The tropical rain band that encircles Earth just north of the equator affects rainfall patterns worldwide. By taking sediment cores from pond and lake beds on tropical islands, scientists can determine where the band has been since A.D. 800 and where it may move in the future. At current global warming rates, the band could shift north 5 degrees by 2100, drying out Ecuador, Columbia and the U.S. Southwest.

Obtaining the data from such remote locations often requires on-the-spot ingenuity. Julian P. Sachs, an associate professor of oceanography at the University of Washington in Seattle School of Oceanography, and Conor L. Myhrvold, a geoscience major at Princeton University, share photos from recent expeditions.

View a slide show of photos of the data gathering.

4 Comments

1. 1. BoRon 06:24 PM 2/15/11

   "Sachs and Myhrvold remove the core by pulling (extremely hard) to overcome the suction created when the tube was pounded in."
   
   Not to nitpick, but there is no suction until the pulling begins. Unfortunately for the pullers, the harder they pull the more suction they cause.

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2. 2. Postman1 in reply to BoRon 09:44 PM 2/16/11

   "That loud sucking sound...."

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3. 3. bucketofsquid 02:29 PM 2/25/11

   I was hoping for some conclusions based on the title. A better name would have been "Asking Where the Rain Will Fall in 2100".

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4. 4. Bruce Voigt 01:02 PM 3/8/11

   Really hate to "rain" on your parade guys BUT;
   
   The Earth in its orbit around the Sun both magnetically interact giving us our Seasons.
   
   Normally there are two dramatic Earth tippings a year.
   One in late summer or fall when the Suns north magnetic pole severs with the Earths north magnetic pole and one in late winter or early spring when the Suns south magnetic pole severs with the Earths south magnetic pole.
   
   The cause of Earth Changes is the erratic movement of Earth on its's meandering magnetic axis changing it's exposure to both Sun and Moon.
   
   The date, time and distance of these tippings (magnetic pole movement) is at this time crucial and will explain it this way.
   When the Earth tipped that one thousand miles it moved the magnetic pole location one thousand miles in the opposite direction moving the Equator (Sun exposure) one thousand miles. Last winter Russia was getting the cold from the closer pole and loosing the heat of Sun exposure. This year its opposite.
   This is real important Stuph and all we need is to have some one monitor these tippings. We would then know what and where crops should be planted, where to plan our skiing etc.
   
   Like I say we really need some one to take charge and properly monitor Magnetic Pole Movement. Believe me its for the good of OUR WORLD!
   cbc.ca bruce voigt
   
   

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