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Monday, June 3, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

ScienceDaily: Top Environment News


Effects of interannual climate variability on tropical tree cover: Satellite data reveal how tropical ecosystems may respond to climate extremes

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 11:44 AM PDT

Tree cover in the tropics will likely change in surprising ways as climate change increases the frequency of extreme rainfall events, according to a new study.

Acidifying oceans could spell trouble for squid

Posted: 01 Jun 2013 10:39 AM PDT

Acidifying oceans could dramatically impact the world's squid species, according to a new study. Because squid are both ecologically and commercially important, that impact may have far-reaching effects on the ocean environment and coastal economies, the researchers report.

North Atlantic hurricane forecast predicts above-average season

Posted: 01 Jun 2013 10:36 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a unique computer model with a knack for predicting hurricanes with unprecedented accuracy and are forecasting a season of above-average activity for 2013.

Microbial changes regulate function of entire ecosystems

Posted: 31 May 2013 12:13 PM PDT

A major question in ecology has centered on the role of microbes in regulating ecosystem function. Now scientists show how changes in the populations of methanotrophic bacteria can have consequences for methane mitigation at ecosystem levels.

Puffin count on Isle of May NNR in Scotland gives surprising result

Posted: 31 May 2013 07:53 AM PDT

Atlantic Puffin numbers on the Isle of May National Nature Reserve (NNR) off Scotland's east coast are at similar levels to 2009 despite this spring's severe weather. Severe weather resulted in the deaths of thousands of seabirds along the coasts of eastern Scotland and north-east England. Examination of the bodies of some of the 3500 dead puffins and ringing recoveries suggested that many of the birds involved were breeding adults from local colonies.

The greatest place to be a Martian: Australia?

Posted: 31 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT

Would Martians feel at home in Australia? Recent research has proven that if Martians took a holiday to Australia they might feel more at home than you'd think. Researchers have recently exposed a unique set of attributes suggesting that the Australian red center could be a close analogue for the surface of the red planet – and how this unusual weathering has led to the formation of Australia's opals.

International negotiations: Playing games with the climate

Posted: 31 May 2013 07:39 AM PDT

Researchers have applied game theory to the problem of climate change to help analyze the relationships between international players on the world stage, occurrence and effects, attitude towards carbon emissions, the power struggles taking place and the negotiations that are under way between nations, energy companies and the public.

Dairy's carbon footprint: Flatulence tops the list

Posted: 31 May 2013 07:17 AM PDT

Researchers have conducted a life-cycle analysis of fluid milk that will provide guidance for producers, processors and others throughout the dairy supply chain. The largest contributors were feed production, enteric methane -- gas emitted by the animal itself -- and manure management.

Mapping sea salt from orbit: Building better ocean and climate models

Posted: 31 May 2013 07:17 AM PDT

Climate is greatly influenced by the flow of heat energy carried by ocean currents. But precisely quantifying the mixing between the ocean and the atmosphere is hampered by a lack of detail in models of the ocean and of the water cycle. And in both models, knowing the salt content of the water is essential.

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