Climate and weather are related — but not the same. Climate describes patterns of weather in an area over long stretches of time. Weather refers to specific events, such as hot days or thunderstorms. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods are all examples of extreme weather. When extreme weather occurs, people often want to know if climate
What is attribution science? Read More »
Climate scientists say that rising global temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions are making some extreme weather events increasingly likely and severe. They predict that heat waves, wildfires, hurricanes and other weather-related disasters will continue to set records and send damage costs soaring, even as countries around the world pledge to reduce emissions in response
Extreme Weather: Will Global Warming Produce More Disasters? Read More »
Around the world, rising seas pose a major threat to coastal communities. Flooding will likely become worse, damaging buildings where people live and work. People who reside near the ocean have to change the way they live and build, or get out altogether. Here are how a few coastal communities are facing climate change by
How three coastal communities are dealing with rising seas Read More »
As wildfires grow in number and intensity, scientists look for the fingerprints of global warming The biggest fire in California history ignited shortly after noon on July 27, 2018, and burned until mid-September. Called the Mendocino Complex Fire, its twin infernos started at the same time. They also burned close to one another and quickly
Is climate change fanning megafires? Read More »
In late 2013, something big and strange showed up in the Gulf of Alaska. Scientists called it “the Blob.” It wasn’t a monster. Instead, it was a monstrous amount of heat in the surface water of the northern Pacific. And it didn’t begin to dissipate until 2016. Scientists soon observed the same heat-up farther south.
The Blob: Fingerprint of climate change shows up in some extreme weather Read More »
Some problems have easy solutions. If we feel sweaty, we’ll head for the shade. If our soup’s too hot, we’ll blow on it. If a room’s too stuffy, we’ll open a window. But what are the options when the planet grows too warm? That is the problem — and an enormous one —
Hacking the Planet Read More »
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, reminding us once again of the deadly threat icebergs can pose to life. Still, the bad reputation icebergs sometimes have isn’t entirely deserved — even if the scientists who study these floating islands of ice are the first to admit just how risky th
Icy inns at Earth’s end Read More »
Climate scientists concerned about global warming keep a close eye on Antarctica. There, some of the ice shelves that extend from the continent into the ocean are melting, adding freshwater that boosts sea level. Like other scientists, Tore Hattermann of the Norwegian Polar Institute wants to understand how that watery environment is changing.
Question: Which has the biggest impact on global warming: A coal-fired power plant, 1,000,000 cars, or the global total of inhaled anesthetics – those dreamy drugs that knock you out for surgery? This show from the Loh Down on Science has the answer. It aired July 11. Image credit: NCI / Linda Bartlett (photographer)
Drugs with Bad Vibes Read More »
For OnEarth magazine, I covered a climate change experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Read the whole story here.
A Tennessee Time Machine Read More »
