Glacier formation proves two-sided

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Conventional reading suggests glaciers and ice sheets are formed top-down, by the cumulative compaction of snowflakes. New research published in Science today shows there is a bottom-up component too – at least for the East Antarctic ice sheet.

A bit of green on Antarctica to aid against global warming

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Jorn van Dooren

Brilliant green pools teeming with life have been found among remote Antarctic sea ice. The pools owe their colour to the high amounts of algae in the water. The pools were observed in the Amundsen Sea’s polynya, a region of seasonally … Continue reading →

Coral reefs threatened with extinction by 2050

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

1998: 58% coral reefs threatened 2011: 75% coral reefs threatened 2030: 90% coral reefs threatened 2050: 100% coral reefs threatened

Geoengineering can save Greenland, model suggests

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

We recently witnessed a new Greenland melting record. And according to a new paleoclimate comparison by James Hansen we could be in for meters of sea level rise within this century, due to expected non-linearity of the melting process.

Climate trend: weaker Atlantic trade winds?

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Over the past 60 years the easterly trade winds over the tropical Atlantic Ocean have decreased in strength, say Hiroki Tokinaga and Shang-Ping Xie of the University of Hawai. The pattern suggests a permanent ‘Atlantic El Niño’, changed precipitation over … Continue reading →

Hansen: paleoclimate shows 2 degrees climate target leads to multiple meters of SLR

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Comparing previous interglacial periods, like the Eemian, to the present geological epoch, the Holocene, shows slight average temperature rises are strongly magnified around the poles. Even under the 450 Scenario 21st century sea level rise could reach multiple meters. “Current … Continue reading →

2010 Amazon drought record: 8 Gt extra CO2

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

The 2005 Amazon drought was unprecedented. It was thought to occur just once in a century. But last year was even worse, leading to massive biomass degradation and CO2 emissions. And yet another 2010 climate record.

Arctic sea ice attacked from two sides

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

Climate change is not only causing the Arctic sea ice to melt because it heats the atmosphere above it, but also through heat advection, by warming ocean currents that make contact with the ice.

Geoengineering La Niña

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Rolf Schuttenhelm

According to the WMO the current La Niña episode will continue to exist for at least another 2-4 months. Other sources state it may last until 2012. This La Niña could be the strongest in decades and is likely to … Continue reading →

The UNFCCC train continues

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Jorn van Dooren

Next stop in six weeks time, was announced today.

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