Research on the consequences of a changing climate. Covers food and water disparities, sea-level costs, forest resilience, and shifting ecosystems.
Stanford researchers found that some corals can adjust their internal functions to tolerate hot water faster than through evolutionary change alone. This ability may help corals survive climate change, but it's not a magic bullet and can be compromised by stressors like acidification and pollution.
Researchers analyzed breeding bird surveys for 40 songbird species over 35 years and found they shifted either northward or to higher elevation in response to climate change. This suggests previous studies may have underestimated the effects of environmental warming by only looking at one factor.
A US Forest Service study reveals that five anthropogenic factors, including urbanization, invasive species, and lack of forest management, will significantly alter northern forests over the next 50 years. The report highlights the need for proactive conservation efforts to ensure resilient and healthy forests.
Researchers predict that Miami sea levels will rise by .3 meters to 1 meter by 2100, with areas experiencing constant flooding and mangrove loss. Long-term predictions could be available as early as 2020, providing 70 years of planning for coastal regions.
A 32-year study in Finnish Lapland found that 90% of moth species are stable or increasing, despite rising temperatures and precipitation. However, warmer temperatures reduced population growth rates, suggesting unknown ecological forces may be masking the negative effects of climate change.
Researchers argue that current climate models fail to accurately capture the economic costs of climate change, leading to underestimated damage and ineffective policy decisions. To improve this, scientists must collaborate and update their models more frequently.
Researchers developed a new methodology to study yeast changes during wine fermentation, which can predict yeast behavior and improve wine quality. The study found that simulating yeast metabolism and understanding chemical composition of grape must are crucial for developing a forecasting model.
Climate change is forecasted to alter the distribution of southwestern bird and reptile species in the Western United States. The study predicts that nearly half of all reptile species will experience significant distribution losses, including the iconic chuckwalla. In contrast, black-throated sparrows and gray vireos are projected to ...
The DECCMA project examines how people are adapting to climate change in delta regions, focusing on four deltas with over 200 million inhabitants. The five-year project aims to develop methods for predicting future changes and providing governments with tools to maximize planning services.
A study on roe deer in France's Champagne region found that the species has failed to adapt to earlier spring arrival, leading to reduced survival rates of fawns and a downward trend in population growth. Climate change is threatening the survival of this commercially important long-lived mammal.
Researchers found that warmer summers will cause more deaths in London and southeast England than the rest of the country. The odds of dying from cardiovascular or respiratory causes increased by over 10% for every 1C rise in temperature in these regions.
A new study estimates that future heat waves could double crop yield losses, particularly for maize, and offset positive CO2 fertilisation effects on wheat and soybean yields. Climate mitigation policies can help reduce risks of negative impacts on global food supply.
Researchers use years of data to understand how glaciers changed over time as climate has changed, providing insights into future glacier melting. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding global environmental change and planning protection efforts.
An international team of researchers found that deep winter mixing plays a crucial role in transporting iron to the surface, supporting phytoplankton growth and the aquatic food chain. The study highlights the unique aspects of the iron cycle and its sensitivity to climate changes.
Researchers found that up to 1,750 euros in income has a positive correlation with happiness, but after this amount, the co-relation becomes negative. Maintaining work stability and reducing working hours can have a positive impact on wellbeing.
A new NASA study suggests that Earth's climate will continue to warm during this century, with a possible 20% increase in warming compared to previous estimates. The research focuses on improving the understanding of how airborne particles drive climate change, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that changes in the Sun's energy output may have led to marked natural climate change in Europe over the past 1000 years. The research suggests that regional climate variability associated with solar activity should be taken into account when making future climate projections.
New research by HHMI scientists shows that as temperatures rise in tropical regions, malaria can spread to populations at higher elevations previously unaffected. Without increased control measures, climate change will increase the burden of malaria, particularly in densely populated areas at higher elevations.
A recent University of Oklahoma study suggests that non-uniform climate warming affects global regions differently, impacting ecosystem functions such as food production and carbon sequestration. The effects of non-uniform warming on terrestrial ecosystems are a key challenge in carbon cycle research and future predictions.
A study by McGill University researchers shows that climate change has led to a decrease in ocean salinity, creating a freshwater lid that prevents mixing with warm waters underneath. This has resulted in the suppression of naturally rare events like the Antarctic polynya and contributed to the shrinking of Antarctic Bottom Water.
A study of 36 species found that climate change increases extinction risk by 28% by 2100, but existing conservation methods can identify vulnerable species. The research identifies key factors such as small range and population size that predispose species to high extinction risk.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.