Articles tagged with Climate Change Effects
Thomas Cullen's research found evidence of sexual dimorphism in seals between 20-27 million years ago, suggesting that early pinnipeds formed harems. This discovery sheds light on the history of pinnipeds and has major implications for the future of the species due to climate change.
A new study finds a statistically significant, minor increase in extreme Arctic cyclone frequency since the middle 19th century, with strongest increases near Iceland and the Aleutian Islands. Climate change may drive stronger shifts in polar climate, leading to more storminess and erosion of Arctic coastlines.
Researchers found a strong relationship between vulnerability to food shortages before a climate shock and its impact. They used long-term archaeological data to understand changing dynamics in the North Atlantic Islands and US Southwest.
The new atlas highlights the delicate relationships between soils and climate, as well as their role in food security, particularly in relation to climate change. Soils also support six out of seventeen countries hosting the highest rate of biodiversity, with approximately 185 Gt of organic carbon stored down to a depth of 1m.
Researchers found that tree density in savannas is influenced by moisture availability, temperature, soil fertility, and fire frequency, but these relationships differ significantly among Africa, Australia, and South America. The study predicts different responses to global warming across the continents.
A study published in Environmental Science & Technology suggests that increased wildfires due to climate change will have significant impacts on air quality and human health. By 2100, emissions from wildfires in California are expected to grow by 19-101%, posing challenges for agriculture and ecosystems.
Researchers are analyzing sediment cores and archaeological sites to understand past water level changes in the Everglades. The study aims to predict future environmental changes and mitigate their effects on people, plants, and cultural resources.
Giant underwater waves, invisible to the eye, are produced by temperature and salinity differences in ocean water. These internal waves, resembling surface waves in shape, play a key role in mixing ocean waters, driving warm surface waters downward and drawing heat from the atmosphere.
The Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI-MIP) provides comprehensive climate change projections, identifying regional hotspots of impact types that coincide and interact. The results highlight the need for effective real-world policies to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
Studies show that environmental factors significantly impact the genetic makeup of fruit flies living in 'Evolution Canyon', a unique natural environment with contrasting climates. The research confirms natural selection as a powerful influence in shaping the population's gene pool.
Several major cities have been mapped for their food security and self-provisioning, revealing varying degrees of dependence on national and global markets. Cities like Tokyo and Canberra struggle to feed themselves due to population growth and climate change, while Copenhagen's stable population has increased its local production.
The study reveals that natural fluctuations in the climate system are the primary cause of differences in short and medium-term projections. Despite this, researchers have found ways to make predictions about local climate extremes for certain regions and large areas, highlighting the importance of considering regional variability.
A comprehensive analysis of Durban Platform scenarios suggests that climate talks can deliver an outcome consistent with the 2-degree target if global climate action is substantially strengthened. However, delaying action would require higher emission decline rates and larger economic costs.
The number of diving ducks migrating to Lough Neagh for winter has dropped from 100,000 to less than 21,000 over a decade. The lake's ecosystem has changed dramatically since 2000/01, leading to a decline in insects and snails, which are essential food sources for water birds.
Research by University of Leeds scientists shows natural aerosols contribute more uncertainty than thought to climate estimates, with a clear path for reducing this uncertainty. The study aims to better understand the effect of aerosols on clouds and climate.
This special issue explores the interconnections between climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem functionality, and ecosystem services. It highlights the need for adaptation efforts that consider managing landscapes to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem attributes.
Research papers from nine vulnerable countries reveal four loss and damage pathways caused by climate stressors, including insufficient coping measures and negative economic impacts. The study highlights the need for ambitious mitigation and adaptation to prevent loss and damage that undermines sustainable development.
Researchers developed a simple rule to evaluate co-evolving relationships between species and their interactions with climate change. The study found that conflicting species interactions reduce climate change effects, while non-conflicting interactions amplify them.
New research reveals that groups cooperate less for climate change mitigation when rewards are in the future, especially for future generations. Despite initial investment, none of the groups achieved the target due to instant gratification.
Alpine plants show genetic differences in appearance and features due to Ice Age climate changes, highlighting their adaptability to environmental conditions. The study discovered variations within species are partly driven by natural selection, with plants adapting to shorter growing seasons.
A new study predicts that climate change will significantly impact the world's oceans by 2100, affecting marine habitats and organisms. The study reveals that no corner of the ocean will be untouched by changes in temperature, acidification, oxygen depletion, and productivity, with massive disruptions to food chains, fishing, and tourism.
Climate change will have far-reaching consequences for the world's oceans, affecting marine habitats and organisms, as well as human societies that depend on them. The study warns of massive disruptions to food chains, fishing, and tourism, with up to 870 million people relying on ocean goods and services.
The study found that areas in the tropics will experience unprecedented climates first, with a radically different climate projected by 2047 under a business-as-usual scenario. Conservation planning could be undermined as protected areas face unprecedented climates, and rapid changes may lead to extinctions.
Researchers find that mid-February to mid-March warming has the greatest impact on breaking bud timing. This challenges the use of degree-day models, which may become less effective as temperatures deviate from historical norms.
A new study from the University of Exeter and international collaborators finds that smaller reefs with nearly full lagoons have potential for new island development. This could provide alternative land options in the region as sea levels rise.
A UA-led international collaboration studies how microbes release greenhouse gases as they access nutrients in thawing permafrost soils. The team aims to explain the relationships between microbial processes and climate change, with potential implications for solving the 'big biology problem' in climate change.
A new study suggests that dams in the Columbia River basin provide ecological and engineering resilience to climate change impacts. Reservoir management counteracts effects of shifting peak snowmelt runoff, making downstream impacts negligible.
A new Dartmouth-Finnish study found that high-latitude moth populations are less susceptible to temperature changes, suggesting they may be partly buffered from the effects of rapid climate warming. The findings are important because moths are a key food source for birds and other predators.
A study projects how climate change affects West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes across the southern US, with changes varying by region. Warmer temperatures and drier conditions may lead to longer mosquito seasons but smaller summer populations.
New research from Carnegie Institution for Science reveals that coral bleaching occurs even when algae are heat-stressed in the dark, suggesting novel mechanisms beyond toxic oxygen molecules. The study provides key details on the breakdown of photosynthetic apparatus and potential strategies to mitigate bleaching.
A 400-year study by Harvard University researchers found that Northeastern forests have changed significantly after centuries of intensive land use. Maples have exploded across the region, while other tree types like beeches, oaks, and chestnuts show a pronounced decline. Pine numbers have shifted more than any other tree type.
New research from Durham University reveals that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet may be more susceptible to changes in air temperatures and sea-ice than previously believed. The study found rapid and synchronised periods of advance and retreat among 175 glaciers along the coastline, coinciding with cooling and warming patterns.
Climate change projections suggest warming Antarctic seas could reduce krill growth habitat by up to 20%, affecting wildlife and fisheries. The Southern Ocean region, including South Georgia, is expected to be worst affected, with potential losses of up to 55% in krill habitats.
Researchers found that adult survival is sensitive to cold winter weather, while juvenile survival is affected by warmer, drier winters leading to reduced food availability
Researchers analyzed fossil records and species interactions to understand how climate change altered biotic interactions in the past. They found that rapid changes drove extinction, evolution, and species distribution, highlighting the need for informed predictions about future ecosystem responses.
A new study suggests that the ozone hole could be causing a slight warming effect on the planet, rather than a cooling one. The ozone hole's impact on wind patterns causes clouds to move towards the South Pole, reducing their ability to reflect radiation and leading to increased temperatures.
A global meta-analysis reveals that climate change is driving changes in marine species' breeding, feeding, and migration timing, as well as shifting their geographic distribution toward the poles. The study found that warming oceans are causing marine species to move at an average of 72 kilometers per decade.
A new global study reveals widespread systemic shifts in marine species distribution and phenology, comparable to those observed on land. The research found that 81% of changes were consistent with climate change, with some species shifting up to 11 days earlier in spring.
The giant water bug Lethocerus patruelis is the largest European true bug, reaching lengths of up to 8cm. It has a powerful hunting tool that involves injecting strong digestive saliva into its prey.
Scientists from Wildlife Conservation Society examine implications of economic development and climate change on conserving Myanmar's biodiversity. Recommendations include strengthening protected area systems and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies to protect unique biodiversity.
A new research assesses conservation gaps of crop wild relatives, finding that 54% are high-priority for collection to improve yields and resilience. The study highlights the importance of collecting wild plants in countries like Australia, Bolivia, China, and Italy.
The Iberian lynx, the world's most endangered cat species, is threatened by climate change and may go extinct in 50 years. Climate change must be incorporated into strategies to reintroduce the species to new habitats for survival.
A new study finds that current conservation efforts for the Iberian lynx are insufficient to save the species from extinction within 50 years, as climate change is not accounted for in management plans. The research highlights the importance of integrating climate models into biodiversity management.
Researchers discovered a 3% increase in flower production on Barro Colorado Island since 1987 due to rising temperatures and precipitation. In contrast, the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot in Puerto Rico showed no overall increase in flower production over the same period.
A new study estimates that human-caused outdoor air pollution causes around 470,000 premature deaths each year due to increased ozone levels. Additionally, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to an estimated 2.1 million annual deaths. The effects of past climate change on air quality and health are found to be relatively small.
Rising temperatures cause snakes to become more active, devouring mosquito-eating birds like the Acadian flycatcher. This increase in snake predation has severe consequences for agriculture, disease prevention, and tourism.
A new study found that birds can survive climate change through phenotypic plasticity, a flexibility in behavior. This adaptation enables them to track environmental changes, increasing their chances of survival. However, slow-reproducing species are more vulnerable to extinction due to the need for precise adaptations.
Researchers found that open-minded people became more supportive of government intervention after viewing videos presenting both sides of the issue. Closed-minded individuals did not change their views, regardless of the messages they received. The study suggests climate change denialists may be less effective in swaying public opinion.
Researchers found that climate change can have both positive and negative effects on eelgrass meadows, depending on the presence of small algae-eating crustaceans. Without these crustaceans, higher water temperatures and ocean acidification pose a greater threat to the ecosystem's survival.
Scientists discovered that elevated carbon dioxide concentrations have caused a significant increase in foliage cover across warm, arid environments globally. The study found that the CO2 fertilization effect led to an average 11% increase in foliage, with some regions experiencing up to 10% growth.
A new article synthesizes recent findings on climate-fire interactions, highlighting the significant regional climate effects of smoke particles and their impact on global temperatures and precipitation. The study also explores the role of black carbon in accelerating snow melting and its influence on terrestrial ecosystem services.
Climate change alters species interactions, potentially destabilizing entire ecosystems. The study reveals how temperature changes affect metabolic rates and consumer-resource interactions, leading to increased encounter rates between predators and prey.
A new study projects that heat-related deaths in Manhattan will increase by 20 percent by the 2020s and potentially up to 90 percent or more by the 2080s. Higher winter temperatures may offset some of these deaths, but overall temperature-related mortality is expected to rise.
A Dartmouth College study suggests that many species of tropical lizards may not be on the brink of extinction due to climate change. The research found that high-resolution temperature measurements revealed varying effects on different lizard populations, contradicting previous predictions of widespread extinction.
Researchers used fish temperature preferences as a 'thermometer' to assess climate change's impact on the world's oceans between 1970 and 2006. They found that warm-water species dominated global fisheries catches, while tropical regions experienced reduced marine species and catches.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, highlights racial disparities in heat vulnerability. The findings show that areas with no tree canopy and high heat-absorbing surfaces disproportionately affect African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics.
A recent study found that urbanization significantly affects surface warming in eastern China, particularly in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region. The study revealed a remarkable summer warming rate of 0.132-0.250°C per decade, accounting for 36%-68% of regional warming. In contrast, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region experienced...
Research predicts that climate change will cause a dramatic decline in common plant and animal species by 2080, with plants, reptiles, and amphibians facing the highest risk. Acting quickly to mitigate climate change could reduce losses by 60%.
A new study models iceberg production by Greenland glaciers, finding that fjord shape and terrain below the ice significantly affect their movement. The research suggests that climate change will lead to an average loss of 30-47Gt of ice from these glaciers over the 21st century.
The new model helps authorities find a sensible balance in mitigating natural hazards, taking into account deep uncertainties and limited resources. The study provides methods to estimate the expected value of damage and predict probabilities of disasters.