Articles tagged with Climate Change Effects
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh used computer models to predict the effect of climate change on North Atlantic coral populations. They found that a shift in winter weather conditions could threaten the long-term survival of these populations, which are maintained by tiny coral larvae.
The study analyzes albedo effects on climate change induced by converting land to produce biofuels, finding corn ethanol has a net cooling effect while miscanthus and switchgrass exhibit net warming effects. The research provides a more accurate picture of climate effects of biofuel feedstock production.
A study led by the University of Washington found that large forest die-offs can alter global climate patterns and affect vegetation on the other side of the world. Removing trees in western North America causes cooling in Siberia, while forests in South America benefit from increased precipitation.
A recent study found that shallow coral reefs in Singapore can recover rapidly from bleaching events, despite high levels of sedimentation. The team's research suggests that diverse shallow coral communities can persist in adverse conditions, highlighting the resilience of corals to environmental stresses.
A long-term experiment found that plant mixtures with high diversity alleviated flooding effects on crops, while monocultures were more vulnerable. Soil properties improved in diverse mixtures, allowing for faster water drainage and higher oxygen levels.
A new study found that climate change may be amplifying the effects of wavy jet stream patterns, contributing to severe cold winters. The research improves long-term forecasting of winter weather in populous regions, benefiting communities and economies.
A Harvard University study predicts that climate change will lead to more frequent political party turnovers and increased focus on short-term policies, potentially hindering long-run climate mitigation strategies.
Indirect effects of rising CO2 levels, such as changes in soil moisture and plant structure, have a bigger impact on ecosystems than previously thought. These effects can explain up to 28% of total plant productivity response and are almost equal to the size of direct effects on evapotranspiration.
A five-year study in Harvard and Duke forests found that adding warmth predicted in climate-change models destabilized forest ant communities. The loss of stability makes communities less resilient and slower to rebound when disturbed, with relative abundance of thermophilic species growing while heat-intolerant species declining.
A national survey found that awareness of Laudato Si' did not increase concern over climate change, but rather polarized views among Catholics and non-Catholics. Liberals who knew about the encyclical were more concerned about climate change than those who didn't.
Yale researchers argue that most climate change ecology research focuses on single variables and trophic levels, leading to incomplete and inaccurate predictions. A more complex, integrative approach is needed to explore interactions between food web components and accurately predict ecosystem responses to climate change.
The 'robomussels' have tracked internal body temperature, enabling scientists to pinpoint areas of unusual warming and develop strategies to prevent extinction of certain species. The findings can reveal emerging hotspots, allowing policymakers and scientists to intervene before it's too late.
Microbiologist Kristen DeAngelis receives $2.5 million grant from US Department of Energy to study soil microbes' impact on carbon cycle. The research aims to improve understanding of how climate change affects soil carbon storage and develop new methods for modeling microbial contributions to global carbon cycling.
Climate change and sea-level rise will increase the frequency of floods like Sandy's in NYC, with projected increases of up to 17 times more frequently. The study predicts that floods as intense as Sandy's will occur at least three times more frequently by 2100.
A new study by researchers at the University of Idaho and Columbia University finds that human-caused climate change has nearly doubled the amount of land burned in western US forest fires over the past three decades. The study estimates that human-caused climate change caused an additional 16,000 square miles of western forest lands t...
International ATS physicians report that climate change affects patients in various ways, including increased chronic disease severity and heat-related effects. The survey also highlights the impact of climate change on air pollution, which has well-established links to respiratory health.
Researchers estimate that dams and reservoirs release 1.3% of total human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, a quantity that should be included in global inventories. The authors suggest that careful dam siting and management can help balance the positive ecosystem services of reservoirs against greenhouse gas emission costs.
A University of Washington study links Atlantic Ocean slowdown to changes in the Southern Hemisphere, which affects eastern North America and Western Europe. The shift is not driven by Arctic sea ice melting but rather by winds in the Southern Ocean.
Americans have divided views on climate change causes, cures, and scientist trust; liberal Democrats generally support science role in policy. Moderate views exist on individual actions to reduce climate change.
Researchers found that international trade shifts climate impact from consuming to producing regions in East Asia. Aerosols emitted through industrial production or fossil-fuel burning contribute to climate change, with stronger forcing in producing than consuming countries.
A study published in Nature Climate Change found that Amazon forests with greater plant diversity can better adapt to climate change, enabling substantial regrowth in vast areas after a few hundred years. However, high biodiversity is crucial for long-term survival and resilience, particularly under moderate climate change scenarios.
A recent study has disentangled the impact of the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption on global mean sea level trends. The research reveals that the eruption effectively distorted calculations of sea level rise in subsequent decades, masking the acceleration caused by climate change.
A new study finds that trade liberalization could buffer economic losses in agriculture due to climate change, with potential savings of up to 2.5 trillion US Dollars. The research highlights the importance of trade as a key measure to reduce climate change impacts on the agricultural sector.
A Yale-led study found that haze in China significantly drives the urban heat island effect, unlike in the US where vegetation plays a key role. The research highlights the paradoxical impact of smaller aerosol particles, which cool surfaces but larger ones radiate heat.
A new Yale-led study estimates that by mid-century, over 82 million people will experience 'smoke waves,' or consecutive days with high air pollution related to fires. The regions likely to receive the highest exposure include northern California, western Oregon, and the Great Plains.
Several southeastern US ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change, including Caribbean coastal mangrove, Edwards Plateau limestone shrubland, and southern Appalachian balds. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and rising sea levels pose significant threats to these ecosystems.
A new study reveals that greenhouse gases are already accelerating sea level rise, but the impact was initially masked by the massive 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. The study finds that removing the eruption's cooling effect from satellite records shows a clear acceleration in sea level rise over time.
A new Concordia study reveals that climate change may be one of the biggest emerging threats to primates, with 419 species expected to experience 10% more warming than the global average. The researchers identified hotspots of primate vulnerability in Central America, the Amazon, and Southeast Asia.
A new study reveals a strong link between environmental conditions and search and rescue incidents in Nunavut, Canada. The risk of accidents peaks around -3 C temperatures, posing significant challenges to Inuit hunting activities and cultural identity.
A new study has discovered a diverse range of plant enzymes, including Rubisco, that have superior characteristics for improving crop photosynthetic efficiency. The research found that some plant species produce more effective Rubiscos than major crops like wheat and soybean, which could help address global food security.
A study found that carbon-finance-approved cookstoves had only moderately lower indoor concentrations of pollutants compared to traditional stoves. The improvements were less than anticipated, with some families even continuing to use traditional stoves due to their preference for certain dishes.
A new study combining future climate projections and tree-ring records reveals that North American forests will likely struggle to offset climate change. Forests, which currently absorb 25-30% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions, are expected to grow slower in the face of warmer temperatures and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
A 24-year study of Fowler's Toads has created a model to predict the impact of climate change on animal behavior. The model uses weather records to forecast when toads will emerge from hibernation, revealing that warming temperatures are causing this shift to occur earlier.
An international team of researchers is using big-data approach to plan effective conservation by modeling climate-change response of over 100,000 species. The project aims to identify regions and ecosystems that preserve biodiversity and critical ecosystems, reducing extinctions due to climate change.
A new study by Colorado State University researchers found that ptarmigan in Colorado are not strongly affected by recent climate warming trends. However, annual reproduction declined at one site due to warmer spring temperatures leading to earlier breeding.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $8.4 million in funding to study and develop new approaches for the US agriculture sector to adapt to climate change. The funding will support research on reducing energy, nitrogen, and water use, as well as training community-based volunteers to become 'climate masters,'
Researchers found large-scale patterns of cloud change between the 1980s and 2000s, including poleward retreat of mid-latitude storm tracks and expansion of subtropical dry zones, consistent with climate model predictions.
A study analyzing climate and mortality data reveals that 64-506 deaths in London and Paris can be attributed to anthropogenic climate change, increasing the risk of heat-related mortality by 20% and 70%, respectively. The analysis will help agencies create more accurate emergency plans for extreme weather events.
A study published by the University of Oxford found that man-made climate change was responsible for hundreds of deaths in two European cities during a 2003 heatwave. The research used computer simulations and health impact assessments to estimate the number of premature deaths attributed to climate change.
Research finds The Blob had a stronger negative impact on marine productivity than El Niño off the West Coast, with ocean warming slowing nutrient flow and reducing ecosystem productivity. The study uses real-time data from autonomous gliders to assess the effects of major climate disruptions.
New evidence suggests that ocean circulation slowed during every one of the temperature plunges in the Northern Hemisphere during the last ice age, contributing to abrupt climate changes. This finding supports the view that changes in ocean circulation were responsible for causing these events.
A new model predicts that up to 3,331 people could die annually from heat exposure in NYC by the 2080s, but reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting measures could save an additional 1,779 lives. Limiting emissions could also reduce heat-related deaths by limiting to moderate greenhouse gas trajectories.
A new study finds that climate scientists who practice what they preach are more credible and have a greater impact on the public. The research suggests that personal behavior plays a significant role in shaping the perception of scientists' credibility, with a carbon footprint being a key factor.
A new study projects a four percent increase in acres burned by wildfire in the Southeast by 2060, with substantial uncertainties and variations by state and ecoregion. Climate change models and societal changes, including land use and population growth, are key drivers of this projected increase.
A new study found that only 2% of the eastern US provides climate connectivity, compared to 51% in western states. Creating climate-specific corridors could improve connectivity to 65%, boosting survival chances.
A study by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research predicts that future summers could be hotter than any on record if climate change continues unchecked. However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions could lower the global probability of such extreme heat to 41 percent.
A new study published in Science Advances reveals that the global economic network is twice as susceptible to workers' heat-stress as it was a decade ago. The analysis shows that small daily perturbations due to extreme temperatures can cause significant production losses, which can be spread easily across countries.
A new study using an economic model found that climate change will significantly impact farmland values in the US Southwest, with highland counties expected to be more affected than lowland counties. Irrigation and farm subsidies increased farmland value, while heat waves hurt productivity.
Researchers analyzed US senators' Twitter accounts to find a divide in their views on climate change, with Democrats following science-related organizations three times more often than Republicans. However, the study also identified 15 Republican senators who bridged the gap and displayed interest in science.
A recent study by the University of Vermont found that irrigation systems in wine-producing regions of New Zealand led farmers to perceive their local area as cooler and wetter than it actually is. This misperception can slow efforts to address climate change, according to the research.
A leading physician argues that family planning is highly cost-effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advocates for voluntary family planning as a crucial strategy. Studies show that having one less child can reduce carbon legacy by up to 9441 tonnes, more than other eco-actions.
The University of Southampton is part of a £5.3 million programme to create robust national infrastructure planning tools. It will provide framework for information analysis and networking to inform strategic decisions, pinpoint vulnerabilities and risks.
Neanderthals in Europe showed signs of nutritional stress due to extreme cold, suggesting climate change was a contributing factor to their demise. Their remains revealed more intense bone processing during colder periods, highlighting the impact of harsh environments on human evolution.
A study in the Western Antarctic sector found that fin and humpback whales do not share the same habitat or feeding grounds. The two whale species are instead connected to different krill species, with Euphausia superba being the primary source of food for both.
A study found that temporary streams suffer from a significant decline in invertebrate species during droughts, with only three species remaining after a long drought and 24 species after shorter dry spells. The research highlights the potential consequences of climate change-related increases in drought length on aquatic ecosystems.
Researchers found that moderate floods have a significant impact on river shaping, increasing erosion rates. However, extreme floods have limited additional effect on channel geometry, suggesting that landscapes can stabilize over long-term climate shifts.
A study published in Climatic Change found that emphasizing the collective causes of climate change significantly increases willingness to donate, whereas personal responsibility framing has little effect. The researchers surveyed over 1,500 participants and found a consistent increase in donations when framing the issue collectively.
A new journal by Princeton University and Brookings Institution highlights the need for children to be central to climate change debates due to their larger stake in the outcome. The issue outlines policies to mitigate harm caused by climate change on children's health and wellbeing.
Researchers at Arizona State University found that a particular type of cyanobacteria can bore into and live within solid carbonates, hastening coral reef erosion. The microbe orchestrate cell-to-cell calcium transport, developing specialized cells to store and regulate calcium levels.
A study of 44 US climate-adaptation plans found that local communities apply diverse strategies to combat climate change, but often fail to prioritize goals or provide implementation details. The plans also lack clarity on metrics for measuring progress and addressing uncertainty related to climate-change impacts.