Articles tagged with Climatology
Researchers have found high-altitude glacier in Tibet preserved fragments from the last ice age, extending Earth's glacial record by over 100,000 years. The analysis of ice cores from the Guliya Plateau reveals consistent oxygen isotope patterns, suggesting that the environmental signals they contain are reproducible.
A study examines how urban heat impacts everyday life, health, and social interactions in Mexico City, revealing a clear threshold beyond which heat becomes a public concern. The research combines satellite observations, social media data, and geographic analysis to understand the human dimension of urban heat.
Researchers used machine learning to map biomass variations of Chinese milk vetch in southern China, identifying key climate and geography factors that impact its growth. The study found nonlinear climate thresholds, with optimal biomass accumulation between 533-877 mm rainfall and 10.7-13.7°C temperatures.
Patients undergoing major surgery are at a higher risk of suboptimal recovery in urban heat islands, with Black patients and those in socially vulnerable communities hit hardest. Researchers recommend incorporating questions about home cooling and hydration into discharge planning to mitigate this risk.
A study found that warmer sea surface temperatures and terrain changes can significantly impact the intensity and path of tropical cyclones like Cyclone Shaheen. Simulations showed that increased sea surface temperature intensified the cyclone and increased rainfall along coastal areas.
A new study reveals that grazing abandonment leads to lower soil carbon, while continued grazing consistently results in higher soil carbon. Grazing is found to be crucial for sustaining grasslands and enhancing soil carbon storage.
A recent study found that atmospheric particles, including aerosols and clouds, have contributed to the slower warming trend in India over the past three decades. The researchers discovered that aerosol loading and cloud cover have resulted in significant surface cooling, which would have been nearly twice as large without these factors.
Research highlights advances in global weather modeling, sea ice convergence, and changes in seasonal drought patterns. Tornado emergencies are also explored, with a focus on Latinx communities and the importance of building trust and partnerships.
Researchers identified 33% of rivers and streams rated above-average for resilience, concentrated in Pacific Coast, Northern Rocky Mountains, and Great Lakes areas. Conserving 35% of waterways could sustain biodiversity, but only 6% is currently protected and resilient.
Researchers analyzed 69 natural archives from tropical Australia, finding no evidence of complex rainfall patterns during the Holocene. Instead, they suggest that past data limitations may have led to an overestimation of complexity.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences traced 240,000 years of lake history, finding two brief freshwater phases, including Lake Bonneville, which lasted longer and was fresher than an earlier lake phase. The study suggests that the lake's future is threatened by human water use and climate change.
A new study by Columbia Climate School researchers estimates that natural gas use is the primary source of methane emissions in NYC, equivalent to nearly $300 million in wasted fuel. The findings provide an overlooked pathway for reducing methane emissions while potentially saving consumers millions of dollars.
A new study finds that extreme heat events have expanded globally, with some regions experiencing more frequent heat events in spring and fall. This shifts the focus from average temperatures to individual extreme heat events, which are harder on the body when arriving at unexpected times.
Climate extremes in the Amazon are getting worse, with the central north region experiencing rapid growth in extreme temperatures and water stress. The region, home to extensive indigenous territories and high forest cover, was not previously considered a hotspot for climate change.
A new study projects significant disparities in access to food, water, and energy by 2050, with lower-income groups facing significant challenges. The study finds that in some regions, lower-income people could spend up to 50% of their income on food, while higher-income groups spend only 5%.
New research estimates that Australia will face significant economic losses of up to $855 billion by 2100 due to rising sea levels and storm surges. The study found that coastal flooding could affect almost 270,000 properties and two million hectares of land across the country.
Research on European mountain summits reveals a rising number of plant extinctions despite increasing biodiversity, with specialists of high-elevation ecosystems primarily affected. Climate warming is driving these local extinctions, which are more likely to occur on summits with stronger warming and lower species' range margins.
A UBC-led study finds that insects pose a more immediate threat to North American forests, with over 60% of areas projected to experience 30% more insect pressure by mid-century. Climate change and pests could jeopardize critical carbon sinks and air quality, costing billions of dollars in economic losses.
Researchers have developed a heat-driven, elastocaloric cooling system that leverages waste heat and solar energy for sustainable cooling. The system achieves a temperature difference of 4°C on the component level, demonstrating its feasibility.
A new study highlights the impact of coastal freshening on the giant amphipod species Paraceradocus miersi, which lose salts, gain water, and suffer gill damage in diluted waters. The research warns that continued freshening may pose a significant threat to many marine invertebrates and reshape the global ocean's communities.
A University of Michigan study found that El Niño events have become nearly 40% stronger in the last 40 years than in the pre-industrial era. The study, which examined modern and ancient corals in the Galápagos Islands, found that El Niño events in the last four decades were stronger than any in the 1,000 years prior to about 1850.
A 1,000-year record from Galápagos corals shows El Niño is intensifying due to climate change, with ENSO variability 37% higher than during the preindustrial era. This increase in El Niño events poses growing risks to ecosystems, infrastructure, and human societies.
A new study found that El Niño events have become nearly 40% stronger in the last 40 years than they were in the pre-industrial era. The researchers used coral reconstructions from the Galápagos Islands to examine historic El Niño patterns and confirm that the current El Niño event is superimposed on global warming, likely to superchar...
New measurements show that human-induced carbon dioxide emissions have penetrated deep into the North Atlantic, altering the ocean's isotopic signature. The Suess effect is detectable in nearly all North Atlantic water masses, with strongest signals in young, subsurface waters.
Researchers at Bielefeld University have discovered that microcline's most common surface is sufficient for ice to form in an ordered manner, known as epitaxial growth. This finding provides a new perspective on the importance of uncommon ice faces for understanding ice nucleation.
Research shows that young Bewick's swans that lose their parents during winter migration have a significantly lower survival rate, dropping from 86% to 40%. The study highlights the importance of family ties for migration and survival in these long-lived social birds.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong discovered that fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) weakens plants' ability to efficiently use water and absorb carbon dioxide. PM2.5 pollution reduces photosynthetically active radiation and carboxylation capacity, hindering plants' ability to thrive and capture carbon.
Scientists warn that Canada's boreal forests absorb enough heat to offset 6-20% of their climate benefit, due to their dark surface reflecting winter sunlight. Mixed forests with deciduous trees and moderate densities outperform dense evergreen monocultures in delivering climate cooling.
A new study reveals that Antarctica's recent snowfall surge was caused by climate variability, not a long-term trend. The surge added mass to East Antarctica, but mass loss continued in West Antarctica, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and research.
Researchers analyzed ice cores from the Andes in Peru, revealing a 2,000-year-old record of global methane evolution. The findings support the hypothesis that tropical methane emissions dominated the Earth during the pre-industrial period, with human-driven agricultural and industrial emissions contributing to increases in later periods.
Researchers found that certain tree species, such as weeping willow and Chinese white poplar, emit high levels of isoprene, a key contributor to ozone formation. By selecting low-emitting tree species, cities can reduce isoprene emissions and mitigate ozone formation, particularly during heatwaves.
Researchers analyzed 27,000 ancient seafloor samples and found a consistent pattern of manganese enrichment in sediments from high latitudes, indicating polar oceans remained oxygen-rich. This suggests that oxygen availability drove the observed differences in ocean conditions during ancient ice ages.
A new study led by ISGlobal reveals that Atlantic climate variability can predict leishmaniasis outbreaks in North Africa by analyzing rainfall patterns and their impact on vegetation and rodent populations. This enables the development of a seasonal forecasting system with up to one year's lead time.
Scientists propose a colossal cliff across ancient North America may have exposed Grand Canyon's oldest rocks nearly a billion years before it was carved by the Colorado River. The study suggests the 'great escarpment' of steep rocky cliffs formed when the supercontinent Rodinia broke apart 800 million years ago.
Researchers use fiber-optic cables to detect hidden crevasses within glaciers, improving stability monitoring. This method reveals over 8% of ice volume was hidden, impacting glacier stability and sea levels.
Climate researchers have discovered a significant increase in neighborhood-level hurricane warnings, widespread wildfires in the US, and unprecedented changes in Earth's energy budget. These findings suggest that greenhouse gases are driving these trends, with smoke and fire-related carbon emissions rising due to increased aridity.
A new UN University publication reveals that many people in England fail to take action to protect themselves during heatwaves despite receiving warnings. The most common reason is a lack of perception of personal risk, highlighting the need for improved communication and long-term adaptation strategies.
A new study reveals that European mountain summits are warming, leading to changes in alpine vegetation, but the link between temperature and these changes is surprisingly weak. Long-term monitoring shows that local conditions, such as the presence of warmth-associated species, play a crucial role in shaping vegetation responses.
Researchers used fossilized leaf cells to recreate tree canopy of PETM, a period of global warming comparable to today's climate. The study found widespread browning of landscapes and reduced rainfall triggered by volcanic carbon release.
Historical data analyzed reveals the famous flood of 1342 was part of a 16-flood event series lasting almost two years. This study provides insights for modern flood protection strategies, highlighting the need to anticipate multiple major floods in quick succession.
Researchers argue that addressing climate change requires a new approach, one that considers the strong coupling between climate and society. The authors propose the 'Möbius-based Coupling Climate-Social System' framework, which identifies three principles: human-environment coupling, telecoupling, and strategic coupling.
A 300-million-year-old event shows that volcanic activity and orbital forcing combined to trigger rapid warming. The study reveals the importance of sustained orbital forcing in triggering positive climate-carbon cycle feedbacks, leading to massive carbon release and abrupt large-scale warming.
The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.
A review of 30 years of biochar research reveals its potential to improve soil health, support crops, and mitigate climate change. Biochar can enhance soil pH, porosity, water availability, nutrient retention, root development, and microbial activity.
A new study warns that ambitious climate pledges may lead to a 12.8% reduction in global cropland by 2100, compromising food security. The impact could be unevenly distributed, with countries in the Global South and South America facing significant losses.
Scientists have discovered a new process that forms cloud-forming particles in the Arctic atmosphere when melting sea ice meets open ocean. This combination of marine life and sunlight releases a chemical mixture that seeds the sky with particles, increasing cloud cover and affecting global climate.
A new SwRI study provides the first evidence of recent liquid flows to Pluto's surface, suggesting that liquid nitrogen is rising from beneath the Sputnik Planitia glacier. This finding, based on data from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, indicates a new kind of time-variable feature on Pluto.
A three-year field experiment found that warming accelerates nitrogen cycling while promoting retention in protected soil pools. This changes where nitrogen goes and how securely it is stored, potentially helping develop climate-resilient nitrogen management strategies for rice production.
A recent study published in Science Advances has discovered a key transport pathway for nutrient-rich organic particles to depths of over 1,000 metres. The large-scale winter upwelling of surface water rapidly delivers these particles, introducing them directly into the ocean circulation.
The American Meteorological Society recognizes individuals and organizations making a positive difference in the world through fundamental research, public engagement, teaching, and informed decision-making. This year's honorees include Rong Fu, Paola Cessi, Sharon Nicholson, Renhe Zhang, Christian Kummerow, and David Thompson.
Researchers developed an open-source tool RIME-X to generate regional climate and impact projections while capturing uncertainties. The new method combines simple climate models with regional information from multi-model climate and impact model ensembles, producing scenario- and time-dependent probability distributions.
A new holistic scoring system for dietary protein evaluates environmental impact, health, affordability, and availability. The analysis found plant-based foods dominate the highest-scoring quintile while animal-based products are in the lowest-scoring group.
A new study from Costa Rica's Área de Conservación Guanacaste found that high-elevation species of rove beetles are poorly equipped for warmer temperatures, while low-elevation insects live close to their heat limits. This suggests that tropical biodiversity may be vulnerable to rapid climate change.
A new study from Stockholm University found that the most severe droughts in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean arose when multiple natural climate cycles coincided. This helped explain why the drought associated with the Late Bronze Age collapse were so severe, pushing societies beyond a critical hydroclimatic threshold.
Researchers have developed a new metric to estimate air-conditioning and refrigeration energy demand, accounting for temperature and humidity. The study found that cooling efficiency has been declining by 2–4% per decade since 1971, with regions facing the steepest future increases in cooling demand expected in the Northwest, Great Lak...
New analysis reveals Arctic winter sea ice coverage declined significantly due to record lows in 2025 and 2026, reversing a brief slowdown. The study suggests that Arctic winter sea ice loss is continuing in a warming climate.
Scientists use commercially available surfing webcams to measure Oregon's coastal fog, revealing patchy fog patterns along 93 miles of coastline. The study found that airport measurements were a good indication of average monthly fog frequency, but surface weather conditions at the airport were not sufficient for real-time fog detection.
Researchers found that as salinity increases in freshwater environments, microbial communities lose diversity due to faster-growing strains taking over, but maintain overall growth rates. This effect is also observed in natural ecosystems across different environments.
A new study has mapped Europe's wetlands, identifying peatlands as the most critical type to restore for climate benefits. The map provides a basis for assessing where wetland restoration could deliver benefits for climate and biodiversity.
Researchers used experimental models to forecast 2025 Texas floods, which killed over 120 people. Models also project increased U.S. thunderstorm threat and severe weather season starts earlier in a warmer climate.