Articles tagged with Climate Change
A study found that climate influences the spread of polycystic echinococcosis, a neglected disease with high mortality rates, in the Amazon region. Climate factors can predict potential infection hotspots.
The Yangtze finless porpoise has evolved a specialized subcutaneous blubber layer that serves as an intelligent thermal coat, regulating body temperature in response to changing water temperatures. The blubber thickness changes with the water temperature, becoming thicker in colder waters and thinner in warmer waters.
A recent study by GEOMAR researchers found that fluctuations in the Labrador Sea can significantly influence the strength of sinking processes east of Greenland. This phenomenon affects the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial climate system that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe.
Researchers found that individuals exposed to wildfires within a year of lung cancer surgery had significantly lower overall survival rates compared to those not exposed. The closer the exposure occurred to the surgery, the worse the survival rate, with patients exposed 3-6 months after surgery facing a 48% decrease in survival chances.
A new economic model suggests that extreme climates during the Middle Pleistocene era drove human brain evolution through assortative mating. The study found that colder climates favored individuals with larger brains, leading to an increase in intelligence.
Researchers developed a new method to estimate soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural fields, reducing the number of samples needed by 30%. The approach uses doubly balanced sampling and accounts for auxiliary information available in elevation maps, satellite images, and previous surveys. By improving soil sampling efficiency, thi...
The study found that environmental conditions and the state of the ocean can lead to enhanced risk for ocean temperature extremes. Upwelling patterns on a short-term basis also initiate some of these marine heatwaves and cold spells.
A new study reveals a severe bottleneck in US tree nurseries, with only 56% meeting the volume needed for conservation and reforestation. The lack of diverse species and locally adapted trees hinders efforts to plant billions of trees to combat climate change.
Natural and social scientists must work together to address the climate crisis by understanding the complex interaction between environmental and social changes. The research highlights the importance of studying tipping points in both fields to inform climate change policies and practice.
A Stanford analysis of planned relocations worldwide shows that community engagement is key to successful outcomes, with slower-paced efforts yielding better results for small communities. The study also found that distance and horizontal movement made little difference for livelihood outcomes.
A new study by Chapman University scientist Joshua Fisher and colleagues provides insight into the Earth's response to rising temperatures due to climate change. By analyzing landscape-level measurements of temperature and carbon dioxide release, the team found that plants' ability to remove carbon pollution from the atmosphere may not...
Cultures from water-scarce environments tend to prioritize long-term thinking and less indulgence compared to their water-rich counterparts. This finding is supported by four studies examining the effects of water scarcity on decision-making processes, including a natural test case in Iran's Yazd and Shiraz cities.
Direct ocean carbon capture (DOC) technology uses membrane contactors to remove CO2 from seawater, offering a cost-effective alternative to land-based solutions. The University of Pittsburgh team has developed innovative DOC methods using hollow fiber and encapsulated solvents, demonstrating their potential to significantly lower costs.
A new diet score reveals that people who follow a more sustainable diet are 25% less likely to die during a 30-year follow-up period. Plant-based foods are associated with lower risks of chronic diseases and reduced environmental impacts.
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 new study found that European breeding birds have shifted their ranges by an average of 2.4km per year over the last 30 years, but these changes were not as rapid as predicted based on climate change alone. Local factors such as habitat availability and population connectivity played a key role in determining range shifts.
A new study reveals that large portions of Greenland were ice-free tundra landscapes with trees and woolly mammoths 416,000 years ago. The melting caused at least five feet of sea level rise during a moderate warming period.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara's Climate Hazards Center have made significant advancements in predicting droughts and food shortages in the Eastern Horn of Africa, enabling agencies to take effective actions and provide humanitarian assistance. These early warnings have helped prevent devastating famines and saved millions of people f...
Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and University of Milan-Bicocca have demonstrated the efficacy of curcumin in reducing coral bleaching caused by climate change. The study shows significant efficacy in preventing coral bleaching when tested under controlled conditions.
The Brazilian coast, particularly in South and Southeast regions, is experiencing increasingly extreme surface air temperatures and more frequent swings from heat to cold. Biodiversity and public health are affected, with rising mortality rates among animals and humans.
A recent study led by Dr. Iva Franić emphasizes the importance of protecting forest ecosystems from non-native pests in the face of rising temperatures. The research found that climatic factors, phylogenetic distance, and geographic distance play a significant role in shaping tree-associated communities.
New research shows certain coral species can survive climate change without suffering reduced growth or other tradeoffs when partnering with thermally tolerant algae. This finding suggests these partnerships may dominate reef ecosystems in a climate-changed future.
Researchers at the University of Alabama created a detailed assessment of vulnerability to natural hazards across the continental US. The study found significant differences in vulnerability between neighboring blocks and identified top 10 states with high vulnerability rates, including Minnesota and Ohio.
A recent study found that warming in Northern ecosystems leads to a massive loss of carbon in the soil, with up to 40% released into the atmosphere within years after warming. The research team also discovered that plant productivity becomes nitrogen limited under warming conditions, reducing the ecosystem's ability to store carbon.
A new study found that the unique oceanographic conditions in Florida's Dry Tortugas National Park provide the ideal environment for elkhorn coral to flourish, with enhanced growth and survivorship. The research highlights the importance of food availability, particularly zooplankton, for coral survival and restoration efforts.
A new study suggests capping the energy use of the top 20% of consumers could reduce carbon emissions by 11.4%. The strategy would allow those with lower incomes to increase their consumption levels, promoting fairness and delivering climate justice.
Climate change poses significant risks to heroic viticulture sites in Italy, Portugal, and Spain, including soil degradation and drought. The authors argue that farmers, scientists, and consumers must work together to protect these unique wine regions and their cultural heritage.
A study found that even no-take MPAs in California and globally are vulnerable to marine heatwaves, leading to mass species mortality and displacement. The research revealed that ecological communities shift dramatically after such events, regardless of protection status.
Butterflies with smaller or lighter-colored wings, such as those in the Lycaenidae family, are likely to face greater threats from climate change. These species have poorer thermal buffering abilities, which could lead to dramatic declines if temperatures rise.
Researchers tracked eastern wild turkey nesting in five southern U.S. states over eight years, finding slight changes in nest timing linked to temperature and rainfall. However, these shifts were minimal and less than three hours, suggesting turkeys may be inflexible in their reproductive activities.
A new UNF study highlights the critical yet understudied factor of salinity changes in ocean and coastlines caused by climate change. Changes in salinity can have potentially devastating impacts on vital coastal and estuarine ecosystems, threatening the health and economy of local communities.
A new study finds that fire can lock large parts of the Amazon in a treeless state, preventing 56-86% of the Amazon from regrowing. Global warming and deforestation damage the forest's moisture recycling process, enabling a self-reinforcing feedback loop of forest loss.
Researchers found a strong association between increased maximum daily air temperatures and venomous snake bites in Georgia. The study suggests that snakes become more active during warmer springs, leading to a higher likelihood of bites.
Researchers found that most US forests have the potential to adapt to hotter, dryer conditions, but are not changing quickly enough. The study suggests that biodiversity can buffer the impact of climate change on forests.
Researchers at Nagoya University found that Arctic dust is a significant source of particles forming ice crystals in Arctic low-level clouds. The findings suggest that Arctic dust can act efficiently as an ice nucleating particle, increasing the number of ice nucleating particles by over 100 times.
Researchers found that humidity plays a crucial role in extreme heat events in China, particularly in eastern regions. The study highlights the need to understand and limit humidity to mitigate regional changes in heat stress.
A new study from University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher Nan Li shows that integrating art with data visualizations can make climate data more meaningful to viewers and reduce political divides. Participants who saw the painting reported stronger positive emotions, while those shown only graphs did not.
New research reveals that shrinking Arctic glaciers are exposing groundwater springs releasing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane emissions from glacial groundwater springs across Svalbard could exceed 2,000 tonnes per year, posing significant threat to global warming.
Researchers at Michigan State University have found that many ships are following the ice, fishing close to the edge of ice packs, posing a growing threat to wildlife such as bowhead whales. The study highlights the need for caution and planning when it comes to increased marine traffic in the region.
For over a billion years, the sun's atmospheric tide countered the moon's gravitational pull, keeping Earth's rotational rate steady and day length at 19.5 hours. This balance was disrupted by climate change, resulting in our current 24-hour day stretching to over 60 hours if not for the pause.
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.
A new method developed by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior has counted Africa's largest bat colony using GoPro cameras and artificial intelligence. The estimate puts the colony at between 750,000 and 1,000,000 bats, making it the largest for bats by biomass anywhere in the world.
A new dynamic systems model supports low-carbon transitions by analyzing local stability and formulating effective policy strategies. The model aligns with Agent-Based Models, enabling policymakers to make informed choices and align national policies with sustainable development goals.
Researchers developed models to schedule flow releases from a California reservoir, finding that pulse flows could benefit salmon while maximizing electricity generation. The study identified optimal flow regimes that aligned economic and salmon objectives during early summer, but diverged in mid-winter.
Research highlights energy insecurity as a determinant of poor health, with disproportionately affected groups including low-income households and mobile home occupants. Energy insecurity encompasses physical, economic, and coping dimensions, reflecting financial hardship, housing quality issues, and adaptive strategies.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln undergraduates found that drought can lower survival odds, slow growth, and even skew the ratio of female-to-male painted turtles. The team discovered a 7% decrease in female survival and a 10% decrease in male survival rates during drought periods.
Climate change is expected to increase the likelihood and frequency of volcanic eruptions, making planning and responding to crises more challenging. Volcanologists are warning that governments may need new strategies to predict and mitigate the effects of future eruptions.
Climate change is shifting snowfall to rainfall on mountains across the Northern Hemisphere, increasing the risk of floods, landslides, and soil erosion. The study found that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in global temperature, high elevations can expect an average of 15% more rain.
A new study analyzed coverage of BECCS in 166 newspaper articles to understand public opinion on the energy technology. The research identified eight key storylines, including Pro-BECCS narratives that emphasized its necessity and Revolutionary technology, alongside Anti-BECCS lines that highlighted environmental concerns.
A recent study found that air pollution, particularly particulate matter, accelerates snowmelt in the Himalayas. Reduced anthropogenic pollutant emissions during the Indian lockdown in 2020 prevented 27 Mt of ice and snow melt, highlighting the impact of decreasing pollution on combating climate change.
The £7 million CoTide project aims to develop scalable tidal stream energy, making renewable power cheaper, more reliable, and scalable. The initiative will create integrated engineering tools and solutions to overcome technical challenges in harnessing ocean tides as a clean energy source.
New research from Duke University reveals that warmer temperatures increase the number of germ cells, which play a crucial role in determining the sex of turtles. This finding may explain why temperature-dependent sex determination persists in many animals, despite seeming like a risky strategy.
Researchers outline a new approach to understanding complex ecosystems using complexity science, which could increase our understanding of the natural world. The study highlights the importance of nonlinearities, stability, and resilience in ecological systems.
A recent study published in Joule found that the financial losses from a renewable energy transition are concentrated among the wealthiest individuals. In high-income countries, two-thirds of the losses would affect the top 10% of wealth holders, with half affecting the top 1%. In contrast, lower-income individuals would face minimal l...
Researchers found minimal change in surface melt rates over the past four decades, despite rising global air temperatures. However, Antarctic ice shelf surface melt rates are expected to increase substantially in the coming decades due to climate change.
A significant correlation dominates the ENSO–NCCV relationship, suggesting that El Niño restrains the intensity of NCCV and La Niña contributes to its strengthening. The Indian Ocean basin mode is an essential intermediate factor in this modulation mechanism.
Research suggests climate change will impact insect biodiversity by throwing off the delicate balance between species that rely on each other for survival. As temperatures rise, insect life cycles may become out of sync with their host plants, leading to potential extinction.
A virtual reality project, Qikiqtaruk: Arctic at Risk, visualizes the impacts of climate change in the Canadian Arctic. The project, created by National Geographic Explorers and local communities, uses immersive technology to transport users to an island experiencing rapid thawing and environmental changes.
New research by Oregon State University suggests the Ontong Java Plateau is younger and its eruption was more protracted than previously believed. The findings contradict long-held assumptions about the formation of the plateau being linked to a global oxygen-depletion event that formed black shale deposits worldwide.
A new study found that the 2022 snow season had the highest snowpack dust concentrations of any year since observations began in 2009, accelerating snowmelt by 17 days. The dry lakebed of the Great Salt Lake contributed the highest dust emissions per surface area, threatening Utah's water supply.