Tiempo Climate Newswatch

The impact of greenhouse gas methane on the Earth's energy balance and climate system may be twice as great as previously estimated, according to NASA scientist Drew Shindell. Methane may account for as much as a third of the global warming experienced since the 1750s. Shindell argues that we need to consider methane at the point of emission rather than once it has been mixed with other gases in the atmosphere.

Shindell points out that, once in the air, "the gas molecules undergo chemical changes and once they do, looking at them after they've mixed and changed in the atmosphere doesn't give an accurate picture of their effect." The findings suggest that more weight should be attached to methane control. "Control of methane emissions turns out to be a more powerful lever to control global warming than would be anticipated," he concludes.

More information

• ENS

• Press release, NASA

The new head of the United States National Academy of Sciences, Ralph Cicerone, has testified that "nearly all climate scientists today believe that much of Earth's current warming has been caused by increases in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mostly from the burning of fuels." He was giving evidence before a Senate Commerce subcommittee on climate change.

Cicerone also testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Reflecting an increasing tendency for Republican politicans to engage with global warming, Senator Pete Domenici in the chair, said: "I don't think the issue is whether we have a major international problem; the question is: How do we solve it? I'm looking for a solution, but I'm not going to join the crowd that thinks it's simple."

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• ENN
• Washington Post

• Washington Post

Portugal is facing its worst drought in 60 years, with 64 per cent of the country in extreme drought and a third experiencing severe drought conditions at the end of June 2005. The autumn/winter wheat harvest forecast has been cut by 70 per cent and the frequency of forest fires is running at 55 per cent above the past five-year average.

The drought has been developing over the past 12 months. In January 2005, Fatima Espirito Santo, from the national meteorological service, warned that "we need January to be extremely rainy, something like 20 per cent of all years, in order to bring water levels to normal." With high temperatures and low rainfall, much of southern Europe is threatened by drought or already experiencing serious water shortages.

More information

• Planet Ark
• BBC
• Terra Daily

• Terra Daily
• In pictures, BBC
• Latest rainfall, IRI