Emissions growth of carbon dioxide has suddenly slowed, but atmospheric methane concentrations continue to soar after a long hiatus. Both trends have a bearing on climate pacts sought this week.
Atmosphere
Posted inNews
Despite Stalled Regulations, U.S. Mercury Emissions Decline
Newly published measurements made downwind of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio coal-burning plants reveal steep, unexpected drops in atmospheric mercury concentrations since 2006.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
A Cooler Climate Would Trigger More Tropical Cyclones
New model reveals tropical cyclones could form at lower sea surface temperatures than previously thought.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Conquering Uncertainties in Tropical Climate Forecasts
The key to better predictions of atmospheric temperature trends in the tropics may lie in more accurate measurements of sea surface temperatures.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Atmospheric Carbonyl Sulfide Hit a Minimum 5,000 Years Ago
A new ice core measurements-based record of a climate-active gas shows variability on millennial timescales.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Methane Leaks from Oil and Gas Fields Detected from Space
Methane hot spots were detected in the atmosphere near North Dakota’s Bakken formation and the Eagle Ford formation in Texas after oil and gas production ramped up starting in 2009.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Changes in Earth’s Radiation Balance Between 1985 and 2012
A comparison of shortwave and longwave radiation in the atmosphere shows Earth’s heating rate is increasing even though temperatures are rising at a slower rate now than 30 years ago.
Posted inNews
Methane-Producing Microbes Important for Studying Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Scientists have long thought that methane-producing microbes contribute to climate change but are slowly learning just how big a role these microbes play.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Black Carbon Reductions in the Arctic Tied to Declining Emissions
Researchers track the presence of black carbon above the Arctic Circle.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Identifying Biases in Satellite Temperature and Humidity Records
Researchers estimated the sampling biases that affect temperature and humidity climatologies derived from detectors on NASA’s Aqua satellite.