1. OCEANS:
If nothing is the same, where to measure climate change?

Just north of the equator, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Kingman Reef is a speck of ground shaped like a boomerang. Above the water line it is barren; below is one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world. It is among areas proposed for expanded federal protection as a no-take marine reserve, a move that would preserve its value for researchers trying to gauge climate change's effects on coral reefs in isolation from human influence. Go to story #1

2. NATIONS:
Obama's 4-minute speech invigorates int'l negotiations

President-elect Barack Obama's pledge of a new direction on climate change has pumped new energy into upcoming global negotiations next month, international experts said yesterday. Expectations for a December U.N. climate conference had been low, as negotiators were unsure of the incoming administration's priorities. But Obama's vow to the California Governors' Global Climate Summit that "a new chapter in American leadership" would begin may have turned the page for the long-stymied talks. Go to story #2