on the forest floor. A new report by the National Academy of Sciences says that this could be responsible for the region’s decline in frog numbers.

“Wolves, Moose Struggling on Isle Royal National Park, USA.” Science Daily, March 12, 2007.
Moose populations in Isle Royal National Park are at their lowest level in 50 years, with warm summers, tick populations, and pressure from wolves contributing to the problem.

Zabarenko, Deborah. “Exotic animals seen where Antarctic ice used to be.” Planet Ark, February 16, 2007.
Exotic creatures and new species have been found off the coast of the Antarctic, in an area formerly covered by ice.

Precipitation Patterns

“Dry winter portends busy California wildfire season.” – San Francisco Chronicle, May 12, 2012 –
Dry winters in California, such as the 2011-2012 winter, are usually followed by intense wildfire seasons.

“It’s the right rain, but the wrong month.” – The Independent, April 29, 2012 –
Heavy rainfall in the United Kingdom has largely failed to filter into the groundwater and alleviate drought conditions there and instead has run off the dry and compacted soil, causing flooding.

“Climate in the News: “Texas Drought Visible in New National Groundwater Maps.” – ScienceDaily, November 30, 2011 –
Data from NASA’s GRACE twin satellite system has been used to map the impact of recent drought on Texas groundwater.

“Takeoffs and Landings Cause More Precipitation Near Airports, Researchers Find.” ScienceDaily, July 1, 2011.
Under certain conditions, airplanes may inadvertently seed clouds, causing small but measurable increases in precipitation around airports.

“Persistent Drought to Linger Across Southern United States.” ScienceDaily, January 22, 2011.
According to NOAA’s National Weather Service, persistent drought conditions are likely to linger in the Southern Plains and Southeast through spring. La Niña has kept storms and most of their precipitation in the north, leaving the South drier than normal.

“India’s Wettest Place ‘Lacks Water’” – BBC, December 20, 2009.
Average annual rainfall in Cherrapunji, a tourist attraction in the cloud forests, has been declining at a rate of 20 percent per year despite limited deforestation.

“Great Lakes water levels see increase.” The Times Herald, August 7, 2008.
Great Lakes water levels are up from previous years but still below average for August.

Bowe, Christopher. “Finger pointed at La Niña in search for clues.” Financial Times, February 2, 2008.
The recent snowstorms and heavy rains in China, which have slowed the Nation’s transportation network, are being linked to La Niña.

“Smaller Storms Drop Larger Overall Rainfall In Hurricane Season.” Terra Daily, December 10, 2007.
A study of rainfall trends in the drought-stricken southeastern U.S. show that the most extreme rainfall days occur in September and October, and that a series of smaller tropical storms and depressions brings more cumulative rainfall to the region than the more powerful but shorter lived hurricane.

Wahlquist, Asa. “Hot spring ices hopes for a cereal crop.” The Australian, October 31, 2007
Old rules of thumb for Australia’s grain farmers are no longer relevant as back to back drought years are crippling the industry.

Lam, Tina and Schmitt, Ben. “Superior free fall struck so fast: No end in sight, drought blamed.” The Detroit Free Press, August 29, 2007.
Increased evaporation due to higher temperatures combined with drought conditions in Lake Superior’s watershed are pushing water levels towards record lows.

“NASA Detects Trends in Rainfall Traits from Drizzles to Downpours.” TerraDaily, March 5, 2007.
NASA scientists find new ways to measure changes in rainfall patterns.

Records

Hoekstra, Gordon. “Hydro struggles to manage historic water levels.” – The Vancouver Sun, July 20, 2012 – Heavy winter snow and record breaking June precipitation have led to a historic water levels for British Columbia dams. By Sunday, July 22, the Columbia River was expected to reach its highest level since the dams were built.

Marshall, Michael. “Arctic ozone hole breaks all records.” New Scientist, October 2, 2011.
A hole in the stratospheric ozone layer, similar to the hole that has been present over Antarctica since the 1980s, developed over the Arctic earlier this year.

“2010 on course to be world’s hottest since records began.” Irish Times, August 16, 2010.
This year may become the hottest year on record; according to NOAA, land surface temperatures during July were the hottest on record.

“March 2009 Tenth Warmest On Record For Global Temperatures.” - ScienceDaily, April 20, 2009.
This March was the 10th warmest globally since relevant record keeping began in 1880. Significant regional differences in temperature and snow/ice cover were observed.

“Spring rainfall at record low levels” The Australian, November 1, 2008.
Southeastern Australia continues to experience drought conditions as the frontal systems that typically bring rainfall to the region are travelling further to the south.

“Global Surface Temperature was Second Warmest for September” ScienceDaily, October 18, 2009.
According to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, combined global land and ocean surface temperature for September was the second warmest on record, behind 2005.

“Arctic autumn temperature hits record high” Terra Daily, October 17, 2008.
NOAA’s Arctic Report Card says that 2008 Arctic autumn atmospheric temperatures reached a record 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) above average.

Medred, Craig. “Summer has been one of Alaska’s coldest.” Anchorage Daily News, September 7, 2008.
Due to prolonged and extensive cloud cover over Alaska, this summer featured the coolest average high temperatures since the early 1970′s.

“NOAA: Eighth Warmest June on Record for Globe.” Science Daily, July 21. 2008.
The combined ocean and land surface temperature in June was 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 20th century average. It was also the wettest June on record in parts of southern China, including Hong Kong.

“Global Land Temperature Warmest on Record In March 2008.” Science Daily, April 19, 2008.
March of 2008 featured the planet’s warmest average March land temperature on record and the 13th warmest average March ocean surface temperature. U.S. temperatures were around average.

Antczak, John. “L.A. Set to Log Driest Year in More Than a Century.” The Washington Post, June 30, 2007.
The last 12 months has been the driest that the Los Angeles area has seen in over 130 years. The recent behavior of the jet stream has helped to keep rain out of Southern California while simultaneously bringing near record amounts of rain to Texas.

Clarke, Jeremy. “Overheating Britain: April Temperatures Break All Records.” The Independent, April 28, 2007.
With record-breaking April temperatures, Britain may experience record summer temperatures as well.

Bornstein, Seth. “Record for Hottest January Isn’t Broken….It’s Smashed.” Seattle Times, February 16, 2007.
This past January was the hottest on record. It broke the previous record by .81° Fahrenheit.

“Tokyo Sets Snowless Record.” TerraDaily, February 11, 2007.
This winter has featured the longest snowless stretch in Tokyo’s recorded meteorological history. According to meteorologists in Japan, Tokyo has never had a winter without snow.

“2006 Poised to be the Third Warmest Year on Record.” USA Today, December 14, 2006.
Officials at NOAA reported that 2006 is on track to be the third warmest year on record in the contiguous United States. NOAA began keeping temperature records in 1895. The ten warmest years in this data series have occurred since 1995.

Seasonal Patterns

“A bugged life: Warm winter could mean more insects.” – Washington Post, March 10, 2012 –
Warm conditions this winter caused bugs to wake-up earlier, leading to larger numbers of pests.

Gray, Richard. “Common fungi spreading as climate changes.” The Telegraph, September 19, 2011.
Warmer weather has expanded Britain’s fungi fruiting season and some species are growing in places where they have previously been unseen.

“Research shows climate change lengthening local allergy season.” La Crosse Tribune, April 4, 2011.
In the northern United States and Canada, ragweed plants are now actively producing pollen for about a month longer than they did in 1995, due to warming temperatures and later average onset of the first frost.

“Higher temperatures prolong Alaska growing season.” Anchorage Daily News, August 1, 2010.
Rising temperatures over the 20th century have stretched Alaska’s growing season from 85 to 123 days.

“‘Citizen scientists’ record warming data.” USA Today, April 7, 2008.
All across the Nation, citizens are observing budbursts and sending data to scientists in order to build a better understanding of changes in plant life-cycles.

Hill, Michael. “Study: Northeast winters warming fast.” ABC News, January 13, 2008.
A new study reinforces numerous observations that winters in the Northeast have become warmer and less snowy.

Brown, Susan. “Polar bears dying in years of early ice melt.” Nature News, November 23, 2007.
The oldest and youngest members of Polar Bear populations experience higher mortality rates during years when the Arctic ice melts earlier than average.

Warm Spring ‘Affecting Wildlife.’” BBC News, May 25, 2007.
The 2007 Springwatch event, a wildlife observation program run by BBC and the Woodland Trust, has witnessed butterflies, frogspawn, and other wildlife are showing up earlier than expected.

McCarthy, Michael. “Chelsea Flower Show growers hit by climate change as warm spring accelerates growth.” The Independent, May 12, 2007.
April’s record warmth has prompted flowers in Britain to bloom much earlier than usual, a phenomenon that has forced gardeners at Chelsea’s Flower Show to adapt both to this early bloom and to unusually large insect populations.

Other Topics

“Saturn’s Moon Titan Shows Surprising Seasonal Changes.” – Science Daily, September 28, 2012 –
Like Earth, Titan has axial tilt, giving it seasons and providing scientists with extraterrestrial laboratory useful for better understanding Earth’s climate.  
“Conn. nuclear plant unit reopens with cooler water.” – Boston.com, August 27, 2012 –
Connecticut’s Millstone Power Station reopened after possibly being the first open-water-body-cooled nuclear power plant to shut down due to excessively warm intake water.
“Giant Moa Had Climate Change Figured Out.” – ScienceDaily, August 3, 2012 –
New research indicates that New Zealand’s now extinct Moas had stable populations for 40,000 years before humans arrived and that it is unlikely that climate played a significant role in their extinction.

“Wallflowers of the Earth System.” – Science Daily, June 3, 2012 –
Earth’s algae, lichens and mosses collectively take up about 14 billion tons of carbon dioxide and fix 50 million tons of nitrogen per year, making them a significant player in the planet’s carbon and nitrogen cycles.  

“Trace Element Plays Major Role in Tropical Forest Nitrogen Cycle.” – Science Daily, March 22, 2012 –
How much carbon forests can take out of the atmosphere may be constrained by the availability of molybdenum, in addition to the availability of other more widely recognized nutrients like phosphorous.

‘Mother of Pearl Tells a Tale of Ocean Temperature, Depth.” – ScienceDaily, February 16, 2012 –
Mother of Pearl is being studied by scientists as a new type of climate record, providing insights into what Earth’s climate was like hundreds of millions of years ago.

“Climate in the News: “NASA Sees Repeating La Niña Hitting Its Peak.” – ScienceDaily, January 19, 2012 –
Data from the Jason-1 and Jason-2 satellites suggest that the La Niña conditions that have been featured in back-to-back winters are peaking.

“Humans and Climate Contributed to Extinctions of Large Ice Age Mammals, New Study Finds.” – ScienceDaily, November 2, 2011 –
Large ice age mammals, which had typically been able to find cold-climate refuges during past warm interglacial periods, were not able to do so during the current interglacial period because of the expanded human global presence.

“New Tool Clears the Air On Cloud Simulations.” ScienceDaily, October 26, 2011.
A new tool that allows climate models to better account for satellite data may help improve the representation of clouds and model accuracy.

“Space Weather Prediction Model Improves Forecasting.” ScienceDaily, October 20, 2011.
Explosions in the sun’s outer atmosphere can have repercussions for the functioning of modern technologies on Earth. A new model developed by NOAA improves our ability to predict and prepare for such events.

O’Harra, Doug. “Warming climate triggers sweeping change for Interior Alaska Natives.” Alaska Dispatch, September 25, 2011.
The U.S. Geological Survey has been gathering information from Alaskan Natives on how their subsistence lifestyle is being impacted by climate change.

“Seeing the Wood for the Trees: New Study Shows Sheep in Tree Ring Records.” ScienceDaily, July 27, 2011.
A new study that looks at how nibbling by herbivores impacts tree rings could help improve the accuracy of tree ring records as a tool for understanding past climate conditions.

“Significant Role Played by Oceans in Ancient Global Cooling.” ScienceDaily, May 26, 2011.
A recent analysis of isotopes in ocean sediments reveals that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current began significantly affecting Earth’s climate earlier than previously thought.

“Tree Rings Tell a 1,100 Year History of El Niño.” ScienceDaily, May 6, 2011.
Annually resolved tree ring records provide a continuous 1,100 year history of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation.

“Fossil Sirenians, Related to Today’s Manatees, Give Scientists New Look at Ancient Climate.” ScienceDaily , April 24, 2011.
Analysis of the fossilized tooth enamel from manatee ancestors suggests very wet low latitudes during the Eocene Epoch, more than 50 million years ago.

“Scientists pioneer satellite-linked ocean research.” ABC News, March 13, 2011.Recently deployed GPS buoys off the coast of Tasmania are taking sea level rise measurements, which will help satellites provide more accurate information about sea level trends around Australia.

“Fossils of horse teeth indicate ‘you are what you eat.’” ScienceDaily, March 7, 2011.
A study of fossilized teeth from dozens of extinct ancestors of the modern horse shows that changes in teeth lag behind climate-induced dietary changes by a million years or more.

“Arctic environment during an ancient bout of natural global warming.” ScienceDaily, February 27, 2011.
A recently extracted sediment core from the high Arctic is providing a high-resolution picture of a period of rapid warming that occurred 56 million years ago.

“Airborne Sensor to Study ‘Rivers in the Sky.” ScienceDaily, February 11, 2011.
Unmanned NASA aircraft will be spending the month of February off the Pacific Coast of the United States studying narrow, water vapor rich regions of Earth’s atmosphere, known as “atmospheric rivers,” as part of a joint effort with NOAA.

“Rescuing the Earth’s Weather History.” New York Times, February 4, 2011.
Climate researchers are using an array of tools to understand past temperature variability.

“Antarctic sub to explore Tahoe.” The Record-Courier, January 10, 2011.
A new submarine will be tested in Lake Tahoe before it explores the bottom of the Ross Ice Shelf, an area where information needed to better understand climate change and sea-level rise will be gathered.

“Cloud Atlas: Scientist Maps the Meaning of Mid-Level Clouds.” ScienceDaily, January 1, 2011.
New NASA funded research on the sparsely studied mid-level clouds is being conducted by Texas A&M professor Shaima Nasiri.

“Measuring Air-Sea Exchange of Carbon Dioxide in the Open Ocean” ScienceDaily, December 7, 2010.
Results from the High Wind Air-Sea Exchanges (HiWASE) experiment in the North Atlantic are providing new insights into the nature of air-sea carbon dioxide exchange.

“Carbon Monoxide Trapped in Ice Cores Reveals Unexpected Trends Regarding Burning Biomass” ScienceDaily, December 3, 2010.
Scientists are studying 650 years’ worth of ice core records to learn more about historic fluctuations in Southern Hemisphere biomass burning.

NASA’s Savory Sea Salt Sensor to Get Cooked, Chilled” ScienceDaily, November 28, 2010.
A NASA instrument that measures ocean salinity will be carried into space next spring on the Argentinian SAC-D spacecraft, which is currently undergoing tests to ensure it can withstand the extremes of outer space.

“Owls’ clue to climate change” Chicago Sun-Times, November 13, 2010.
Ancient owl pellets found in Utah’s Homestead Cave are helping biologists understand how past climate change affected animal communities in the Great Basin.

“Last ‘Tango’ in Space: Satellite Duo to Generate 3-D Models of Glaciers and Low-Lying Coastal Areas” ScienceDaily, November 4, 2010.
Two European Space Agency satellites parted ways on October 22, ending a project focused on better understanding glacial movements and low-lying coastal area flood vulnerability.

“Falkland Islands Radar Study Impacts Climate Research: New Equipment Will Monitor Activity Which Creates the Southern Lights.’” ScienceDaily, October 25, 2010.
It is unclear how solar winds, which generate the northern and southern lights, affect atmospheric dynamics. New equipment installed on the Falkland Islands will help climatologists better understand the interactions between solar winds and climate.

Staats, Eric. “Collier getting wetter and Lee warmer, UCF climate study shows.” Naples Daily News, August 22, 2010.
The historic relationship between temperature, rainfall and plants in Florida is discussed in a recent University of Central Florida study.

“Geologists Show Unprecedented Warming in Africa’s Lake Tanganyika; Valuable Fish Stocks at Risk.” ScienceDaily, May 16, 2010.
A significant 20th century warming of Lake Tanganyika, one of Earth’s largest lakes, is jeopardizing its status as an important food and water source for 10 million people.

“Particulate Matter from Fires Affects Lightning in the Amazon.” ScienceDaily, April 25, 2010.
More fires in the Amazon mean more particulate matter in the atmosphere, which affects cloud formation and can reduce rainfall.

“Volcanic Eruption in Iceland Unlikely to Have Global Effects.’” ScienceDaily, April 18, 2010.
The eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull Volcano is unlikely to have global effects as the plume of tiny rock particles remains below the stratosphere.

“Not so fast! Andes rise was gradual, not abrupt.” ScienceDaily, April 4, 2010.
Recent reinterpretations of paleoclimatological evidence, specifically the ratios of oxygen-16 to oxygen-18, suggest that the Andes Mountains rose over a period of tens of millions of years, not three million years.

“Snowball Earth: New Evidence Hints at Global Glaciation 716.5 Million Years Ago.” ScienceDaily, March 5, 2010.
New evidence suggests there was a five million year long period – approximately 716.5 million years ago – when ice extended from the poles all the way to the equator.

Climate in the News: “Stratospheric Water Vapor is Global Warming Wild Card.” ScienceDaily, February 1, 2009.
Decadal variability in stratospheric water vapor content has had a noticeable effect on the rates of surface temperature changes over the last 30 years.

Climate in the News: “Cave Reveals Southwest’s Abrupt Climate Swings During Ice Age.” ScienceDaily, January 25, 2009.
Stalagmite samples from the Southwest demonstrate periodic changes in Ice Age rainfall regimes that correspond to simultaneous climate changes demonstrated by proxy records from Greenland.

“Cave Study Links Climate Change to California Droughts.’” ScienceDaily, November 15, 2009.
An analysis of cave deposits suggests that periods of drought in California correspond to thawing of Arctic sea ice.

“European satellite launched to explore climate change.” Telegraph U.K., November 2, 2009.
The European Space Agency recently launched a satellite which will help to improve the monitoring of soil moisture and ocean salinity changes.

“Arctic Sediments Show that 20th Century Warming is Unlike Natural Variation.” ScienceDaily, October 25, 2009.
Sediments retrieved from a remote Arctic Lake that reveal information about the climate over the past 200,000 years show that warming during the 20th Century is unlike past warming episodes.

“Nitrogen Cycle: Key Ingredient In Climate Model Refines Global Predictions.” ScienceDaily, October 11, 2009.
Attempts to refine climate models with better representations of the nitrogen cycle have recently been successful.

“NASA’s ‘A-Train’ Of Satellites On Track With Hurricane Research.” ScienceDaily, August 24, 2009.
A constellation of five satellites that orbit in close succession is being used to better understand cloud properties and cyclones in the tropics.

“Ancient Drought and Rapid Cooling Drastically Altered Climate.” ScienceDaily, July 6, 2009.
Glacial core samples are being used to evaluate two distinct periods of rapid climate change, which happened 700 and 4500 years ago.

“Meteoroid Bombardment May Have Made Earth More Habitable, Says Study.” ScienceDaily, June 1, 2009.
A 20 million-year-long period of frequent meteoroid impacts around four billion years ago may have played an important role in making Earth habitable.

“Airborne Dust and Microbial Matter May Play Large Role in Ice Formation in Clouds.” ScienceDaily, 17 May 2009.
Recent cloud sampling missions demonstrate the importance of both mineral dust and biological particles for cloud formation and rainfall.

“Dust May Settle Unanswered Questions on Antarctica.” ScienceDaily, March 29, 2009.
Analysis of Patagonian dust stored in Antarctic ice may be useful for improving our understanding of the past ice age.

“Cosmic Rays Detected Deep Underground Reveal Secrets Of Upper Atmosphere.” Science Daily, January 24, 2009.
Underground equipment that detects high-energy cosmic-rays has been used to detect severe and sudden stratospheric weather events, which is useful for improving climate and weather prediction models.

“Why Atmospheric Pressure Peaks At 10am And 10pm In The Tropics.” ScienceDaily, December 14, 2008.
Recent findings support the “solar tides” theory as an explanation for the observed semi-daily peaks in tropical atmospheric pressure.

“Decline Of Roman And Byzantine Empires 1,400 Years Ago May Have Been Driven By Climate Change.” Science Daily, December 6, 2008.
A drying trend in the Mediterranean region from 100 to 700 A.D. may have contributed to the decline of the the Roman and Byzantine empires.

“Sedimentary Records Link Himalayan Erosion Rates And Monsoon Intensity Through Time” – Science Daily, November 9, 2008.
Researchers are studying ocean sediment cores to better understand the dynamics of Asian monsoon climates and the building of the Himalayas.

Schiermeier, Quirin, “Africa’s climate tied to northern hemisphere.” Nature News, September 12, 2008.
Paleoclimatological evidence shows that major cooling episodes in the North Atlantic coincide with drought in Southeast Africa.

“New Clues To Air Circulation in the Atmosphere.” ScienceDaily, August 22, 2008.
A new study suggests that Earth has four major atmospheric circulation cells. Most older theories recognized only two.

“El Niño May Have Been Factor in Magellan’s Pacific Voyage.” ScienceDaily, May 16, 2008.
Magellan’s 16th century journey around the world coincided with an El Niño event, which helped his passage through the Pacific.

Lövgren, Stefan. “Climate Change Driving Mongolians from Steppes to Cities.” National Geographic News, February 21, 2008.
The last few decades of rising temperatures in Mongolia have been linked to increased rates of evapotranspiration, more severe winter storms, and heavier but less frequent rains, trends which are making life harder for the nation’s herders.

Jensen, Adam. “Tahoe rapidly warming: Lecture looks at climate change.” Nevada County Local News, June 9, 2007.
Lake Tahoe is warming at a rate faster than the world’s oceans. This warming is likely to change the composition of the lake’s living communities, and possibly impair its water’s famous visibility.