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Beyond borders: Understanding migration requires understanding changing land systems

Researchers are studying how environmental changes lead to migration and how migrants impact landscapes both at their destinations and origins. Climate change, deforestation, and socioeconomic inequalities are key drivers of this complex relationship, according to Claudia Radel, a geographer and migration researcher.

SourceS.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University·JournalCurrent Opinion in Environmental Sustainability·DateSep 6, 2019

Tiny airborne particles from wildfires have climate change implications

A recent study by Arizona State University researchers found that tarballs, tiny organic particles formed during wildfires, can significantly impact local and global climate. The team's analysis revealed that tarballs form through chemical and physical changes of organic aerosols within the first hours following smoke production.

SourceArizona State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 5, 2019

'100-year' floods will happen every 1 to 30 years, according to new flood maps

Researchers at Princeton University have created new maps that predict coastal flooding for every county on the Eastern and Gulf Coasts. The study finds that 100-year floods could become annual occurrences in Northern coastal towns, primarily due to sea level rise. In more southern latitudes, storms are expected to increase in strength...

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 22, 2019

Shocking rate of plant extinctions in South Africa

According to a study published in Current Biology, 79 plants have been confirmed extinct from South Africa's three biodiversity hotspots since 1700, representing 45.4% of all known plant extinctions from 10 world hotspots. The main drivers for these extinctions are agriculture, urbanisation, and invasive species.

SourceStellenbosch University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 22, 2019

Mapping the effects of drought on vulnerable populations

Climate change and drought are exacerbating malnutrition outcomes in children worldwide, with stunting affecting at least one-third of children in Africa and South Asia. A new study maps the effects of drought on child nutrition, identifying areas most vulnerable to climate shocks and factors influencing vulnerability.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 12, 2019

Volcanoes shaped the climate before humankind

A series of large volcanic eruptions between 1808 and 1835 significantly altered the global climate, causing droughts in Africa and increased precipitation in Europe. The study's findings have implications for defining a pre-industrial climate and setting climate targets.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 24, 2019

How climate change disrupts relationships

A study by University of Würzburg scientists found that climate change accelerates the flowering of pasque flowers, outpacing the emergence of solitary bees, which rely on these plants for food. This disruption can lead to reduced seed production and reproductive success in plants, while negatively affecting bee populations.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 24, 2019

US military consumes more hydrocarbons than most countries -- massive hidden impact on climate

Research by social scientists reveals the US military is one of the largest climate polluters in history, consuming vast amounts of liquid fuels and emitting significant CO2e emissions. The study calculates part of the US military's impact on climate change through its global logistical supply chains.

SourceLancaster University·JournalTransactions of the Institute of British Geographers·DateJun 19, 2019

Leaving microbes out of climate change conversation has major consequences, experts warn

Experts warn that leaving microbes out of the climate conversation has major consequences. Microbes are crucial in regulating climate change, supporting animal and human health, agriculture, and the global food web. Climate change impacts microbial populations, exacerbating disease spread and threatening global food supplies.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalNature Reviews Microbiology·DateJun 18, 2019

Past climate change: A warning for the future?

A new study of past climate changes and their effects on ancient societies offers lessons for the future. Climate disruptions in prehistoric Amazonia, such as changes in rainfall patterns and agriculture, may be comparable to the current human-caused climate change affecting most parts of the world.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJun 17, 2019

Climate change benefits for giant petrels

A new study finds that climate change will benefit giant petrels with warmer weather and improved foraging conditions, allowing them to dominate access to carrion on land and travel less at sea. However, females may be harmed by increased longline fishing, which could impair their survival.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateJun 12, 2019

Community impacts from extreme weather shape climate beliefs

A recent study by Duke University researchers found that how a community or neighborhood fares in an extreme storm or flood has a stronger and more lasting effect on climate beliefs than individual losses. Damage at the zip-code level was positively associated with stronger climate change beliefs even three or four years after the event.

SourceDuke University·JournalClimatic Change·DateMay 31, 2019

Using the past to unravel the future for Arctic wetlands

Researchers reconstructed past moisture conditions and vegetation histories to understand how Arctic wetlands have responded to warming temperatures over the last century. The study found that under certain conditions, Arctic wetlands may transition into peatlands, creating new natural carbon storage systems.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 28, 2019

Marching for climate change may sway people's beliefs and actions

Research suggests that climate change marches can increase collective efficacy beliefs, making people more optimistic about working together to address the issue. Participants who regularly consumed conservative media showed increased efficacy, while those who watched liberal media had more favorable impressions of marchers.

SourcePenn State·JournalFrontiers in Communication·DateMay 23, 2019

Research links civic engagement to resilience

A University of Otago study found that acts of civic engagement, such as volunteering and helping a neighbor, buffer people from adversity and promote well-being. These simple acts of kindness not only benefited victims but also strengthened the well-being and resilience of those giving them.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalThe Australian and New Zealand Journal of Organisational Psychology·DateMay 15, 2019