Research at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies emphasizes a broad study of global change, an interdisciplinary research initiative addressing natural and man-made changes in our environment which occur on various time scales from decades to millennia and which affect the habitability of our planet. The research combines analysis of comprehensive global datasets with global models of atmospheric, land surface, and oceanic processes and includes study of past events on Earth such as paleoclimate change and the study of other planets as an aid to prediction of future evolution of Earth on a planetary scale.
2009 News, Briefs, and Features
This page lists news releases and science briefs for the current year.
Archives are also available for
2008,
2007,
2006,
2005,
2004
and
2003.
2009 Ends Warmest Decade on Record
A new NASA analysis of global surface temperature shows
that 2009 was statistically tied for the second warmest year in the modern record.
+ Read News Release
Discussing the Temperature Record
GISS climatologist Gavin Schmidt answers several questions about the meaning of global temperature reports and how the numbers are determined.
(Jan '10)
+ Read News Release
Sea Ice Retreat and Arctic Pollution
As the Arctic ice cap shrinks during the coming decades, the chemistry of the polar troposphere should also change.
(Dec '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Survival of Tibetan Glaciers
Along with greenhouse gases, black soot from upwind pollution sources threatens to eliminate glaciers from the Tibetan Plateau during the 21st century.
(Dec '09)
+ Read News Release and
Science Brief
Can the Oceans Keep Pace with Industrial Emissions?
In a new estimate of industrial carbon absorbed by the oceans, evidence is seen for a recent slow-down in their capacity to keep up with emissions.
(Dec '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Catalog of Change
From declining fish catches in African lakes to shortened hibernation of North American mammals, climate change is having observable impacts around the world.
(Nov '09)
+ Read Research Feature
How do Global Soot Models Measure Up?
Seventeen global black carbon models were compared with measurements from ground networks, aircraft and satellite and found to generally have enough "soot" but to underestimate absorption.
(Nov '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Ocean Temperature Variations and Rainfall
A regional climate simulation of the equatorial eastern Atlantic found a surprising change in rainfall in one latitude zone in response to sea temperature changes in an adjacent zone.
(Nov '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Think Global, Act Local
A study that examined how pollution causes variations in how much solar radiation reaches Earth's surface used both local and satellite data.
(Nov '09)
+ Read Research Feature
Aerosols Boost Warming Potential of Some Gases
Certain gases that cause warming are so closely linked with aerosol production that emissions of one type of pollutant can affect the quantity of the other.
(Oct '09)
+ Read News Release
NASA Expands High-End Computing System for Climate Simulation
More powerful computers needed to process the sophisticated models used in climate forecasts are now being developed at NASA GSFC.
(Aug '09)
+ Read News Release
Alaskan Climate Change and Peatland Carbon Storage
Analysis of fossil pollen and spores from northern peatland reveals major shifts in Alaskan coastal climate and vegetation since the last ice age, which affects carbon storage potential.
(Aug '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Super-Eruptions, Climate and Human Survival
Explosive volcanic eruptions can cool climate for a short period, but can a super-eruption such as occurred 74 thousand years ago lead to ice sheet formation?
(Jul '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Taking Flight To Seek Out Least Understood Climate Driver
A NASA research plane crisscrossed the southern Great Plains studying small particles in the air and their relationship to climate change.
(Jul '09)
+ Read News Release
Linking Climate and Habitability
Scientists are now learning how small shifts in climate can have dramatic consequences for the planet's environment and the life that depends on it.
(Jun '09)
+ Read Research Feature
Transportation Pollution and Global Warming
Controlling pollution from transportation sources would greatly reduce black carbon and ozone emissions, which affect both climate and also human health.
(Jun '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Particles Multi-Task to Change Climate
Tiny particulate matter in the atmosphere can both warm and cool the climate. Which effect is dominant, and will the balance change as the atmosphere warms due to greenhouse gases?
(May '09)
+ Read Science Brief
The Ozone Hole and Global Warming
A new study examines possible connections between reduced Southern Hemisphere ozone and Northern Hemisphere Arctic warming.
(May '09)
+ Read Science Brief
Aerosols May Drive Significant Portion of Arctic Warming
New research suggests that much of the atmospheric warming observed in the Arctic since 1976 may be due to changes in tiny airborne particles.
(Apr '09)
+ Read News Release
New Aerosol Observing Technique Turns Gray Skies to Blue
A new detection technique and a new satellite instrument should help ease the struggle of detecting tiny particles in the air that may affect global climate.
(Mar '09)
+ Read News Release
Climate-Research Satellite One Step Closer to Orbit
The Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor, an advanced scientific instrument that will be launched on the Glory satellite, has successfully completed environmental testing.
(Mar '09)
+ Read News Release
Cassini Watches as Change Comes to Titan
Part of the southern latitudes of Saturn's moon Titan appears to have been flooded by a summer cloudburst of hydrocarbon rain, as seen in images taken before and after a large storm system.
(Jan '09)
+ Read News Release
Satellites Confirm West Antarctic Warming
A new analysis has overturned the belief that global warming in Antarctica was limited to the Antarctic Peninsula and leaving the rest of the continent little affected.
(Jan '09)
+ Read News Release
GISS Director Honored by AMS
Dr. James Hansen has been awarded the Rossby Research Medal by the American Meteorological Society for contributions to climate science and science communication.
(Jan '09)
+ Read News Release
Cooler, but Still Warm
Although global temperatures were cooled by La Niña early in the year, 2008 was among the ten warmest years since reliable recordkeeping began.
(Jan/Feb '09)
+ Read Data Update and
News Release
Solar Variations and Climate
Modeling studies show that changes in solar irradiance that occur during the solar cycle have an influence on rainfall patterns, much like weighting the dice.
(Jan '09)
+ Read Science Brief
News release and science briefs archives are also available for
2008,
2007,
2006,
2005,
2004,
and
2003.
