Carbon Dioxide at an All-Time High (Credit: World Meteorological Organization, The Weather Channel)10/31/2017  DISCUSSION: Carbon dioxide levels hit a global record high in 2016, according to a study published by the World Meteorological Organization in the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. Concentrations of the greenhouse gas reached 403.3 parts per million (ppm) in 2016, resulting in an increase from 400.0 ppm the prior year. Since the Industrial Revolution began around 1750, carbon dioxide concentrations have risen 145%. The study notes that “the last time concentrations were this high was at least 3 million years ago.”
It was concluded that the concentration of carbon dioxide was so high because of a combination of human activity and a particularly strong El Niño event. Although carbon dioxide emissions did slow in 2016, the El Niño event made droughts more intense and restricted vegetation from absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Temperatures will continue to climb by the end of the century without rapids cuts in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. The study can be found here. For information on other ongoing research and other meteorological processes visit the Global Weather and Climate Center. ©2017 Meteorologist Nicholas Quaglieri
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 DISCUSSION: CASPER the Coupled Air Sea Processes and Electromagnetic ducting Research is a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) sponsored by the U.S. Office of Research and the Department of Defense. The principle investigator of CASPER is Professor Qing Wang from Monterey’s Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).
According to NPS the research objective of CASPER is to “fully characterize the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) as it’s related to electromagnetic wave propagation (EM) in coastal environments.” CASPER goes on to provide details on the blending altitude sampling concept which will allow researchers to obtain critical information on, “upper ocean, surface layer, boundary layer mean profiles and boundary layer turbulence.” Research conducted allowed students to deploy a Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC) off the coast of California to investigate these processes. Data collected could prove to be invaluable as the US Navy wishes to further strengthen their understanding of atmospheric effects on EM. Processes such as boundary layer mean profiles and boundary layer turbulence assist researchers like meteorologists to investigate the air layers near the surface which may be affected by the diurnal heat cycle, moisture and momentum transfers. For information on other ongoing research and other meteorological processes visit the Global Weather and Climate Center. ©2017 Meteorologist Jessica Olsen Resources: “Research Plan Overview.” CASPER: Overview, met.nps.edu/~qwang/casper/research/overview.php. |
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