The Battalion | ; ^ pi ^ J m y I'*-: ' o Thursday • Apn^- pur s Temperatures reach historic high NEW YORK (AP) — The years 1997, 1995 and 1990 were the warmest in the Northern Hemisphere since the days of Christopher Columbus, a study says. And the researchers say they found ev idence that rising levels of greenhouse gases are probably responsible. Scientists reconstructed annual aver age temperatures back to the year 1400 and found no year warmer than those three. Either 1997 or 1995 could be con sidered the warmest, depending on whether one considers temperatures over land or at the ocean surface or both, re searcher Michael Mann said. When land and ocean temperatures are combined, 1997 and 1995 ran about nine-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit above the average for the 20th century, he said. Climate experts said that the study is an early step in such long-term reconstruc tions and that more work is needed to im prove them, but that the finding about the “The increase in greenhouse gases is contributing to the ... conditions we see now.” Tom Karl National Climatic Data Center warmest years fits in with previous studies. Last January, the government an nounced that 1997 was the warmest year globally in about 100 years, which was as far back as the researchers checked. To reconstruct temperatures over the past 600 years, Mann and colleagues used a network of indirect indicators, including ancient tree rings, coral and ice as well as historical records. They also looked at trends in three in fluences on climate: variations in the sun’s brightness, volcanic activity and the at mosphere’s supply of carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. While the sun’s brightness and volca noes appeared important in the past, greenhouse gases appear to dominate over the past few decades, Mann said. Tom Karl of the government’s Nation al Climatic Data Center said the study is “another indication that it seems quite likely that the increase in greenhouse gas es is contributing to the very warm condi tions we see now.” Care for a sample? What's Up Thursday Graduate Fellowship of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF): Bible study for graduate and non-traditional students, followed by fel lowship will be held at 7:30 p.m. See our web site for location and map at http://stat.tamu.edu~inlow/ivcf.html. Call Mark or Jennifer at 764-1552. Association on Baptist Students: A meet ing will be held at 7:30 p.m. at 410 College Main. Call Bobby at 846-3223 for details. Catholic Students Association: There will be a daily mass at 12:05 p.m. in the All Faith’s Chapel. Aggie Speleological Society: A meeting will be held at 8:30 p.m. in Koldus 146. Call Travis at 693-4088. Student Y: A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in 302 Rudder. Study Abroad Programs Office: There will be an informational meeting from 9 to 9:30 a.m. in 154,161 Bizzell Hall West. The meeting will promote the Italy Spring 99 program. Environmental Issues Committee: Earth Week will be celebrated all day at Rudder Fountain with booths, free T-shirts, bands, and more. Call Sarah at 847-8446 for details. Alpha Phi Omega: There will be a blood dri ve at Rudder Fountain, Sbisa, Quad Lounge B, Commons Lobby, and Bio/Bio from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. What’s Up is a Battalion service that lists non-profit student and faculty events and activities. Items should be submitted no later than three days in advance of the desired run date. Application deadlines and no tices are not events and will not be run in What’s Up. If you have any questions, please call the newsroom at 845-3313. Battalion application deadline extended The deadline for applications for sum mer and fall staff of The Battalion have been extended until Friday at 8 p.m. Positions currently available in clude writers, radio anchors, colum nists, cartoonists, photographers and graphic artists. Experience is not necessary. All ma jors are encouraged to apply. Applications may be picked up in 013 Reed McDonald. For more infor mation please call 845-3313. Correction On page one of Wednesday’s Battalion, the last sentence of “Holocaust survivor shares war story,” should have read, "Reading about what somebody went through and hearing a person speak about it is completely different,” Lodholz said. "There are so many things that happened to Holocaust survivors.” if GREG MCREYNOLDS'■ Edward Rogers, a research assisstant, prepares samples for storage attheplantu biology labs on Wednesday afternoon. 4UP The week of April 26 - April 30 Math 151 Part IT Sun Apr 26 5pm-'7pni Part VI Sun Apr 26 7pni-9pm Test Review Men Apr 27 £>pm-9p*n Math 152 Part 11 Sun Apr 26 3pm-5pxn Fare VC Sttn Apr 26 9pm-llj>m Test Review Mon Apr 27 9pm--12axn Acct 229 Fin Stmt IBM Thu Apr 23 9pm~I2am or Sun Apr 26 3pm-6pm Arco Sun Apr 26 6pm~9pin or 9pnr»~12aixt Deere Mon Apr 27 6pm~9pnt Acct 229 Straws*!- Test Review Mon Apr 27 9pm-12am Critical Thinking Wed Apr 29 6pm-9pru Tickets go on Sunday 2:30p.m. 4.0 & Oo is focatsd on the corner of SW Pkwy and Tx Ave, behind KFC next to ? Lack's Furniture, 89©*'8B86 Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Mrs. O’leary's cow kicked over the lantern that started the Great Chicayo Fire. FINALS SCHG&ULE ON MONDAY ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! Fall Open House is Sunday, September 6 from 2 to 6 p.m. Tables are now on sale! Don’t miss out! It’s simple! Just go to the MSC Box Office in Rudder Tower and pay $30 for your recognized student organization. We take cash, check, aggie bucks, credit cards, or departmental accounts (you’ll need an IDT). cuut reotcftider . . . Space is limited! Remember, Open House tables are limited, and are awarded on a first come, first served basis! Only one table per organization. Please come and join us! Any questions? If so call the Relations Office at 845-7627. Sponsored By: MSB RELATIONS TEAM - qoov!