Power plants burning fossil fuels constitute over 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the Earth’s atmosphere every year. Carbon dioxide is the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Information regarding where the world’s power plants are located and how much each one is emitting is not well-known outside of the US and a handful of industrial countries. In order for basic research on climate change and the global carbon cycle to move forward, we need this information.

For updates on the impact of what is being referred to as a "super typhoon," be sure to visit these websites:

With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), lake ecologist Jasmine Saros and her team from the University of Maine are plying the lake waters of southwestern Greenland, gathering samples of "diatoms" to study how climate change is affecting this Arctic ecosystem. Diatoms are a type of algae that responds rapidly to environmental change and leaves a fossil in lake sediments.

Introducing IMOLD: the Interactive Model of Leaf Decomposition, designed to provide educational outreach about decomposition for grades 9-12. IMOLD includes professionally animated and narrated lessons about decomposition and the C cycle; an interactive model that allows users to simulate decomposition for several plant litters in different environments based on a range of LTER sites; and lesson plans for teachers with learning objectives that map to specific curricular standards at national and state levels.

Warming is altering Greenland's tundra, affecting carbon dynamics

From the National Science Foundation - Warming temperatures in the Arctic are changing the tundra from a landscape dominated by grasses to one increasingly dominated by woody shrubs. In addition to affecting the habitat of local wildlife such as caribou and musk oxen, these changes are also altering the carbon exchange between the plants and the atmosphere.

From our friends at the American Geosciences Institute - Superstorm Sandy slammed against the U.S. Eastern Seaboard in October 2012, inundating iconic communities. Those communities have been rebuilding since then and things are almost back to normal for most. But something else has had to be rebuilt as well: the structured procedures for issuing warnings. The goal is to help communities better comprehend what natural disasters will bring their doorsteps.

From BBC News - Scientists and politicians are gathering in Stockholm this week to await the latest report from the IPCC, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  The last report from the panel - which came out in 2007 - was considered so important that it led to the IPCC being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Al Gore.  The BBC's Victoria Gill explains why this report really matters - in just 90 seconds.  Click here to access the video.

Related articles/websites:

From our friends at the American Geosciences Institute - AGI now offers award-winning videos and related classroom activities to help students, educators, and others explore the “big ideas” of Earth science during Earth Science Week 2013 (October 13-19) and all year long. New this year are 35 additional activities selected specifically to help educators teach about the core concepts of Earth science.

From EARTH Magazine - One tornado can be damaging enough; severe weather systems that spawn hundreds of deadly tornadoes in super-outbreaks pose special challenges to the scientific and emergency management communities. Now, scientists have identified certain conditions in the Pacific Ocean that may lead to super-outbreaks over the U.S.' tornado alley.

Join presenters from NOVA and NESTA for the first of a series of free webinars about Earth system science resources for middle school and high school educators!

Title: Clouds, Precipitation, and our Earth System
Date: September 11th, 2013
Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm EDT
Click here for the registration link