ScienceDaily: El Nino and La Nina News

NASA ships sensors for seafaring satellite to France

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:10:10 EDT

Three NASA-built instruments that are integral components of the next in a series of U.S./European ocean altimetry satellites have arrived in France for integration with their spacecraft in preparation for a 2015 launch. Jason-3 will extend the two-decade series of satellites that are tracking global sea level changes and enabling more accurate weather, ocean and climate forecasts.

Air pollution and hardening of arteries

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

Long term exposure to air pollution may be linked to heart attacks and strokes by speeding up atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries", according to a new study.

Coral records suggest El Nino activity rises above background

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:31:31 EST

By examining a set of fossil corals that are as much as 7,000 years old, scientists have dramatically expanded the amount of information available on the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, a Pacific Ocean climate cycle that affects climate worldwide.

Human-caused climate change signal emerges from the noise

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:35:35 EST

By comparing simulations from 20 different computer models to satellite observations, climate scientists have found that tropospheric and stratospheric temperature changes are clearly related to human activities.

Sea levels rising faster than IPCC projections

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:39:39 EST

Sea levels are rising 60 per cent faster than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's central projections, new research suggests. While temperature rises appear to be consistent with the projections made in the IPCC's fourth assessment report (AR4), satellite measurements show that sea levels are actually rising at a rate of 3.2 mm a year compared to the best estimate of 2 mm a year in the report.

Could a hurricane ever strike Southern California?

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:57:57 EDT

There's an old adage (with several variations) that California has four seasons: earthquake, fire, flood and drought. While Californians happily cede the title of Hurricane Capital of America to U.S. East and Gulf coasters, every once in a while, Mother Nature sends a reminder to Southern Californians that they are not completely immune to the whims of tropical cyclones. Typically, this takes the form of rainfall from the remnants of a tropical cyclone in the eastern Pacific, as happened recently when the remnants of Hurricane John brought rain and thunderstorms to parts of Southern California. But could a hurricane ever make landfall in Southern California?

Climate change may lead to fewer but more violent thunderstorms

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:30:30 EDT

Scientists are working hard to identify just how climate change will impact weather around the world. Now researcher says that, if temperatures continue to rise, Earth can expect a significant increase in the violence of thunderstorms.

Two warmest winter months in Midwest, U.S. history may have connection

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:10:10 EDT

This past March was the second warmest winter month ever recorded in the Midwest, with temperatures 15 degrees above average. The only other winter month that was warmer was December of 1889, during which temperatures were 18 degrees above average. Now, researchers may have discovered why the weather patterns during these two winter months, separated by 123 years, were so similar. The answer could help scientists develop more accurate weather prediction models.

Arctic ice melt is setting stage for severe winters

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:24:24 EDT

A dramatic melt-off of Arctic sea ice due to climate change is hitting closer to home than millions of Americans might think – triggering a domino effect leading to increased odds of severe winter weather outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere's middle latitudes, according to new research.

Clouds don't cause climate change, study shows

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:19:19 EDT

Clouds only amplify climate change, says a professor in a study that rebuts recent claims that clouds are actually the root cause of climate change.

It's a small world, after all: Earth is not expanding, NASA research confirms

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:05:05 EDT

A NASA-led research team has confirmed what Walt Disney told us all along: Earth really is a small world, after all. Since Charles Darwin's time, scientists have speculated that the solid Earth might be expanding or contracting. That was the prevailing belief, until scientists developed the theory of plate tectonics, which explained the large-scale motions of Earth's lithosphere, or outermost shell. Even with the acceptance of plate tectonics half a century ago, some Earth and space scientists have continued to speculate on Earth's possible expansion or contraction on various scientific grounds. Now a new study has essentially laid those speculations to rest. Using a cadre of space measurement tools and a new data calculation technique, the team detected no statistically significant expansion of the solid Earth.

Montana weather linked to ocean temperatures near Peru

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:57:57 EDT

Researchers analyzed 100 years of data and found a significant link between extreme Montana weather and the ocean temperatures near Peru.

NASA satellite tracks severity of African drought

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:02:02 EDT

Northeast Africa continues to reel from the effects of the worst drought to strike the region in decades.

Strong El Niño could bring increased sea levels, storm surges to US East Coast

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:53:53 EDT

Coastal communities along the US East Coast may be at risk to higher sea levels accompanied by more destructive storm surges in future El Niño years, according to a new study. The study was prompted by an unusual number of destructive storm surges along the East Coast during the 2009-2010 El Niño winter.

Is South Pole ice melting? Gravity field satellites observe Antarctic ice mass fluctuations due to El Niño

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:37:37 EDT

The change in the ice mass covering Antarctica is a critical factor in global climate events. Scientists in Germany have now found that the year by year mass variations in the western Antarctic are mainly attributable to fluctuations in precipitation, which are controlled significantly by the climate phenomenon El Niño.

Climate change may alter natural climate cycles of Pacific

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 13:36:36 EDT

While it's still hotly debated among scientists whether climate change causes a shift from the traditional form of El Nino to one known as El Nino Modoki, scientists now say that El Nino Modoki affects long-term changes in currents in the North Pacific Ocean.

Coral records show ocean thermocline rise with global warming

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:01:01 EDT

Researchers looking at corals in the western tropical Pacific Ocean have found records linking a profound shift in the depth of the division between warm surface water and colder, deeper water traceable to recent global warming.

Ocean cooling contributed to mid-20th century global warming hiatus

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:20:20 EDT

The hiatus of global warming in the Northern Hemisphere during the mid-20th century may have been due to an abrupt cooling event centered over the North Atlantic around 1970, rather than the cooling effects of tropospheric pollution.

Research shows continued decline of Oregon's largest glacier

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:23:23 EDT

Researchers have returned to Collier Glacier for the first time in almost 20 years and found that the glacier has decreased more than 20 percent from its size in the late 1980s. The findings are consistent with glacial retreat all over the world and provide some of the critical data needed to help quantify the effects of global change on glacier retreat and associated sea level rise.

New methodology improves winter climate forecasting

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:13:13 EDT

It's hot out right now, but new research will help us know what to expect when the weather turns cold. Researchers have developed a new methodology that improves the accuracy of winter precipitation and temperature forecasts. The tool should be valuable for government and utility officials, since it provides key information for use in predicting energy consumption and water availability.

Global warming slows coral growth in Red Sea

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:29:29 EDT

In a pioneering use of computed tomography (CT) scans, scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have discovered that carbon dioxide (CO2)-induced global warming is in the process of killing off a major coral species in the Red Sea.

Heavy snowfall over Himalayas makes drought over India more likely

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:52:52 EDT

Scientists have helped to explain why heavy snowfall over the Himalayas in winter and spring can lead to drought over India, especially in the early part of the summer monsoon.

Tropics: Global warming likely to significantly affect rainfall patterns

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:32:32 EST

Ocean temperature patterns in the tropics and subtropics will change in ways that will lead to significant changes in rainfall patterns, according to new research.

New NASA Web Page Sheds Light on Science of Warming World

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:31:31 EST

Climatologists have long known that human-produced greenhouse gases have been the dominant drivers of Earth's observed warming since the start of the Industrial Revolution. But other factors also affect our planet's temperature. Of these, the ocean plays a dominant role. Its effects helped nudge global temperatures slightly higher in 2009, and, according to NASA scientists, could well contribute to making 2010 the warmest year on record.

Will coral reefs disappear?

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:09:09 EST

How vulnerable are coral reefs to climate change due to higher ocean temperatures?

Arctic glacial dust may affect climate and health in North America and Europe

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:35:35 EST

New evidence shows that dust storms may exist in the arctic, possibly caused by receding glaciers, which may be making deposits similar to those transported from the deserts of Africa to the southern US and Caribbean.

Auto exhaust linked to thickening of arteries, possible increased risk of heart attack

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:04:04 EST

Swiss, California and Spanish researchers have found that particulates from auto exhaust can lead to the thickening of artery walls, possibly increasing chances of a heart attack and stroke.

Maximum height of extreme waves up dramatically in Pacific Northwest

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:32:32 EST

A major increase in maximum ocean wave heights off the Pacific Northwest in recent decades has forced scientists to re-evaluate how high a "100-year event" might be, and the new findings raise special concerns for flooding, coastal erosion and structural damage.

Last decade was warmest on record, 2009 one of warmest years, NASA research finds

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:07:07 EST

A new analysis of global surface temperatures by NASA scientists finds the past year was tied for the second warmest since 1880. In the Southern Hemisphere, 2009 was the warmest year on record. Although 2008 was the coolest year of the decade because of a strong La Nina that cooled the tropical Pacific Ocean, 2009 saw a return to a near-record global temperatures as the La Nina diminished.

Small Fluctuations In Solar Activity, Large Influence On Climate

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:13:13 EDT

Subtle connections between the 11-year solar cycle, the stratosphere, and the tropical Pacific Ocean work in sync to generate periodic weather patterns that affect much of the globe, according to research appearing this week in the journal Science.

New Seasonal Hurricane Forecasting Model Created

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:15:15 EDT

Scientists have developed a new computer model that they hope will predict with unprecedented accuracy how many hurricanes will occur in a given season.

Climate Phenomenon Influences England's Chances In The Australian Leg Of The Ashes Cricket Series

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:18:18 EDT

The El Nino Southern Oscillation phenomenon has been shown to have a significant effect on the results of the Ashes cricket series. When the series is held in Australia, the Australian Cricket team is more likely to succeed after El Nino years, while the England cricket team has a historically better record following La Nina years (the opposite phase), according to a study published in Weather.

What Is Hampering Effective Protection Of The Baltic Sea?

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:01:01 EST

So far environmental protection of the Baltic Sea has not been successful, even though a wealth of research information exists to support such protection. The joint European Baltic Sea research brogramme (BONUS) is aiming to study which social factors influence the success of protective measures. Particular attention is being paid to the prevention of the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea.

Has Global Warming Research Misinterpreted Cloud Behavior?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:47:47 EDT

When researchers observe natural changes in clouds and temperature, they have assumed that temperature change caused the clouds to change, and not the other way around. This can lead to overestimates of how sensitive Earth's climate is to greenhouse gas emissions.

Did Dust Storms Make 1930s Dust Bowl Drought Worse?

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:20:20 EDT

Climate scientists using computer models to simulate the 1930s Dust Bowl on the US Great Plains have found that dust raised by farmers probably amplified and spread a natural drop in rainfall, turning an ordinary drying cycle into an agricultural collapse. The researcher say the study raises concern that current pressures on farmland from population growth and climate change could worsen current food crises by leading to similar events in other regions.

'Well Above-average' Hurricane Season Forecast For 2008

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:37:37 EDT

The Colorado State University forecast team upgraded its early season forecast saying the U.S. Atlantic basin will likely experience a well above-average hurricane season. The team's forecast now anticipates 15 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. Eight of the storms are predicted to become hurricanes, and of those eight, four are expected to develop into intense or major hurricanes (Saffir/Simpson category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater. Long-term averages are 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 intense hurricanes per year.

Climate Change Threatens Amazonian Small Farmers

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:11:11 EDT

A six-year study of Amazonian small farmers and their responses to climate change shows the farmers are vulnerable to natural catastrophes and risky land use practices.

El Nino At Play As Source Of More Intense Regional US Wintertime Storms

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:31:31 EST

The next time you have to raise your umbrella against torrents of cold winter rain, you may have a remote weather phenomenon to thank that many may know by name as El Nino, but may not well understand.

2007 Was Tied As Earth's Second Warmest Year

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:41:41 EST

Climatologists have found that 2007 tied with 1998 for Earth's second warmest year in a century. The greatest warming in 2007 occurred in the Arctic, and neighboring high latitude regions. Global warming has a larger affect in polar areas, as the loss of snow and ice leads to more open water, which absorbs more sunlight and warmth.

Global Climate Change: The Impact Of El Niño On Galápagos Marine Iguanas

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:20:20 EST

A before-and-after study led by Yale biologists, of the effects of 1997 El Niño on the genetic diversity of marine iguanas on the Galápagos Islands, emphasizes the importance of studying populations over time and the need to determine which environmental and biological factors make specific populations more vulnerable than others.

Number Of Tropical Storms In Recent Past Increasing

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:02:02 EST

Counting tropical storms that occurred before the advent of aircraft and satellites relies on ships logs and hurricane landfalls, making many believe that the numbers of historic tropical storms in the Atlantic are seriously undercounted. However, a statistical model based on the climate factors that influence Atlantic tropical storm activity shows that the estimates currently used are only slightly below modeled numbers and indicate that the numbers of tropical storms in the recent past are increasing, according to researchers.

Synchronized Chaos: Mechanisms For Major Climate Shifts

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:57:57 EDT

In the mid-1970s, a climate shift cooled sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean and warmed the coast of western North America, bringing long-range changes to the northern hemisphere. After this climate shift waned, an era of frequent El Ninos and rising global temperatures began.

Oceanographer Developing Next Generation Of Hurricane Forecast Tools

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:44:44 EDT

A University of Rhode Island oceanographer who helped develop an ocean-based hurricane forecast model that has been the most accurate hurricane prediction tool at the National Hurricane Center is completing work on an even better model that for the first time uses satellite technology to help predict a storm's path, intensity and surge.

Investigating Coral Reefs To Help Understand Past And Future Climate Change

Wed, 16 May 2007 09:52:52 EDT

Increasing Earth temperatures and rising sea levels. Both of these are effects of climate change. The current concern is that human activity is changing our climate at a rate well above the natural climate cycling. Understanding how the Earth's climate system works and responds to human impact is therefore of uttermost importance.

Study Sheds New Light On Global Warming

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:19:19 EDT

Scientists have developed an innovative index which measures changes in wind and storminess over long periods of time, helping to assess past and future climate change including global warming.

IPCC Report: Climate Proofing Small Islands

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:51:51 EDT

Small islands are very much in the front-line of climate change with its impacts on people, economies, tourism income and ecosystems likely to be severe according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Nevertheless there is tremendous scope for accelerating adaptive measures that can reduce that vulnerability and assist small island countries and communities to cope.

Very Active 2007 Hurricane Season Predicted

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:23:23 EDT

The U.S. Atlantic basin will likely experience a very active hurricane season, the Colorado State University forecast team announced today, increasing its earlier prediction for the 2007 hurricane season. The team's forecast now anticipates 17 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. Nine of the 17 storms are predicted to become hurricanes, and of those nine, five are expected to develop into intense or major hurricanes (Saffir/Simpson category 3-4-5) with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.

Climate Data Shows California Has Been Heating Up

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 22:11:11 EDT

Average temperatures in California rose almost one degree Celsius (nearly two degrees Fahrenheit) during the second half of the 20th century, with urban areas blazing the way to warmer conditions, according to a new study by scientists at NASA and California State University, Los Angeles.

NASA Data Link Indonesian Wildfire Flare-up To Recent El Nino

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:25:25 EST

Scientists using NASA satellite and rainfall data have linked the recent El Nino to the greatest rise in wildfire activity in Indonesia since the record-breaking 1997-98 El Nino.

New Evidence Of Link Between Carbon Dioxide Emissions And Climate Change In Boreal Ecosystems

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:44:44 EST

New research aimed at understanding the link between carbon dioxide emissions and climate change in boreal systems has found clear links between both spring and fall temperature changes and carbon uptake/loss. Dr. Kevin Robert Gurney, assistant professor in the Earth & Atmospheric Science/Agronomy at Purdue University and associate director of the Purdue Climate Change Research Center, presented these results at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in San Francisco, Calif., on December 17.

2006 Was Earth's Fifth Warmest Year, Say NASA Climatologists

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:29:29 EST

Climatologists at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City have found that 2006 was the fifth warmest year in the past century. Other groups that study climate change also rank these years as among the warmest, though the exact rankings vary depending upon details of the analyses. Results differ especially in regions of sparse measurements, where scientists use alternative methods of estimating temperature change.

Southern California Wildfires Pose Health Risks To Children

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 10:57:57 EST

In October of 2003, multiple wildfires raged throughout Southern California. Now, researchers at the University of Southern California report that residents without asthma in wildfire-endangered regions suffered as much as those with asthma.

NASA'S Live Tropical Sea Surface Temperature Web Site Gives Climate, Hurricane Clues

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 18:46:46 EDT

Sea surface temperatures give scientists information about ocean currents, climate, climate change and how a hurricane may evolve. Now, NASA has a Web page that provides frequent updates on changing ocean temperatures.

NASA Study Finds World Warmth Edging Ancient Levels

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 07:22:22 EDT

A new study by NASA climatologists finds that the world's temperature is reaching a level that has not been seen in thousands of years.

Oceanic Invasions Across Darwin's Impassable Barrier

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 18:48:48 EDT

Reef fish share genetic connections across what Darwin termed an "impassable barrier," 5000km of deep ocean separating the eastern and central Pacific, according to a report by Smithsonian scientists in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Global Warming Surpassed Natural Cycles In Fueling 2005 Hurricane Season, NCAR Scientists Conclude

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:31:31 EDT

Global warming accounted for around half of the extra hurricane-fueling warmth in the waters of the tropical North Atlantic in 2005, while natural cycles were only a minor factor, according to a study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research appearing in the June 27 issue of Geophysical Research Letters.

Climate Change Responsible For Increased Hurricanes, Researchers Find

Tue, 30 May 2006 17:52:52 EDT

Human induced climate change, rather than naturally occurring ocean cycles, may be responsible for the recent increases in frequency and strength of North Atlantic hurricanes, according to Penn State and Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers. "Anthropogenic factors are likely responsible for long-term trends in tropical Atlantic warmth and tropical cyclone activity," the researchers report in an upcoming issue of the American Geophysical Society's Eos.

La Nina Will Have No Effect On 2006 Atlantic Hurricanes

Fri, 05 May 2006 12:06:06 EDT

NASA oceanographers agree that the recent La Nina in the eastern Pacific Ocean is not expected to have an effect on the Atlantic hurricane season this year. That is good news, because normally a La NiÃ±a tends to increase Atlantic hurricane activity and decrease Pacific Ocean hurricanes.

2005 Was The Warmest Year In A Century

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:45:45 EST

The year 2005 may have been the warmest year in a century, according to NASA scientists studying temperature data from around the world.

El Nino Events Affect Whale Breeding

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 23:08:08 EST

New research shows that global climate processes are affecting southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in the South Atlantic. A thirty-year study by an international team of scientists found a strong relationship between breeding success of whales in the South Atlantic and El Nino in the western Pacific. The results are published this week in the on-line journal Biology Letters.