Electric sparks from plants during thunderstorms may affect air quality

Fascinating new research from atmospheric scientists at Penn State University has found during thunderstorms, electrical discharges on tree leaves can generate significant volumes of chemicals that may affect the air quality in surrounding forests.Cont… Continue reading Electric sparks from plants during thunderstorms may affect air quality

Exoplanet with iron rain puzzles with even heavier atmospheric element

The exoplanets WASP-76 b and WASP-121 b are already known to be peculiar places, but a new discovery has raised even more questions about the composition of these celestial bodies. Astronomers studying the pair have discovered the heaviest element ever… Continue reading Exoplanet with iron rain puzzles with even heavier atmospheric element

“Relatively low cost” plan would cool the Earth’s poles by 2 °C

New research suggests that cooling the poles by 2 °C (3.6 °F), and re-freezing the Arctic and Antarctic, is “feasible at relatively low cost with conventional technologies,” using Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) of heat-reflective particles focus… Continue reading “Relatively low cost” plan would cool the Earth’s poles by 2 °C

James Webb detects carbon dioxide in exoplanet atmosphere for first time

The James Webb Space Telescope has clearly detected carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time. The find marks a milestone for the telescope’s goal of analyzing distant planets, which could eventually help discover signs of ext… Continue reading James Webb detects carbon dioxide in exoplanet atmosphere for first time

Atmospheric CO2 now 50% higher than pre-industrial levels

Climate scientists have reported the highest levels of carbon dioxide ever recorded in the atmosphere. The latest in a long line of record-breaking years saw the world hit a grim new milestone of 50 percent higher than pre-industrial levels, a concentr… Continue reading Atmospheric CO2 now 50% higher than pre-industrial levels

Superfast electron rains detected pouring down onto Earth

Researchers at UCLA have discovered a new form of space weather – superfast electron rains that precipitate into the atmosphere from the radiation belts. The team says the events could affect satellites, spacecraft and astronauts, but aren’t accounted … Continue reading Superfast electron rains detected pouring down onto Earth

Smoke from large wildfires seems to damage the ozone layer

The ozone layer is often seen as a success story for human action to correct a climate emergency – but unfortunately we may be undoing our own hard work. A new study has shown that smoke from wildfires, such as those that recently devastated parts of A… Continue reading Smoke from large wildfires seems to damage the ozone layer

Campaign to drill for the oldest continuous Antarctic ice core begins

To learn more about the Earth’s climate and environmental history, a research team has begun an €11-million (US$12.9-million) project with the hopes of collecting the oldest continuous ice core in Antarctica, providing a record of the climate spanning … Continue reading Campaign to drill for the oldest continuous Antarctic ice core begins

Earth’s troposphere is expanding due to climate change

A new study has revealed yet another way that human-induced climate change is affecting the planet. Decades of weather balloon and satellite data has shown that the Earth’s troposphere is expanding, even after natural variations are accounted for.Conti… Continue reading Earth’s troposphere is expanding due to climate change