Articles tagged with Climate Change
Climate change is expected to significantly impact the energy generation capacity of power plants in the Western US, potentially leading to power shortages. Researchers recommend upgrading systems and technologies to withstand changing conditions.
A new study reveals that most mountain ranges increase in land area at higher elevations, contradicting the long-held assumption that they decrease. This finding could lead to more precise conservation strategies for mountain animal species threatened by climate change.
Researchers found that climate change, specifically warmer soil temperatures and increased southerly flow, led to lower ozone levels in the Houston area. The study suggests that this trend may be applicable to other coastal regions globally.
Experts warn that nuclear modernization programs can prolong the nuclear era, creating international instability and undermining national security. A balanced approach is needed to achieve a balance between modernization and disarmament, with the US, Russia, and China taking the lead.
Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution calculated the first direct estimate of how much organic carbon is exported to the ocean by rivers. The study found that rivers transport approximately 200 megatons of carbon to the ocean annually, with 80% coming from terrestrial biosphere and 20% from petrogenic sources.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change shows that growing biofuel crops can have a significant impact on climate depending on the location and crop type. The study found that the most important factor influencing the direct climate impact of biofuels is location, accounting for 90% of the variation in greenhouse gas emissions.
Research shows that trees across Europe have increased their water use efficiency by nearly 20% in response to rising atmospheric CO2 levels. This increase is attributed to reduced stomatal opening to regulate carbon acquisition and minimize water loss.
Researchers found a teeter-tottering climate pattern behind boreal bird irruptions, driven by boom-and-bust cycles in forest seed production. Persistent shifts in rainfall and temperature drive mass migrations of pine siskins and other species.
Researchers have identified a new gene, ICARUS1, that enables plants to grow optimally in different temperatures. This discovery could lead to the development of crops that can withstand elevated temperatures, addressing the impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity.
Researchers are drilling sediment cores from Lake Towuti on Sulawesi, which date back a million years or more, to reconstruct the climate history of the region. The sediments hold signatures of the hydrological cycle and can help scientists test climate model predictions.
Climate model projections show that conditions are likely to increase the frequency and severity of coral disease outbreaks. The research team also compares their model outputs with expected future changes in the more widely publicized impact of coral bleaching.
The study analyzes three options for power plant carbon standards and finds that stronger standards can prevent an estimated 3,500 premature deaths annually. States with the greatest dependence on coal-fired electricity are expected to see the largest health gains.
A team of scientists from UT Knoxville has discovered extensive salty groundwater networks in Antarctica using SkyTEM technology. This finding supports the presence of subsurface microbial ecosystems and provides insights into glacial dynamics and ancient climate change.
A new study reveals that species migrations between North and South America began around 20 million years ago, contradicting a long-held assumption that the Isthmus of Panama formed 3 million years ago. This finding has significant implications for understanding how biodiversity in the Americas developed.
Climate warming is leading to earlier spring feeding by blacklegged ticks, which can carry Lyme disease and other pathogens. This shift in tick activity highlights the need for public education campaigns to reduce the number of people affected by tick-borne illnesses.
A new study found that while most people are willing to reduce their personal energy consumption, many are hesitant to share their energy data with third parties. Climate change awareness and cost concerns play a significant role in shaping public acceptance of demand-side management systems.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change finds that high mountain regions are warming at a rate faster than lower elevations, posing significant risks to alpine flora and fauna. The research team calls for improved observations, satellite-based remote sensing, and climate model simulations to better understand this phenomenon.
A study found that thawing Arctic permafrost converts 60% of its organic carbon to carbon dioxide in two weeks, potentially creating a positive feedback loop. This release could significantly affect the climate change picture by introducing ancient carbon into the global carbon cycle.
The Carnegie Airborne Observatory-3 (CAO-3) is a cutting-edge aircraft-based mapping system that can gather global data on ecosystem structure, biomass, and biodiversity. The new laboratory features advanced sensor capabilities, allowing for more flights and increased flexibility in operational decisions.
Research reveals that removing predatory fish through fishing causes significant changes to the reef's fish populations, altering the balance of the ecosystem. The study supports the continued use of marine reserves, which are effective in preserving predator numbers.
A recent study reveals that human activity has removed over one-tenth of trees and plants from the Amazon since the 1960s, contributing to rising carbon dioxide levels. The deforestation has increased the atmosphere's carbon content by 1.5% since the mid-19th century.
A new study reveals that California's forests and wildlands are significant carbon reservoirs, but also release more greenhouse gases through wildfires and deforestation than expected. The findings have implications for the state's efforts to meet its Global Warming Solutions Act goals.
Research predicts that warming seas will constrain fish habitats, leading to reduced abundance of commercial species. The study used a model combining fisheries datasets and climate projections to predict future distributions of UK favourite fish.
Scientists have discovered that ferromanganese crusts, up to 26 cm thick, record past climate changes in the Arctic. The crusts' slow growth rates and geochemical fingerprints of their source regions provide valuable information on ocean currents and climate conditions over millions of years.
New zircon dating evidence challenges accepted theories on the rise of the Isthmus of Panama and its impact on global climate change. The closure of the Central American Seaway is now dated to 13-15 million years ago, contradicting previous estimates.
Concentrations of anesthetics desflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane have been rising globally, making a small contribution to climate change. The gases are potent greenhouse-gas effects, with one kilogram of desflurane equivalent to 2,500 kilograms of carbon dioxide.
A recent study highlights the growing threat of environmental contaminants and plastic pollution to polar bear health, alongside climate change. The research, led by Norwegian scientists, found that exposure to these pollutants is affecting the endocrine system and reproductive system of polar bears.
Scientists outline a six-point plan to restore the Great Barrier Reef through better policies on science, protection, and conservation. The plan includes measures to reduce stressors such as fishing, pollution, and coastal development, as well as transitioning away from fossil fuels and limiting coal port development.
Seventy percent of glacier ice in British Columbia and Alberta could disappear by the end of the century, impacting energy production, water supply, and freshwater ecosystems. The Rocky Mountains are expected to lose up to 90% of its glaciers, while coastal mountains will retain only half their volume.
The Tibetan Plateau is warming at a faster rate than the rest of the globe, with a 30-year decline in thermal forcing attributed to enhanced top-of-atmosphere outgoing radiation. This phenomenon enhances shortwave and longwave radiation, leading to increased cloud cover and radiative cooling.
A multi-institutional effort led by Berkeley Lab will develop a new ecosystem model to explore how tropical forests respond to climate change. The project, NGEE-Tropics, will carry out experiments in tropical forests around the globe to reduce uncertainty and improve future climate projections.
Researchers found that root secretions can promote soil carbon loss by freeing organic compounds from protective associations with minerals. This mechanism is known as 'priming' and challenges the assumption that mineral-associated carbon is protected from microbial cycling over millennial timescales.
Researchers found that plants aim to flower when the optimal temperature for seed set is approaching, allowing them to adapt to changing climates. This discovery suggests that many flowering plants have different flowering times due to narrow temperature sensitivity windows.
A new modeling tool predicts that drought-induced forest mortality will occur across the US and Canada by the 2050s due to climate change. The model simulates widespread aspen mortality caused by the 2000-2003 drought, highlighting the importance of understanding tree physiology under water-stressed conditions.
Researchers measured the unseen toll of environmental stress on living creatures, finding they can increase metabolic energy by over 200% without showing signs. The study uses a sea urchin model organism to demonstrate how organisms cope with climate change by reallocating their 'metabolic budget'.
A University of New Hampshire professor has identified a new source of abiotic methane for gas hydrates in the Arctic Ocean, suggesting a previously undiscovered stable reservoir. The findings indicate that gas hydrates throughout the Arctic may be supplied by a significant portion of abiotic gas.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has criticized the 2°C temperature rise target as 'utterly inadequate' for protecting those at most risk from climate change. Limiting warming to 1.5°C could prevent severe impacts, preserve ecosystems, and ensure food security, says Petra Tschakert.
A new study reveals that the thickness of Antarctica's floating ice shelves has decreased by as much as 18 percent in certain areas over nearly two decades. The accelerated losses are attributed to climate change, with some ice shelves losing up to half their volume within the next 200 years.
Joint research from Monash and NASA found that big storms deliver 50% of tropical rain, while small disorganized storms decrease in frequency. The study suggests a dynamic change in the climate system is responsible for increased rainfall, rather than just warmer atmosphere holding more moisture.
Climate change is expected to accelerate the emergence of vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya and dengue fever in the UK. Rising temperatures could enable disease-carrying mosquitoes like Aedes albopictus to survive across large parts of England and Wales within decades.
A new study suggests that ocean pipes would increase global warming due to decreased cloud cover and increased sea-ice melting, rather than cooling the Earth as predicted.
New computer simulations suggest that thawing permafrost will release more carbon into the atmosphere than plants can absorb, leading to potential acceleration of climate change. The models also indicate a large range of uncertainty in the outcomes, highlighting the need for further research.
A new model by Washington State University researchers suggests that consumers derive greater happiness from reading negative news than positive news. This tendency creates a societal preference for negative news stories, with news outlets responding by reporting more bad news to attract readers.
Michigan State University is developing a carbon cycling program, called Carbon TIME, to teach middle- and high-school students about climate change. The program aims to help teachers gain buy-in from local school administrators and provide extensive professional support to significantly improve teaching strategies.
A 30-year study reveals the Amazon's capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere is declining due to increased tree mortality rates. The forest, once a vast 'carbon sink', is now being overtaken by fossil fuel emissions, exacerbating climate change.
A multinational study reviews the current state of knowledge and recommends conservation measures for Arctic marine mammals due to climate change. The study finds profound reductions in sea ice cover and its impact on species such as polar bears and seals.
A new report finds that only a small percentage of Africa's wet savannas have potential to produce staple crops while emitting less carbon dioxide. Converting these lands into farmland would release significant greenhouse gases, threatening biodiversity and local food security.
The American Geosciences Institute has selected Emma Reed and Annette Patton as the latest recipients of the $5,000 Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship. Both Master's candidates are using their research to investigate climate variability and environmental stressors in geoscience.
Methane seeps, natural gas leaks in the sea floor, host unique microbial communities distinct from other seafloor ecosystems. These microbes control methane emissions, preventing gas from reaching the atmosphere.
The EU imports 25% of all soy, 18% of palm oil, 15% of beef, and 31% of leather from illegal tropical forest destruction. The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, and UK are major consumers of these commodities.
A new method applied to European temperature data reveals subtle changes in climate regularity, with time scales longer than a year showing less predictability. The study provides a map visualisation of the entropy results, highlighting the time scales which have changed most.
Researchers have discovered a valley beneath East Antarctica's most rapidly-changing glacier, accelerating melting and thinning of the Totten Glacier's ice shelf. Climate change is raising global sea levels, with the glacier potentially representing a major component.
New research highlights poor connectivity of protected area networks in Southeast Asia, preventing lowland species from responding to climate change. Many low-lying PAs are isolated and not well connected to cooler forested areas at higher elevation.
Researchers have gained a better understanding of how tropical forests respond to seasonal climate variations. The new information helps predict future climate change impacts on the global tropics and informs global climate models.
A new study suggests that CO2 increases could intensify extreme droughts in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Australia and the Amazon. The Hadley Circulation is expected to continue expanding and strengthening due to warming climate conditions.
Scientists observe blue crabs, commercially important species, in the Gulf of Maine, north of their native Cape Cod. Warming ocean temperatures allow them to move further north, expanding their range.
Satellite data shows that growing periods worldwide are changing, with earlier springs and later autumns, impacting agriculture, species interactions, and ecosystem functioning.
Scientists at the University of Southampton found that ocean tides have increased by 1-2 mm per year globally, with some sites experiencing changes comparable to global mean sea level rise. This has significant implications for energy extraction, coastal flooding and erosion, navigation and sediment movement.
A new Duke University study estimates that a gallon of gasoline costs around $3.80 more than the pump price when health and environment are factored in. The social cost of diesel is about $4.80 more, while natural gas becomes cheaper than its initial price. Solar and wind power also become cheaper.
Researchers found that bigmouth sleepers adapt by changing their behaviors, sex ratio, and physical appearance to survive on insects, snails, and crustaceans when isolated from their normal prey. The study suggests that evolution may be occurring in a predictable way, with the ability to anticipate ecological changes.