Climate 411

Drive-by Extinction

By Lisa Moore / Published: August 17, 2007

The author of today’s post, Lisa Moore, Ph.D., is a scientist in the Climate and Air program.

Last weekend’s Mercury News ran a news story about vehicle emissions harming native species in California. The excess nitrogen from vehicle emissions caused invasive species to displace the plants that feed the bay checkerspot butterfly, which is threatened with extinction. My friend and colleague Dr. Stuart Weiss, the scientist who uncovered the link, calls this "drive-by extinction".

Nitrogen pollution has profound effects on life, health, and climate, yet these go mostly unnoticed by policymakers and the public.

Bay Checkerspot Butterfly

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Also posted in Plants & Animals / Read 4 Responses

Money and Methane in a Melting Arctic

By Sheryl Canter / Published: August 9, 2007

The author of today’s post, Sheryl Canter, is an Online Writer and Editorial Manager at Environmental Defense.

If you had any doubts that the globe is warming and the Arctic is melting, this month’s flag incident should put them to rest. A Russian submarine dove to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean to plant a flag in the seabed. Why? There’s oil and gas in the Arctic seabed, which is now becoming accessible due to global warming.

Russia is not the only country vying for Arctic rights. Canada and Denmark are arguing about rights to the Northwest Passage, and the U.S. is getting into the act as well. But unfortunately, more than just oil and gas will be exposed as the Arctic melts.

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Also posted in Arctic & Antarctic / Read 6 Responses

Ozone Alert For Plants

By Lisa Moore / Published: August 7, 2007

The author of today’s post, Lisa Moore, Ph.D., is a scientist in the Climate and Air Program.

If you’re in or near a big city, you’ve probably heard your local news give ozone alerts. Those warnings mean that smog levels are high enough to affect your lungs. Even moderate pollution causes respiratory problems for kids with asthma. Really high levels of ozone make it dangerous for even the healthiest adult to be outdoors.

Now scientists are warning that smog could make global warming worse because of its effects on plants.

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Also posted in Plants & Animals / Read 1 Response

Extreme Weather Across Europe

By Bill Chameides / Published: July 27, 2007

The author of today’s post, Bill Chameides, Ph.D., is Chief Scientist at Environmental Defense.

A week or so ago I wrote about all the recent extreme weather in the United States. Well, it’s not just happening here. Great Britain is being hit by the worst flooding in decades, and it keeps on raining. A heatwave blanketing south-eastern Europe has killed hundreds of people, and out-of-control wildfires are burning across Greece.

Is this global warming? It’s impossible to say for sure what causes a particular weather event, but global warming does make extreme weather events more likely. Whether or not the events in Europe are due to global warming, I do think the Europeans are, unfortunately, getting a taste of things to come. For more, visit our Web page on global warming and extreme weather.

Also posted in Extreme Weather / Comments are closed

The Greenhouse Effect Explained

By Bill Chameides / Published: July 25, 2007

The author of today’s post, Bill Chameides, is Chief Scientist at Environmental Defense.

Last week we got a request to explain the Greenhouse Effect. Here goes.

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Also posted in Basic Science of Global Warming / Authors: / Read 4 Responses

Global Warming from Soot

By Lisa Moore / Published: July 19, 2007

The author of today’s post, Lisa Moore, is a scientist in the Climate and Air Program.

Most people don’t realize it, but "black carbon" or soot – the same stuff that dirties up chimney flues and car mufflers – is a significant contributor to global warming. Today’s best estimates place it next in line behind the greenhouse gases CO2 and methane (see Table 2.13 in the IPCC report).



Soot particle under a microscope. Credit: D.M. Smith, University of Denver.

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Also posted in Arctic & Antarctic / Read 5 Responses