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Brown biologist solves mystery of tropical grasses' origin

Around 30 to 40 million years ago, grasses on Earth underwent an epic evolutionary upheaval. An assemblage capitalized on falling levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide by engineering an internal mechanism to concentrate the dwindling CO2 supply that, like a fuel-injection...

Carbonate veins reveal chemistry of ancient seawater

Calcium carbonate veins are common in upper ocean crust, where they precipitate from low temperature (<100 C) seawater-derived hydrothermal fluids that have reacted with the basaltic lavas that form the ocean floor. These fluids are modified by chemical exchange with the ocean crust as they heat up. The veins precipitate from the basement fluid at compositions that have evolved away from that of the initial seawater, but from analyses of suites of these veins the chemistry of seawater at that time can be estimated.The chemical composition of our oceans is not constant but has varied significantly over geological time. In a study published this week in Science, researchers describe a novel method...

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Commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations

Extensive commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations in the Mediterranean. This has been shown in a new study carried out at the University of Haifa's Department of Maritime Civilizations. "Unfortunately, we turn our backs to the sea and do not give much consideration to our marine neighbors," states researcher Dr. Aviad Scheinin.*"The Mediterranean Sea has a stable and constant dolphin population off the coast of Israel. Any resolution concerning the sea must also consider the dolphins," says Dr. Aviad Scheinin of...

Now a hurricane, Oli passing Bora Bora

NASA's Aqua satellite AIRS instrument captured the western half of Cyclone Oli on Feb. 3 at 12:17 UTC (7:17 a.m. ET). The area of purple in the middle of the storm indicates strong thunderstorms with cloud temperatures colder than -63F.Tropical cyclone Oli has attained hurricane strength today, February 3, with maximum sustained winds near 74 mph.

Black carbon a significant factor in melting of Himalayan glaciers

This map of the change in annual linear snow cover from 1990 to 2001 shows a thick band (blue) across the Himalayas with decreases of at least 16 percent while a few smaller patches (red) saw increases. The data was collected by the National Snow and Ice Data Center.The fact that glaciers in the Himalayan mountains are thinning is not disputed. However, few researchers have attempted to rigorously examine and quantify the causes. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientist...

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Disappearing ducks?

The loss of wetlands in the prairie pothole region of central North America due to a warmer and drier climate will negatively affect millions of waterfowl that depend on the...

Ecologists discover forests are growing faster

Speed is not a word typically associated with trees; they can take centuries to grow. However, a new study to be published the week of Feb. 1 in the Proceedings...

Managed wolf populations could restore ecosystems

Researchers writing in the February issue of BioScience propose reintroducing small, managed populations of wolves into national parks and other areas in order to restore damaged ecosystems. The populations would...

Tropical Storm Oli kicking up waves in south Pacific

NASA's Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured an infrared image of Oli's cloud temperatures on Feb. 2 at 0041 UTC. High thunderstorm cloud tops surrounded Oli's center as cold as minus 63 F. There is a separate band of clouds to the north, that are associated with Oli.Tropical Storm Oli is headed between the islands of Bora Bora and Raratonga in the South Pacific, while maintaining its intensity as a tropical storm. Infrared satellite data from NASA's...

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Tropical Storm Nisha being battered by wind shear

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite captured Nisha's rainfall on Jan. 28 at 1947 UTC (2:47 p.m. ET). The rainfall is occurring from the south to northeast of the storm's center. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. Red areas are heavy rainfall at almost 2 inches per hour.Nisha is not expected to maintain its tropical storm status this weekend, because it is being battered by wind shear.

NASS releases new geospatial data products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today announced the release of new satellite images depicting agricultural land cover across most of the nation for the 2009...

Seismology highlights from BSSA February issue

A new study identifies earthquakes through July 2007 that have produced 100 of the strongest peak accelerations (PGA) and 100 of the strongest peak velocities (PGV) ever recorded. The threshold for the first list is acceleration of the ground exceeding...

Oceans reveal further impacts of climate change, says UAB expert

Jim McClintock, Ph.D., is a leading polar marine biologist who is researching the impacts of ocean acidification.The increasing acidity of the world's oceans – and that acidity's growing threat to marine species – are definitive proof that the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is causing climate change...

According to new survey, Americans support strong climate, energy policies

Despite a sharp drop in public concern over global warming, Americans—regardless of political affiliation—support the passage of federal climate and energy policies, according to the results of a national survey...

Storm runoff and sewage treatment outflow contaminated with household pesticides

Pyrethroids, among the most widely-used home pesticides, are winding up in California rivers at levels toxic to some stream-dwellers, possibly endangering the food supply of fish and other aquatic animals,...

Aznalcóllar disaster compared with Cretaceous mass extinction

Researchers have compared the Aznalcóllar disaster with the Cretaceous mass extinction.Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) have compared the disaster caused by the Aznalcóllar spillage in the Doñana National Park in Andalusia 11 years ago with the biggest species...

Haiti earthquake a reminder that disasters are preventable, CU-Boulder expert says

Amid all the commentary focused on the historic tragedy in Haiti, a tough but important fact has gone virtually unmentioned, according to a nationally recognized expert on disasters at the...

Plantations can provide the same ecosystem services as natural forests

Not all plantations need to be the biological deserts that have come to characterize large-scale, industrial plantations. According to scientists in a paper out in February's issue of the journal...

Computer model demonstrates that white roofs may successfully cool cities

Painting the roofs of buildings white has the potential to significantly cool cities and mitigate some impacts of global warming, a new study indicates. The research, which is the first...

Olga now raining on third of 5 Australia territories

On Jan. 30 at 1425 UTC (9:25 a.m. ET), the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Satellite captured the remnants of Olga moving from the Queensland to New South Wales Territory. Most of the rainfall was light to moderate (green), but there were isolated areas of heavy rain (red), falling at 2 inches per hour.Australians in three of five territories have had enough of Tropical Cyclone Olga. After two landfalls, and three times a tropical storm, and traveling through Queensland and the Northern Territory,...

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Natural gas supplies could be augmented with methane hydrate

Naturally occurring methane hydrate may represent an enormous source of methane, the main component of natural gas, and could ultimately augment conventional natural gas supplies, says a new congressionally mandated...

Is iron from soil a factor in algal blooms?

Australia's own distinctive red soils could play a part in the formation of the stinking swathes of blue green algae often shovelled off east coast beaches in summer.

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