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Tectonic shift in Southern Ocean caused dramatic ancient cooling event

A new study suggests that the tectonic opening of Southern Ocean seaways led to a sudden cooling event 34 million years ago, contributing to the formation of Antarctic ice sheets. High-resolution simulations showed that this event caused a dramatic drop in coastal temperatures and initiated the Earth's transition into an Icehouse world.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 23, 2021

Climate uncertainty colors flood risk assessment

A new framework assesses flood risk by integrating climate model outputs and hydrologic models to predict uncertainty. The study found that climate uncertainty dominates overall uncertainty, and areas prone to flooding in the future will be mostly the same as current ones.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Hydrometeorology·DateNov 19, 2021

Earthquakes and extreme rainfall lead to a significant increase in the rates of landslides in Nepal

A recent study found that earthquakes and extreme rainfall lead to a significant increase in landslide rates in Nepal during the monsoon season. The research, published in Nature Communications, reveals that landscape damage caused by the April 2015 Gorkha earthquake increased landslide risk by six times.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 18, 2021

Warmer soil stores less carbon

Researchers found that warmer soil releases less carbon, but coarse-textured soils are more vulnerable to climate change. The study's findings highlight the importance of understanding soil types and their impact on carbon storage.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 18, 2021

How thinking like a watershed system can help save Narragansett Bay

A new study from UMass Amherst suggests that changing land-use patterns in the greater Narragansett watershed can help mitigate the effects of climate change. The research found that expanding forest cover and investing in green infrastructure, such as rain gardens and living roofs, can reduce surface runoff and nutrient loading.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalScience of The Total Environment·DateNov 16, 2021

High impact climate events: Better adaptation through earlier prediction

A new prediction framework can forecast extreme climate events like floods and heatwaves up to two days in advance, allowing for crucial preparation time. This network-based approach analyzes large-scale connectivity patterns in observational data to improve forecasting accuracy.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 15, 2021

New ways for dynamical prediction of extreme heat waves

Researchers have developed a new method that uses deep neural networks to predict extreme heat waves with unprecedented accuracy, up to two weeks before they occur. This breakthrough has significant implications for risk management, planning, and warning systems, which will greatly improve public safety and support public policies.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 10, 2021

Climatic drivers of honey bee disease revealed

A new study has found that increasing temperatures and heavy rainfall reduce the prevalence of Varroa mite disease in UK honey bee colonies, while heavy wind reduces its severity. Climate change is predicted to impact the risk of European foulbrood disease, with a hot spot identified in the South West England.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2021

Climate benefits from modest dips in oil demand likely underestimated, Stanford-led study finds

A new Stanford-led study suggests that decreasing oil demand leads to larger-than-expected carbon reductions, as the impact varies depending on market factors. The research takes into account the global oil market's structure, including perfect competition, oligopoly, and cartel scenarios, to estimate climate benefits.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 8, 2021

Mapping annual wildfire probabilities across California

A statistical modeling approach highlights predictive importance of local climate and human activity in determining wildfire probabilities. The analysis uncovered key roles for climate, human activity, fire history, and short-term climate variations in fire-prone regions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 3, 2021

Better models of atmospheric ‘detergent’ can help predict climate change

Researchers used computer simulations to predict the presence of hydroxyl radicals, which clean pollutants from the atmosphere. The study showed that traditional models had widely varying forecasts due to uncertainties in gas emissions, and that better models can aid in combating climate change.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 2, 2021

Climate change to stir up global agriculture within next decade, NASA/PIK study finds

A NASA/PIK study found that new climate conditions will push crop yields outside of their normal range in more regions, particularly in breadbasket areas. This could lead to severe losses for farmers unless they adapt quickly by changing planting dates or using different crop varieties.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Food·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 1, 2021

Story tips: Predicting water quality, stronger & ‘stretchier’ alloys, RAPID reinforcement and mountainous water towers

Researchers create a multiscale model to track water quality indicators like nitrogen and mercury levels, incorporating biogeochemical reactions in microbially-active zones. They also develop 'stretchier' alloys by adding nano structures, which enhance strength and ductility, making them suitable for various applications. Additionally,...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2021

25 km high-resolution climate system model reproduces tropical cyclone activities better

A new high-resolution climate system model has improved the accuracy of simulating tropical cyclones, capturing more realistic features and reducing biases. The model's performance was evaluated using the CAS FGOALS-f3-H model, which showed excellent results in depicting global TC activities.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalGeoscientific Model Development·DateOct 28, 2021

Scientists discover how forest fires influence rain cloud formation in the Amazon

A Brazilian study reveals that forest fires and wildfires modify the freezing process of cloud droplets, altering natural cloud functioning and potentially impacting precipitation. The research used a large dataset to show that aerosols emitted by fires can affect cloud formation in southern Amazonia during the rainy season.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 27, 2021

Changing ocean currents are driving extreme winter weather

New research from the University of Arizona suggests that a slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) will intensify extreme cold weather in the US. The study found that without the AMOC, extremely cold winter weather would become more frequent and severe.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 20, 2021

Climate change caused the devastating floods in part of Brazilian´s Southeast region, study says

A study found that climate change increased the probability of heavy rainfall by 70% in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, leading to severe flooding, deaths, and massive damage. The extreme event caused over 90,000 people to be temporarily homeless and resulted in significant economic losses.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalClimate Resilience and Sustainability·DateOct 19, 2021

By 2500 earth could be alien to humans

Researchers warn that global warming could make the Amazon barren, the Midwest tropical, and India too hot to live in by 2500. Climate models project a future where vegetation and crop-growing areas shift towards the poles, leading to drastic changes and potential human fatalities.

SourceMcGill University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 14, 2021

Climate model shows that Venus could never have had oceans

A new climate model challenges the idea that Venus ever had oceans, suggesting high surface temperatures and limited solar radiation prevented ocean formation. The research team found that clouds on night-side Venus would actually maintain high temperatures through a greenhouse effect, further supporting this conclusion.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateOct 13, 2021

Smoke from nuclear war would devastate ozone layer, alter climate

A new study finds that massive columns of smoke from a nuclear war would destroy much of the ozone layer over a 15-year period, with peak ozone loss averaging about 75% worldwide. This would lead to devastating effects on human health and food supplies, as well as terrestrial ecosystems.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 13, 2021

How geology and climate shape biodiversity

Tropical rainforests have uneven biodiversity due to geological history and climate. Researchers used a new model to simulate species diversification, finding that historical dynamics of mountain building and climate change drove biodiversity distribution rather than current climate factors.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 27, 2021

Missing wind variability means future impacts of climate change may be underestimated in Europe and North America

Researchers at the University of Reading found that climate models underpredict regional temperatures and rainfall, particularly in the mid-latitudes, by neglecting extratropical wind variability. This increases uncertainty and likelihood of extreme weather events like heatwaves and droughts.

SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 20, 2021

Species in polar regions hard hit by climate change

A mathematical model developed at Linköping University predicts that many species in polar regions will become extinct due to global warming, with ecosystems already showing signs of strain. The model simulates the impact of climate change on species interactions and diversity, highlighting the importance of considering ecological proc...

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 14, 2021

NYU to join NSF-Backed AI-Based Climate Modeling Center

The NYU-led Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics (LEAP) center will combine artificial intelligence and climate modeling to better predict climate change impacts. The center aims to provide more accurate climate predictions by analyzing satellite images, large-scale observational data, and developing new algorithms.

Convection-permitting Model Reveals New Features of Atmospheric Water Cycle over Asian Water Tower

A new study using convection-permitting models reveals improved simulations of precipitation and atmospheric circulation over the Tibetan Plateau. The models reduce the wet bias in simulated precipitation by 47% and improve the simulation of large-scale circulation, leading to better moisture transport into and out of the plateau.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres·DateAug 30, 2021