Breaking Records (Weather, that is)
Its fun to watch each month’s weather and water patterns emerge into a story. This Spring in Fort Collins, its been warm and dry and we’ve coaxed (and coached) elementary students to report on these topics as they observe and report daily precip (or lack thereof) measurements to CoCORahs. When we post these on Poudre School District’s website, we usually get a handful of views. March’s report apparently struck a chord. Watch Seattle meteorologist Sc0tt Sistek’s post to see what I mean. My guess? I think it was the missing teeth, cookies, and overall cuteness of these wonderful second graders. Thanks to Dunn Elementary teachers Lori Ellendorff and Deborah Taylor for supplying the talent, and Matt Gohl (as usual) for great editing and graphics. Eva Jane and Charlotte have a future career in TV meteorology!
Lopez students take role with weather
The joy of doing local science in the community. Place-based science rocks. | The Coloradoan | http://t.co/NNP68n5
Drought or Storm? 1/2 billion trees die in Brazil
From a recent JPL press release:
A single, huge, violent storm that swept across the whole Amazon forest in 2005 killed half a billion trees, according to a new study funded by NASA and Tulane University, New Orleans.
While storms have long been recognized as a cause of Amazon tree loss, this study is the first to actually quantify losses from a storm. …
Previous research had attributed a peak in tree mortality in 2005 solely to a severe drought that affected parts of the forest. The new study says that a single squall line (a long line of severe thunderstorms, the kind associated with lightning and heavy rainfall) had an important role in the tree demise. Research suggests this type of storm might become more frequent in the future in the Amazon due to climate change, killing a higher number of trees and releasing more carbon to the atmosphere.
Wow!
Climate Change: A Warming World
News and media clips from NASA’s perspective…good stuff, updated regularly.
NASA Study Finds Atlantic ‘Conveyor Belt’ Not Slowing
NASA Study Finds Atlantic ‘Conveyor Belt’ Not SlowingThe full version of this story with accompanying images is at:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-101&cid=release_2010-101
Drought Photos
JPL Climate Ed
Climate Day and Web Site for Teachers and Kids
This is a feature from the NASA/JPL Education Office.
02.25.10 — JPL is co-sponsoring Climate Day 2010, a two-day event that will feature lectures and demonstrations by scientists, a Climate Jeopardy competition, career information and teacher resources. The event will be held from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 26 (for students and educators, grades 6 – 12) and Saturday, March 27 (for the general public) at the Pasadena Convention Center. Pre-registration is required to attend on Friday.
More details about Climate Day and an online pre-registration form can be found at http://climate.nasa.gov/ClimateDay/ .
NASA also recently unveiled Climate Kids, a Web site that targets students in grades 4 – 6. The site answers the “Big Questions” about global climate change using simple illustrations, humor, interactivity, and age-appropriate language. A collection of Earth-science-related games offers such experiences as “Wild Weather Adventure” and “Missions to Planet Earth.” A Green Careers section profiles real people doing jobs that help slow climate change.
Visit Climate Kids at http://climate.nasa.gov/kids .
Water Reports on YouTube
For fans of Walking through The Water Year, here are Scott and Matt’s finest minutes!
Great job guys!
herbsearth 