Seafloor cores show tight bond between dust and past climates

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Dust from China moves across Korea and Japan to the Pacific Ocean April 2002. Credit: Jacques Decloitres MODIS Land Rapid Response Team NASAGSFC
Dust from China moves across Korea and Japan to the Pacific Ocean, April 2002. Credit: Jacques Decloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Each year, long-distance winds drop up to 900 million tons of dust from deserts and other parts of the land into the oceans. Scientists suspect this phenomenon connects to global climate—but exactly how, remains a question. Now a big piece of the puzzle has fallen into place, with a study showing that the amount of dust entering the equatorial Pacific peaks sharply during repeated ice ages, then declines when climate warms.


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All News summaries for February 28, 2008

Eruptions subside at Sicily's Mount Etna

9 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
The eruptions that have shaken the Mount Etna volcano on the southern Italian island of Sicily have subsided, experts said Sunday at the Palermo Geophysics and Volcanology Institute.

Oil powered Norway gradually turns into the wind

9 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
As Norway prepares for a future after oil, the gale-force potential of harvesting wind power off its long coastline has become an increasingly attractive proposition.

Japan aims to cut emissions by 60-80 pct by 2050: reports

11 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
Japan aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by between 60 and 80 percent by 2050, news reports said on Sunday, as part of measures setting out the country's long term environmental goals.

Artificial reef near Miami is cemetery, diving attraction

May 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- About 45 feet beneath the ocean's surface lies a cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques and even benches. The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened last fall, is seen by its creators as a perfect final ...

Sahara made slow transition from green to desert: study

May 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
The Sahara became the world's biggest hot desert some 2,700 years ago after a very slow fade from green, according to a new study which clashes with the theory that desertification came abruptly.
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