Current Events

  • Irish Chronicles Document Links Between Volcanoes and Weather
    A study of over 40,000 written entries in Irish Annals and ice core measurements shows a strong corr...Read more

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    Irish Chronicles Document Links Between Volcanoes and Weather

    A study of over 40,000 written entries in Irish Annals and ice core measurements shows a strong correlation between the occurrence of volcanic eruptions and extreme cold weather in Ireland over a 1200 year period. Data analyzed in this study cover the period from 431 to 1649, during which time up to 48 volcanic eruptions are identified in Greenland ice core records through deposition of volcanic sulfate in annual layers of ice. You can find the study (open access), published on 6 June 2013 in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, at http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/8/2/024035/article. Find out more about how volcanoes can influence climate.
  • EF-5 Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma Widest Ever Recorded in US
    The EF-5 tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st was the widest ever recorded in the US, acco...Read more

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    EF-5 Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma Widest Ever Recorded in US

    The EF-5 tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st was the widest ever recorded in the US, according to the National Weather Service in Norman Oklahoma. The tornado, which remained on the ground for 40 minutes and reached 2.6 miles across (4.2 km), took the lives of 18 people including storm chasers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras and Carl Young. For more information on the tornado, visit http://ow.ly/i/2hfDG.
  • Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm
    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm rep...Read more

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    Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm

    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm repeatedly. Daily levels of CO2 can vary due to weather, and there are seasonal trends as well. The level of atmospheric greenhouse gases continues to increase, now over 120 ppm since the Industrial Revolution began. For more on the Keeling Curve, see http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/. Find out more about greenhouse gases and warming.

Windows to the Universe

Research Expeditions

When scientists go out to explore the Earth they often wind up in pretty interesting places and doing pretty interesting things. And they are learning more about how our planet works through the fieldwork.

The links below allow you to explore sections of Windows to the Universe that highlight what it's like to do field science. Portals provide an in-depth look at the science of large field campaigns. Postcards from the Field give the highlights of the expedition from the scientists themselves.

 

 

 

Climate Science from the Southeast Pacific
The VOCALS Campaign

Solving Polar Fossil Mysteries

Tracking Changes in Antarctic Ice Sheets
POLENET

Adelie Penguins of the Antarctic
Penguin Science

A Family Expedition Looking for Sharks in the Bahamas

Drilling Through Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier

Drilling below Antarctica to learn about climates of the past
The Antarctic Geological Drilling Project (ANDRILL)

Studying storms to improve weather forecasts
The Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS)

Exploring the Deep Sea
Ridge 2000

Studying Megacity Air Quality
The MILAGRO Campaign

Last modified October 17, 2008 by Lisa Gardiner.

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Our online store includes issues of NESTA's quarterly journal, The Earth Scientist, full of classroom activities on different topics in Earth and space science, as well as books on science education!

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Cool It! Game

Check out our online store - minerals, fossils, books, activities, jewelry, and household items!...more

What is VOCALS?

What if you wanted to learn more about the climate system of a very large area such as the Southeast Pacific Ocean? What would be involved in studying how the oceans, land, and atmosphere interact? You...more

Kelly Carroll

Kelly Carroll is a geologist for The Polar Earth Observing Network (POLENET). Kelly grew up backpacking and hiking in the Appalachian Mountains. Interested in the outdoors, he was curious how the great...more

Jean Pennycook

Jean has been a science teacher for 20 years. In that time she has served to promote science education and excellence at all levels encouraging students to continue a higher education and pursue science...more

Janine Goldstein studying thunderstorms in South-Western Germany

Hi! My name is Janine Goldstein and I am a software engineer at NCAR in the Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL). I have worked at NCAR for 17 years. This summer I am in Germany helping to operate a radar...more

Introduction to Milagro

One of the most complex field campaigns ever undertaken in the field of atmospheric chemistry began in March 2006. A team of researchers from around the world is in Mexico City for a series of projects...more

Albedo

This picture shows a part of the Earth surface as seen from the International Space Station high above the Earth. A perspective like this reminds us that there are lots of different things that cover the...more

Desert Birds

Like the other inhabitants of the desert, birds come up with interesting ways to survive in the harsh climate. The sandgrouse has special feathers that soak up water. It can then carry the water to its...more

Shop Windows to the Universe

Dig into Montana Before History: 11K Years of Hunter-Gatherers in the Rockies and Plains by D. H. MacDonald, Ph.D. See our online store book collection.

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation and NASA, our Founding Partners (the American Geophysical Union and American Geosciences Institute) as well as through Institutional, Contributing, and Affiliate Partners, individual memberships and generous donors. Thank you for your support! NASA AGU AGI NSF