As Jonathan Bamber, head of the Bristol Glaciology Centre in the UK points out, the new study “doesn’t change our view of the risks and threats from climate change.” As the Earth continues to warm, even the formidable glaciers of the Himalayas can’t hang on forever.
Putting Antarctica on the map
The next time you look at a world map, let your imagination fill in some of the features of the world’s coldest, driest, highest and windiest continent. Although it’s thousands of miles away, what happens there will impact literally billions of people around the globe.
Warning: mild winters ahead
Winter conditions fluctuate from year to year, of course. Who in the Mid-Atlantic can forget Snowmaggedon 2010? But this year’s mild winter across much of the country is consistent with a long-term warming trend driven by carbon pollution.
“Less cold” doesn’t mean “never cold”
A massive snowstorm is walloping parts of the southwestern and central U.S. this week. Cue the deniers, who are busily typing “So much for ‘global warming’!'” on as many websites as possible.
Arctic fish: living on thin ice?
About half of the millions of tons of seafood caught in the U.S. every year comes from Alaska, one of the most rapidly warming parts of the country. That warming, according to a new report from NOAA, is having “profound and continuing” effects on Alaska’s ocean habitat.
How is climate change impacting the water cycle?
Climate change is increasing our risk of both heavy rains and extreme droughts. But why is that? Aren’t the two contradictory? Take a look at our new visual guide to how climate change impacts the water cycle.
From the globe to your (hopefully not flooded) backyard
The new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) challenges us to think beyond changes in global average temperature and consider the impacts of climate change in our own backyards.
As the climate warms, can trees move fast enough?
It’s not clear from this study why trees aren’t keeping pace with temperature change. Perhaps geographical boundaries, like coastlines, are getting in the way. Perhaps the species on the move are being out-competed in the new habitats. It’s even possible that tree seedlings are responding to climate change differently than adults.
Answering Your WCRP Questions
I wanted to know what questions you would ask the scientists, and you delivered! So now, here are a few answers.
What would you ask a climate scientist?
If you were able to spend 10 or 20 minutes with a climate scientist, what you ask that person? Leave a comment and I’ll try to get some of those questions answered next week.