Articles tagged with Seasonal Changes
A Washington State University study reveals that high-elevation snow in the Pacific Northwest is melting earlier due to frequent and intense heatwaves. The researchers found that these heatwaves have doubled in frequency and intensity since the mid-1990s, posing a significant threat to the region's water supply.
A new study has overturned conventional wisdom on wild turkey nesting survival, revealing that precipitation levels during nesting season are not related to reproductive success. The researchers found that temperatures above historical averages were associated with higher rates of daily nest survival during incubation.
A study published in the BMJ Christmas Issue investigated the effectiveness of cola in loosening stuck food in the oesophagus. The results show no significant improvement, with only 61% of patients experiencing relief on their own. Cola use was found to have no side effects or complications.
Researchers investigated how urbanization affects interactions between plants and pollinators in a tropical city. They found that seasonal changes play a crucial role in shaping these interactions, leading to significant changes in plant-pollinator networks.
A new study reveals that mountains amplify and obstruct winter precipitation during El Niño events, with increased rainfall on the western side of mountains. This analysis enables more accurate water predictions for the Colorado River in western North America, helping cities, farmers, and water managers prepare for droughts.
Researchers predict that vampire bats will expand their locations in search of more stable climates, potentially linked to a spillover of rabies. The team's work aims to identify and track the bats by traveling to Colombia to contain the spread.
Researchers found that chimpanzees extract termites from mounds most successfully when rainfall increases, until a threshold of 200mm is reached. This suggests that termite fishing is a seasonal activity for chimpanzees, with the best opportunities during the early wet season.
A genetic study found that grizzly bears' energy production follows a daily pattern even during hibernation, with a blunted amplitude and shifted peak. This suggests that the circadian rhythm helps bears conserve energy while still maintaining some metabolic function.
A new study from Intermountain Health reveals that air pollution from wildfires and winter inversions poses different risks of heart attack and severe chest pain. Short-term increases in fine particulate matter were associated with increased risk of heart attack during the winter inversion season, but not summer wildfire season.
Astronomers combined the Webb and Hubble telescopes to capture a detailed portrait of the cosmos, revealing a galaxy cluster about 4.3 billion light-years from Earth. The image showcases magnified supernovae and individual stars, providing insights into the universe's first stars and the forces driving its expansion.
Research highlights short-term increases in fine particulate air pollution associated with increased health care visits for heart attacks and unstable chest pain. The risk for each cardiac event differs by season, with summer wildfires causing immediate hospitalization needs for chest pain but delayed action for heart attacks.
Ant communities in Okinawa Island show reduced seasonal behavior in areas with more human development. Researchers found that ant populations in developed sites are less predictable and have diminished seasonality compared to forested areas. The study highlights the impact of human activities on insect populations and ecosystem services.
A recent study using SENTINEL-2 satellite images estimated burned areas with 96% accuracy, revealing a much larger area affected by wildfires than previously thought. This higher precision will help improve estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and inform fire management decisions.
Research suggests that eating habits in winter may be better for metabolic health than in summer, especially in mice exposed to 'winter light'. The study found that these mice had less body weight gain and more rhythmic eating patterns, leading to benefits in metabolic health. Further studies in humans are needed to confirm this finding.
Uncontrolled wildfires are threatening environmental progress in Brazilian Amazonia, a critical carbon sink. Deforestation rates have fallen, but fire counts remain high, driven by hotter and drier climate conditions.
A new study finds that experiencing record-breaking heat days increases perceptions that the weather is getting hotter, but has little effect on beliefs in climate change. Record-heat days can drive changes in the general perception that the weather is worsening, regardless of season or media coverage.
A new study using wastewater surveillance has predicted the start of the annual RSV season 12 days early, allowing hospitals to prepare and allocate resources effectively. The study used real-time wastewater measurements to forecast the surge in pediatric RSV cases, providing a population-level early warning signal for the community.
A new study by UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain finds that climate change is limiting the use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfires. The research projects a 17% reduction in favorable days across the Western US, with most reductions coming in spring and summer.
A new inventory from Portland State University researchers reveals that some glaciers have disappeared entirely, while others have shrunk to tiny sizes. The loss of these natural regulators has significant impacts on streamflow, drought susceptibility, and sea level rise.
A PSU study examines how atmospheric patterns influencing the weather won't necessarily become stronger or more frequent by the end of the century. Instead, warmer temperatures will lead to an increase in rainfall over the Pacific Northwest in most seasons except summer.
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.
A study found that captive giant pandas living in zoos outside their natural latitude exhibit reduced activity, potentially impacting their wellbeing. The researchers monitored the behavior of 11 pandas at six zoos, finding that daylight and temperature cues played a crucial role in regulating their circadian clocks.
Researchers developed an impacts-based thresholds approach to better prepare Ohio farmers for drought conditions. The method takes into account changes in soil moisture, crops, and livestock losses to provide earlier and more accurate notice of approaching droughts.
Research found that cold weather slightly increases blood pressure and decreases blood pressure control rates during winter months. Participants' systolic blood pressure increased by up to 1.7 mm Hg in the winter months compared to summer, while blood pressure control rates decreased by up to 5%.
A US study found that increasing nest temperatures affects leatherback hatchling morphology, performance and hatching success. Mid-season nests had the highest hatching success and better physical performance.
A new study assesses COVID-19's impact on ED visits in BC, revealing a 42% reduction in respiratory issues and 35% drop in mental health concerns during the pandemic. Visits returned to pre-pandemic levels in May 2021, with some areas experiencing higher volumes due to heat-related overdoses.
The study found that rising testosterone levels trigger full song development and territorial behavior in thrush nightingales. Full songsters were never found to settle close to each other, while plastic songsters settled close to both full and plastic songsters, indicating a connection between song and territoriality.
Scientists have analyzed satellite data to better understand the pre-monsoon season's microphysical features, including larger rain droplets and more heavy ice precipitation on land. Their findings could improve weather prediction and mitigate damage from adverse climate events.
A study found an enhanced temperature seasonality in China during the mid-Holocene, with a nationally averaged enhancement of 2.44°C or 9% for the multimodel mean. The change was closely related to seasonal contrast variation of surface energy fluxes, mainly due to net shortwave radiation.
Most U.S. infants requiring intensive care for RSV lower respiratory tract infections were young and healthy, born at term. RSV preventive measures targeting all infants are urgently needed to reduce severe illness burden.
Researchers from FAU Harbor Branch deployed an autonomous wave glider to survey marine managed areas off Puerto Rico, recording grouper mating calls and determining spatiotemporal distribution of the two species. The study highlights the importance of spatial and temporal expansion of existing regulations to protect threatened species.
Climate change scenarios may increase Grand Canyon heat-related illnesses by 29-137% by 2100. Shoulder season months are at highest risk due to visitors' lower preparedness for extreme heat.
A WVU study found that U.S. cities with new professional sports teams saw increased influenza mortality rates, with the NHL teams causing the largest increase. The researchers analyzed data from 122 cities and controlled for factors like population and temperature to find a significant correlation between team arrival and flu deaths.
Researchers found no directional change in Arctic spring timing over the past 25 years, instead observing extreme year-to-year variation due to climate variability. This shift is attributed to fluctuating temperatures and snow cover, pushing species to their limits.
A recent study reveals a massive section of the Andes experiencing significant greening, defying climate zone expectations. The researchers found that this area, stretching from northern Peru to northern Chile, has seen its vegetation growing significantly over the past 20 years.
A study of 73,000 emergency department visits and hospitalizations found seasonal patterns in suicidality among children and adolescents. After COVID-19-related school closures, an unexpected decrease in suicidality was observed, suggesting a potential link to the school calendar.
A recent study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that sewage is the primary cause of nitrogen surges in the Indian River Lagoon, contradicting previous findings that fertilizer use was the main contributor. The study found that water quality and harmful algal blooms worsened after five years of mandatory wet season fertilizer blac...
Researchers found nightingales can flexibly adjust the pitch of certain song parts over a wide range of frequencies to imitate competitors. This strategy is thought to increase their mating chances during the breeding season. The birds can also adjust their songs in real-time to auditory stimuli, suggesting a robust neural circuitry.
A team of researchers has designed an all-season thermal cloak that can cool electric vehicles by 8°C on hot days and warm them by 6.8°C at night without any external energy input. The cloak works through radiative cooling, using an effect called photon recycling to counteract temperature fluctuations during winter months.
Researchers found a major shift in Martian climate about 400,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the last glacial period. The prevailing wind direction changed from northeast to northwest, eroding crescent-shaped dunes into longitudinal ridges.
A study by Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior found that American mink can regain almost full ancestral brain size within 50 generations after escaping captivity. This reverses the long-held assumption that domestication causes permanent brain size loss in animals.
A new study found that birds produce fewer young if they start breeding too early or late in the season, with climate change resulting in earlier springlike weather. The researchers report that birds have been unable to keep pace with the changes, leading to a mismatch between the start of spring and birds' readiness to reproduce.
Research from Keck School of Medicine of USC found that everyday air pollution can alter brain development patterns in adolescents, linked to changes in brain connectivity over time. Exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide was associated with increased or decreased functional connectivity between brain regions.
A study by Chinese researchers found that financial reports produced during fiscal years mismatched with annual business activity may be less reliable due to rigid accounting regulations. This can result in higher abnormal accruals, lower analyst forecast accuracy, and longer audit reporting delays for affected companies.
Climate change affects giraffe populations differently than expected, with higher temperatures positively affecting adult survival but rainier wet seasons negatively impacting both adults and calves. Heavy rains increase parasites and reduce nutritional value of vegetation, further threatening giraffe survival.
A national study in Canada found that snowmaking requires 17,000 homes' worth of annual energy and 43.4 million cubic meters of water to produce 42 million cubic meters of machine-made snow. Collaboration between ski operators, policymakers, and environmental organizations is needed to develop sustainable practices.
A new study from Tufts University predicts a significant increase in extreme temperatures affecting wheat yields in the US and China. The research warns of potentially disastrous consequences for global food supplies if crops are impacted by heat stress, which can occur at temperatures above 27.8°C.
A new study from the University of Waterloo highlights four strategies to enhance equity and justice in climate action planning: modifying strategies, designing collaborative spaces, addressing gaps between words and actions, and considering underlying social processes. By prioritizing vulnerable populations and local actors, urban gov...
A longitudinal study using acoustic telemetry monitored rays in clam leases, finding that rays spent more time near sites than reported, but not necessarily preferring them. The study highlights the need to understand if clam leases are part of rays' natural foraging habitats and if they interact with the clams.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified strong correlations between SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths, temperature, and latitude. The studies suggest that the virus is genetically encoded to exhibit seasonal behavior, which could be influenced by vaccine design.
A new study found that social support, sense of community, and depressive symptoms played a role in changes to an online gaming site's social structure over time. Members who reported more social support and a greater sense of community were more likely to form communication ties and connect with others.
The study examines the impact of surface type on Arctic amplification, finding that ice-retreat regions experience the strongest warming and largest seasonal contrast. The seasonal energy transfer mechanism and changes in effective thermal inertia also contribute to the seasonality of AA.
A study published in Neurology found that the transition from daylight saving time to standard time was associated with a brief increase in sleep disorders such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. In contrast, the transition from standard time to daylight saving time did not show any association with sleep problems.
A new model predicts that climate change will lead to longer transmission seasons for Zika and dengue diseases in Brazil. The study found that warming temperatures could increase the basic reproduction number (R0) of Zika by up to 2.7, leading to more frequent epidemics.
A new Dartmouth study examines how changes in precipitation and temperature due to global warming affect streamflow and flooding in the Northeast. The research finds that a warmer climate will lead to increased streamflow and higher flood risk, particularly if soils become wetter and more prone to heavy rainfall events.
A study suggests that artificial light at night disrupts the winter dormancy period of mosquitoes, causing them to bite humans and animals longer into the fall. This delay in diapause may increase the risk of West Nile virus transmission.
Research explores the complex relationship between droughts, food security, and conflict in Central America. The study finds that decreases in water availability play a major role in conflict insurgences, while stable conditions of peace are more influenced by favorable socio-economic conditions.
A new study published in Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases demonstrates that the serum of white-tailed deer blood is lethal to the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. The researchers hope this discovery may lead to new strategies for preventing and treating Lyme disease.
A recent study found an unusual peak in RSV hospital admissions in the third quarter of 2021, nearly doubling typical annual numbers. The surge in cases was unexpected, with low hospitalizations reported in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A study of bird poop reveals a unique relationship between birds and their microbiomes, which differ from those found in mammals. The researchers found that the types of bacteria present in the birds' gut microbiomes change over short time periods, rather than being tied to specific host species.