Articles tagged with Climate Change
A new study finds that soil moisture exerts a negative feedback on surface water availability in drylands, offsetting some of the expected decline. This means that as soil moisture decreases, it can reduce evapotranspiration and enhance surface warming, leading to more frequent droughts and floods.
Researchers estimate that subsea permafrost currently traps 60 billion tons of methane and 560 billion tons of organic carbon. The region releases approximately 140 million tons of CO2 and 5.3 million tons of CH4 to the atmosphere each year.
Global greenhouse gas emissions could drop by 6.6 gigatons of carbon due to COVID-19 lockdowns, but recovery funding could offset gains if spent on polluting sectors. Stimulus packages targeting innovation and renewable energy can help achieve Paris Climate Agreement goals.
Researchers found that climate warming causes trees to advance their leaf unfolding and flowering times, but at different rates. This unequal timing may disrupt interactions with pollinators and impact ecosystem structure and function.
A new assessment suggests sea level rise could be higher than current estimates by 2100 due to uncertainties in ice sheet dynamics and warming oceans. Scientists identify key areas of research needed to improve models and predictions, including better mapping of glacier ground and improved coupling of atmosphere-ocean-ice sheet models.
Researchers found that grapevines from hot and dry regions have water-saving traits that conserve water and extend the growing season. These traits could help vines cope with climate change, but may also limit future photosynthesis and sugar production.
A study by Dr. Michael Deininger found that changes in regional precipitation over the past 10,000 years are connected and mainly caused by alterations to solar radiation and associated temperature differences between tropics and polar regions. This could lead to shifts in regional rainfall patterns, potentially causing droughts in som...
A long-term study reveals that barnacle geese are resilient to environmental changes, despite a 10% decrease in body weight, which doesn't seem to affect population numbers. The researchers found that other factors like earlier springs and fox predation play a more significant role in shaping the geese's survival.
A study found a moderate-to-strong correlation between atmospheric pollutants and COVID-19 incidence rates in Italian territories. PM10 and PM2.5 showed higher correlations than NO2, suggesting these pollutants may contribute to pandemic diffusion.
Three INRS researchers, Kulbir Ghuman, Dongling Ma, and Sophie Van Neste, are leading $2.6 million Canada Research Chairs in computational materials, nanocomposites, and urban climate action. Their research projects aim to address pressing energy and environmental challenges.
Plant communities shifted towards more terrestrial plants and trees, despite dramatic climate changes. Researchers found that rainfall patterns remained relatively minor and short-lived during the mass extinction event.
A University of Maine-led research team studied hundreds of North American tree species and found that only 50% of their potential climatic habitats are actually inhabited. This suggests that trees may struggle to keep pace with climate change, highlighting the need for more sophisticated predictive tools for conservation.
Researchers discover new nocturnal process in forming oxidized aerosol from biomass burning, leading to underestimation of pollutant levels. The findings highlight the importance of considering nighttime oxidation in air quality models.
A new study highlights the plight of US crop wild relatives, many of which are endangered or underrepresented in conservation repositories. The plants, including those related to apples, hops, and sunflowers, have characteristics that can be used to breed hardier crops.
A study led by the University of Texas at Austin found that bedrock fractures can produce up to 29% of daily average CO2 emitted by land, depending on the season. This source challenges climate change models and sheds light on a previously inaccessible part of the landscape.
The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health aims to empower doctors to convey climate change's impact on health. The consortium engages medical society members and partner organizations to present climate change as a health issue.
A Cornell University-led team has created a roadmap for global agricultural and food systems innovation, reform, and sustainability to address food crises and climate change. The report outlines seven major recommendations to make the world's agri-food systems healthy, equitable, resilient, and sustainable.
Former UNFCCC leaders call for effective implementation, ambitious targets, and concrete strategies to avoid dangerous climate change and meet the 1.5°C temperature increase threshold
A study found that warmer springs in southern Illinois allow prothonotary warblers to start laying eggs earlier, increasing the chances of raising two broods of offspring. This adaptability may provide a reproductive advantage for the birds, but could be threatened by continued climate change.
A new global measure found that only 17.4 million square kilometres of Earth's remaining forests - or 40 per cent - are considered to have high integrity. High integrity forests contain high levels of biodiversity and provide ecosystem services, but many have been heavily impacted by human activities.
A new study suggests that warm ocean currents in the North Pacific during the last ice age created a relatively warm region around the modern Bering Sea, making it more habitable for early humans. This finding addresses a long-standing mystery about the earliest inhabitants of North America.
New research challenges previous understanding, finding Third Pole grew at a much slower pace than thought. The findings shed light on regional and global climate processes.
Researchers recreated a 700-year record of Southern Hemisphere westerly winds using sediment cores. The study found that winds intensified and migrated poleward during warm periods, which is likely to continue with climate warming.
Scientists from CNRS and Melnikov Permafrost Institute conduct cold room simulation to demonstrate permafrost's role in soil collapse. Heterogeneous frozen soils with vertical ice wedges undergo major deformation during thawing, accelerating subsidence and greenhouse gas release.
Researchers warn that peatlands, a significant carbon sink, are expected to shift from absorbing to emitting carbon due to human impacts. The study predicts total carbon loss from 2020-2100 at 104 billion tons, emphasizing the need for urgent inclusion in climate models and better preservation efforts.
A new study reveals that natural emissions in the Himalayas can form large amounts of aerosol particles, which are then transported to high altitudes and injected into the upper atmosphere. These particles may affect climate by acting as nuclei for cloud condensation.
Archaeologists study how climate shift affected Greater Cahokia's bio-cultural associations and societal changes. Evapotranspiration played a critical role in determining urbanism progression, particularly through Steam Bath Ceremonialism.
A Korean research team has made a breakthrough in understanding the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to ethylene, a challenging process that could produce high-value-added chemicals. The study identified key intermediates and proposed copper hydroxide nanowire as a promising catalyst for enhancing selectivity.
The study suggests that the obese figurines were linked to extreme nutritional stress during Ice Age Europe. The researchers propose that these statues represented an idealized body type for young women, conveying ideals of body size for survival in difficult living conditions.
Researchers find that invasive canal grass in Panama originated from a sugarcane breeding program in Florida, where over 500 varieties were sent for testing. The plant's DNA matches those from Indonesia and suggests high ploidy levels, making it challenging to control its spread.
Researchers discovered a significant decrease in chemical diversity and quantity of gases released by corals during heat stress experiments, indicating potential impacts on coral resilience. The study highlights the importance of understanding the 'smell' of corals as an indicator of reef health.
The study synthesizes three decades of data on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) globally, examining their impact on human health, ecosystems, and economies. The report provides a baseline for tracking changes in HAB problems.
Climate change has led to an eight-fold increase in the annual area burned by high severity fires across western US forests from 1985-2017. This trend poses significant risks to forest ecosystems and human safety, as severe fires can lead to long-term forest loss.
A KAUST team used an underwater robot to investigate the mesopelagic zone in the Red Sea, where warming waters and oxygen depletion slow organic carbon flow. The study found that most organic carbon is converted back into CO2 by microorganisms within days, with only a small percentage sinking to depths for centuries.
Research reveals German media outlets use eight frames to undermine legitimate climate change protests, reducing protesters' self-agency and marginalizing their voice. Despite this, the idea of intergenerational justice and children's rights has become established on the agenda.
A new study found that climate-driven increases in carbon capture lead to earlier leaf senescence in temperate trees. This challenges the long-held expectation that warmer temperatures would cause leaves to stay on trees longer and slow down climate change.
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis assessed the climate change scenario framework, which combines alternative futures of climate and society. The study found that the framework has been widely applied in over 1,400 studies, enabling research on combined impacts of socioeconomic and climate changes.
A University of Stirling study found a decrease in self-reported sea turtle egg consumption and poaching of adult sea turtles after a community-based campaign. However, the increase in anti-poaching law enforcement may have impacted results.
A new common framework for increasing comparability of research findings on coral bleaching has been developed by an international consortium of scientists. The framework covers key variables such as temperature, water flow, and light, allowing researchers to anchor their studies and compare results more easily.
Researchers studied how icebergs melt and found that their shape affects the rate of melting, with sides facing currents melting faster than parallel sides. This discovery could provide new indicators of climate change by analyzing iceberg shapes.
A recent synthesis study has found that phytoplankton can bloom under Arctic sea ice, contrary to long-held assumptions. This discovery suggests that phytoplankton production in some regions of the Arctic Ocean may be an order of magnitude greater than previously predicted.
A new study predicts climate change will lead to more extreme wildfires and multi-year droughts in Nevada and California. Warmer temperatures will cause faster drying of soil moisture and vegetation, increasing fire danger and severity.
A new report reveals that using materials more efficiently can reduce GHG emissions from residential buildings and passenger vehicles by an average of 40% in seven major developed countries and 70% in China and India. Strategies include ride-sharing, building smaller homes, and recycling materials.
Researchers found evidence of five drought events impacting Ancestral Puebloan society from centuries-old charcoal and ash deposits in a lava tube. The discovery sheds light on human-environment interactions during climate change, highlighting the ingenuity of Ancestral Puebloans in accessing water resources.
Scientists found that sex-specific differences in variability depend on individual physical and physiological features in mice, debunking theories about male or female variability. The study suggests including both males and females in studies, with statistical adjustments necessary to account for variation in traits among sexes.
A new study from the New England Aquarium improves species distribution models for predicting whale habitats by incorporating food availability, such as zooplankton. The prey-centric model suggests that protections are needed in areas where whales are currently found and may be migrating to due to climate change.
A new study by Michigan State University reveals the far-reaching effects of irrigated agriculture on the environment, including water scarcity and greenhouse gas emissions. The research highlights the importance of considering the complex connections between food production, energy use, and environmental sustainability.
A new study found that rising temperatures make brown dog ticks more likely to choose humans over canines, elevating the risk of Rocky Mountain spotted fever infections. As climate change expands areas with high temperatures, public health authorities must be vigilant for increased disease risks.
Researchers argue that introducing carbon pricing now would result in marginally less disruption and help drive greener economic activity. The tax could prompt industries to move away from fossil-fuel intensive practices towards long-term sustainability.
Researchers have identified key genes that help corals respond to low oxygen levels, but found variability in sensitivity among species. This discovery may inform novel diagnostics and breeding efforts for improving reef resilience.
The CMIP6 models reproduce spatial distributions of temperature extremes better than CMIP5 models. However, they struggle to capture warm days and cold nights, especially over the Tibetan Plateau. Advanced CMIP6 models show no significant differences from their CMIP5 counterparts for some models.
A study found that European climate change counter movement think tanks have a neoliberal ideological stance, repeating messages similar to those used by American denialists. The research, published in the journal Climatic Change, documents for the first time an organized climate change counter movement in Europe.
A study found that both temperate and tropical birds can tolerate high temperatures, with some species, such as doves and pigeons, exceeding heat limits, providing a buffer against climate warming. However, caution is needed as indirect effects on resources and forest structure may impact bird populations.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered a possible 1,000-kilometer-long river running deep beneath Greenland's ice sheet. The study suggests that if the valley is open and melting increases, water could flow freely through it, potentially altering future climate change predictions.
A new study shows that warmer oceans cause hurricanes to weaken more slowly after making landfall, leading to more destruction inland. Researchers found that stored moisture is the key factor behind this phenomenon, allowing hurricanes to sustain themselves for longer.
Researchers are harnessing the genetic potential of old crop varieties, known as landraces, to develop improved climate-adapted hybrid varieties. By analyzing gene variations, they have identified traits such as early plant development, wind resistance, and growth form that can be beneficial in breeding climate-resilient crops.
Researchers found no ice and a surprisingly active ecosystem in the Bering and Chukchi seas, adding data to a key climate change record. The delayed cruise due to COVID-19 revealed unseasonably warm ocean temperatures delaying sea ice formation by several weeks.
Researchers found evidence of a large volcanic cause of the largest mass extinction, with sedimentary mercury enrichments detected in rocks from the end of the Permian period. The study suggests that high-temperature volcanic combustion contributed to global warming and the loss of land and marine creatures.
A new study from Lund University found that high temperatures can limit insects' ability to reproduce and tolerate changes in temperature. Insects, being cold-blooded, rely on external sources for body temperature regulation, making them vulnerable to overheating.
A new study found that community forest management policies often result in weakened rights and less access to forests for local populations. Despite positive outcomes in some cases, the overall results show a series of trade-offs between people and the environment. The research highlights the need for governments to ensure that commun...