2010 WORLD WIDE WEATHER EXTREMES

Factbox: 2010 hit by weather extremes: Pakistan to Russia Wed Jan 12 22:26:45 UTC 2011

(Reuters) - Last year, in which extreme weather caused devastating floods in Pakistan and China and a heatwave in Russia, tied as the warmest year since records began, a U.S. government agency said on Wednesday. The U.N. panel of climate change experts says that weather is likely to be more extreme in the 21st century because of a build-up of heat-trapping gases from human use of fossil fuels.Last year tied with 2005 as the warmest since global surface records began in 1880, according to the National Climatic Data Center, an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). ....To read the article and more about Australian and world wide examples of extreme weather in 2010 click here.

Climate Literacy: "The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences"

Want to know if your perceptions about climate change are on the money? A great site to help you make sure has A Guide for Individuals and Communities and you can find the document here


Teachers: find AUSMEPAs unit plan on the Effects of climate change on coral bleaching here

INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC MARINE EDUCATORS - CONFERENCE, Fiji 6-9 July 2010

The IPMEN 2010 conference theme for Vakarau ni se siga toka is an old expression that means “Prepare whilst there is time.”

The IPMEN 2010 conference strands are:
Strand 1: Key Challenges in Ocean Literacy.
Strand 2: Building Healthy Sustainable Coastal Communities.
Strand 3: Women in Fisheries - Partnerships for Change.
Strand 4: How Does Climate Change Affect Children of the Pacific?

Any marine educator is need of mental refreshment and professional renewal in a beautiful island setting should seriously be getting themselves ready to participate in the IPMEN conference this year.

If you cannot physically go to the conference you should investigate how to participate via the web by contacting Sylvia.Spalding@noaa.gov

See more at www.ipmen.net

Impacts of Climate Change Aninmations from GBRMPA

The impacts of climate change from GBRMPA on Vimeo.

What is climate change? from GBRMPA on Vimeo.

Coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef from GBRMPA on Vimeo.

OCEANS DAY AT COPENHAGEN: The Importance of Oceans, Coasts, and Small Island Developing States in the Climate Regime

Oceans Day - December 14, 2009
Home | Ocean Climate:

"Home OCEAN and CLIMATE are locked in a continuous dance, the condition of one profoundly affecting the other. This powerful synergy is complicated and constantly adjusting to human interventions. Through this site, you can explore this complexity in its many forms -- the key issues and possible responses -- and express your views through our Ocean-Climate Forum. We invite you to join an interactive global conversation about ocean and climate and to engage in individual and collective efforts to address the challenging situations examined here."

View the new Ocean Climate website http://www.oceanclimate.org/content/home

For more information on Oceans Day 2009 visit: http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/cmp/oceans_day/index.html

For more information on the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands visit: http://www.globaloceans.org/

Penguin Science in the class room

It is worth having a look at this site. The research focus is Adelie penguins on Ross Island in Antarctica and change.

I've borrowed the image so you can find the page for classroom activities however there is much more of interest on this site.

Be sure to have a look at the short preview to introduce the DVD. It is free plus postage/handling.

The images are really wonderful. As the scientists begin talking about climate change a big chunk of the ice shelf behind them breaks off with penguins scattering before the surge.

You are watching the earth change right in front of you. Be sure to have a look at the seasonal timelapse on the home page -- it really does look like the earth is breathing!

Acid test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification

Taken from the Natural Resources Defense Council website

"ACID TEST, a film produced by NRDC, was made to raise awareness about the largely unknown problem of ocean acidification, which poses a fundamental challenge to life in the seas and the health of the entire planet. Like global warming, ocean acidification stems from the increase of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere since the start of the Industrial Revolution."

This like other excellent uTube clips tells a story that needs to be heard! Can it translate to action?

It is up to us to reduce our consumption, help others to understand, become an example that others can follow and make our voices heard.

The clip above will assist teachers choosing to use the AUSMEPA online Climate Change and Coral Bleaching unit of work

Is the climate changing? Watch for yourselves -- ClimateWatch

The first project of its kind in the southern hemisphere, ClimateWatch allows the community at large to get hands-on in the science of understanding climate change through simple observation of the world around them.

ClimateWatch is a monitoring program being opened up to Australians so that they can be involved in collecting and recording data to help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change.

There is an urgent need for large scale data harvesting to evaluate how natural systems are responding to climate change. There are 2 marine species nominated. The photos are taken from the website to illustrate.

One of those is the Blue Mosaic jelly or Blue Blubber,Catostylus mosaicus (above).The other is the Blue Bottle Jellyfish, Physalia utriculus, a siphonophore. Personally I can't think of a better excuse to go for a walk than to assist in this project. How easy is that? If you see either of these animals make a note and record it on the website. You will find that you educate yourself as you contribute and communicate. Find out more about the project...

www.climatewatch.org.au/about/what_is_cw.aspx

NOTE: ClimateWatch was developed by Earthwatch Australia, with the support of the Bureau of Meteorology, Land and Water Australia, The University of Melbourne, corporate and government partners, and scientific collaborators.

"How We Know What We Know: Looking at Climate Change Through Polar Science"

Friday 16 October 2009 - 9 am Alaska Daylight Time.

To join you must register online at PolarTREC. Once registered an email is sent out and downloads will be available on the website. If you can't join you should have a look at the IPY Polar Week classroom activities

Contact: info@polartrec.com
http://www.polartrec.com

What are Live events?
* These are real-time, interactive events that utilize the Internet
and phone for presentations.
* These events allow participants to learn about the research being
conducted in the polar regions.
* Events are free to the public and at minimum require a phone or
Internet access.

NOTE: To see what that time is where you live visit World Clock
For Australians(Qld)this is 3pm Sat 17th October

Is the Great Barrier Reef on Death Row?

Dr J.E.N. "Charlie" Veron speaks to the Royal Society. View webcast at http://royalsociety.org/page.asp?id=3093#