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

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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 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.

    Image Courtesy of Brad Clement

From: Brad Clement
Humde, Nepal, September 14, 2008

Our Trek From Kathmandu to Humde

Hi, this is Brad writing from Humde, Nepal on the 14th of September. We left Kathmandu five days ago, and it has been a busy five days! From Kathmandu we drove north to the town of Besi Sahar, and from this small outpost we began hiking to our present location of Humde. We have been hiking about 10 hours per day over the last four days, following the amazing Marsyangdi River Valley. We have passed through a wide array of climate zones, from the lower rice and corn fields, up to the rain forest, and into the sub alpine zone. The monsoon is in full force and we have enjoyed periods of wonderful, heavy rains everyday. The monsoon should begin to subside soon, bringing drier, cooler, and clearer weather.

We have decided to take a rest day here in Humde, at an elevation of 3,650 meters (12,000 feet), to allow our bodies to begin adjusting to the lower levels of oxygen found at high altitudes. We began on the eastern side of the immense Annapurna mountain range and have now passed over to the northern side of the range. We are very close to the border between Nepal and Tibet.

Tomorrow we will continue up towards base camp, leaving trails behind and following the Sabje Khola river along a steep glacial moraine that cuts between two giant mountains, Annapurna III and Annapurna IV. It will take two more days to reach our base camp for Annapurna IV, located at 4,270 meters (14,000 feet). From there we will begin our climb and adventures onto the snow, rock, and ice of this beautiful peak.

Go to the next postcard

Postcards from the Field: Annapurna

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