Geoscience: Severe Weather
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How seabirds are affected by climate change      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Collaboration between ecologists and climate researchers has generated fascinating new insight into how seabirds are affected by climate change.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Gulf of Mexico marine food web changes over the decades      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists in the Gulf of Mexico now have a better understanding of how naturally-occurring climate cycles -- as well as human activities -- can cause widespread ecosystem changes. These major shifts happen once every few decades in the Gulf, and can impact ecosystem components, including fisheries. Understanding how and why these shifts occur can help communities and industries alter management strategies in light of them.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Elusive El Niño arrives: Forecasters predict it will stay weak, have little influence on weather and climate      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The long-anticipated El Niño has finally arrived, according to forecasters with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. In their updated monthly outlook released today, forecasters issued an El Niño Advisory to declare the arrival of the ocean-atmospheric phenomenon marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean near the equator.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Heavy rainfall events becoming more frequent on Big Island, Hawaii      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A recent study determined that heavy rainfall events have become more frequent over the last 50 years on Hawai'i Island. For instance, a rare storm with daily precipitation of nearly 12 inches, occurring once every 20 years by 1960, has become a rather common storm event on the Big Island of Hawai'i -- returning every 3-5 years by 2009.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
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NASA study shows 13-year record of drying Amazon caused vegetation declines      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A 13-year decline in vegetation in the eastern and southeastern Amazon has been linked to a decade-long rainfall decline in the region. With global climate models projecting further drying over the Amazon in the future, the potential loss of vegetation and the associated loss of carbon storage may speed up global climate change.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
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Modeling the past to understand the future of a stronger El Niño      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

El Nino is not a contemporary phenomenon; it’s long been the Earth’s dominant source of year-to-year climate fluctuation. But as the climate warms and the feedbacks that drive the cycle change, researchers want to know how El Nino will respond.