Research suggests that a 5% increase in Antarctic snowfall will lead to a 3cm drop in sea level over 100 years. The increased snowfall also elevates the grounded ice sheet on the continent, causing it to flow more rapidly into the ocean and contributing to sea-level rise.
A study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research reveals that climate change is weakening summer storms in the Northern hemisphere mid-latitudes, resulting in more persistent heat extremes. This reduction in storm activity allows warm weather conditions to endure, leading to an increase in heat waves and droughts.
A new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research suggests that supporting clean technologies like renewables and carbon capture can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions even with weak CO2 pricing. The researchers used a state-of-the-art computer model to analyze different policy instruments and their interactions.
A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that forest protection policies alone will not reduce CO2 emissions from land-use change. Implementing comprehensive conservation schemes covering all land types is crucial, as intensifying agriculture can generate higher yields to compensate for reduced land availability.
A recent study found that increased natural gas production will not significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as market effects dominate. The global deployment of advanced natural gas technology could even lead to up to 10% higher CO2 emissions by the middle of this century.
A new forecasting method uses complex networks analysis to predict extreme rainfall events in the South American Andes. The approach, developed by an international team of scientists, can accurately forecast 90% of extreme rainfall events under El Niño conditions and 60% under other conditions.
A new study suggests Antarctica's ice sheet could become the largest contributor to global sea level rise earlier than thought. The analysis indicates a range of potential increases of 1-37 centimeters in this century, significantly higher than previous IPCC projections. This could have devastating impacts on coastal cities and communi...
Researchers found that trapped atmospheric waves are becoming more frequent, leading to more extreme weather events, particularly during periods of prolonged warm air transport from the tropics to mid-latitudes.
A global study suggests that capturing CO2 emissions is essential to meet ambitious climate targets. Bioenergy and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies can help reduce non-electric energy-related emissions, but their risks need to be investigated further.
Scientists from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that connecting dead ends can significantly increase power grid stability. By adding alternative routes in the network, dead ends make the effects culminate at single points of the network, but judiciously adding transmission lines can repair this.
Researchers found that individual ants' experiences contribute to their foraging success and lead to an optimization of the path. The collective behavior of ants forms a highly efficient complex network, applicable not only to animals with homes but also to human behavioral patterns.
A study suggests that nitrogen pollution can be reduced by 50 percent through targeted fertilizer application, recycling animal dung, and changing consumer habits such as reducing food waste and meat consumption. The findings highlight the importance of addressing nitrogen pollution to mitigate both health and climate impacts.
Climate change impacts vary widely across Africa, with specific regions at high risk due to drought and flooding. The study identifies hotspots in Sudan, Ethiopia, Lake Victoria, and South Africa, requiring adaptive measures to mitigate damage.
A study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that East Antarctica's ice sheet could trigger a persistent ice discharge into the ocean, resulting in a long-term sea-level rise of 300-400 centimeters. This could lead to catastrophic consequences for coastal cities worldwide.
The EU's unilateral leadership in reducing greenhouse gases can limit the 2-degree target overshoot to 0.2-0.4°C, with lower costs for late-comers who delay action but face higher transitional challenges once they decarbonize. Carbon leakage is estimated to be small.
A study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that global food trade can alleviate water scarcity in parts of India, Morocco, and Egypt through imports of agricultural goods. However, exports from countries like Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Afghanistan, and the US exacerbate local water stress.
A new study by Ben Marzeion and Anders Levermann finds that global warming will put 136 cultural monuments at risk, including historical cities like Bruges, Naples, and Istanbul. Sea-level rise will impact not only coastal areas but also regions currently populated by millions of people, leading to the loss of culture and heritage.
A community effort aims to create a comprehensive database of economic flows and resource connections to identify vulnerable bottlenecks in global supply networks. This will enable the development of more resilient economies against future climate extremes.
A new multi-model analysis suggests that achieving a 40% reduction in EU emissions by 2030 is feasible and would require little to no additional costs. The study, led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, found that technological innovation could help reduce costs and meet long-term climate targets.
The Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI-MIP) provides comprehensive climate change projections, identifying regional hotspots of impact types that coincide and interact. The results highlight the need for effective real-world policies to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that climate change will increase global water scarcity, affecting millions of people worldwide. The study estimates that 40% more people will be at risk of absolute water scarcity due to climate change, with significant regional differences in impacts.
A team of 90 international experts expect a sea-level rise of 40-60 centimeters by 2100 and 60-100 centimeters by 2300 under strong emissions reductions. However, unmitigated emissions scenarios predict a high-end value of 1.5 meters or more by 2100 and 4.0 meters or higher by 2300.
A comprehensive analysis of Durban Platform scenarios suggests that climate talks can deliver an outcome consistent with the 2-degree target if global climate action is substantially strengthened. However, delaying action would require higher emission decline rates and larger economic costs.
A new study finds that emissions pricing revenues could be at least twice as high as the estimated profit losses for fossil fuel owners. Climate policies would reduce demand and lower prices, generating strong incentives to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
A study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research projects that up to 13% of the world population may face increased water scarcity by 2100, with regions like Asia and North Africa being particularly vulnerable. The researchers also warn of critical impacts on land ecosystems under global warming.
A new study finds that delaying climate policy could lead to increased short-term mitigation costs, higher energy prices, and reduced emission reductions. If climate policies are delayed beyond 2030, global energy price levels may increase by 80% in the short term.
By 2040, heat extremes are expected to increase substantially due to climate change, affecting 85% of the global land area. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions could prevent this, but current trends suggest a near-term inevitability.
A new study finds that global sea levels could rise by more than 2 meters due to the melting of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. The research suggests that Antarctica will contribute half of this rise, while Greenland will add another quarter.
The study identifies regions with severe climate impact changes in various sectors, including water availability in the Mediterranean. It reveals that locations with strong model agreement are more reliable hotspots than those identified by a single projection, highlighting the need for risk management.
Scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research have developed a novel approach to forecast El Niño events, extending the prediction time to one year or more. The method employs network analysis and was tested successfully, predicting the absence of an El Niño event in the last year.
Computer simulations suggest that Indian monsoon daily variability will likely increase under future global warming, leading to severe impacts on agriculture and communities. The study's findings highlight the need for adaptation measures to account for this increased variability, such as intelligent insurance schemes.
A new study suggests that carbon dioxide removal can alleviate the most costly components of climate change mitigation, allowing for more flexible emissions control. The study found that bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (CCS) could halve aggregate mitigation costs over the 21st century if available.
A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research suggests that man-made climate change traps giant waves in the atmosphere, leading to extreme weather events. The researchers found that prolonged periods of heat stress can occur when warm air is unable to escape, resulting in devastating consequences.
A study published in Climatic Change reveals that global warming has increased monthly heat records by a factor of 5 worldwide. The researchers found that 80% of observed monthly records would not have occurred without human influence on climate, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation.
Scientists at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research propose a new method for measuring system stability, which could help predict tipping points in the Amazon rainforest and assess cancer risk. By analyzing data from diverse systems, researchers found that basin stability is a key factor in determining stability.
A new study published in Nature shows that increased snowfall in Antarctica leads to more rapid ice flow and greater ice loss, contributing to higher sea levels. The research suggests that global warming may accelerate ice discharge from the continent, potentially offsetting any ice gain due to increased snowfall.
Sea levels are rising at a rate of 60% faster than the IPCC's latest best estimates, with satellite data recording a rate of 3.2 mm per year compared to projected 2 mm per year. This increase in sea-level rise is likely due to global warming and correlates well with the increase in global temperature.
A future without climate policy would be catastrophic, with coral reefs collapsing and the Greenland ice sheet melting in thousands of years, says a World Bank report. The poorest nations would be hit hardest, with heat waves, sea-level rise, and yield failures becoming the new normal.
A recent study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that restricting nuclear power has minimal effect on the cost of climate policies. The researchers discovered that early retirement of nuclear power plants would lead to cumulative global GDP losses amounting to around 10-20 percent of climate policy costs.
Researchers found that constraining world trade is unlikely to help combat climate change, as emissions mainly originate from the production process of imported goods. The US current account deficit and China's energy mix are significant contributors to CO2 transfers.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change warns that most coral reefs will be subject to severe degradation if global warming exceeds 2 degrees Celsius. Only a scenario with strong action on mitigating greenhouse-gas emissions and rapid coral adaptation could save two-thirds of coral reefs.
A new study projects significant sea-level rise of up to 3.5 metres even at relatively low levels of global warming, highlighting the need for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Limiting warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius could halve sea-level rise by 2300.
Recent extreme weather events show a clear link to global warming, according to a new analysis of scientific evidence. The study found that warming temperatures lead to more frequent heatwaves and heavy rainfall, but the relationship with storms is less clear.
A new study suggests the Greenland ice sheet may melt completely within 500 years under 8 degrees Celsius global warming, while a 2-degree limit would take 50,000 years to achieve. The melting could accelerate due to feedbacks between climate and the ice sheet, with significant consequences for sea levels.
A new study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research finds that financial support for new technologies is necessary to cost-effectively protect the climate. The simulation shows that without targeted funding, high-cost reduction potential energy technologies will struggle to compete with familiar technologies.
Researchers identify critical thresholds in climate system components that could trigger drastic changes, such as the melting of Arctic sea-ice and Greenland Ice Sheet. These 'tipping elements' require immediate consideration in international climate politics to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences.
Global climate models project significant changes in water availability due to anthropogenic warming, with regions like high latitudes and Mediterranean basin expected to experience substantial decreases. Non-stationarity must be accounted for in water resources planning to ensure effective management.