What’s the coldest Earth has ever been?

Our planet’s history includes episodes of cold so extreme that glaciers reached sea level in equatorial regions. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/whats-coldest-earth-has-ever-been…

Upheaval and extinctions linked to magnetic reversal 42,000 years ago

42,000 years ago, a breakdown in Earth’s magnetic field led to environmental catastrophes and mass extinctions. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/magnetic-field-reversal-42000-years-ago-neanderthal-extinction…

How the Ozone Layer Was ‘Rescued’ From a Spike in CFC

Thelasko shared this report from the BBC: A steady decline in the levels of ozone-harming CFC chemicals in the atmosphere has resumed, scientists say. This follows a recent, dangerous pause in that downward trajectory, which could have slowed the healing of Earth’s protective ozone layer. Atmospheric measurements published in 2018 pointed to illegal CFC production that was occurring in Eastern China….

Recent drop in emissions from China may speed up ozone layer recovery

The ozone layer may recover more quickly than first thought thanks mostly to reduced emissions from China of a banned ozone-depleting gas Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2267237-recent-drop-in-emissions-from-china-may-speed-up-ozone-layer-recovery/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

2020 Antarctic ozone hole among largest, deepest in recent years

This year’s ozone hole covers most of the Antarctic continent and is among the largest and deepest in recent years. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/antarctic-ozone-hole-2020-among-largest-deepest-in-recent-years…

LIDAR over Antarctica

A laser shoots into the sky to study the atmosphere at Concordia research station in Antarctica. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/lidar-antarctica-aug202-image…

PICASSO, ESA’s CubeSat to sift secrets from sunrise

There is always a sunrise and sunset happening somewhere on our planet. Soon ESA’s newest CubeSat—flying aboard Europe’s Vega launcher this Friday—will be keeping watch. The miniature PICASSO mission will use the filtering of sunlight by Earth’s atmosphere to check the health of our protective ozone layer. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-06-picasso-esa-cubesat-sift-secrets.html…

Ancient Mass Extinction Tied To Ozone Loss, Warming Climate

Iwastheone shares a report from Science Magazine: The end of the Devonian period, 359 million years ago, was an eventful time: Fish were inching out of the ocean, and fernlike forests were advancing on land. The world was recovering from a mass extinction 12 million years earlier, but the climate was still chaotic, swinging between hothouse conditions and freezes so deep…

Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day

Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which catalyzed action to protect the environment, not just in the US but internationally. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/first-earth-day-50th-anniversary-april22-2020…