New evidence for bipolar seesaw link between Greenland and Antarctica – and abrupt climate variability

Greenland Antarctica bipolar seesawGlacials and interglacials on the northern and southern hemisphere somehow do not seem to correspond. This has led to a ‘thermal bipolar seesaw theory,’ whereby an off-mode in the thermohaline circulation leads to an ice age in Europe, but excess heat storage down south.

To support this theory ice cores were never much help. That has changed with a new study by an international team of scientists led by the University of Cardiff.

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Making batteries greener and better with algae

Lithium batteryExisting batteries are not known for their environmentally friendly components, since most contain heavily toxic chemicals. The much used lithium-ion batteries, best known for their use in cell phones and electric cars, for instance can contain pollutants that may decrease fertility.

Luckily a new find in Science Express shows that brown algae can help us make those batteries not only a bit greener and safer but also cheaper and more efficient.

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Clouds don’t cause climate change

cloudsThe mainstream and long-held view of clouds in relation to climate change is that clouds are acting as a feedback in response to temperature changes caused by human activity. Some sceptics however argue that it is the other way around and that clouds are actually the cause of global warming.

A new study that was published in the peer-reviewed journal Geophysical Research Letters now puts an end to the discussion in favour of the former view, hopes Andrew Dessler, atmospheric sciences Professor of Texas A&M University.

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Eemian Greenland melting 55% warming, 45% solar and feedbacks – ice more stable now

Greenland ice sheet EemianResearchers of Utrecht University say the Greenland ice sheet may be more stable now than during the Eemian, the previous interglacial period, which lasted from 130,000-114,000 years BP.

It turns out back then Arctic insolation was bigger – although still a significant temperature response remained.

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Climatic CO2 benefits of fertiliser offset by increased N2O emissions

C02 flux and N2O emissionsSince the 1860’s nitrogen additions to the terrestrial biosphere have more than doubled, due to human activities. Since nitrogen is a key nutrient needed for plant growth and therefore used as a fertiliser, the additions have made a drastic increase in plant growth possible, which was accompanied by a rise in net uptake of CO2 and possibly methane by the terrestrial biosphere.

However, it also stimulated the release of nitrous oxide, another powerful greenhouse gas, from the soil, according to a study in Nature Geoscience.

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Genetic manipulation of circadian rhythm may open up all-season crop yields

GMO crops: altered arcadian cycleJust like human beings plants too have a biological clock, which prepares them to make optimal use of both day and night – and which helps them to nicely tune their annual growth cycle within the appropriate seasons.

It is a trait that keeps the plants in harmony with nature but that modern society may consider a practical hindrance – having to wait 12 months for each harvest.

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Solar power industry responsible for large lead emissions

Solar cellsThe fact that the use of fossil fuels can be harmful for the environment is well known. Previous research even showed that coal-fired power plants are responsible for heavy metal emissions like mercury and we all know that the lead additive that used to be in gasoline was banned for a reason. But now new research surprisingly shows that solar power, an energy source everybody considers green, isn’t so environmentally friendly either.

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Threefold increase of dust led to -40 ppm CO2 Antarctic iron fertilisation during Pleistocene

Iron fertilisation in PleistoceneAn international team of researchers today in Nature explain the importance of dust storms for climate variability, not just for the radiative balance, but also for the Earth’s carbon cycle.

For geoengineering minds: iron fertilisation at least seems to have worked in the past.

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