Research on measuring and modeling the climate. Covers climate extremes, carbon sequestration, monitoring methods, and urban heat exposure.
A study analyzing 7,000 tree falls in São Paulo City found that most occurrences occur in the rainy season due to weather conditions. However, a significant number of trees fell during the dry season, attributed to poor management and inadequate conditions for street vegetation.
Researchers observed a 'warming bias' in the Earth's ancient history, with more warming events and greater temperature shifts than cooling events. The study suggests that a multiplier effect may kick back in as ice sheets disappear, leading to further amplification of human-induced global warming.
Researchers studied Pacific Gilbert Islands coral reefs, a natural laboratory for climate change-induced heat stress. The study found that coral reefs in the region exhibit resistance and resilience to multiple stressors, but are still recovering after over a decade of environmental pressures.
A new study suggests that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is losing stability and may be approaching a critical threshold. The AMOC plays a crucial role in regulating Europe's temperatures and weather patterns, and its collapse could have severe global implications.
A new study reveals significant differences in forest recovery rates across Amazonian countries, with some experiencing little to no recovery even 20 years after deforestation. The research highlights the need for targeted interventions to protect and restore remaining forests.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are advancing various technologies to minimize oil leaks, enable 3D printing in space, and increase fuel efficiency from ethanol. They have developed a quantum sensing system to detect pipeline leaks more quickly, built a thermal protection shield for a capsule launched into space, and creat...
A new study from Oregon State University found that climate conditions significantly affect the reproductive success of mature female Antarctic krill. The researchers discovered a relationship between the condition of these females during spawning season and the proportion of juvenile krill in the population the following year.
Researchers at Princeton University and GFDL found that the Earth's energy balance sheet is out of equilibrium, leading to rising temperatures and extreme weather events. The study suggests that human activities are responsible for the observed changes in the energy imbalance.
The project digitized over three million specimens collected by botanists and naturalists across the southeastern US over 200 years. The resulting database is now freely accessible online, providing valuable insights into ecosystems, species distribution, and the effects of climate change.
A Chinese satellite has reported a global carbon net of six gigatons, indicating an increase in carbon emissions that contributes to climate change. The TanSat satellite's data will be used to independently verify national emission inventories and help ensure transparency across the globe.
A $1 million NASA grant supports the development of a new carbon monitoring system for East Africa, which combines satellite data with ecological modeling to quantify regional carbon stocks and fluxes. The system aims to improve climate mitigation efforts and inform food-security policies.
A new machine learning system called MOSAIKS uses satellite images to analyze hundreds of variables at a global scale, replicating reports from the US Census Bureau with reasonable accuracy. The system has enormous potential in addressing development challenges in low-income countries and understanding big-picture environmental change.
A recent study led by Michigan State University ecologists reveals that changing climate has nearly seven times more significant impact on eastern monarch population decline than other contributors. The team analyzed data from over 18,000 surveys of monarchs in the midwestern US, central Mexico, and southern Canada between 1994 and 2018.
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University analyzed long-term satellite data to find a significant increase in rainfall over the past decade during the annual Meiyu-Baiu rainy season. The increased rainfall is driven by tropical moisture transport and upper tropospheric troughs, which are strongly correlated with enhanced rainfall.
A new study from American University found that individual trees can help mitigate urban heat, particularly in evening hours. The research showed that neighborhoods with at least half of the area covered by canopy were 1.4 degrees Celsius cooler than those with few trees.
The Fengyun Meteorological Satellite program offers over 30 years of free data to support global research on extreme weather events and atmospheric changes. International collaborations are growing as the data capabilities expand.
Researchers detected seasonal variations in seismic wave velocity due to changes in shallow permafrost ice content, attributed to temperature fluctuations. A linear decreasing trend in velocity was also found between 2009 and 2011, indicating an increasingly melted permafrost layer.
Researchers from the University of Washington and NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory gather data on cold air pools using Saildrones, which alter surface temperature, wind, and moisture over the ocean. The study provides detailed measurements of these events, shedding light on their role in tropical climate cycles.
A global study found that abnormal hot and cold temperatures cause over 9.43% of global deaths, with most deaths caused by cold exposure. The study revealed geographic differences in temperature-related mortality, with Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest heat and cold-related excess death rates.
A new study predicts that global warming will lead to a sharp increase in heat-related deaths, outstripping the decline in cold-related mortality, unless strong mitigation measures are taken immediately. The Mediterranean Basin is expected to be disproportionately affected due to its greater vulnerability to heat.
A team of PSU faculty will examine data and stories of STEM faculty to identify systemic inequalities and develop a strategic equity plan. The project aims to understand the impact of policies, practices, power structures, places, and people on retention and attrition among marginalized faculty.
A systematic analysis of probabilistic cost forecasts from expert-based and model-based methods reveals that current forecasts underestimates the pace of technological change. Model-based approaches outperformed expert elicitations in capturing observed costs, but both underestimated technological progress in most energy technologies.
Researchers at UMaine used imaging spectroscopy to predict water stress in wild blueberry barrens, estimating chlorophyll levels and validating results with ground samples. The technology helps inform growers on irrigation routines and manage water resources sustainably.
Researchers attribute the record-breaking meiyu rainfall in the Yangtze River basin to an anomalous western North Pacific subtropical high pressure system. This pressure system's change and associated air-sea interactions were found to be independent of ENSO, providing accurate forecasts despite neutral ENSO conditions.
Researchers from ITP of Chinese Academy of Sciences use water meters to estimate annual total river runoff for 13 major rivers in the region. The study reveals significant regional variations in river runoff, with higher values found in Indian monsoon domain, and shows climate change impacts on snow and glacial melting.
New study confirms Russian forests have accumulated 40% more biomass than reported, with potential for 47% higher carbon sequestration. Close collaboration between science and policy is critical for adaptive forest management.
A new study using Facebook data found that interest in vegetarianism positively correlates with declining meat consumption rates. Education emerged as the most important factor affecting interest in vegetarianism globally, while gender played a strong role in shaping online behavior.
A global geodatabase of vegetation plots has been published as open access, containing data from 114 countries and all climate zones on Earth. The sPlotOpen database provides a balanced representation of the Earth's vegetation, enabling researchers to study biodiversity and climate change across different regions.
The Stanford Natural Capital Project has developed Urban InVEST software to visualize the links between nature and human wellbeing. The software helps city planners and developers design cities that maximize benefits to people while saving billions of dollars.
A new study analyzing 260 million years of major geological events reveals recurring clusters of activity every 27.5 million years. The research suggests that these global geologic events are correlated and not random, providing statistical evidence for a common cycle.
Researchers found that warm Atlantic water masses are responsible for slowed or prevented ice growth in the Barents and Kara Seas. Long-term data and simulations revealed that this phenomenon can lead to thinner and more fragile Arctic sea ice, potentially affecting regions further east.
A new framework for using community science data to monitor global biodiversity change has been developed by California Academy of Sciences researchers. The framework shows that community science data is not only useful, but necessary for uncovering real-time impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.
A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory uses a hydraulic model to quantify the impact of climate change on flooding in Houston, Texas during Hurricane Harvey. The research reveals that 14% to 15% of the cost of flooding was due to climate change.
The study reveals that researchers' subjective decisions can lead to variations in climate reconstruction outcomes. The experiment showed notable differences in amplitude and sensitivity among multiple reconstructions using the same raw data. To improve reliability, teams are advised to create ensemble reconstructions.
Researchers used the hybrid OSSE method to evaluate the impact of GEO hyperspectral IR data on local severe storm forecasts. The study found improved atmospheric temperature, moisture, and precipitation forecasts, with a 5% Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) reduction.
Researchers found that individual bird species respond uniquely to extreme winter weather events, with some experiencing population changes after polar vortexes. Winter heat waves also led to increased bird abundance and occurrence in affected regions.
A new study uses cultural data to inform gray wolf recovery efforts in the US, highlighting Colorado's supportive social environment for wolf reintroduction. The research reveals a shift towards mutualism, where people view animals as companions and part of their social networks.
A new campaign seeks the wisdom of the crowd to drive innovative solutions for sustainable food systems. Data will be integral to understanding current and future food systems, but asking the right questions first is key.
New research suggests that record-breaking temperatures will occur more frequently in the tropics due to large and growing populations. The study found that normalized temperature data reveals greater warming and more extreme heat events in tropical regions.
Researchers at TUM have conducted comprehensive measurements of sea level rises in the Baltic Sea and North Sea with millimeter accuracy. The new method provides reliable forecasts on sea level trends, enabling planning of protective measures such as flood protection structures.
A study by Manuel Santos Gutiérrez and colleagues reveals that machine learning-based simplified climate models can build an actual understanding of the climate system. The findings indicate that data-driven methods are dynamically and physically sound, producing robust simulations. This breakthrough has significant implications for va...
A recent study found that browning lakes in the northeast US are becoming increasingly light-limited, restricting algal growth and aquatic plant life. This reduction in productivity can affect fish food webs, particularly those relying on visual foraging like brook trout.
Researchers developed a mathematical model SSSAFE to predict landslides by analyzing slope stability over time. The model successfully predicted the 2017 Xinmo landslide, highlighting significant movement 10 months before the disaster occurred.
Researchers propose five interventions to promote equitable ecology practices, including amplifying diverse expertise, addressing data sovereignty issues, and deconstructing biases in research teams. These actions aim to connect with existing anti-colonial and anti-racist struggles and promote ecological justice.
A new study found that global ecosystem changes began to accelerate around 11,000 years ago, with a second period of rapid change starting between 4.6 and 2.8 thousand years ago. The researchers used fossil pollen records to compare rates of change across different continents and regions.
A new study using tree ring samples found that Yellowstone's summers have been the hottest in the past 1,250 years, with the past 20 years being particularly extreme. The research provides crucial data for understanding the relationships between increasing temperatures and environmental factors.
A research project at Göttingen University is studying the effectiveness of tracing apps in fighting crises. The team aims to assess the positive and negative effects of these 'societal apps' on individuals and society.
A new metric characterizes the 'inertia' of water after rainfall, allowing better analysis of freshwater storage capability using satellite data. On average, global land surfaces can retain over one quarter of monthly precipitation, with smaller areas having wetter conditions and larger areas having drier climates.
Researchers used meta-analytic methods to evaluate data from 22 studies involving 5,349 individuals in 1,356 groups, finding strong support for a general factor of collective intelligence. Group collaboration processes were twice as important for predicting CI than individual skill, and group composition, including female proportion an...
Researchers from KIT and Wageningen University created new high-resolution maps called HILDA+ that reveal global land-use changes have affected nearly one-third of the land area in just six decades. The study found land-use changes are about four times as extensive as previously known.
Researchers assess Ethiopian bird species through six years' worth of bird banding efforts, finding high species richness near lower elevations and six new species at higher elevations. The study establishes baseline observations for tropical birds in East Africa.
An analysis of the Central-Western Greenland ice sheet reveals distinct marks of instability due to accelerated melting. The study suggests that this part of the ice sheet has reached a critical threshold, leading to severe consequences for global sea level and climate.
A recent study published in Ecography reveals that mobile apps can uncover macroecological patterns similar to those derived from long-term inventory data. The Flora Incognita app, which uses AI for plant identification, provides valuable datasets on environmental conditions, despite user behavior influencing the data.
A new study using airborne lidar sensing and machine-learning algorithms estimates that the Greater Angkor region was home to 700,000-900,000 people. The findings provide valuable insights into the region's population dynamics and its relevance to understanding urbanization in the face of climate change.
A recent study suggests that climate change may cause a decline in plant diversity, particularly in dryland regions. The researchers found that changes in precipitation levels have a greater effect on plant diversity in drylands compared to wetter regions.
An international team of researchers led by Xiangming Xiao used satellite data to track changes in the Brazilian Amazon from 2010 to 2019, finding that forest degradation resulted in greater carbon loss than deforestation. This study has significant implications for forest policies and conservation efforts in the region.
A recent study has shown that the deep sea is home to a vast array of unique and highly specific organisms, including protists, foraminifera, and ciliates. The diversity of these organisms was found to be highly specific to individual deep-sea basins, with little overlap between them and coastal regions.
A new study predicts that ignoring climate change will lead to life-threatening heatwaves in the region, with temperatures reaching up to 56 degrees Celsius and affecting 600 million people. The research team recommends immediate climate change mitigation measures to avoid such extreme events.
The study provides global and country-level estimates of humans living at high altitude, with 81.6 million people found to live above 2,500m. This data is crucial for understanding the impact of life at high altitude on human physiology, adaptation, health, and disease.
In 2020, the Arctic sea-ice extent was significantly lower than predicted by forecasting systems, with most institutions overestimating the coverage of sea ice. This highlights the ongoing challenge of accurately predicting Arctic sea-ice extent on subseasonal-to-seasonal time scales.