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A recent study by Brown University scientists suggests that impacts of climate change on agriculture might be worse than expected. You can read about the study at https://news.brown.edu/articles/2016/03/matogrosso. The scientists used satellite analysis of land use changes and studied cropping patterns in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. They showed that an increase in average temperature in Mato…
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A recent article in Nature Climate Change by UGA scientists Mathew Hauer and Deepak Mishra and former UGA scientist Jason Evans highlights the severe impacts that rising sea level is expected to have on coastal populations in the US (the abstract is here). The scientists show that based on current projections of sea level rise…
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I read an interesting essay this week from July 2015 in Cracked.com describing a first-person experience with an EF5 tornado, in this case the one that hit Moore OK in May 2013. The story really brings home the need to prepare for unexpected disasters and what you can do to prepare for your own bad…
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NOAA released their winter climate statistics yesterday. They showed that for the lower 48 states, this past December through February was the warmest since records began in 1895. The exceptionally warm December really boosted the temperatures this season. It was Alaska’s second warmest winter, with averages more than 10 degrees above normal. You can read more…
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To end the work week, I thought you might enjoy a look at some clouds that are almost “out of this world”! Lenticular clouds are named for their distinctive lens shape, which some people think make them look like flying saucers. Lenticular clouds are formed by condensed water vapor in air that is flowing smoothly…
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In honor of Astronaut Scott Kelly’s return to Earth after almost a year in the International Space Station, I thought you might enjoy this selection of images of our planet that he took during his stay in space. Several of them include big weather events. You can see them at https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-most-breathtaking-photos-from-nasa-astronaut-scott-kellys-year-in-space-2016-02-26?link=MW_home_latest_news. Welcome home!
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One of the ways that humans alter climate is by changing the land use of a particular region, leading to changes in the energy balance locally. Some climatologists believe that the Southeast has lagged other parts of the country in warming due to the change from widespread bare ground crops like cotton early in the…