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Humans Have Increased Atmospheric Mercury Sevenfold, Study Finds

Yale E360

Humans have raised the level of mercury in the atmosphere sevenfold, largely by burning coal, a new study finds. Read more on E360 →

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The Upper Atmosphere Is Cooling, Prompting New Climate Concerns

Yale E360

A new study reaffirming that global climate change is human-made also found the upper atmosphere is cooling dramatically because of rising CO2 levels. Scientists are worried about the effect this cooling could have on orbiting satellites, the ozone layer, and Earth’s weather. Read more on E360 →

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Why Were 2023 and 2024 So Hot?

Union of Concerned Scientists

In that year, El Nio added to the increased warming caused by the build-up of heat-trapping emissions in the atmosphere, leading to that record-breaking heat. Humans have a direct effect on albedo through emitting industrial aerosols such as sulfates, which accumulate in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels.

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Hurricanes Helene and Milton Further Proof We’re Not Ready for Fossil Fuel-Caused Climate Change  

Union of Concerned Scientists

In August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its updated forecast for the 2024 hurricane season. The oceans have absorbed 93 percent of the extra heat trapped by increased heat-trapping emissions in the atmosphere. One of the main reasons for this forecast? How is this possible?

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The Long History of Climate Models

Union of Concerned Scientists

Climate models are the main tool scientists use to assess how much the Earths temperature will change given an increase in fossil fuel pollutants in the atmosphere. The atmosphere around us is an invisible fluid (at least to the human eye): we can apply math to that fluid to predict how it will look in the future.

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HotSpots H2O: Unusually Powerful ‘Atmospheric River’ Pummels British Columbia and Pacific Northwest

Circle of Blue

The rains were the result of a weather phenomenon known as an “atmospheric river,” a narrow column that transports water vapor from the tropics to the poles. Atmospheric rivers are projected to intensify as the climate continues to warm. Atmospheric rivers are not uncommon in the region.

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​​The Science Behind Sea Level Rise: How Past Emissions Will Shape Our Future

Union of Concerned Scientists

Research with climate models in recent years shows that when carbon dioxide emissions stop, the rise in atmospheric temperatures will likely also stop. This means that there would be no additional warming of the atmosphere from carbon dioxide itself, but the many complex systems on Earth will continue to respond to the heat already trapped.

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