Earth Gauge

Trivia climática: ¿Cómo las nubes afectan la temperatura de la Tierra?

espinoza — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:30:55 +0000

A medida que aumenta la temperatura de la Tierra, la cantidad de vapor de agua en la atmósfera aumenta. Este aumento de vapor de agua provoca cambios en cómo, dónde, y cuándo se forman las nubes – y estos cambios influyen el estado general del clima de la Tierra.

Pregunta: ¿Cómo impactan las nubes el clima de la Tierra?

a)    Enfrían el planeta al reflejar la luz del sol.
b)    Calientan el planeta absorbiendo el calor de la superficie en camino al espacio.
c)    Las nubes pueden calentar y enfriar el planeta, y su efecto acumulativo sobre el clima es probablemente importante.
d)    Las nubes pueden calentar y enfriar el planeta, pero su efecto acumulativo sobre el clima es probablemente insignificante.

La respuesta correcta es c. Mientras que el efecto general que un aumento de la temperatura global tiene sobre la estructura, la densidad y la distribución de las nubes de la Tierra sigue siendo un área activa de estudio, es evidente que diferentes tipos de nubes pueden trabajar para calentar o enfriar la superficie del planeta. Si el calentamiento o enfriamiento predomina depende de muchos factores como cambios en el tamaño de la nube, cambios en la altitud en que se forman las nubes, los cambios en la hora del día y la época del año en que su formación es la más común. Los cambios en la dinámica de las nubes debido al calentamiento es un ejemplo de un sistema de realimentación climática. Realimentaciones del sistema climático son fenómenos causados por un cambio inicial en el sistema climático que trabajan para amplificar o amortiguar este cambio inicial. Existe alguna incertidumbre, pero la mayoría de las investigaciones sugieren que la realimentación de las nubes es de auto-refuerzo, lo que significa que el calentamiento es reforzado por los mismos cambios en la dinámica de las nubes derivados del calentamiento inicial. Generalmente, las nubes en altas elevaciones, como cirros, hacen muy poco para bloquear la luz solar entrante, pero atrapan el calor saliente con un efecto neto de calentamiento. Las nubes en capas bajas, como las nubes estratocúmulos que se forman sobre aguas frescas del océano, tienden a tener un efecto de enfriamiento neto. Nubes de convención profunda tienden a ser neutrales.

(Fuente: Hannay, C et al. “Evaluation of Forecasted Southeast Pacific Stratocumulus in the NCAR, GFDL, and ECMWF Models.” Journal of Climate 22 (2009): 2871-2889 and NASA Earth Observatory. “Clouds and Radiation.” Accessed Online 2 May 2012 http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Clouds/)

Trivia climática: ¿Cómo las nubes afectan la temperatura de la Tierra?

Comparte este hecho en Twitter: ¿Tienen las nubes un impacto significativo sobre el clima de la Tierra?

Pregunta: ¿Cómo impactan las nubes el clima de la Tierra?

a) Enfrían el planeta al reflejar la luz del sol.

b) Calientan el planeta absorbiendo el calor de la superficie en camino al espacio.

c) Las nubes pueden calentar y enfriar el planeta, y su efecto acumulativo sobre el clima es probablemente importante.

d) Las nubes pueden calentar y enfriar el planeta, pero su efecto acumulativo sobre el clima es probablemente insignificante.

Desconecte el derroche de energía

espinoza — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:28:07 +0000

Los días de verano pueden ser sumamente cálidos, obligándonos a usar los aires acondicionados para aliviarnos del calor. Sin nosotros saber, pudiéramos estar haciendo que nuestros aires acondicionados trabajen más fuerte y por más tiempo, resultando en el consumo excesivo de energía y más dinero gastado en las facturas de energía. Los aparatos eléctricos que estén continuamente conectados generan calor sin que nos demos cuenta – cargadores eléctricos, televisores y equipos de audio/visual, usan electricidad y producen calor, incluso cuando no están en uso.

Consejo: Desconecte los aparatos eléctricos durante el día cuando no están en uso para reducir la demanda de aire acondicionado y/o ventiladores de techo. Y, siempre que sea posible, ponga a funcionar los aparatos que utilizan gran cantidad de energía – como lavavajillas, lavadoras y secadoras de ropa – en la noche cuando es más fresco para evitar que el aire acondicionado trabaje más duro.

Esta información fue proporcionada por el Water Conservation Garden. Obtenga más información en www.thegarden.org.

Climate Fact: Better Glaciology Sharpens Focus on Sea Level Rise

espinoza — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:11:22 +0000

In the six years since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published its last assessment report, better models and satellite observations have let scientists refine their estimates of glacial and ice sheet contributions to sea level rise. These advances show that the Greenland ice sheet is losing ice to the ocean at an increasing pace: in 2012, the surface of Greenland’s ice sheet melted more than ever before. In fact, scientists believe that 70 percent of the sea level rise coming from melted ice sheets (West Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula, and Greenland) is attributable to Greenland alone. These same scientific advancements have also led scientists to reduce their estimate of Antarctica’s contribution to sea level rise.

New glacial isostatic adjustment models (models, verified by GPS, that measure how much Earth’s surface rebounds in the absence of heavy ice) have convinced scientists to reduce estimates of Antarctica’s sea level rise contributions. It’s now unclear if East Antarctica has gained or lost ice over the past 20 years, but the Antarctic Peninsula and West Antarctica are both losing ice at a moderate pace, particularly in response to warmer ocean currents melting the ice sheet edges from below. In addition, the ocean has expanded in response to rising temperatures, especially in its top 700 meters, and scientists believe this “thermal expansion” has been the largest contributor to sea level rise. However, ice sheets are contributing a comparable amount to sea level rise, and their impact is increasing with time. New research shows that glaciers and ice caps are not far behind, either.

(Source: Hanna, Edward et al. 2013, “Ice-sheet mass balance and climate change,” Nature, 498:7452, doi: 10.1038/nature12238.)

Protecting Pollinators

espinoza — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:30:10 +0000

The next time you bite into a slice of melon or take a sip of coffee, think about this: Worldwide, about 1000 plants used for food, beverages, spices, fibers and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order to grow the foods and products we depend on. About 75 percent of all plants, including those in our yards, gardens and parks, depend on pollinators. Pollinators – hummingbirds, bats, beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies and other small animals – help plants reproduce by transporting pollen within a flower or between flowers, resulting in healthy fruits and fertile seeds.

Viewer Tip: Home gardens in urban, suburban and rural areas can play an important role in providing habitat for pollinators and protecting them from threats. During National Pollinator Week, June 17-23, 2013, use these tips to create a pollinator-friendly garden habitat.

Plant a variety of plants that bloom from early spring to late fall. Planting in clumps will help pollinators find plants. Choose plants that are native to your region (find regional planting guides here), meaning that they are adapted to local climate, soil and pollinator species. Including plants that bloom at night will attract bats and moths.
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use. If you must use a pesticide in your yard or garden, use the least toxic product possible. Pesticides can be particularly harmful to bees, so read the product label carefully and apply it at night, when bees and many other pollinators are not active.
Create bee habitat. Leaving a dead tree or tree limb in your yard provides nesting habitat for bees (make sure dead trees/limbs are not safety hazards for people working below them). You can also create a “bee condo” by drilling holes of various sizes about three to five inches deep in a piece of scrap lumber. Mount the lumber to a post or under eaves with southern exposure.
Provide nectar for hummingbirds. Make nectar by combining four parts water to one part table sugar (do not use honey, artificial sweeteners or fruit juices). Add something red to the feeder to attract hummingbirds, and be sure to clean the feeder with hot, soapy water twice a week.
Learn more about pollinators. Visit The Pollinator Partnership website to learn more about National Pollinator Week, get fast facts about pollinators, access garden guides and more.

Photo courtesy of Rob Flynn, USDA.

(Sources: The Pollinator Partnership. “Garden Guide for Pollinators.” http://pollinator.org/PDFs/NPW/Garden%20Guide%20for%20Pollinators%20%283%29.pdf; “Fast Facts for Gardeners.” http://pollinator.org/PDFs/NPW/Pollination%20Fast%20Facts%20-%20Gardeners.pdf)

Smoke Sense

espinoza — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:00:09 +0000

Smoke from nearby wildfires can impact your health. Smoke is a mixture of tiny particles and gases – the fine particles can get into your eyes and lungs, where they can cause burning eyes, runny nose and may aggravate some health conditions like lung disease, bronchitis and asthma.

Viewer Tip: Protect yourself and your family from the effects of smoke with these tips.

Check the air quality forecast. Pay attention to local newscasts and health warnings related to smoke and follow directions. You can check the air quality forecast online at www.airnow.gov.
Postpone outdoor activities. If it looks smoky outside, postpone outdoor exercise, play and yard work to avoid exposure to poor air quality. Keep pets inside, too.
Keep indoor air as clean as possible. Close windows and doors and run the air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake on your air conditioner closed and make sure you have a clean filter to avoid drawing smoke into your home. If you do not have air conditioning, it can be dangerous to stay in a closed-up home on hot days – seek alternative shelter where you can stay cool.
If you have heart or lung disease, are an older individual or have children and are concerned about smoke in your home or neighborhood, talk to a doctor for advice about staying safe and managing your symptoms.

This information and other air quality resources are available from the AirNow Program at www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_events.

Climate Fact – Rising Temperatures are Greening the Arctic

gray — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:31:28 +0000

The Arctic landscape looks much “greener” than it did 30 years ago

Climate Fact – American Pika

gray — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:28:08 +0000

In the past century, warmer temperatures are forcing American pikas to move up in search of cool, moist climates

Smart About Sprinklers

gray — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:24:19 +0000

Save water and money by giving your water system a check-up

Safe Boating During Thunderstorms

gray — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:51:13 +0000

It is important to know how to protect yourself and others during severe thunderstorms

Smart Summer Driving

gray — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:49:00 +0000

Whether your trip is 50 or 500 miles, save gas and money with proper vehicle maintenance

North Dakota’s Rivers

espinoza — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:57 +0000

Did you know that North Dakota is home to more than 54,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like fresh water is an abundant resource – especially during times of heavy rainfall and flooding – the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. If all the world’s water fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

Protect water quality at home. Pollutants that are carried away from yards and streets with rain water – like fertilizers, pesticides, oil and pet waste – can go right into our rivers and streams, untreated. Taking simple steps at home, like waiting for dry weather before applying fertilizer and always picking up after your pet, can go a long way in protecting water quality.

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Conserve fresh water supplies. The average American household wastes more than 10,000 gallons of water every year from easy-to-fix household leaks – that’s the amount of water it takes to wash 270 loads of laundry! Avoid wasting water outside by checking your sprinkler system for leaks and misdirected sprinkler heads. Inside, fix leaky faucets and shower heads or replace them with water-efficient WaterSense fixtures.

Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in North Dakota.

(Sources: National Wild & Scenic Rivers, “River and Water Trivia”, http://www.rivers.gov/waterfacts.html; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Act: In Your Yard.” http://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/whatyoucando/act_inyard.html; EPA WaterSense Program, www.epa.gov/watersense; Take Me Fishing, www.takemefishing.org)

Our Nation’s Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:40:28 +0000

Did you know that the U.S. is home to more than 3.6 million miles of rivers? (See state specific data.) Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like fresh water is an abundant resource – especially during times of heavy rainfall and flooding – the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. If all the world’s water fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon. During periods of dry weather and drought - the conditions that 83 percent of the western United States are facing now – some rivers and streams may disappear altogether.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

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Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish where you live.

State Facts:

Hawaii’s Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:03:06 +0000

Did you know that Hawaii is home to nearly 4,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like an abundant resource, the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. During periods of dry weather and drought - the conditions that 44 percent of the Hawaii is facing now – some rivers and streams may disappear altogether.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

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Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in Hawaii.

Hecho climático: Las temperaturas en aumento están enverdeciendo al Ártico

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:59:47 +0000

Con el tiempo, la temperatura media mundial ha aumentado, y las plantas del hemisferio norte en las regiones boreales y árticas se han beneficiado de estas condiciones más cálidas. Un estudio financiado por la NASA realizado por un equipo internacional de 21 científicos recientemente encontró que los perfiles de temperatura anuales y las tasas de productividad de las plantas que anteriormente se encontraban en latitudes bajas ahora han progresado hacia el norte entre 4 y 7 grados de latitud en sólo 30 años. En otras palabras, el paisaje ártico se ve mucho más “verde” que como se encontraba hace 30 años en un área que es casi equivalente al tamaño de los Estados Unidos (9 millones de kilómetros cuadrados) si se extendiera como una banda elástica y se envuelve alrededor de la parte superior del planeta. Además, este estudio encontró que el Ártico está enverdeciendo a un ritmo cada ver mayor ya que sus temperaturas siguen en aumento, afectando cuando las plantas florecen en la primavera, mueren en el otoño y qué tan bien hacen la fotosíntesis en el intermedio. Este estudio y otro publicado alrededor del mismo tiempo indican que se espera que estas tendencias continúen.

(Fuentes: Liang Xu et al. 2013, “Temperature and vegetation seasonality diminishment over northern lands,” Nature Climate Change, doi:10.1038/nclimate1836; Richard G. Pearson et al. 2013, “Shifts in Arctic vegetation and associated feedbacks under climate change,” Nature Climate Change, doi:10.1038/nclimate1858.)

Kansas’ Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:45:24 +0000

Did you know that Kansas is home to nearly 134,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like an abundant resource, the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. During periods of dry weather and drought - the conditions that 83 percent of the western United States are facing now – some rivers and streams may disappear altogether.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

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Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in Kansas.

Missouri’s Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:41:28 +0000

Did you know that Missouri is home to nearly 52,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like fresh water is an abundant resource – especially during times of heavy rainfall and flooding – the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. If all the world’s water fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

Download image in high resolution
(1920×1080 jpg file)

Download image in low resolution
(640×360 jpg file)

Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in Missouri.

Utah’s Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:38:12 +0000

Did you know that Utah is home to nearly 82,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like an abundant resource, the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. During periods of dry weather and drought - the conditions that 83 percent of the western United States are facing now – some rivers and streams may disappear altogether.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

Download image in high resolution
(1920×1080 jpg file)

Download image in low resolution
(640×360 jpg file)

Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in Utah.

South Dakota’s Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:35:15 +0000

Did you know that South Dakota is home to more than 9,500 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like an abundant resource, the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. During periods of dry weather and drought - the conditions that 83 percent of the western United States are facing now – some rivers and streams may disappear altogether.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

Download image in high resolution
(1920×1080 jpg file)

Download image in low resolution
(640×360 jpg file)

Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in South Dakota.

Washington’s Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:32:11 +0000

Did you know that Washington is home to more than 70,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like fresh water is an abundant resource – especially during times of heavy rainfall and flooding – the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. If all the world’s water fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

Download image in high resolution
(1920×1080 jpg file)

Download image in low resolution
(640×360 jpg file)

Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in Washington.

Oregon’s Rivers

espinoza — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:28:42 +0000

Did you know that Oregon is home to nearly 111,000 miles of rivers? Freshwater rivers and streams sustain our communities by providing drinking and irrigation water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and more. While it may seem like fresh water is an abundant resource – especially during times of heavy rainfall and flooding – the amount of fresh water available to us is smaller than you might think. If all the world’s water fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.

Viewer Tip: June is National Rivers Month, the perfect time to protect and enjoy our rivers.

Download image in high resolution
(1920×1080 jpg file)

Download image in low resolution
(640×360 jpg file)

Discover the outdoors. Rivers and streams offer ample opportunities for enjoying time outdoors wildlife watching, fishing and boating. Find places to boat and fish in Oregon.