Research on the consequences of a changing climate. Covers food and water disparities, sea-level costs, forest resilience, and shifting ecosystems.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Research reveals that tropical cyclones in the southeastern United States increase forest photosynthesis and growth, capturing significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. This effect significantly exceeds carbon emissions from American vehicles each year.
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.
A new study led by NCAR scientist Matthew Long finds that ocean deoxygenation caused by climate change will become detectable between 2030 and 2040, posing a major threat to marine life. The researchers used the Community Earth System Model to quantify large-scale changes in oxygen in the oceans.
A new study finds that climate change will disproportionately affect African antelopes with the smallest geographic ranges, exacerbating their already high risk of extinction. The researchers predict a significant decline in suitable habitat for these species, particularly those adapted to cooler and drier climates.
A new method combines structured expert judgment and probabilistic inversion to provide a single, consistent set of probabilities for future sea-level rise. This approach aims to address the lack of formality in evaluating climate model uncertainty, which can impact policy and preparedness.
A Duke University study finds that framing climate change as a win-win issue can exacerbate opposition and trigger a significant negative effect among polarized audiences. Messages that conflict with audience's partisan identity fail to sway skeptics and instead make them more opposed to governmental action on the issue.
A recent study found that carbon dioxide fertilization is responsible for 70 percent of the greening effect on Earth's vegetated lands over the past 35 years. Nitrogen also plays a significant role in this process. The study used satellite data to determine the leaf area index, or amount of leaf cover, over the planet's vegetated regions.
A new study suggests that Americans' skepticism towards climate change may be partly due to the perception of milder winters and dryer summers. This cognitive dissonance between self-experienced changes and long-term threats makes it challenging for people to make climate-conscious decisions.
Ecohydrologist Lixin Wang investigates the impact of non-rainfall water sources on drylands, focusing on fog and dew. He aims to better understand ecosystem functions and interactions with limited knowledge of these sources in dryland environments.
Climate change will have devastating consequences for public and individual health unless aggressive, global action is taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions. ACP recommends that medical schools incorporate climate change-related coursework into curricula.
The American College of Physicians calls for immediate global action to combat the health impacts of climate change, including heat-related illnesses and malnutrition. A new policy paper highlights the need for physicians to educate themselves and their patients about climate change's effects on human health.
Researchers warn that copper contamination and climate change may hasten the extinction of two amphibian species due to increased copper toxicity and reproductive failure. The study found that even low levels of copper can be lethal to amphibians, highlighting the need for industries to reduce copper use.
Thousands of islands face severe climate change impacts, including increased evaporation and freshwater scarcity. A new modeling approach shows that 73% of small islands will become more dry by mid-century, affecting 18 million people.
Research assistant professor Ezra Wood will investigate nighttime atmospheric chemistry of wildfires and their effect on climate. The study aims to quantify hydrogen oxide radicals and understand how long compounds last in the air.
Rising temperatures in Northern Mongolia are causing salmon metabolism to increase exponentially, putting some species near their limits of tolerance for warm water. This could push these species out of one of their last refuges as the climate continues to warm.
Researchers found that plant gases released in response to climate changes can form clouds that reflect incoming solar radiation, cooling the ground and mitigating temperature rises. This effect is more sensitive than CO2 release through plant respiration, with a 20-fold increase in sensitivity to temperature rise.
The world water cycle is becoming increasingly unstable, posing significant risks to political stability and economic growth. Long-term water cycle stability will not return in the lifetime of anyone alive today, warns UN water expert Robert Sandford.
A new study by MIT scientists predicts widespread water shortages in Asia by 2050, with 1 billion more people becoming water-stressed. Economic and population growth, combined with climate change, exacerbate water-access problems.
A study of loess accumulation in the northeastern Iranian Golestan Province and south Tajikistan reveals widespread dust storms and a semi-arid climate during the early Pleistocene. The findings suggest that an arid environment developed in mid-latitude Asia, consistent with other regions experiencing aridification during this period.
Researchers use satellite data to quantify cloud base updraft speeds and aerosol particles' ability to create cloud droplets, providing critical information for understanding climate change. The study aims to reduce the uncertainty around global warming estimates by 1.5 to 4.5 degrees by the end of the 21st century.
Researchers found that a person's preconceived ideas, shaped by socialization and politics, influence their views on climate protection. Economic justifications and personal aspects like health do not sway skeptics, highlighting the need for comprehensive communication strategies.
A new study by the University of Southampton found that people are worried about the increase in global population, focusing on food and water shortages, species extinctions, and catastrophic consequences. The researchers discovered that individuals who perceived greater risk were generally those who indicated a willingness to adopt mi...
A new study estimates that climate change could lead to twice as many deaths from reduced fruit and vegetable intake compared to undernutrition. The research predicts that changes in diet composition and bodyweight could cause around 529000 extra deaths globally by 2050, with China and India being the most affected countries.
A new review in the Annals of Global Health explores the health consequences of climate change, including increased vector-borne diseases, foodborne illnesses, and mental health problems. Experts call for decisive action to prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change on public health.
Researchers warn about the limitations of microsatellites in genetic diversity studies, highlighting the importance of sequencing flanking regions to minimize homoplasy. The study's findings suggest that using markers designed for a different species can lead to inaccurate conclusions.
A Harvard University study finds that grasslands across North America will experience an earlier start to the spring growing season and warmer winter temperatures, offsetting climate change's negative effects. However, this shift in seasonal patterns presents new management challenges for farmers and ranchers.
Research predicts an earlier start to spring growing season and warmer winter temperatures in North American grasslands, partially offsetting negative effects of higher summer temperatures. Annual productivity is expected to increase despite drought-induced reductions in summer productivity.
A new method quantifies monetary losses from coastal floods under sea-level rise, showing that damage costs consistently increase at a higher rate. The study provides estimates of average annual costs of sea-level rise over longer time periods, helping policymakers assess adaptation measures.
A new Yale-led study suggests that climate change reallocates global wealth in unpredictable ways, leading to a potential net loss in global wealth. The researchers argue that price impacts in resource-rich areas can significantly affect wealth reallocation.
Scientists create a computer simulation that grows realistic forests down to individual trees to predict how climate-related changes will affect fire rates, plant growth, and forest recovery in Quebec hardwood forests. The 'LES' model can help identify necessary species for reestablishing forests after wildfires and other disturbances.
A new climate model developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison can better predict changes to the ocean-carbon sink, a crucial factor in understanding future climate change. The improved predictive capacity allows scientists to distinguish human-induced effects from natural variability.
Researchers found consistent patterns in species distribution shifts within assemblages, influenced by temperature and depth. Climate change impacts vary between regions, affecting predator-prey interactions and fisheries management.
The Island Mass Effect hypothesis explains why seas surrounding islands are more productive. Phytoplankton growth creates a self-sustaining cycle, supporting life from small fish to top predators.
A new study suggests that optimized rain use and irrigation can increase crop yields globally, particularly in water-scarce regions like China, Australia, and Mexico. This approach to crop water management could make a crucial contribution to filling the plates of the poor and increasing climate resilience for smallholders.
Rising temperatures and extreme weather events will negatively impact global crop production, leading to higher food prices and scarcity. Global markets with the ability to deliver food where it's needed most can help counterbalance these effects. Trade agreements can significantly moderate the worst effects on food security.
New research predicts more frequent extreme weather events will disrupt global food production, leading to 'food shocks' that can wreak havoc on markets and families worldwide. The study highlights the increasing interconnectedness of global food systems, making countries vulnerable to distant production shocks.
A study led by UMass Amherst ecologist Kristina Stinson examines climate change's impact on maple syrup quality, including its chemical composition. The researchers aim to predict maple syrup quality under future climate conditions and explore management strategies.
A new study by the University of Reading predicts that climate change will delay transatlantic flights due to accelerated jet stream winds. This will result in longer journey times, increased fuel costs, and worsened environmental impacts.
A long-lasting cooling in the northern hemisphere coincided with the Justinian plague pandemic and contributed to the decline of the eastern Roman Empire. The researchers found that a series of volcanic eruptions led to a dramatic cooling, affecting food supplies and causing major famines.
A study published in Nature Climate Change looks at climate change over the next 10,000 years, finding that catastrophic impact will persist even after carbon dioxide releases cease. The research shows that sea level rise will continue for thousands of years, affecting land and population centers.