Articles tagged with Climatology
A new study found that the global forest area per capita has declined by over 60% from 1960 to 2019, due to 81.7 million hectares of loss. This decline threatens biodiversity and affects the lives of 1.6 billion people worldwide.
The Colorado River is facing a basin-wide water supply crisis due to ongoing drought and poor water management policies. Drastic measures and difficult decisions are needed to stabilize the river's resources, particularly those that limit the amount of water used by all stakeholders.
A recent study found that the desert climate has extended 60 miles northward in Central Asia since the 1980s due to rising temperatures and dwindling precipitation. The region's high-altitude areas have seen an increase in precipitation, but this is largely in the form of rain rather than snow.
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 at Boston College found air-pollution-related disease, death and IQ loss occur in every city and town in Massachusetts. The study estimated a cumulative impact on childhood cognitive development of almost 2 million Performance IQ points lost.
Researchers have extracted a detailed record of 700,000 years of tropical climate change from an Andean lakebed, shedding light on the past 160,000 years. The discovery reveals that glaciers in the tropics followed a roughly 100,000-year cycle, with periods of wetness and dryness affecting global temperatures.
A cluster of studies published in BMJ Group found that universal UK school-based mindfulness training had weak evidence for effectiveness and short-lived benefits. The research suggests that other approaches, such as social-emotional learning (SEL), may be more suitable for building psychological resilience in young people.
A study predicts UK wine production will increase due to climate change, with areas in England and Wales becoming suitable for sparkling wine grape varieties. The research highlights the potential for high-quality still wine production, particularly for Pinot Noir and other disease-resistant varieties.
A new £25m fund will bring together UK researchers, universities, and businesses to use design to address the climate crisis. The programme will focus on innovative design solutions to shift dependence on fossil fuels and support the British Government's commitment to decarbonise the economy.
A recent NTU Singapore study finds that climate change is a stronger driver of increasing atmospheric methane than expected, leading to more heat being trapped in the atmosphere. The research suggests that nature could be producing more and consuming less methane than previously realized, contributing to higher methane emissions.
New research finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C could reduce human exposure to water scarcity, heat stress, and vector-borne diseases by 10-44% globally. The study also identifies West Africa, India, and North America as regions with projected increased climate change risks.
Long-term measurements at Mount Heng in southern China found acidic and more soluble ions in freezing rain, leading to decreased ambient temperatures. This process prolongs the existence of freezing rain, amplifying its effects in northern China as global warming shifts its influencing area
A new study reveals that Nor'easters produce flood levels just as severe as hurricanes, but occur much more frequently in the Mid-Atlantic region. The intense storms can cause significant damage and disruption along the coastline, with some events surpassing those from tropical cyclones.
A new study finds that reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants like methane and ozone can cut the rate of global warming in half by 2050. This approach offers a fighting chance to prevent catastrophic warming and improve our chances of remaining below the 1.5 degree centigrade mark.
Research finds human activity is behind the warmest and wettest winter on record in northwest Russia, raising flood and drought risks. The North Atlantic Oscillation's impact is reduced compared to greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study in Northern Sweden found that methane emissions from thawing permafrost can be reduced by a factor of 10 due to changes in hydrology, plant community, and microorganisms. As permafrost thaws, new plant species adapt to drier soil conditions, reducing methane transport and allowing bacteria to break it down.
Researchers used a supercomputer to simulate water supply in an inter-utility agreement, finding that cooperation can benefit both water supply and financial needs. The study found that more flexible agreements allow utilities to adapt to changing conditions, reducing financial risk.
Research team from Goethe University reproduces Asian monsoon conditions in experimental chamber, identifying increased aerosol particle formation. The study found that ice clouds can form under lower water vapour supersaturation than anticipated, affecting climate models' accuracy.
The world's ocean is losing its year-to-year memory due to global warming, making it harder to predict ocean conditions. This decline in ocean memory will have significant impacts on fisheries management, population estimates, and land-based weather forecasts.
A new study reveals that innovative restoration practices can replicate natural landscape-building processes in wetlands, enhancing their carbon-storing potential. Successful restorations require dense plant clumps or large areas restored in one go to mimic the plants' landscape-forming properties.
New research published in Geosciences finds that precipitation, not temperature, influenced the distribution of herbivorous dinosaurs in what is now Alaska. Hadrosaurids preferred wetter climates with narrower annual temperature ranges, while ceratopsids preferred milder and drier conditions.
A new study predicts mass extinction in oceans if climate change is not curbed, threatening marine species with extinction. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions could reduce extinction risks by up to 70%, saving ocean life as we know it
A Boston University study found that living in areas with more greenery may boost cognitive function, particularly in middle-aged women. The research suggests that exposure to greenspace could improve processing speed and attention, as well as reduce depression, a risk factor for dementia.
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.
The UK is investing £290 million in upgrading aircraft facilities to facilitate easy transportation to Antarctic research stations. This investment is part of the £670 million total investment in modernizing polar science research facilities, ensuring the UK remains a world leader in the field until at least 2045.
A recent study by KIT and BGR predicts declining groundwater levels in Germany until 2100, regardless of the climate scenario. The worst-case scenario indicates significantly falling groundwater levels in North and East Germany by the end of the century.
Researchers found stronger westerly jets and wave trains in early summer than late summer, gaining more energy from baroclinic conversion. This has implications for climate prediction and links between East Asia and North America.
A new study shows substantial increases in atmospheric thirst across the US Southwest, with warming temperatures accounting for 57% of the changes observed. The largest changes are centered over the Rio Grande region, where crops now require more water and can be expected to require even more in the future.
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.
Research reveals eight patterns of SAM events with distinct zonal asymmetries, including symmetric, split-center, West Antarctica, and tripole patterns. These patterns may help classify and discuss formation causes and climate impacts of different SAM events.
Scientists have found argon trapped in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, which can be used to reconstruct past climate changes and temperature shifts. The discovery could improve our understanding of the Earth's atmosphere and climate over hundreds of thousands of years.
New research links high levels of stratospheric sulfur to the Chicxulub impact, which ignited widespread fires and global cooling. The unique fingerprints in sulfur aerosols provide direct evidence for catastrophic climate change and cooling.
A recent study using mercury stable isotopes reveals that industrial discharge is the primary source of mercury pollution in Korea's west coast. This finding highlights the need for targeted management strategies to mitigate industrial mercury releases and protect marine environments.
Climate change is expected to cause a significant decline in beech forest growth in Europe, particularly in southern regions. Tree ring analyses reveal that tree growth has declined in virtually all regions over the past six decades, with the strongest contrast between northern and southern Europe.
A study analyzing 9,000 years of Earth's history found that strong El Niño events intensified over time but with a small change due to global warming. Researchers used ancient coral data and powerful supercomputers to conduct their research, calling for further investigations into earlier climate periods.
Researchers used a novel model ensemble to study compound hot-dry-events and found that precipitation trends determine their future occurrence. The frequency of these events is expected to increase fourfold in a two-degree warmer climate, with an uncertainty of up to 48% for precipitation trends.
Researchers studied ancient Antarctic ice cores to understand past atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. They found a strong correlation between carbon fertilization and increased biological production, which dampens global warming acceleration during glacial periods.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that glacier ice flow is more sensitive to stress than previously calculated, with revised estimates potentially refining predictions of sea level rise. The improved model could help glaciologists better understand the impact of Antarctic ice flow on future sea levels.
A new study reconstructs changes in global biosphere productivity during the past 800,000 years using ancient air bubble data. The findings show that GPP has always been lower during glacial intervals compared to interglacial periods, with most cases exhibiting a rise in productivity before glacial terminations.
Researchers from Denmark and Sweden have dated the massive Hiawatha impact crater in Greenland to 58 million years ago, revealing it occurred a few million years after dinosaurs went extinct. The crater's age opens up a new understanding of Earth's evolution during this period.
Researchers found exceptionally preserved fossils from different locations, suggesting that rising global temperatures during the Early Jurassic period may have created favorable conditions for fossilization. The study suggests that past climate change could have enabled exceptional preservation in various environments.
Research finds that global warming of 2°C will significantly increase temperature-related mortality rates in England and Wales by 42%, from around 117 deaths per day to 166. The risk further increases beyond 2.5°C, with a potential 75% increase in mortality risk at 3°C.
A new study predicts that El Niño events will increase in frequency by 2040, regardless of efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The researchers used state-of-the-art climate models to examine the potential impacts of different emissions scenarios on global weather fluctuations.
Researchers found a chemical link between wildfire smoke and ozone depletion, which may stall ozone recovery for years. The study discovered that the smoke from Australian wildfires in 2019-2020 depleted ozone by 1%, highlighting the potential impact of future, more frequent fires.
New Penn State research found that the maximum wet-bulb temperature for humans is lower than previously thought, at around 31°C in warm-humid environments. This finding has significant implications for planning and preparing for extreme heat events.
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.
Cambridge University researchers are tackling major environmental challenges in the UK's 'vegetable garden', the Fens, through a £10 million project. The team is working with farmers, landowners, and conservation groups to develop whole system solutions for climate change, extinction, and pollution threats.
Researchers from Texas A&M University have discovered past methane release in the Southern Ocean during a peak glaciation 23 million years ago. This finding suggests that ancient methane gas hydrates could contribute to ocean acidification and low oxygen levels, similar to recent environmental issues in the Gulf of Mexico.
A new study found that businesses run by minorities, women, and veterans were more likely to experience negative effects from the pandemic than non-HUGO businesses. The researchers analyzed responses from over 1,350 businesses and found that demographic factors played a significant role in determining a business's resilience during the...
The UK has allocated £40 million to support four major research studies tackling key global environmental challenges. The projects will develop solutions for net zero cities, improve biodiversity, help rural communities adapt to climate change, and provide evidence for policy decisions.
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.
Government actions, such as road travel restrictions, significantly reduced NO2 concentrations and deaths in Europe. The study estimated that more than 800 deaths were avoided due to improved air quality.
A recent study by Cardiff University found that urban greening strategies like green roofs and parks are unlikely to reduce both heatwaves and flooding simultaneously. The team's research suggests that local climate conditions significantly impact the effectiveness of these measures.
A symmetrical, 2x3 km buried formation in Qatar suggests evidence of a sedentary civilization with advanced engineering skills. The site's unique soil composition and landscaping point to irrigation systems and crop cultivation.
A 2°C warming would lengthen summer by 20 to 21 days in mid-latitude regions like East Asia, the Mediterranean, and USA, resulting in 111 to 112 days of summer. Limiting warming to 1.5°C reduces summer season lengthening by 12 to 13 days.
A study found a significant decrease in social salience of climate change during the COVID-19 pandemic's first wave. Facebook shares and reshares revealed a notable dip in climate change attention.
A recent study by Dr. Henrik Svensmark and colleagues reveals a close connection between supernovae occurrence and the burial of organic matter in sediments on Earth. The correlation indicates that supernovae are essential for life's existence, with high nutrient concentrations leading to increased bioproductivity and oxygen production.
A new study led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg found that trees contribute to cleaner air in cities. The study measured pollutants in tree leaves and compared them with air pollution levels, showing a clear correlation between the two.
A new UC Riverside-led study reveals that tiny microbes belching toxic gas helped cause and prolong the biggest mass extinction in Earth's history. The heat accelerated microbes' metabolisms, creating a deadly cycle of hydrogen sulfide production.
Several NASA individuals were recognized by the American Geophysical Union as 2021 union honorees for their outstanding work in scientific research, education, communication, and outreach. Brooke Medley received the Cryosphere Early Career Award, while Suresh Adhikari was honored with the John Wahr Early Career Award.