Articles tagged with Climate Change Effects
A study by Purdue University climatologist Noah Diffenbaugh suggests that vegetation changes can significantly affect extreme weather events. In regions like California and the Great Basin, vegetation feedbacks may lead to more or fewer extreme events depending on the location.
Researchers Drs. Melanie Vile and David Velinsky are studying the effects of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion on tidal marsh ecosystem services in the Delaware Estuary. Tidal marshes provide crucial functions such as storm buffering, shoreline stabilization, and fish nursery habitats.
Gray wolves help regulate elk populations, providing a steady food source for scavengers like bears and eagles during severe winters. The study highlights the importance of wolves in mitigating the effects of climate change on ecosystems.
A new study from PLOS Biology shows that reintroduced gray wolves in Yellowstone Park provide a crucial safety net for scavengers during climate change. Wolf kills temper the devastating effects of climate-related carrion shortages on scavengers.
A study by Lee Hannah predicts that climate change and land-use changes will increase the risk of extinction for most protea species, with up to 15% expected to lose their range entirely. The Cape region's protected areas may offer lessons for global conservation efforts.
As climate change intensifies, humans will become more vulnerable to heat-related mortality, air pollution-related illnesses, infectious diseases, and malnutrition. Developing climate forecasts and warning systems can mitigate future health problems, but it's crucial to avoid maladaptation and take proactive measures to minimize risks.
A new study reveals that a world without fire would see closed forests more than double in extent, while tropical grasslands and savannas shrink significantly. The findings highlight the crucial role of fire in shaping vegetation and ecosystems worldwide.
Scientists at Georgia Tech have developed a new instrument to measure conditions needed for particle to become a cloud droplet, improving predictions of cloud formation. The new method provides accurate predictions thousands of times faster than existing models.
Scientists developed simple, physics-based equations to address limitations of current cloud formation methods. A new instrument measures conditions needed for a particle to become a cloud droplet, helping determine how emissions affect cloud formation.
The September 2004 sea-ice loss was especially evident in extreme northern Alaska and eastern Siberia, with the decline averaging about 8 percent over the past decade. Climate change is likely playing a significant role, with some models indicating complete disappearance of summer sea ice by 2070.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that climate change can shape genetic diversity in mammals. Researchers analyzed fossil samples and contemporary data from two mammal species, the Montane vole and northern pocket gopher, and discovered that climate-induced habitat alterations influenced variation in genetic diversity.
Researchers found that even minor temperature shifts in the deep sea can rapidly alter species richness and functional diversity. The study highlights the vulnerability of deep-sea fauna to environmental alteration, providing new insights into climate change's potential consequences.
Climate models project a significant impact on Alaska's tundra ecosystem, with up to 90% loss of tundra area by 2100. Increased precipitation and temperature changes will lead to shifts in vegetation, insect and pathogen attacks, and potential forest fires.
Researchers link warmer temperatures to earlier flowering times in plants, with a significant trend observed over the past century. The study suggests that existing collections of herbarium records can be used to measure regional effects of climate change on phenological events.
Scientists explore new explanations for auroral lights, elephant communication, and the impact of volcanic eruptions on global climate change. Researchers analyze electron interactions with nitric oxide molecules and propose a new method for monitoring small-scale flow variations in the Earth-space boundary.
Researchers analyzed fossil records and found dinoflagellates in ancient sea, indicating a sudden cooling event. The team's discovery confirms climate models and suggests prolonged feedback effects kept ocean depths cold for centuries.
A new study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers found that China's rapid urbanization has led to a significant increase in the region's surface temperature, with a mean rise of 0.09 degrees Fahrenheit per decade since 1979. The nighttime low temperatures have also risen faster than daytime high temperatures, resulting in an ...
A study found that people increasingly expect standardised temperatures and levels of ventilation, driving industry trends towards air conditioning. Design decisions early on shape future comfort regimes, suggesting a need for changes throughout the design process to promote sustainable environments.
A new map reveals that the USA's impervious surface area equals Ohio's, with significant environmental implications. Increased ISA affects ecosystems, alters stream channels, and degrades wetlands, impacting biodiversity and climate change mitigation.
A new study finds that the transition from Pliocene to Pleistocene climates was a gradual process, with shifts occurring at different times and regions. The findings suggest that regional responses played a key role in this transition, leading to a modern climate system more sensitive to small perturbations.
Rising carbon dioxide levels are altering Amazonian forest ecosystems, leading to faster growth and changes in species composition. Large trees are outcompeting smaller ones, with the latter's decline posing concerns for the entire ecosystem.
A new study predicts that global warming will diminish Western US mountain snow cover by up to 70% by 2050, leading to increased flooding and drought. The loss of snowpack will disrupt the region's agriculture, fisheries, and hydropower industries.
Researchers conclude that large pools of carbon on land may shrink in the coming century, affecting carbon removal. Planting trees remains an effective way to sequester carbon, but growth rates are unlikely to be supercharged.
Recent research on aerosols suggests they can have substantial impacts on local heat budgets, exceeding those of greenhouse gases. Aerosol compositions and effects are being studied for their implications on regional climate change and human health.
Research shows that regional governments can effectively curb air pollution by working with neighboring countries to monitor and address the issue. Local involvement in solving global environmental problems is critical, as many of the same activities causing global climate change also produce local pollution. Experts believe that regio...
A study published in Conservation Biology found that climate change is consistently correlated with extinction among desert bighorn sheep. The researchers identified higher temperatures and decreased precipitation as key factors contributing to the decline of these populations, which are already living on a knife's edge.
Computer simulations show that wind-driven upwelling along the California coast will intensify over the next 50 years due to increased carbon dioxide concentrations. The upwelling season is expected to extend further into the fall, supporting some of the observational work showing a trend toward increased upwelling intensity.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that sulfuric acid combines with methanol to form methyl sulfate, which can contribute to cloud formation and trapping of heat. This interaction may have a significant impact on global climate change, but the conditions required for its formation are still not fully understood.
A study of 27 top wine regions' temperatures and wine quality over the past 50 years reveals rising temperatures have impacted vintage quality. Climate modeling predicts a 2°C temperature rise in the next 50 years, which may improve cool-growing regions but harm warm regions.
A recent study found that the Arctic warmed significantly over the last decade, with the largest temperature increases occurring in North America. The study's results have direct connections to other NASA-funded research on declining sea ice extent, which could lead to positive feedbacks and further climate change.
A new study challenges current climate change understanding by suggesting that aerosols may have a greater cooling effect than previously thought. This could alter projections of future climate change if high-magnitude negative aerosol forcing values are correct, potentially downplaying human activity's role in warming.
Researchers found signs of marked environmental changes in Arctic lakes over the past two centuries, consistent with warmer conditions. The study uses fossil markers to track ecosystem changes and predicts these effects will be seen farther south.
Researchers found that Arctic clouds and climate conditions produce a cooling effect, possibly offsetting global warming's effects. Cloud forcing, which depends on interactions among climate factors, played a crucial role in this process.
A study by Pascual and coworkers reveals that climate variability from ENSO influences cholera cycles, with a stronger link during warm events. Understanding this connection is crucial as ENSO predictions suggest a potential increase in disease variability under global warming.
Rain-on-snow events are projected to affect reindeer herds in northern regions, causing food shortages and potentially devastating impacts. Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and duration of these events, with a 40% increase in land area affected by 2080-89.
A four-year field study by K-State researchers found that altering rainfall patterns in a tallgrass prairie led to decreased physiological vigor of grasses, lower plant productivity, and reduced water availability. The team discovered significant reductions in carbon cycling and below-ground activity under variable rainfall conditions.
Dr. Richard B. Alley, a leading expert on abrupt climate change, cautions that current models may underestimate the severity of future climate changes. He suggests policymakers should plan for contingencies to address resource scarcity and conflicts.
Climate change affects ocean's sequestration capacity, with the Atlantic Ocean proving more effective at storing carbon dioxide. The impact is most pronounced in the Atlantic, where rising sea surface temperatures slow down thermohaline circulation and reduce mixing, exacerbating the problem.
Climate change is expected to exacerbate existing water problems in the West, impacting hydroelectric power, salmon runs, and water supply deliveries. The region's water resources are already stretched to their limits, with little room for changes in current allocations.
Researchers found that temperature and tidal patterns vary significantly across 14 sites spanning 14 degrees of latitude along the West Coast. The study suggests that climate change may have a different impact on coastal animals depending on their geographical location.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory confirmed that waters migrating from the surface to the water table in drier regions can take many tens of thousands of years. These waters, which began their migration at the last ice age, hold a scientific and historical record of global climate change.
Climate researchers have made significant progress in understanding Arctic climate change, revealing a seesaw pattern called the Arctic Oscillation that affects global temperatures. The study highlights the importance of accounting for this phenomenon in climate models to accurately predict future changes.
Researchers used bat hibernation physiology to predict climate change effects, finding that warmer winters will allow little brown bats to expand their northern ranges. The study's findings highlight the importance of basic physiological processes in understanding ecosystem changes.
Researchers have calculated that Alaska glaciers contribute significantly to global sea-level rise, with most glaciers losing mass over the past four decades. The study found that Alaska's glaciers raise the level of Earth's oceans by more than one-tenth of a millimeter each year.
Researchers are developing a forecasting technique to predict sea nettle concentrations in Chesapeake Bay using real-time monitoring of environmental factors. The goal is to mitigate the economic impact of sea nettles, which affect tourism and the food web by devouring fish eggs and larvae.
A new analysis suggests that reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2010 could prevent or mitigate some severe climate change effects. However, saving coral reefs is unlikely, while ocean currents and ice-sheet melting are more plausible but uncertain outcomes.
A new study confirms that global warming is affecting Earth's species worldwide, causing disruptions to animals and plants. The research found that even small changes in temperature have significant effects on ecosystems, leading to species migration, breeding, and population shifts.
Researchers predict that global climate change will cause substantial changes in the distribution of Mexican bird, mammal, and butterfly species. The study found that changing climate is predicted to bring about great instability, with some local communities losing up to 40% of their species.
The study predicts that over 50 years, changing climate will bring about great instability for wildlife, reshuffling ecosystems and introducing new diseases and parasites. A majority of species are expected to have smaller geographical ranges than today, with some local communities experiencing up to 40% species turnover.
Professor Ramanathan recognized for his groundbreaking studies on clouds, aerosols, and greenhouse gases in the earth's climate system. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of radiative feedbacks in climate change and ocean temperature regulation.
Scientists tested the Iris effect using CERES instrument on TRMM satellite, finding clouds slightly destabilize climate instead of cooling it. The study challenges recent theory proposing clouds cool the Earth and counteract predictions of global warming.
Researchers used a dynamic global ecosystem model to simulate the response of vegetation to engineered climate conditions, finding a decrease in biomass production in tropical forests and boreal forests but an increase in mid-latitudes.
A new climate model proposes that geographic range changes and body size played a primary role in the extinction of large mammals during the Pleistocene era. The study suggests that as animals' geographic ranges decreased over time, their probability of extinction increased, especially in harsh environments.
Researchers will examine climate change's effects on ecosystems, societal perceptions, and natural resources in the United States. Key findings include vulnerabilities of specific regions and possible coping strategies for adapting to projected water and nutrient shortages.
A Penn State researcher has created a model that explains why flowering plants in Norway bloom earlier after warmer winters. The study incorporates biological factors and provides insight into the ecological responses to climate change.
The NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Global Change Media Directory 2001 features over 343 scientists from 50 disciplines, including climate change, natural hazards, ozone, water resources, and global warming. The directory contains a list of experts with complete contact information.
The unprecedented fire season in southern Africa produced a thick haze layer that affected regional air quality and provided valuable data for climate change research. Scientists were able to track the movement of the haze layer, measure its impact on clouds, and investigate its effect on greenhouse gases.
A 300-year record of oceanic nitrogen in Alaskan lake bottoms suggests a need for flexible management policies that account for climate and lake nutrient levels. The study found population swings related to known climate changes, with the biggest decline occurring in the 20th century.
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal examines the effects of global warming on world health, highlighting direct and indirect impacts. The authors conclude that reducing fossil fuel combustion and advocating for environmental improvements are essential to mitigate these risks.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found a cyclic contribution to global temperature change that may be masking human effects. The residual factor, which occurs over a 65-70 year period, periodically warms and cools the atmosphere, sometimes counteracting the greenhouse effect.