Postcards from the Planet

Check out this great website where you can learn about all of the NASA satellites monitoring global climate change: Eyes on the Earth 3D.

Apparently the Energy Department has a problem. According to Congressional Representative Bart Gordon, “math illiteracy on a grand scale” led the Energy Department to think that a so-called clean coal electrical generation plant was going to cost far more than it actually was. As a result, the project was canceled. In today’s New York Times, Matthew Wald suggests that resumption of the project “could provide a model for curbing” carbon dioxide emissions.

Mt. Erebus in Antarctica. NASA photos.

This great NASA satellite photo combination shows Mt. Erebus in Antarctica. The small inset photo is a thermal image of the volcano, showing the heat from the lava. The 3794 meter (12,447 feet) volcano is a stratovolcano, made up of layers of hardened ash, rocks from previous eruptions, and solidified lava. It has shown continuous lava lake activity since 1972. Mt. Erebus is named for a figure from Greek mythology; Erebus was the embodiment of darkness, the son of Chaos.

You can find out more about Mt. Erebus and read the journal of John Wood, a California teacher who spent more than a month this winter (the Antarctic summer) helping researchers with seismic experiments at the MEVO (Mt. Erebus Volcano Observatory):  MEVO.

NASA is launching a new satellite designed to study where the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ends up. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory will measure both CO2 and oxygen in earth’s atmosphere using an instrument with three spectrometers. The Observatory will orbit in a 438-mile-high polar orbit. Scientists hope to use the satellite to measure emissions from industry and other human activities, and to investigate carbon sinks – areas which naturally absorb carbon dioxide, such as the oceans. Read the story here: Satellite.

Eastern Wild Turkey. Photo by Gary Stolz, USFWS.

A new Audubon Society study has shown that many North American bird species seem to be shifting their ranges north, and scientists think the changes may be due to the warming climate. The average change seen is 35 miles, but some have extended their ranges much more than that. Two of the species that have moved the farthest over the last 40 years include the Purple Finch and the Wild Turkey. Some species have stayed put, however, and most of them seem to be grassland birds.

Citizen scientists can do a lot to help researchers study birds. If you have ever helped with an Audubon Christmas Bird Count, then you helped gather the data for this study. Check out the study here to see what your favorite birds are doing – and how you can help them! What the Birds Are Telling Us.

A sobering new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concludes that global climate change is happening and is already irreversible. Researchers found that the excess Carbon Dioxide already in the environment will persist for many years, and CO2 held in the oceans and soils will move into the atmosphere. This means that we have to think carefully about how to minimize the effects, and see if it is possible to stop the trends — so that at least if we are living in a changed world, it will be as little changed as possible. You can listen to a report on the study here: Global Warming Is Irreversible, Study Says.

A new study of temperature records from the last half-century of Antarctic research shows that the climate is changing and warming there. Skeptics had pointed to a few weather stations there as showing that temperatures had cooled; new evidence and analysis show that–overall–the Antarctic has warmed.

For more information:New Evidence for Antarctic Warming.

Want to find out the latest research on our warming planet? Several recent reports concur that 2008 was cooler than 2007, but still ranks among the warmest years recorded. Right now we in the Northeast have had an ice storm, leaving many without power for up to a week in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and a snow storm. More snow is forecast tomorrow. All this wintry weather is a good reminder that global climate change doesn’t necessarily mean that every part of the globe will be warmer every day! Read Andrew Revkin’s Dot Earth blog post for a good discussion of the four recently released reports: Dot Earth Summarizes 2008 Climate Reports.

NASA Earthrise Apollo 8, taken December 29, 1968 from lunar orbit.

In this NASA feature, astronauts and space scientists reflect on what we have learned about our home planet by going beyond earth’s atmosphere: Earth Perspectives.

Lava flow, Kilauea 2002.

An incredible sight to see is a volcanic eruption! I think I would definitely put seeing red hot molten lava ooze out of the earth or flow briskly into the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii Island on my “life list” of amazing natural observations. The lava at Kilauea sometimes flows slowly enough that tourists and visitors can walk right up next to the flow, and watch the lava begin to cool. The bright red lava begins to dull, and then gets a kind of silvery skin on it as it cools down in the air.

Any time you are thinking about volcanoes you can see the United States volcano hazard alerts in real time. You can also visit Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii by webcam. There are two webcams maintained at different vents on Kilauea by the USGS. Check out Volcano Hazards Program for webcam links.

The USGS also has some great videos of lava flows at Kilauea, especially some nighttime images. See Kilauea for volcano movies. These movies will give you a better idea of how lava flows create new land. Hawaiian lava flows are generally fairly slow, so they have been extensively studied by geologists. The Hawaiian Islands have been formed by volcanic activity, and within fifty years or so after a new lava flow people build houses and plant gardens.

Of course, the USGS info is very important to local neighbors of volcanoes, so that people can see if there is any current danger. Volcanic eruptions can put ash, sulfuric acid, and other contaminants into the atmosphere, and these natural pollutants travel on the wind.

Airplane engines can be damaged by volcanic ash as well, so airlines check the volcano hazards before flying in those areas. You can read about the reasons for all this research in Volcano Warning!

Glowing molten lava, Kilauea, 2002.