national center for atmospheric research Archives

Video Friday: Climate, Arctic Sea Ice and Weather Whiplash

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Thomas Schueneman | 0 Comments

We have two videos today from Yale Climate Forum exploring the connection between Arctic ice, the jet stream and “weather whiplash.” In the first video, Rutgers University climate researcher Dr.Jennifer Francis and Dr. Jeff Masters discusses this connection in terms of the “mirror image” spring weather over much of North America between 2012 and 2013. In the second video, climatologist Dr….

Video Friday: Ocean Heat, Climate Change and Surface Temperatures

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Thomas Schueneman | 0 Comments

This video from greenmanbucket is taken from a longer skype interview with Dr. Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). In this clip Dr. Trenberth discusses Earth’s energy balance, ocean heat and climate sensitivity. Dr. Trenberth discusses these issues further in a recent interview published in The Conversation. Featured image credit: Pranav Bhatt, courtesy flickr

The Historic Drought of 2012 and the Science of Climate Change

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Richard Matthews | 0 Comments

More than half of the U.S. is suffering under drought conditions and scientists are increasingly confident in their suggestion that global warming may be to blame. On July 11, the United States Department of Agriculture announced natural disaster areas in more than 1,000 counties in 26 states due to drought. This makes the drought of 2012 the largest total area ever…

Overcoming a culture that pits Man against nature

Combating the Culture of Climate Change Denial

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Richard Matthews | 1 Comments

The failure to accept the anthropogenic origins of climate change may be partly attributable to a fallacy of modern culture. Popular culture pits us against nature which in turn undermines efforts to curtail climate change. Man versus nature is one of seven conflicts in literary studies, it relates to the theme in literature that places a character against the forces of nature….

Willful ignorance of the reality of climate change

Science and Pernicious Ignorance of Climate Change Denial

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Richard Matthews | 23 Comments

It is nothing short of tragic that so many Americans continue to dismiss the scientific veracity of climate change. Deniers are not moved by the coherency of the research that weaves together the different points of measurement. The plethora of data includes higher global mean surface temperatures, melting glaciers, retreating sea ice, increasing water temperature, rising sea levels, ocean acidification,…

Record-breaking and intense heat waves are indicative of the trend of a warmer world

Feeling the Heat of Global Warming

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Richard Matthews | 13 Comments

For more than a decade there has been increasing evidence of a pronounced warming trend around the globe. Last year we saw a new record for the second highest average global temperature over a 12 month period. This year, the U.S. has experienced widespread record breaking heat waves. Although hot summers are to be expected in the U.S., this year is different. As explained by Christopher Vaccaro,…

NOAA's annual State of the Climate Report shows the past decade as the warmest on record

NOAA State of the Climate Report: Warmest Decade on Record

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Thomas Schueneman | 0 Comments

The annual State of the Climate report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) states the evidence is unmistakable that we live in a warming world, with the past decade the warmest on record. The report consolidates data from the oceans as well as the atmosphere, representing the first time for such a large-scale integration. Published in the Bulletin…