to repeat... the following is a link to the original NASA press release. It also includes two rather pointless images that highlight the direction of the "bulge" pre-1997 and post-1997.
Satellites Reveal a Mystery of Large Change in Earth's Gravity Satellite data since 1998 indicates the bulge in the Earth's gravity field at the equator is growing, and scientists think that the ocean may hold the answer to the mystery of how the changes in the trend of Earth's gravity are occurring.
if you like the globe in the images there's a better one on the same web site called the Blue Marble
NASA and NOAA do (or fund) quite a bit of research into the type of phenomena where aerosols (tiny particles) in pollution (think soot) cause rainfall or the lack of rainfall. Check out some of the research (and nifty images of Earth) regarding this topic:
while these articles don't directly touch on the sun's magnetic field affecting climate it does discuss how the sun affects the Earth's energy balance.
Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment First Paragraph: "Without the Sun, the Earth would be no more than a frozen rock stranded in space. The Sun warms the Earth and makes life possible. Its energy generates clouds, cleanses our water, produces plants, keeps animals and humans warm, and drives ocean currents and thunderstorms. Despite the Sun's importance, scientists have only begun to study it with high precision in recent decades. Prior to 1979, in fact, astronomers and Earth scientists did not even have accurate data on the total amount of energy from the Sun that reaches the Earth's outermost atmosphere. Variable absorption of sunlight by clouds and aerosols prevented researchers from accurately measuring solar radiatio before it strikes the Earth's atmosphere."
here's a nice image that illustrates (from low earth orbit) contrails over a large area (Nova Scotia, Canada, to be exact). at the NASA rapidfire site [bandwidth intensive] you can basically pick any day, choose an image over the northeast of the US [approx. 15:00 to 16:00 UTC normally] and it's a good bet you'll see lots of contrails. they have to have some impact on at least the local climate of the northeast. if you're in the mood for some light reading you can check out several NASA reference articles about clouds and their affect on climate:
Changing Global Cloudiness
Clouds are visible collections of small particles of water or ice, or both,
suspended in the atmosphere. They are one of the most obvious and
influential features of Earth's climate system. They are also one of its
most variable components.
Aerosols and Climate Change
Aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the air. Taken as a whole these
particles tend to cool Earth's atmosphere, and are an important factor in
global change.
Clouds and Radiation
The study of clouds, where they occur, and their characteristics, play a
key role in the understanding of climate change. Whether a given cloud
will heat or cool the surface of the Earth depends on several factors.
there's also a good page on how ship tracks affect climate
you can find a number of really cool (and large!) animations of the Aqua launch and deployment on the Aqua visualizations page.
continuing coverage can also be found on Earth Observatory
Slashdot Mirror
- Satellites Reveal a Mystery of Large Change in Earth's Gravity
if you like the globe in the images there's a better one on the same web site called the Blue MarbleSatellite data since 1998 indicates the bulge in the Earth's gravity field at the equator is growing, and scientists think that the ocean may hold the answer to the mystery of how the changes in the trend of Earth's gravity are occurring.
and don't forget to check out the Natural Hazards
- Changing Our Weather One Smokestack at a Time
- Thunderstorms are affected by Pollution (May 2002)
- Tiny Particles of Pollution May Carry Large Consequences for Earth's Water Supply (December 2001)
Dust can also have an effect on rainfall. For a more general view of aerosols and there effects on climate change check out an aerosol fact sheet.I realize these links have a bias for NASA but NOAA is also actively researching this area.
while these articles don't directly touch on the sun's magnetic field affecting climate it does discuss how the sun affects the Earth's energy balance.
Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment
First Paragraph: "Without the Sun, the Earth would be no more than a frozen rock stranded in space. The Sun warms the Earth and makes life possible. Its energy generates clouds, cleanses our water, produces plants, keeps animals and humans warm, and drives ocean currents and thunderstorms. Despite the Sun's importance, scientists have only begun to study it with high precision in recent decades. Prior to 1979, in fact, astronomers and Earth scientists did not even have accurate data on the total amount of energy from the Sun that reaches the Earth's outermost atmosphere. Variable absorption of sunlight by clouds and aerosols prevented researchers from accurately measuring solar radiatio before it strikes the Earth's atmosphere."
Watching the Sun: Measuring Variation in Solar Energy Output to Gauge its Effect on Long-term Climate Change
and a very cool image of a solar storm
- Changing Global Cloudiness
Clouds are visible collections of small particles of water or ice, or both,
suspended in the atmosphere. They are one of the most obvious and
influential features of Earth's climate system. They are also one of its
most variable components.
there's also a good page on how ship tracks affect climateAerosols and Climate Change Aerosols are tiny particles suspended in the air. Taken as a whole these particles tend to cool Earth's atmosphere, and are an important factor in global change.
Clouds and Radiation The study of clouds, where they occur, and their characteristics, play a key role in the understanding of climate change. Whether a given cloud will heat or cool the surface of the Earth depends on several factors.
oh yeah, the NASA press release about the contrail study...
you can find a number of really cool (and large!) animations of the Aqua launch and deployment on the Aqua visualizations page. continuing coverage can also be found on Earth Observatory