Injecting Sulfates Into Atmosphere Could Destroy Ozone Layer

A scientific debate is brewing over a proposal to inject sulfates into the atmosphere in order to cool the planet. A current article in Science Express argues that this proposal could destroy the ozone layer by activating the release of chlorine:

Tilmes S, et al. (2008 April 24). The Sensitivity of Polar Ozone Depletion to Proposed Geoengineering Schemes. Science Express. DOI: 10.1126/science.1153966.

Melting of Arctic Ice has Accelerated

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released the following report today, "Arctic Climate Impact Science – An Update Since ACIA." This report indicates accelerated rates of melting of both the arctic sea ice and the Greenland ice sheet. WWF states that arctic sea ice is at its lowest level in the 20th century.

Global CO2 at all-time high

The Earth System Research Lab of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at nearly 385ppm for 2007 and rising so far for 2008. In addition, methane emissions have increased for the first time since 1998.

Is Nuclear Energy Environmentally Sustainable?

A current journal article in Environmental Science and Technology claims that the economic, energy, and environmental costs of nuclear energy are substantial and, thereby, questions its environmental sustainability. See:

Mudd GM, et al. (2008). Sustainability of uranium mining and milling: Toward quantifying resources and eco-efficiency. Environmental Science and Technology;42(7):2624-2630. DOI: 10/1021/es702249v.

Carbon Emissions Cap Would Cost Households Little

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released a report today titled, "What Will it Cost to Protect Ourselves from Global Warming?" This report refutes the critics who claim that capping greenhouse gas emissions would damage the US economy.

Jet Streams Shifting

Scientits from the Carnegie Institution of Washington at Stanford report that the altitude of the streams has increased and that they have moved poleward in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Whether or not this is attributable to climate change is discussed. The citation is:

Archer CL, et al. (2008). Historical trends in the jet streams. Geophysical Research Letters;35:L08803. DOI: 10.1029/2008GL033614.

Global Surface Temperature in March '08 Warmest on Record

ScienceDaily reports on National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) data that indicates global surface temperature in March 2008 was the warmest on record. They include the following NCDC reports:

1. Climate of 2008: March in Historical Perspective. NCDC, NOAA. April 15, 2008.

2. US Temperature and Precipitation - 2008. NCDC, NOAA. Last updated April 16, 2008.

3. Global Temperature and Precipitation - 2008. NCDC, NOAA. Last updated April 16, 2008.

4. US National Overview: March 2008. NCDC, NOAA. Updated April 11, 2008.

IPCC has Underestimated Sea Level Projections

The BBC News reports on new research that indicates the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s sea level rise projections are underestimated. At the meeting of the European Geosciences Union this week, Svetlana Jevrejeva, from the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL), near Liverpool, UK, says her models project a 1.5 metre rise in sea level by the end of this century.

Link between Global Warming and Hurricane Intensity

Kerry Emanuel, a hurricane and climate expert from the Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate of MIT, has published the following journal article which verifies his previous hypothesis that there is a connection between the intensity of hurricanes and global warming.

Emanuel K, et al. (2008 March). Hurricanes and Global Warming: Results from Downscaling IPCC AR4
Simulations. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society;89(3): 347-367. DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-89-3-347

UN's 4th Global Environment Outlook

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) issued its 4th Global
Environment Outlook Report.

China is Now Top Global Emitter of CO2

The BBC news reports that China has surpassed the US as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. This report is based on research soon-to-be-published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. When this article is posted, I will post the citation. The BBC news story is online at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7347638.stm

World Health Organization Assesses Climate Change Impacts to Human Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has selected climate change as the subject for its 2008 World Health Day. WHO has identified major health consequences of climate change in its report titled, "Protecting Human Health from Climate Change: World Health Day 2008."

Measuring Forest Carbon Sequestration

The ability to measure accurately a forest's capacity to store carbon is a point of great debate. The Wilderness Society just issued a report on its assessment of the techniques used to analyze the carbon sequestration potential of forests titled, "Measuring Forest Carbon: Strengths and Weaknesses of Available Tools."

IPCC Issues New Report on Climate Change and Water

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change just issued a new report on the impacts to global water resources from climate change titled, "Climate Change and Water."

Technology Changes Needed to Stabilize CO2 Emissions Are Underestimated

In a current issue of Nature, three scientists (Roger Pielke Jr, Tom Wigley and Christopher Green) argue that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underestimated the technological advances needed to stabilize carbon dioxide emissions. The authors argue that global energy use is increasing dramatically and cannot be addressed spontaneously, as suggested by the IPCC.

Nature 452, 531-532 (3 April 2008). doi:10.1038/452531a

EPA Water Program and Climate Change

The EPA released a draft report titled, "National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change." The deadline for comments is May 27, 2008.