Articles tagged with Climate Change
Scientists have found that severe marine heatwaves can lead to the death of coral animals themselves, causing the underlying skeleton to decay rapidly. This new understanding highlights the need for urgent action to preserve coral reefs and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Scientists used a state-of-the-art climate model to study the lofting and movement of the colossal Canadian wildfire smoke cloud, which contained only about 0.3 million tons of soot. The modeling validated previous theories on nuclear war impacts and provided new insights into potential global climate effects.
A combination of local emissions, transport from outside the region, and terrain-driven circulation contribute to high aerosol loading over the eastern slope of the Tibetan Plateau. The study highlights the need for understanding aerosol transport processes and physical mechanisms to mitigate environmental risks.
Consecutive low snow years may become six times more common in the Western United States, leading to ecological and economic challenges. The study projects that year-to-year variability of peak snowpack will decrease, mostly in areas transitioning from snow- to rain-dominated precipitation.
Researchers found that warming oceans are driving up methylmercury levels in fish due to increased energy consumption and changing diets. As sea temperatures rise, fish use more energy to swim, requiring them to consume more calories, which can lead to higher mercury levels.
Representative John Yarmuth receives the ESA Regional Policy Award for his advocacy on clean water, environmental stewardship, and climate change. The award recognizes his use of ecological science to inform policy decisions.
Researchers found extensive burning at Witzna and its surroundings dating back to the classic period, indicating scorched-earth military campaigns even during periods of prosperity. This challenges the idea that warfare was a late development in Maya civilization's decline.
A team of scientists will conduct a scientific cruise to the Arctic Ocean to understand the behavior of copepods, small crustaceans that are a vital source of food for fish and other species. The research aims to shed light on how climate change affects the Arctic food chain, with implications for ecosystem dynamics.
A majority of Iowans (74%) believe it's essential for presidential candidates to discuss how science affects policymaking, but only 22% recall this during past debates. The Iowa Science Survey found strong support for science-based challenges like climate change and health care.
Researchers analyze EU Commission's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform proposals and find they do not reflect public demand for sustainable agriculture or environmental goals. The CAP has the potential to support multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals but currently only contributes to two of them.
A new study finds that US water management systems use outdated design guidelines, leading to more frequent and severe flooding. The researchers analyzed data from over 900 weather stations and found that extreme rainstorms are happening 85% more often in the eastern US than in 1950.
A new study investigates the bioenergetics of sharks and rays, revealing how climate change affects their populations. The research suggests that these ocean giants will face compounding climate pressures, including warmer oceans and reduced prey availability.
Researchers predict that warmer winters in the Chesapeake Bay will lead to longer and more productive blue crab seasons. As water temperatures rise, blue crabs' overwinter survival is expected to increase by at least 20%, potentially extending their season year-round.
Researchers have used radiokrypton dating to analyze groundwater in the Negev desert, revealing two distinct sources of ancient water that date back 400,000 years. The study suggests that moisture was delivered from the Atlantic Ocean during cooler climates, providing a unique insight into the region's past hydro-climates.
The article highlights the need for a new contraception revolution to provide options for populations not currently served by modern birth control. New concepts like male contraception and multipurpose prevention technology are being developed to fill the gap.
Researchers investigate how climate change affects communication pathways in ocean, revealing broad patterns and intriguing outliers. The study provides a conceptual framework to guide future research on the impact of climate change on marine organisms' behavior.
A study by NOAA researchers has identified four Pacific salmon population groups as especially vulnerable to climate change, including Chinook in California's Central Valley and sockeye in Idaho's Snake River basin. The populations face threats from elevations in stream and sea surface temperatures as well as ocean acidification.
A new reconstruction of global average surface temperature change over the past 2,000 years identified the main causes for decade-scale climate changes. The researchers found that airborne particles from volcanic eruptions were primarily responsible for several brief episodes of global cooling prior to the Industrial Revolution.
A study published in Science Advances suggests that climate change is increasing the risk of future megadroughts in the American Southwest. The researchers found that ocean temperature conditions, high radiative forcing, and severe La Niña events contributed to the medieval megadroughts.
A new study found that rising temperatures due to climate change will increase the number of days with high concentrations of ozone in the Mid-Atlantic region, posing significant health risks. The study, led by Cristina Archer, analyzed nearly 50 years' worth of data and found that near-ground ozone levels can exacerbate respiratory co...
Researchers analyzed a 120-year data set to confirm climate change's impact on precipitation events and floods. The study found six of seven highest precipitation events occurred within the last 20 years, with three storms resulting in abnormally large floods.
A study led by Dr Chancey MacDonald found that fussy fish can survive and even thrive in deeper waters due to their ability to adapt their diets. The Triangle Butterflyfish, a dietary specialist, fed more selectively on preferred corals, while the Eight-Band Butterflyfish, a generalist, became more flexible in their diet with depth.
A team of researchers suggests adopting a holistic approach to understanding environmental risks, considering social history, power relations, and environmental ethics. This perspective challenges traditional views on complex environmental risks, highlighting the importance of taking a broader approach to navigate new risks.
Researchers developed a laser-based airborne lidar system that measures atmospheric gases with high accuracy and resolution, helping scientists better understand their impact on the climate. The new system can provide detailed gas profiles, overcoming limitations of existing methods and enabling more accurate climate predictions.
Researchers found that sensitive climate models were more likely to experience short periods of cooling and display larger variations in warming over a decade. The study suggests that climate sensitivity plays a crucial role in understanding global warming trends and the potential for hyperwarming scenarios.
Researchers from IIASA and colleagues provide a new tool to clearly communicate insights about carbon budgets, making it easier for policymakers to understand changes in the remaining carbon budget. The study defines the size of the remaining carbon budget by five main factors, including warming expected per ton of CO2 emission.
Researchers found that species already adapted to hot climates may actually benefit from increased rainfall. The study discovered a boom in the population of aggressive sugar-feeding ants with every rapid increase in rainfall.
A new study predicts that up to a quarter of the world's conifer species will face extinction by 2070 due to climate change. Species native to smaller islands are most at risk, with some expected to be pushed out of their fundamental niche and tolerance range.
The FGOALS-f3-L climate model has been developed to capture the basic patterns of atmospheric circulation and precipitation. The new model is fast in completing computing tasks and overcomes some model biases related to climate sensitivity and cloud microphysics.
The University of Maryland's Yiping Qi reviews the current state and future of CRISPR technology in crops, suggesting applications beyond traditional gene editing. He aims to enhance traditional breeding techniques with CRISPR to ensure global food and nutritional security.
Researchers have discovered that coral skeletons record subtle changes in pH levels, allowing scientists to study past ocean acidification and its effects on corals. The study provides insight into the impact of climate change on coral reefs and their ecosystem.
A new line of barley has been bred to resist heat, salt, and drought, producing up to 20% higher yields under adverse conditions. The breed combines the advantageous properties of industrial and wild barley, with genetic analysis revealing key gene variants for improved stress tolerance.
Small changes to food production and consumption, such as reducing waste and altering diets, could reduce the land required to feed the planet by at least 21%. Altering diets in developed nations is found to have the greatest potential to reduce the impact of food production. Changes to food systems are needed to provide nutritional fo...
A long-term study of butterflies in Ohio found that common species are declining at a rate of 2% per year, resulting in an overall 33% decrease over 21 years. This trend is consistent with other monitoring programs in Europe and highlights the impact of environmental changes on insect populations.
Research findings show that mid-high latitude climate variability significantly impacts the East Asian monsoon, with a synergistic effect on predictability sources. Chinese scientists propose new concepts to explain combined effects of regional climate variabilities on East Asian climate.
The genome of black-eyed peas has been fully sequenced, providing valuable insights into the genes responsible for their drought and heat tolerance. This breakthrough could help develop new crop varieties more resilient to climate change, particularly in regions where water availability is limited.
A new statistical approach calculates the likelihood of an ice-free Arctic Ocean at different warming levels, finding a 6% chance at 1.5°C and 28% at 2°C. The research suggests a sea ice-free summer Arctic Ocean is most likely to occur at 2-2.5°C warming.
A team of international microbiologists warn that ignoring microorganisms in climate change could lead to dire consequences. They advocate for improved literacy about the topic to address the climate disaster and encourage future generations to understand the microbial world.
Scientists analyzed oxygen isotopes in stalactites and stalagmites from 39 caves worldwide to understand past groundwater recharge. The study found that cave drip water oxygen composition varies between cool and warm climates, providing insights into climate variability and water resources.
A new study found that microbial communities in Alaskan soil respond rapidly to warming, leading to increased methane and carbon dioxide production. Microbial species and genes involved in these processes became more abundant with warmer conditions.
Semi-arid regions in northern China have expanded significantly over the past 60 years due to climate change. The drying trend is linked to a weakened East Asian summer monsoon and amplified by land-atmosphere interactions. This expansion increases the risk of desertification, food insecurity and water scarcity.
A British-German study found that environmental factors had a significant influence on species success in the past, but became less important around 170 million years ago. The shift was attributed to the rise of planktonic algae with calcified shells, which changed the rules of evolution.
Researchers from the Climate Change Research Center discovered that the positive-phase AMO causes nonuniform Eurasian summer warming. The study highlights the role of the Silk Road Pattern in modulating atmospheric variability, leading to amplified warming.
A recent NYC ridesharing study found a significant increase in trips originating from outer borough neighborhoods, with 56% of market share. This surge raises concerns about equity, as these areas are often underserved by public transit and traditional taxi services.
A new study by ETH Zurich reveals that reforestation efforts could store two-thirds of the 300 billion tonnes of carbon released into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. The greatest potential for forest restoration lies in six countries: Russia, US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and China.
Researchers estimated Earth's potential for additional tree cover, which could cut atmospheric CO2 levels by 25%. The study suggests an extra 0.9 billion hectares of tree cover, storing over 200Gt of carbon, equivalent to two-thirds of human-made emissions.
Analysis finds whole US ecosystems shifting dramatically north over nearly 50 years, with significant implications for land management. The study uses bird distribution data to quantify ecosystem shifts and identifies three distinct ecosystem boundaries.
A coalition of countries aims to phase out unabated coal power, but analysis shows limited emissions reductions. The Powering Past Coal Alliance's expansion is hindered by economic and political difficulties in major coal-consuming nations like China and India.
Researchers found a significant increase in the number of leatherback nests in Espírito Santo, Brazil, from 25.6 to 89.8 between 1988 and 2017. The gentle recovery is attributed to local conservation efforts, but the population still faces threats from climate change, pollution, and coastal development.
A recent study published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution reveals the alarming impact of bark beetles on timberlands across Central Europe and North America. The beetles' population growth is linked to climate change, which exacerbates the problem by weakening German timberlands.
A NUS study found that corals in Singapore's waters typically don't extend beyond eight metres, reducing the impact of rising sea levels. The research highlights the resilience of coral reefs in Singapore and informs conservation efforts.
The G20 leaders should focus on increasing funding for low- and middle-income nations to address the impacts of climate change, wars, and nationalism. The authors argue that increased domestic funding is needed to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote universal health coverage.
Researchers at UT Austin have discovered a method to extract natural gas from methane hydrate deposits while capturing CO2, a greenhouse gas. This process involves injecting air and CO2 into the deposits, which helps to stabilize the environment and increase energy efficiency.
A new study shows that at least three Caribbean coral species can survive and grow under severe ocean acidification conditions, despite lower skeleton density. Slow-growing dome-shaped corals outperformed fast-growing branching corals in the experiment.
The 2019 Blavatnik National Laureates are Heather J. Lynch from Stony Brook University, a theoretical physicist from University of Colorado Boulder, and a chemical biologist from Harvard University. They were recognized for their innovative work in predicting penguin colony population growth and collapse due to climate change.
Researchers found that malaria parasites develop faster in mosquitoes at lower temperatures than previously thought, increasing the risk of transmission to millions of people worldwide. The study suggests that even slight climate warming could lead to greater increases in transmission risk.
Scientists have taken first images of carbon dioxide molecules within a MOF, revealing the guest-host relationship and expansion of the cage as CO2 enters. This breakthrough using cryo-EM imaging demonstrates unprecedented insights into MOF chemistry and potential for separating gases.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a conceptual model that explains how thunderstorm clouds form dense clusters, influenced by solar irradiation and ocean temperatures. This phenomenon can impact climate change predictions and extreme weather events.
Researchers identified three invasive species of high concern for Durban: Alligator weed, American bullfrog, and red imported fire ant. The study provides a new tool for cities to focus on preventative measures, reducing costs associated with future invasions.
An international research team reconstructed ice nucleating particles from ice cores for the first time, providing insights into cloud cover in the Arctic over the last 500 years. The measurements could help close gaps in knowledge on climate research and inform future climate changes.