Researchers found sea floor erosion has increased water depths by more than predicted, threatening coastal communities with storms and erosion. Coral reefs worldwide are declining due to various forces, including climate change, overfishing, and pollution.
A study published in The Cryosphere shows the Alps could lose up to 70% of snow cover by the end of the century unless global warming is kept below 2°C. However, if emissions are controlled, the reduction would be limited to 30% by 2100.
The 1430s were one of a kind, with extremely cold winters and normal to warm summers, resulting in food production failures, rising prices, subsistence crisis, and increased mortality rates. The study suggests that natural factors caused the climate anomaly, which had significant impacts on European societies.
A recent study published in The Cryosphere suggests Antarctic sea ice has barely changed in size over the past 100 years. Researchers used ship logbooks from explorers like Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton to compare ice edge locations during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration with modern satellite data.
Glacial lakes in Bolivia are increasing in size, posing a threat to communities and infrastructure downstream. The study found that glacier recession could lead to glacial lake outburst floods, which have already occurred in the region, causing devastating effects on villages and farmland.
Researchers used oceanographic data to calculate the movement of MH370 debris, finding that the most probable locations for additional washed-up debris are Tanzania and Mozambique. The main wreckage is likely to be in a wide search area between 28°S and 35°S.
Scientists at Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation discovered wildfire changes in cave dripwater chemistry, which will be preserved in stalagmites. The study highlights the need to carefully interpret dripwater data, including trace metals, to avoid wrongly attributing climate change.
Researchers used a new mapping technique called Fodar to settle the debate on the highest peak in the US Arctic. The study found Mt Isto to be the tallest at 2735m, surpassing previously disputed peaks Mt Chamberlin and Mt Hubley.
Researchers found significant differences in climate change impacts for 1.5°C and 2°C global warming by 2100, including higher sea levels, longer heat waves, and coral reef degradation. Tropical regions are projected to bear the brunt of these impacts.
Researchers from Swiss and German institutions analyzed truffle samples for radioactivity 30 years after Chernobyl. The study found negligible amounts of radioactive caesium in Burgundy truffles, making them safe for consumption. The results suggest that the unique nutrient uptake mechanism of Tuber aestivum may be responsible for this...
Journalists Terri Cook and Phil McKenna have been awarded the EGU Science Journalism Fellowship to investigate sustainable water development and seismic wave mitigation. They will explore how artificial floods support water development and whether trees can weaken seismic vibrations.
The study uses satellite images to show how glaciers flow and change over a longer time period, revealing complex behavior such as advancing or surging at speeds up to 100 times faster than normal. The animations provide a new look at glacier dynamics and can be used as educational tools to help the public understand glacier movement.
A new study finds that reducing short-lived pollutants like methane and aerosols can substantially improve air quality while also mitigating climate change. The measures, which target the oil and gas industry, could lower global temperatures by up to 0.22°C by 2050 and reduce life expectancy losses due to air pollution.
Researchers developed a model to simulate Mediterranean tsunami impact, showing how waves would hit and flood coastal areas in southern Italy and Greece. The study highlights the need for local authorities to identify vulnerable areas and plan defense strategies.
Researchers used a high-resolution computer model to estimate West Antarctica's ice sheet loss over the next couple of centuries, predicting significant sea-level rise contributions. The study suggests that West Antarctica could lose 80,000 cubic kilometers of ice by 2100 and 200,000 cubic kilometers by 2200.
A team of scientists in Germany and Switzerland have identified the fungus Exidiopsis effusa as the cause of hair ice. The researchers found that the fungus enables the ice to form thin hairs, which are stabilized by a recrystallisation inhibitor provided by the fungus.
A new study reveals that humans deliberately caused about a third of floods in southwestern Netherlands between 1500 and 2000. The deliberate flooding was used as a tactic during the Eighty Years' War, with significant changes to the landscape resulting from these inundations.
Researchers warn that Himalayan glaciers in the Everest region could experience dramatic change, with sustained ice loss likely through the 21st century. The study suggests that increased temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns will lead to reduced glacier growth and increased melt, impacting water availability and river flows.
Researchers detect human fingerprint of industrial pollutants in Borneo rainforest, revealing impact on ozone layer and forest health. Air pollution from East Asia affects air quality in equatorial Southeast Asia, introducing chemicals to the stratosphere.
A new study suggests that smart agricultural practices and trade networks enabled the Romans to thrive despite a water-limited environment. However, this stable food supply promoted population growth and urbanization, pushing the Empire closer to its food resources limits.
Researchers have mapped elevation changes in both Greenland and Antarctica using satellite data, revealing the ice sheets are losing volume at an unprecedented rate. The study shows that the two ice sheets combined are thinning at a rate of 500 cubic kilometres per year, contributing significantly to sea level rise.
The deep sea provides essential services to humans, including nutrient-rich fish stocks, waste management, and reserves of oil, gas, precious metals, and rare minerals. Its unique ecosystems also host life forms with potential for new antibiotics and anti-cancer chemicals.
New research suggests that Antarctic sea ice expansion may have been incorrectly measured due to a processing error in satellite data. This finding could affect climate change reports, particularly those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Researchers analyzed hundreds of sunset paintings to retrieve information on the composition of past atmospheres. The red-to-green ratios in these paintings correlate well with volcanic aerosols in the atmosphere, providing alternative ways to estimate pollution levels. This study validates previous findings and has implications for im...
Jakobshavn Isbrå reaches unprecedented summer speeds of over 46m per day, exceeding 4 times the speed of the 1990s. The glacier's increasing speed contributes to sea-level rise as it adds more ice to the ocean.
Researchers found that low atmospheric CO2 concentrations acted as a 'carbon starvation' brake, slowing down weathering rates and reducing forests' ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. This mechanism helped maintain stable CO2 levels and climate over millions of years.
Journalists Sybille Hildebrandt and Chelsea Wald have been awarded the EGU Science Journalism Fellowship for their projects on palaeontology and soil sciences. They will receive funding to pursue research trips to Canada and Scotland, respectively, in order to investigate key scientific questions.
Research predicts increased frequency and intensity of droughts in southern Europe, with potential reductions in river flow levels up to 40% by 2100. Climate change and intensive water consumption will exacerbate drought conditions, worsening their socio-economic impacts.
Researchers found that geoengineering methods to reduce temperature by reflecting sunlight are unlikely to restore the planet's original climate. This is because altering sunlight can have unwanted effects on the Earth's water cycle and rainfall patterns.
The project utilizes GPS-equipped cars with varying wiper systems to measure rainfall intensity, offering a promising alternative to traditional rain gauges. By analyzing sensor readings, researchers can create a more extensive network of measurement points, leading to improved flood prediction and prevention.
Researchers have identified areas in Antarctica where ancient ice cores could hold records of the past 1.5 million years, shedding light on Earth's climate history. The identified regions are near major domes in East Antarctica, offering a chance to drill into an ice core extending back that far.
Researchers found that pigeons can use changes in volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere to determine their direction and find their way home. By analyzing these chemical changes, pigeons can associate specific smells with particular wind directions, allowing them to navigate back to their lofts.
A new study reveals that over 80% of the world's ice-free land is at risk of profound ecosystem transformation by 2100. Up to 86% of natural land ecosystems worldwide could be affected, with changes including boreal forests becoming temperate savannas and rainforests facing dieback.
Research found that tiny plankton thrive under elevated CO2 levels, drawing down nutrients and reducing carbon export to the deep ocean. This could lead to a decrease in ocean's ability to regulate global climate, with significant implications for ecosystem balance and greenhouse gas production.
Scientists have developed a new method to measure the height of Northern Lights using digital SLR cameras, with results published in Annales Geophysicae. The technique uses parallax to calculate the distance to the aurora and has been successfully tested in Alaska.
Researchers propose carbon farming as an environmentally friendly method to sequester massive amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. A new study shows that one hectare of Jatropha curcas plants could capture up to 25 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year, making it a competitive alternative to other geoengineering techniques.
A new study provides conclusive proof of a space wind first proposed 20 years ago, detected by the Cluster spacecraft in the Earth's magnetosphere. The wind releases almost 90 tonnes of plasma into space every day.
Researchers used GPS data to measure ground deformation caused by a large underwater earthquake, providing accurate warning of the resulting tsunami in just a few minutes. This method can provide fast, detailed, and accurate tsunami alerts, overcoming limitations of traditional seismological methods.
Glaciers in the tropical Andes have been retreating at an increasing rate since the 1970s, with a 30-50% shrinkage since then. Climate change is blamed for this rapid melting, which could affect water supply to Andean populations.
Researchers found that 87% of large (8.6 magnitude or higher) earthquakes are associated with intersection regions between oceanic fracture zones and subduction zones. This connection is less striking for smaller earthquakes, which are more common.
A study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics predicts that most of the world's population will face degraded air quality by 2050 if man-made emissions continue as usual. The average world citizen will experience similar air pollution to today's average East Asian citizen, resulting in severe health effects.
A team of European scientists found that geoengineering could lead to significant rainfall reduction in large areas, including a 15% decrease in North America and 20% in parts of South America. Climate engineering is unlikely to be a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study finds that seismic faults close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have reactivated after a magnitude 9 earthquake in March. The researchers warn of a higher risk of large earthquakes disturbing the region, which could potentially cause another nuclear disaster.
Journalists Alexandra Witze and Jane Qiu win €2,500 Geosciences Communications Fellowship for book and climate change projects respectively. The EGU General Assembly invites all winners to attend in Vienna from April 22-27, 2012.