Articles tagged with Climate Change
A team of polar scientists has reconstructed a 15,000-year climate history from an ice core, showing the Antarctic Peninsula warmed by about 6°C as it emerged from the last ice age. The centuries-long warming paved the way for the recent rapid warming and ice shelf collapse, which threatens future climate and sea-level rise.
Scientific analysis strengthens the view that record-breaking summer heat, drought, and other extreme weather events are caused by human activities and global warming. Nobel laureate Mario J. Molina suggests a new international agreement to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Researchers at ORNL have developed a new carbon cycling model that accounts for microbes' role in releasing CO2 from the ground, improving scientists' understanding of future climate change. The MEND model simulates carbon cycle processes and estimates parameters based on comprehensive literature review.
A new study reveals that protected areas are crucial habitats for animal species to colonize and thrive as they migrate towards the poles. The research analyzed millions of records from citizen scientists and found that nature reserves are 4 times more likely to be colonized than expected, providing vital refuges against climate change.
Scientists have discovered a tropical climate in Antarctica 52 million years ago, where palms and relatives of today's Baobab trees thrived on the coast. This finding highlights the extreme contrast between modern and past climatic conditions on Antarctica and provides valuable insights into global warming.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have discovered a connection between changes in heat flow from the Earth's core into the base of the overlying mantle and variations in the long-term reversal rate of the magnetic field. The study suggests that this process may lead to an increase in large igneous provinces, potentially affect...
A new study found large numbers of humpback whales remaining in Antarctic bays until late autumn, with densities estimated at up to 1.75 whales per square kilometer. This challenges previous thought that the annual migrations would begin earlier.
The study reveals that glaciers in the Tien Shan Mountains have lost between 0.1% and 0.8% of their surface per year, with the largest retreat observed on the periphery near major cities. This affects the seasonal distribution of water, which will exacerbate droughts during summers.
A new method developed by UCLA life scientists can rapidly and reliably assess drought tolerance in plants for diverse species across ecosystems worldwide. The method is based on the turgor loss point and osmotic potential, allowing for fast estimates within 10 minutes per leaf.
A recent study published in Nature highlights the challenges facing tropical protected areas, but also shows that long-term engagement with conservation can have positive results. Conservation efforts in Tanzania's Udzungwa mountains have paid dividends, with the reserve remaining relatively unchanged from a biodiversity point of view.
Scientists at University College Dublin discovered a thriving population of Mediterranean earthworms in an urban farm in Dublin, Ireland. The species, Prosellodrilus amplisetosus, has expanded its geographical habitat range due to rising soil temperatures caused by climate change.
Researchers used LiDAR and satellite image analysis to create detailed maps of the Colombian Amazon's carbon stores, unlocking new methods for monitoring and conserving the region. The breakthrough supports the UN's REDD+ program and has implications for climate change mitigation in Colombia.
Scientists have discovered a one-mile deep rift valley hidden beneath the ice in West Antarctica, contributing to ice loss from this part of the continent. The newly discovered Ferrigno Rift is part of a huge and yet poorly understood rift system that lies beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
A York University study found that songbirds follow a strict annual schedule when migrating to their breeding grounds. The research tracked the migration routes and timing of individual birds over multiple years, revealing consistent departure times with only three-day differences from year to year.
David Tilman's essay in Daedalus highlights the challenges to Earth's biodiversity due to human population growth, emphasizing the need for sustainable food and energy systems. The essay explores how loss of biodiversity affects ecosystem function and productivity.
China's transportation restrictions during the 2008 Olympics reduced carbon dioxide emissions by a significant amount. The study found that this reduction could potentially provide a substantial part of the necessary emissions cut to prevent global warming by 2 degrees Celsius.
A new DNA study provides clues about the species' evolution, suggesting that climate change and genetic exchange with brown bears helped create the polar bear as we know it today. The research found evidence of fluctuating population sizes over the past million years, growing during cooling periods and shrinking in warmer times.
A new study published in Climate of the Past indicates that CO2 levels and temperature rises follow each other closely in terms of time. The research, conducted at the University of Copenhagen, suggests that the processes in the deep-sea around Antarctica play a key role in the CO2 increase.
A University of Michigan report found that Generation X is lukewarm about climate change, with a small but statistically significant decline in concern between 2009 and 2011. Only 5% of surveyed Gen Xers were alarmed, while 18% were concerned, with education and scientific knowledge being key factors in explaining levels of concern.
The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School awarded over $11,000 to five graduate students pursuing research projects on marine conservation and climate change. Christine Beggs will study invasive lionfish in the Florida Keys, while Katinka Bellomo will investigate cloud radiative forcing at the Max-Planck Institute. Dominique Lazarre ...
The Antarctic faces numerous challenges from human activity and climate change, including marine system impacts, invasive species, and pollution. The existing Antarctic Treaty System is being tested by growing tourism and resource use, highlighting the need for swifter decision-making and increased collaboration to conserve the region.
The continent of Antarctica is at risk from growing threats including global warming, loss of sea ice, increased tourism, over-fishing, pollution, and invasive species. The Antarctic Treaty System faces pressure due to climate changes and natural resource interests.
The Global Alliance of Continuous Plankton Recorder Surveys has been formed to standardize methods and share data on plankton biodiversity globally. The initiative aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on ocean basin scales, crucial for understanding climate change impacts.
A Scientific Consensus Statement on Climate Change and Coral Reefs supports 2,400 scientists calling for action to safeguard valuable reef ecosystems. The statement highlights the impacts of rising sea levels, intense storms, and ocean pollution on coral reefs.
Researchers from Germany, Finland, and beyond create a high-resolution temperature reconstruction of the Roman and Medieval Warm periods, revealing a previously unseen long-term cooling trend. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, suggests that this cooling trend may have been underestimated by previous climate reconstructions.
Research reveals faster water condensation on less viscous aerosol particles, affecting cloud albedo and lifetime. The study's findings provide insight into the climate's 'known unknowns', highlighting the importance of understanding condensation rates.
A massive die-off of pinyon pine and juniper trees in the Southwest threatens to unleash devastating soil erosion and exacerbate water scarcity in the Colorado River basin. The trees' loss is expected to lead to increased dust storms, melting snowpacks, and reduced river flows.
Researchers capture most detailed images of airborne soot particles, revealing surprising complexity and diversity. The study paves the way for understanding atmospheric processes and designing cleaner combustion sources.
The study of Lake El'gygytgyn sediment cores reveals extreme warm periods in the Arctic correspond with ice-free and warm times in Antarctica, linking the two hemispheres. The findings suggest additional climate feedbacks are at work and challenge current climate models.
Researchers at University of York and University of Canterbury disprove the accepted theory of nestedness, finding instead that a species' number of mutualistic partners is a better predictor of individual survival and community persistence. This challenges the idea that ecological communities exhibit nested structures.
A Yale graduate student has developed a method for detecting an infectious pathogen driving amphibian extinctions worldwide. By analyzing preserved specimens, she found evidence of the pathogen in six older samples from Connecticut, revealing its early presence in the region.
A mathematical model has been proposed to study malaria transmission, focusing on the reproduction number and its dependence on human travel rates. The research highlights the critical role of human movement in spreading the disease, suggesting that effective control measures may involve more rigorous border screening and regulation.
Research from the University of Exeter suggests that adopting a diet with lower meat consumption could significantly reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The study found that increasing agricultural efficiency, especially in livestock production, could help achieve this goal by making better use of resources and reducing waste.
Landsat satellites offer high-resolution data for tracking forest change and storing carbon, supporting REDD+ efforts. The program's long-term continuity and free access to data have contributed to a decrease in deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
New research suggests that Arctic forest growth could lead to increased carbon dioxide emissions, contrary to previous predictions. This is due to the stimulation of soil decomposition by trees, releasing previously stored carbon into the atmosphere.
Scientists discovered that summer temperatures along the Antarctic coast were 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer during the middle Miocene epoch, supporting substantial vegetation including stunted trees. This warming coincided with increased carbon dioxide levels and associated climate change.
Researchers from 11 countries conduct the most comprehensive study on ice types and structures, revealing its impact on climate change and origin of life. The study also analyzes the un Predictability of avalanches and the presence of ice on Mars and comets.
A new study by researchers at BYU, Duke, and USDA finds that soil interaction with plants controls how ecosystems respond to rising CO2 levels. The study highlights the importance of soils in predicting the future of the Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers at University of Missouri-Columbia discovered that the region's record-warm February and March were linked to a similar La Niña climate pattern in 1889. This finding could help scientists develop more accurate weather prediction models by understanding the variability within climate patterns.
Scientists have found that woolly mammoths' extinction was caused by a combination of climate warming and habitat change, with human-induced climate change mirroring the same pressures. The researchers used radiocarbon dating to create detailed maps of changes in plant species, forest development, and human settlements over time.
Research suggests that a growing global population will significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to environmental stress.
A recent study has found that sea temperatures were warmer and less sensitive to CO2 levels 5-13 million years ago. The research team used an organic compound as a 'fossil thermometer' to analyze ocean temperatures alongside carbon dioxide reconstructions, providing evidence of a transition in the Earth's climate system.
Thermoelectric power plants in the US and Europe are vulnerable to climate change due to reduced water supply, leading to increased electricity prices and concerns about future energy security. The study projects a decrease in thermoelectric power generating capacity of 4-19% by 2031-2060, affecting both regions.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed an AI-powered system to monitor bird sounds, identifying species and changes in habitat loss or climate change. The technology uses a multi-instance machine learning approach, allowing for efficient ecological monitoring, and can be applied to other forest noises and animal species.
Researchers found that blocking 2% of the sun's light would make the sky three-to-five times brighter and whiter, while increasing global photosynthetic activity could pull more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. However, this method may also reduce the effectiveness of solar power.
A new podcast from the American Chemical Society explores how meeting current biofuel production targets with existing technology would significantly reduce food production, leading to widespread environmental concerns. The study's findings highlight the need for more accurate estimates of biofuel production capabilities.
Researchers from University of Copenhagen analyzed 80-year-old aerial photos to study glacial evolution in Greenland. The results show that glaciers can recover within a short timeframe if temperatures decrease, contradicting current global warming models.
A new study combines archaeology and geoscience to reveal that climate change was a key factor in the collapse of the ancient Indus civilization around 4000 years ago. The research suggests that weakened monsoon rains led to reduced river dynamics, contributing to the decline of cities and the shift towards small farming communities.
A Yale study found that public consensus on climate change is shaped by cultural values, not science literacy. Members of the public become more divided on climate change risks as they become more science literate and numerate.
Researchers found that terrestrial species are less responsive to warm temperatures than marine species, which allows them to expand their ranges towards the poles. Climate change is also causing rare heat waves to set boundaries on where species can live.
A new study suggests that shifting exchange networks were instrumental in prompting the 'Maya collapse', with evidence pointing to a decline in inland centers and rise of coastal trade networks. Researchers used social network analysis to map obsidian transportation routes, revealing changes in trade patterns over time.
Researchers used the Modern Portfolio Theory to develop a diversified land portfolio for conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region. The study found that considering both benefits and costs resulted in the most efficient land acquisition, with the central area proving more cost-effective than the eastern region.
Australian scientists detected changes in ocean salinity, indicating an acceleration in the global rainfall and evaporation cycle. The water cycle has strengthened by four percent from 1950-2000, with high rainfall regions becoming wetter and arid areas drier due to global warming.
Researchers describe a new extinct giant turtle species found near the world's largest snake, providing insights into climate change impacts. The study reveals that tropical ecosystems are crucial for understanding regional biodiversity and conservation.
A new study reconstructed Australasian temperatures over the last millennium using natural climate records, revealing no warmer periods since 1950. The results support human-caused climate change as the primary driver of recent warming in the region.
A new study by UMD researchers provides a tool for tracing sulfur compounds through ocean organisms, atmosphere, and land, potentially proving or disproving the Gaia theory. The discovery reveals differences in sulfur compound metabolism that carry implications for tracking dimethylsulfide emissions and climate regulation.
Researchers at Ohio State University have combined different climate models using spatial statistics to project future seasonal temperature changes in North America. The analysis estimates that average land temperatures will rise around 2.5 degrees Celsius by 2070, with regional temperature rises varying across seasons and regions.
A new study finds that nearly 9% of the Western Hemisphere's mammals may be unable to keep pace with climate change. Climate change projections suggest that many species will experience severe range contractions due to slow dispersal rates.
A new study reveals that the amount of greenhouse gas released when a forest is cleared depends on how the trees are used and where they're grown. Carbon stored in temperate forests is more likely to remain intact, while tropical forests have nearly all their carbon released into the atmosphere.
A Yale University study found that most Americans are willing to pay a premium for electricity in support of a national clean-energy standard. The average U.S. citizen is willing to pay $162 per year in higher electricity bills to support an 80% clean energy goal by 2035, but support varies among different demographics.