Articles tagged with Climate Change
New research suggests that plant respiration could be up to 30% higher than previously estimated, leading to reduced ability of the Earth's land surface to absorb fossil fuel-related emissions. This finding has significant implications for modeling carbon cycles and understanding the impact of climate change.
The University of Surrey has developed a cost-effective catalyst to recycle carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into fuels and valuable chemicals. The new 'supercatalyst' could make chemical CO2 recycling more widely available across industry, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
New research challenges common perception that polar species are best at adapting to changing temperatures. Acclimation is most effective at temperate latitudes, with slow seasonal changes allowing for optimal adaptation. This could alter our understanding of which species are most vulnerable to climate change.
A major research project, HELIX, found that some climate impacts are unavoidable, while others can still be mitigated. Global warming of 1.5°C to 2°C could lead to sea level rise of 0.5m, affecting 2.5 million people in Bangladesh, and increased flood risk in parts of Asia, Europe, and America.
The 2017 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored distinguished reporting on topics such as antibiotic-resistant infections, superbugs, and climate change. The winners included a Reuters team for their investigation into uncounted deaths from superbug infections.
A new study resolves a prehistoric climate puzzle by confirming the link between high carbon dioxide levels and global warming for a time interval about 22 million years ago. The research, led by Southern Methodist University, analyzed fossil leaves from Africa and found that carbon dioxide behaved in the same manner millions of years ...
Global carbon dioxide concentrations reached a record 403 parts per million in 2016, and are expected to increase by 2.5 parts per million in 2017. The United States and European Union are projected to see slight declines in emissions this year, while China's emissions are expected to grow by approximately 3.5 percent.
Global carbon emissions have surged in 2017 due to increased coal use in China and the US. The country's emissions are projected to grow by 3.5%, reversing two years of decline. This unexpected growth delays efforts to reach a global peak, with CO2 levels expected to rise to a record high.
The changing planet poses serious risks to human health, with staple food crops becoming less nutritious and insect pollinators declining. Increased extreme weather events will lead to forced displacement, malnutrition, and infectious diseases.
Over 15,000 scientists from 184 countries co-signed a warning letter highlighting the need for urgent action to avoid substantial and irreversible harm to the Earth. The letter notes that only one of nine areas has improved, including ozone depletion, forest loss, climate change, and human population growth.
The 2017 Global Carbon Budget projects a 2% increase in global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry, ending three years of stability. Chinese emissions are expected to rise 3.5%, while US emissions decline by 0.4%. The growth is attributed to the return to growth in Chinese emissions and stronger industrial production.
A new MIT study finds that Texas will face a significant increase in the annual risk of extreme rainfall, rising from 1% to 18% by the end of the century. This rise is attributed to climate change, which is expected to shift the odds in terms of high-intensity storms around the world.
The report reveals that global CO2 emissions from all human activities reached 41 billion tonnes in 2017, following a projected rise in burning fossil fuels. This delay is attributed mainly to China's growing coal use, reversing previous decreases since 2013.
Researchers at Washington State University predict a 7-11% increase in landslide-prone areas on logged land by 2045. The study models clear-cut lands on the Olympic Peninsula and considers factors like soil moisture, land cover, and topography.
Research published in Science shows climate warming reduced the mass of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet by half in 500 years, indicating a similar fate for the Greenland Ice Sheet. The study suggests that once ice sheets start to melt, they can do so quickly, causing significant sea level rise and changes in ocean circulation.
Researchers found that Hawaiian birds timed their breeding and molting with the availability of specific flowers, which in turn was linked to heavier rainfall periods. This suggests that climate changes can cascade up the food chain and affect wildlife abundance.
A new study compares the spatiotemporal characteristics of global drylands using three different drought indices: SWI, PET_Th, and PET_PM. The researchers found that the Surface Wetness Index (SWI) yields broadly similar results to the Thornthwaite method when considering interdecadal variability of global and continental drylands.
A UC Davis study reveals that seagrass biodiversity is essential for effective restoration, outperforming single-species approaches. Planting mixtures of diverse species improves survival and growth rates, highlighting the importance of ecosystem complexity.
The article examines how science influenced policy debates on climate change, highlighting the role of institutions in connecting scientists to decision makers. Climate change is one of humanity's greatest threats, with the scientific community playing a central role in understanding its nature and assessing options for addressing it.
A study by researchers at the University of Waterloo found that over 30% of rural groundwater wells contained artificial sweeteners, indicating contamination from local septic systems. This suggests that human wastewater is affecting shallow groundwater in the area, posing a health risk to aquatic organisms.
A new statistical estimator extracts useful information from decades-old data and citizen science efforts, providing reliable evidence for climate change. This method unlocks valuable historical records and validates observations made by ordinary citizens, revealing the power of citizen science.
A study reconstructing climatic patterns in China from AD 1-1911 found long periods of cold and dry conditions associated with epidemic outbreaks. However, the relationship between temperature and epidemics varied across short time scales, highlighting climate's scale-dependent impacts on disease prevalence.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a new catalyst to produce valuable chemicals from biomass, allowing for the creation of green raw materials for manufacturing. The catalyst enables the production of important chemicals like 2-butanol and cyclohexanol without emitting CO2.
Researchers have successfully cultivated the Périgord black truffle in the UK for the first time, providing a breakthrough in the fight against climate change's impact on this luxury ingredient. The truffle was grown in collaboration with local farmers in Monmouthshire, South Wales, using a Mediterranean oak tree as host.
Climate change poses a major threat to desert wildlife in central Australia, with feral animals such as cats and foxes exacerbating the issue. Removing introduced predators could boost rodent populations by nearly one in 10, according to new research from the University of Sydney.
A study suggests that massive boulders in the Bahamas were transported by hurricanes during the Last Interglacial period, increasing risk of erosion with rising sea levels. The research highlights the potential impact of climate change on coastal environments.
Researchers will use synoptic climatological frameworks to assess predictability of anomalous coastal sea levels. They will also develop extreme event climate change indicators related to human thermal comfort. The aim is to help meteorologists better understand weather patterns for more accurate forecasting.
A new method of carbon footprinting for pasture-based cattle production systems can identify 'green' cattle within a herd, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that existing methods underestimates the impacts of poorly performing animals, which produce disproportionately large amounts of methane.
A study published in Current Biology suggests that climate change may force bamboo lemurs to eat culm for longer periods, leading to potential starvation. The researchers analyzed the lemurs' feeding habits and found that a short dry season has been crucial to their survival in the past.
Researchers from University of South Florida use bat guano to study climate change in east-central Europe since the Medieval Warm Period. Isotopes found in bat guano provide a near annual record of winter precipitation for the region.
BIOACID research reveals ocean acidification affects ecosystems and services, including climate regulation, food provision, and biodiversity. Reducing carbon emissions by mid-century is crucial to reach Paris climate targets and limit global warming.
The special issue explores the role of nursing in addressing environmental changes and protecting vulnerable populations. Scholars present papers on disaster preparedness, planetary health, and education to prepare future healthcare workers for uncertain climate conditions.
Researchers found that European drought indices are deviating in a manner consistent with climate change simulations. The study suggests decreases in drought frequency in the north and increases in the south, driven by rising temperatures and evapotranspiration. This trend has been observed from the 1980s to present.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that fully disclosing personal beliefs can actually decrease people's trust in scientific research. The researchers used two scenarios focused on the additive Bisphenol A, a controversial substance often found in plastic water bottles, and found that when scientists made statements about their...
A team of climate scientists found that sea-level rise, not stronger storm surges, will cause future NYC flooding. Rising sea levels could lead to a 50-foot flood height by 2300, with smaller changes in coastal risk if sea-level rise is prevented.
Climate change is causing Native Americans in the Mississippi Delta to lose their homes and irreplaceable heritage. Rising sea levels and subsidence are transforming land into marshes, leaving narrow strands of land barely above muddy waters.
The Lancet Commission report finds that global pollution is responsible for 16% of all deaths worldwide. Pollution disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, particularly poor and marginalized communities. Accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources can reduce air pollution and improve human health.
A research article reveals that a warmer ocean surface in central-eastern Baffin Bay triggered the ice retreat of Jakobshavn Isbrå ice stream during the Younger Dryas period. The study used marine fossil diatoms to reconstruct past sea surface conditions, finding warmer sea surface temperatures and less-extensive sea ice cover.
Scientists discovered fossil evidence of punctuated bursts of sea-level rise in coral reefs offshore Texas, which poses a significant risk to coastal communities. The findings suggest that sea level may not rise steadily but rather in sharp bursts, with potential implications for future study and preparation for inundation.
A study analyzing 1460 scats from breeding sites found that jellyfish are a common prey of black-browed and Campbell albatrosses. Jellyfish were present at seven of the eight sites sampled and comprise 20% of the DNA sequences identified.
Scientists discovered that hardy corals, known as coralliths, can create stable habitats for other species to build upon. These mobile corals can survive harsh environments and may have played a key role in forming existing coral habitats.
A three-year study will explore how population growth, climate change, and lake-specific factors affect water quality in approximately 2,000 lakes in the Northeast. The research team will use satellite, drone, and mobile app data to identify patterns and understand relationships between complex systems.
A recent study has found that tropical high-altitude beetles are at risk of extinction due to climate change. The research, conducted in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, revealed that two plant-eating beetle groups - weevils and leaf beetles - are highly specialised to high altitudes and may disappear in a warmer world.
A new study from Dartmouth College suggests that carbon dioxide levels during the early Eocene period, a so-called 'super greenhouse' era, were lower than previously thought, around 1000 ppm. This finding challenges current climate models and provides important information about the planet's past climate history.
A recent CU Anschutz study found that climate change can spur outbreaks of infectious diseases like Zika, malaria, and dengue fever. The researchers discovered a 12-fold increase in Zika cases in Ecuador after an earthquake struck the region during an exceptionally strong El Niño event.
A new review in Marine Geology reveals that slightly warmer temperatures and moderate CO2 concentrations over 100,000 years ago led to dramatic superstorms and sea-level rise in the Bahamas and Bermuda. The study emphasizes that strong climate forcing is not required to yield major impacts on the ocean and ice caps.
A new technique uses satellite-based remote-sensing to quantify plant metabolism by measuring solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. This correlation opens up applications for climate change and ecosystem monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and land management.
Researchers created a model, STORM, to simulate watershed rainfall under various climate change scenarios. They found that while overall rainfall is increasing, individual storms are becoming less intense and delivering less water, leading to declining runoff and affecting regional water resources. This study provides insights into the...
The 2017 Chapman University Survey of American Fears reveals that environmental fears have become more prominent, with water pollution and drinking water quality ranking among the top three fears. Americans fear climate change, air pollution, and extremism, reflecting media coverage and political divisions.
A new study from the University of Michigan emphasizes the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in both environmental and economic perspectives. The research identifies timetables for action for the U.S.'s most energy-hungry sectors, automotive and electricity, after which it will be too late to stave off a climate tipping point.
A new study by Princeton University researchers reveals that the North American monsoon is facing a dramatic reduction in precipitation, with significant implications for regional water resources and hazards. The study corrects for sea surface temperature biases and suggests that the region's famous thunderstorms may become less common.
A new study using DNA metabarcoding technology is helping to improve the monitoring of Canada's vital boreal forest. The approach enables quick and accurate detection of aquatic organisms, providing valuable insights into ecosystem health.
The documentary highlights New Orleans' efforts to create a master plan for future events as the 'canary in the coal mine' for climate impacts. The city's unique situation, with the Mississippi River altered after the great flood of 1927 and land sinking due to sea-level rise, underscores the need for planning and resilience.
A University of New South Wales researcher has uncovered documents that suggest Teddy Evans, Scott's second-in-command, may have been responsible for his leader's death and that of four others. Evans' actions, including stealing rations and failing to pass on orders, are believed to have contributed to the tragedy.
Researchers found that climate in northeast Africa shifted from wet to very dry around 70,000 years ago, coinciding with human migration out of Africa. The team's analysis of sediment cores revealed a significant drop in sea surface temperature and rainfall patterns, making the environment less hospitable for human habitation.
A 75-year analysis of aerial photos reveals Greenlandic deltas are growing due to warmer temperatures. The study alters previous understanding of Arctic coast climate change effects.
A new study projects significant increases in severe turbulence worldwide by 2050-2080 due to climate change. Flights over the North Atlantic and Europe will experience up to two or three times more turbulence than usual, while Asia and other regions will see a 60% increase.
A recent Kansas State University study uses holographic images to measure the size and shape of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. This technology has potential applications in climate science, such as understanding how particles scatter sunlight, and in biological weapons detection.
A new report by the University of Oxford evaluates claims about grass-fed beef and its impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The study finds that while grazing can sequester carbon, this effect is time-limited and outweighed by emissions at the global level.
A new mapping tool is being developed to help understand how global warming affects plant and animal populations globally. The Map of Life team, in collaboration with UB ecologist Adam Wilson, aims to integrate environmental and climatic data into the platform.