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Study finds early warning signals of abrupt climate change

A new study has found early warning signals of a reorganisation of the Atlantic Ocean's circulation, which could impact the global climate system. The researchers used a complex model to analyze the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), finding that these signs are present up to 250 years before it collapses.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 8, 2014

How variable are ocean temperatures?

A new study shows that sea surface temperatures reconstructed from climate archives vary to a much greater extent on long time scales than simulated by climate models. The researchers found that conventional climate models underestimated the variations of sea surface temperatures by a factor of 50 on a millennial time scale.

SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 10, 2014

Berkeley Lab scientists ID new driver behind Arctic warming

Researchers discovered that open oceans are less efficient at emitting far-infrared energy than sea ice, leading to warmer oceans and melting sea ice. This phenomenon contributes significantly to the polar climate's warming trend, with simulations predicting a 2-degree Celsius increase in the Arctic climate after just 25 years.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 3, 2014

Why global warming is taking a break

Researchers find that El Niño and La Niña events, as well as weakened solar activity and aerosol concentrations, contributed to the recent slowdown in global warming. The study suggests that short-term climate fluctuations can be explained by natural factors without contradicting long-term warming trends.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 19, 2014

Antarctica could raise sea level faster than previously thought

A new study suggests Antarctica's ice sheet could become the largest contributor to global sea level rise earlier than thought. The analysis indicates a range of potential increases of 1-37 centimeters in this century, significantly higher than previous IPCC projections. This could have devastating impacts on coastal cities and communi...

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalEarth System Dynamics·DateAug 13, 2014

Scientists uncover combustion mechanism to better predict warming by wildfires

Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Carnegie Mellon University uncover key attributes of brown carbon, a toxic airborne particle that warms the atmosphere. The study reveals that brown carbon shares a common production mechanism with black carbon, leading to significant underestimation of warming effects in climate models.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 4, 2014

Australia drying caused by greenhouse gases

A new NOAA climate model reveals southwestern Australia's long-term decline in fall and winter rainfall is primarily driven by manmade increases in greenhouse gases and ozone depletion. The study projects a continued decline in winter rainfall throughout the 21st century, with significant implications for regional water resources.

SourceNOAA Headquarters·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJul 13, 2014

Climate negotiation as a bargaining game

Researchers found that smaller groups of countries are more likely to reach consensus, while side agreements among smaller numbers of participants can actually promote the UN process. The study also highlights the importance of perceived individual threat in maintaining successful negotiations.

SourceNortheastern University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 12, 2014

Seeing the bedrock through the trees

Researchers propose a method to determine underground details without drilling, improving climate models and predicting water runoff, landslides, and plant response to climate change. The technique uses groundwater drainage to predict weathered bedrock thickness across landscapes.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 30, 2014

Climate change puts 40 percent more people at risk of absolute water scarcity: Study

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that climate change will increase global water scarcity, affecting millions of people worldwide. The study estimates that 40% more people will be at risk of absolute water scarcity due to climate change, with significant regional differences in impacts.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2013

Underestimated future climate change?

A new study by Thomas Frölicher suggests that the Earth's atmosphere could continue to warm for hundreds of years after a complete stop of CO2 emissions, leading to a 25% increase in global temperature. The ESM2M climate model reveals that regional ocean heat uptake is crucial in understanding the effects of climate change.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Climate Change·DateNov 25, 2013

Paths out of uncertainty

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.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Climate Change·DateNov 17, 2013

Livermore researchers find tie between global precipitation and global warming

A new study by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists shows that global precipitation changes are directly affected by human activities and cannot be explained by natural variability alone. The research found that thermodynamic changes and shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns are contributing to the observed changes.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 11, 2013

Climate change: Fast out of the gate, slow to the finish the gate

A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters suggests that about half of global warming occurs within the first decade after an instantaneous step increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, while about one-quarter occurs more than a century later. The research brings together results from leading climate models, revealing...

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateSep 30, 2013

Global warming is likely to increase severe thunderstorm conditions in US, Stanford research finds

A Stanford University study projects a significant increase in severe thunderstorms across the US, with an estimated 40% rise in eastern US storms by late 21st century. The research suggests global warming will drive more days with high convective available potential energy and sufficient wind shear to form severe thunderstorms.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 23, 2013

Humans play role in Australia's 'angry' hot summer

A recent study found that human influences through global warming increased the chances of Australians experiencing record hot summers like 2013 by more than five times. The research suggests that greenhouse gas emissions will lead to even more frequent and severe extreme heat events in the future.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 27, 2013

How do you feed 9 billion people?

Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a new crop modeling system called SALUS to better predict global wheat yields and their impact on the environment. The system integrates multiple crop simulations with improved climate change models, reducing uncertainties and providing more accurate forecasts.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJun 9, 2013