Antarctic Ice Shelf Is Collapsing

The British Antarctic Survey reports today that a large part of the Wilkins Ice Shelf in western Antarctica is on the verge of collapse.

Black Carbon contributes to Global Warming

An early-release article in Nature-GeoScience reports on the contribution of ambient black carbon to global warming processes.

Nature Geoscience. Published online: 23 March 2008. doi:10.1038/ngeo156


Global and regional climate changes due to black carbon
V. Ramanathan1 & G. Carmichael2

Ozone Pollution Affected by Climate Change

A current study in the Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres reports that ozone pollution episodes in the Midwest and Northeastern US are affected by climate change.

See: Wu S, Mickley LJ, et al. (2008). Effects of 2000–2050 global change on ozone air quality in the United States. Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres;113:D06302. doi:10.1029/2007JD008917

Climate Risks to Food Crops

A recent article published in Science examines climate risks for food-insecure regions of the world. South Asia and Southern Africa are identified as the two regions whose crops are most at risk.

See: Lobell DB, Burke MB, et al. (2008 Feb 1). Prioritizing Climate Change Adaptation Needs for Food Security in 2030; Science;
319(5863):607 – 610.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1152339

World's Glaciers Melting at Unprecedented Rates

The World Glacier Monitoring Service of the UN Environment Programme reported 2006 data on the rate of melting of the world's glaciers. They note that the glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates. They state: "The average mass balance of the glaciers with available long-term mass balance series around the world continues to decrease,..."

EPA Analysis of Climate Security Act of 2008

On March 14th, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its long-awaited analysis of the Climate Security Act of 2008 (S. 2191) introduced in the 110th Congress by Senators Lieberman and Warner. Click here to link to the EPA Analysis. Click here for S.2191.

Oceans' Dead Zones

According to a recent journal article, the oceans' low chlorophyl waters are expanding.

See: Polovina J. J., E. A. Howell, M. Abecassis (2008), Ocean's least productive waters are expanding, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L03618. doi:10.1029/2007GL031745.

Biofuels debate

Two articles recently published in the journal, Science, continue the debate over whether biofuels contribute to increased or decreased greenhouse gas emissions. See:

Searchinger T, Heimlich R, et al. (2008). Use of Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land-Use Change. Science; 319(5867): 1238 – 1240. DOI: 10.1126/science.1151861

Fargione J, Hill J, et al. (2008). Land clearning and the biofuel carbon debt. Science;319(5867): 1235 – 1238. DOI: 10.1126/science.1152747