Articles tagged with Climate Change Adaptation
A new study reveals that more than half of the world's protected areas are at risk from climate change, with severe extinctions and altered landscapes predicted. Countries such as Benin, Bhutan, and Ecuador face the greatest threats, highlighting the urgent need for consistent data to develop solutions.
Scientific reports predict that global agriculture may decline in some regions due to unconsidered complications from climate change. The authors suggest that temperature rises may lead to crop losses, disease outbreaks, and decreased livestock productivity.
The University of Miami Rosenstiel School has launched a new lab to study the effects of climate change on corals, using controlled temperature and carbon dioxide conditions. The lab aims to understand how corals will respond to increased ocean acidity and warming in the next 50-100 years.
Scientists analyzed DNA samples and found that ancient Alaskan gray wolves are genetically distinct from modern wolves. They lived in Alaska continuously from at least 45,000 years ago until approximately 12,000 years ago.
Researchers at the University of Manchester are developing tools to adapt urban landscapes to heat islands, aiming to increase human comfort and reduce harmful carbon emissions. The SCORCHIO project will provide a detailed picture of how urban 'heat islands' impact temperatures during hot months.
A study by Conservation International finds that existing protected areas remain effective in the early stages of climate change, but adding new ones would maintain species protection in future decades and centuries. The research concludes that anticipating the need for new protected areas and getting them created in the short term wil...
A new study by Carnegie Institution and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory reveals that global warming has already affected global food supply, with average yield drops of 3-5% for every 1 degree F increase in temperature. The study estimates annual losses of $5 billion for major food crops.
A study found that warming temperatures since 1981 have caused annual losses of roughly $5 billion for major cereal crops. Global crop yields respond negatively to warmer temperatures, with a 3-5% drop in yield for each 1 degree Fahrenheit increase.
A team of science policy experts argues that adaptation to global climate change is essential for securing a future on a warming planet. They emphasize the importance of sustainable development and building resilient societies in minimizing negative effects.
Researchers found that different regions require varying amounts of cold to delay flowering, with some requiring as little as four weeks of cold. This discovery could help breed crops that can thrive in changing climates.
Researchers are developing climate-ready crops to withstand heat, drought, and flooding, aiming to boost agriculture's role in reducing greenhouse gases. The CGIAR is focusing on refining a comprehensive climate change agenda to streamline research and improve crop yields.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks study proposes four policy strategies to sustain people and the environment in a dramatically warming climate. The first strategy focuses on adaptability, while the second emphasizes biological diversity as a buffer from change.
Researchers predict that climate change will reduce cyclamen's ideal climate range by over 60% within the next 50 years, putting many species at high risk of extinction. Mathematical modeling indicates that the plant may disappear from certain regions by the 2050s.
According to new research, severe climate change was the primary driver of civilization's development. People were forced into close proximity due to diminishing resources, leading to the creation of large urban societies. The transition to urban living resulted in increased inequality, harder lives, and decreased health and nutrition.
Recent changes in agricultural practices, such as more irrigation and higher yielding crops, can cool local temperatures by up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The study suggests that climate mitigation policies focusing only on carbon sequestration may be too simplistic.
Rapid climate changes during the Pleistocene Holocene transition led to the extinction of mega fauna and forced humans to adapt constantly. The environment became more stable in the Holocene, but with less variety.
Farmers in Norway are threatening to scale up bird scaring efforts unless compensated for crop damage, posing a threat to pink-footed geese migration. The model predicts severe consequences for the population if scaring is implemented abruptly, highlighting the need for compensation and adaptation strategies.
Climate change is expected to shift the suitable ranges of blue oak and valley oak in California, with potential habitats shrinking by nearly half, posing a challenge for conservation planning. The study highlights the importance of regional climate models for accurately predicting species' responses to climate change.
Researchers discovered that cattle grazing can reduce wetland flooding by an average of 50 days per year. Climate change could exacerbate this impact, but conservationists may find grazing presents opportunities to adapt to changing conditions and mitigate climate variability.
A new study suggests that tropical organisms are highly intolerant to temperature changes, which could lead to mass extinctions. The research implies that climate change will have a devastating impact on the tropics, with organisms struggling to adapt to small temperature shifts.
A new website, CCIR-NY, offers scientific answers to basic questions about climate change and its impact on New York City. The site provides information on potential flooding of transportation infrastructure, saltwater intrusion into water supplies, and erosion of public beaches.
A research team has confirmed that ocean circulation in the southern hemisphere adapts to sudden changes in the north, enabling more accurate forecasts of ocean reactions to climate change. The study reveals a mechanism linking the two hemispheres, with waters in the southern hemisphere playing an active role in sudden climate changes.
As climate change intensifies, humans will become more vulnerable to heat-related mortality, air pollution-related illnesses, infectious diseases, and malnutrition. Developing climate forecasts and warning systems can mitigate future health problems, but it's crucial to avoid maladaptation and take proactive measures to minimize risks.
Research funded by ESRC found that organisations with informal contact networks are more flexible and effective in responding to environmental crises. Informal networking broadens knowledge, establishes trust and enables quicker decision-making in emergencies.
A recent study published in Science has found that tropical vegetation changes lagged local tropical climate shifts by 25 to 50 years. This contradicts previous research suggesting a high-latitude trigger for abrupt climate shifts. The researchers used sediment cores from the Cariaco Basin in Venezuela to make their findings.
A study of 27 top wine regions' temperatures and wine quality over the past 50 years reveals rising temperatures have impacted vintage quality. Climate modeling predicts a 2°C temperature rise in the next 50 years, which may improve cool-growing regions but harm warm regions.
Researchers found that during a short-term global warming event, animals became smaller due to the effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on plant growth. As climate returned to normal, animals regained their normal size.
Dr. Richard B. Alley, a leading expert on abrupt climate change, cautions that current models may underestimate the severity of future climate changes. He suggests policymakers should plan for contingencies to address resource scarcity and conflicts.
Researchers aim to better understand West Africa's climate trends and model potential impacts on the region's water resources, agriculture, and energy sector. The study's findings could help inform regional plans for adapting to climate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of hydroelectric power.
Researchers used computer models to simulate the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on cotton crop yields, predicting a 26-36% increase in yields. The study's findings suggest that climate change may have a positive impact on US cotton production.
A study by Julie Etterson found that native prairie plants like the partridge pea may not adapt quickly enough to changing climate conditions. The plants' evolutionary responses to drought and heat are unlikely to keep pace with the predicted rate of climate change, threatening their survival.
A new study by UI atmospheric scientists reveals a 54% chance that climate sensitivity exceeds the IPCC's upper bound, posing significant risks to humanity. The researchers propose an adaptive-decision strategy to mitigate uncertainty and facilitate robust climate-change policy.
A new study suggests that an adaptive-decision strategy can reduce costs and damages associated with climate change. By observing the climate system and making mid-course corrections, policymakers can make more reasonable and defensible choices about climate-change policy.