Archives of the
Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

UV-B trend disputed: Researchers at the University of Virginia have challenged the conclusion of Canadian scientists Kerr and McElroy, who have published measurements that they interpret as evidence of an increase in UV-B at the Earth's surface connected to a decrease in stratospheric ozone. The two parties exchange views in the May 27 issue of Science. (See the Commentary and Trend Analysis sections in Prof. Pubs./Gen. Interest.) A lengthy analysis in Global Environ. Change Rep. (pp. 1-3, June 10) explains how much of the controversy may relate to Kerr and McElroy's use of the term "trend."

New Arctic program: Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) is a field experiment proposed to begin in April 1997. It will combine in situ and remote sensing observations, analysis, and modeling to investigate how air-sea-ice processes affect climate. See article in Eos, pp. 249 & 253, May 31, or contact Judith Curry, Dept. Aerospace Eng. Sci., Campus Box 429, Univ. Colorado, Boulder CO 80309.

"Physicists Watch Global Change Mirrored on the Moon," G. Taubes, Science, pp. 1529-1530, June 10, 1994. An interdisciplinary team of scientists, using a technique developed by the French astronomer Danjon in 1925, is monitoring earthshine from the moon's surface to determine if it is a reliable measure of the Earth's albedo. They will compare current results with those obtained in 1925.

"A Paler Shade of Coral," F. Pearce, New Scientist, p. 19, June 11, 1994. Discusses the relationship between coral bleaching and unusually high sea temperatures that are probably linked to global warming, based on an article by Goreau and Hayes in the May issue of Ambio. (See GCCD, p. 2, May 1994.)

"Pelagic Plague: Coral-Style Bleaching Strikes Forams," S. Mirsky, Earth, p. 16, May 1994. At a recent meeting of the Geological Society of America, Oceanographer Pamela Hallock presented evidence that bleaching and other forms of damage observed in single-celled animals in the Florida Keys could be related to ultraviolet light.

"Climate and Sunspots: A Historic Link," Science News, p. 271, Apr. 23. John Butler and colleagues at the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland discovered an unusual set of temperature records beginning in 1795. They have used these data to extend the correlation between length of the sunspot cycle and average air temperature observed by Danish meteorologists in 1992 that was based on a shorter record.

"Leafy Hordes Invade the Arctic," J. Timson, New Scientist, p. 14, Jan. 29. Canadian biologists have observed a northward progression of deciduous trees in the last two decades following forest fire, and predict that global warming will hasten this trend. (See Landhäusser article, Prof. Pubs./Impacts/Ecosystems.)