Articles tagged with Global Temperature
Switzerland's glaciers experienced their greatest melt on record in 2026, with average glacier thickness decreasing by 2.5-4m, and several smaller glaciers disappearing completely. The findings, presented in the Swiss Academy of Sciences annual report, highlight the rapid change in Switzerland's glacier landscape.
A new study by Concordia researchers suggests that temporarily overshooting global warming targets can leave lasting changes in the climate system, including permafrost, sea-level rise, and ocean warming. The study found that the length of time spent above a target is crucial in determining the extent of these changes.
A new University of Washington study shows that past emissions from carbon majors will continue to impact the environment for decades to come. The research, published in PLOS Climate, highlights the long-term effects of fossil fuel emissions on global warming.
The 2026 Planetary Health Check reveals record-breaking levels of transgression across seven Planetary Boundaries, including climate change, ocean acidification, and freshwater change. The report highlights the urgent need for collective action to return to safe operating spaces and protect lives and livelihoods.
A new study finds that extreme heat events have expanded globally, with some regions experiencing more frequent heat events in spring and fall. This shifts the focus from average temperatures to individual extreme heat events, which are harder on the body when arriving at unexpected times.
Leading scientists warn of unaccounted climate feedback loops that could amplify global warming by 20–30% this century, with natural systems amplifying warming-induced emissions. Cutting emissions can reduce these risks and limit the severity of feedbacks.
Researchers analyzed ice cores from the Andes in Peru, revealing a 2,000-year-old record of global methane evolution. The findings support the hypothesis that tropical methane emissions dominated the Earth during the pre-industrial period, with human-driven agricultural and industrial emissions contributing to increases in later periods.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia examine how heat and daylight patterns transform urban life, highlighting unequal impacts on social groups. They emphasize the need for urban planning to consider bodily and temporal perspectives, integrating social justice considerations into climate adaptation efforts.
A new study finds that approximately 15% of current global warming is attributed to 'indirect greenhouse gases,' including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The authors call for integrating these gases into climate policy frameworks, emphasizing their significant impact on warming.
Two University of Utah-led studies aim to improve biomass mapping to better understand how Arctic and boreal forests respond to climate change. The new maps, built using satellite imagery and field measurements, capture 40 years of ecological change in unprecedented detail.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that transfers heat into the deep ocean, even when surface water temperatures remain stable. The study reveals an abrupt 5°C warming in intermediate waters at 800 meters depth over the past 11,000 years, linked to changes in Southern Hemisphere ocean-atmosphere circulation.
A new study from the University of California, Davis, projects that 7-16% of global plant species will lose more than 90% of their range by 2100 under current climate change projections. Habitat loss is expected to drive these extinctions, rather than a plant's ability to shift locations in response to climate change.
Snow cover on Greek mountains has declined by 58% over the past four decades due to rising temperatures. The research found that warmer air causes more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow at high altitudes.
A new empirical study found a direct link between climate finance and lower conflict risk in developing countries. Climate finance that alleviates water stress and boosts renewable energy projects contributes to peace and stability, with greater impact at higher levels of funding.
Researchers have developed a new class of carbon materials called 'viciazites' that contain carefully controlled configurations of nitrogen groups, enabling low-temperature operation and efficient CO2 capture. The materials outperform untreated carbon fibers in CO2 uptake and desorption at temperatures below 60°C.
A new study by UFZ researchers warns that extreme global climate outcomes are possible even at moderate levels of global warming, such as 2°C. Sector-specific drivers like precipitation extremes and droughts can lead to severe impacts in vulnerable regions. The study highlights the need for ambitious climate mitigation measures to limi...
Subway systems are consistently reporting thermal discomfort due to the rising heat, with complaints increasing by 10-27% for every 1 degree Celsius above 10 degrees Celsius in Boston, New York, and London respectively. The study aims to help transit agencies anticipate extreme heat and implement targeted mitigation strategies.
Researchers have shown that ocean temperature patterns limit the global spread of droughts, with synchronised droughts affecting only 1.8% to 6.5% of global land. The study identified 'drought hubs' in regions like Australia, South America, and southern Africa.
Scientists warn that synchronised extreme fire weather, characterized by warm and dry conditions, has increased worldwide since 1979, straining international firefighting cooperation. The number of high-risk days with simultaneous fires is more than doubling, making wildfires harder to tackle and increasing air quality issues.
As glaciers shrink, they're drawing visitors for their beauty and symbolic meaning in a warming world. The study highlights both emotional responses and tensions between conservation, livelihoods, and environmental responsibility.
Researchers recommend shifting Olympic and Paralympic Games to earlier dates to protect fairness and safety for athletes. Snowmaking is also seen as a crucial adaptation strategy to ensure the viability of snow sports.
The Alps are expected to reach a peak loss rate of 2,000-4,000 glaciers per year by 2033-2041, with only 110 glaciers remaining in Central Europe by 2100. Regions like the Rocky Mountains and Andes will also experience significant glacier losses.
Researchers found that warming temperatures may actually reduce nitrogen gas emissions from forest soils in dry conditions, contradicting earlier predictions. The study's findings suggest that moisture levels, not just heat, play a crucial role in determining the fate of nitrogen in forests.
A new study reveals that the burning of fossil fuels is accelerating winter rainfall changes in Northern and central Europe, including the UK, by more than two decades. This finding significantly upsets climate model projections, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation planning and infrastructure investment.
A new study reveals that surface dynamics and aerosol processes were the key drivers behind the extraordinary 2010 heatwave in western Russia. The researchers used a model-free approach to quantify the contributions of individual radiative and dynamical processes, finding surface dynamics to be the primary contributor.
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.
A new study reveals a significant interdecadal shift in European summer hot days around 1998, driven by remote climate signals and exacerbated by regional land–atmosphere processes. Soil moisture decreased over Europe, intensifying the land–air coupling strength, leading to enhanced hot days.
A calcite deposit in a southern Nevada cave has provided new insight into the region's hydroclimate, revealing significant shifts in temperature and rainfall over the last 580,000 years. The analysis suggests that temperature, availability of water, and vegetation are tightly coupled, with changes in one area impacting others.
A new study shows that reducing air pollution has decreased the brightness of marine clouds, leading to accelerated warming. Scientists attribute 70% of this change to aerosols, and researchers are exploring ways to make clouds shinier without polluting the air.
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.
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.
A study found that UK MPs and the public overestimated the time needed for global greenhouse emissions to peak. Labour MPs were more likely to know the correct answer than Conservative MPs. The researchers suggest that institutions like the IPCC need to improve communication about climate change to policymakers and the public.
New research suggests that severe hail storms in Europe will become less frequent but bigger and more devastating, especially in Southern Europe. Climate experts attribute this to warmer temperatures causing hail to form higher in the atmosphere, where storm updrafts are weaker.
Researchers at UC Riverside discovered a carbon burial process in the ocean that can cause Earth's temperature to overshoot and cool down, potentially triggering an ice age. The study suggests that the planet's thermostat is not functioning as expected due to changes in atmospheric oxygen levels.
Research from the University of Utah and Virginia Tech reveals that seasonal shifts in rainfall and snowfall patterns are exacerbating glacier melting across the region. Glaciers in Central Himalaya, Western Himalaya, and Eastern Himalaya are especially vulnerable to accelerated ice loss and water availability threats.
The State of the Climate report reveals record-high greenhouse gas concentrations, with CO2 levels reaching 422.8 parts per million, a 52% increase from pre-industrial levels. Global temperatures also reached a new high, with annual growth increasing to 2.4 ppm yr−1.
Heat-related deaths are projected to rise four-fold by 2050 if global temperatures reach 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Experts recommend a physiology-based approach that focuses on hot people, using tools like HeatWatch, to enhance heat adaptation and minimize carbon intensity.
ShadeLA aims to reduce heat risk by expanding tree canopy and shade infrastructure in key public spaces, targeting major sporting events and heat waves. The initiative builds on USC's Urban Trees Initiative and engages community-based organizations to create locally driven solutions for a more comfortable L.A.
Climate models project an accelerating increase in heatwave duration due to global warming, with each additional increment of warming causing larger increases in long heat waves. As temperatures rise, the typical length of heatwaves will also increase, posing significant impacts on humans, livestock, and ecosystems.
A study found that declining aerosols are up to 2.5 times more influential than greenhouse gases in driving changes in heatwave occurrence in populated areas. Higher levels of aerosols suppressed heatwave exposure by reflecting the sun's rays, but this trend is now reversing due to clean air policies.
A new study finds that cleaner air in East Asia, particularly China, has contributed to the recent acceleration in global warming. The region's aerosol reductions account for most of the observed warming since 2010, even after accounting for natural fluctuation events.
Compound heat-humidity extremes in eastern China are lasting longer than ever before, significantly increasing health risks for the elderly and young children. The study found that the active season has expanded, especially in South China, leading to a major public health crisis as China's population ages.
Researchers found that thick ice cover suppressed volcanic eruptions, but as glacial ice melts, pressure builds and magma is released, leading to more frequent and explosive eruptions. This phenomenon could occur worldwide, including Antarctica, and may have global climate impacts, including long-term warming.
Researchers uncover valuable insights into past climate scenarios and marine ecosystems through ancient sediment cores. The study highlights the need for more data to improve future climate models and transform our understanding of Earth's complex life systems.
Researchers at Uppsala University predict that concurrent extreme events will become more frequent due to climate change, posing new challenges for preparedness. The study examines six types of events and finds a sharp increase in combinations of heatwaves and forest fires, as well as heatwaves and droughts, in various regions worldwide.
A new University of Washington study projects that increasing boreal fires in Canada and Siberia will slow global warming by 12% globally and 38% in the Arctic. The fires reduce sea ice loss and cooler winter temperatures, despite their own warming effects.
Researchers at the University of Graz have developed a new benchmark timeseries that tracks global surface air temperature change from 1850 to 2034. This enables reliable monitoring of the Paris climate goals, which are set to be exceeded by 2028. The study proposes a four-classes assessment scale to gauge compliance with the agreement.
A new study from Caltech finds that the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, commonly referred to as the AMOC, will weaken by around 18 to 43 percent at the end of the 21st century. This represents a limited decline, rather than substantial weakening as previously predicted, addressing a long-standing uncertainty in climate sci...
Researchers have discovered that urban areas experience a greater difference in wet bulb globe temperature between 0.5 m and 1.5 m above ground due to surface heat radiation, posing health risks to children and pets during extreme heat events. Total solar eclipses also alter atmospheric conditions and insect behavior, with some species...
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) are collaborating on a special collection to maintain momentum in climate change research supporting the US National Climate Assessment. This effort aims to sustain the work of authors who were dismissed earlier this week by the Trump Administration.
A new study suggests that adding particles to the atmosphere at a lower altitude near the polar regions can effectively cool the planet. Commercial jets like Boeing 777F could reach this altitude.
A new study by Simon Fraser University found gaps in BC's extreme heat response plans, with urban greening being the most common mitigation strategy. The research highlights the need for co-operation and co-ordination across jurisdictions to improve neighbourhoods and address socio-economic disparities.
A Cornell University-led study predicts long-term increases in precipitation over East Asia and the Western U.S. as the Southern Ocean warms, regardless of climate mitigation efforts. The research suggests that accounting for cloud feedbacks in climate models can help explain uncertainties and improve predictions.
A recent study refines Siberia's land cover data using machine learning techniques, revealing a high-precision map that enhances climatic predictions. The new dataset improves assessments of carbon flux and ecosystem changes, providing essential insights for climate scientists.
A new study finds that global heating could exceed previous estimates, with even low emission scenarios leading to higher temperatures. The Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 2°C may only be achievable under very low emissions and lower-than-estimated climate sensitivity.
Researchers found that some coral reef fish exhibit higher thermal tolerance in the Arabian Gulf's variable thermal environment, but overall biodiversity is lower. This suggests that only certain species can adapt to environmental changes, and highlights the need for further investigation into climate change impacts.
A new study led by Qian Cheng found that unusual atmospheric circulation accounted for 83% of a record-breaking cold event in eastern China. The warming effect of climate change reduced the event's severity by up to 22%.
Recent studies suggest that rising temperatures could disrupt the balance of Earth's climate by increasing plant water loss. In extreme heat, plants may lose too much water to conserve it, limiting photosynthesis and reducing their role as a carbon sink.
A new review paper warns of the devastating impacts of a 2.7°C global warming on the Arctic region, including sea-ice-free summers, accelerated melting of glaciers, and widespread permafrost loss. The authors urge individuals to take responsibility for mitigating these changes.
A 0.5°C rise in global warming will triple the area of Earth that is too hot for humans to survive, with the over 60s facing a 35% increase in heat-related risks. This could lead to millions of deaths, especially in regions like Saharan Africa and South Asia.