Articles tagged with Climatology
Higher temperatures caused by climate change are increasing evaporation enough to cause exceptional droughts in the American West. Evaporative demand now accounts for 61% of drought severity, while reduced precipitation only accounts for 39%. Climate change is expected to lead to more severe and longer-lasting droughts.
A groundbreaking study led by Virginia Tech provides the first direct geochemical evidence of a massive, rapid melting period on Earth after the last global ice age. The researchers analyzed lithium isotopes in carbonate rocks formed during this time and found strong evidence for freshwater meltwater interacting with the ocean.
Researchers at Loma Linda University found the Salton Sea's shoreline is retreating at an increasing rate, creating more polluted dust from agricultural runoff. The study forecasts parts of the North Shore will retreat up to 172 meters by 2041, posing health risks to nearby communities.
David Abraham, Rice University lecturer and research scientist, was honored for his work in fostering sustainable urban development and climate resilience. He launched Houston's first community resilience portal and directed a flood resilience plan after Hurricane Harvey, showcasing his commitment to building resilient communities.
Natasja van Gestel, a Texas Tech researcher, has been named Station Science Leader for her work on climate change's impact on glaciers in Antarctica. She will oversee multiple scientific initiatives and ensure compliance with the Antarctic Treaty's regulations.
The University of Chicago has launched a groundbreaking new institute to address climate change. The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth will combine frontier research in economics, climate policy, and energy technologies to produce practical solutions.
A Dartmouth study has quantified the global economic fallout of El Niño, finding it costs the economy $4.1 trillion and $5.7 trillion in the half-decade after each event. The study's findings are included in the 10 New Insights in Climate Science report ahead of COP29.
A new commentary found that power plants' use of air pollution control devices (APCDs) saved up to 9,100 lives and up to $100 billion in health costs in 2023. The researchers estimated that APCD use could plummet and severely jeopardize the health of the public if Project 2025 or the America First Agenda is enacted.
Researchers discovered that Titan's icy surface is warmed by an insulating layer of methane clathrate ice, which relaxes the impact craters' shape. This finding helps explain Titan's unique hydrological cycle and climate.
Researchers found that incineration of household waste containing fluoropolymers at temperatures typical for municipal waste incineration resulted in nearly complete mineralization, with over 99.99% reduction rate. This finding suggests that standard combustion conditions are sufficient to remove fluoropolymers from the environment.
Researchers have developed a novel approach to deal with the complexity of multiple crises, integrating various scales and disciplines. The 'translator' model uses well-known analytical methods to connect different perspectives and allows for a more nuanced description of health and climate crises.
Research from multiple ice cores in Greenland provides new understanding of Dansgaard-Oeschger events, which represent 'tipping points' in Earth's climate. The findings suggest interactions between the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and wintertime sea ice play a key role in these events.
Research reveals climate-driven wildfires in extratropical forests are now the leading source of global fire emissions. Extratropical regions have surpassed tropical areas in contributing to fire-related carbon emissions, highlighting the urgent need for addressing emissions and safeguarding forest carbon sinks.
The 77th annual meeting of the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics will feature more than 3,200 presentations on various fluid dynamics topics. The conference will also include a visual arts competition and exhibition showcasing the science and beauty of fluid motion.
The risk of medical leave in Spain on days of extreme heat decreased from 19% to 13% between 1989 and 2019, according to a study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Workers in agriculture and hospitality sectors remain most vulnerable to heat-related injuries.
The UK is investing £170 million in new research and innovation projects to support clean living, tackle climate change, and boost economic growth. The projects will focus on land use transformation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Research by LMU scientists suggests that large-scale afforestation and reforestation could significantly influence the climate, reducing peak temperature by 0.08°C and end-of-century temperature by 0.2°C. The study also finds that AR can shorten the time during which global temperature overshoots the 1.5-degree target by 13 years.
Researchers estimate the dollar value of weather information to be over $100 billion, highlighting its significant economic impact. The study also explores lightning suppression and a unique 'storm generator' technology that can create thunderstorms in Chinese desert.
A new study from Uppsala University found that nearly 40% of the public support rationing of goods like meat and fuel to reduce their climate impact. The study, which surveyed over 9,000 people in five countries, also showed that acceptability of rationing is on par with taxes for emissions-intensive food.
A recent study published in Global Environmental Change highlights the pressing need for innovative economic strategies to address global water scarcity and pollution. The research found that 71% of the world's population has high existing water security needs, with significant disparities in readiness across regions.
Researchers present a novel method to remove and store atmospheric carbon using 'wood vaults', potentially reducing fossil fuel emissions. The approach could sequester up to 10 gigatons of CO2 annually, with an estimated initial cost of $100 to $200 per ton.
A new study led by University of Illinois Chicago scientist Akintomide Akinsanola found that most Americans can expect wetter winters in the future due to global warming. Winter precipitation and extreme weather events are expected to increase across most of the country, with six regions experiencing more frequent very wet winters.
A Dartmouth-led study found that air pollution from fossil fuels reaches the remote Arctic, altering its fundamental atmospheric chemistry. The researchers detected declines in methanesulfonic acid, a biomarker linked to phytoplankton productivity, which plummeted in environments high in emissions.
Researchers have discovered microplastics in all three parts of coral anatomy, including surface mucus, tissue, and skeleton. This finding may explain the 'missing plastic problem' and suggests that corals could be sequestering plastic waste from the ocean.
Researchers found that Arctic warming leads to an increase in ice-nucleating particles, which promote ice crystal formation in clouds. This can reduce liquid water content and potentially accelerate further warming.
A coral colony from Fiji has provided a new record of sea surface temperatures in the southwestern Pacific, revealing that 2022 was the warmest year in over 600 years. The reconstruction uses data from the giant coral Diploastrea heliopora, which records long-term climatic and environmental changes.
Researchers used realistic numerical models to solve mysteries about Earth vibrations of unknown origin and discovered a 'seiche' phenomenon caused by a massive rockslide in the fjord. The event generated seismic waves detectable globally for nine days, highlighting the interrelations between climate change and geological processes.
A Dartmouth-led study projects that Antarctica's glaciers will rapidly retreat and potentially collapse by 2200, increasing global sea levels by up to 5.5 feet by 2300. The researchers used 16 ice-sheet models to refine the projection of ice loss over the next 300 years.
A study found that state-level food waste bans have largely failed to reduce landfilled waste across the US, with Massachusetts being the lone success. Massachusetts implemented a well-designed and enforced policy, resulting in a significant reduction of 13.2% in waste disposal.
A new study shows that urban forests within walkable distance from residential areas are crucial in reducing heat-related health risks. Researchers found that nearby forests have a pronounced impact on reducing mortality risks, particularly those within 1 kilometre of residential areas.
Researchers harvested climate-smart soybeans in a $5 million USDA project aiming to reduce GHG emissions while increasing crop production. The crop was grown using five climate-smart practices, including earlier planting and soil conservation.
Deforestation leads to decreased cloud cover, which partially offsets surface albedo change's cooling effect on climate. Researchers analyzed idealized deforestation simulations using climate models to provide insights into the impact of large-scale deforestation on global low-level and tropical high-level clouds.
A global study published in PNAS found that most cities (over 60%) receive more rainfall than their surrounding rural areas, leading to worsened flash flooding. This is due to the convergence of air toward city centers caused by tall buildings and population density.
A worldwide survey by Goethe University Frankfurt found that students in environmental studies are unaware of the main causes of biodiversity loss. The study identified eight response types with varying levels of understanding, with climate change being underestimated in many countries. The researchers suggest that this lack of knowled...
A study found that children as young as six can contribute to group projects when there are clear and common goals. The researchers used a game where children worked together to fill a pool with water, with benefits for the whole group but individual costs. The results showed that most groups achieved their objectives and cooperated, e...
A new vaccine created by Mizzou researchers protects cattle from bovine anaplasmosis, a devastating tick-borne disease causing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses. The vaccine has been proven to give immunized cattle protection for at least a month and is being discussed with industry partners for future distribution.
New research finds women make up 50% of post-harvest fisheries and aquaculture workforce, yet often remain invisible, unpaid or underpaid. The study calls for policy changes to address social justice dimensions of technology development.
A new study analyzing 199 cities worldwide reveals that adaptation efforts are mostly inadequate, with most measures focusing on sea level rise and flooding. The researchers emphasize the need for more comprehensive approaches considering socioeconomic factors and future trends in societal vulnerability.
The American Meteorological Society recognizes outstanding contributions to the weather, water, and climate community with its 2025 Awards and Honors. This year's honorees have made significant impacts on scientific advancement and public safety, including warnings of wildfires and refinements in modeling techniques.
A new study has reconstructed virus DNA from glacial ice cores, revealing nearly 1,700 viral species with adaptations that influenced their hosts' survival in extreme conditions. The findings suggest a connection between viruses and climate change, shedding light on the impact of global temperature shifts.
A new study led by Dartmouth researchers questions the rapid polar ice collapse model used in the IPCC's sixth assessment report. The team found that the expected rate of retreat is significantly lower than predicted, making the worst-case scenario less likely, but still dire due to ongoing ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica.
A new study from the University of Auckland finds that mandating social and environmental disclosures doesn't necessarily improve businesses' performance. The researchers analyzed a cross-country sample of companies under the EU Directive 2014/95/EU and found no meaningful improvement in environmental outcomes.
A pioneering study found that factories globally are not properly destroying emissions of a super-greenhouse gas emitted from the production of fluoropolymers like Teflon and refrigerants. The researchers used a novel technique to measure actual emissions, revealing a discrepancy between reported and real levels.
A new study by Kyoto University reveals that major companies relying on low-quality offsets undermine the effectiveness of the voluntary carbon market. The research finds that these companies collectively account for over one-fifth of all retired offsets, most of which fail to meet well-known quality standards.
A University of Central Florida researcher has developed a nature-inspired filtration and conversion system that extracts carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere to create fuels and chemicals. The device mimics the lotus surface, capturing carbon dioxide with a microsurface comprised of a tin oxide film and fluorine layer.
Researchers have developed a new method known as flash-within-flash Joule heating (FWF) that enables gram-scale production of high-quality solid-state materials in seconds, reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions by over 50%. The technique offers a scalable and sustainable solution for manufacturing diverse compounds.
Researchers at Arizona State University have introduced a new sterilization technique using X-ray irradiation to reduce Aspergillus flavus viability in contaminated corn. The method stops the fungus from transmitting spores and producing aflatoxins, crucial for developing additional remediation techniques.
A new study found that surf breaks surrounding the world's oceans store nearly 90 million metric tonnes of planet-warming carbon, highlighting their crucial role in combating climate change. The top five countries with the highest stored carbon are the US, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Panama.
The State of Wildfires report found that carbon emissions from wildfires globally were 16% above average, with Canada and Amazonia experiencing unusually high numbers of fires. Climate change increased the likelihood of extreme wildfires in these regions by at least three times and up to six times.
A WVU team investigates how different management practices affect Appalachian forest life and carbon sequestration capabilities. Preliminary data reveals changes in species distribution and ecosystem resilience to climate change.
A study by ETH Zurich scientists found that global warming's effects on plant recovery can last for thousands to millions of years. The research team discovered that the severity of climate shifts and the speed at which carbon is sequestered affect the duration of climate warming.
A Dutch survey study found that higher satisfaction with home office setup, including air ventilation, is associated with higher productivity and lower burnout. The study suggests that investing in home-office hardware and environmental factors can support work-from-home policies.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that repetition of climate-skeptical statements increased their perceived truth among climate science endorsers, including those who self-identified as 'Alarmed' by climate change. This effect holds true even for the strongest believers in climate science.
Demographic experts urge UN to reject current 'growth' paradigm and focus on contracting human impact to reverse ecological overshoot. The Journal of Population and Sustainability cites research linking population growth to climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and social crises.
Scientists have developed a state-of-the-art computational model predicting land, ice and global sea-level interactions. The model estimates that reducing greenhouse gas emissions could slow melting Antarctic ice enough to allow Earth uplift to partially stabilize the ice sheet and prevent some future sea-level rise.
Researchers call for coordinated action to address air pollution's complexity, including elevating policy ambition, expanding regulatory scope, and integrating scientific policymaking. The paper highlights urgent need for clean air globally as health harms arise from lower concentrations.
MIT researchers detected a clear signal of human influence on upper tropospheric ozone trends, separate from climate noise. The study provides insights into specific human activities driving this trend.
Scientists analyzed rock samples from four Andes Mountains glaciers, finding they are smaller now than any time in the past 11,000 years. This suggests the tropics have already warmed beyond predicted limits, crossing a critical benchmark for glacier classification.
Scientists argue that solar farms in the UK have great potential to restore degraded habitats and meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. However, unless policies change, potential biodiversity benefits could be squandered.
A new study published by Texas A&M University researchers found that the Hunga Tonga volcano eruption did not contribute to global warming as initially thought. Instead, the eruption resulted in more energy leaving the climate system than entering it, leading to a slight cooling effect.