U.S. Weather Trends-March, 2008

—————————
”   * Although the ocean surface average was only
the 13th warmest on record, as the cooling
influence of La Niña in the tropical Pacific
continued, much warmer than average conditions
across large parts of Eurasia helped push the
global average to a near record high for March.
     * Despite above average snowpack levels in
the U.S., the total Northern Hemisphere snow
cover extent was the fourth lowest on record for
March, remaining consistent with boreal spring
conditions of the past two decades, in which
warming temperatures have contributed to
anomalously low snow cover extent.
     * Some weakening of La Niña, the cold phase
of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, occurred in
March, but moderate La Niña conditions remained
across the tropical Pacific Ocean.”
———

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080418112341.htm

Global Land Temperature Warmest
On Record In March 2008

ScienceDaily (Apr. 19, 2008) – The average global
land temperature last month was the warmest on
record and ocean surface temperatures were the
13th warmest. Combining the land and the ocean
temperatures, the overall global temperature
ranked the second warmest for the month of March.
Global temperature averages have been recorded
since 1880.

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Indigenous Leaders in Canada Jailed for Resisting Mining Interests

Please do what you can – www.freeki6.ca <http://www.freeki6.ca/>
 
Indigenous leaders jailed for standing strong to protect their homelands
from mining..
 
On March 18th, 2008 five community leaders, including Chief Donny Morris
from Kitchenumahkoosib Inninuwug (KI) were jailed for six months for
contempt of a court injunction which prohibits them from interfering
with a mineral exploration program by Canadian-owned Platinex Inc. The
community is gravely concerned about the possible impact to their land
and water where they have lived in the Boreal forest for over 5,000
years.
 
It has been over a month and these leaders (one of whom is a
grandmother) have still not been released. 
 
Please do what you can – sign the online petition and send an email to
the Canadian Premier.  www.freeki6.ca <http://www.freeki6.ca/>

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Statement of the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and Natural Resources Defense Council on Bush Administration’s Request for Further Delay in Protecting Polar Bears From Global Warming

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2008
6:33 PM

 CONTACT: Center for Biological Diversity / Greenpeace / NRDC
Kassie Siegel, Center for Biological Diversity, (760) 366-2232 x 302 or cell, (951) 961-7972, ksiegel@biologicaldiversity.org
Andrew Wetzler, NRDC, (614) 840-0891 or cell, (312) 823-4241, awetzler@nrdc.org
Jane Kochersperger, Greenpeace, (202) 319-2493 or cell, (202) 680-3798
 
 
Statement of the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and Natural Resources Defense Council on Bush Administration’s Request for Further Delay in Protecting Polar Bears From Global Warming
 
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – April 17 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, responding to a court motion filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, admitted in court papers it filed today that it is violating the law by delaying protection to polar bears and asked the court to allow it to delay still further, until June 30, 2008.

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Freshening of Deep Antarctic Waters Worries Experts

Freshening of deep Antarctic waters worries experts
Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:13pm EDT 

 
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  By David Fogarty

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Scientists studying the icy depths of the sea around Antarctica have detected changes in salinity that could have profound effects on the world’s climate and ocean currents.

The scientists returned to the southern Australian city of Hobart on Thursday after a one-month voyage studying the Southern Ocean to see how it is changing and what those changes might mean for global climate patterns.

Voyage leader Steve Rintoul said his team found that salty, dense water that sinks near the edge of Antarctica to the bottom of the ocean about 5 km (3 miles) down was becoming fresher and more buoyant.

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