National Geographic News - Global Warming

Polar Bears Listed as Threatened Species in U.S.

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The bears, which rely on Arctic sea ice, are now protected under the Endangered Species Act, but officials emphasize that the decision will not be used to determine U.S. climate policy.

One Degree of Warming Having Major Impact, Study Finds

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

An exhaustive analysis of data from about 30,000 physical and ecological systems shows that human-induced climate change is already having a dramatic effect on the planet.

Fewer Caribou Born as Warming Causes Missed Meals

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

As plants bloom earlier due to rising temperatures, caribou are arriving at their calving grounds when the bounty is past its peak, leading to fewer births and a lower survival rate, researchers say.

Antarctic Melt Releasing DDT, Tainting Penguins

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Poisonous chemicals trapped for decades in ice are now seeping into the polar ecosystem via glacial meltwater, researchers report.

VIDEO: What If Earth Warms 6 Degrees?

Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Mass extinctions and other nightmare scenarios figure into one expert's speculations on what Earth would be like at 6°C (10.8°F) warmer.

Why the Cyclone in Myanmar Was So Deadly

Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

A "perfect storm" of factors—from location to wind speed to poor preparation—have resulted in perhaps a hundred thousand deaths from Cyclone Nargis.

Once Lush Sahara Dried Up Over Millennia, Study Says

Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The grassy prehistoric Sahara turned to desert more slowly than previously thought, a new report says—and some say global warming may turn the desert green once again.

Great Tit Birds Shift Mating Schedules Due to Warming

Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Great tits are timing their egg laying to coincide with an earlier emergence of caterpillars in England, a decades-long study has found.

Brazil, India's Citizens Are Greenest, Survey Finds

Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

A new "Greendex" survey tracking consumer spending habits also found that the residents of the U.S. and other industrialized nations are the most wasteful.

Ocean Dead Zones Growing; May Be Linked to Warming

Thu, 1 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Rising sea temperatures may be causing the spread of oxygen-starved "deserts" in the world's tropical oceans, researchers say.