8 million year old bacteria from glacial ice revived

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An interesting article from the Falkowski lab at Rutgers university has just been released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The authors extracted bacteria and DNA from ice between 3-5 metres beneath the surface of an Antarctic glacier, and ‘resuscitated’ a strain of bacteria 8 million years in age. Previously, the oldest record of DNA extracted from glacial ice was 800,000 years old, from the southern Greenland icesheet.The following comment from Falkoswki in a New Scientist article in particular caught my eye:

 

"Paul Falkowski of Rutgers University, who led the study, describes the ancient bacteria as small round cells that had been in a "suspended state of animation for 8 million years". He says the increasingly rapid flow of glaciers into the ocean as a result of global warming could release new organisms into the sea but he does not believe this is cause for concern because marine bacteria and viruses are typically far less harmful to human health than, for instance, those found on land."

A Bolt out of the blue.

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As I was quoted in The Australian this weekend in a piece entitled “Coral bleaching as record cold snap hits” (and have blogged here earlier on several occasions), cold weather across southern Queensland has resulted in coral bleaching in the exposed reef flats in the Capricorn Bunker group and the Keppell Islands (as confirmed by a CSIRO oceanographer, David Griffin).

No sooner than this was published, Andrew Bolt, an Op-Ed writer for the Herald Sun took dislike to the published comment: “Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said the extreme variation in temperature might be more common as climate change caused hotter summers and colder winters”.

Welcome back from vacation, Andrew. I must say, I have missed you.

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European heatwaves have doubled since 1880

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A new study in the Journal of Geophysical Research has some interesting implications for climate shifts in Europe (link to journal article). The dataset comes from 54 daily maximum temperature series from around Europe (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom). According to the authors, after correcting for bias, between 1880 and 2005, the length of summer heat waves over western Europe has doubled and the frequency of hot days has almost tripled. Continue reading →

Blackle

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The more energy conscious of you might want to take a look at a new google derived search engine, Blackle. As quoted from the website:

“Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. The Image displayed is primarily a function of the user’s color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen” Continue reading →

Mass coral bleaching off Okinawa

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Yossie Loya - bleaching It would seem that the beautiful reefs of Okinawa in Japan are experiencing stress again. In 1998, large areas of these unique Japanese reef systems bleached and died. Let us hope that this is not about to happen again. Here is a story that just appeared in the Yomiuri Shimbun (August 5) . Picture by Professor Yossi Loya (1998 bleaching event in Okinawa)

Large swaths of coral off islands around Okinawa Prefecture have been turning white due to a phenomenon known as coral bleaching–a sign that the coral is dying. This phenomenon has been sighted for the first time in four years in locations in the prefecture such as the coast around Ishigakijima island, which boasts the country’s largest coral reef, and is thought have been brought on by high water temperatures in July.

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Sea anenome genomics

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Whilst not strictly related to climate change, a fascinating study on sea anemome genome recently published in the journal Science is well worth mentioning (link to article, link to news story). Researchers studying the DNA sequence of the starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis) – typically considered a “simple” organism with no central nervous system, simple receptors and a shared mouth / anus (Phylum Cnidaria, mostly marine organisms including corals and jellyfish) – revealed remarkable similarities with vertebrate DNA.

When examining the anemone genome for 283 human genes involved in human diseases, 226 were present in the anemone DNA. The evolutionary implications of this are vast – and surprising, too, when considered that the anemone genome may reveal more about the evolution of humans than any other closely related organisms.

The “GBR Swindle” revisited – response to Peter Ridd

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It seems that “The Great Barrier Reef Swindle” and my subsequent response generated a fair amount of debate throughout the blog world and the scientific community. Dr Ridd has posted his response to the my comments regarding the science behind the response here, and in keeping with the science and debate, see my response below.

Before I go into detail on this, attached is one of the paired photographs from the inshore reefs in Bowen, Queensland detailing local scale changes on the Great Barrier Reef during the 20th century (photographs speak louder than words):

 

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High and Dry

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Just spent the weekend reading “High and Dry” – a recent release by a newcomer, Dr Guy Pearse. Pearse is an ex-liberal party member, environmental policy author and speech writer for the former Australian environmental minister Robert Hill, who recently finished his Ph.D at the ANU (and co-wrote the Greenhouse Mafia documentary that aired on ABC’s Four Corners last year). The book deals with the relationship between the the network of lobby groups, industry associations and their influence on the Australian Federal Government’s climate change policies. Altogether a fascinating read for anyone who is interested in politics and climate change in Australia – follow Pearse’s comments on the upcoming election and related environmental issues.

Looking forwards to 2008

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The Australian Bureau of Meteorology have released their seasonal temperature outlook for August to October 2007 following the Austral winter. Averaged over the next three months, the chances of increased temperatures in Queensland (and the Great Barrier Reef) are between 55 and 80% for above-normal maximum temperatures, and of increased overnight warmth between 50 and 60%.

“The pattern of seasonal temperature odds across northern Australia is a result of continuing higher than average temperatures over much of the tropical Pacific Ocean, and also in parts of the tropical and sub-tropical Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean has been warming strongly in recent months and this is the dominant influence on the outlook.”

After experiencing the warmest autumn month on record followed by one of the coldest months on record (resulting in significant bleaching of reef-flat corals as I posted here earlier this month), it’s set to be an interesting year.

“The Great Global Warming Swindle”: a critique.

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My friend and colleague, Dr Janice Lough (AIMS), directed my attention to the careful review of the “The Great Global Warming Swindle” by Dr Jones and colleagues at the National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology (Bull. Aust. Meteor. Ocean. Soc., 20(3) 63-72). It is rigorous and worth reading. I think we can close the case on Martin Durkin’s “swindle”.