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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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    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.
This is the temperature profile of Uranus' mesosphere.
Click on image for full size
Image from: Arizona Press

Uranus' Mesosphere Temperature Profile

This is the temperature profile of Uranus' mesosphere. The temperature is the same at all heights until the mesopause, or "top" of the mesosphere is reached. As shown in the figure, the mesopause is placed at 1 millionth of a bar of pressure (one million times less than the pressure at the surface of Earth), at the elbow where the temperature again begins to increase with height. Pressure is a relative way of measuring the altitude where changes happen. It is relative because there is no way to know the exact location of the surface of Uranus. Nevertheless, a millionth of a bar of pressure corresponds to about miles in altitude above the tropopause in Uranus' atmosphere.

The graph shows that the temperature is about 170 kelvins (-153° F) for about 200 km (124 miles or 656,000 ft.). Compare the changes in the mesosphere with those in the thermosphere.

For a picture showing how the temperature changes in whole atmosphere, click here.

Last modified May 28, 2010 by Randy Russell.

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