Articles tagged with Climate Systems
A global survey of biodiversity experts finds that more species are threatened with extinction than previously thought, with estimates suggesting 30% of species have been lost since 1500. The study identifies climate change, pollution, and land-use changes as key drivers of biodiversity loss.
Researchers from Colorado State University have made direct observations of ice nucleating particles in the central Arctic, revealing strong seasonality and seasonal changes. These findings provide crucial insights into the effects of climate change on clouds and precipitation patterns.
Researchers from PSU and WSU aim to understand how atmospheric ridges impact the region's climate. The project will investigate how ridges respond to global warming and its effects on heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires.
The Tibetan Plateau's water supply is under strain due to rapid melting of snow and upstream glaciers. This scarcity could lead to increased risks of international and intranational disputes in countries relying on it.
The research highlights the importance of social science in engaging people and societies, ensuring a green transition that promotes wellbeing, equity, and fairness. The study suggests that both profound societal change and technical improvements are needed to meet climate goals.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a new class of highly reactive chemical compounds called hydrotrioxides. Formed during atmospheric decomposition of substances like isoprene and dimethyl sulfide, these compounds are stable enough to react with other atmospheric compounds.
New research reveals that precession played a significant role in driving Northern Hemisphere ice age cycles during the early Pleistocene period. The study suggests that more intense summers caused by precession led to melting of ice sheets, but with less devastating effects before 1 million years ago.
A recent study reveals that climate change has driven shifts in European grain production, with Eastern Europe taking on a greater role. The shift is attributed to technological advancements and global climate change, which have increased crop yields in the region.
A long-term international study found tropical tree mortality has doubled in Australia's rainforests over the past 35 years, with average tree death rates increasing by half. The research suggests the main driver is the increasing drying power of the atmosphere due to global warming.
A new study suggests that a transformative shift in the global food system, focusing on efficiency and reducing animal products, could significantly decrease emissions. However, such changes might lead to increased food prices, affecting vulnerable populations.
A new study found that extreme weather events can mobilize hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of sand into beach systems, potentially offsetting shoreline retreat caused by sea level rise. Researchers used high-resolution measurements and specialized equipment to track sand movement before and after storms.
Research suggests that expansion of vegetation in the Northern Hemisphere led to a significant warming of global temperatures between 6,000 and 9,000 years ago. The findings align with paleoclimate proxy records and challenge previous models' limitations in accounting for vegetation changes.
Researchers propose that wildlife can return phosphorus to the land by restoring interconnected animal communities, revitalizing ancient pathways of natural fertilization. This approach aims to generate sources of fertilizer for farmers and increase ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.
Researchers found that flash droughts are happening more quickly, with the fastest ones occurring within five days, affecting areas like South Asia, Southeast Asia, and central North America. The study highlights the importance of understanding and preparing for these events.
Researchers found a persistent 20% reduction in carbon dioxide seeping up from the ground during the spring of 2017, coinciding with intense drought and record-high Sierra Nevada snowpack. The study suggests that changes in Earth's hydrology due to climate change can impact volcanic emissions.
Researchers estimate 60,000-year timeline of massive volcanic eruptions, finding 85 large global eruptions and 69 larger than the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption. This new data helps improve climate models by providing insights into Earth's climate sensitivity.
A new study finds that immediate action to reduce methane emissions could preserve Arctic summer sea ice through 2100, with drastic cuts in CO2 also necessary. The chances of saving summer sea ice increase from nearly zero without action to over 80% if net zero CO2 emissions are reached by 2050.
A mathematical analysis suggests that crossing a climate tipping point can lead to minor, stepwise changes in large, heterogeneous systems, rather than irreversible disasters. This finding challenges the widely-held assumption that tipping points always result in catastrophic consequences.
A study by University of Illinois researchers found that private investments in California's solar energy industry increase climate vulnerabilities. Large-scale infrastructure needed to attract private investment makes the system more vulnerable to climate extremes, including heat waves and droughts.
The Amazon rainforest is experiencing a decline in resilience, which could trigger dieback and have severe consequences for the environment. The study found that resilience has dropped consistently since the early 2000s, with parts of the forest losing resilience faster due to deforestation and climate change.
Rising temperatures are causing the world's coldest forests to shift northward, threatening biodiversity and increasing wildfire risks. Soil nutrient availability also plays a key role in the response of boreal vegetation to climate change.
A new UNSW-led study reveals that global warming has amplified the water cycle, with an estimated 46,000-77,000 cubic kilometers of freshwater transported from the equator to the poles since 1970. This finding suggests broader changes to the global water cycle and highlights the need for improved climate models.
A new study reveals a significant shift in the Northern Hemisphere jet stream position, increasing by up to 330 km and speed by 8% during 1871-2011. This shift is linked to warming Arctic winters and decreased temperature gradients, with implications for climate predictions and storm activity.
Researchers found that forests' outermost edges can store more carbon than previously assumed. Trees on these edges grow faster due to reduced competition, taking in nearly twice as much CO2 as interior trees. Soils at forest edges also absorb more CO2, contradicting current ideas about conservation and urban forest value.
A new study finds that European diets must change to reduce climate impact, with feeding livestock low-opportunity-cost biomass offering a 31% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The EAT-Lancet diet, which recommends reducing animal-source foods like red meat, is at odds with circular food systems that prioritize land use efficiency.
Researchers say a new framework can help trigger positive tipping points to tackle the climate crisis, including the growth of plant-based diets and regenerative farming methods. The Breakthrough Agenda at COP26 signals a shift in thinking, aiming to tip economic sectors into a green state.
The MOSAiC expedition provides the first complete picture of climate processes in the central Arctic, warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Researchers analyzed environmental parameters over a full annual cycle, finding more dynamic and faster drifting pack ice than expected.
A new atlas measures the movement and thickness of over 250,000 mountain glaciers worldwide, revealing a mixed picture of the globe's ice-bound freshwater resources. The research suggests there is 20% less ice available for sea level rise than previously thought, with significant implications for water availability and climate change.
A new report identifies 10 key facts about global land use, highlighting opportunities for a more sustainable and equitable approach. The study emphasizes the need for policymakers to consider trade-offs and marginalized groups' rights in developing effective solutions.
A Penn State study integrates multiple models to capture climate-related interactions between water, power, and economic systems. Higher water temperatures can lead to a causal chain of events, including generator outages, higher costs, and productivity reductions.
A study of temperature and mortality in Pune found that cold causes more deaths than heat, challenging authorities' focus on heatwaves. The research suggests that public health strategies should reflect this finding to better prepare for extreme weather events.
The frequency of thunderstorms in some fast-growing African coastal cities has doubled over the past 30 years, mostly linked to land use change. Deforestation exacerbates storm activity, causing increased rainfall and flooding in urban areas.
Scientists use a modified drone with a radiation shield to collect high-quality atmospheric data in polar regions. The study shows that the low-cost drone provides accurate data comparable to radiosondes, expanding the observational network and improving weather forecasts.
A new study finds that farmers should be seen as partners in research and development to achieve climate and sustainability goals. Novel funding models, such as joint agenda setting and blended finance, are also needed to support transformative projects in the agricultural sector.
A new study published in PNAS found that large mammals died out at the end of the last ice age due to a warming climate and vegetation expansion. Rewilding efforts with animals like bison and horses are unlikely to reverse this trend, as climate change remains the primary driver of ecosystem changes.
A Dartmouth team compiled a global-scale dataset to show how uncertainties over determining snow depth can actually improve predictions of water availability. The approach leverages observational and definitional uncertainties to make better assessments of snow droughts and their impacts.
The special issue examines the collective dynamics of complex networks with applications in neuroscience, climate modelling, and Earth science. The papers cover a broad range of topics including dynamics of excitable systems, cluster dynamics, and interplay of noise and feedback.
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.
A new data-model study suggests that the Antarctic Ice Sheet's tipping point was reached within a decade, leading to centuries of ice mass loss and potential irreversible ice retreat. The research team analyzed sediment cores and computer models to identify evidence of post-glacial tipping points in the past.
Climate scientists have identified abrupt transitions in ice core records using a new statistical method. The method analyzes the ratio of two oxygen isotopes to determine whether changes are due to noise or significant climactic shifts.
Researchers developed an automated method to detect and date abrupt climate events in paleoclimatic data, facilitating the study of climate tipping points in the past. The new tool can help establish chronology of close events and eliminate uncertainties during comparisons of different paleo records.
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.
A new study suggests that UK plant-based alternative food consumption has nearly doubled over the past decade, with younger generations and women being more likely to adopt this diet. The research found that plant-based milks were the most popular among the UK population, followed by vegan sausages and vegetable burgers.
Researchers found that during hothouse periods, Earth may have experienced cycles of dryness followed by massive rain storms. This unexpected atmospheric state sheds light on Earth's distant past and far-flung future, potentially helping to understand climates of exoplanets.
Research finds climate stabilized due to increased rock weathering and erosion, which converts CO2 into insoluble carbonate; this process took 20,000-50,000 years. Lithium isotope analysis supports theory, showing increased weathering and erosion during Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.
Health professionals can influence change through simple behavioral choices and introducing climate discussions, while also making healthcare more sustainable. The BMJ calls for both individual action and organizational responsibility to address the climate crisis.
Researchers developed an AI algorithm that can assess climate change tipping points, predicting rapid or irreversible change in systems. The new approach can detect features of tipping points common to various complex systems, including ecology, epidemiology, and markets.
The Copernicus Ocean State Report reveals record low Arctic ice levels, with a 90% reduction in average sea ice thickness in the Barents Sea. The report also highlights extreme variability in ocean temperatures and oxygen levels, posing significant challenges for marine ecosystems.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba found that warm sea surface temperature conditions in the Indian Ocean contribute to anomalous weather events in East Asia, including record-breaking rainfall and severe flooding. The study suggests a link between warming Indian Ocean conditions and stagnation of the Meiyu-Baiu rainband.
Researchers argue that improving policy analysis methods can lead to better decisions, particularly for transformative policies like climate change. A new framework focuses on evaluating risks, opportunities, and resilience, rather than just costs and benefits.
A new study using Argo system ocean temperature data refines climate modeling predictions by identifying models most consistent with observations. The analysis shows that land and air temperatures only tell part of the story, with oceans storing 90% of the planet's heat.
Research suggests that climate-caused disruptions to the jet stream's position and intensity could lead to severe weather-related consequences. The study's findings imply that continued warming could cause significant deviations from the norm, rendering the jet stream drastically different within a matter of decades.
Researchers found that predators play a crucial role in regulating small mammal populations, contradicting previous assumptions about the importance of herbivore-plant interactions. The study's unique Arctic vole ecosystem provided a simple model to test predator-prey dynamics, shedding light on population cycles and climate variability.
A study by Matthew Auer highlights the need for community-led wildfire protection plans to address growing threats, particularly among low-income households. These plans can provide educational resources, fire-resistant home construction, and access to funding.
A new study published in Climate Dynamics analysis observational data and a large climate model found that the Earth's 11-year cycle is out of sync with solar fluctuations. The findings refute climate skeptics' claims that the sun plays a major role in global warming.
A new study by Portland State University assesses strategies for the Hood River watershed to adapt to climate change. The researchers found that a combination of water banking, infrastructure improvements, and reflexive feedback mechanisms can achieve overall resilience.
A new study found that global marine ecosystem models differ widely in their representation of key processes, leading to underestimation of climate change impacts. Marine ecosystem models generally agree on biomass decline but disagree on magnitude and location across the world's oceans through the 21st century.
Scientists discovered that volcanic arcs, including chains like the Andes and Cascades, played a crucial role in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels over the past 400 million years. This natural feedback mechanism helped maintain a stable climate, but recent human-driven emissions have disrupted this balance.
A Purdue University study suggests that the eastern half of the US is a hotspot for severe thunderstorms due to high terrain, while the Gulf of Mexico plays a relatively weak role. Removing the Gulf would shift storm patterns eastward into Illinois and reduce them over southern Texas.
A new study finds that female walruses in the Chukchi Sea rely on biomarkers from algae growing within sea ice as a primary food source. The researchers tracked these markers using liver tissues from harvested animals, revealing a difference in foraging behavior between males and females.