Atmospheric Science

The concentration of atmospheric CO2 is currently at a record high of 419 ppm due to human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. An international team of scientists is examining geological markers to reconstruct Earth’s CO2 history, revealing that today’s levels are the highest in 14 million years. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Carbon dioxide has not been as high as today’s concentrations in 14 million years thanks to fossil fuel emissions now warming the planet.Today atmospheric carbon dioxide is at its…

A new scientific method identifies habitable planets by comparing atmospheric CO2 levels, suggesting that lower CO2 indicates the presence of liquid water and potential life. This groundbreaking research, applicable with current telescopes, offers new prospects in the search for life beyond Earth. Credit: SciTechDaily.comScientists discover new way to identify liquid water on exoplanets.Atmospheric CO2 levels hold the key to finding habitable planets and potentially life itself.Scientists have devised a new way to…

A study by the University of Washington, analyzing an 800-year-old ice core, suggests that phytoplankton populations in the North Atlantic have remained stable since the industrial era. This finding challenges previous assumptions of a significant decline and highlights the impact of industrial pollutants on atmospheric chemistry. Credit: SciTechDaily.comNew research reveals that North Atlantic phytoplankton populations have been stable since the industrial era, contradicting previous studies of decline.To paraphrase Mark…

In a proposed carbon-capture method, magnesium oxide crystals on the ground bind to carbon dioxide molecules from the surrounding air, triggering the formation of magnesium carbonate. The magnesium carbonate is then heated to convert it back to magnesium oxide and release the carbon dioxide for placement underground, or sequestration. Credit: Adam Malin/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of EnergyOak Ridge National Laboratory’s research on magnesium oxide for carbon capture reveals a slowing absorption rate over time due to surface layer…

Researchers conducted a novel study on the runaway greenhouse effect, revealing how a critical threshold of water vapor can lead to catastrophic climate changes on Earth and other planets. The research reveals a significant cloud pattern that contributes to this irreversible climate change, providing insights into exoplanet climates and their potential to support life. Credit: SciTechDaily.comA team from UNIGE together with CNRS has managed to simulate the entire runaway greenhouse effect, which can make a planet…

Earth’s magnetosphere, essential for protecting us from solar radiation, contrasts sharply with Mars, which lost its protective field. Studying this shield, especially through NASA’s missions like the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, is crucial for understanding space weather and its impact on Earth.What Is Earth’s Magnetosphere?Enveloping our planet and protecting us from the fury of the Sun is a giant bubble of magnetism called the magnetosphere. It deflects most of the solar material sweeping towards us from our star…

A normal aurora (left) consists of glowing curtains of red, green and blue. An enhanced aurora (right) contains a thin, brighter layer which exhibits much more green, possibly caused by the same physical process that creates Steve and the picket fence. Because enhanced auroras are more common, UC Berkeley researchers plan to probe them first to determine what conditions in the upper atmosphere cause the phenomena. Credit: Vincent Ledvina, theauroraguy.com Phenomena called “Steve” and “picket fence” are masquerading as…

Artist’s illustration of a star-planet system. The stellar wind around the star and the effect on the planet’s atmosphere is visible. Credit: AIP/ K. Riebe/ J. Fohlmeister, editedA groundbreaking study reveals that cool stars with strong magnetic fields produce powerful stellar winds, crucial information for assessing the habitability of exoplanetary systems.Employing state-of-the-art numerical simulations, a study led by scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) has obtained the first systematic…

By Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences December 16, 2023A groundbreaking study explores the intricate link between Earth’s surface temperature and outgoing longwave radiation, revealing deviations from the expected quartic pattern. This research enhances our comprehension of climate sensitivity and the factors influencing it, such as greenhouse gases and atmospheric dynamics. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearch in climate science reveals new insights into the relationship between surface…

Visualization of total carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere in 2021 Credit: NASA NASA’s U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center, unveiled at COP28, offers open-source data and tools to analyze and manage greenhouse gas emissions, fostering collaboration in climate change efforts. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, and other United States government leaders unveiled the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center on December 4 during the 28th annual United Nations Climate…