Researchers at Wake Forest University's Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation found that biochar combined with fertilizer significantly improved height and diameter growth of tree seedlings. The treatment also increased the number of leaves developed by the seedlings.
The UTIA senior design team developed a pilot technology to enhance stormwater infiltration in rain gardens by inducing fractures in compacted soil layers. This technique could save homeowners and property owners time and money by unclogging failed rain gardens.
A new study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers reveals that structurally complex forests in the eastern US outperform simpler ones in carbon sequestration. The discovery suggests that a forest's arrangement of vegetation is a key factor in its ability to absorb and store carbon.
A recent study suggests that restoring forests can stabilize carbon stocks and reduce the risk of severe wildfires. By thinning out dense vegetation and promoting biodiversity, restored forests can store more carbon than damaged ones. This approach has the potential to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Monsoon rain storms have become more intense in the southwestern United States, with a 6-11% increase in rainfall intensity since the 1970s. Climate change is attributed to these changes, as temperatures in the region have risen by 0.4 degrees F per decade.
A new University of Illinois study found that large blowdown areas in southern Illinois forests are more heavily invaded and slower to recover than smaller areas. Invasive species cover decreased over time, but the most common invaders were already present in the system, suggesting a need for targeted management focus.
NASA's GPM core satellite analyzed Barry's rainfall rates several hours after it made landfall on the coast of Louisiana. Heavy rain bands were revealed by the data, with rainfall rates exceeding 10 mm/hour in some areas. The storm brought heavy rains and flooding to the mid-Mississippi Valley as it moved through the region.
NASA's ARIA team created a flood proxy map using satellite data from the ALOS-2 satellite, depicting areas of Louisiana likely flooded due to heavy rain and Tropical storm Barry. The map can be used as guidance to identify potentially flooded areas, but its reliability is limited over urban and vegetated regions.
A new study by the Crowther Lab suggests that global forest restoration could capture two-thirds of human-made carbon emissions. The study found that there is potential to increase the world's forest land by a third without affecting cities or agriculture, with forests capable of storing 205 billion tonnes of carbon once mature.
Researchers have pinpointed restoration hotspots in 15 countries across four continents, offering the biggest carbon, water, and wildlife benefits. The study identifies over 100 million hectares of lost lowland tropical rain forests that can be restored to overcome rising global temperatures.
A recent study found that old-growth forests are less likely to experience high-severity fire than young-growth forests during wildfires. This suggests that old-growth forests could be used as biodiversity refuges to buffer the effects of climate change on fire regimes in the Pacific Northwest.
Researchers found that coastal, indigenous forests in South Africa store a moderate to large amount of carbon, making them important for conservation. The study also highlights the need to balance forest productivity with local community needs in order to achieve sustainable development.
A new study by the Tropical managed Forests Observatory suggests that selective logging alone is unlikely to meet current demand for timber in Amazonia. The research highlights the need for a more sustainable approach to manage wood resources in the region, considering the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems.
A new study by University of Vermont researchers found that older forests are less vulnerable to climate change, particularly for carbon storage, timber production, and biodiversity. The research analyzed 18,500 forest plots across the eastern US and Canada, identifying priority regions for forest climate adaptation efforts.
Research led by the University of Saskatchewan found a significant increase in extreme downpours globally over the past 50 years, coinciding with intensifying global warming. The study used thousands of rain records to analyze precipitation extremes, revealing a clear upward trend in torrential rain events across various regions.
A study from the University of California, Davis found that thinning forests and prescribed burns reduced tree mortality during a severe drought and bark beetle epidemic. The treatment also helped to increase forest resilience by reducing water stress and making trees more resistant to climate change.
A new review article highlights the vulnerability of rural coastlines to sea-level rise, with research showing widespread conversion of upland forests to wetlands. The study emphasizes the need for better understanding of factors influencing land conversion, including human barriers and policy incentives.
Researchers found that re-burned areas experienced significant biomass loss and a six-fold decrease in tree seedling density. The study suggests that future short fire intervals may adversely affect the resilience of subalpine forests, threatening their ability to recover from previous fires.
Subsistence hunters face threats from fragmented habitats, modern hunting methods, mining, and tourism, impacting local food security and species persistence. WCS suggests banning large species, shifting to smaller ones, strengthening protected areas, and diversifying income sources.
Research reveals tree species with durable wood persist longer, but slow growth comes at the expense of reduced resources; Early stages dominate 'fast' pioneer species with soft wood.
Scientists have mapped the expected decline for each mammal species across all tropical forests due to hunting. The study found that more than half of tropical forests are under hunting pressure, with hotspots in Western and Central Africa and South-East Asia.
Researchers found that ghost forests supported a different group of bird species than the forests they replaced. Some bird species, like the northern bobwhite quail and woodpeckers, fared well with the changes in vegetation.
A recent study by Michigan State University researchers found that nature reserves close to cities are more effective at preventing deforestation than remote areas. The study evaluated China's protected areas and concluded that these reserves can sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide, helping to combat global deforestation.
Scientists found contrasting latitudinal gradients in woody and herbaceous communities, with closely-related species in tropical rain forests and temperate grasslands. The study supports the view that different regions act as evolutionary cradles or museums, influencing diversity patterns.
Climate change could cause Western Hemisphere cloud forests to shrink and dry by 60-80% in as few as 25 years. The loss of clouds would nearly disappear the highly diverse alpine ecosystems above these equatorial cloud forests, known as páramo.
A new study suggests that the Cerrado biome in Brazil connected the Andean and Atlantic tropical forests, which are now over 1,000 km apart. The research used genomic and biogeographical data to support this hypothesis.
The study found a shift towards arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees in the eastern US due to climate change, increased nitrogen deposition, and fire suppression. This change can accelerate nutrient cycling, potentially affecting carbon storage in North American forests.
A UMass Lowell expert is studying how much mercury accumulates in forests to reduce the pollutant worldwide. The research team measures forest soils and watersheds to understand mercury cycles.
Researchers found evidence of coronal rain in smaller, previously overlooked magnetic loops on the Sun. The discovery links two solar mysteries: the anomalous heating of the corona and the source of the slow solar wind.
New research by UCL and University of Edinburgh scientists reveals that many countries' forest restoration pledges are insufficient to meet global climate goals. Restoring natural forests is shown to capture more carbon than plantations or agroforestry, with potential to remove 42 billion tonnes of carbon by 2100.
A new study finds that Hurricane Maria's damage to trees in Puerto Rico was unprecedented, with big, old trees suffering the worst. The study suggests that more frequent storms whipped up by a warming climate could permanently alter forests across the Atlantic tropics.
A recent study found that groundwater extraction is harming floodplain forests in Europe by reducing tree growth and increasing drought sensitivity. The research suggests that adapting to climate change requires reducing groundwater extraction, not increasing it, to protect these critical ecosystems.
A study by the USDA Forest Service reveals that more nitrogen from rain and snow reaches streams than previously believed, flowing downstream at a faster rate through US and Canadian forests. This unprocessed nitrate bypasses biological filters, contributing to forest decline and growth of nuisance vegetation.
A new SDSU study reveals that California sheephead and spiny lobsters play a crucial role in controlling sea urchin populations in Southern California kelp forests. The research provides valuable insights into the complex predator-prey relationships in these ecosystems, which are essential for maintaining the health of kelp forests.
Young, regrowing forests in middle and high latitudes and areas with reforestation programs take up large amounts of CO2. This age effect accounts for about 25% of forests' CO2 uptake.
A University of Montana study found that climate change limits tree regeneration following wildfires in low-elevation forests, potentially leading to abrupt forest loss. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined post-fire regeneration of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir trees.
Research in Ethiopian sacred church forests reveals that human disturbances, such as buildings and clearings, significantly reduce forest density and species richness. Culturally sensitive conservation strategies are recommended to protect these forests, including restorative planting and protection of large trees.
Researchers propose using lichens to assess old-growth forest conservation value, offering a more nuanced approach to measuring biodiversity. This method, developed by Dr. Troy McMullin and Dr. Yolanda Wiersma, uses suites of lichen species associated with old-growth areas to develop an index of ecological continuity.
Researchers found seasonal variations in raindrop size distribution in East China, with summer having larger raindrops and higher mean rain rates. These findings have implications for microwave communication, radar, and satellite remote sensing, as well as numerical weather prediction models.
A new study reveals that secondary forests adjacent to extensive primary forests can host diverse bird communities and boost populations of forest specialist birds. The research, published in Biotropica, challenges previous assertions about the conservation potential of young secondary forests.
Research at the University of Birmingham reveals that young forests are a substantial contributor to the world's carbon sink, accounting for around 25% of total carbon dioxide absorption. These forests, typically in temperate zones, have been re-growing on land with previously experienced human activities.
Bats use rain noise as a salient informational cue to inform their decision making about emerging from roosts. This study shows that noise can be beneficial for animals, providing important information about their environment and when it's safe to hunt.
The study finds that vegetation in the region will shift from predominantly conifer to mixed conifer and hardwood forests, potentially leading to reduced timber availability and changed fresh water supplies. Climate-driven stress may also increase disease and pest susceptibility in these forests.
A new study reveals that climate change could lead to declines of underwater kelp forests, impacting fisheries and potentially affecting food security. The research found that ocean warming and acidification can cause disease-like symptoms in kelp, leading to degradation and photosynthesis impairment.
Birds associated with older forests in the Pacific Northwest are declining faster than those in early-seral ecosystems, despite conservation efforts. The study highlights the importance of continuing to protect and restore old-growth habitats as wildfires become more frequent.
A study evaluating the impact of the 100-year Northwest Forest Plan found that old-growth forests are declining due to increased fires, while regenerating habitats are increasing in some regions. Despite these findings, the authors recommend continued conservation efforts for old-growth habitats.
GEDI, a NASA instrument, is collecting data on forests using its waveform-based measurement technique to analyze the shape of returned light signals. This allows scientists to obtain three-dimensional structure information, useful for mapping wildlife habitats and biodiversity.
A new study by Graziano Ceddia reveals that greater inequality increases deforestation in Latin America, while less inequality better protects forests. Increasing agricultural productivity can help reduce pressure on remaining forests, but it also incentivizes the conversion of more forests to cropland.
A landmark study found forest soils need several decades to recover from bushfires and logging. Soils recovered very slowly over many years from these events.
A team of researchers has successfully detected rain over the ocean using GNSS Reflectometry, a technique that measures sea surface roughness to infer precipitation. This innovation could provide unprecedented temporal resolution and spatial coverage for monitoring atmospheric precipitation.
A West Virginia University researcher suggests that forests are experiencing declining health due to climate change, leading to unbalanced growth and increased risk of disease. To restore a balanced diet, researchers recommend severely cutting back or ending fossil fuel use.
Researchers found that warmer winters mean more ice on the ground due to increased winter rain, posing challenges for Arctic wildlife and ecosystems. The formation of basal ice can kill plants and starve animals, while rain-on-snow events can lead to avalanches.
A study by Yale scientists reveals that native species dominate New York City's natural areas, containing over 5 million trees, rather than just street trees. This finding highlights the need for conservation policies and management strategies focused on these spaces to manage biodiversity and ecosystem services.
A study by an international research group found that diverse and old forests are best able to perform multiple ecosystem services, including regulating climate and storing carbon. Foresters should focus on specific forest attributes to promote desired services, as no single 'perfect forest' exists.
The HOMED project aims to develop a full panel of scientific knowledge and practical solutions for managing emerging native and non-native pests and pathogens threatening European forests. Forest health will be considered broadly, including trees in forests, nurseries, urban, and rural areas.
Forests in the Pacific Northwest are less vulnerable to drought and fire due to climate conditions. Modeling suggests water-limited forests in the Rockies will be most affected by future drought-related mortality.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that heavy rainfall in the Atacama Desert wiped out most microbe species, contradicting expectations of floral blooms. The research has implications for our understanding of microbial life on Mars and suggests that sudden water exposure can be lethal to microorganisms.
Researchers found that streamside forests store an average of 168-390 tons of carbon per acre in mature trees, while soil carbon can triple with restoration. Actively restoring forests jump-starts the process, gaining more than twice the rate of naturally regenerating forests over the first ten years.
A Yale-led study finds that fragmentation weakens impact of fungal pathogens and insect herbivores, enabling some tree species to thrive near edges. Researchers tested the effect of natural enemies on seedling diversity in fragmented forests, finding that suppression of these enemies led to biodiversity decline.
A recent study found that frequent disturbances to kelp forests can significantly impact marine life, leading to a decrease in commercially desirable fish and shellfish. The experiment suggests that increasing storm frequency could dramatically alter the ratios and types of sea life along the California coastline.