Posts

May 15, 2013

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12:00 AM | Seminars, seminars and more seminars

By Kelly Part of the PhD experience is that we attend as many seminars as we can to broaden our horizons, which I sometimes find hard because I’m having enough troubles keeping on top of my own subject. So I … Continue reading →

May 14, 2013

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11:58 PM | Rodney’s rubbish rides again

You can take the boy out of politics, but you can’t take the politics out of the boy — at least, not if you’re former ACT party leader Rodney Hide. In my Daily Blog column this week, I take a look at Rodney’s latest dalliance with climate denial, and wonder why it is that the [...]

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10:08 PM | When the language distracts from the science: Reviewing, NES, and NoNES

Training in academia is often trial-by-fire, and learning how to review manuscripts is no exception. Because you’re technically not allowed to share manuscripts you’re reviewing with others, it can be especially tricky to learn how to do them (I do know some PI’s who share manuscripts with their grad students as a formal training exercise). … Continue reading »

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8:49 PM | Ozone loss and recovery in the Arctic

Laura Nielsen for Frontier Scientists The ozone hole is a problem which plagues the skies above Antarctica. Yet in 2011, Arctic skies experienced the most severe ozone depletion ever measured in the north. The reasons why are now explained in a paper published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres headed by lead author Susan E. Strahan, an atmospheric scientists at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Understanding ozone loss begins with a look at the ozone layer. Located high […]

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8:00 PM | Chris Hadfield-Bowie; a Space Oddity

By Kelly Normally I might put a piece like this as a ‘Not-so-serious-Sunday‘ post. But Chris Hadfield‘s recent recording from his studio in space is worth featuring mid week. His rendition of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ has gone viral, with … Continue reading →

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1:53 PM | The last time carbon dioxide concentrations were around 400ppm: a snapshot from Arctic Siberia

Synopsis During the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene Series of the Cenozoic Era, 3.6 to 2.2 Ma (million years ago), the Arctic was much warmer than it is at the present day (with summer temperatures from 3.6-3.4 Ma some 8oC warmer than today). That is a key finding of research into a lake-sediment core obtained in Eastern Siberia, which is of exceptional importance because it has provided the longest continuous late Cenozoic land-based sedimentary record thus far. The sedimentary sequence […]

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7:08 AM | The dawn of de-extinction

Hank Greely and Jake Sherkow discuss the science, morals, and ethics of de-extinction: bringing extinct species back to life. As lawyers with an interest in biotechnologies, Hank and Jake explain how they first got involved with de-extinciton, how scientists propose … Continue reading →

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1:41 AM | 2013 SkS News Bulletin #11: Alberta Tar Sands and Keystone XL Pipeline

Al Gore tells Obama to cancel Keystone XL Alberta oil sands production likely to double by 2022 Can carbon capture clean up Canada’s oil sands? Canada says it may take EU to WTO over oil sands dispute Carbon dioxide approaching a new high Foes suggest a tradeoff if pipeline is approved House GOP prepares fast-track for Keystone XL Indigenous resistance grows strong Keeping the faith in carbon capture and storage Keystone XL could cost society over $100 billion per year Norway, […]

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12:00 AM | How to write a thesis with a short attention span

By Kelly What? Oh right yes, how to write a thesis with a limited attention span. I’ve spent the last four months running around like I’ve stolen something. I’ve been multi-tasking somewhat precariously, with the flurry of activity only hindering … Continue reading →

May 13, 2013

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7:59 AM | Another Piece of the Global Warming Puzzle - More Efficient Ocean Heat Uptake

Although it is still within the range of model simulations, the rate of global surface air warming over the past decade has slowed. Climate scientists, being scientists, would like to explain exactly why that has happened. There are several possible explanations. Perhaps it's due to the natural internal variability (short-term noise) in the climate system, with more heat being shifted to the deeper oceans as a result of more recent La Niña events. Perhaps it's due […]

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2:56 AM | Hot Topic interruptus

It had to happen eventually. The creaking old laptop that was once my pride and joy1 has finally gone to the great orchard in the sky, and I have been forced to visit the grocer for a new piece of fruit. Being that I am a creaky old geek, I couldn’t just nip down to [...]

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2:24 AM | New One World Trade Center

Last May 10 2013, the spire of the new "One World Trade Center" (OWTC) was installed in New York. Now, the OWTC has total high of 1776 feet (541 m), which makes it the tallest building in the western hemisphere, and the third tallest building in the world. The total height of 1776 feet is not random, but was selected as a symbolic reference to America's independence. Live cameras allow to follow the construction progress the 24 hours. The present post will introduce some technological […]

May 12, 2013

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10:30 PM | Particles in the Air

By Evan Some might have noticed (particularly Claire, sorry!) that my postings have dropped quite a bit during the past month. The reason for this is that I have been on a world tour during the past month. I have … Continue reading →

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8:41 AM | 2013 SkS Weekly Digest #19

SkS Highlights KK Tung posted part 2 of his article, The anthropogenic global warming rate: Is it steady for the last 100 years?. It generated an ongoing discussion with Dr. Tung on the role of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) in global climate change. Who is Paying for Global Warming? by Agnostic suammarizes the findings of Yang and Cui (2012) which details the funding and increased use of coal likely over the next decade. Toon of the Week H/T to […]

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12:00 AM | Not-so-Serious Sunday 47: Star Wars in 60 seconds

By Kelly When life starts getting just a little too hectic, Speedrun animation has the solution to all your entertainment needs. Your favourite movies in 60 seconds. and for the Matrix …I love the dancing in the nightclub…

May 11, 2013

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12:38 PM | 2013 SkS Weekly News Roundup #19B

Are we doomed to food insecurity? Big Oil may destroy world's largest rain forest Chile looks to volcanoes and geysers for energy Climate milestone is a moment of symbolic significance Does God hate climate change? Fresh analysis of the pace of warming and sea-level rise Greenland’s ice loss may slow, but coasts still At risk If the Oceans die - we die New study tells three million-year old story of the Arctic No need to worry about global warming, folks The coming GOP civil war over […]

May 10, 2013

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3:31 PM | What you need to know about climate sensitivity

This is a partial re-post of my latest in the Guardian's Climate Consensus – the 97%. It's intended as a basic primer to reference the next time somebody tells you global warming is nothing to worry about because climate sensitivity is low. What you need to know about climate sensitivity It's a critical aspect of the climate system, but the basics are simple Clouds are the only plausible feedback that could significantly dampen future global warming. Photograph: Graham Turner for […]

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2:25 PM | Episode 10: Beetle Hunt

Thirty-five years ago, Ilkka Hanski spent two months in Borneo wielding rotting meat to catch bugs in plastic containers. Last month, he repeated the trip again. Now, 20 pounds of beetles sit bagged up in […]

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5:55 AM | A hierarchy of fleas

Big fleas have little fleas, Upon their backs to bite ‘em, And little fleas have lesser fleas, And so, ad infinitum. The Siphonaptera We’ll start in the middle, shall we, with “high priest of climate scepticism” Chris Monckton still railing against the failure of the halls of NZ academe to bow down before his obvious [...]

May 09, 2013

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11:15 PM | Quick! Now!!! Solar Eclipse!

By Claire Apologies for the ridiculously late notice, but at this very moment, there is a solar eclipse occurring. It’s visible only from the Southern Hemisphere, particularly from northern Australia. For safety reasons, please don’t rush outside now and look … Continue reading →

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7:29 PM | Putting this spring’s cold in context

Putting our spring cold in contextHow unusual is it—and what happened to warming?The last month has seen a trail of smashed records across the central United States, as pulse after pulse of cold air careened down the Great Plains. How does this fit into the bigger picture of a warming U.S. climate?AtmosNews Category: Climate & Climate ChangeWeather ResearchPeople: Jerry MeehlArticle type: OpinionBob HensonYesBob Henson • May 10, 2013 | Bare trees and brown shrubs, freakish snows and […]

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2:00 PM | Arctic mission recovers record of surprising warmth

The longest continuous Arctic land sediment core shows that the last time CO2 levels reached current levels, over 2.6 million years ago, North-East Russia was taken was 8°C warmer.

Melles, M., Brigham-Grette, J., Minyuk, P., Nowaczyk, N., Wennrich, V., DeConto, R., Anderson, P., Andreev, A., Coletti, A., Cook, T. & Haltia-Hovi, E. (2012). 2.8 Million Years of Arctic Climate Change from Lake El'gygytgyn, NE Russia, Science, 337 (6092) 315-320. DOI: 10.1126/science.1222135

Julie Brigham-Grette, Martin Melles, Pavel Minyuk, Andrei Andreev, Pavel Tarasov, Robert DeConto, Sebastian Koenig, Norbert Nowaczyk, Volker Wennrich, Peter Rosén, Eeva Haltia, Tim Cook, Catalina Gebhardt, Carsten Meyer-Jacob, Jeff Snyder, Ulrike Herzsch (2013). Pliocene Warmth, Polar Amplification, and Stepped Pleistocene Cooling Recorded in NE Arctic Russia, Science, Other: 10.1126/science.1233137

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12:00 AM | Geoscience Australia’s Top GeoShot photography competition – Exposed to the Elements

By Kelly News just in from the folks at Geoscience Australia is that their Top GeoShot photography competition is now open. Geoscience Australia is looking for a collection of photographs that capture the essence of Earth science. The image can be … Continue reading →

May 08, 2013

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9:57 PM | How fast can trees migrate?

“As I did stand my watch upon the hill, I looked toward Birnam, and anon methought the wood began to move.” - Messenger, Shakespeare’s Macbeth The simple story of the last 2.5 million years of vegetation response to climate change could be summed up like this: temperature goes up and down, plants go back and forth. We’ve … Continue reading »

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9:23 PM | 2013 SkS Weekly News Roundup #19A

Carbon tax backers quietly forge ahead Cherry-picking one survey to discredit a survey Climate change denial, economics and conspiracy theories Climate change scientist discusses life at center of storm Drive to make energy cleaner has stalled Hawaii in climate change bullseye How the oil and gas boom will change America Inaction on global warming 'not an option': Angela Merkel Is climate change is a problem for governments and oil firms? Rich countries drag feet at climate talks Scrap fuel […]

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2:25 AM | Coming soon: NZ Climate Change Conference 2013

This year’s NZ climate change conference is fast approaching, and I’ll be heading up to Palmerston North at the beginning of next month to cover proceedings for Hot Topic. The conference runs over June 4th and 5th at the Convention Centre, and covers just about every aspect of work on climate and related issues in [...] [Get the full story at Hot Topic...]

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12:40 AM | Monitoring volcanic activity at Mount Cleveland

Laura Nielsen for Frontier Scientists On Saturday May 4th the Alaska Volcano Observatory detected a series of low-level explosions at Cleveland volcano. Three discrete explosions occurred at 5:00 am, 9:17 am, and 11:44 am Saturday, while subsequent less powerful rumbles on Sunday denoted an ongoing low-level eruption. The sequence of eruptions emitted ash, gas, and steam into local airspace. Cleveland is a 5,676 foot tall conical stratovolcano, a restless volcano prone to rumbles, small […]

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12:00 AM | CO2 set to hit 400ppm – highest levels for millions of years

By Claire Another scary climate milestone looks imminent. While there have been sporadic measurements of atmospheric concentrations above 400ppm, the weekly average value has yet to reach this limit at Mauna Loa. Looking at the last week or so of … Continue reading →

May 07, 2013

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7:05 AM | The human cost of climate change

Expert on international law Andrew Guzman takes a step back from analyzing climate change in terms of degrees and meters of sea level rise and breaks down all the ways climate change will affect humanity. Dr. Guzman offers this perspective … Continue reading →

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6:04 AM | 2013 SkS News Bulletin #10: Alberta Tar Sands and Keystone XL Pipeline

Al Gore isn’t overly pleased with Canada Canadian official proposes yet another Tar Sands pipeline House to vote on Keystone XL bill in May Obama's former Communications Director's firm does PR Oil sands growth will depend on Keystone Oliver to defend oil sands during visit to Europe Ottawa strikes back at Al Gore's remarks Science committee jumps into Keystone pipeline fray Tar Sands will be piped to the Gulf Coast The many ways Joe Nocera is wrong on Keystone XL TransCanada plans new […]