Black Carbon From Asia Affects Pacific Ocean Climate
SAN DIEGO, California, March 15, 2007 (ENS) – Soot and other particulate pollution from Asian sources make up more than 75 percent of black carbon transported at high altitudes, new research demonstrates.
More than three-quarters of the particulate pollution known as black carbon transported at high altitudes over the West Coast during spring is from Asian sources, according to a research team led by Professor V. Ramanathan at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego.
Though the transported black carbon, most of which is soot, is an extremely small component of air pollution at land surface levels, the phenomenon has a significant heating effect on the atmosphere at altitudes above two kilometers (6,562 feet).
As the soot heats the atmosphere, however, it also dims the surface of the ocean by absorbing solar radiation, said Ramanathan, a climate scientist at Scripps, and Odelle Hadley, a graduate student at the Center for Atmospheric Sciences at Scripps. The two are lead authors of a research paper appearing in the March 14 issue of the “Journal of Geophysical Research.”
The dual effect carries consequences for the Pacific Ocean region that drives much of Earth’s climate. … http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2007/2007-03-15-09.asp#anchor5
Hemorrhagic Fever Breaks Out in Flood-Ravaged Bolivia 
LA PAZ, Bolivia, March 15, 2007 (ENS) – Deadly hemorrhagic fever has broken out in Bolivia, which continues to be severely affected by extreme El Nino weather conditions. Heavy rains beginning in December 2006 and continuing have caused major rivers to overflow, leaving 51 people dead and six people missing. Over 400,000 people have been affected. >>more
Clouded Leopard of Borneo Identified as a New Cat Species 
GLAND, Switzerland, March 15, 2007 (ENS) – The clouded leopards found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra belong to an entirely new species of cat that diverged from the mainland population of clouded leopards some 1.4 million years ago, new genetic research shows. Based on their general physical appearance, all clouded leopards once were considered to belong to a single species. >>more
Afghanistan’s Poppy Conundrum 
LASHKAR GAH, Helmand, Afghanistan, March 15, 2007 (ENS) – The start was impressive enough – television footage showed distraught farmers and tough looking police. Tractors made determined runs over two foot high opium poppy plants. Afghan government officials issued sweeping declarations that this time, there would be no compromise. The results, however, look all too familiar. >>more
