Articles tagged with Climate Change Effects
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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 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.
Researchers found a long-term pattern in salinity-driven sea level changes globally, with increases in the Pacific Ocean and decreases in the Atlantic. This salinity effect accounts for approximately 25% of total sea level change, emphasizing its importance in assessments.
Agricultural production contributes to a quarter of the increase in seasonal carbon cycle, with corn accounting for two-thirds of the crop contribution. The study highlights the impact of human activity on the planet and improves models of global climate.
Research reveals that annual plant growth in drylands is severely affected by droughts, but the ability to recover varies depending on the type of ecosystem and grazing regime. The study found that perennial plants dominate areas with higher drought resistance and lower recovery potential.
Researchers found that agricultural production, particularly corn, boosts the productivity of four leading food staples, significantly modifying the annual cycle of atmospheric CO2 in the Northern Hemisphere. This growth contributes up to a quarter of the total increase in seasonal carbon exchange, and possibly more.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change found that climate change will slow China's efforts to reduce infectious diseases like diarrheal and vector-borne diseases. The researchers predict that changes to the global climate could delay China's progress by up to seven years by 2030.
Kelly Redmond, a renowned climatologist from the Desert Research Institute, will receive the AGU Tyndall History of Global Environmental Change Lecturer award. He has dedicated his career to understanding the Earth's climate and communicating that knowledge to a general audience.
Researchers found that changing ice sheet height affects global climate differently from freshwater influx alone, with warming sea surfaces and regional changes observed. The study suggests that the role of topography in Heinrich events may be more significant than previously thought.
A new study found that future-oriented women are the voting bloc most strongly motivated to invest in reducing global warming. They tend to be more politically liberal, value the environment, believe in global warming, and are willing to pay more to mitigate climate change.
A new study by WCS found that implementing stricter fisheries management overcame the expected detrimental effects of climate change disturbances in coral reef fisheries. Rapid implementation of fisheries restrictions countered adverse climate effects and increased fisheries catches.
A 1985 mass mortality and a 2012 severe cold snap led to the deaths of nearly one-third of Camargue flamingo population. The study suggests that freezing temperatures increased the birds' energy demands, tipping them into starvation. The researchers found that the 2012 event had a lower death toll due to milder temperatures.
Researchers analyzed Madagascar's lizard, snake, frog, and tortoise populations to understand how biodiversity hotspots come to be. Climate change and land use affect different species differently, with some doing better while others decline.
A recent study by George Wang and Michael Dillon found that climate change has increased daily and annual temperature cycling globally. This altered temperature variability can lead to increased crop damage from pest insects and changes in plant seasonal behavior.
New research suggests that Chicxulub's impact was not the sole cause of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Volcanism, climate changes, and other factors also played significant roles in four out of five major mass extinctions in Earth history.
A study found that warmer winters lead to earlier breeding in wood frogs, resulting in fewer eggs and delayed tadpole development. However, more rain and snow appear to increase egg production, potentially counteracting the negative effects of warming.
A Dartmouth study reveals that insects' fear response limits their growth in the face of climate change. Insects exhibit slower growth and reduced food consumption when exposed to predator threats, highlighting the importance of considering fear as a key environmental factor.
The National Science Foundation has awarded over $15 million in grants to study coastal sustainability, addressing key issues like sea-level rise, invasive species, and climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems. The grants aim to improve management of coastal environments and provide ecosystem services that sustain human well-being.
The NSF grant will expand Climate Central's efforts to produce and deliver localized climate science content and professional development opportunities to TV meteorologists. More than 150 weathercasters are participating, and the goal is to add an additional 200 weathercasters to the project.
A Yale study finds that the conversion of forests to cropland worldwide has reduced global BVOC emissions, leading to a net cooling effect on climate temperatures. The loss of dark-colored forests and reduction in emissions of short-lived climate pollutants have offset warming caused by increased fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions.
A new study reveals that citizen science plays a crucial role in climate change research, with amateur data collectors contributing up to 77% of studies. The lack of recognition for this contribution can lead people to feel they have nothing to contribute to the scientific process.
The University of Waterloo has released a high-resolution Antarctic map created using RADARSAT-2 satellite imagery. This mosaic provides unprecedented accuracy and confidence in mapping ice cover changes, offering valuable information on the effects of climate change.
A study suggests that climate change will reduce hydrologic connectivity in the Verde River Basin by mid-century, forcing fish to travel longer distances for resources. The decrease in connectivity will also impact spawning, as fish are more mobile during this period.
Researchers analyzed African dust transported to South America, finding large seasonal peaks in winter and spring. Dust concentrations exceeded World Health Organization guidelines, posing respiratory health risks.
A new approach measures the combined impact of climate and land use on biodiversity risk, highlighting areas vulnerable to losses in ecosystem function. The study suggests that regions like the Great Plains and Northeast US will face increased risks due to the combined effects of climate and land use change.