Articles tagged with Climate Change
Researchers found that non-growing season nitrous oxide emissions in the Midwest can account for up to 60% of annual emissions. Environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature drive these emissions, with more intensive freezing causing increased emissions in the southeastern Midwest.
Physicists at Ural Federal University developed a mathematical model to predict El Niño's behavior, accounting for wind, humidity, temperature, and ocean currents. They found that stronger winds can cause unpredictable weather phenomena.
A paleoclimatologist discovered an ancient climate feedback loop that accelerated the effects of Earth's last warming episode. The Eemian warm episode, which occurred 128,000 to 125,000 years ago, saw oceans up to 1-1.5°C warmer than today, leading to a significant increase in methane hydrates and their release into the atmosphere.
Researchers have developed a prototype device that could replace traditional air conditioners with solid refrigerants, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The system uses pressure changes to cycle between solid and liquid states, efficiently cooling spaces without leaks.
Researchers analyzed satellite-based data to study daily variations in air quality across 11 major US cities, revealing disproportionate impacts on economically disadvantaged communities. The findings suggest climate change could exacerbate these differences, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to reduce emissions and impr...
A projected shortage of sulfuric acid could stifle green technology advancement and threaten global food security. Researchers estimate a shortfall in annual supply between 100-320 million tonnes by 2040, depending on decarbonisation pace. Developing low-cost methods to extract elemental sulfur is crucial to mitigate the crisis.
A recent study estimates that climate change will lead to higher global wheat prices and increased economic inequality between exporting and importing countries. The researchers used a novel climate-wheat-economic ensemble modelling approach to analyze the impact of a 2℃ warmer world on global wheat supply and demand.
Harvard researchers found that rapid evolution of reptiles began much earlier than previously thought, connected to increasing temperatures. The study used a dataset of over 1,000 fossil specimens and analyzed their adaptation to climatic shifts.
Researchers found a 33% drop in total mercury concentrations in the Barents Sea during the polar night, attributed to a scavenging process involving manganese particles. This decrease in surface levels may lead to increased toxic mercury formation in sediments and potentially more methylmercury in Arctic food webs.
Scientists analyzed UK bumblebee populations and found evidence of increasing stress due to climate change, with higher asymmetry in wing shapes linked to hotter and wetter years. The study used ancient DNA methods to determine genetic diversity loss and adaptability of bee genomes over time.
Research suggests rising temperatures could disrupt sleep patterns and blunt the immune response, making people more susceptible to infections. This is particularly concerning for low-income communities and communities of color who face heightened risks from heat and limited access to air conditioning.
A new study by University of Missouri and Webster University scientists finds climate change linked to decline of bumblebees in alpine regions. Warming temperatures are creating a longer growing season, allowing lower-elevation bees to migrate to alpine areas, where they struggle to adapt.
A recent study found that US animal shelters experienced a surge in dog and cat intake following climate-linked disasters. The influx of animals lasted for up to a year, highlighting the need for preparedness and resources for affected facilities.
A special section in BioScience synthesizes insights from 40 years of long-term ecological research, highlighting the diversity of ecosystem responses to climate change. The study demonstrates that regional drivers, human activities, and interactions between climate drivers shape these responses.
Long-term research at LTER sites reveals climate change effects on ecosystems, including altered productivity and biodiversity. Coastal ecosystems, such as kelp forests and coral reefs, are particularly vulnerable to changes in water temperature and storms.
Researchers at UC Berkeley find that the traditional heat index, which calculates how hot it feels based on temperature and humidity, fails to account for physiological responses to extreme heat. The new study suggests that this underestimation can lead to increased stress on the human body, particularly in sweltering conditions.
A new model suggests Antarctica's ice shelves are melting at an accelerated rate due to the Antarctic Coastal Current. Freshwater from melting ice can trap warm ocean water beneath the shelves, causing them to melt further. This mechanism could increase sea level rise predictions by up to 40%.
Researchers have found that thawing Arctic hillsides are releasing a significant amount of organic carbon, which was previously locked in frozen ground for thousands of years. This phenomenon is expected to contribute to an already warming climate, and its impact needs to be accounted for in global climate models.
A new USDA Forest Service study projects that residential structures will continue to increase carbon storage through 2070 and beyond. The research examines how population growth and income can be combined to project rates of new housing construction and its impact on carbon storage in wood products.
Simultaneous extreme heat and drought events have significant consequences on various sectors, including economy, health, and food production. The analysis of eight extreme events in Europe, Australia, and Africa highlights the need for more systematic risk assessments to improve adaptability and resilience.
Climate change is driving the expansion of invasive insect species, such as the oak gall wasp, into more northerly oak savannas. This can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem, as these insects can overwhelm native species without natural predators or competitors.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that high-value properties in the western United States are disproportionately exposed to wildfire hazards. Researchers found that both low- and high-income communities bear a disproportionate burden of wildfires.
A study found that concurrent heat and drought events can have devastating effects on multiple sectors, including human health, energy, and agriculture. The research highlights the importance of considering compound extreme events in adaptation efforts to improve resilience.
A team of US scientists proposes a 'Western Rewilding Network' to conserve and restore ecosystems in the region. The plan aims to reintroduce keystone species like gray wolves and North American beavers to promote biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered that coarse sea spray significantly reduces the amount of lightning in storm clouds. The study found that aerosols larger than 1 micron, or coarse sea spray, inhibit lightning by up to 90%, while smaller aerosols actually increase lightning and affect rainfall.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have discovered two defense methods in wild emmer wheat that can protect cultivated wheat from insects. The wheat produces a poison called benzoxazinoid and has a coating of 'hairs' that prevent insects from burrowing, allowing for improved pest resistance
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara analyzed Southern Africa's resources and power grid to develop an energy portfolio that meets the region's 2040 energy requirements. The model suggests that wind and solar are the most cost-effective options, with potential to freeze greenhouse gas emissions at 2020 levels.
Experts are optimistic about converting coal plants to production of clean geothermal energy, citing the number of enabling technologies coming online. The potential market is substantial, with around 4,200 coal plants worldwide, many of which can be repurposed due to advancements in technology and a lack of economic incentive.
A new study from the University of Washington and the National Park Service measured 38 years of change for glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. The study found that 13 of 19 glaciers have shown significant retreat, while two have advanced. Lake-terminating glaciers are retreating at a faster rate than other types.
A Cornell University-led study confirms that heat-stressed dairy cows develop gut permeability, leading to reduced milk production. Feeding cows organic acids and pure botanicals can partially restore milk production and improve nitrogen efficiency.
Researchers found that California's forest carbon buffer pool has depleted at least 95% of its contributions within the first 10 years due to wildfires and disease. The program's self-insurance mechanism is unable to guarantee that credited forest carbon remains out of the atmosphere for at least 100 years.
Researchers have developed a novel dual-atom catalyst design that can reduce the environmental impact of ammonia production. The new design uses a hybrid of iron and molybdenum to activate dinitrogen, resulting in a more efficient and eco-friendly method for ammonia synthesis.
The new database offers improved estimations of Potential Evapotranspiration and Aridity Index for the entire world at a high spatial resolution. This allows for a finer description of water needs in different regions, enabling better resource management and land-use planning.
Researchers have created a cheap and energy-efficient way to capture carbon dioxide from smokestacks using porous melamine material. The process is simple to make and requires primarily off-the-shelf melamine powder, making it a promising solution for scaling down carbon emissions from vehicle exhaust or other movable sources.
Researchers developed a more sensitive approach to detect atomic-level structural damage in materials, enabling longer operational lifetimes for nuclear reactors. The new technique uses differential scanning calorimetry to measure energy changes within materials, revealing two mechanisms involved in radiation damage at elevated tempera...
The Nature's Notebook platform has collected over 30 million phenological records, enabling data-driven natural resource management. The platform is well-suited for answering well-defined questions but faces limitations in addressing unplanned queries due to spatial and temporal unevenness and species biases.
Researchers warn that climate change poses a significant threat to global food supply and stability, potentially triggering famine, conflicts, and new disease outbreaks. The study proposes a research agenda to explore worst-case scenarios, including 'warm wars' and ecosystem collapse, highlighting the need for urgent action.
A study predicts Japan's permafrost area will significantly decrease in the future due to global warming. The research used climate projection data to estimate areas that can sustain permafrost, revealing a broader distribution than previously thought.
The article highlights six strategies for addressing climate-related health inequities, including adopting standards for sociopolitical constructs and centering marginalized community voices. Researchers emphasize the importance of dismantling structural racism, environmental justice efforts, and effective communication strategies.
A new study found that people taking beta-blockers or antiplatelet medications are more likely to have heart attacks during hot weather. The study, which analyzed data from 2,494 cases in Germany, suggests that these medications may render some individuals more vulnerable to heat-related heart attacks.
Scientists discovered that ancient eelgrass migration and Pleistocene ice ages left lasting signatures in their DNA, impacting size, structure, and community composition. Genetic legacy played a stronger role than the present-day environment in determining these traits.
A new study found that the global forest area per capita has declined by over 60% from 1960 to 2019, due to 81.7 million hectares of loss. This decline threatens biodiversity and affects the lives of 1.6 billion people worldwide.
Research from Aarhus University shows that EU's high gas prices are driving the green transition and making it easier to meet 1.5-degree climate target. The study suggests that cutting off Russian gas would force European countries to invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
A new energy plan developed by researchers at Kyushu University suggests a more sustainable future energy system that includes 61% renewable-based electricity. The plan, which prioritizes solar and wind power, exceeds current projections by 50%, with significant reductions in coal-based generation and nuclear power.
A new study using elephant seal data has found that the North Pacific Blob's subsurface warming persisted for over two years, with temperatures extending 1,000 meters below the surface. The extensive subsurface warming raises questions about its mechanisms and potential connections to surface warming.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health found that decarbonization pathways need to incorporate more efficient electric heating technologies and renewable energy sources to minimize strain on the US electric grid. The researchers analyzed building energy data from March 2010 to February 2020 and found that winter heati...
A new study found that coral spawning events at deeper depths occur at lower intensities than those in shallow waters. The researchers suggest that deep reefs may more often rely on shallow-reef corals to survive.
Climate change is intensifying Western US wildfire activity, resulting in taller smoke plumes and more aerosols injected into the atmosphere. The study models 4.6 million smoke plumes and finds that maximum plume height increased by an average of 320 ft per year in four regions, with some areas experiencing a 750 ft per year increase.
A new study suggests that reducing sugar consumption through sugar taxation policies can have significant environmental, social, and economic benefits. Redirecting existing sugar cropland to alternative uses like biofuel production could lead to emissions reductions of up to 54.3 MtCO2e per year.
A new methodology predicts soil recovery after wildfires by analyzing the impact of microbes and nutrients on soil regeneration. The study found that including uncommon soil microbiota was critical to predicting water quality and terrestrial ecosystem recovery.
A study led by ICM-CSIC finds that mass mortality events caused by marine heatwaves affected all Mediterranean regions between 2015 and 2019, resulting in recurrent mass mortalities throughout the period. The research highlights the significant positive relationship between the duration of heat waves and the incidence of mortality events.
Researchers at Radboud University found that larger fish and those with large cells are more sensitive to oxygen stress in warm water. Freshwater fish appear to be more tolerant of oxygen-depleted water than marine fish, likely due to different selection pressures during their evolutionary history.
Researchers at Heidelberg University have created crystalline materials that can selectively bind polyfluorinated hydrocarbons on their surface. The porous crystals show extremely high selectivity for adsorbing fluorine-containing greenhouse gases, which have a significant impact on global warming.
A study published in Biogeosciences reveals a strong relationship between global temperature changes and mass extinctions. The research, led by Professor Emeritus Kunio Kaiho, found that both marine animals and terrestrial tetrapods' extinction rates correspond to deviations in global and habitat surface temperatures.
Researchers at MIT develop a biodegradable system based on silk to replace microplastics added to agricultural products, paints, and cosmetics. The new material is made from widely available and less expensive silk protein, which can be dissolved using a scalable water-based process.
Research predicts that bird species extinction will decrease morphological diversity among remaining birds at a rate greater than species loss alone. Birds with extreme features are most likely to be affected, including the largest and smallest species, as well as regions like the Himalayan mountains and south Vietnam/Cambodia.
The Colorado River is facing a critical management crisis due to ongoing megadrought and climate change. Researchers propose policy changes, including Upper Basin consumptive use limitations and Lower Basin reductions, to maintain secure water supplies.
As extreme heatwaves ravage the globe, scientists warn that only 8% of the world's poorest people have access to air conditioning. By 2050, 70% of the population may require AC, with 92% needed in India and Indonesia. This demands massive infrastructure upgrades to prevent lives from being lost.
A new report identifies the top 10 financial actors influencing the fossil fuel economy and outlines their decisive role in helping de-carbonize our future. The study suggests that these influential actors, including investment advisors and governments, can make transformative changes to reduce fossil fuel production.
Researchers found that domesticated rye has smaller recombining regions, making it less resistant to climate change. In contrast, wild rye has a more diverse genetic makeup and can freely recombine its genetic material.