A study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers found that drought increases the severity of West Nile virus epidemics in the US, while populations that have experienced large outbreaks acquire immunity to limit subsequent epidemics. Drought is a key driver of transmission, particularly after large outbreaks.
Researchers from IUPUI reconstructed 2,100 years of temperature and precipitation data, pointing to climate change as a primary cause of the disappearance of the Mississippians. The study found that drought conditions due to changed atmospheric circulation undermined agricultural production, leading to the destabilization of sociopolit...
A strong El Niño does not necessarily result in a higher predictability of extreme drought, according to researchers. However, combining low- and high-latitude precursors improves the forecast accuracy of the EU pattern, which favors anomalous northerly conditions over North China.
A study by University of California - Davis scientists found that trees growing in already dry areas are most susceptible to drought. Dense forests in the driest regions are at risk of mass mortality during extreme droughts, which can take years to surface.
A new study reveals that grazing pressures compound drought stress, delaying recovery and reducing ecosystems' tipping points. Grazing animals and fungal pathogens can kill drought-weakened vegetation, preventing plants from recovering.
A recent NASA study found a significant correlation between wildfires and drought in northern sub-Saharan Africa. The research, led by Charles Ichoku, used satellite records to analyze the impact of fires on water cycle indicators, revealing that burning suppresses precipitation in the region.
A new study from University of Utah researchers finds a correlation between drought and high-elevation aerosols in the western US, suggesting that wildfires are driving the increase in summer haze. Aerosol particles can trigger cloud formation, exerting their own influence on global temperature and climate.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab will present various talks on climate modeling challenges, permafrost, induced seismicity and drought sensitivity in mountainous watersheds. They aim to map regions sensitive to drought conditions using historical data and identify environmental controls.
Scientists have uncovered the genetic and metabolic mechanisms that allow certain plants to conserve water and thrive in semi-arid climates. By studying the unique metabolic processes of CAM plants, researchers aim to transfer these traits into bioenergy and food crops.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered key molecular conductors in plant stress responses, enabling a better understanding of how plants cope with environmental hardships. By controlling these conductors, researchers can potentially develop new technologies to optimize water use in plants and help agriculture adapt to drought.
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters attributes the 2015 West Coast record-low snowpack to unusually high temperatures, not low precipitation. The researchers used a crowd-sourced supercomputer to analyze data and found that greenhouse gases contributed strongly to the risk of snow droughts in Oregon and Washington.
A VIB and Ghent University research team has identified key genes that enable plants to respond to drought stress. These core genes play a pivotal role in a plant's defense mechanism against drought, allowing for advanced breeding and genome engineering efforts to create drought-tolerant crop plants.
Researchers found that managing wildfires instead of suppressing them improves forest diversity, water storage, and drought resistance. This approach increases stream flow and downstream water availability, benefiting both the environment and agriculture.
Scientists found that analyzing snowmelt and soil moisture could have predicted the 2012 US drought up to four months in advance. The study used a combination of observations and a regional model ensemble to improve seasonal drought forecasts.
Researchers at Australian National University are developing next-generation food crops that can produce bigger yields and resist drought better than current crops. Crops like sorghum and millet use a more efficient form of photosynthesis, allowing them to thrive in extreme conditions.
Despite major advances in molecular biology, genomics and CRISPR gene-editing technology, many details of plant stress signaling pathways remain a mystery. The Zhu lab has made significant contributions to understanding SOS, the first abiotic stress signaling pathway identified in plants, but identifying similar drought response pathwa...
Scientists have discovered that certain plants resistant to a hormone called abscisic acid (ABA) can grow better than normal neighbors during droughts. ABA-resistant varieties may hold the key to breeding 'stay green' traits in crops, which could help them retain their leaves and continue to produce food and other essential resources.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that adding microbes to plants increases their tolerance to drought. The microbes enhance plant growth, reduce water usage, and promote nutrient accumulation, allowing plants to store more water and survive longer under stress.
Researchers sequenced the genome of C. geophilum and found specific adaptations that could help host trees be more resistant to drought stress. The fungus has a reduced number of plant cell wall degrading enzymes and a large set of symbiosis-induced lineage-specific genes, including water channel genes.
A new study finds that while elevated CO2 concentrations boost plant growth under ideal conditions, drought will outweigh those benefits and cause yield losses sooner than anticipated. Soybeans grown in a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere used more water under hot and dry conditions, leading to reduced yields.
Research finds that low atmospheric humidity is a significant cause of plant stress in hot, dry weather, reducing their ability to offset climate change. Models should be refined to account for this effect, which will become increasingly important as the Earth's climate warms.
A new study reveals that water conservation by plants under high CO2 conditions compensates for much of the effect of warmer temperatures, retaining more water on land than predicted. This changes assumptions of climate change impacts on agriculture, water resources, wildfire risk, and plant growth.
A study by the University of Washington reveals that plants' reduced water needs due to climate change could halve the extent of droughts. This shift in plant water use changes long-term drought estimates, impacting future water supplies and ecosystem stresses.
A Vanderbilt University team is using mineral deposits in caves to shed new light on prehistoric megadroughts in the western US. The researchers hope to identify atmospheric drivers that caused extended droughts, informing projections of future drought severity.
A new study suggests that climate change may extend the ozone season in the Southeastern United States, potentially leading to record ozone days in the fall. As drought-stressed trees emit more of the precursor compound isoprene, air quality becomes more sensitive to climate change.
Researchers discovered that mussels improve water storage around grass roots and reduce soil salinity, allowing marshes to recover from drought in less than a decade. This mutually beneficial relationship between mussels and marsh grass can help ecosystems bounce back from extreme climatic events.
Research by Salk Institute scientists reveals phaseic acid's unexpected role as a plant hormone crucial for drought resistance and survival traits. The study suggests that phaseic acid may inform the development of new, hardier crops to weather climate change-induced natural disasters.
A study by University of California - Davis researchers found that drought conditions significantly impact Douglas fir tree growth, with warmer and drier conditions causing the most stress. The analysis of tree core samples over a 91-year period indicates projected decline in growth rates under future climate change scenarios.
Research by USC Viterbi researchers found that widespread adoption of drought tolerant vegetation in California may lead to an average daytime warming of 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit due to decreased evaporative cooling. However, lower nighttime temperatures are predicted, with a potential decrease of 6 degrees Fahrenheit, which could mitiga...
A USGS study finds that groundwater discharge in the Upper Colorado River Basin varies significantly with drought, particularly in shallow aquifers containing relatively young water. This variability is due to climate stresses and increased water demand, which can impact streamflow and resource availability.
Researchers will investigate the impact of drought on public health and water policy in California's poorest regions. The study will focus on health measures such as self-rated health, emotional distress, and infant birth weight.
A recent study published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles reveals that the Amazon Basin's carbon sink was completely shut down by a severe drought. Meanwhile, an international team is working to provide an up-to-date assessment of polar ice mass losses and their contributions to global sea level rise.
International researchers at ANU have discovered an enzyme that senses adverse drought and sunlight conditions, enabling plants to respond with beneficial chemical compounds. This breakthrough could lead to the development of next-generation drought-proof crops, crucial for global food security.
Researchers discovered that grasses reduce crown root growth in response to drought, conserving water for future use. This adaptation allows crops to improve yields and preserve groundwater resources.
A recent study by researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Leeds found that a drought completely shut down the Amazon Basin's carbon sink, killing trees and slowing their growth. The study used long-term measurements from the RAINFOR network to examine tree responses during two large-scale droughts occurring in 2005 and 2010.
The study identified two groups of drought-resistant bean lines: 'water savers' and 'water spenders'. The former are suitable for semi-arid regions with limited moisture, while the latter have deep roots to maximize water extraction. These findings contribute to improving bean productivity in areas affected by drought.
Reduced rainfall during El Niño events leads to severe drought conditions, increasing the risk of fires during the dry season. The Amazon fire forecast uses climate and active fire detection data to predict fire severity.
A new study reveals that California's drought-stricken Central Valley harbors three times more groundwater than previously estimated. The researchers found approximately 2,700 cubic kilometers of usable water, which is almost triple the state's current estimates.
A UCLA-led study predicts the Sierra Nevada snowpack will take years to recover from drought, even with above-average precipitation. The research provides unprecedented detail and precision, offering insights into water availability in other mountain ranges.
A study developed a template to determine an animal's ability to cope with climate change droughts, considering physiology and environment. The Adaptive Triquetra model assesses species' resilience to increasing aridity by evaluating traits such as temperature tolerance and food availability.
CropQuant uses Raspberry Pi computers to control infield cameras capturing crop growth images, then analyzes data on high-performance computers to link environmental data with crop traits. This enables scientists to reduce farming costs and improve crop yields through field-based phenotyping methods.
Melatonin production in plants is involved in stress memory, particularly through its regulation of sub-cellular antioxidant systems. The study found that exogenous melatonin application enhances drought priming induced cold tolerance in barley, making it a promising approach to abiotic stress tolerance.
A new study reveals that beech trees in central Europe, particularly in southern England, are increasingly vulnerable to drought due to climate change. The research found that the region's iconic beech woods are at risk of widespread mortality during extreme dry spells.
A USGS study found historic nitrate levels in Midwest streams in 2013, with Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois experiencing the highest concentrations. The research suggests that fertilizer application and manure are primary sources of nitrate, posing health risks to water users.
Researchers captured a region-wide snapshot of slow-moving landslides in the Eel River Basin, which slowed by half between 2009 and 2015 due to unprecedented drought. The study provides vital data for forecasting how landslides will respond to climate change.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that maize is more vulnerable to drought than previously thought, with a 39.3% yield reduction at 40% water reduction compared to wheat's 20.6%. Maize sensitivity varies by region and soil texture, but overall findings can inform model interactions, productivity gains, and irrigation scheduling.
Researchers are breeding barley to make it more resistant to drought and heat, helping farmers avoid yield loss due to climate change. By identifying key molecular switches, they aim to create crops that can efficiently manage water under extreme weather conditions.
Heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, resulting in four deaths and thousands displaced. NASA's GPM satellite data revealed intense storms with precipitation rates exceeding 300 mm/h along a line of heavy rainfall on May 8, 2016.
A study found that temporary streams suffer from a significant decline in invertebrate species during droughts, with only three species remaining after a long drought and 24 species after shorter dry spells. The research highlights the potential consequences of climate change-related increases in drought length on aquatic ecosystems.
Researchers developed a new mathematical model to predict how US forests will respond to climate change, finding that the Northeast's mixed forests will be unsustainable by 2050. The Tolerance Distribution Model can identify which forests are at risk and suggest measures like planting drought-tolerant seedlings to prepare.
Despite a severe drought, the contiguous United States remained a carbon sink in 2012, absorbing more carbon during warmer springs and releasing less during dry summers. The unique combination of measured data from various sources allowed researchers to calculate the carbon exchange for the entire US during this period.
A specific gene, HMGA2, has been identified as the key to the evolution of smaller beaks in medium ground finches in response to a drought-induced food shortage. The researchers found that the gene comes in two forms, with one dominant in birds with small beaks and the other in those with large beaks.
Researchers found three tree physiological traits significantly predict drought mortality, related to hydraulics. Trees with lower hydraulic conductivity and safety margins are more susceptible to embolism and death. This study can help forecast tree deaths in drought and inform climate change mitigation strategies.
A team of researchers identified traits that best protect trees against death from drought, finding that xylem stress is a key predictor of survival. The study provides a foundation for improving predictions of drought-induced tree mortality across diverse forests.
A multidisciplinary study assesses drought's effects on people and systems, going beyond economic measures to document social and environmental impacts. The research team uses machine learning and econometric techniques to estimate causal effects and identify moderators of drought's socio-environmental variables.
Researchers found that atmospheric circulation patterns, including the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge, are more frequent in recent decades, increasing the risk of drought. The study also showed that temperature plays a significant role in drought development.
Recent decades have seen increased frequency of large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns associated with California's precipitation and temperature extremes. The researchers found that the 'Ridiculously Resilient Ridge' pattern, which diverts winter storms northward, has become more common, leading to increased dry conditions.
A new study shows that storing extra surface water in underground aquifers can increase groundwater supply during droughts. Regions that actively store surface water have seen increased groundwater levels, even as surrounding areas depleted theirs.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded over $8.5 million in grants to support research, education, and outreach on improving water resource quality and quantity, particularly in areas affected by drought. The grants will help communities develop regional systems for sustainable use, reuse, flow, and management of water.
A study finds that global warming has largely removed drought from the centuries-old early-harvest equation, pushing French grape growers to adapt to hotter climates. As a result, some regions may no longer be suitable for traditional wine varieties, forcing vineyards to change their methods or relocate.