Leslie Ofori

Indian Ocean Biogeochemical Processes and Ecological Variability

The Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (SIBER) conference was held in 2006 in Goa, India. The goals of the workshop were to assess the known facts about basin-wide biogeochemical and ecological dynamics of the Indian Ocean, to answer major questions, and to draw a road map for future research. The AGU monograph Indian Ocean Biogeochemical Processes and Ecological Variability, edited by Jerry D. Wiggert, Raleigh R. Hood, S. Wajih A. Naqvi, Kenneth H. Brink, and Sharon L. Smith, synthesizes the talks that were presented at this conference. In this interview, Eos talks with Jerry Wiggert, assistant professor of marine science at University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.

Desertification awareness decade

In an effort to raise awareness about desertification and better protect and manage the worlds drylands, the United Nations (U.N.) launched the Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification in mid-August. Five U.N. agencies—including the U.N. Environment Programme and the U.N. Development Programme—will spearhead activities related to desertification. The degradation of drylands affects 25% of the Earths landmass and more than 2.1 billion people, most of whom are from developing counties, according to the U.N. Each year, 12 million hectares of land are lost to desertification, an area that could produce 20 million tons of grain.

Research Spotlight: Large atmospheric study investigates tropical tropopause transition layer

The tropical tropopause transition layer (TTL), starting at about 12 kilometers in altitude, is a transition layer between the tropical troposphere (the layer nearest Earth) and the stratosphere above. The TTL can influence the chemistry of the stratosphere, including the global ozone budget. In addition, understanding how water and other greenhouse gases behave in the TTL is important to understanding the greenhouse effect and global climate change.

Research Spotlight: Realistic models of aquifer conduits

The spatial distribution of underground rock units and geologic structures governs the flow of groundwater and thus any pollutant plumes within this groundwater. Such information is critical to water resources managers and to those drilling for oil and natural gas. However, simulating these units and structures in fine detail is difficult, relying on a knowledge of basic geology, erosion, and the physical processes that produce sedimentary deposits in a given space.

Research Spotlight: Ozone hole shift exposed South America to increased ultraviolet light

The ozone layer, which protects humans, plants, and animals from potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, develops a hole above Antarctica in September that typically lasts until early December. However, in November 2009, that hole shifted its position, leaving the southern tip of South America exposed to UV light at levels much greater than normal.

Research Spotlight: Is there a relationship between aerosol and cloud properties?

The interaction of aerosols and clouds is a significant uncertainty in studies of anthropogenic forcing of climate. To learn more about the effects of fine aerosols on cloud microphysics, Costantino and Breon performed a multisensor analysis of the atmosphere off the southwest coast of Africa. They chose this particular area because it is often affected by smoke from biomass burning. The aerosol particles from this smoke are transported by trade winds into the atmosphere, where they come in contact with low-level stratocumulus clouds.

Research Spotlight: How does emissions mitigation policy affect ocean acidification?

The anthropogenic release of carbon dioxide (CO2) has increased significantly in recent years. Some of this CO2 is absorbed by the ocean, increasing its acidity (lowering its pH). Studies have shown that since 1750 the absorption of CO2 has caused a decrease of 0.1 in the oceans pH level. The biological impact of this increasing acidity is uncertain, but scientists believe that increasing acidity could adversely affect marine organisms and degrade ocean habitats.

Research Spotlight: Changes in Sun's plasma conveyor belt affect solar cycle

The Sun goes through cycles lasting approximately 11 years that include phases with increased magnetic activity, more sunspots, and more solar flares, and phases with less activity. The level of activity on the Sun can affect navigation and communications systems on Earth. Puzzlingly, solar cycle 23, which ended recently, lasted longer than previous cycles, with a prolonged phase of low activity that scientists had difficulty explaining.

Amazonia and Global Change

The Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) is a multidisciplinary international scientific project that seeks to understand the functioning of Amazonia as a unique ecosystem. The AGU monograph Amazonia and Global Change, edited by Michael Keller, Mercedes Bustamante, John Gash, and Pedro Silva Dias, synthesizes the results of the study. In this interview, Eos talks with micrometeorologist John Gash, who specializes in measuring and modeling evaporation from forests. He is a senior researcher in the Department of Hydrology and Geo-environmental Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and an honorary research fellow at the U.K. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Research Spotlight: Measuring the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash plume over Europe

The 14 April eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull sent enormous plumes of thick ash over Europe, disrupting air travel for days. Ansmann et al. report lidar (light detection and ranging) and photometer observations of the ash plume over central Europe. Their measurements, made at Leipzig, Germany, on 16 April and Munich, Germany, on the following day, provide some of the first quantitative data on the optical properties of the plume, which is the thickest volcanic ash plume ever measured.