A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that greenhouse gases played a significant role in the near-record US warmth in 2006. The research team found that greenhouse gas increases enhanced the probability of record-breaking temperatures by approximately 15-fold, making El Nino an unlikely contributor.
Recent tsunami and storm events, such as the 2004 Sumatra tsunami, caused widespread damage along North America's Atlantic coast. In contrast, the Antarctic Bottom Water has warmed within recent decades, with temperatures rising by 0.0028ºC each year. Additionally, climate changes around 8,200 years ago were linked to the final drainag...
Researchers found correlations between plentiful sunspots and heavy rain in East Africa, with peak sunspot activity preceding heavy rainfall by about a year. This link could enable public health officials to prepare for insect-borne diseases and flooding.
Heat waves on the continent have doubled and the frequency of extremely hot days has nearly tripled since 1880, according to a new study. The average length of heat waves is now around 3 days, compared to 1.5 days in 1880.
Scientists assess natural variation in solar irradiance's impact on Earth's temperature. Early humans' adaptability to high northern latitudes is also studied, indicating a prominent presence around 1 million years ago.
Scientists analyze data from the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Moon's surface to predict tropical cyclone development, assess ocean temperature and salinity changes, develop new tsunami forecasting methods, and understand lunar surface composition. These findings shed light on the impacts of climate change on extreme weather e...
Research reveals a 20-year reversal in water mass trends in the subtropical North Atlantic, with upper waters warming and intermediate waters cooling. This finding suggests complex mechanisms drive oceanic responses to global warming.
Climate researchers predict salt marshes in Venice Lagoon may not survive future climate changes due to increased sea-level rise. Meanwhile, scientists have observed high-speed streams of charged particles called sprites, which blaze at incredible brightness and brief duration. The Amazon rainforest also emits large amounts of methane,...
The Three Gorges Dam in China is shrinking the Yangtze delta due to sediment retention. Meanwhile, a new model suggests that massive methane releases from Arctic permafrost are unlikely in this century. Satellite data also reveals complex flood wave patterns in the Amazon River, which can improve hazard identification. Additionally, hi...
A new report suggests that ocean warming may cause changes to the planet's rotation, potentially shortening the length of day by approximately 0.12 milliseconds. Additionally, researchers have found a link between seasonal seismicity in the Himalayas and fluid infiltration, which could modulate earthquake generation.
Scientists have discovered that earthquake-induced gravity field changes can slowly recover to initial conditions, possibly due to simultaneous diffusion of mantle water. This self-healing system could significantly reduce permanent shifts in the Earth's rotation axis by earthquakes. Meanwhile, recent trends in Arctic Ocean mass distri...
A burst of protons from the Sun in 1859 caused unprecedented ozone destruction, with energy released six times larger than a 1989 solar flare. Simultaneously, research suggests that ancient Farallon plate movement may have triggered massive earthquakes in the central US, shedding light on seismic hazards.
A new satellite method has overcome an obstacle to measuring atmospheric water vapor, providing valuable insights for studying climate and weather. Meanwhile, researchers suggest that irrigation may be causing regional cooling that masks the effects of greenhouse gas warming in certain regions.
Researchers modeled Martian radiation environment to determine if life can survive; three-dimensional models improve predictions for glacial isostatic adjustments. A new method using seismic noise images volcanoes in three dimensions, offering improved volcanic hazard assessment.
Scientists study correlations between solar energy and global ice volume, finding inverse trends that challenge previous studies. They also investigate decomposing methane gas hydrates on the Arctic Shelf, suggesting a possible link to pingos and subsidence.
Researchers studied the effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption on Earth's climate, finding that natural aerosols have a cooling effect and that coupled climate models should be tested for their response times. Additionally, scientists investigated the link between Antarctic and Indian Ocean temperatures, suggesting Subantarctic Mode Wate...
Scientists analyzed data from a devastating 2006 Java earthquake that triggered a tsunami, leading to the development of an early warning system for earthquakes. Researchers also studied tectonic processes causing subsidence in Louisiana, while investigating ways to monitor volcanic explosivity through ground deformation near vents.
Scientists explore factors that pulled Earth out of its 'Snowball Earth' state and study seismic wave speed in the lower mantle. Researchers also investigate water vapor in Saturn's upper atmosphere using Cassini radio occultation data.
Two studies show that land surface evaporation increased during the second half of the 20th century. Researchers also found a more stable geomagnetic field with greater symmetry, while a third study analyzed the October 2005 Pakistan earthquake and found shallow slip with structural control.
Research highlights the impact of manmade aerosols on oceanic heat content in the Southern Hemisphere, which may exacerbate climate change. Atmospheric models also improve representation of lower-tropospheric turbulence anisotropy.
Researchers found a connection between Antarctic ice sheet mass balance and weather systems worldwide, suggesting that storms in the Pacific Ocean may influence calving and iceberg breakup. This discovery provides new insights into past climate shifts and potential mechanisms linking global climate and weather patterns.
Scientists tracked air pollution from Alaskan-Canadian forest fires to Houston, finding a 50-100% increase in ozone levels within five kilometers of the city. This event highlights the impact of long-distance pollutants on local air quality and emphasizes the need for improved forecasting.
Researchers found that plasmaspheric drainage plumes can overload the dayside reconnection site, reducing solar wind coupling and influencing auroral activity. Climate models also predict increased carbon emissions due to rising temperatures, especially in southern regions of the US. Additionally, remote wind forcing played a role in t...
The Arctic Ocean's perennial sea ice shrank by 730,000 square kilometers between 2004 and 2005, replacing it with more vulnerable seasonal ice. The loss of perennial ice raises concerns about future ice retreat and its impacts on the environment and marine transportation.
Climate scientists analyzed data to determine that global warming is increasing Atlantic hurricane intensity. Additionally, the water cycle is changing, with seasonal trends shifting into spring. The study also found a connection between atmospheric tides and weather in the tropics influencing the equatorial ionosphere.
A new study establishes a direct connection between global warming and hurricane intensity, predicting increased damage from Atlantic hurricanes. The research uses statistical analysis to link average air temperatures during hurricane season to sea surface temperatures, vital for nourishing hurricane winds.
Research papers explore the effects of glacier shrinkage on alpine uplift, challenge previous theories on the mantle transition zone, and use stratospheric oxygen/nitrogen ratios to constrain carbon uptake budgets by the biosphere and ocean. Mineral dust aerosol emission is also enhanced by electric forces.
Researchers found Alpine glaciers lost 35% of surface area between 1850-1970, with potential disappearance by 2100 under 3 degree Celsius warming. Meanwhile, weekly wobble in Earth's rotation pole was observed and predicted using atmospheric models, explaining centimeter-level displacements during the 2005-2006 winter season.
A study predicts Alpine glaciers could disappear within the century due to rising temperatures and precipitation changes. The majority of glacier cover is expected to be lost if summer air temperature increases by three degrees Celsius, with only the largest glaciers surviving in the 22nd century.
Scientists propose using GPS to aid in ocean-wide tsunami warning systems by detecting early seismic wave data. Researchers also explore unsolved problems in the lowermost mantle, including the origin of the D
Researchers studied polar motion over three and a half months, finding small loops up to a cell phone size due to weather patterns and oceanic influences. The study demonstrates day-to-day changes in atmospheric pressure affect Earth's rotation for the first time.
Researchers studied particle flow inside coronal streamers to understand space weather hazards. Turbulence within an oceanic mixed layer was found to inhibit sedimentation of planktonic particles. Zonal currents in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean were observed to flip direction, affecting water transport and zonal mass balance.
The American Geophysical Union convened an interdisciplinary conference to discuss the science behind hurricane protection and rebuilding on the US Gulf Coast. Key findings include the need for improved seasonal forecasts, better wind data, and enhanced shoreline topography to simulate storm surge and flooding probabilities.
Researchers found that beaver dams enhance hydrologic processes during peak flow and low flow periods, creating environments suitable for wetland formation and persistence. The study suggests that beavers play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem diversity by altering river systems worldwide.
Research papers in Geophysical Research Letters highlight climate change impacts on Mars, with data from orbiting spacecraft and rovers revealing a hemispheric dichotomy. In the Arctic, sea ice reduction is linked to inflows from the Pacific Ocean, while the Indian Ocean experiences decadal variability in its circulation. Scientists st...
A new study using ancient climate data reveals a two-way feedback loop where greenhouse gases increase with temperature, accelerating global warming. The research suggests that ignoring this effect could lead to revised estimates of future warming by up to 50%.
The Rwenzori Mountains' glaciers are receding at a rate of tens of meters per year, halving their area between 1987 and 2003. The researchers expect the remaining ice to disappear within twenty years due to increased air temperature without significant changes in precipitation.
A team of researchers found that the 2004 tsunami contaminated coastal drinking water sources in Sri Lanka by pouring seawater into open dug wells. The study also showed that efforts to restore wells were sometimes counterproductive, causing more contamination.
Research papers highlight the influence of Himalayan topography on monsoon rainfall and reveal self-gravity wakes in Saturn's A ring. Additionally, studies show complex ion chemistry on Titan's nightside and suggest ammonia ions in Titan's ionosphere.
Research papers in Geophysical Research Letters and Paleoceanography reveal the connection between terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and intracloud lightning, as well as the potential of dinoflagellate microfossils to document past climate changes. The findings suggest that these marine organisms can provide valuable information on ocean c...
Research papers predict increased solar flares and storms due to enhanced solar radiation. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is expected to strengthen with climate change induced by increasing greenhouse gases. Deep atmospheric convection enhances natural greenhouse gas feedbacks, leading to an amplified positive water vapor effect.
Regional climate model simulations indicate a significant increase in extreme precipitation events in Alpine regions and northern European locations above 45 degrees latitude. In Scandinavia, unusually strong events once expected to occur every century will now occur at 20-40 year intervals.
AGU recognizes Tom Siegfried's tenure at the Dallas Morning News for creating a respected science department and mentoring young writers. He is the recipient of several awards, including the Science-in-Society Award and the Grady-Stack Award.
Scientists studied magma chamber pressure changes following a massive lava-dome collapse on Montserrat, finding an unprecedented increase in pressure. Another study revealed a simplified model of rock fracture dissolution, which predicts a power-law distribution of channel lengths. Additionally, researchers explored aerosol transport a...
Mangroves are a significant source of dissolved organic carbon in the ocean, accounting for nearly triple the estimated amount previously thought to be released from smaller-scale estimates. The mangrove root system slows down the release of carbon-rich leaf litter into shallow sediment, where it is then leached into coastal waters.
Researchers have identified two large subglacial lakes in East Antarctica, which may harbor exotic ecosystems. Additionally, a study found that global sea levels likely rose by 195 millimeters between 1870 and 2004, with a rate of 1.7 +/- 0.3 mm/year.
The Times-Picayune won a special award for its consistently excellent coverage of scientific research on the vulnerability of New Orleans to hurricanes and other environmental impacts. Michelle Nijhuis, writing for High Country News, won the Walter Sullivan Award for her three-part series on global warming in the West.
Research highlights the impact of aerosols on ocean temperature, with manmade aerosols delaying warming by several decades. Ship emissions also make clouds brighter and higher near European harbors.
Research on Martian aurorae reveals localized ultraviolet emissions near magnetic field lines. Air pollution reduction could exacerbate global warming due to increased solar radiation scattering. A new study detects potential oilfield brine leaks in Nueces Bay, Texas, using sediment resistivity and radium isotope analysis.
Researchers studied hurricane-force wind estimation using synthetic aperture radar and found a newly-developed model outperforms previous methods. Additionally, weakened thermohaline circulation led to increased snow cover over Europe due to reduced atmospheric circulation and changed climate influences. The Arctic Ocean's change also ...