A new study indicates that extreme heat and drought conditions, like those experienced during the 2023-24 El Niño, may become annual norms for tropical forests within 20 years. This would have severe consequences for the forests' ability to recover between extreme weather events and for the communities that rely on them for food and li...
A new study shows that penguin poop is fertilizing green algae blooms in Antarctica, making snow melt faster and darkening the surface. The algae patches are then more susceptible to warming and melting, leading to the expansion of ice-free areas.
The Mediterranean Sea is warming and becoming saltier at an accelerated pace, even at great depths, with the Adriatic region showing the strongest changes. This acceleration is driven by warming and added salt, which is affecting the sea's deep circulation and marine life.
A new study reveals that sand hoppers, a nocturnal crustacean, are the most effective shapers of California's beaches, moving 110 pounds of sand daily. Their burrowing brings plankton and oxygen-rich seawater, providing nutrients for other beach-dwellers.
A new study reveals that Mercury's surface is 10-30% smaller than previously thought, with impact debris covering the signs of contraction. Researchers used combined maps of geologic evidence and surface roughness to estimate the planet's contraction, finding a total change of up to 14.5 miles in its diameter.
The Arctic Report Card will continue under its independent editorial team with new support from the American Geophysical Union, ensuring a scientifically rigorous product. The report's release is planned for AGU's Annual Meeting in San Francisco, with the full 2026 report to be hosted permanently online.
The 2026 AGU annual meeting will feature over 24,000 attendees presenting research on a wide range of Earth and space sciences topics. Registered press attendees will have access to the press room with dedicated Wi-Fi, working and discussion space, and refreshments.
The first national-level assessment of coastal wetland submergence reveals that 84% are gradually inundating due to climate change-driven sea level rise. However, some wetlands may be able to migrate inland or build up sediment fast enough to keep pace with sea level rise.
A new study has mapped landslide hazard zones across the US, revealing that 6.5 million Americans live in areas prone to landslides. The research highlights a significant urban-rural divide in disaster preparedness, with rural residents facing greater challenges in recovering from such events.
A new study suggests that a global blanket of dust after the Chicxulub asteroid impact trapped and radiated enough heat to ignite worldwide wildfires, killing even the thickest-skinned animals. The intense heat pulse would have been 3.5 times more intense than without the dust blanket.
The Perseverance rover has discovered evidence of repeated asteroid impacts creating a 3.9-billion-year-old 'weather report' from early Mars, preserving a record of variable-sized impacts and potential interaction with water or ice. The findings offer insights into one of the most turbulent chapters in the solar system's history.
A new study finds that cities with slower urban development tend to maintain plant communities and their climate benefits, while faster-developing cities experience declining productivity. The researchers hope their findings will inform urban development strategies to maximize plant growth.
A new study finds that deforestation in the southern Amazon can trigger severe reductions in rainfall, even under a changing climate. The authors estimate that limiting deforestation to 10% of the area may be necessary to maintain annual rainfall and protect agricultural livelihoods.
A new study reveals that wildfires in the Western US have decreased by 28% over the past three decades, with fires starting from natural causes declining more than those caused by humans. The findings suggest that higher population densities lead to fewer fires, while adding people to less populated areas makes blazes more common.
Researchers project that 28% of the global population will face heightened exposure to hot-dry extremes by the 2090s, concentrated in low-income, tropical nations. Limiting emissions could avert a lot of risk, with about 18% of the population facing this level of exposure under current climate action plans.
Researchers have observed and measured weak electrical discharges, known as coronae, on trees during thunderstorms for the first time. The phenomenon may impact canopy health, with coronae burning leaf tips and potentially damaging trees over time, sparking further investigation into its effects.
A recent study suggests that lunar spacecraft exhaust methane can contaminate areas of the moon where original ingredients of earthly life may be found. The pollution can unfold rapidly, with more than half of the total exhaust methane settling in regions potentially harboring prebiotic organic molecules within seven days.
A recent study recreated the July 4 flood conditions and found multiple spots upstream where local communities could have placed water level monitors to give early warnings about rising water. The research aims to make those sensors cheap, easily accessible, and open source so anyone can use them.
Western US faces a 'fire deficit' with 74% of areas behind on annual burns, requiring 3.8 million hectares of forest to burn each year over decade. Strategies like prescribed burns and managed wildfire use can help address the issue.
A new study uses radar technology to reveal crumbling dams across the US, threatening socially vulnerable communities. The research aims to create a country-wide database of unsafe dams, their flood risks, and impacted communities.
Research finds that Category '6' tropical cyclones are increasingly common in hot spots such as the Western Pacific and North Atlantic, fueled by warmer subsurface water. Human-caused climate change is responsible for up to 70% of the growth of these storm-brewing hotspots.
Research suggests soil microbial communities are a top predictor of childhood allergic disease rates, with certain assemblages appearing linked to better health outcomes. The study found that specific soil microbes promote health, while others negatively impact disease prevalence.
Agrivoltaics systems can significantly augment quality of life for farmworkers by providing shelter from the sun, cooler drinking water, and reduced fatigue. Researchers found that these systems can reduce wet bulb globe temperature by up to 5.5 degrees Celsius, making them a crucial tool in protecting farmworkers from heat stress.
A new study finds that even Australia's most protected marine areas will likely suffer extreme climate shocks by 2040, threatening thousands of marine species. The effects will be widespread, with 'safe havens' disappearing as ocean conditions considered extreme today become the new normal.
Researchers found compound drought-heatwave events rippling and persisting through the night, exacerbating heat-related health risks. Soil dryness plays a key role in triggering these extreme events, which can affect crops, wildfires, and daily life.
A new study found that historic droughts could become common for Gatún Lake, the main source of water for the Panama Canal locks. The study projects that water levels will decrease and increase evaporation under high-emissions scenarios.
A new study developed a flood-forecasting AI that can be tuned for any country, reducing errors in national flood prediction programming. The hybrid model combining the AI with the National Water Model was four to six times more accurate, improving forecast accuracy and potential economic impacts of floods.
A new study predicts an increase in western US wildfires sparked by lightning strikes, with 98% of the region seeing more risk days by 2060. The western US is expected to see a significant rise in lightning days, with areas like Oregon and Idaho experiencing up to 12 more days per summer.
The 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from February 22-27, 2025. The event will bring together 6,000 scientists, students, and educators to discuss breaking research on the ocean sciences and critical issues affecting a sustainable future for our oceans.
Rapidly melting glaciers in High Mountain Asia are causing water volume to increase by 10% or more in at least 10% of rivers, including the Yangtze, Amu Darya, and Syr Darya. This surge can bring short-term benefits like increased hydropower and agriculture, but also poses risks such as sediment increases and glacier loss.
Janice R. Lachance, a highly respected association executive, has been selected as the new Executive Director and CEO of the American Geophysical Union. She brings a strong intellect, capacity, and commitment to leading the global scientific enterprise into a more sustainable future.
A new study reveals that wild birds such as pelicans and peregrine falcons are carrying and spreading the H5N1 virus from poultry farms to new areas worldwide. The research highlights the need for revised monitoring and treatment strategies to protect human health.
The American Geophysical Union has opened a new application portal for U.S. researchers to self-nominate as experts, authors, and review editors for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Seventh Assessment Report. The nomination period is open until mid-April.
A single storm delivered over 16 billion tons of snow to Greenland, offsetting the sheet's annual ice loss and delaying summer melt. The study found that under right conditions, atmospheric rivers might not be all bad news for the Greenland Ice Sheet.
A study found a strong link between woody cover and large wildfire occurrence in the eastern US, with a 37% increase in woody vegetation over the last 30 years. In some regions, such as eastern Texas and the Appalachian Mountains, each 1% increase in woody cover led to a 3.9% increase in wildfire risk.
A new study maps Arctic coastal communities and infrastructure, revealing that 21% of settlements will face damage due to erosion, while 45% will be affected by sea level rise. By 2100, 77% of the Arctic infrastructure may sit on ground no longer frozen solid.
Climate change may lead to more frequent and deadly avalanches in the California range, posing a significant threat to endangered bighorn sheep. The species' fragile existence is threatened by reduced forage and increased avalanche mortality.
Research reveals that US cities in Western states had the highest average smoke levels over five years, but 2023 saw metropolitan areas like Baltimore flooded with unhealthy smoke. The algorithm helped identify cities with significant air pollution from wildfires, including Sacramento, Medford, and Bend.
A new analysis of over 3,000 studies reveals that flooding increases preterm births by around 3% and low birth weights in children born during flood events. The study highlights the need for emergency services to evacuate pregnant people before flooding events.
Mother seals prefer stable, slower-moving bergs for giving birth and caring for newborn pups, while in the molting season, they favor speedier ice near the best foraging grounds. This study sheds light on how climate change affects harbor seal distribution and behavior.
Researchers found that virtual fences created a more gradual transition between native grassland and fully grazed areas, increasing native habitat for pollinators and birds. This transition zone, spanning over 15 meters, provided a greater variation of vegetation heights compared to fenced rangeland.
The Middle East and North Africa are projected to experience up to 9 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, surpassing the 2-degree threshold. The region's dry deserts make it difficult for cooling through soil moisture evaporation, leading to rapid warming.
Researchers propose that a fracture in oceanic crust beneath the volcano's caldera wall caused the massive January 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai. A seismic wave detected 750 kilometers from the seamount may provide valuable early warning signals for impending eruptions.
A new framework for responsible decision-making and inclusive dialogue has been launched by the American Geophysical Union to address the risks of geoengineering research. The framework proposes five key principles to guide research, funding and policy proposals, including consideration of physical, environmental and social consequences.
A new study finds that slow-moving landslides are frequently excluded from estimates of landslide risk, threatening people living on unstable slopes. Urban growth, climate change, and flood risk drive population shifts to safer areas, yet poorer populations may have limited options.
A new study finds that summer storms are stronger and more frequent over urban areas than rural areas, leading to increased flooding in cities. The research highlights the need for urban planners to prepare for floods as cities expand and climate change alters global weather patterns.
Scientists propose alternative explanation for doldrums' lack of wind, attributing it to sinking air masses and clear weather conditions. The study challenges traditional textbook explanation and offers new insights into the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Major US water reservoirs are experiencing longer and more severe periods of low storage, threatening critical water supplies. The study found that reservoirs in the western and central United States were most affected, with many seeing significant declines in maximum water storage.
Researchers estimate that installing solar panels on highways could generate 17,578 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to more than 60% of the world's total energy consumption. This could reduce carbon emissions by up to 28% and improve road safety through shielding cars from inclement weather.
Researchers predict a rise in clear air turbulence over most northern mid-latitude regions due to climate change, particularly in North Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East. The study found that the probability of clear air turbulence will increase with each degree of warming, posing a significant threat to aviation safety.