Articles tagged with Climatology
A new study has found that the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 is stronger than previously assumed, with air bubbles playing a key role in this process. The research suggests that the ocean absorbed around 0.3-0.4 petagrams more carbon per year, about 15% more than previous estimates.
The article introduces the concept of an Energy and Environment Nexus as a web linking energy services, human well-being and environmental health. It proposes four imperatives of energy: power intensity, energy density, cost and scale to determine practical and sustainable energy systems.
A study by University of Washington researchers found that climate changes over 56 million years ago led to diversification of modern carnivores. The Eocene-Oligocene Transition and Mid-Miocene Climate Transition drove the emergence of new body shapes among species such as dogs, cats, bears, and seals.
Researchers discovered metabolites in fossilized bones of animals that lived 1.3 to 3 million years ago, providing insights into their health, diets, and environments. The findings revealed warmer and wetter conditions compared to today.
Research led by the University of Washington found that climate transitions over 56 million years ago fueled the emergence of diverse carnivoran body shapes. The Eocene-Oligocene Transition led to changes between families, while the Mid-Miocene Climate Transition drove diversification within families.
A new study reveals that Southeast Asia is a significant source of climate-warming gases, with deforestation and fossil fuel use leading the way. The region's natural carbon sinks are being overwhelmed, making it challenging for countries to reach climate neutrality without urgent regional action.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences quantify the role of climate change in wildfires and air quality, finding that 60-82% of total burned area in western US forests is directly attributable to warming temperatures and drier conditions caused by climate change.
This webinar discusses the potential of bio-based carbon capture to deliver up to 6.7 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent mitigation annually by 2050. It explores how biomass can transform climate mitigation, offering scalable and equitable pathways to net-zero.
A new study uses high-resolution GHGSat satellite observations to estimate facility-level methane emissions from thousands of oil, gas, and coal facilities globally. The findings provide a more detailed picture of global inventories and offer insights for mitigation strategies.
American artist Adrien Segal has been awarded the Planetary Futures Public Art Residency at the SETI Institute for a two-year term. The residency aims to foster dialogue and inspire collective action through the connection of artistic practice with scientific discovery, particularly in climate research.
A survey of 4,000 Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and US citizens found that people were more supportive of climate policies in their own country if they believed other countries were also taking action. The study's findings suggest that reciprocity plays a significant role in shaping public opinions on climate policy.
A team of researchers emphasizes the need for an intelligent observation network to track and forecast tropical cyclones. By combining unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles, they aim to create a dynamic observation network across the atmosphere, ocean surface, and water column.
Scientists at the University of East Anglia used an autonomous underwater vehicle to survey beneath the Dotson Ice Shelf, finding that the shape of the seabed is more important than current speed in influencing warm water circulation. This leads to melting at the underside of the ice shelf, contributing to sea level rise.
Researchers at the University of Maryland analyzed air samples from College Park, Md., and found that chemical compounds from Canada's historic 2023 fires persisted in the atmosphere, forming an 'atmospheric soup.' The study provides insights into the long-term effects of wildfire smoke on human health and the environment.
Researchers develop a controlled method to capture CO2 from power plants using limestone and dolomite rocks, mimicking nature's slow geological process. The system captures part of the CO2, leaving room for engineering improvements towards a practical carbon capture technology.
Simulations predict a 22-26% and 37-43% increase in extreme floods on the Karnali River between 2020 and 2099, with high emissions expected to see a 73-84% increase. The study highlights the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate flood hazards.
Researchers at Stockholm School of Economics and Harvard University found that localized messaging can boost climate resilience in vulnerable communities. Homeowners who received emails mentioning their suburbs were twice as likely to seek more information on protective measures compared to those who received generic communications.
Bio-based carbon capture offers a 'triple win' for people, planet, and productivity through decentralized systems cutting synthetic fertilizer use by 20-40% and boosting crop yields by 10-25%. Long-term incorporation of biomass into soils via compost and biochar increases soil organic carbon by 10-40%, improving fertility and resilience.
The 106th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society will focus on the intersection of technology and human decision-making in weather, water, and climate sciences. The meeting will feature keynote presentations, Presidential Sessions, and named symposia highlighting key Earth science topics.
Research shows that flooding in delta cities like Shanghai can expand by up to 80% and be much deeper by 2100 due to extreme climate events, sea-level rise and land subsidence. A major adaptation effort is required to raise defences and construct mobile flood barriers.
Researchers at University of East London found that discarded seashells can be transformed into a low-carbon concrete ingredient, reducing carbon emissions by up to 36%. The study suggests a promising opportunity for industry to adopt sustainable cement alternatives.
A new study from Rice University and the University of Alberta reveals that flood-driven contamination significantly increases concerns about future flooding in coastal industrial communities. Residents who suspect their neighborhoods are contaminated by floods express higher worry about climate futures.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience shows the key role of Antarctic Bottom Water in the transition from the last Ice Age. The expansion of AABW played a central role in releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which helped reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Researchers found that coral reefs governed the pace of climate recovery by tuning the planet's carbon and climate cycles. The study suggests that reefs played a crucial role in stabilizing climate, but modern reef systems are declining due to warming and ocean acidification.
New method detects small microplastic concentrations up to 10,000 particles per cubic meter, with drift and sinking behaviors observed. Microplastics reach sea depths via biofouling or neutral buoyancy, affecting marine environment and necessitating urgent countermeasures.
A new study challenges long-standing climate science paradigms, finding that the Caribbean often experiences drought during intensified summer insolation due to the strengthening and westward expansion of the North Atlantic Subtropical High. This high-pressure system suppresses convection and reduces rainfall across the region.
Researchers analyzed nearly a decade of satellite data to quantify seasonal variations in ice velocity globally. Glaciers in temperate regions show substantial seasonal swings driven by local air temperatures, with peak flow occurring earlier in the year.
Over half of global coastal settlements have retreated from the coast over the past 30 years in response to intensifying climate hazards. Coastal regions in Africa and Oceania lead the retreat, while poorer regions often expand shoreline settlements due to economic needs.
A University of Houston scientist teams with international partners to map Antarctica's glaciers, revealing tidal movements and retreat rates up to 700 meters per year. The dataset provides the most detailed view yet of how glaciers interact with the ocean, enabling better understanding and modeling of sea-level rise.
Researchers at ISTA and others have discovered a previously unknown cyclic climate pattern, known as TWISO, which influences weather fluctuations and seasonal changes. This finding has implications for predicting tropical storms and saving lives.
Boris Karanov and Frank Rhein receive funding to develop new algorithms for optical communication systems and reduce CO2 emissions from cryptocurrency mining. Their research aims to improve the performance of optical networks and mitigate the environmental impact of blockchain technology.
Researchers investigate how adjacent cities exacerbate each other's heat island effects. A study also highlights the need for improved hindcasting infrastructure in climate science. Additionally, a campaign monitors pinned clouds over industrial sources of heat and finds that trees are more reliable against heat stress than buildings.
A modelling study suggests that heat stored in the Southern Ocean could be released, causing a rapid warming of the atmosphere. The ocean acts as a large heat reservoir, mitigating atmospheric warming since the Industrial Revolution.
Researchers are studying the Great Oxygenation Event (GOE) using deep drilling in Gabon, Africa, to understand the timing and pace of oxygen accumulation. The project aims to provide clues about the changing amount of oxygen in the environment at the time.
A new study reveals a severe decline in recruitment of the American pika on Niwot Ridge, Colorado, with fewer juvenile pikas being born or migrating to take their place. Climate change is predicted to threaten pikas in the American West, with warmer summers affecting their habitats and ability to survive.
Researchers have discovered that sudden shifts in the Southern Westerly Winds 15,000 years ago triggered a massive growth of ancient bogs across the Southern Hemisphere. The study found that the shifting winds created an ideal climate for the swamps to form, and now believe they play a crucial role in regulating carbon stores in peatland.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz develop a mechanistic model to predict biological community composition in different ecosystems. Their study confirms the high predictive capacity of the model, which can be applied to various situations involving competing organisms.
A recent study found that Mongolia has become a major source of dust emissions in Central East Asia, with total emissions increasing sevenfold from 2020 to 2023. The study attributes this shift to stronger surface winds, vegetation degradation, and reduced soil moisture.
The 2025 Global Carbon Budget projects a record high of 38.1 billion tonnes of fossil CO2 emissions, with decarbonisation efforts not enough to offset growing energy demand. Climate change is weakening the land and ocean carbon sinks, reducing the remaining carbon budget to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Websites for COP conferences emit significantly more carbon than average internet pages, with a 13,000% rise in emissions between 1995 and 2024. The team's findings highlight the need to reduce digital footprint through practices such as page size limits, optimized site layouts, and renewable energy hosting.
A team of researchers from LMU München investigated why CO2 fluxes from land use are uncertain and how they can be estimated more accurately in the future. They found that differences in definitions, data sources, and model assumptions lead to substantial discrepancies and uncertainties.
A new geochemical technique reveals that Arctic sea-ice coverage waxed and waned with atmospheric warming over the last 300,000 years, not ocean heat. This finding suggests that future reductions in Arctic sea ice will enhance biological nutrient consumption.
An interdisciplinary team will investigate stratocumulus clouds using the CloudKite observatory and research drones to develop models for turbulent processes. This project aims to improve weather and climate predictions by reducing uncertainty.
Researchers found extreme warming of Amazon lakes in 2023, with water temperatures soaring above 40°C and lake levels plummeting to record lows. The study highlights the vulnerability of tropical lakes to intense warming and calls for better monitoring of these ecosystems under climate change.
New research suggests that ocean turbulence and horizontal stirring will dramatically increase in the Arctic and Southern Oceans due to human-induced Global Warming. The study uses ultra-high-resolution simulations to investigate how mesoscale horizontal stirring (MHS) responds to warming, revealing a pronounced future intensification ...
Researchers found that elevated CO2 levels can cause leaf temperatures to rise by up to 1.3°C in forests, with a greater impact during extreme heatwaves. This change is likely caused by reduced transpiration and could have significant effects on the water cycle globally.
Researchers at TU Wien uncover how silver iodide crystals interact with water at the atomic scale to form ice crystals. The study reveals that only one surface structure of the crystal promotes ice nucleation, shedding light on the complex mechanisms behind cloud seeding.
A new study from Linköping University finds that wastewater treatment plants emit significantly more greenhouse gases than previously thought. Drones measured methane and nitrous oxide emissions at 12 Swedish treatment plants, revealing a significant discrepancy between estimated and actual emissions.
Researchers identified AMO as key driver of compound hot drought events in Northern East Asia, with periods of weakening and strengthening linked to changes in climate. The study provides a new physical perspective for understanding variability in the region's hot droughts and offers insights for improving decadal climate prediction.
The EU-funded SpongeBoost project invites applications for its 'SpongeBooster of the Year' award, recognizing initiatives that strengthen natural water retention and climate resilience. Eligible projects focus on outdoor restoration and rewetting activities in eligible countries.
Researchers have discovered the oldest directly dated ice and air on the planet, providing an unprecedented view of Earth's past climate. The 6-million-year-old ice cores reveal a gradual cooling trend of about 12 degrees Celsius over the last 6 million years.
The study found that about 70% of Kansas counties have some form of regulations, with 40% having enabling regulations to accommodate wind development. Counties in western and southern parts of the state tend to have more restrictive regulations, while rural areas with agricultural economies are more likely to have enabling regulations.
New research reveals Greenland is shrinking slightly, but expanding in some regions, due to accelerated melting and prehistoric ice mass movements. The island's horizontal movements are being pulled in different directions, with areas of expansion and contraction observed.
The COAST-SCAPES project aims to co-design systemic resilience solutions for coastal landscapes by developing integrated indicators, proactive climate warning systems, and knowledge-based strategies. The project promotes the use of nature-based solutions to reduce environmental footprint and restore vulnerable coastal areas.
Researchers used airborne radar to map an unexplored region in East Antarctica, discovering a subglacial sedimentary basin. The basal unit, a layer of ice, carried small amounts of material from a mountain range and left behind sediment, forming a novel kind of basin.
Research shows strong Midwest summer storms can puncture the stratosphere, bringing aerosols and burning biomass from western wildfires. This could affect the ozone layer's stability and warm the stratosphere.
Researchers from Poland, USA, and Slovenia found a mathematical description of stalagmite shapes, revealing that shape matters for climate science. The study provides an analytical solution for the growth of ideal stalagmites in constant cave conditions.
An international research team has proposed a more open and transparent platform for comparative climate research, allowing researchers from diverse regions to participate. This may lead to more balanced scientific basis for global climate policy, with increased consideration of developing countries' perspectives.
A new study reveals that ENSO could intensify rapidly over the coming decades and synchronize with other major climate phenomena, leading to stronger rainfall fluctuations in regions such as Southern California and the Iberian Peninsula. The amplified impacts will necessitate enhanced planning and adaptation strategies.
A new study published in Science reveals that large fluctuations in global sea level occurred throughout the last ice age, rather than just at its end. This finding represents a significant shift in researchers' understanding of past climate history and challenges conventional wisdom on the middle Pleistocene transition.