AGU journal highlights -- March 25, 2009( The following highlights summarize ...)

The following highlights summarize research papers that have been published in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) and Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres (JGR-D).

In this release:

1. Coral reefs may start dissolving when atmospheric carbon dioxide doubles
2. Ocean proximity aggravates Houston's ozone pollution
3. Underground subatomic-particle measurements yield meteorological clues
4. Airborne acid may help soot turn into cloud seeds
5. Understanding sea temperature-atmospheric pressure links in North Atlantic
6. New tool differentiates man-made from natural nitrogen-oxide pollution

Anyone may read the scientific abstract for these papers by clicking on the link provided at the end of each Highlight. You can also read the abstract by going to http://www.agu.org/pubs/search_options.shtml and inserting into the search engine the full doi (digital object identifier), e.g. 10.1029/2008GL036282. The doi is found at the end of each Highlight below.

Journalists and public information officers (PIOs) at educational or scientific institutions, who are registered with AGU, also may download papers cited in this release by clicking on the links below. Instructions for members of the news media, PIOs, and the public for downloading or ordering the full text of any research paper summarized below are available at http://www.agu.org/jinstructions.shtml.

Increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are known to result in reduced coral calcification because carbon dioxide alters ocean chemistry and decreases aragonite saturation because it contributes to ocean acidification. As the aragonite saturation decreases, corals precipitate their skeletons (composed of calcium c
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