Widespread 'Twilight Zone' Detected Around Clouds

User rating: 4.6 / 5 after 19 vote(s)

Because clouds change so quickly and come in so many types and sizes they play a complicated role in Earthacutes climate. The influence of cloud fields is now even more complex due to the discovery of previously undetected particles in and around the ...
Because clouds change so quickly and come in so many types and sizes, they play a complicated role in Earth's climate. The influence of cloud fields is now even more complex due to the discovery of previously undetected particles in and around them. Credit: NASA GSFC, MODIS Atmosphere Science Team.

There seems to be something new under the sun -- in the sky, specifically -- that could complicate scientists' efforts to get a fix on how much the world will warm in the future. Greenhouse gases are not the only things in the air that influence the temperature of our atmosphere. Clouds and small airborne particles called aerosols also play an important and complicated role. And now a new ingredient has been discovered: an extensive and previously unseen “twilight zone” of particles that represents a gradual transition from cloud droplets to dry particles.


Full story »
All News summaries from Space & Earth science news
All News summaries for May 04, 2007

NOAA chief urges creating National Climate Service

3 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- With concerns about global warming rising along with the planet's temperature, the head of the federal agency in change of weather research and forecasting is proposing creation of a new National Climate Service.

CU-Boulder team to build $34 million instrument package for environmental satellite

3 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
A $34 million solar instrument package to be built by the University of Colorado at Boulder, considered a crucial tool to help monitor global climate change, has been restored to a U.S. government satellite ...

New Analysis Shows Important Slowdown in Lake Tahoe Clarity Loss

4 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
For the first time since researchers began continuously measuring Lake Tahoe's famed water clarity 40 years ago, UC Davis scientists reported today that the historical rate of decline in the lake's clarity has slowed considerably ...

NASA Phoenix Mission Ready For Mars Landing

5 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is preparing to end its long journey and begin a three-month mission to taste and sniff fistfuls of Martian soil and buried ice. The lander is scheduled to touch down on the Red ...

Satellite communications by laser

7 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
Satellites currently use radio waves to exchange data. Now the data rate has been increased a hundredfold by using lasers instead of radio signals. Two test satellites each carried a diode laser pump module developed with ...
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive