Cloud feedback adds 50-100% to climate sensitivity

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

According to Atmospheric Sciences Professor Andrew Dessler, of Texas A&M University, in an interview with BBC’s Science in Action.

The 5 main results of Cancún

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

After the deception of Copenhagen, the news is progress was made at all. Just like in the Danish capital last year, also this year, during the climate conference in Cancún no legally binding new climate treaty, to replace the expiring … Continue reading →

Autumn 2010 Arctic sea ice lowest ever

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Short news, but relevant to a possible temperature record for 2010 and to spicing up the current UN climate negotiations in Cancún:

WMO: 2010 ‘at least top 3’ hottest years ever

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

We were expecting news along similar lines from NASA later this month, but today, during the UN climate conference in Cancún, the World Meteorological Organisation [see special COP16 WMO page] decided to recognize the social relevance of timely sharing climatic … Continue reading →

Cancún starts, Greenland thaws

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Today COP16, the follow-up to last years UN climate conference in Copenhagen, starts in the Mexican city of Cancún. Also today Greenland sees record high temperatures.

Recession saved us 4 days of CO2

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

In total, over the last year. That’s not a joke, but a quote of Pierre Friedlingstein, of Exeter University. Due to the global economic downturn, the world’s CO2 emissions were 1.3 percent lower. That is just half the expected decline, … Continue reading →

Urban population growth Africa 300 percent between 2010 and 2050

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

The African urban population is forecast by the UN to triple in just 40 years time.

Peak Coal in 2030, or 2020

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

According to ‘The End of Cheap Coal’ in last weeks edition of Nature, outdated reserve estimates and economic forces will lead to a peak in coal production within two decades. Ambitious geopolitics are still left out of that equation, which … Continue reading →

2010: hottest year, Caribbean coral bleaching record

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

There is some big climate news under way. Negotiators in Cancún however can consider themselves fortunate that it will be at least another month before NASA scientists can announce their findings: 2010 will be the hottest year on record.

Getting practical on geoengineering: the cheapest way to lift 1 Mt of aerosols

Posted on November 21, 2010 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Aurora Flight Sciences recommends Aurora Flight Sciences. At least that’s what David Keith, Climate Professor at the University of Calgary and a leading expert on geoengineering leads to suspect in their joint cost analysis, published three weeks ago.

Bits of Science

Author Archives: Rolf Schuttenhelm