Highlight articles

A possible influence of the Great White Spot on Saturn kilometric radiation periodicity

In this paper we show that the large thunderstorm called Great White Spot, which raged for about 9 months in Saturn’s troposphere in 2010/2011, was accompanied by changes in the periodicity and phasing of auroral radio emissions. We suggest that the thunderstorm was a source of intense gravity waves causing a global change in Saturn’s ionospheric winds via energy and momentum deposition. This supports the theory that Saturn’s magnetospheric periodicities are driven by the upper atmosphere.

Estimating degree-day factors from MODIS for snowmelt runoff modeling

In this paper, we propose a new method for estimating the snowmelt degree-day factor (DDFS) directly from MODIS snow covered area and ground-based snow depth data without calibration. Snow density is estimated as the ratio between observed precipitation and changes in the snow volume for days with snow accumulation. DDFS values are estimated as the ratio between changes in the snow water equivalent and difference between the daily temperature and a threshold value for days with snowmelt.

Potential climate forcing of land use and land cover change

While climate change mitigation policy often focuses on the energy sector, we find that 40% of the historical human-caused change in the Earth’s radiative balance can be attributed to land use activities, such as deforestation and agriculture. Since pressure on land resources is expected to increase, we compute a theoretical upper bound on the radiative balance impacts from future land use which suggests that not only energy policy but land policy is necessary to minimize future climate change.

Estimated stocks of circumpolar permafrost carbon with quantified uncertainty ranges and identified data gaps

This study provides an updated estimate of organic carbon stored in the northern permafrost region. The study includes estimates for carbon in soils (0 to 3 m depth) and deeper sediments in river deltas and the Yedoma region. We find that field-data is still scarce from many regions. Total estimated carbon storage is ~1300 Pg with an uncertainty range of between 1100 to 1500 Pg. Around 800 Pg carbon is perennially frozen, equivalent to all carbon dioxide currently in the Earths atmosphere.

A comparison between VEGA 1, 2 and Giotto flybys of comet 1P/Halley: implications for Rosetta

We discuss three flybys (within a time span of 8 days) of comet 1P/Halley by VEGA 1, 2 and Giotto. Looking at two different plasma phenomena: mirror mode waves and field line draping; we study the differences in SW-comet interaction between these three flybys. We find that on this time scale (comparable to Rosetta’s orbits) there is a significant difference, both caused by changing outgassing rate of the comet and changes in the solar wind. We discuss implications for Rosetta RPC observations.

Correlations between climate network and relief data

In the past few years, complex networks have been extensively applied to climate sciences, yielding the new field of climate networks. Here, we generalize climate network analysis by investigating the influence of altitudes in network topology. More precisely, we verified that nodes group into different communities corresponding to geographical areas with similar relief properties. This new approach may contribute to obtaining more complete climate network models.

Path independence of climate and carbon cycle response over a broad range of cumulative carbon emissions

Recent studies have identified an approximately proportional relationship between global warming and cumulative carbon emissions. This relationship – referred to as the transient climate response to cumulative carbon emissions (TCRE) – is useful for climate policy applications. We show that the TCRE is constant for cumulative emissions lower than ~1500 GtC, but declines for higher cumulative emissions. We also find the TCRE to decrease with increasing emission rate.

Long-term trends at the Boknis Eck time series station (Baltic Sea), 1957–2013: does climate change counteract the decline in eutrophication?

A time series of 9 oceanic parameters from the coastal time series station Boknis Eck (BE, South Western Baltic Sea) in the period of 1957-2013 is analysed with respect to seasonal cycles and longterm trends. Most striking was a paradoxical decreasing trend in oxygen with a simultaneous decline in eutrophication. Possible reasons for this paradox, e.g. processes related to warming temperatures such as increased decomposition of organic matter or altered ventilation, are discussed.

Detailed ice loss pattern in the northern Antarctic Peninsula: widespread decline driven by ice front retreats

The Cryosphere
DOI 10.5194/tc-8-2135-2014
24 November 2014

This study of one of the most rapidly changing glacier regions on Earth – the Antarctic Peninsula – uses two types of satellite data to measure the rates of ice loss in detail for the individual glaciers. The satellite data is laser altimetry from ICESat and stereo image DEM differences. The results show that 24..9 ± 7.8 billion tons of ice are lost from the region north of 66°S on the Peninsula each year. The majority of the data cover 2003-2008.

The global monsoon across timescales: coherent variability of regional monsoons

It remains a debated issue as to what extent and at which timescales the global monsoon can be viewed as a major mode of climate variability. For this purpose, a PAGES (Past Global Changes) working group (WG) was set up to investigate the concept of the global monsoon and its future research directions. The WG’s synthesis is presented here.

News & press Highlight articles

Highlight articles

Information for

External links