Current Events

  • 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.
  • Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley
    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Io...Read more

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    Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley

    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. On May 20th, a massive tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, devastating communities - destroying over 100 homes and hitting two elementary schools and a hospital - with many casualties and deaths. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues suffering from these storms. For more on the May 20th storms, see the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Storm Report.
  • Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education
    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of ...Read more

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    Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education

    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of sustainability. Here is a link to the one-page bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2366_00_0000.pdf. See report on Bloomberg News.

   Image courtesy of Andy Berner

From: Rhea George
Altiplano,Chile, November 8, 2008

'Rhea' Birds!

On November 6th and 7th, we had an 'all hands' science meeting in Arica, where most of the people involved in VOCALS got together for some presentations and discussions about the science we've been doing. It seems there is much interesting data being collected on this field campaign, and I gave a short 10 minute talk on some of my work as well. After all the work that has been done, it was time for a day off. The next day I took a trip up to the altiplano with a few other scientists and students, and we saw many spectacular views at very high altitudes (up to 14,700 feet!): snow-capped peaks, beautiful lakes, deserts, and a wide variety of unique animals I'd never even heard of, much less seen.

Despite all of the beauty that enveloped us, I chose this photo because it shows the thing I was most personally excited to see. Here we see 'Rhea-birds,' also known as Nandu, hanging out far from the road. I'm 75% sure my parents didn't name me after this ostrich-like bird, but I was nonetheless thrilled to see this creature I share a name with in person, even from a distance.

Postcards from the Field: Climate Science from the Southeast Pacific

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