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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 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.
Magin Llaneza
Photo courtesy of Marina LaGrave

Magin Llaneza

Since I can remember, I have always been wet. And the sound of the ocean has always softened me immensely and at the same time wakened me for new adventures.

As the only boy in my family, my dad was my hero. He was a diver with a big tank on his back and an underwater book of marine biology with illustrations of marine species in his hand. Of course I just want to be underwater for adventure; I have a need to discover new living things.

I learned to snorkel when I was seven, and scuba dive when I was eight years old. Now I am IANTD and CMAS certified diver, and looking forward to be a certified nitrox and rebreather diver very soon. I am learning dive photography as well as filming.

My favorite places to scuba dive include the Florida Keys for coral reefs, the coast of West Palm Beach, FL for open water and sunk boats, Gainesville in Central Florida for caves and springs and the Bahamas for clear water diving and that provide the best visibility and encounters with sharks.

I am a student of the Fire Fighter Academy in West Palm Beach, FL. I understand that climate change today is in part the cause of some tremendous catastrophes such as fires, hurricanes, floods, etc, that affect all of us and that climate is changing faster because of the damage people have caused in the ocean and lands. As a diver and future fire fighter I hope to prevent more damage and promote more understanding of how nature works and how we are part of it and the responsibility we all have to protect it and care for it.

Last modified June 23, 2008 by Lisa Gardiner.

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