Archive for November, 2011

Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time

Posted by on 30 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Climate
Scientists understand that Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times over the millennia. The answer, from the geologic and fossil records we have from hundreds of past magnetic polarity reversals, seems to be "no."...

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What is the cryosphere?

Posted by on 30 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Facts, Ocean Observations, Ocean Science, Positioning and Geology
The cryosphere is the frozen water part of the Earth system....

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What is an iceberg?

Posted by on 30 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Basics, Facts, Ocean Science
To be classified as an iceberg, the height of the ice must be greater than 16 feet (five meters) above sea level and the thickness must be 98-164 feet (30-50 meters) and the ice must cover an area of at least 5,382 square feet (500 square meters)....

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Where do I get NOAA tides and currents data?

Posted by on 29 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Basics, Facts, Technology, Tides and Currents
Tide and current data is available from NOAA's Center for Operational Products and Services website....

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Improved NOAA Ship Tracker Now Available

Posted by on 29 November, 2011
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This item was filled under News
Want to know where NOAA's fleet of ships are located right now? With NOAA's newly improved Ship Tracker, it's easier than ever.

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Ancient environment led to Earth’s current marine biodiversity

Posted by on 28 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Climate
Much of our knowledge about past life has come from the fossil record, but how accurately does that record reflect the true history and drivers of biodiversity on Earth?...

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Protecting the red coral of the Catalan coastline, Spain

Posted by on 25 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Climate
Poaching accounts for the loss of up to 60% red coral biomass in the Medes Islands Marine Reserve, according to a new article. The article reports the first study of poaching and its effects in the marine reserve and raises the alarm about the impact of recreational diving on the coral population of the Medes Islands....

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Climate sensitivity to carbon dioxide more limited than extreme projections, research shows

Posted by on 24 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Climate
The rate of global warming from doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide may be less than the most dire estimates of some previous studies -- and, in fact, may be less severe than projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report in 2007. Researchers say that global warming is real and that increases in atmospheric CO2 will have multiple serious impacts. However, the most Draconian projections of temperature increases from the doubling of CO2 are unlikely, according to new research....

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Ancient environment found to drive marine biodiversity

Posted by on 24 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Climate
Much of our knowledge about past life has come from the fossil record -- but how accurately does that reflect the true history and drivers of biodiversity on Earth?...

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What is a turkeyfish?

Posted by on 23 November, 2011
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This item was filled under Ecosystems, Facts, Health, Ocean Life
'Turkeyfish' is another name for lionfish....

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