Articles tagged with Climate Change
A new report by UCSB researchers highlights the alarming rate of marine animal extinctions, driven by industrial activities such as factory farming and seafloor mining. Climate change is also degrading marine habitats, posing a significant threat to ocean wildlife.
Researchers warn of planetary-scale risks from human activities, citing four processes that have exceeded safe conditions and two that pose serious threats to future human wellbeing. The team's findings indicate that the Earth is entering a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, where the global economic system drives change.
Researchers found that water depth and reef structure can predict coral reef recovery with 98% confidence. The study used nearly 20 years of coral reef data from the Seychelles to identify thresholds for these factors. This prediction can help reef management plan strategies to improve the outlook for reefs.
A new UCLA-led study reveals a vast network of little-understood rivers and streams flowing on top of the Greenland ice sheet, potentially responsible for at least as much sea-level rise as other sources combined. The research found that meltwater from these waterways can flush their entire volume in less than two days, contributing to...
A recent study by University of Montana researcher Jared Oyler found that sensor changes have significantly biased temperature observations from the Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) station network. High-elevation minimum temperatures were warming only slightly more than minimum temperatures at lower elevations.
A new study reveals a vast network of little-understood rivers and streams on Greenland's ice sheet, which could contribute significantly to sea-level rise. The researchers found that the Isortoq River's discharge was 25% less than predicted by climate models.
New research highlights the growing threat of smoldering peat fires, which can produce large amounts of carbon and worsen air quality. As temperatures rise, peat-rich regions worldwide become increasingly susceptible to drying and burning.
A third of oil reserves, half of gas reserves, and over 80% of current coal reserves globally should remain in the ground if global warming is to stay below the 2°C target. The study identifies regions that stand to lose most from achieving this goal, including China, Russia, and the United States.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience highlights the devastating impacts of peat fires, which can burn for days and weeks, producing severe air quality issues and triggering respiratory problems. The study finds that peat-rich regions will become more susceptible to drying and burning with a changing climate.
A massive dead zone in Lake Erie was linked to the 2012 drought, according to a new study. Researchers found that agricultural practices and meteorological conditions explain year-to-year variability in the size of the dead zone.
A Harvard study found that older adults are at increased risk of hospitalization during heat waves due to a range of health issues, including fluid and electrolyte disorders, renal failure, and urinary tract infections. The study's findings have significant implications for healthcare preparedness and prevention.
A study finds that frozen ground has declined by an average of two to three weeks since 1948, impacting logging operations. The decline is linked to climate change, causing uncertainty in winter harvests and increased costs for equipment and insurance.
New research suggests that Pacific trade winds played a key role in twentieth-century climate variation, coinciding with globally warming temperatures. The study found that weaker winds allowed warming to accelerate, while stronger winds prevented it. This natural process has been linked to the current slowdown in global warming.
As ocean acidification research expands its scope, experts highlight the need for integrated assessments, considering multiple stressors and evolutionary adaptation. Laboratory experiments show that adaptation is possible, but its ability to keep pace with fast-changing ecosystems remains uncertain.
Researchers observed golden-winged warblers leaving their breeding grounds before a historic tornado-producing storm, traveling 1,500 kilometers to avoid it. The birds likely sensed infrasound associated with the severe weather, a phenomenon known as tornadic storm avoidance behavior.
A new massive open online course (MOOC) will be launched to disseminate the curricula to Girl Scout troop leaders, providing videos, discussion forums, and feedback mechanisms. The MOOC aims to simulate in-person train-the-trainers technologies and advance behavior change among 10-13 year olds.
Scientists have observed a significant increase in solar radiation absorbed in the Arctic since 2000, driven by the decline of sea ice. This trend is linked to climate change, with the region experiencing more dramatic warming than anywhere else on Earth.
Researchers at the University of Michigan's CYGNSS satellite system will offer improved wind speed and storm intensity forecasts. The system could reduce forecast errors by 9 knots or about 10 mph, which is a significant improvement considering hurricane strength categories increase every 20 mph.
Researchers found that a past global warming period, the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, had two rapid carbon release events about 55.5 million years ago, releasing an average of 0.9 petagrams of carbon per year, similar to modern anthropogenic emissions.
Scientists simulate the future distribution of 'supraglacial' lakes on Greenland's ice sheet, predicting they will migrate farther inland over the next half century. This could alter the ice sheet flow in dramatic ways, leading to increased melting and potential sea-level rise.
Researchers found that ancient global warming resembled modern climate shift, involving two pulses of carbon emissions. The Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, which occurred 56 million years ago, showed similar rates of carbon release to human fossil-fuel emissions today.
People with a stronger global sense of place are more likely to accept that climate change is caused by human activities and perceive it as an opportunity for society, rather than a threat. This study, led by the University of Exeter, found a significant link between global place attachments and climate change attitudes.
The study assesses major economies' greenhouse gas emissions under different scenarios. It finds that current pledges lead to earlier emission peaking and less warming than without these policies, but not sufficient for the 2°C target. Financial support of $100-150 billion/year by 2030 could achieve efficiency in reducing emissions.
Researchers from PNNL present studies on persistent cold air outbreaks, sequestered carbon leaks in drinking water, and the environmental impacts of carbon sequestration. The team aims to collaborate between environmental and health science communities to better understand how the environment affects human health.
A new study predicts eastern Pacific marine species will shift poleward due to climate change, altering fish communities and fishing grounds. The study suggests some species will move into habitats of other marine life to the north, while others may disappear from areas at their southern ends.
A study analyzing ancient polar ice cores reveals a significant increase in atmospheric nitrous oxide concentrations from 16,000 to 10,000 years ago. The rise was caused by changes in environmental conditions, contributing to the warming at the end of the ice age and melting of large ice sheets.
Research by Indiana University geographer Scott M. Robeson and colleagues finds that temperature anomalies are warming at a faster rate than the overall average temperature, particularly in extreme heat and cold events. These trends have significant impacts on water supplies, agricultural productivity, and human health.
A new study found that Caribbean gorgonian corals can calcify and grow under elevated CO2 concentrations, suggesting they may be more resistant to ocean acidification. The research also challenges the idea that all high-magnesium calcite-secretors are susceptible to ocean acidification.
A team of climate scientists has found that California's drought of 2012-2014 was the worst in 1,200 years. The researchers used tree-ring samples to reconstruct rainfall data back to the 13th century and found that the current period of low precipitation combined with record-high temperatures created severe water shortages.
A new study analyzes past El Niño changes to predict future climate shifts. The research found that natural climate forces such as ice cover and greenhouse gases impact ENSO variability.
The new journal ASCMO addresses the need for an outlet to publish statistical methodology work in climate change and atmospheric/oceanic applications. It will feature accessible articles on scientific advances and statistical methods for interdisciplinary researchers.
Researchers used tree-ring data and computer programs to create a finely scaled map of ideal Southwest growing regions for the past 2,000 years. The study suggests that localized climate change contributed to the depopulation of ancestral Pueblo people in southwest Colorado, with some areas becoming highly suitable for maize agriculture.
A group of economists and lawyers recommend updating the Social Cost of Carbon estimate every five years to incorporate the latest research, ensuring its reliability. The authors argue that a single estimate should be maintained and shared by all government agencies to provide consistent climate policies.
Recent research suggests that human influence on climate may have contributed to the possibility of breaking global and UK temperature records. The global mean temperature for January to October is 0.57°C above the long-term average, with the full-year figure likely to be close to this estimate.
Climate change alters soil microorganisms' metabolic activity and composition, positively stimulating denitrification and increasing N2O emission rates. This shift impacts plant-microbe competition for nitrogen, with implications for ecosystem function and global climate.
New radiocarbon dates reveal American mastodons only lived in the Arctic and Subarctic for a limited time around 125,000 years ago. The results indicate that mastodons suffered local extinction several tens of millennia before human colonization or climate changes at the end of the ice age.
A mass extinction event played a crucial role in the dominance of ray-finned fish today. Bony fish diversified heavily after the Permian-Triassic boundary extinction event.
The GOCE satellite provided accurate gravity field measurements, enabling scientists to image the planet in a new way. Researchers are sharpening the picture of our dynamic planet with studies in geophysics, ocean circulation, climate change, and civil engineering.
A new study by Michigan State University scholar Aaron M. McCright found that only 35% of US citizens attribute extreme winter temperatures to global warming, contrary to expectations that such events would change minds.
The Snowmastodon Project Science Volume provides a new benchmark for understanding climate change in the American West, revealing dramatic ecosystems changes in response to climate shifts. The nearly continuous 85,000-year time span of the site offers the best-known record of life and climate at high elevation anywhere in North America.
A new study using CT scans reveals that ocean acidification enhances reef breakdown, putting coral reefs at risk. The research found that pH levels were the strongest predictor of accretion-erosion balance, with reefs shifting towards higher erosion rates in more acidic water.
A new underwater robot has enabled scientists to create detailed, high-resolution 3D maps of Antarctic sea ice, providing accurate measurements of ice thickness and volume. The technology, known as SeaBED, fills a gap in data collection by allowing researchers to measure thicker areas of sea ice.
Climate change may be causing fiddler crabs to move further north in the US East Coast, with one scientist discovering a crab nearly 50 miles north of its usual range. This warming trend could lead to changes in ecosystems as new species are introduced.
A new study reveals that crop productivity has increased by as much as 25% over the past five decades, contributing to a 50% rise in CO2 seasonality. The research highlights the impact of human activities on the Earth's atmosphere, particularly through intensive agricultural management.
Queen's researchers have discovered a volcanic ash cloud that traveled from Alaska to Northern Ireland and beyond, overturning previous assumptions about ash deposits. The discovery has significant implications for the aviation industry and environmental science, highlighting Queen's impact on a global scale.
Research from North Carolina State University found that warmer urban temperatures limit the impact of parasitoid wasps on scale insect populations, allowing them to thrive and produce more eggs. This phenomenon, known as phenological mismatch, is a result of changing life cycles between species.
A new study examines the concept of 'femtorisks,' which refers to seemingly small-scale events that can trigger major crises due to interconnections in complex systems. The researchers suggest a model drawing on biological systems to adapt to unpredictable threats, and emphasize the importance of flexible governance.
Researchers prove climate change could not have caused population decline in Europe at the end of the Bronze Age. Human activity decline and social stress are likely causes of sudden fall in numbers.
The plan aims to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30% by 2030 through various actions such as improving efficiency, using natural gas, expanding renewables, and creating energy efficiency programs. However, economists argue that the current design of the plan may not achieve its intended emissions reductions due to a lack o...
Researchers created a global model of CO2 uptake using fine-scale observations, finding strong interannual variations and the Pacific Ocean dominating flux variability. The study's lead author notes that shipboard measurements provide key data for estimating ocean CO2 sink variability.
A recent study using supercomputers has improved the accuracy of global climate models, reproducing intense storms like hurricanes and cyclones. High-resolution models provide a more realistic simulation of local weather patterns, especially in mountainous regions.
Researchers found that groundwater temperatures have warmed significantly over the past forty years, echoing global warming trends. The warming is attributed to climate change and has been observed in groundwater close to the surface, with a certain time lag.
Michael E. Mann received the 2014 Pongo Environmental Award for his groundbreaking research on global warming and strong advocacy for climate protection. The award recognizes his work in providing crucial global temperature data and a compelling case for global warming, as well as his leadership as a climate warrior.
Research suggests that most fatalities from the 1790 Kīlauea eruption were caused by hot surges of volcanic debris and steam. The volcano has experienced both effusive and explosive eruptions, with explosive events being geologically common but less frequent in recent times.
The University of Michigan student researchers compiled a comprehensive citywide greenhouse gas inventory for Detroit, highlighting key emission sources and areas for improvement. The report shows that energy use in buildings accounts for nearly two-thirds of the city's emissions, with exhaust from cars contributing to about 30%.
A new high-resolution mapping strategy has identified opportunities to preserve tropical carbon stocks in the fight against climate change. The approach prioritizes carbon conservation efforts throughout tropical countries and provides detailed information on landscape characteristics.
Researchers connect ancient clay tablet data to climate records, suggesting that drought and overpopulation weakened the empire's economy and destabilized its political system. The study draws parallels between the Assyrian Empire's collapse and contemporary issues in the region, highlighting the importance of considering long-term sus...
By 2050, cumulative exposure to ozone during the summer is expected to be high enough to damage vegetation globally. Ozone levels will remain below safe limits if greenhouse gas emissions peak in 2040, but may exceed safe limits if emissions continue to rise until 2100.
A new study reveals that competition with ungulates, intensified by climate change, is the main reason for lagomorphs' limited diversity. Fossil records show that lagomorphs were capable of becoming larger than today, but were suppressed by the presence of competitors.
Research shows a recent increase in atmospheric hydrogen chloride, linked to ozone layer destruction, but experts say the Montreal Protocol is still on track for recovery. The study attributes the anomaly to temporary changes in atmospheric circulation, not rogue emissions.