Climate science
Russia tops 2000-2012 deforestation charts
Over last 12 years Earth lost approximately 2.3 million square kilometers of forest – an area slightly smaller than Argentina
Amazon destruction could cut US rainfall by 50%
Over 1.4 billion acres of dense forest make up the Amazon basin producing one quarter of the world’s oxygen supply
Typhoon Haiyan more extreme due to climate change, says WMO
World Meteorological Organisation says that rising sea levels and surface ocean temperatures will cause more extreme typhoons in the future
IEA: World on track to miss 2°C warming limit
CO2 emissions are set to rise by 20% but energy efficiency measures could help curb this increase
Scientists deliver ultimatum: adapt to climate change or go under
No silver bullet for tackling climate change, but society needs to accept the urgency to adapt, US scientists say
Rajendra Pachauri: Warsaw summit must take note of IPCC report
Chief of UN climate science body says negotiators should base their discussions on the scientific findings of recent IPCC AR5 report
Rock and pop music increases solar cell efficiency by 40%
Solar cells are more receptive to high pitched sounds including office printers – but not classical music
Salt Lake City faces water shortages as planet warms
Science review: engineers debate climate impacts, NASA starts ice survey & warming links to dwarfism explored
Climate warming gases hit record high in 2012 – WMO
WMO says 2012 a record year for greenhouse gas concentrations, and that the trend continues to accelerate
UNEP: efforts to slow global warming are failing
Deep cuts to global greenhouse gas levels required by 2020 says UN, but says avoiding 2C of warming is still possible
Beyond the false widow: seven creepy crawlies for a warmer world
The false widow is old news. Here is RTCC’s selection of creatures you should be worried about as the world warms up
World’s soil moisture could decrease 15% by 2099
Scientists have discovered that a change in atmospheric conditions could have serious consequences for soil chemistry
Shell hopes Arctic drilling will resume in 2014
Shell hopes Arctic drilling will resume in Chukchi Sea next year, after setbacks caused programme to be suspended this summer
Global emissions could be heading for ‘permanent slowdown’
Last year’s rise in carbon dioxide less than half average annual increase in previous decade say researchers
Holy smoke blamed for melting Himalayan glaciers
Morning summary: Muslim cemeteries and Buddhist temples responsible for greenhouse gases; global emissions show signs of ‘permanent slowdown’; and talks to create Antarctic marine reserves break down
Pacific Ocean may be ‘hiding’ global warming – scientists
Pacific is warming ‘faster’ than any time in past 10,000 years say Scientists, who say last 60 years have seen 0.18C rise
Hempleman-Adams: “the Arctic is the canary in the mine”
Explorer first travelled to the Arctic in 1982. Back then, he says, there was more ice and the Inuits didn’t need air conditioning
Indigenous people key to combating rainforest destruction
Researchers say the people who live in some of the world’s most fragile forests can establish how much carbon they contain as accurately as scientists equipped with hi-tech measuring instruments.
Liam Fox: Greenpeace arrests shows Russia’s military intent in Arctic
Russia’s “heavy handed” treatment of Greenpeace activists signals increasing militarisation of Arctic, says MP Liam Fox
UK must re-engage with Arctic warns Iceland President
Olafur Grimmson tells audience in London severity of situation in Polar regions demands international attention