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How stable is the West Antarctic Ice Sheet?

A future warming of the Southern Ocean may cause the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, leading to a significant rise in sea levels. Model simulations suggest that critical temperature limits will be exceeded if ocean temperatures rise by more than two degrees Celsius, resulting in a sea level rise of three to five meters.

Greenland ice sheet melts more when it's cloudy

Clouds play a significant role in the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, with clouds enhancing meltwater runoff by a third. The study highlights the need for accurate cloud representations in climate models to estimate the amount of meltwater and mitigate global sea level rise.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 12, 2016

A warmer world will be a hazier one

A new study using state-of-the-art computer models finds that most aerosol species will increase under climate change associated with greenhouse-gas-induced warming. This could lead to reduced air quality and increased atmospheric aerosols, outweighing the decrease in precipitation in certain regions.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Climate Change·DateNov 9, 2015

Failing to account for climate change in mining land reclamation may cost billions: Study

Researchers at the University of Waterloo propose a six-step process to improve success rates for ecological reclamation projects and control mine closure costs. The study highlights the need for a more pragmatic approach to reclamation planning that takes into account projected climate change, which could lead to billions in additiona...

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNature Climate Change·DateOct 23, 2015

Study sees powerful winds carving away Antarctic snow

A new study reveals that powerful winds in Antarctica are removing massive amounts of snow, potentially boosting estimates of potential sea-level rise. The research found that scour zones, where winds persistently scrape away at the surface, have lost up to 90% of their snow cover, equivalent to 80 billion tons per year.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 12, 2015

Could 'The Day After Tomorrow' happen?

A University of Southampton study suggests that an abrupt collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) could lead to cooling, rather than warming, for a period of 20 years. Global warming would continue after this initial cooling, with a globally averaged temperature offset of about 0.8°C.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 9, 2015

Now anyone can run a climate model

Researchers at University of New South Wales have developed a simple online climate model that allows anyone to explore Earth's atmosphere and environment. The model enables users to compare how the world would change with different climate scenarios, making complex concepts clearer for students and the general public.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalClimate Dynamics·DateOct 6, 2015

Columbia engineers develop new approach to modeling Amazon seasonal cycles

A Columbia Engineering team has developed a new approach to model the Amazon seasonal cycle, correcting inaccuracies in general circulation models. The high-resolution atmospheric model resolves clouds and convection, providing a more accurate understanding of water and carbon cycles.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 31, 2015

Quantifying the impact of volcanic eruptions on climate

A new method reconciles observational proxy and model evidence, demonstrating that the Tampora and Samalas eruptions generated an average drop in temperature in the Northern Hemisphere fluctuating between 0.8 and 1.3°C during the summer of 1258 and 1816. This cooling did not last for more than three years at a hemispheric scale.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 31, 2015

Future climate models greatly affected by fungi and bacteria

A 23-year experiment by Lund University researchers found that fungi break down organic materials, releasing carbon dioxide and nutrients, rather than reducing leakage as previously thought. This challenges current policies on land use intended to promote fungi and could have significant consequences for climate models.

SourceLund University·JournalEcological Monographs·DateAug 28, 2015

Climate change does not cause extreme winters

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.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Climate·DateMar 27, 2015

UCLA-led study shows how meltwater on Greenland's ice sheet contribute to rising sea levels

A new UCLA-led study reveals a vast network of little-understood rivers and streams flowing on top of the Greenland ice sheet, potentially responsible for at least as much sea-level rise as other sources combined. The research found that meltwater from these waterways can flush their entire volume in less than two days, contributing to...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 12, 2015

Small volcanic eruptions partly explain 'warming hiatus'

Recent small volcanic eruptions have been identified as a contributing factor to the recent 'warming hiatus', with scientists finding that they cool the atmosphere and reflect sunlight away from Earth. The new research complements earlier studies, which found that volcanoes may have caused cooling of up to 0.12 degrees Celsius since 2000.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 9, 2015

How will climate change transform agriculture?

A new study by IIASA researchers finds that climate change impacts on crop yields could lead to a 18% decline in global caloric production or a 3% increase by 2050. The researchers identified likely needed adaptations and transformations for global agricultural systems, highlighting the importance of irrigation and regional connections.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateDec 18, 2014