Energy News  
Southern Ocean Search For Climate Futures

Illustration of Southern Ocean storms from space.

Princeton CT (SPX) Nov 09, 2005
Increasing scientific observations of the Southern Ocean region will boost the ability of climate modellers to interpret how the region influences Earth's climate, according to Dr Stephen Griffies, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in Princeton, USA.

"The Southern Ocean is a critical area of Earth-system dynamics affecting climate science," says Dr Griffies who will co-chair the CLIVAR Workshop on Ocean Model Development in Hobart next week.

"Accurately modelling this inhospitable region is central to the integrity of climate change scenarios on which government and industry base effective responses," he says.

Ocean models are developed at the world's climate research centres. In Australia these include CSIRO, the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystem Cooperative Research Centre and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Models rely on both the quality and quantity of scientific observations of the ocean's physical and chemical properties, collected from ships or moored and drifting instruments, or from satellites. Using these observations, trends are projected � from shifts in global wind systems to variations in the strength of ocean currents and properties of the seawater such as its heat content and acidity.

Dr Griffies says Australian scientists had made a significant contribution to climate science through their leading edge work on Southern Ocean models, observations and theory.

A recent example is research published in the international science magazine Nature, identifying changes in seawater acidity in the Southern Ocean due to increases in carbon dioxide absorbtion rates. A co-author of the paper, CSIRO's Dr Richard Matear, will speak at next week's conference.

To be held from 8-11 November, the CLIVAR workshop is being coordinated through the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) which provides specialist advice on the future direction and development of models for the Southern Ocean and other regions of the World Ocean. A highlight will be a workshop from 9-10 November in which WCRP scientists will present recommendations on how to best move Southern Ocean science forward.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
CSIRO
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express
Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


The Forgotten Methane Source
Heidelberg, Germany (SPX) Jan 11, 2006
In the last few years, more and more research has focused on the biosphere; particularly, on how gases which influence the climate are exchanged between the biosphere and atmosphere. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics have now carefully analysed which organic gases are emitted from plants.







  • Clean Energy Soon Indispensable As Oil Runs Low: Experts
  • Madagascar Energy Firm Announces Green Fuel Programme
  • Robotic Assembly Of Fuel Cells Could Hasten Hydrogen Economy
  • Sweden Runs On Biofuels En Route To Cleaner Cars

  • Experts Blast Bush On India Nuke Deal
  • Duke Power May Build Nuclear Power Plants
  • Innovative 'Recycling' Project Could Reduce US Inventory Of Spent Nuclear Fuel
  • Feds Unveil Yucca Mountain Cleanup Plans

  • Getting To The TOPP Of Houston's Air Pollution
  • Scientists Seek Sprite Light Source



  • Giant Bill For Turkey Over EU Environmental Norms
  • Oxfam: Europe's Farm Subsidies 'Unfair'
  • Farm Talks Collapse In Geneva
  • Defeating The 'Superpests'

  • GM Hires Russian Nuclear Scientists To Develop New Auto Technology
  • Japan Creates The World's Fastest Electric Sedan
  • Motorists To Pay 'Congestion' Charge Over Broader Swath Of London
  • Solar Cars Driving Towards A Hydrogen Future

  • EADS Considers Aircraft Assembly Line In China: Report
  • Boeing Projects $770bn Market For New Airplanes In Asia-Pacific
  • UN Hails Musharraf's Fighter Jet Delay
  • Leader Envisions Future of Air Mobility Command

  • NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter
  • Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission
  • Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program
  • Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement