Articles tagged with Climatology
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.
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...
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
A recent study analyzed sediment cores from a Philippine lake, revealing a 200-year period of drought in the western Pacific during the Little Ice Age. The researchers attribute this change to zonal gradients in sea surface temperature, which highlights the importance of understanding past climate dynamics for predicting future climate...
A recent study by Saint Louis University researchers found that Kenya's population has more than tripled since 1980, while climate-suitable areas for primary crops have decreased by 28% over the same period. This shift is due to increased dryness and higher temperatures reducing agricultural productivity.
A study by the University of Helsinki found that oxidized organic molecules from Amazon rainforests contribute to the formation of aerosol particles in the tropical free troposphere. These molecules, primarily composed of isoprene, can nucleate or condense on nanoparticles, impacting cloud formation and global climate.
A recent study found that air pollution, particularly particulate matter, accelerates snowmelt in the Himalayas. Reduced anthropogenic pollutant emissions during the Indian lockdown in 2020 prevented 27 Mt of ice and snow melt, highlighting the impact of decreasing pollution on combating climate change.
The £7 million CoTide project aims to develop scalable tidal stream energy, making renewable power cheaper, more reliable, and scalable. The initiative will create integrated engineering tools and solutions to overcome technical challenges in harnessing ocean tides as a clean energy source.
The £72 million investment will support cutting-edge research in fluid dynamics, biological sciences, and astronomy. It aims to maintain the UK's position as a science superpower and accelerate innovation in various fields.
The presence of large herbivores like caribou and musk oxen slowed Arctic tundra diversity losses, contrary to declining sea ice. Herbivore exclusion led to faster biodiversity declines, while warming conditions with grazing allowed for slower losses.
Researchers found minimal change in surface melt rates over the past four decades, despite rising global air temperatures. However, Antarctic ice shelf surface melt rates are expected to increase substantially in the coming decades due to climate change.
Research suggests climate change will impact insect biodiversity by throwing off the delicate balance between species that rely on each other for survival. As temperatures rise, insect life cycles may become out of sync with their host plants, leading to potential extinction.
A study analyzed 50,000 scientific publications on climate change and found that media coverage often focuses on large-scale projections and threats, rather than solutions. This selective approach can lead to public disengagement and denial, emphasizing the need for a more transdisciplinary and solution-focused approach in media coverage.
The UK is investing £11 million to improve forecast accuracy for extreme weather events like storms, floods and droughts. Scientists are focusing on atmospheric turbulence to create more detailed models.
A new study predicts Arctic sea ice will vanish by the 2030s if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked. The research, published in Nature Communications, analyzes 41 years of data and confirms human activities as the primary cause of Arctic sea ice decline.
A team of researchers led by Indiana University's Chen Zhu aims to understand the chemical processes that trap CO2 in rocks. They will employ an isotope tracer method to investigate basalt-CO2-water interactions, which have shown potential for rapid carbon storage.
A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.
A new study by Duke University researchers reveals that the amount of toxic elements leaching out of coal ash depends largely on its nanoscale structure. The discovery highlights the complexity of coal ash as a material and emphasizes the need for closer examination of fine details within the ash to understand environmental risks.
A new study published in JAMA Neurology suggests that multiple sclerosis is more prevalent in Black Americans than once thought, with the disease also affecting Northern regions of the US. The study's findings have significant implications for public policy and resource allocation towards historically under-represented populations.
Daniel Herwartz receives 2 million euros funding from ERC Consolidator Grant for his project KinO, which explores temperature fluctuations associated with mass extinction and improves temperature reconstructions of ancient ocean temperatures.
A team of researchers at Lancaster University developed accessible ways to communicate sustainability research using fairy tale characters. The 'Telling Tales' project aims to make complicated arguments more engaging and understandable for policymakers and the public.
A new Dartmouth study projects a 52% increase in extreme precipitation events in the Northeast by the end of the century. The region is expected to experience more frequent heavy rainfall events, with winter and spring contributing most to this projected increase.
A global analysis by Fangfang Yao et al. reveals a widespread decline in lake water storage, with 53% of the world's largest lakes experiencing significant losses over the last 28 years. Climate warming, increased evapotranspiration, and human water consumption are identified as major drivers of this decline.
Existing global forests could store an additional 44.1 petagrams of carbon if left unmanaged, but this would only offset 4 years of CO2 emissions under current rates. The study's findings highlight the limited carbon sequestration potential of unmanaged global forests.
Researchers develop a method to estimate the age of microplastics in the ocean, finding that nearshore microplastics range from 0 to 5 years old while offshore microplastics range from 1 to 3 years old. The study provides insights into how microplastics are generated and spread in the environment.
A new study reveals that mercury levels in the Arctic tripled at the beginning of the Holocene, with sea ice reduction being the main cause. Climate warming has led to a decrease in perennial sea ice, allowing for increased mercury transfer and deposition in the Arctic environment.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have made a breakthrough in removing rapeseed's bitter substances, paving the way for a new plant-based protein source. The team identified three proteins that transport glucosinolates into seeds, allowing them to prevent accumulation and produce healthier seeds.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University will investigate the links between multimodal transportation, climate adaptation and resilience. The center aims to promote transit access, sustainable communities and resilient development.
New research reveals a strong correlation between El Niño-Southern Oscillation and cloud-to-ground lightning in China. The study found that ENSO events, particularly La Niña, lead to enhanced cloud-to-ground lightning activity in North China and Northeast China.
Researchers have identified optimal flight routes for solar-powered airships, which can significantly reduce both transport costs and CO2 emissions of air travel. With a maximum of five percent of carbon dioxide generated compared to conventional air transport, solar airships offer a promising alternative.