Articles tagged with Climate Change
Researchers from the University of Guelph found that climate warming-induced advances in treeline movement may be halted by unsuitable soils, hindering plant growth. This discovery is important for preserving individual species or entire ecosystems.
Researchers at Oregon State University identified a previously unknown contact zone between the northern and southern Rocky Mountain lineages of American pikas. The discovery suggests that the subspecies are interbreeding, which has important implications for conservation and management.
Researchers at Clemson University found that salamanders can alter their behavior and physiology in response to environmental stressors, reducing extinction risk. This new understanding could provide a more accurate assessment of the impact of global warming on salamander populations.
A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that students living in dormitories without air conditioning performed worse on cognitive tests compared to those with AC. During the heat wave, students without AC experienced decreases in cognitive function, including reaction times and working memory.
A new framework, described in a paper published in Nature, models the evolution of cooperation based on repeated stochastic games. The system shows that even if cooperation does not evolve in individual games, it can emerge when combined with multiple games.
The University of Birmingham report forecasts a five-fold increase in global cooling appliance demand to 14 billion by 2050, driven by growing population and urbanization. To meet this demand sustainably, the report emphasizes the need for a system-led approach, harnessing waste resources and adopting novel technologies.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide found that fish alter their cropping practices under high CO2 conditions, leading to faster growth rates of algae and increased territory occupation. This adaptation could benefit fisheries stocks.
A new commentary suggests that understanding coral immunity can help identify corals better able to withstand climate change. Researchers propose a model of coral susceptibility, where investing in immunity enables corals to tolerate more damage before initiating an immune response.
New research suggests that natural greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands and permafrost could increase global warming, making it harder to achieve the 1.5 °C target. The findings indicate that these emissions are disproportionately important for reducing fossil fuel burning.
A new study by Finnish and German researchers found that oxygen loss in the Baltic Sea's coastal areas is 'unprecedentedly severe' over the past century. Human-induced pollution from fertilizers, sewage, and agricultural runoff is the main driver of this issue.
Researchers found that past warming events suggest climate models underestimate long-term warming and amplification of warmth in polar regions. Sea levels may rise six meters or more even if the world meets the 2°C target, according to an international team of researchers from 17 countries.
The unique properties of horseshoe crab blood make it invaluable for drug and safety testing, but over-harvesting poses significant risks to the species' health and ecosystem. Alternative tests and conservation strategies are needed to ensure a sustainable supply.
A new study warns that failure to meet the 2°C warming limit will lead to sea level rise and dire global economic consequences. The researchers found that upper-middle income countries like China will see the largest increase in flood costs, while high-income countries will suffer the least.
Researchers found greater than expected deforestation in Southeast Asia's highlands, resulting in a 29.3 million-hectare loss of forest between 2000 and 2014. This represents a 57% increase over current estimations, primarily due to agricultural expansion.
Researchers examine thawing permafrost's effect on coastal waters, river-borne matter, and greenhouse gas emissions. The study aims to understand changes in the Arctic marine environment and its impact on global climate change.
A new research group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will study the global impacts of agriculture on climate change and focus on reducing nitrous oxide emissions. The team, led by Dr. Clemens Scheer, aims to develop joint standards for measurement and modeling.
A team of researchers discovered well-dated plant fossils in the Lawula Formation, which provided a unique perspective on the uplift history of southeastern Tibet. The findings indicate that the region was around 3 km high and rising at an early stage of the Eocene-Oligocene transition, contradicting previous theories.
A UCI-led review emphasizes the need to redesign heavy-duty infrastructure to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions. Key solutions include the production of renewable materials, capturing and storing CO2, and integrating power and manufacturing facilities.
Spanish researchers developed a system to track human migration caused by climate change using mobile phone tracks. The model achieved over 60% prediction success rate for displacements in Colombia's La Guajira region during a severe drought, highlighting the importance of economic opportunities and urban areas in migration decisions.
A new study using satellite data found that global rivers and streams cover about 773,000 km2 of the non-glaciated land surface, a 44% increase over previous estimates. The increased coverage suggests large-scale impacts of human modification on river networks in developed regions.
A Northwestern University study found that climate change can push mason bees to their physiological limits, leading to high mortality rates and potentially driving local extinction. Bees in warmer environments emerged later, had smaller bodies, and lower body fat, making it harder for them to reproduce.
Researchers have pinpointed the geographic sectors that control the strength and edges of the Hadley circulation, a prominent atmospheric overturning circulation. The study found that mid-latitude eddies play a dominant role in the variability of Hadley circulation strength in certain regions.
Researchers simulated future climate under Paris Climate Goals, finding a significant reduction in heat-related mortality if the lower goal of 1.5°C is met. The study's findings highlight the importance of adhering to the Paris Agreement goals to prevent heat-related health impacts.
Researchers analyzed past warm periods to understand potential future climate changes. They found that ecosystems and climate zones will shift poleward or to higher altitudes, potentially releasing additional greenhouse gases and leading to sea-level rise.
Distinguished Professor Terry Hughes has been honored by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for his climate change research on coral reefs. His work recognizes the influence of rapid climate change on world's coral reefs.
Regions with sharp declines in flying insects also experience high levels of light pollution, suggesting a link between artificial light and insect population declines. Light pollution can disrupt natural behavior, cause genetic exchange limitations, and impact ecosystem services like pollination.
A massive world-wide study of dry riverbeds has found they're contributing more carbon emissions than previously thought. The contribution of intermittent rivers and streams to the process of carbon cycling is largely ignored, but new data suggests this may be higher than initially estimated.
A recent study found that climate change is causing fish species to migrate across national boundaries, leading to new conflicts over fisheries resources. The researchers suggest implementing flexible arrangements for trading fishing permits or quotas across international borders to avoid these disputes.
A Rutgers-led study found that new fisheries are likely to appear in over 70 countries due to climate change, sparking conflict among nations. The movement of fish species is disrupting fisheries, leading to overfishing and reducing food, profit, and employment for many.
A team of Cambridge researchers has identified four key challenges in communicating policy options, including the need to balance detail and comprehensibility. They found that existing materials often oversimplify or overcomplicate issues, making it difficult for policymakers and citizens to make informed decisions.
A recent climate assessment reveals that Antarctica's ice sheet has been losing mass at an unprecedented rate, contributing to a threefold increase in global sea level rise. The continent's ice losses have risen from 53 billion tonnes per year in the 1990s to 159 billion tonnes per year since 2012.
Scientists found that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) was smaller than it is today at some point between 14,500 and 9,000 years ago, but did not collapse. The loss of ice triggered uplift in the sea floor, leading to regrowth of the ice sheet.
New research suggests many coral reefs will be unable to keep growing fast enough to keep up with rising sea levels, leading to increased erosion and flooding risk. Coral reefs are struggling due to combinations of coral disease, water quality deterioration, fishing pressure, and severe impacts from climate change-induced coral bleaching.
A new study suggests that many coral reefs will be unable to keep growing fast enough to keep up with rising sea levels, leading to increased erosion and flooding risk. The researchers found that growth rates for over 200 tropical western Atlantic and Indian Ocean reefs are slowing due to coral reef degradation.
Researchers warn that projected climate change may decrease vegetable and legume yields, threatening food security and population health. The study estimates potential yield reductions of 35% for tomatoes and 31% in hot settings like Southern Europe.
Climate change will dramatically increase corn crop yields' variability, leading to price hikes and global shortages. This threatens food security, particularly for poor consumers.
Climate change could lead to increased global maize yield variability, particularly in the US, Europe, and Africa. Aggressive carbon dioxide emissions mitigation and heat-tolerant crop breeding are crucial to mitigate these effects.
Researchers found that exposure to moderate to extreme temperatures may have played a role in over half a million workplace injuries in Spain, resulting in annual economic losses of €360 million.
A new study by Portland State University reveals that climate change impacts tree growth rates vary among widely distributed tree species in different regions of Patagonia. The research found that warmer conditions and changes in storm tracks led to altered precipitation patterns, favoring tree growth in some areas over others.
Researchers at UNH used satellite data to analyze photosynthesis across eight major ecosystem types, finding a universal relationship between the energy glow and carbon uptake. This method could provide more accurate data for scientists modeling climate change.
A new UBC study found that disasters with significant human toll strengthen religious faith, while those with mostly economic damage do not. For every one per cent increase in injured people due to a climate disaster, attendance at religious services rises by four per cent.
A new study suggests that no civilization can sustainably survive climate change, with four possible scenarios emerging: die-off, sustainability, collapse without resource change, or collapse with resource change. Researchers used mathematical models to analyze the co-evolution of civilizations and planets.
A new journal paper highlights the limitations of economic models in assessing climate change impacts, particularly at moderate to high levels of warming. The authors argue that current models inadequately account for tipping points and uncertainties, leading to large discrepancies between scientific and economic estimates.
Scientists use mini-airplanes to study particle formation in the atmosphere, which can influence climate change. The measurements reveal different scenarios leading to the formation of new particles in various air layers.
Researchers used a novel geochemical proxy to study the evolution of marine life and oxygen levels in the ocean. The findings suggest that upper-ocean oxygen levels did not stabilize until 200 million years ago, when larger eukaryotic plankton dominated the world's oceans.
Research from Dartmouth College shows that cooler weather can increase the lethality of southern pine beetles' attacks on trees. The study demonstrates how climate change creates a destructive one-two punch for forests, with warmer temperatures leading to synchronized emergence of adult beetles and increased population density.
A new study found that urbanization and climate change are driving off low-lying morning clouds in southern California, leading to increased wildfire risk. The decrease in cloud cover correlates with lower vegetation moisture and higher fire danger.
The study, led by Dr Christian Brand, finds that both lifestyle change and zero-emission technologies are needed to meet Scotland's 80% carbon reduction target by 2050. Lifestyle changes such as walking, cycling, and using clean public transport can show quicker results than gradual transitions to electric vehicles.
Studies suggest that restricting global mean temperatures to 1.5-2°C could reduce dengue fever incidence and spread in Latin America. According to models, limiting temperatures could prevent approximately 2.8 million dengue cases per year by the end of the century.
New research from the University of East Anglia found that limiting global warming to 1.5°C could reduce dengue fever cases by up to 3.3 million per year in Latin America and the Caribbean. Limiting warming further would also limit the spread of the disease in areas with current low incidence.
Two UNIST faculty members, Professor Myong-In Lee and Professor Dong Hyun Cha, have received top government awards for their outstanding contributions to urban meteorology and climatology. They were recognized for their research on climate change, disaster risks, and regional climate modeling.
Researchers found that phosphorus addition allows microbes to rapidly grow in previously thought to be uninhabitable sites. This challenges previous ecological assumptions and expands understanding of life's limits on Earth.
Researchers found that atmospheric blocking caused by meandering jet streams slows eastward winds and can lead to extreme weather events. Climate change may alter the frequency of blocking, potentially due to increased jet stream capacity
A team of researchers has pinpointed a location where an entire million years of undisturbed ice might be preserved intact. The discovery aims to better understand natural climate changes and the history of the Ross Ice Shelf.
Under projected high greenhouse gas levels, Floridians may face more extreme heatwaves with profound impacts on human health and the state's economy. Heatwaves lasting longer at night could exacerbate urban heat island effects, making cities like Miami and Orlando particularly vulnerable.
A new analysis of 22 recent hurricanes suggests they would become stronger and wetter in a warmer climate, with increased rainfall rates. The study found that average hourly maximum wind speeds would rise by 6% and rainfall rates would increase by 24%, leading to more devastating flooding.
The study analyzed 22 recent hurricanes and found that they would become a little stronger, a little slower-moving, and a lot wetter if they formed under predicted late 21st-century conditions. The rainfall rate of simulated future storms would increase by an average of 24 percent.
A global temperature increase of 2°C would double risks for plants, animals, and insects, leading to widespread biodiversity loss. If left unchecked, warming could trigger systemic ecological simplification, threatening ecosystem services crucial for human well-being.
By 2100, a 2°C limit could see insect species lose over half their ranges double, while a 1.5°C target halves this number, highlighting the importance of ambitious climate targets for biodiversity conservation
A new report reveals that limiting warming to 1.5°C would avoid half the risks associated with warming of 2°C for plants and animals, and two-thirds of the risks for insects. Species in Southern Africa, the Amazon, Europe, and Australia would particularly benefit.