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03/11/2010 05:00 PM
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Atmospheric nanoparticles impact health, weather professor says
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Nanoparticles are atmospheric materials so small that they can't be seen with the naked eye, but they can very visibly affect both weather patterns and human health all over the world -- and not in a good way, according to a new study.
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03/10/2010 11:00 AM
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Ever-changing Earth: How the atmosphere can affect planet's shape, rotation, gravitational field
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Researchers in Austria are investigating the effects of the Earth's atmosphere on our planet's shape, its rotation and its gravitational field. The researchers' aim is to develop a better understanding of the Earth's system and to support the development of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS).
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03/09/2010 02:00 PM
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Increased solar radiation requires additional CO2 reduction of 50 million tonnes, analysis finds
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The recently observed reduction in air pollution implies that more solar radiation reaches Earth’s surface. This could lead to a far more rapid increase in Earth’s temperature in the coming decades than has previously been expected. In order to successfully combat global warming, it is crucial that scientists incorporate increases in CO2 emissions reductions as well as reductions in air pollution in the calculations, according to a new analysis based on unique solar radiation data collected from weather stations between 1959 and 2002.
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03/04/2010 08:00 AM
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More, better biodiesel
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Higher yields of better-performing biodiesel could be produced using a new method.
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03/04/2010 12:00 AM
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First micro-insurance plan uses mobile phones and weather stations to shield Kenya's farmers
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As East Africa recovers from the worst drought in decades, an innovative program launched today will use a low-cost, mobile phone payment and data system, and automated, solar powered weather stations, to offer thousands of farmers in parts of Western and Central Kenya affordable, "pay as you plant" insurance to protect their investments in desperately needed high-yielding seeds, fertilizers, as well as other farm inputs.
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03/03/2010 11:00 AM
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Cocaine-related deaths rise in warm weather, study finds
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Researchers in the United States have discovered that accidental overdose deaths involving cocaine rise when the average weekly ambient temperature passes 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).
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03/03/2010 11:00 AM
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Red tide: Researchers issue outlook for a significant New England bloom of a toxic alga in 2010
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Scientists have issued an outlook for a significant regional bloom of a toxic alga that can cause 'red tides' in the spring and summer of this year, potentially threatening the New England shellfish industry. This year's bloom could be similar to the major red tides of 2005 and 2008.
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03/02/2010 05:00 PM
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El Niño and a pathogen, not global warming, killed Costa Rican toad
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Scientists broadly agree that global warming may threaten the survival of many plant and animal species; but global warming did not kill the Monteverde golden toad, an often cited example of climate-triggered extinction, says a new study.
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02/26/2010 02:00 AM
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Computer models show how skyborne seawater particles change cloud brightness, temperature, rain patterns
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Ships blowing off steam are helping researchers understand how human-made particles might be useful against global warming. New results from modeling clouds like those seen in shipping lanes reveal the complex interplay between aerosols, the prevailing weather and even the time of day the aerosol particles hit the air, according to new research.
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02/25/2010 08:00 AM
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More frequent fires could aid ecosystems
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With a changing climate there's a good chance that forest fires in the Pacific Northwest will become larger and more frequent -- and according to one expert speaking today at a professional conference, that's just fine. It will ultimately be good for forest health.
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02/24/2010 05:00 PM
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Temperature Trackers Watch Our Watery World Wax and Wane
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Climatologists have long known that human-produced greenhouse gases have been the dominant drivers of Earth's observed warming since the start of the Industrial Revolution. But other factors also affect our planet's temperature. Of these, the ocean plays a dominant role. Its effects helped nudge global temperatures slightly higher in 2009, and, according to NASA scientists, could well contribute to making 2010 the warmest year on record.
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02/23/2010 08:00 PM
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Better snowfall forecasting
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Scientists have developed an easier way for meteorologists to predict snowfall amounts and density -- fluffy powder or wet cement. The method has been adopted by the National Weather Service for use throughout Utah -- and could be adjusted for use anywhere.
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02/23/2010 12:00 AM
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New NASA Web Page Sheds Light on Science of Warming World
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Climatologists have long known that human-produced greenhouse gases have been the dominant drivers of Earth's observed warming since the start of the Industrial Revolution. But other factors also affect our planet's temperature. Of these, the ocean plays a dominant role. Its effects helped nudge global temperatures slightly higher in 2009, and, according to NASA scientists, could well contribute to making 2010 the warmest year on record.
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02/22/2010 02:00 AM
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Rain, rain, go online
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A new webcam at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is keeping an eye on debris and water flows that could course down nearby wildfire-stripped hillsides during a rainstorm.
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02/22/2010 12:00 AM
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NASA and NOAA ready GOES-P satellite for launch
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NASA is preparing to launch the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-P (GOES-P) from Space Launch Complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The launch is targeted for March 2.
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02/21/2010 05:00 AM
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Warmer planet temperatures could cause longer-lasting weather patterns
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Although stagnant weather patterns are often difficult to predict, researchers are now studying whether increasing planet temperatures and carbon dioxide levels could lead to atmospheric blocking and when this blocking might occur, leading to more accurate forecasts.
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02/20/2010 11:00 AM
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Arctic glacial dust may affect climate and health in North America and Europe
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New evidence shows that dust storms may exist in the arctic, possibly caused by receding glaciers, which may be making deposits similar to those transported from the deserts of Africa to the southern US and Caribbean.
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02/12/2010 02:00 AM
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Better weather forecasts with a map showing atmospheric vapor
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Weather forecasts, satellite navigation in cars and the inspection of dikes or natural gas fields: these applications using satellite data would all be even more accurate if we knew more about the distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere, according to researchers.
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02/08/2010 11:00 PM
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Conservation from space: Landscape diversity helps to conserve insects
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Rugged, hilly landscapes with a range of different habitat types can help maintain more stable butterfly populations and thus aid their conservation, according to new findings. This has implications for how we might design landscapes better to help conserve species.
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02/07/2010 11:00 AM
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Instruments to study space weather set for NASA launch
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A $32 million instrument package set for launch Feb. 9 by NASA should help scientists better understand the violent effects of the sun on near-Earth space weather that can affect satellites, power grids, ground communications systems and even astronauts and aircraft crews.
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02/04/2010 05:00 PM
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Learning from climate's sedimental journey
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By analyzing sediments up to 4,000 years old, an environmental scientist is hoping to provide a tool to help predict future climate change. Ancient records of what was happening with climate conditions can be used with regional climate models to tell a story of what happened in the past and to correlate it to the present and the future. Current models typically use data only for the last 100 years or less and may miss wet and dry periods from past millennia.
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02/03/2010 02:00 AM
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Measuring rainfall with mobile phone antennas
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As rain interferes with radio signals, researchers have been able to measure rainfall using data supplied by the mobile telecommunications company Orange. The new method offers greater spatial resolution than traditional point measurements provided by rain gauges. In the future, this could be combined with intelligent control systems for sewer networks so as to reduce water pollution in urban areas.
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01/30/2010 05:00 PM
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Upper atmosphere influences weather near Earth's surface
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To what extent does what's happening in the stratosphere, tens of kilometers above Earth, influence the weather in the troposphere, the layer of atmosphere that touches Earth? Researchers performed a series of forecast experiments using a general circulation model to study the role of the stratosphere in influencing tropospheric weather following sudden stratospheric warming events.
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01/26/2010 08:00 AM
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Ozone hole healing could cause further climate warming
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The hole in the ozone layer is now steadily closing, but its repair could actually increase warming in the southern hemisphere, according to scientists.
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01/26/2010 02:00 AM
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UK under snow as seen from space
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Scientists have released images of the UK under snow and they are exploring the possible causes of this recent extreme weather.
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01/22/2010 08:00 AM
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Last decade was warmest on record, 2009 one of warmest years, NASA research finds
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A new analysis of global surface temperatures by NASA scientists finds the past year was tied for the second warmest since 1880. In the Southern Hemisphere, 2009 was the warmest year on record. Although 2008 was the coolest year of the decade because of a strong La Nina that cooled the tropical Pacific Ocean, 2009 saw a return to a near-record global temperatures as the La Nina diminished.
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01/19/2010 11:00 PM
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More reliable forecasts for water flows can reduce price of electricity
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Brazil, Canada, China, the US, Russia, Norway, Japan, and Sweden are among the largest producers of hydroelectric power in the world. One problem for hydroelectric power companies is that the great variations in the river flow and the lack of long-term forecasts make it difficult for power companies to determine how much water in their dams should be saved or released.
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01/17/2010 08:00 PM
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Wilder weather exerts a stronger influence on biodiversity than steadily changing conditions
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An increase in the variability of local conditions could do more to harm biodiversity than slower shifts in climate, a new study has found.
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01/15/2010 08:00 PM
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ESA’s ice mission arrives safely at launch site
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In what might seem rather appropriate weather conditions, the CryoSat-2 Earth Explorer satellite has completed its journey to the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan, where it will be prepared for launch on 25 February. The CryoSat mission is dedicated to precise monitoring of the changes in the thickness of marine ice floating in the polar oceans and variations in the thickness of the vast ice sheets that overlay Greenland and Antarctica.
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01/14/2010 05:00 PM
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First satellite map of Haiti earthquake
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A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince on 12 January, causing major casualties and damage. The quake was followed by several aftershocks with magnitudes over 5.0.
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01/14/2010 05:00 PM
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Arctic could face warmer and ice-free conditions
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There is increased evidence that the Arctic could face seasonally ice-free conditions and much warmer temperatures in the future. Scientists documented evidence that the Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas were too warm to support summer sea ice during the mid-Pliocene warm period (3.3 to 3 million years ago). This period is characterized by warm temperatures similar to those projected for the end of this century, and is used as an analog to understand future conditions.
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01/07/2010 05:00 AM
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Impact of unsettled summer weather on UK marine life
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A recent scientific conference has provided new evidence for the effects of unseasonal summer storms on a variety of spectacular marine life, including deadly jellyfish, basking sharks and oceanic seabirds.
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01/05/2010 05:00 AM
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Winter, Nighttime Tornadoes Pose Greatest Risk, National Weather Service Warns
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Shrouded in darkness, nighttime tornadoes can be deadly, especially during the winter season when people are not accustomed to such severe weather. Given the dangers, forecasters with NOAA's National Weather Service are increasing efforts to alert people of a potential threat in their area before they go to sleep.
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01/03/2010 11:00 AM
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Indian Ocean climate event recurs quicker with global warming
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The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), an oscillation of sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, has become a major influence on the weather variations in the Indian Ocean region. During positive IOD events, abnormally warm sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean are accompanied by severe droughts over the Indonesian region and heavy rainfall over east Africa.
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12/26/2009 05:00 AM
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Low-cost temperature sensors: Tennis balls to monitor mountain snowpack
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Dime-sized temperature sensors, first built for the refrigerated food industry, have been adapted to sense mountain microclimates.
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12/20/2009 05:00 PM
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Warming climate chills Sonoran Desert's spring flowers
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Global warming is giving a boost to Sonoran Desert plants that have an edge during cold weather, according to new research. Although overall numbers of winter annuals have declined since 1982, species that germinate and grow better at low temperatures are becoming more common. As a result, the composition of the desert's spring wildflower display is changing, according to new research.
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12/20/2009 11:00 AM
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Nocturnal wind maximum mapped for first time
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On beautiful, sunny days with quiet weather conditions a strong wind develops in the evening at a height of about 200 meters. Scientists have now mapped how such a powerful wind develops high in the air.
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12/18/2009 08:00 PM
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Chicken or egg question looms over climate debate
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Which came first, the warmer temperatures or the clearer skies? Answers to that and similar "chicken or egg" type questions could have a significant impact on our understanding of both the climate system and manmade global warming.
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12/17/2009 11:00 PM
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Pollution alters isolated thunderstorms: Wind shear strength determines whether pollution swells or saps storms
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New research reveals how wind shear -- the same atmospheric conditions that cause bumpy airplane rides -- affects how pollution contributes to isolated thunderstorm clouds. The work improves scientists' understanding of how aerosols -- tiny unseen particles that make up pollution -- contribute to isolated thunderstorms and the climate cycle. How aerosols and clouds interact is one of the least understood aspects of climate, and this work allows researchers to better model clouds and precipitation.
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12/17/2009 08:00 AM
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Irrigation decreases, urbanization increases monsoon rains
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Scientists have shown man-made changes to the landscape have affected Indian monsoon rains, suggesting that land-use decisions play an important role in climate change.
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12/16/2009 11:00 AM
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Secrets of mysterious 'night-shining' clouds unlocked by NASA's AIM satellite and models
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NASA's Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere satellite has captured five complete polar seasons of noctilucent or "night-shining" clouds with an unprecedented horizontal resolution of 3 miles by 3 miles. Results show that the cloud season turns on and off like a "geophysical light bulb" and they reveal evidence that high altitude mesospheric "weather" may follow similar patterns as our ever-changing weather near the Earth's surface.
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12/16/2009 02:00 AM
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NASA outlines recent breakthroughs in greenhouse gas research
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Researchers studying carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas and a key driver of global climate change, now have a new tool at their disposal: daily global measurements of carbon dioxide in a key part of our atmosphere. The data are courtesy of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua spacecraft.
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12/15/2009 05:00 PM
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Global warming could significantly impact US wine and corn production, scientists say
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Environmental scientists have used a very high-resolution computer model to forecast the impact of climate change on US wine and corn production. The experiment focuses on the regional impact of climate change on agriculture in the United States over the next three decades, from wine grapes on the West Coast to maple syrup in the Northeast.
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12/14/2009 05:00 PM
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Ethanol-powered vehicles generate more ozone than gas-powered ones
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Vehicles running on ethanol will generate higher concentrations of ozone than those using gasoline, especially in the winter, researchers have found. That could create new health concerns in areas where ozone hasn't been a significant problem before.
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12/11/2009 12:00 AM
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Forest service early warning system
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A national early warning system designed to assist land managers in rapidly detecting threats to forest health has been developed. A new article describes the vision and progress of the system.
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12/07/2009 05:00 PM
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Undocumented volcano contributed to extremely cold decade from 1810-1819
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Researchers have found compelling evidence of a previously undocumented large volcanic eruption that occurred exactly 200 years ago, in 1809. The discovery helps explain the record cold decade from 1810-1819.
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12/02/2009 11:00 PM
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NASA assessing new roles for ailing QuikScat satellite
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NASA mission managers are assessing options for future operations of the venerable QuikScat satellite following the age-related failure of a mechanism that spins the scatterometer antenna. This spinning antenna had been providing near-real-time ocean- surface wind speed and direction data over 90 percent of the global ocean every day.
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12/02/2009 02:00 AM
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GOES-14 (O) moving into on-orbit storage around Earth
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The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite named GOES-14 is being placed in on-orbit storage this month to await its call to duty.
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