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News Archives
Week of June 6, 2004
Great excitement in the world of climate research
Much of what we know about ice ages past comes from studying ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica. Layers of snow and ice are deposited over time, one on top of the other, and carry with them minerals, pollen, air bubbles, dust and sand, and other things that give evidence of climatic and biological conditions through the ages. The deeper you drill, the longer your ice core, and the further back through time you travel.
To date, the longest ice core we've had was the Vostok core, named for the frozen lake from which it was drilled. The Vostok core extended back 400,000 years in time, nearly half the depth of the ice shelf, and it showed us climate change through four separate ice ages. From this record we discovered, among other things, that carbon dioxide levels and global temperature have moved in lockstep through those last four ice ages. Unfortunately, the Vostok core extended only halfway through the ice shelf, and ended in the middle of a period known as Stage 11. Stage 11 was a time when the Earth's orbit was nearly identical to its orbit today, and so scientists were eager to explore the whole of the period, since the similarity could prove invaluable for today's climate models.
Now, the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica has returned with an ice core nearly double the length of the Vostok core, reaching nearly two miles (about 3100 m.) in length, and covering not only Stage 11 but nearly all of the atmospheric history captured in the ice shelf — around 740,000 years. The researchers almost reached the bottom of the ice shelf, but found that as they cored, the ice at the bottom was melting because of heat transmitted from the earth's interior. They plan to return with a different type of drill bit, one using a kind of antifreeze to keep it cold, to finally core the last 100 meters or so of the icy record.
Already, the scientists have confirmed some things which will affect our climate models. Apparently carbon dioxide levels in Stage 11 were very similar to levels in pre-industrial Earth. The full information from Stage 11 suggests that without human intervention, we might have had another 16,000 years without another ice age, since Stage 11 had a similarly long period with a stable climate. But once humans began to industrialize, carbon output leapt ever higher. The levels of carbon dioxide we see today have never before existed in earth's history, at least as much of history as is stored in the Antarctic ice shelf. If the relationship between CO2 and temperature holds, we're looking instead at a period of steadily increasing temperatures. No one is entirely sure what that means, since it's never happened before. However, so far there has been no evidence of climate "flip flops" of the sort some scientists have speculated might occur as global warming proceeds. Nothing I've read so far really addresses the issue of Gulf Stream flows and how increasing temperature will affect climate in places like Europe that depend on the Gulf Stream to keep their homes liveable. But as the information from this ice core proceeds, and climate models are updated, I'm sure we'll hear much more.
Comments? Here's our climate thread.
Posted by Jennifer on Thursday, June 10 2004, 3:13 PM
How do you practice cleaning up oil spills...
without actually dumping toxic oil into the ocean? Norway has come up with one solution: use popcorn instead. Yes, as part of an exercise in cleaning up oil spills, Norway will dump 175 cu. ft. of popcorn into a Norwegian fjord. Popcorn coats the surface much like oil would, but without the nasty side-effects, so people can practice using oil booms and doing shore clean-up without harming wildlife. The exercise will also be a test of whether the popcorn can be cleaned up before it's eaten by the local birds and fish.
Posted by Jennifer on Wednesday, June 9 2004, 10:22 AM
News of the Day
Algae may help protect coral reefs
The warming of temperate ocean water has led to stress on the world's coral reefs, and may someday lead to death for many of these rich biotic communities. But Australian researchers have discovered one mechanism by which coral reefs can adapt — by a symbiotic relationship with certain algae living alongside the coral. The algae grow faster with light and heat, and produce so much food energy that it leaks from the cells. The coral around the algae uses the leakage for food, and this helps to strengthen the reef. Researchers believe this is one example of how coral may adapt to change more quickly than previously thought.
Do you think gas prices are too high?
Then what will you think when the price is four times higher? That's the question asked in this BBC article, which quotes the Association for Oil Studies, a group of investment bankers, academics, and geologists who believe we may be finally reaching the peak of world oil production, and the beginning of the end of the age of oil.
Can you trust scientists to get the facts right?
The Economist cites a study which claims that scientists often misuse statistics, out of ignorance more than malice. Small details of how to use statistics appropriately can escape many university trained researchers, leading them to mistakes in understanding their own work.
Tip of the hat to Baysense for the catch.
Comments? Click here.
Posted by Jennifer on Tuesday, June 8 2004, 3:07 PM
Assault on Science Began with Reagan
Over at About.com, my friend Alden has a post titled Ronald Reagan: No Friend to Science. It's a must-read for those who think science should form the basis of environmental policy.
Whatever you think of Reagan the man, or of his Presidency, you have to admit he was no environmentalist, and Bush has continued to pursue most of the same policies that Reagan had.
"A tree is a tree. How many more do you have to look at?"
— Ronald Reagan, 1966, opposing expansion of Redwood National Park as governor of California
Comments? Click here.
Posted by Jennifer on Monday, June 7 2004, 6:55 PM
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