Research on measuring and modeling the climate. Covers climate extremes, carbon sequestration, monitoring methods, and urban heat exposure.
A new global plant database, led by University of Minnesota researchers, offers trait data for 69,000 plant species, enabling more realistic models of terrestrial biodiversity. The database promises to support a paradigm shift in Earth system sciences and improve carbon cycle predictions.
The CSIRO website provides easy access to greenhouse gas data measured in the Southern Hemisphere atmosphere for the past 35 years. Key findings include a record-high level of carbon dioxide, increasing at about 0.5% each year, and an almost 40% increase over the past century largely due to human activities.
Scientists Jingfeng Xiao and Scott Ollinger at the University of New Hampshire's Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space are developing a unique modeling method to estimate continental-scale carbon fluxes. The $517,000 NSF grant will fund a three-year project using large ecological data sets and new modeling techniques.
A new study estimates that over 19 million people will be affected by rising sea levels in four regions by 2030. The analysis highlights the importance of considering population movement patterns and demographic vulnerability to better understand environmental impacts.
The NASA National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) climate and weather satellite has completed all environmental testing, including thermal vacuum testing. The successful test paves the way for the satellite's planned launch on October 25.
A global team of scientists suggests that Agulhas leakage could strengthen the Atlantic overturning circulation by enhancing deep water formation. This finding is significant as it counters predictions of weakening the circulation due to global warming.
Researchers suggest Agulhas leakage could trigger strengthening of Atlantic overturning circulation, which would counteract effects of global climate change on North America and Europe. Increased Agulhas leakage over the past few decades may have triggered end of glacial cycles.
The study found that local pikas are losing their habitats, moving up mountain slopes at a rapid pace of 11-fold since the 20th century. This suggests that American pikas can act as early warning indicators for future species distribution shifts due to climate change.
The 2011 Arctic sea ice extent was the lowest maximum extent of 5,650,000 square miles since satellite record keeping began in 1979. Climate scientists believe shrinking sea ice is tied to warming temperatures and human-produced greenhouse gases.
A new study using Africa's historical crop yield data reveals that corn production will decline by at least 20% for 1 degree Celsius of warming under drought conditions. The research also highlights the importance of combining existing knowledge and data from climate and agriculture communities to improve crop forecasting.
The DOPA observatory combines data on protected areas, species distributions, and socio-economic indicators to generate global environmental indicators and maps. This initiative aims to address anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems and identify new areas for protection.
Researchers will collect and analyze data on carbon, nitrogen, and water movement to create models and evaluate crop management practices. The goal is to develop scenarios based on different practices and offer training for teachers and scientists to understand climate shifts and agriculture.
A new analysis of sulfur emissions found global emissions rose after a decade of decline, driven by international shipping and China's growing economy. The study also estimated the accuracy of emissions data, with regional values potentially off by up to 30%.
The NASA National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) climate/weather satellite is successfully completing flight environmental testing. The five-instrument suite will provide continuity of climate observations and enhance weather forecasting capabilities.
Researchers Peter Fox and James Hendler outline a new vision for scientific data visualization, encouraging scientists to adopt web-based approaches. They highlight the advantages of interactive and dynamic visualizations, such as those found on the web, which can facilitate collaboration, reduce costs, and increase accessibility.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia estimate that Arctic fisheries catches totaled 950,000 tonnes from 1950 to 2006, significantly higher than previously reported. The study reveals a lack of accurate data on small-scale fisheries and their impact on biodiversity in the region.
The 20th Century Reanalysis Project has created a comprehensive reanalysis of global weather events from 1871 to the present day. The dataset provides key historical comparisons for our own changing climate, allowing researchers to understand the impact of extreme weather and climate events over time.
A new review highlights the importance of geohistorical data in conservation biology, providing insights into species responses to climate change. Fossil records show that some species persisted in suitable habitats despite range contractions, while others went extinct due to human activities.
Researchers evaluated six plant species using digital image analysis to determine their ability to thrive on extensive green roofs in Colorado. Five plants that survived a 2-year experiment are recommended for use in semiarid regions, including blue grama and hardy ice plant.
NASA's new satellite data confirms a strong La Niña event in the eastern Pacific, with record-breaking rainfall in Australia and significant impacts on global climate. The La Niña effect is being felt worldwide, influencing ocean currents and heat storage.
This issue of GSA Bulletin explores river geomorphology, submarine landslides, and paleoclimatic analysis. Researchers examine the impact of a dome-building eruption on downstream channel aggradation in Oregon, as well as the age and genesis of the Sangamon/Loveland complex in the Lower Mississippi Valley.
A computer program trained on probability analysis can extract environmental information from satellite images and sensor data about ocean structures. The technology has been tested with high accuracy, offering clues on subtle changes in ocean temperature and global climate conditions.
A CCNY-led interdisciplinary team recreated colonial hydrology by synthesizing historical records with present-day data. The study identifies broad hydrologic trends for the northeastern US between 1600 and 1800, highlighting the impact of human factors on waterways.
A team of atmospheric scientists will gather data from clouds at four different elevations on Mount Werner for five months. The data will help improve climate models by verifying the accuracy of measurements used in computer simulations.
The ESA GlobSnow project uses satellites to map snow cover and volume globally, especially in the northern hemisphere. This provides almost real-time data on snow cover and depth, aiding in flood forecasting and climate research.
The new system will provide more accurate loss adjustment, better policy service, and lower costs to taxpayers. It will consider multiple factors such as weather, location, elevation, and other issues for precise analysis.
Researchers tracked ocean temperatures in Baffin Bay using data from tagged narwhals, finding temperatures nearly a degree Celsius warmer than previous climatology data. The study highlights the importance of monitoring changes in this region, crucial for understanding the Arctic's impact on global climate.
A study by Duke University scientists found that the Bermuda High's center intensified by 0.9 geopotential meters a decade from 1948 to 2007, leading to increased summer rainfall variability in the Southeast. This intensification is attributed to anthropogenic warming and is expected to continue in coming decades.
The University of New Hampshire has been awarded a $487,000 grant from NASA to develop high school climate change curriculum. The project will utilize data from NASA and other federal agencies to create classroom-friendly materials, aiming to provide teachers with a scientifically sound means of teaching climate change issues.
Researchers have found wind farms' effects on local temperatures and proposed strategies for mediating those effects, increasing the potential to expand wind farms. The study identified two possible mediation strategies: low-turbulence rotors or locational deployment in regions with natural mixing in the atmosphere.
The Census of Marine Life has completed a ten-year initiative to describe ocean life distribution and diversity, with UAF scientists contributing significantly. New species have been discovered in the Arctic Ocean and coastal regions, shedding light on climate change impacts.
Researchers found that 150-year-old pressed plants tell the same story about warmer springs and earlier flowering as field-based observations. The study provides first direct proof that pressed plants in herbarium collections can be used to study relationships between phenology and climate change.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Communications developed a computer program to provide rice farmers with accurate forecasts and recommendations. The Rice Development Advisory program combines climate, soil, and weather data to help farmers plan planting, irrigation, and harvesting.
Nautilus provides cutting-edge capabilities for analyzing large datasets in various fields, including life sciences and astrophysics. The system is designed to process vast amounts of data using its shared-memory architecture with four terabytes of memory.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Physics of Light create device generating true random numbers using vacuum fluctuations, crucial for secure encryption and economic simulations. The device exploits quantum mechanics' inherent randomness to produce unpredictable outcomes.
A survey of 61 EMS agencies found wide variation in perceptions of workplace safety culture, with air-medical agencies tending to score higher across all domains. The study provides benchmarking data for EMS agencies and a reliable tool to evaluate safety within their agencies.
Researchers at NC State will use high-performance computing and data analytics to develop new approaches for predicting Atlantic hurricanes and precipitation patterns. The goal is to improve the accuracy and detail of climate forecasts, enabling better decision-making for climate researchers.
A new study by NASA researchers found that global plant productivity declined by 1% between 2000 and 2009 due to regional drought, contradicting previous findings of increased productivity with warming temperatures. The decline in plant growth has significant implications for food security and the global carbon cycle.
The NSF announces three new Expeditions in Computing awards, providing up to $10 million in funding over five years. These projects will focus on novel approaches to complex problems in computer science and engineering, including modeling social behavior and understanding climate change.
A new project aims to enhance the accuracy of climate models by leveraging data mining techniques. The collaboration between UT and ORNL will help predict large shifts in regional climate patterns and improve predictions of severe meteorological and hydrological events.
The new model incorporates data on the carbon cycle, including ocean and forest absorption and release of CO2, to simulate future changes in global climate and carbon dioxide emissions. By reducing emissions by 56% by 2050, global warming would remain under the two-degree threshold until 2100.
A team of scientists has found that permafrost temperatures have warmed by as much as two degrees Celsius over the past 20-30 years. The expansion of the monitoring network allows for large-scale analysis and potential early warnings for policymakers on climate change impacts in permafrost regions.
A new study examining the effects of drought in the Amazon found that relatively undisturbed forests are tolerant of seasonal drought. The research used remote sensing and field-based studies to demonstrate this resilience and identified potential mechanisms controlling vegetation productivity across the Amazon Basin.
A $1.5 million NSF grant will consolidate data from 10 natural history bee collections across the US, including Cornell's 250,000-specimen collection. This effort aims to establish conservation status and predict risks to bee pollination services from climate change and habitat loss.
A new study by Jorge Contreras explores the 15-year struggle over data-release decisions in human genome research, highlighting a balancing act between researchers' needs and data users' rights. The study's findings have implications for various scientific fields beyond genomics, including climate change and chemistry.
The NPP satellite will collect and distribute remotely sensed data on land, ocean, and atmosphere, providing atmospheric and sea surface temperatures, humidity, and ozone measurements. The CrIS instrument will combine with the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder to provide global atmospheric temperature, moisture, and pressure profiles.
The North Pacific branch of the conveyor belt circulation changed drastically around 17,000 years ago, potentially buffering the global impacts of the collapsed Atlantic circulation. This reorganization may have contributed to increased atmospheric CO2 concentration and accelerated glacial meltdown.
The NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) has been introduced at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, offering enhanced computing capacity and data interaction technologies. This will support NASA's growing climate data needs and enable climate simulations and predictions.
A Stanford-led analysis of over 900 climate researchers found that those unconvinced of human-caused climate change had significantly less research publications and citations. The study also found that top climate researchers who endorsed the IPCC's assessment were 97% of the top 100 surveyed scientists.
Scientists present new data estimating motion of the Sagaing fault and study river deposits to understand flood frequency and magnitude. Researchers also explore enigmatic volcanism and find evidence for cryogenic origin of brine in southern McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
Scientists propose a multi-platform approach using automated technologies like glider robots and sensors on ships of opportunity to observe the polar oceans. This could help reduce uncertainty about the effects of warming on marine ecosystems worldwide.
The European Research Council has awarded a €3 million grant to study corals and global warming. The five-year CoralWarm project aims to create a mathematical model predicting coral reef changes due to temperature and acidity increases.
The USGS has released a detailed national map of land-cover vegetation, which will enable conservation professionals to identify places with suitable habitat for wildlife. The map, produced by the USGS Gap Analysis Program, provides critical data for determining biodiversity status and assessing climate change impacts.
Researchers explored how prolonged droughts may affect California's water supply system. The study also revealed the first images of Saturn lightning, providing new insights into the planet's atmosphere. These findings suggest improved water management strategies could mitigate the effects of severe droughts on ecosystems and economies.
Scientists have discovered an outcrop of carbonate-rich rock, dubbed Comanche, in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater on Mars. The discovery was made possible by a calibration technique developed to correct for dust effects on the instrument, revealing a couple of large outcrops of rock with high carbonate content.
NASA has successfully completed the Mission Critical Design Review (CDR) of its Landsat Data Continuity Mission, paving the way for full-scale fabrication and assembly. The LDCM will extend Landsat's record of Earth's changing landscapes with evolutionary technology improving performance and reliability.
A team of researchers combined satellite data and lidar technology to accurately predict bird habitats. They ranked forest habitats as good, fair, or poor based on canopy structure, matching actual ground data 90% of the time.
Researchers have reconstructed the formation of two curious features in Mars' northern ice cap, including Chasma Boreale and spiral troughs, revealing that wind shapes polar ice caps over millions of years. The study provides new evidence of climate change on Mars and vindicates an early explanation for the spiral troughs.
The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has partnered with the Met Office to upgrade the Porcupine Abyssal Plain sustained observatory (PAP-SO), a key European ocean observatory. This collaboration aims to advance scientific knowledge of the ocean and improve climate prediction by integrating meteorological and ocean data.
A study by Cardiff University found that climate change is putting trout and salmon at risk due to warmer water and lower river levels. The research, published in Global Change Biology, suggests that both species face major problems if climate warming continues.