es, using
satellite measures of surface greenness in the summer and snow
extent in the winter. Previous research had found that enhanced
vegetation leads to cooler surface temperatures, which the authors
confirmed with their finding that vegetation growth during warm
summer months slowed the ongoing increase in summertime
temperatures. They note, however, that this mechanism for slowing
global climate change may not be effective for much longer, as a
temperature increase by another 3-5 degrees Celsius [5-9 degrees
Fahrenheit] may harm vegetation growth. The browning or loss of
vegetation would then accelerate further climate warming.
Title: The effect of vegetation on surface temperature: A statistical
analysis of NDVI and climate data
Authors:
R. K. Kaufmann, R. B. Myneni, N. V. Shabanov, Boston
University, Boston, Massachusetts;
L. Zhou, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia;
C. J. Tucker, D. Slayback, Jorge Pinzon, NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters (GL) paper
10.1029/2003GL018251, 2003
-------------------
3. New theory explains meteors' double plumes
A new analysis of double plumes observed behind falling meteors
suggests a new explanation for the phenomenon. Kelley et al. report
on lidar and camera views of the heretofore-mysterious "trains" cast
behind meteors. The authors studied the persistent emissions
commonly left behind by meteors from the 1998 and 1999 Leonid
meteor showers and propose that one of the tails is left by gaseous
vapor emissions, while the other is caused by dust particles. They
note that the two layers are separated by gravitational properties of
the dust that keeps it segregated, evidence that has been confirmed
by rocket-based observations of dust remnants behind other
meteors. The researchers dismiss previous speculation that the
double
'"/>
Contact: Harvey Leifert
hleifert@agu.org
202-777-7507
American Geophysical Union
6-Jan-2004
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