american geophysical union Archives

Alberta Aurora Chasers capture STEVE on April 10, 2018 in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Aurora Chaser Robert Downie kneels in the foreground. Photo: Ryan Sault

New Kind of Aurora Is Not an Aurora at All

August 20, 2018 Guest Author or Contributor

Thin ribbons of purple and white light that sometimes appear in the night sky were dubbed a new type of aurora when brought to scientists’ attention in 2016. But new research suggests these mysterious streams […]

Hurricane Harvey on August 24, 2017 as captured by the GOES-16 satellite. Credit: NOAA/NASA

Study Shows Record-breaking Ocean Heat Fueled Hurricane Harvey

May 10, 2018 Guest Author or Contributor

In the weeks before Hurricane Harvey tore across the Gulf of Mexico and plowed into the Texas coast in August 2017, the Gulf’s waters were warmer than any time on record, according to a new […]

A drone image of the Amundsen with scientists deployed onto the sea ice. Credit: David G. Barber.

Arctic Sea Ice Becoming A Spring Hazard for North Atlantic Ships

March 19, 2018 Guest Author or Contributor

More Arctic sea ice is entering the North Atlantic Ocean than before, making it increasingly dangerous for ships to navigate those waters in late spring, according to new research. The new research finds ocean passages […]

AGU Testimony Given on Ending Harassment in Science

February 27, 2018 Guest Author or Contributor

Early on February 27, 2018, American Geophysical Union (AGU) Executive Director and CEO Chris McEntee delivered testimony before the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology during a hearing entitled “A review of Sexual Harassment and […]

The different layers of Earth’s airglow can be seen from the International Space Station as it orbits Earth. The very thin green layer above the bottom of the window occurs 95 kilometers (59 miles) above Earth’s surface; the red region above is a different type of airglow. The rectangle represents the portion of the airglow measured in a single WINDII image. (NASA)

Scientists Solve Mystery of Unexplained “Bright Nights”

June 22, 2017 Guest Author or Contributor

By Lauren Lipuma, AGU.org Dating back to the first century, scientists, philosophers and reporters have noted the occasional occurrence of “bright nights,” when an unexplained glow in the night sky lets observers see distant mountains, […]

Patterns of water use efficiency across the continental United States. Color-coded values indicate the change in per-capita consumption in gallons per day per person between 1985 and 2010. Large numbers indicate the number of years per-capita withdrawals decreased from 1985 to 2010.

Water Efficiency in Rural Areas Getting Worse

May 19, 2017 Kay Whatley

By Lauren Lipuma (American Geophysical Union) and Matt Shipman (NC State University) A nationwide analysis of water use over the past 30 years finds that there is a disconnect between rural and urban areas, with […]

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AGU Issues Position Statement on Scientists’ Rights and Responsibilities

May 1, 2017 Kay Whatley

Scientists Have Rights and Responsibilities to Conduct and Communicate Scientific Work Freely, Openly and with Integrity By Caitlyn Camacho and Josh Speiser, agu.org Scientific research in Earth and space sciences advances our understanding of our world and […]

Researchers use ski lifts to carry equipment to sample air on the summit of Mount Bachelor. In this image, a radon sensor travels to the peak. Credit: Dan Jaffe/University of Washington Bothell.

“The Blob” of Abnormal Conditions Boosted Western US Ozone Levels

February 17, 2017 Kay Whatley

By Lauren Lipuma (American Geophysical Union) and Hannah Hickey (University of Washington) An unusually warm patch of seawater off the US West Coast in late 2014 and 2015, nicknamed “the blob,” had cascading effects up and down […]

Australia shifts and tilts back and forth by several millimeters each year because of changes to the Earth’s center of mass, according to a new study. Credit: Hans Braxmeier via Wikimedia Commons.

The Strange-ness: Study Finds that Australia Shifts with the Seasons

November 11, 2016 Kay Whatley

By Daniel Garisto, American Geophysical Union Australia shifts and tilts back and forth by several millimeters each year because of changes to the Earth’s center of mass, according to a new study. The findings could […]

A map showing impacts of the 2015 West Coast toxic algal bloom. Orange mammal symbols were detected with domoic acid, while those colored red also showed symptoms of poisoning. The numbers indicate how many mammals were affected. Shaded and hatched regions show closures for anchovy fisheries, offshore Dungeness and rock crab fishing, and shellfish harvesting. Credit: NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

Ocean Conditions Contributed to Unprecedented 2015 Toxic Algal Bloom

September 30, 2016 Kay Whatley

Released by Lauren Lipuma (American Geophysical Union) and Hannah Hickey (University of Washington) A new study connects the unprecedented West Coast toxic algal bloom of 2015 that closed fisheries from southern California to northern British Columbia to […]