Articles tagged with Climate Change
Researchers analyzed data from 119 countries, finding that education is the strongest predictor of climate change awareness globally. In contrast, understanding human causes of climate change is a stronger predictor of risk perception in Latin America and Europe, while local temperature changes are more important in Africa and Asia.
A University of Minnesota-led study reveals that nitrous oxide emissions from the US Corn Belt have been significantly underestimated, with estimates off by as much as 40%. The researchers found a strong relationship between stream size and emission strength, which can be used to scale up emission estimates. This discovery has importan...
A new study analyzing European temperate forests reveals that biodiversity in the herb layer has not changed overall, but varies significantly across regions. Climate change and local factors like nitrogen availability and game populations play a more significant role than expected.
A new study using ancient DNA and paleoclimate data found that rapid warming events played a greater role in the extinction of megafauna than human activity. The researchers analyzed DNA records over 50,000 years and compared them to climate event records from Greenland ice cores.
A new study reveals that marine species in Eastern Australia are responding quickly to climate warming, with swimming ability and large range sizes emerging as crucial factors. The findings have important implications for predicting how different species will respond to climate change and identifying those most at risk.
A worldwide study found a consistent biological rule governing the relationship between plant biomass and species diversity in grassland ecosystems. Plant species diversity is generally greatest at intermediate levels of plant biomass. The research has implications for managing and conserving grassland biodiversity globally.
Researchers have developed a method to revive oscillations in complex networks, including power grids and biological systems. This approach uses advanced mathematical analysis to stabilize rhythms, which can be disrupted by external factors such as renewable energy fluctuations or changes in the human cardiovascular system.
A study on White-breasted nuthatches found that environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall, drive genetic differences between populations, rather than geographical distance. This discovery challenges the traditional view of isolation-by-distance and provides insights into species adaptation to unique habitats.
Researchers use innovative NanoSIMS ion probe measurements to document concentration gradients in igneous minerals, calculating the timescale between reheating and eruption. The study suggests an eruption triggered within 10 months after a magma reservoir's reheating, predicting potential future eruptions at Yellowstone.
A new study reveals that climate change is forcing North American and European bumblebee species to shrink their geographic ranges, with losses of up to 300 kilometers. The findings suggest that these pollinators may experience more rapid decline than other species due to warming temperatures.
Researchers are refining their understanding of ice sheet response to warming, which will inform projections of sea-level change. A new era of climate modeling has begun, with improved estimates of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet loss for given temperature increases during past warm periods.
A comprehensive analysis found that climate change is compressing the ranges of bumblebees in North America and Europe, leading to significant population reductions. The study highlights the alarming rate at which bumblebee species are disappearing, with some populations declining by over 90%.
Investing up to 3.5% of a nation's GDP in science, technology, and innovation can help close the gap between developed and developing countries. The UN Scientific Advisory Board recommends increasing investments in areas such as alternative energy, water filtration, and basic science education to promote sustainable development.
Scientists found a clear upward trend in unprecedented daily rainfall events globally, consistent with rising global temperatures. The average increase is 12% globally, but 56% in South East Asia.
Switzerland seeks to replace nuclear power with a mix of renewable energy sources, including wind, photovoltaics, and hydropower. The country aims to be largely independent of fossil fuels by 2034, reducing carbon intensity through efficient production processes and substantial reductions in consumption.
A new study found that over 750 popular music songs reference weather, with a range of emotions conveyed through multiple weather types in some songs. Popular artists like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney have written or sung about weather-related topics.
A team of researchers from the University of Southampton has been awarded a British Council Newton Fund grant to support groundbreaking research on infectious diseases in Malaysia. The project aims to develop vaccines and improve public health capacity, with potential benefits for the country's Ministry of Health.
Rising sea temperatures and decreased salt concentration are predicted to significantly impact mussel health, favoring disease-causing bacteria that produce toxins. This could threaten the rapidly-growing tropical shellfish industry in South-West India, which is already under pressure from urbanization.
A team of researchers led by UO doctoral student Kristin E. Sweeney conducted a series of experiments in small sandboxes to witness the formation of ridges and valleys in real-time. The study provides new insights into the competition between erosion driven by runoff and soil movement on hillsides, revealing how climate change may impa...
A new study warns that global warming could force fish to migrate 65% faster, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The research highlights the need for reducing emissions to mitigate these effects and protect marine ecosystems.
A newly discovered, 48-million-year-old fossil of the 'Jesus lizard,' Babibasiliscus alxi, has been found in Wyoming. The ancient reptile may have thrived in a once-tropical habitat and provides valuable insight into how climate change affects tropical species.
Researchers found that phytoplankton exposed to fluctuating CO2 levels adapted more to future changes than those grown in stable conditions. However, the adapted algae evolved more and were smaller, potentially impacting marine animal feeding and carbon sequestration.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that federal agencies are underestimating historic 100-year flood levels on major rivers in the Midwest by as much as five feet. This miscalculation has serious implications for future flood risks, flood insurance, and business development in an expanding floodplain.
The global seafood supply will be substantially altered by climate change, overfishing, and ocean acidification, leading to a decline in fisheries and marine biodiversity. Researchers recommend improving ocean governance and limiting carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate these effects.
Researchers found that freshwater acidification impacts pink salmon's ability to survive, return to spawning grounds, and detect predators. The study highlights the need for further research on freshwater species' responses to rising carbon dioxide levels.
Leading doctors and academics call for divestment from fossil fuel companies, citing the need to prevent runaway climate change and unprecedented harm to global health. The authors argue that shareholder engagement is ineffective in switching dependence on fossil fuels with renewables.
Researchers have discovered a new insight into glacier behavior, revealing the rapid movement of glaciers backward and downward during calving events. This phenomenon helps scientists measure glacier calving remotely and improve sea-level rise predictions.
Researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway have imaged deep Arctic Ocean methane seeps for the first time using a custom-designed system. The images reveal over 1000 active seep sites at depths of over 1000 m, providing valuable insights into gas hydrate and climate change.
Scientists developed a computer model that studies ocean mixing in vast eddies, clarifying the complex processes driving ocean storms. The model enables researchers to study heat and carbon fluxes into the deep ocean, increasing global climate simulation accuracy.
Research aims to understand how Antarctic fish will respond to rising ocean temperatures, which could impact the food web and ecosystem. The study will focus on embryo viability, development rate, and temperature stress response in two species, and provide data for informing climate change strategies.
A new study confirms that humans are causing a rapid pace of species loss, with extinction rates up to 100 times faster than normal, threatening ecosystem services and human survival. The researchers warn that inaction will lead to irreversible damage, but call for urgent conservation efforts to avoid a sixth mass extinction event.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found no evidence that warmer winters lead to reduced winter mortality rates. Instead, other seasonal factors such as lack of exercise and respiratory infections may drive winter excess mortality.
A study published in Environmental Research Letters suggests that climate change will not significantly reduce winter deaths. The research found that cities with warmer winters have similar amounts of winter deaths as those with colder winters, likely due to the prevalence of flu and respiratory diseases rather than cold-related causes.
A third of the world's biggest groundwater basins are under stress, with many running out quickly without reliable data. The studies found major discrepancies in projected 'time to depletion' and highlighted the need for a coordinated global effort to determine remaining water reserves.
A new study found that wild swings in climate and lack of consistently abundant vegetation prevented large plant-eating dinosaurs from dominating tropical regions. Fluctuating environments and extreme seasonal shifts made it unreliable for dinosaur herbivores to establish themselves.
A new calculation method developed by a UCL-led team of scientists can accurately predict how much radiation carbon dioxide absorbs, reducing uncertainties in climate change modeling and enabling more accurate predictions about Earth's warming over the next few decades. The improved accuracy will enable missions to achieve their goals.
Triassic dinosaurs failed to populate the tropics due to a highly unpredictable hot and dry climate, with extreme wildfires and elevated CO2 levels, making vegetation scarce. This study sheds light on the interplay between climate change and ecosystem evolution at low latitudes, providing new insights into the rise of dinosaurs.
Researchers found that variations in atmospheric oxygen levels over the past 500 million years may have contributed to changes in global temperatures. The study suggests that lower oxygen concentrations led to higher temperatures and increased precipitation during the Cenomanian time period, a warmest period in the past 100 million years.
Researchers found that warmer summer temperatures in Interior Alaska led to a decline in white spruce tree growth, while Western Alaska saw increased growth rates. The study, which analyzed over 540 tree cores, suggests the boreal forest is shifting towards higher elevations and the western part of the state.
A dramatic ice sheet collapse at the end of the last ice age led to widespread climate changes and a sea level peak well above its present height. The research, published in Nature, reveals that this event was caused by the suppression of ocean circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean.
A recent study published in Science finds that warmer ocean temperatures will increase marine animals' demand for oxygen, while reducing its availability. As a result, habitats will shift away from the equator, displacing up to 26% of current ranges.
Researchers analyzed updated temperature data and found no decrease in warming rate between 20th and 21st centuries. The study suggests the 'hiatus' was an illusion created by earlier data biases.
Researchers found that corals and fish are migrating towards Earth's poles in response to climate change, with habitats shrinking as a result. Coral species can only nest in shallower depths at higher latitudes, limiting their range, while fish habitats will contract by about 20% due to decreased oxygen abundance.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill identified proteorhodopsin, a protein allowing certain phytoplankton to survive in iron-limited ocean regions. This discovery resets ideas on how to measure and understand carbon cycling, potentially altering climate change predictions.
A new study in Geophysical Research Letters warns of increased coastal erosion and flooding risks in the Gulf of Mexico due to rising waves. Meanwhile, annual floods in the Grand Canyon are rebuilding sandbars, while scientists analyze historic rainfall data from Padua, Italy, revealing long-term oscillations and extreme weather patterns.
A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society presents a more complex model that incorporates multiple environmental factors and field observations to predict coral reef resilience. The model challenges traditional 'temperature threshold' predictions, suggesting a more nuanced and spatially complex future for coral reefs.
Researchers warn that Himalayan glaciers in the Everest region could experience dramatic change, with sustained ice loss likely through the 21st century. The study suggests that increased temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns will lead to reduced glacier growth and increased melt, impacting water availability and river flows.
Researchers have found a novel way to 'read the Earth's LIPS', revealing a previously missed connection between Large Igneous Provinces and mid-ocean ridges. This discovery changes our understanding of massive volcanism in ocean basins, suggesting that undersea eruptions are less catastrophic than thought.
A new study critiques the geological and geophysical evidence supporting competing models for the origin of the Albian Gap, a feature along the Brazilian continental margin. The researchers suggest that much of this evidence is not diagnostic of either model, highlighting the need for a revised understanding of the structure's origin.
New study reveals lag time between rock uplift and river erosion in the Tibetan Plateau was just 2 million years, making them relatively synchronous events. Scientists used fission track dating to measure temperature-sensitive events in rocks and found increased erosion rates fourfold to eightfold in the late Miocene.
The EU biofuels regime is failing to achieve its climate and environmental objectives due to a flawed regulatory framework. The study suggests that binding targets and effective governance mechanisms are needed to improve the system. This requires coherent and comprehensive regulation, as well as public-private cooperation.
Researchers found that echo chambers in U.S. climate policy networks contribute to the persistence of climate change denial despite scientific consensus. The study suggests that individuals who rely on limited sources of information from like-minded viewpoints may be misled about the dominant perspective.
Researchers analyzed a stalagmite's growth patterns to understand how precipitation above the cave varied over time. The study found that during El Niño Modoki events, localized storm events occurred, while in non-El Niño periods, water traveled farther before falling.
The Serengeti is facing significant threats, including climate change, population growth, and infrastructure development, which could lead to the loss of this iconic ecosystem. Researchers are studying the impact of these factors on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and services.
To limit climate change to 1.5°C, accelerated energy efficiency gains and CO2 removal are crucial, with a tight constraint on future carbon emissions required, and global carbon neutrality needed 10-20 years earlier than projected for a 2°C target
Research by University of Sheffield scientists links Arctic warming to extreme weather events in the UK and US, suggesting a connection between warmer Arctic temperatures and mid-latitude weather patterns. The study found increased variability in the jet stream and high pressure over Greenland, contributing to variable UK winters.
The EU has funded a new initiative to enhance collaboration in polar research, bringing together 22 institutions to develop an integrated European polar research programme. The programme aims to create a suite of research proposals directly relevant to European society and its economy.
Researchers found that tall trees with low hydraulic conductance are most likely to die from future drought stress, posing a significant threat to earth's carbon storage. This study predicts widespread forest mortality under climate warming, highlighting the need for forest management interventions.
Researchers compared plant taxa to climatic history and habitat information to provide new insights into plant dispersal patterns. The findings suggest that some plants escaped extinction by dispersing from Antarctica millions of years ago, improving the accuracy of climate change prediction models.
A new study by researchers from Umea University found that historical land use has a significant impact on carbon cycling in northern lakes. The study analyzed lake-sediment records and found that organic carbon concentrations varied depending on natural dynamics and human impacts over thousands of years.