While many scientists are studying snow, ice, and permafrost on the earth for clues to climate change, others are flying a jet into the tropopause, the boundary between the lower atmosphere (troposphere) and the stratosphere. They are interested in this region because the buildup of greenhouse gases has altered it in ways that are not […]
Author Archive
Polar News & Notes: Another Frontier for Climate Scientists: the Troposphere
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 9:00 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
Polar News & Notes: Students on Ice Sponsors Expeditions to Arctic and Antarctic
Friday, June 20th, 2008 9:00 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
This summer 75 teenagers, ages 14-19, will sail to the Arctic with a team of scientists, environmentalists and polar educators in the Students on Ice program. The Arctic expedition, August 2-17, will explore southern Baffin Island, Nunavut, and the northern reaches of Nunavik in Quebec province. The itinerary includes workshops, lectures and seminars as well […]
Posted in Topics: Antarctica, Arctic, International Polar Year, Polar News & Notes, Upcoming Opportunities
Polar News & Notes: World’s Largest Lake Getting Warmer
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 9:00 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
Russian and American scientists have found that the world’s largest lake, located in Siberia, is becoming warmer, another sign of climate change.
They have expressed surprise because it was thought this lake with its vast volume of water and a unique water circulation would be more resistant to climate change.
Lake Baikal contains 20 percent of […]
Posted in Topics: Arctic, Current News, Polar News & Notes
Polar News & Notes: DDT Is Found in Penguins
Friday, June 13th, 2008 9:00 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
For the past 30 years ago, the use of DDT as a freely used pesticide has diminished worldwide. One of the first successful campaigns against the chemical was based on its effects on birds. So, it came as a surprise to scientists that Adelie penguins in the Antarctic have the same levels of DDT in […]
Posted in Topics: Animals, Antarctica, Current News, Polar News & Notes
Polar News & Notes: Climate Change Brings Research Center and Technology Institute to Far North
Thursday, June 12th, 2008 6:51 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
By 2009, Greenland’s Institute of Natural Resources and the University of Greenland expect to open the Centre for Climate Research in Nuuk. The centre will document climate changes and study the impact on Arctic society and the environment. Greenland and Denmark scientists will work from the facility as well as scientists from other countries.
An Institute […]
Posted in Topics: Arctic, Current News, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field
Polar News & Notes: Narwhal Tops List of At-Risk Marine Mammals in the Arctic
Friday, June 6th, 2008 12:37 pm
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
While the plight of the polar bear deservedly gets most of the attention in Arctic-warming scenarios, the narwhal is even more at risk, according to a study of marine mammals’ vulnerability. Scientists from three countries identified risk factors for 11 mammals that live in the Arctic year-round.
The narwhal is a pale-colored porpoise with a […]
Posted in Topics: Animals, Arctic, Current News, Polar News & Notes
Polar News & Notes: Sprinkling Ice Caps Around the World—the Albedo Experiment
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 3:07 pm
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
During the last full week of May, science centers all over the world joined with area students to create “ice caps” from available white materials. At a scheduled time, the large white spots will be measured for reflectivity by NASA satellites. The effort, called the Albedo Experiment, is designed to increase public awareness of the […]
Posted in Topics: Current News, International Polar Year, Physical Science, Polar News & Notes
Polar News & Notes: Musk Ox Sport New Collars
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 9:00 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
Six musk ox are roaming along the shores of the Chukchi and northern Bering Seas wearing their new GPS collars.
The Wildlife Conservation Society and other groups outfitted the animals to study how climate change may affect them. Next year in the four-year project, the research team will collar an additional 30-40 more animals.
“Musk ox are […]
Posted in Topics: Animals, Arctic, Current News, International Polar Year, Life Science, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field, Technology
Polar News & Notes: Climate Scientist Says Scientists Are Obligated to Defend Good Science
Thursday, May 8th, 2008 3:00 pm
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
In an opinion piece published in the May issue of Australasian Science, a climate scientist urges his fellow researchers to stand up to those who deny climate change and do more to explain good science to the public. Barry Brook, director of the Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability, at the University of Adelaide, […]
Posted in Topics: Current News, Earth and Space Science, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field
Polar News & Notes: A Cure More Dangerous Than the Condition?
Thursday, May 8th, 2008 11:37 am
Written by: Carolyn Hamilton
Climate scientists are leaving few stones unturned as they look for ways to offset global warming, including geoengineering–the deliberate modification of the environment on a large scale. One widely discussed geoengineering idea for cooling the planet has recently been judged to have some potentially harmful side effects.
The idea was to regularly inject large amounts […]
Posted in Topics: Current News, Earth and Space Science, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field
Posted in Topics: Current News, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field
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