Articles tagged with Climate Change
PhD student Jens Joschinski seeks collaborators to investigate how plant lice cope with climate variability, shifting from asexual to sexual reproduction as days shorten. He plans to study 12 plant lice clones across Europe and assess fitness costs of this microevolutionary phenomenon.
A new study suggests that China can increase its use of wind power, but not in the most resource-rich areas. The country should focus on integrating wind into existing grids for a substantial gain in renewable energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study reveals that Ice Age species, including sabre-toothed cats and giant sloths, died off around 12,300 years ago due to a combination of human arrival and rapid warming. The research found that it was only when the climate warmed, long after humans first arrived in Patagonia, did the megafauna suddenly disappear.
Scientists predict a record increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration due to El Niño. The recent natural climate phenomenon has warmed and dried tropical ecosystems, reducing their ability to absorb CO2, and exacerbating forest fires.
Soil moisture levels in the Arctic play a crucial role in determining carbon emissions as temperatures rise. A recent study found that dry soils release significantly more carbon than wet soils, even accounting for methane production.
A UCL-led team of researchers has developed a model that predicts outbreaks of zoonotic diseases like Ebola and Zika based on environmental changes. The model forecasts the number of people affected by Lassa fever to double from 195,125 to 406,725 by 2070 due to climate change and population growth.
A new study using fossil records of planktonic foraminifera found that environmental changes control the number of species that can co-exist on Earth. The researchers analyzed the fossil history of 210 evolutionary species and discovered that the limit to species richness is environmentally dependent, varying with climate and geology.
A new study provides evidence linking melting in Greenland to Arctic amplification, with a northern swing of the jet stream reaching latitudes never before recorded. The study's findings fit the anticipated effects of Arctic amplification, which fuels a feedback loop of rising global temperatures and melting sea ice.
Researchers created a detailed, high-resolution simulation of weather patterns in the Western US using data from tens of thousands of personal computers. The analysis showed impacts of terrain on local weather and improved accuracy for regional climate predictions.
Scientists uncovered century-scale patterns in Pacific rainfall and temperature linked to global climate changes over the past 2000 years. El Niño-like states have amplified global climate fluctuations, with northern hemisphere warming and droughts corresponding to an El Niño state from 950 to 1250.
A recent study published in Journal of Biogeography reveals that ant communities across Asia are shaped by past land connections during the Last Glacial Maximum, rather than current geographical features. Temperature was found to be the dominant factor in determining ant community patterns.
A study published in Global Change Biology predicts that climate change will make it difficult for koalas to survive in the drier, hotter parts of their range. The researchers used a detailed ecological model to predict how much energy and water koalas need to survive under changing climate conditions.
Researchers have developed a new method for surveying vegetation in dryland ecosystems using standard cameras on drones, allowing for accurate measurement of environmental change. This technique bridges the gap between satellite and on-the-ground methods, providing valuable insights into climate systems and ecosystem dynamics.
A new study found that the metabolism of giant pandas is higher than previously reported, but China's existing reserves and other areas in the wild can support their appetite. Rising global temperatures pose a significant threat to panda populations due to heat stress.
A study found that mentioning politics in environmental issue messages can deter people from supporting pro-science projects. Even those with more knowledge about the issue were less likely to back solutions when framed around global warming terminology.
New research reveals ocean currents explain why Antarctic Ocean has stayed at roughly the same temperature as most of the planet. Deep, centuries-old water is continually pulled up to the surface by constant westerly winds and great depths.
Researchers found that Australian small carpenter bee populations flourished in the wake of global warming following the last Ice Age. The study's findings suggest that bees have responded similarly to climate change globally, which could be a positive sign for their survival.
Researchers found that human activities drive disease distributions at local scales for diseases like West Nile virus and Lyme disease, while climate change impacts regional scales. The study highlights the importance of considering multiple spatial scales to understand human ecological impacts on biodiversity and disease emergence.
Using radar data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a team of researchers found evidence of an accelerated accumulation rate of ice in the Martian polar cap. The volume and thickness of ice match model predictions, providing insights into Mars' climate change history.
Researchers have confirmed that Mars has undergone multiple rounds of climate change using radar measurements of its polar ice caps. The study reveals the planet's current retreat from an ice age began approximately 370,000 years ago and is still ongoing.
Current simulation models consistently underestimate black carbon aerosols in Arctic air, but fine-grained simulations using powerful supercomputers can mitigate this underestimation. The research found that more realistic modeling of weather and climate patterns is possible with finer grids and larger computational power.
A new analysis of global data reveals that global area burned has seen an overall slight decline over past decades, with around 4% of the global land surface affected by vegetation fires each year. The researchers also found that there is increasing evidence that there is less fire in the global landscape today than centuries ago.
A UN report finds mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) may preserve some species and replenish shallow reef populations, providing a refuge from bleaching. Cooler, deeper water in MCEs could be more hospitable to many species than warmer surface water, offering a stable environment.
Amphibians are experiencing severe declines worldwide, with a study confirming that threats differ among regions. Local conservation efforts are key to reversing losses, as global efforts have been unsuccessful.
A pioneering team of researchers has devised a 'manifesto for fire science' to examine the intricate relationship between fire and humanity on a global scale. The study reveals that factors such as invasive plants, landscape change, climate change, and population growth create tension between fire and human inhabitants.
A new educational software application, Food for Thought, is introducing middle school students to the topic of climate change and its impact on the environment. The app allows students to create a meal and visualize the nutritional data and carbon footprint associated with each food item.
A new study predicts that Totten Glacier in Antarctica may cross a critical threshold within the next century, triggering an irreversible period of rapid retreat and contributing up to 2.9m to global sea-level rise. The glacier's instability is linked to its geology, which will become unstable if it retreats another 100-150km.
New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that poor countries will experience more frequent heat extremes before wealthier nations, despite emitting less CO2. The study shows that the poorest fifth of the global population will be the first to feel the effects of climate change.
The Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will participate in a new National Microbiome Initiative to advance understanding of microbiome behavior and protect healthy microbiomes. The initiative aims to investigate fundamental principles governing microbiomes across ecosystems and develop new tools to study them.
Climate change causes red knot birds to shrink and develop shorter beaks, limiting access to high-quality food sources. This can lead to reduced survival rates among birds born in warm Arctic years, according to a 33-year study.
Red knots migrate to tropical regions, where smaller size and shorter bills impede survival. Climate change disrupts the insect peak, leading to malnutrition and population decline.
Researchers project a fourfold increase in fire probability by century's end, with tundra and forest-tundra boundary most vulnerable. Increased fires could release stored carbon into atmosphere, exacerbating global warming.
A survey of 2,501 Britons found that just 1 in 5 people know about ocean acidification, a critical environmental issue. The study highlights the need to raise public awareness and understanding of this topic, which is often overlooked despite its importance for marine ecosystems.
Researchers have compiled the first global set of observations of the Earth's mantle movement, finding chaotic convection with length scales on the order of 1000km. This discovery challenges long-held geological predictions and has implications for understanding oceanic circulation, past climate change, and hydrocarbon generation.
A deadly fungus has been found to be threatening African frog species, with at least five species declining due to chytrid and habitat destruction. Climate change may also be exacerbating the issue.
A CSU-led team has identified strategies to improve global food accessibility while reducing agriculture's environmental impacts. The study highlights the importance of integrated food system approaches, such as increasing legumes in crop production practices and improving women's access to resources.
Researchers found that large storms move about 50% more sediment than typical rainfall, but the overall contribution to erosion is smaller. River channels adjust their size to accommodate flow, setting a speed limit on erosion.
Research suggests that climate change and resulting water shortages are linked to an increase in chronic kidney disease caused by dehydration and heat stress. The study found that rural hot communities are disproportionately affected, with risks increasing for cognitive dysfunction, malnutrition, and other conditions.
A decade-long fieldwork project in southern China has uncovered six new fossil species of primates, which survived the Eocene-Oligocene transition due to their tough enamel surfaces. The discovery sheds light on the vulnerability of primates to climate change and provides a unique snapshot of early primate evolution.
Fossil analysis reveals that a cooler period after the Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT) significantly impacted Asian primate evolution, favoring lemur-like strepsirrhine primates. In contrast, Afro-Arabia fossils show anthropoid diversification during this time.
Shiny Cowbirds have been spotted in Quito, Ecuador at an altitude of 2,800m, expanding the species' distribution range by approximately 500m. This finding suggests human disturbances like forest fragmentation and climate change may be prompting the birds to breed in higher altitudes.
A new study links climate warming to increased algal growth in the Athabasca oilsands region of northern Alberta. Researchers found a stronger link between warmer air temperatures and algal production, rather than industrial nutrient fertilization.
The Middle East and North Africa may become uninhabitable due to climate change, with temperatures expected to rise by over two degrees Celsius by mid-century. Heat waves could occur ten times more often, with prolonged periods of extreme heat becoming the norm.
A new study by University of Exeter expert Dr James Screen found that Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) affects Arctic amplification, with varying sea-ice loss impacting warming rates. The 'negative' phase of PDO leads to greater Arctic warming due to colder ocean temperatures along the west coast of North America.
Researchers discover microbes creating tubular microtunnels in basaltic volcanic glass on Earth, expanding our understanding of subsurface microbial activity. This finding also suggests that similar features may exist on Mars, potentially near the surface, which could aid future Mars missions.
A Dartmouth study reveals that surface meltwater and subglacial discharge are driving the loss of ice mass in Greenland's coastal glaciers. The findings show that meltwater can exploit weaknesses in glaciers, fracturing and weakening them, and also increase calving and melting.
A new study led by NCAR finds that widespread ocean oxygen loss due to climate change will be detectable between 2030 and 2040, posing a threat to marine life. The research uses climate simulations to distinguish between natural variability and deoxygenation caused by climate change.
A team of researchers found increasing trends towards later ice-cover formation and earlier spring thaw since the start of the Industrial Revolution. The historic records from Japan and Finland reveal more rapid climate change during the last two centuries, with extreme cases now occurring in late April and early May.
Researchers developed a new mathematical model to predict how US forests will respond to climate change, finding that the Northeast's mixed forests will be unsustainable by 2050. The Tolerance Distribution Model can identify which forests are at risk and suggest measures like planting drought-tolerant seedlings to prepare.
A study of historical 'citizen scientist' ice records reveals increasing trends toward later ice cover formation and earlier spring breakup since the start of the Industrial Revolution. The findings strongly indicate more rapid climate change during the last two centuries.
A new study from Oregon State University finds that conservatives' attitudes toward climate change and environmental concerns shift when the issues are framed in terms more closely aligned with their values. The researchers used moral foundations theory to test how shifts in moral framing affect attitudes toward environmental issues.
The University of Leicester is launching a satellite project to monitor Kenya's forests in near real-time, helping forest land owners and national agencies protect biodiversity and reduce climate change. The project aims to support participatory forest management strategies and enable Kenya to manage its forests more sustainably.
Researchers at Griffith University used paperbark tree leaves to reconstruct past rainfall activity in tropical and subtropical regions. The study, published in Global Change Biology, offers a new proxy for inferring changes in climate.
Scientists predict Indian monsoon's onset two weeks earlier and its withdrawal six weeks earlier than before. The new method uses network analysis of regional weather data to improve prediction accuracy, particularly for years affected by El Nino-Southern Oscillation.
Researchers from NYU and Duke University found that 80% of Americans live in counties with more favorable weather conditions since the 1970s. However, future climate change projections suggest that nearly 90% of the US public will experience less pleasant weather by the end of the century due to rising temperatures.
Analysis of muskoxen hair shows limited forage availability and reliance on body stores during extreme winters. The method provides a unique way to monitor remote tundra animals and understand the impact of climate change.
A study found polar bears are swimming more due to reduced summer sea ice, with adult females covering distances of up to 249 miles in search of food. Climate change is linked to the increased swimming behavior, which may have serious implications for polar bear populations.
A team of researchers identified traits that best protect trees against death from drought, finding that xylem stress is a key predictor of survival. The study provides a foundation for improving predictions of drought-induced tree mortality across diverse forests.
A new study published by the University of Sussex suggests that the world could transition away from fossil fuels in just a decade. Professor Benjamin Sovacool's analysis of past energy transitions highlights the potential for accelerated change driven by technological innovation, policy intervention, and shifting consumer behavior.
A new study found that Great Barrier Reef corals survived past bleaching events by being exposed to a gradual warming pattern. However, this protective mechanism is likely to be lost under near future climate change scenarios. The researchers recommend prioritizing conservation efforts for reefs with retained thermal protection.