The Dying Earth - Headlines - 06/08/2015

Research by Jennifer Francis on the connecection of Arctic warming to weather patterns in mid-latitudes

Evidence linking rapid Arctic warming to mid-latitude weather patterns

Jennifer Francis, Natasa Skific

The effects of rapid Arctic warming and ice loss on weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere is a topic of active research, lively scientific debate and high societal impact. The emergence of Arctic amplification—the enhanced sensitivity of high-latitude temperature to global warming—in only the last 10–20 years presents a challenge to identifying statistically robust atmospheric responses using observations. Several recent studies have proposed and demonstrated new mechanisms by which the changing Arctic may be affecting weather patterns in mid-latitudes, and these linkages differ fundamentally from tropics/jet-stream interactions through the transfer of wave energy. In this study, new metrics and evidence are presented that suggest disproportionate Arctic warming—and resulting weakening of the poleward temperature gradient—is causing the Northern Hemisphere circulation to assume a more meridional character (i.e. wavier), although not uniformly in space or by season, and that highly amplified jet-stream patterns are occurring more frequently. Further analysis based on self-organizing maps supports this finding. These changes in circulation are expected to lead to persistent weather patterns that are known to cause extreme weather events. As emissions of greenhouse gases continue unabated, therefore, the continued amplification of Arctic warming should favour an increased occurrence of extreme events caused by prolonged weather conditions.

Time scales and ratios of climate forcing due to thermal versus carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels

The Earth warms both when fossil fuel carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide and when greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide inhibits longwave radiation from escaping to space. Various important time scales and ratios comparing these two climate forcings have not previously been quantified. For example, the global and time-integrated radiative forcing from burning a fossil fuel exceeds the heat released upon combustion within 2 months. Over the long lifetime of CO2 in the atmosphere, the cumulative CO2-radiative forcing exceeds the amount of energy released upon combustion by a factor >100,000. For a new power plant, the radiative forcing from the accumulation of released CO2 exceeds the direct thermal emissions in less than half a year. Furthermore, we show that the energy released from the combustion of fossil fuels is now about 1.71% of the radiative forcing from CO2 that has accumulated in the atmosphere as a consequence of historical fossil fuel combustion

New research suggests global warming is accelerating

Karl et al. (2015) finds no ‘hiatus’ in global surface warming despite natural cooling effects

Two mysteries solved

Mystery of Greenland's disappearing lakes solved: Scientists say giant cracks caused 11 BILLION gallons of water to vanish in 90 minutes

• Vertical shafts in the ice sheet, called moulins, can funnel melt water beneath parts of the glacier and lift them up
• This causes cracks beneath the so-called lakes that empty them in hours

Source of Antarctica's Eerie 'Bleeding Glacier' Found

Antarctica's Dry Valleys are the most arid places on Earth, but underneath their icy soils lies a vast and ancient network of salty, liquid water filled with life, a new study finds.

The Dry Valleys are almost entirely ice-free, except for a few isolated glaciers. The only surface water is a handful of small lakes. Inside the canyons, the climate is extremely dry, cold and windy; researchers have stumbled upon mummified seals in these gorges that are thousands of years old.

Yet there is life in this extreme landscape. For instance, bacteria living under Taylor Glacier stain its snout a deep blood red. The rust-colored brine, called Blood Falls, pours into Lake Bonney in the southernmost of the three largest Dry Valleys. The dramatic colors offer shocking relief to senses overwhelmed by the glaring white ice and dull brown rocks

China, Coal. Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

The Guardian's investigation into China's coal addiction contains some startling facts

Our Climate Desk partners at the Guardian have published a beautiful—and terrifying—multimedia story from deep inside China's coal belt. It's the third installment in the paper's ongoing "carbon bombs" series: investigations into giant fossil fuel projects from around the world that are super-charging global warming, or that have the potential to do so. Today's deep-dive into China's ravenous use of coal is eye-opening not only because it explores the long-lasting impact of burning coal on the nation's health, but also because it illustrates the country's outsized impact on global climate change through coal-related emissions

New Harvard Study Proves Why The Bees Are All Disappearing

The human race is really starting to feel the consequences of their actions. One area we are waking up to is the massive amount of pesticides we spray (especially in North America) on our food that has not only been linked to human disease, but a massive die off in the global bee population within the past few years.

A new study out of Harvard University, published in the June edition of the Bulletin of Insectology puts the nail in the coffin, neonicotinoids are killing bees at an exponential rate, they are the direct cause of the phenomenon labeled as colony collapse disorder (CCD). Neonicotinoid’s are the world’s most widely used insecticides.

“The results from this study not only replicate findings from the previous study, but also reinforce the conclusion that the sublethal exposure to neonicotinoids is likely the main culprit for the occurrence of CCD.”

37 Million Bees Found Dead In Ontario, Canada After Planting Large GMO Corn Field

Millions of bees dropped dead after GMO corn was planted few weeks ago in Ontario, Canada. The local bee keeper, Dave Schuit who produces honey in Elmwood lost about 37 million bees which are about 600 hives.

Five G7 nations increased their coal use over a five-year period, research shows

Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan and France burned more coal between 2009 and 2013 and demanded poor countries slash their carbon emissions

Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan and France together burned 16% more coal in 2013 than 2009 and are planning to further increase construction of coal-fired power stations. Only the US and Canada of the G7 countries meeting on Monday in Berlin have reduced coal consumption since the Copenhagen climate summit in 2009.

The US has reduced its coal consumption by 8% largely because of fracking for shale gas. Overall, the G7 countries reduced coal consumption by less than 1% between 2009-2013, the Oxfam research shows

Just in case you're still unmoved

Climate Change Could Be Making Its Way to a Coffee Cup Near You

The global warming crisis may begin impacting your mornings soon. According to a new study, in ScienceDirect, rising nighttime temperatures in Tanzania have led to a decrease in Arabica bean crop yields.

While many have assumed that climate change could eventually impact coffee production, this is the first hard evidence we have that it's already having an effect. "Increases in temperature and changes in precipitation patterns will decrease yield, reduce quality and increase pest and disease pressure," the report explains. We could soon see similar shifts in Costa Rica, Brazil, Kenya, and other Arabica growing regions.

Flooded Corpses Are Leaking Formaldehyde into North Ireland's Groundwater

The dead are haunting Northern Ireland, as flooding graves have been found to be leaching cancer-causing formaldehyde and ammonia into the soil. These toxic chemicals, used in the embalming process, are being washed off of decomposing bodies in water-logged coffins. Thanks to the proximity of many affected graveyards to city centers, the same chemicals that will someday be used to preserve corpses may already be inside of residents