A new study found that 34% of the Arctic-boreal zone is now a source of carbon, with fires and microbial activity contributing to emissions. The research provides a comprehensive assessment of carbon fluxes in the region, highlighting the importance of monitoring these processes.
A new study reveals the Arctic is experiencing extreme climate changes, with Siberia and Alaska facing significant warming and drying. Permafrost is a common factor in vulnerable regions, and local data can support more effective management and adaptation approaches.
Most Earth System Models lack accurate representation of permafrost dynamics, a crucial factor in future climate projections. Funding constraints and limited resources are preventing model development from capturing the full scope of complex permafrost processes.
A new study provides a globally consistent dataset identifying opportunities for increased carbon storage on land to address the climate crisis. The research offers an actionable framework for facilitating climate-smart restoration land management strategies, with forests and soils showing significant potential for expanding land-based...
Researchers from Environmental Defense Fund and Woodwell Climate Research Center recommend a regional crediting framework to strengthen the integrity of the voluntary soil carbon market. Implementing this approach can help ensure measurable, reliable, long-term climate solutions.
A new study found black spruce trees' ability to regenerate after fire dropped by 38% and failed completely at 18% of sites. This trend threatens the iconic species' place as dominant tree species in boreal North America, with implications for biodiversity and carbon storage.
A new study found that climate-related disasters have surged since 2019, with devastating floods, heat waves, and wildfires. The study calls for a phase-out of fossil fuels and strategic climate reserves to address the climate crisis.
A new paper suggests that current carbon budgets fail to account for permafrost thawing and Arctic feedback loops, exacerbating warming and potentially triggering an exponential increase in emissions. Global leaders are urged to incorporate the latest science into climate models and update risk assessments to meet climate goals.
The RCP 8.5 scenario is the most appropriate for assessing climate change impacts by 2050 due to its close agreement with historical emissions and current policies. This scenario tracks within 1% of actual emissions, making it a useful tool for informing societal decisions on climate issues.
A new study published in Science finds that the scientific basis for the EPA's 2009 Endangerment Finding is even stronger now than it was then. The research assesses changes in the nine years since the finding was issued, expanding on climate change impacts for public health and welfare.
A new study reveals that tropical forests are now a net source of carbon to the atmosphere, emitting nearly 425 teragrams annually. Despite gains from forest growth, losses due to degradation and disturbance account for most emissions, with Latin America bearing the brunt of loss.
Scientists warn of self-reinforcing cycle of permafrost thaw and global warming. Experts call on world leaders to act now to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion.
A new study projects more extreme weather in the Amazon, with frequent and extensive droughts expected to impact forest structure, biomass, and carbon emissions. The region will experience profound implications for the environment, including increased greenhouse gas emissions.
A new paper published in Biogeosciences confirms that the Earth's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has increased with rising carbon emissions. This is a positive development, as it suggests that without this increased absorption, CO2 levels would be twice what they are today.
A new study found that large protected areas in the Xingu River Basin have limited the negative impacts of expanding agriculture on the region's water cycle. The research combined fieldwork, satellite data, and dynamic vegetation models to simulate the water budget, finding that deforestation has had a small effect on the area.
The new map is based on a collaboration between the Woods Hole Research Center and Mexican institutions, integrating field measurements with satellite data to provide continuous estimates of carbon stocks. This biomass map represents an important step forward in accounting for carbon emissions from the land sector in Mexico.
A new study by Brazilian researchers demonstrates that converting degraded pastureland to sugar cane biofuel crops can provide a nearly immediate carbon payback. The Cerrado region in Brazil has seen over half of its land cleared for agriculture, but using this land for sugar cane production could help slow climate change.
A new study quantifies the implications of recent changes to Brazil's Forest Code, identifying opportunities and challenges for conservation. The law reduces the area to be reforested from 500,000 km2 to 210,000 km2, sparking concerns over environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity.
A new study found that prolonged droughts cause more intense and widespread wildfires, consuming more forests than previously understood. Climate change is expected to lead to shorter rainy seasons and longer dry seasons, increasing the risk of forest fires.
A new study found that growing season gains from permafrost thaw are outweighed by increased winter respiration, leading to enhanced carbon losses. The research suggests that the Arctic's stored carbon could reach catastrophic levels within a century if permafrost continues to thaw.
The study creates maps of habitat corridors connecting protected areas in the tropics to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The corridors provide opportunities for carbon sequestration and avoiding emissions from deforestation.
A new study predicts that large-scale Amazon deforestation will reduce the region's natural carbon sink and inflict climate feedbacks, decreasing pasture and soybean productivity. By 2050, biomass on the ground could decline by up to 65% due to forest removal and resulting climate change.
The study highlights the importance of sustainable land management in reducing deforestation and preserving ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, combined with policies and incentives, can minimize environmental degradation and secure the health of forests and streams in the Amazon and other tropical regions.
Rising temperatures are expected to lead to a massive 'greening' of the Arctic, with wooded areas increasing by up to 50% over the next few decades. This dramatic change will accelerate climate warming at a rate greater than previously predicted, having significant impacts on the global ecosystem.
Researchers discovered a significant reduction in temperature and vegetation seasonality in northern latitudes, with temperatures increasing at different rates during the four seasons. This has led to increased plant growth productivity, covering over 9 million km2 of land.
The Woods Hole Research Center has awarded the Lawrence S. Huntington Environmental Prize to Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, a renowned leader in sustainability and climate change. Dr. Brundtland's vision of sustainability has inspired generations of scientists and policymakers.
Research reveals glaciers record anthropogenic perturbation, highlighting the impact of human activities on the global carbon cycle. The study found that glacier ecosystems are post-industrial and provide a unique perspective for understanding climate change.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change provides a high-resolution map of aboveground biomass density for the world's tropical forests, leading to better tracking of changes in biomass density and improved estimates of carbon emissions. With this map, countries can accurately report their greenhouse gas emissions under the UNFCCC.
A new study reveals human land use activity is altering the Amazon basin's regional water and energy cycles. The research found signs of transition to a disturbance-dominated regime in the southern and eastern portions of the basin, linked to high-frequency wildfires and climate change.
The National Biomass and Carbon Dataset (NBCD) provides unprecedented spatial resolution of 30m, offering comprehensive assessment of forest structure and carbon stock within the lower 48 States. This dataset will advance understanding of US natural resources, biodiversity conservation, wildfire risk assessment, and timber production.
A new study reveals a shift in biomes in Alaska caused by a warming climate, with patterns supporting current hypotheses of increased evergreen forest growth at tundra margins and declining productivity at temperate forest edges. The findings provide a regional picture of forest productivity that did not previously exist.
A new study examining the effects of drought in the Amazon found that relatively undisturbed forests are tolerant of seasonal drought. The research used remote sensing and field-based studies to demonstrate this resilience and identified potential mechanisms controlling vegetation productivity across the Amazon Basin.
A new pan-tropical forest mapping initiative, launched at COP15, aims to provide accurate data on forest cover and carbon stocks. The project combines satellite and lidar data from NASA and JAXA, enabling countries to build robust national carbon accounting systems.
A new study suggests that Brazil can end deforestation in the Amazon by 2020 with the help of market forces and government will. The estimated cost of achieving this goal is between $6.5 billion to $18 billion, which would result in a 2-5% reduction in global carbon dioxide emissions.
A new study examines the potential ecological damages and benefits of REDD mechanisms, finding substantial co-benefits for watershed functions, local climate regimes, and terrestrial habitats. The analysis suggests that a balanced approach to REDD is crucial to avoid leakage and ensure ecosystem integrity.
A team of international students and scientists will spend a month in the Siberian Arctic studying the transport and transformations of carbon and nutrients. The focus is on understanding linkages among ecosystems and how processes in one component influence others.
Scientists have released the first national biomass and carbon dataset, which provides high-resolution estimates of forest biomass and carbon stock. The dataset, known as NBCD2000, is being made available for download on a zone-by-zone basis and offers valuable information for quantifying the carbon stock in U.S. forests.
A recent study reveals that dissolved organic carbon in Alaskan arctic rivers is remarkably labile during the spring flood period, challenging the prevailing paradigm. This finding suggests that riverine inputs of DOC may have a larger influence on coastal ocean biogeochemistry than previously realized.
The Polaris Project aims to train future leaders in arctic research and education, addressing the urgent need for scientific knowledge on global warming in the Arctic. The initiative includes field courses, research experiences, and outreach activities, supported by a $1.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
The research provides the first synoptic view of industrial logging in Central Africa, enabling conservation agencies and governments to better gauge its impact on forests and their inhabitants. The expansion of logging poses a significant threat to biodiversity and climatic change.
Halving deforestation rates by mid-century could prevent one billion tons of carbon from being transferred to the atmosphere through deforestation. Brazil has demonstrated that it is feasible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from tropical deforestation, with nearly half its deforestation rates cut in recent years.
Researchers at Woods Hole Research Center are using laser remote sensing (lidar) to study biological diversity and predict bird species richness. Lidar data provides unique measurements of vegetation structure, which is linked to habitat complexity and animal species richness.
Scientists at the Woods Hole Research Center are expanding a two-year pilot phase to create a national biomass and carbon dataset for US forests. The dataset will improve current methods of determining carbon flux between vegetation and the atmosphere.
Research suggests tundra areas are greening over the entire growing season, with boreal forests showing significant greening in May and June. However, these gains are offset by browning in July and August, highlighting a need for improved process models of ecosystem responses to climate change.
Scientists at the Woods Hole Research Center have developed high-resolution maps of the built environment for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, capturing impervious surface cover and its implications for biogeochemical and hydrological processes. The new maps are being used to assess water quality and inform restoration efforts in the region.
A new model predicts that implementing effective governance and conservation policies could preserve up to 73% of the Amazon forest by 2050. The study highlights the urgent need to redirect economic forces towards sustainable development and conservation.
A study by Dr. Davidson examines the factors influencing soil carbon decomposition, particularly in arctic and boreal regions, where warming can release massive amounts of stored carbon. The research aims to establish a common framework for understanding these processes and inform climate change mitigation strategies.
A study using satellite data found that indigenous lands are highly effective in stopping deforestation, with some areas showing less than 1% inner deforestation rates despite high rates of outer deforestation. This contradicts the assumption that indigenous peoples will cease to protect forests with acculturation.
Researchers and students are working together to advance scientific understanding of the role of major arctic rivers in the changing arctic and global systems. The Student-Partners Project aims to collect high-frequency river water samples, fostering appreciation for the pivotal role rivers play in the Arctic System.
A study using satellite observations found increased photosynthesis and growing season length in Canadian tundra, while forests declined in photosynthetic activity. The decline is linked to long-term warming and drying, challenging initial predictions of predictable forest changes.