Research on the consequences of a changing climate. Covers food and water disparities, sea-level costs, forest resilience, and shifting ecosystems.
A recent USDA Forest Service study found that warming temperatures and acidity threaten coldwater aquatic species in the southern Appalachians, with an estimated 10-20% loss of habitat for brook trout. The research highlights the importance of watershed management and climate adaptation planning to mitigate these impacts.
A study found that climate change can rapidly alter plant genetic diversity, but also enable an 'evolutionary rescue' through increased adaptability. The research suggests that genetic diversity may buffer plants against harmful effects of climate change.
A new NASA study reveals that the presence of vegetation is crucial in mitigating urban heat island effects, which can raise temperatures by 1.9°C in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas. The study found that replacing impervious surfaces with vegetation can reduce temperature differences by up to 1.3°C.
Researchers found a strong link between high wildfire risk in the Amazon basin and devastating hurricanes that ravage North Atlantic shorelines. This connection is crucial for developing better seasonal outlooks for drought and fire risk in the Amazon.
A recent study models the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity, predicting that warming oceans will lead to significant changes in species distribution. The researchers found that some species will expand into new regions, while others with restricted ranges are likely to face extinction.
Researchers found that stronger winds forecasted by climate change could exacerbate the time females take to find food compared to males, affecting their wellbeing and potentially population sizes. This study on UK coastal seabirds highlights the impact of wind conditions on bird behavior.
Climate change is affecting UK's blanket bogs, impacting rare upland bird species like dunlin, golden plover, and red grouse. The loss of crane fly prey due to summer droughts could lead to a 50% decline in dunlin numbers, 30% in golden plover, and 15% in red grouse by 2051-80.
Coral reefs are under pressure from climate change, which may reduce their ability to protect tropical islands against wave attack and erosion. The study suggests that coasts fronted by relatively narrow reefs with steep faces and deeper reef flats will experience the highest wave runup and greatest potential for island flooding.
A new analysis reveals that society has been discussing climate-related effects like heat waves and droughts since well before the climate changed. This social evidence counters attacks on climate science and presents a useful argument for climate action.
Researchers developed a laboratory device to mimic landscape formation, finding that hillslope processes play a key role in shaping valleys. The study's findings support a popular theory on landscape evolution, suggesting a scale-dependent balance between tumbling sediments and runoff processes.
A University of Maryland study has found that extreme heat and precipitation events are associated with increased risk of Salmonella infections, particularly in coastal areas. The research team identified a disproportionate impact on coastal communities, highlighting the need for public health preparedness and response to climate change.
Researchers found that cooler temperatures increase milk output in lactating females, while also slowing the growth of their young due to increased energy expenditure. In contrast, warmer temperatures limit milk production in mothers while benefiting the growth of their pups.
A new report by The Lancet suggests that climate change could wipe out health progress over the past 50 years, but effective climate action may improve global health. The report highlights positive co-benefits of reducing emissions, such as lower incidence of respiratory diseases and obesity.
Native wildflowers in California are losing species diversity after multiple years of drier winters, according to a study. Drought-intolerant species suffered the worst declines, foreshadowing larger-scale extinctions.
A new study found that attributing a natural disaster to climate change leads to skepticism, causing individuals to justify withholding aid from victims. This phenomenon highlights the importance of separating discussions on climate change and humanitarian aid.
Bioethicists can help reframe climate change discussion to focus on serious health risks, rather than just polar bears or environmental issues. This approach could aid communication efforts and mitigate tensions between skeptics and experts.
A study of Elkhorn Slough and Monterey Bay found that nutrient runoff from land use leads to low oxygen levels, affecting fish populations and commercial fisheries. The research suggests improvements in land management could benefit estuaries and fisheries.
A new Commission on women and health found that women's contributions to healthcare amount to $3 trillion, with nearly half being unpaid and unrecognised. The report emphasizes the need for gender equality and empowerment in healthcare policies and interventions.
A new survey method reveals that Norwegians' thoughts on climate change are more complex than previously suggested, with balanced views on nature and human activities. The study found that older respondents focus on physical consequences, while younger ones emphasize future concerns.
In 2013, godwits postponed arrival by over three weeks due to unseasonable weather, but still raised more young than usual. The birds' ability to cope with extreme weather may be beneficial for climate change mitigation.
New research reveals that savannahs are a major driver of carbon sequestration globally, outpacing tropical rainforests. The semi-arid ecosystems can control fluctuations in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, and their importance should not be overlooked in climate policy discussions.
A new study shows that diverse soil communities can limit the effects of climate change by regulating microbial activity and controlling carbon emissions. Small animals like insects and worms play a crucial role in this process, feeding on microbes that can trigger increased carbon emissions.
A beached iceberg in Antarctica has provided a unique natural experiment to study the effects of sea-ice changes on marine ecosystems. The study found that seaweed on the sea floor had decomposed or become discolored due to lack of light, while darker-adapted animals started to colonize the area.
Researchers at Florida State University found that climate change is causing fewer but stronger hurricanes due to rising ocean temperatures. The study projects an increase in storm speed by 1.3 meters per second and a decrease in the number of storms by 6.1 over the past 30 years.
A new study from the University of Bristol argues that climate science denial is seeping into the scientific community's discussion of climate change, causing them to overemphasize scientific uncertainty. This 'seepage' of contrarian claims has led scientists to downplay the degree of threat and undercommunicate knowledge, despite know...
Researchers found that Staghorn coral species can increase feeding rates to buffer the effects of climate change and ocean acidification. This breakthrough has implications for reef conservation and resilience strategies.
Recent research by Solomon Dobrowski, a University of Montana professor, finds that forest canopies play a crucial role in buffering juvenile trees from drought and heat. The study suggests that climatic buffering from forest canopies is important to consider when projecting the likelihood of regeneration in future forests.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have identified two genes that can drive cell division in tree stems, allowing them to grow larger and more quickly. This discovery could lead to generating trees that produce more biomass for biofuels, chemicals, and materials while minimizing CO2 release.
A team of researchers from Cardiff University used sediment cores to construct records of changing ocean temperature and iceberg activity over the last 400 thousand years. They found that abrupt cooling events were often paired with an increase in iceberg activity, but icebergs arrived too late to have triggered cooling at this site.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin found that Typhoon Haiyan's storm surge contaminated two aquifers on the island of Samar, with one taking up to 10 years to recover. The study highlights the need for strategies to mitigate groundwater contamination in coastal areas affected by climate change.
A team of Brazilian researchers review the risk assessments for carbon geological storage technology and suggest caution is needed due to uncertainty about leakage from geological deposits. The scientific consensus emphasizes the importance of reducing emissions at source rather than relying on this method.
A long-lived patch of warm water off the West Coast has been wreaking havoc on US weather patterns, causing droughts, unusual fish sightings, and altering marine ecosystems. The study also explores its connection to the 'polar vortex' and finds a link between the Pacific Ocean's surface temperatures and extreme winter conditions.
A new study confirms a positive feedback operating in climate change, where warming amplifies greenhouse gas emissions and additional warming. This is evident from direct analysis of ice-core data, showing that temperature has a profound effect on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.
Scientists at ETH Zurich and the California Institute of Technology have shown that global warming reduces temperature variability, leading to fewer cold snaps and less fluctuation in mid-latitude temperatures. This contradicts the hypothesis that Arctic amplification contributes to extreme winter events in lower latitudes.
A recent study compares the carbon footprints of Mediterranean diets in Spain to those eaten in English-speaking countries like the US and UK. The results show that Spanish diets have a significantly lower carbon footprint, mainly due to less beef consumption and more vegetable and fruit intake.
Researchers found a 24 percent decline in calcium carbonate production in large areas of the Southern Ocean over the past 17 years. This decline is linked to ocean acidification caused by climate change, which reduces calcification rates of coccolithophores.
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.
A recent study by University of Chicago researchers found that trees' defensive responses to insect attacks have downstream effects on nearby streams, impacting aquatic ecosystems. The simulation showed that stressed trees funneled valuable nutrients away from leaves, affecting leaf chemistry and decomposition rates.
A recent ATS membership survey found that 89% of respondents believe climate change is happening, while 68% attribute its causes to human activity. The survey also reported adverse health effects such as worsening asthma and increased cases of acute and chronic lung conditions due to climate change.
A new study by Stanford scientists links California's recent droughts to rising temperatures, finding that warm and dry conditions are twice as likely to produce severe droughts. Climate change is also expected to increase the frequency of multi-year droughts in the coming decades.
A new study found that hormone-disrupting chemicals, such as clotrimazole, can skew sex-ratios in zebrafish towards males, increasing the risk of extinction for endangered species. Climate change amplifies these effects, particularly in warmer water temperatures.
A recent study finds that climate change will lead to a significant decrease in wheat production, with yields projected to drop by 6% for each degree Celsius temperature rise. The resulting loss of nearly one-quarter of current wheat production could severely impact global food supplies.
New research reveals interacting and cumulative time lags in biodiversity responses, exacerbating environmental degradation and ecosystem service losses.
A new report by Cornell University and NASA researchers warns of a high risk of megadrought in the Southwest and Great Plains by late this century. The study suggests that reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next 10 years could mitigate this risk.
A new study found that learning about geoengineering increased open-mindedness toward climate change evidence and reduced polarization. Participants who learned about geoengineering showed more agreement on the significance of such evidence, compared to those who received information on carbon-emission limits.
Research suggests that termite mounds can slow the spread of deserts into drylands by providing a moist refuge for vegetation. The study's findings imply that these ecosystems are more resistant to desertification than previously thought, and that climate models should better account for organisms like termites.
Researchers found that female sticklebacks prime their offspring with information about their living environment through the mitochondria, allowing them to adapt better to warmer waters. This mechanism plays a crucial role in the species' ability to cope with climate change.
Researchers predict that up to one in three Bornean mammal species will lose 30% or more of their habitat by 2080 due to deforestation and climate change. A targeted conservation approach, focusing on higher-elevation reserves, can mitigate this threat and safeguard biodiversity hotspots.
A University of Minnesota study shows that a warmer climate will change the composition of northern forests, with oak and maple trees replacing spruce and fir. The study found that oaks and maples are better suited to warmer temperatures and can outcompete boreal species for sunlight and water.
A new UF/IFAS study reveals that warming temperatures could lead to a decline in wheat production, with crop losses estimated at one fourth of the annual global wheat trade. The research used computer models to predict the impact of temperature increases on wheat yield and found that warmer temperatures are already slowing yield gains.
A new study suggests that the social cost of carbon is not $37 per ton as previously estimated, but $220 per ton. This higher estimate justifies rapid and early mitigation efforts to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius. The research also explores the impact on developing countries, suggesting that delaying emissions redu...
A new study by Stanford University School of Engineering suggests the social cost of carbon dioxide emissions could be six times higher than previously estimated. The researchers estimated that the actual cost could be $220, which justifies rapid and early mitigation measures to limit global temperature rise.
Researchers found that prompting people to consider their long-term impact can motivate them to take action on climate change, leading to increased environmental concern and behavior. Participants who wrote about their legacy pledged more money to a pro-environmental nonprofit.
Scientists studied four commercial and recreational fish stocks in Northeast U.S. waters and found that climate change affects their distribution, while fishing pressure has significant impacts on a more immediate time scale. The study shows that different species respond differently to temperature and fishing pressure.
A new study reveals that clearing rainforests distorts wind and water patterns, altering growing conditions for crops like coffee and corn globally. The report finds that deforestation-induced warming and altered rainfall can impact agricultural productivity, with the US Midwest, Europe, and China potentially seeing changes.
Non-Tea Party Republicans' views on science and environmental issues are closer to those of Independents than Tea Party supporters, according to new research. The study found significant divisions between Tea Party supporters and Republicans, but fewer divisions between non-Tea Party Republicans and Independents.
A study by Carnegie Institution scientists Katharine Ricke and Ken Caldeira found that climate warming caused by a single carbon emission reaches its maximum effect within 10 years. This refutes the common misconception of decades-long delays and benefits current generations, not just future ones.
New research reveals that baby corals can acclimate to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, potentially mitigating the impact of ocean acidification. This finding suggests that staghorn corals, traditionally considered stress-tolerant, may have a limited ability to adapt.
A study by Michigan State University sociologists found that political orientation is the most influential factor in shaping perceptions about climate change. Climate extremes such as droughts and record temperatures do not change people's minds about global warming.
A study published in BMC found that children born during and after the 1997-98 El Niño event had lower height-for-age and lean mass, indicating chronic malnutrition. The researchers warn that climate change may increase the frequency of El Niño episodes, posing a significant risk to future generations.