The answer involves the intricacies of stratospheric circulation, which, if better represented in climate models, could help predict extreme weather events in Siberia and elsewhere.
News
Heat Waves, More Than Coral Death, May Cause Fish to Flee Reefs
A study over a broad swath of the Great Barrier Reef shows that warming waters directly cause fish and invertebrates to leave the reef, making it harder for coral to recover from bleaching events.
Youth Urge Action on Climate Change and Environmental Justice
Marches on Saturday in Washington, D. C., and other cities spring from “a sliver of hope left” to act against climate change.
Clean Energy Gains Ground
A new report documents the rise of clean energy despite the Trump administration’s focus on fossil fuels. Several Congress members call renewable energy a bipartisan issue that’s good for the economy.
Ten New Moons Discovered Around Jupiter
The newly plotted moons of Jupiter include one “oddball” that orbits in the wrong direction and may be the remnant of a head-on collision.
A. F. “Fred” Spilhaus Jr. (1938–2018)
AGU’s former executive director turned his zeal for defending scientific integrity and for advancing Earth and space research into a 40-year career that enriched scientific pursuits around the world.
New EPA Head Says His Priorities Include Regulatory Relief
Andrew Wheeler brings a new tone and a vow of openness to the agency. However, he plans to pursue the same goal as his predecessor, which could weaken environmental regulations.
Tiny Algae May Have Prompted a Mass Extinction
Dead algae sinking to the ocean floor may have sequestered carbon 445 million years ago, triggering the glaciation that accompanied the Late Ordovician mass extinction.
Ursula B. Marvin (1921–2018)
This bold mineralogist and feminist bucked norms that deemed geology unsuited for women. She contributed to meteoritics, science history, and petrology, including the analysis of Apollo Moon rocks.
Environmentalists Are Glad Pruitt Is Out but Worry What’s Next
With Scott Pruitt’s resignation, EPA deputy administrator Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, takes charge and is likely to continue the same deregulation and antienvironment policies.
