Articles tagged with Climatology
An international study classifies groundwater as a keystone ecosystem, emphasizing its critical role in sustaining both humanity and biodiversity. The researchers propose eight key themes for improved groundwater conservation to reduce biodiversity loss and counterbalance climate change.
A recent study found that climate warming is altering carbon flow and food web dynamics in Arctic tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, with fungi replacing plants as the main energy source for animals. This shift has significant implications for ecosystem function and animal responses to climate change.
Research using a high-resolution climate model found that global warming amplifies the strength of typhoons in East Asia, leading to increased intense rainfall and powerful storms. The study suggests that continued escalation of global warming will result in stronger typhoons and more extensive occurrences of extreme precipitation events.
The study uses genetic analysis of an Antarctic octopus to suggest the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) collapsed during the Last Interglacial period. This collapse could have devastating global ramifications, including a 3-5 meter rise in sea levels.
A team of scientists has found evidence linking oceanic weather systems to climate on a global scale, revealing that these interactions require the mediation of the atmosphere. The study used mechanical analysis to understand energy transfer across different patterns in the ocean and atmosphere.
A new study by ICTA-UAB shows that pursuing higher economic growth may jeopardise the Paris goals and leave no viable pathways for humanity to stabilise the climate. Slower growth rates make it more feasible to achieve the Paris goals, with lower economic growth reducing CO2 emissions by 10-13% by 2030.
A 1916 study by Eugene Clyde La Rue estimated the Colorado River discharged just 15 million acre-feet of water, but was ignored in favor of a higher estimate. Today, the river's actual flow is around 13 million acre-feet per year, prompting calls for improved estimates and Indigenous involvement in managing the water.
David J. Stensrud has been elected as the new President-Elect of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) for 2024, serving a one-year term before becoming President in 2025. The AMS Council, comprising five new members, will take office beginning in 2024.
A new study reveals that the last time atmospheric carbon dioxide reached today's human-driven levels was 14 million years ago, indicating a highly sensitive climate to greenhouse gases. The research also predicts a whopping 5-8 degrees C warming with a doubling of CO2, highlighting the urgent need for present-day climate policy.
Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use reached a record high of 36.8 billion metric tons in 2023, surpassing the previous year's level by 1.1%. The remaining carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.5°C could be used up in seven years if current levels of emissions continue.
Researchers at University at Buffalo have discovered a way to create strong and effective fuel cell catalysts that approach the performance of platinum. By adding hydrogen to the fabricating process, they were able to balance durability and efficiency, potentially making fuel cells more affordable and polluting-free.
Researchers analyzed dolomite rocks and found a high proportion of C-13, indicating strong methane formation by microorganisms in water with low sulphate content. The sediment's chemical development is controlled by crater floor cooling and water supply, not climatic changes.
Forest microclimates are weakened by soil droughts, leading to hotter temperatures in forest understories. This can have devastating effects on small tree seedlings and forest biodiversity as a whole.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a system to assess water quality challenges in Suzhou, China. The study found that the city's water capacity has increased since 2001 due to effective water management measures.
Researchers develop a mathematical model that analyzes the future survival of plants in a changing climate by studying how far wind can carry seeds. The model provides fast and reliable predictions of seed movement, considering factors like seed type, plant height, and wind speed.
Researchers investigating aerosol pollution's impact on climate change will use NOAA's SPEAR model to project how future climate hazards could be affected by different emission scenarios. The study seeks to characterize the uncertainty of aerosol emissions and their influence on climate change.
Researchers at Collaborative Research Centre Transregio 172 are studying Arctic amplification, a phenomenon where the Arctic warms at twice the rate of the globe. They've found increased storm activity, wetter atmosphere, and reduced sea ice in recent years.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discover that pollutants trigger significant changes in large-scale weather patterns, leading to enhanced radiative forcing. Aerosols stop rain in some areas, causing moisture to move to regions with big clouds, which release heat and strengthen winds.
A research team developed a multi-model projection system using the self-calibrating Effective Drought Index to predict drought and recommend cumulative precipitation for recovery. The required rainfall for drought recovery was estimated at 170 mm, 310 mm, and 440 mm for March, April, and May respectively.
Research confirms Greenland's glaciers are melting rapidly due to climate change, with a 5-fold increase in melting over the past 20 years. The study reveals that 25 meters of ice are lost annually, contributing significantly to sea level rise and posing significant challenges for renewable energy and ecosystems.
A team of international scientists cautions that reliance on mechanical cleanup devices to address plastic pollution is ineffective and may even harm marine life. They argue that reducing plastic production and consumption is the most cost-effective way to prevent further pollution.
Researchers found that green spaces alleviate extreme heat's negative impacts on human health, while densely packed buildings increase mortality risk. Urban design strategies incorporating different types of greenery are recommended to mitigate heatwave-associated mortality.
Global land water availability declined from 2001 to 2020, primarily driven by Southern Hemisphere climate variability. The region experienced a significant decrease in water availability over the last 20 years, contributing 95% of global variance.
Researchers have discovered a unique mechanism by which the desert shrub Tamarix aphylla captures moisture from the air, allowing it to thrive in arid environments. The plant excretes salts to extract and condense water onto its leaves, which can then be absorbed.
A new study found that making simple substitutions like switching from beef to chicken or plant-based milk can reduce the average American's carbon footprint from food by 35%, while also boosting diet quality by between 4-10%. These small changes can have a significant impact on both climate and health outcomes.
Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered that microalgae can be used to sequester carbon dioxide and convert it into mass-produced proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. This process has the potential to transform food production, treat wastewater, and produce sustainable biofuels.
Research reveals that Category 4 and 5 hurricanes are arriving three to four days earlier with each passing decade due to climate change. This shift in seasonal cycle can lead to compounding extreme events and challenges community preparedness.
Researchers used paleoaltimetry technique to reveal early mountain range uplift in Southern Tibetan Plateau. The study found that the region had achieved an elevation of approximately 3.5 kilometers by 63 to 61 million years ago, challenging established notions of Tibetan Plateau formation.
A study by CSIC reveals fairy circles are more common than thought, linked to low nitrogen content and rainfall below 200 mm/year. The formations show increased stability in productivity compared to other ecosystems, providing insights into ecosystem resilience and potential indicators of degradation with climate change.
A study by UC Santa Barbara and Gallup Inc. found that nearly one in five wind projects faced opposition, with rates increasing over time. White, wealthy communities are more likely to oppose wind farms in the US, while wealthier communities in Canada also show resistance.
Researchers warn that greenwashing poses a threat to achieving a 'nature positive' world, where environmental decline halts and biodiversity improves. The University of Queensland study emphasizes the need for standards and transparency to distinguish genuine efforts from misleading claims.
A new laser-based sampling system allows for higher depth resolution, enabling scientists to reconstruct continuous annual temperature changes thousands of years ago. The LMS system overcomes previous limitations in sampling ice cores, preserving critical oxygen and hydrogen isotopes needed to infer past temperatures.
Research found alterations in proteins that can affect autophagy, a self-eating process of damaged cells. Healthy newborns showed individual responses to prenatal exposure to air pollution, with some more vulnerable than others. The study aims to understand the impact on breathing problems during infancy and childhood.
A large US study found that long- and short-term heat exposure during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of severe maternal morbidity. The study's results may inform strategies to prevent severe maternal morbidity in a changing climate.
A new review explores the effects of air pollution and climate change on children's developmental health, leading to human capital losses. The study highlights three dimensions: health, cognitive ability, and socio-emotional ability, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive evaluation of these impacts.
A deep learning approach has unveiled a significant change in the characteristics of global daily precipitation for the first time. The research found that on more than 50% of all days, there was a clear deviation from natural variability in the daily precipitation pattern since 2015.
The American Meteorological Society recognizes Benjamin Santer for his work on climate change detection and attribution. William Kustas receives the Hydrologic Sciences Medal for foundational advances in evapotranspiration measurement and theory. Lixin Wu is awarded the Henry Stommel Research Medal for studies of multi-scale ocean circ...
Researchers discovered that blending crushed rock with arable soil could help reduce global temperatures. The process, known as enhanced chemical weathering, works by releasing calcium and magnesium from rocks, which bind atmospheric carbon dioxide and prevent its release back into the atmosphere.
A new study reveals that domestic firelighters emit more black carbon than all biomass fuels combined, posing a significant threat to air quality and climate change. The research found that even small quantities of firelighter use can have devastating effects on human health and the environment.
Researchers developed a water harvester device that harnesses atmospheric water vapor using metal-organic frameworks and ambient sunlight. The device successfully collected up to 285g of water per kilogram of MOF in extreme environments, showcasing its potential for universal applicability.
Researchers have discovered clues about Antarctica's ice sheet formation in Mississippi mud, suggesting a 300,000-year brake on climate cooling. The study provides new insights into the Eocene-Oligocene transition, a significant climate event that had a major impact on Earth's history.
Researchers studying foraminifers, tiny algae with calcareous shells, have discovered six different strategies under various environmental conditions. These strategies are crucial for predicting changes in the ocean's calcium balance and carbon cycle under climate change.
Researchers used climate modeling approaches to fill gaps in understanding hominin evolution and migration. Their studies found that extreme glacial conditions may have led to the depopulation of Europe and facilitated interbreeding between Denisovans and Neanderthals due to overlapping habitats.
A recent study reveals that past climate changes and vegetation shifts played a key role in determining when and where early human species interbred. The research suggests that the overlap of habitats led to increased encounters and interactions among groups, increasing the chance of interbreeding.
A new study found that global ecosystem water use efficiency has stagnated since 2001, likely due to an increased vapor pressure deficit and intensifying evapotranspiration. This decline may undermine human reliance on nature-based climate solutions for carbon neutrality.
Researchers from Macquarie University have found that the Earth's gradual cooling led to a flip in the deep cycling of carbon and chlorine between the surface and interior. Most carbon accumulates into solid carbonate sediments, while chlorine typically returns to the surface as volcanic gases.
A UK-Sri Lankan research network aimed to develop research capacities among senior academic staff members from both countries. The training network investigated differences, overlaps, and synergies between Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) research communities.
Researchers linked chemical changes in seawater to volcanic activity and climate change, with a 7-fold decrease in lithium concentration over the past 150 million years. This shift is attributed to reduced seafloor hydrothermal activity, influenced by tectonic plate movements.
The study found that environmental conditions and the state of the ocean can lead to enhanced risk for ocean temperature extremes. Upwelling patterns on a short-term basis also initiate some of these marine heatwaves and cold spells.
New research from the University of Surrey found that over 60% of nature-based solutions (NBS) are located in Europe, with poor adoption in other regions. The study analyzed over 500 NBS case studies and found that green solutions, hybrid solutions, and addressing water-based hazards were common uses of NBS.
Researchers predict a significant increase in projected frequency of multiyear La Niña events under global warming. This is due to enhanced tropical-subtropical interaction and Pacific mean-state warming patterns.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara's Climate Hazards Center have made significant advancements in predicting droughts and food shortages in the Eastern Horn of Africa, enabling agencies to take effective actions and provide humanitarian assistance. These early warnings have helped prevent devastating famines and saved millions of people f...
The Pacific Northwest and Cascadia Bioregion are home to diverse ecosystems, including temperate rainforests and marine environments. Research presented at the ESA Annual Meeting explores topics such as restoration efforts, plant community recovery, and climate change impacts on salmon populations.
Researchers found evidence of 2.9 billion-year-old glaciers in South Africa using relative oxygen isotope concentrations and physical proof. The discovery suggests the presence of continental ice caps at that time or a previously unknown 'snowball Earth' period.
The UK Research and Innovation has awarded £53 million in funding to six research centers to boost knowledge, create innovative green technologies, and reduce energy demand. The focus is on developing game-changing ideas to improve domestic, industrial, and transport energy systems.
Cornell University researchers found that unused solar, wind, and hydroelectric power in the US could support the exponential growth of NFT transactions. The study suggests that harnessing this excess energy could reduce carbon emissions from NFT processing, which currently reach an equivalent of 0.37 megatons of CO2 per year.
A study published in Nature Medicine estimates that the intense heat waves during the European summer of 2022 led to more than 61,000 deaths. The highest mortality rates were found in Italy and Spain, with women being 63% more likely to die from heat than men.
Researchers found that cultivating reed grass on undrained peat soil or wet meadows can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional potato crop rotation. This approach also offers potential economic benefits and can help restore the original ecosystem with high biodiversity.
A new study finds public backing for biofuel and hydrogen as alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the global shipping industry. The research suggests that nuclear power is also a viable option, while ammonia has the least public support due to its perceived risks.
Researchers have found that industrial sources of nitrous oxide emissions can be readily abated with existing technology. The study suggests that low-cost technologies already exist to reduce nitrous oxide emissions to nearly zero, providing a double benefit for the environment and humanity by also protecting the ozone layer.