Articles tagged with Droughts
A recent study by University of Wyoming researcher Bryan Shuman found connections between Atlantic Ocean changes, centuries-long droughts, and forest transformations over the past 8,000 years. The study's predictability framework helps anticipate future climate-driven weather and ecosystem shifts.
The ECOSTRESS mission aims to provide critical data for irrigation, enabling farmers to optimize water usage and reduce drought vulnerability. By measuring surface temperature, scientists can calculate evapotranspiration and identify which plants are using water most efficiently.
A new monitoring method uses thermal stress measurements to identify drought conditions sooner, enabling conservation measures and reducing damage. The method, developed by Duke University researchers, combines surface and air temperature data from thousands of weather stations and satellite images.
Researchers discovered that plants' built-in drought detection system has an unlikely origin: freshwater-dwelling streptophyte algae. This signaling pathway, which triggers plants' drought defenses, has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of millions of years and exists across most plant lineages.
Researchers found that many bird species responded positively to the climate conditions associated with the drought, potentially offsetting negative habitat impacts. The study's results suggest that birds may be more resilient to temperature increases than previously thought, but also highlights the need for further research on their r...
Researchers reconstructed past rainfall patterns in south-east Queensland using preserved paper-bark tea tree leaves from North Stradbroke Island, finding a generally wet period around 5000-6000 years ago. The study suggests that the probability of a drought worse than the Millennium Drought may be as much as 10 times higher.
A new study reveals that sea snakes in dry regions rely on freshwater lenses formed on the ocean's surface to quench their thirst. Researchers found that only a portion of the captured snakes accepted the offered freshwater after rainfall began.
Researchers found that despite reports of big trees being more vulnerable to drought, small trees in open areas lost leaves, while shaded trees surprisingly added leaf area. This response is dependent on environmental conditions imposed by the rainforest's structure.
Scientists from Australian National University used space technology to predict droughts and increased bushfire risk with unprecedented precision. The team combined satellite data with a computer model simulating the water cycle and plant growth, enabling accurate forecasts of vegetation state up to five months in advance.
A study found that adolescent girls exposed to severe drought conditions in rural Lesotho had higher rates of HIV and were more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors. The researchers call for a coordinated policy to attenuate the effects of drought on HIV infection in southern Africa.
A new study establishes a link between climate change, conflict, and migration for the first time. The research found that specific circumstances can lead to increased migration through causing conflict, particularly in regions with poor governance and scarce resources.
A new study by IIASA researchers establishes a causal link between climate change, conflict, and migration. Climate conditions can exacerbate conflicts over scarce resources, particularly in regions with poor governance.
New research by Oregon State University suggests that coastal cutthroat trout and giant salamanders can recover from drought conditions within just a few years. The study found that the fish populations were negatively affected by hot, dry summers, but recovered quickly in predrought form.
Researchers found that termites mitigate drought's impact by increasing decomposition rates and nutrient cycling. The study suggests that intact biological communities can act as ecological insurance during environmental stress.
A co-led study by HKU researchers found that termites increase leaf litter decomposition, nutrient heterogeneity, and soil moisture during drought periods. The presence of termites helps protect tropical rainforests from the negative effects of drought.
Researchers found trees changing their wood anatomy in response to drought, with some species developing smaller water-carrying vessels. This adaptation allows mature rainforest trees to conserve water during extended dry periods.
A study of 2,800 hectares of mixed-conifer forest found that increasing tree density due to fire suppression leads to increased drought stress and reduced resilience to wildfires. Rising carbon dioxide levels exacerbate this effect, suggesting that denser forests will be more vulnerable to drought in the future.
A new study from Stanford University finds that droughts cause a 10% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from power generation in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington between 2001 and 2015. Drought-induced shifts in energy sources led to an additional 100 million tons of carbon dioxide across 11 western states.
A recent study published by University of Queensland researchers sheds light on the responses of various species to major climate events. The research found that extreme weather events such as cyclones, droughts, and floods are causing unpredictable changes to ecosystems, leading to population declines and local extinctions.
A new peanut variety has been discovered to conserve water during droughts, allowing it to maintain a high yield as the soil dries out. By reducing transpiration earlier in the drought cycle, the plant saves water for later use, resulting in increased productivity.
Researchers found that burned forest material can sequester mercury, preventing its release into waterways. Black ash from low-intensity burns contained similar amounts of mercury as unburned vegetation and white ash from high-intensity burns had higher levels in a non-reactive form.
Researchers at Lund University studied how 18 years of drought affect soil bacteria, finding that drought-tolerant microbes can slow carbon loss from soils. This adaptation could mitigate the impact of climate change on global carbon balance.
A new study reveals that climate change is impacting human health, food supply, infrastructure, and economy through 467 ways, including warming, drought, heatwaves, wildfires, precipitation, floods, and sea level rise. By 2100, the number of hazards occurring concurrently will increase, making it difficult for people to cope.
The Bureau of Reclamation has released a report identifying innovative approaches to improve drought resiliency in the Washita Basin. The study used tree ring data to develop a new reservoir operations model, predicting that paleo droughts could have far greater impacts on reservoir yield than observed droughts.
A new study reveals that dams and reservoirs can have unintended consequences, including exacerbating droughts and water shortages. The research team found that increasing storage capacity can lead to a vicious cycle of higher demand and decreased sustainability.
Researchers used outdoor labs to test plant responses to future climate change, finding that some crops may grow more under rising CO2 levels. However, drought and heat can limit growth, leading to a trade-off between positive and negative impacts.
Researchers at CRAG have successfully generated plants with enhanced drought resistance by modifying steroid hormone signaling, a major breakthrough in agriculture. These drought-resistant plants exhibit improved water-stress tolerance without compromising growth.
Severe droughts in the Caribbean, exacerbated by climate change, threaten 2 million people's access to food and freshwater. The region has experienced a drying trend since 1950, with recent droughts pushing 1 million people into food shortages.
A new study by Portland State University researchers finds that climate change is causing more severe wildfires and larger insect outbreaks in temperate forests. The study analyzed 50 protected areas and found a strong link between high disturbance activity and warmer, drier-than-average climate conditions.
A University of Houston graduate student has received a NASA fellowship to incorporate predictions of biogenic volatile organic compounds from vegetation into a climate model. The project aims to better understand the impact of extreme drought on emissions and atmospheric composition.
Researchers found that a specific mark on RNA molecules protects them from degradation under stressful conditions, enabling plants to more effectively respond to drought and salt stress. This mechanism could be manipulated to develop more resilient crop varieties.
A University of Oklahoma meteorologist predicts severe droughts and intense rainfall events will become more frequent and long-lasting worldwide. The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, uses standardized rainfall indices to compare event characteristics between regions and seasons.
A European team of scientists investigated the impact of heat and drought on maize and winter wheat yields under climate change. They found that drought poses a greater threat to maize than heat stress, with yield losses expected to increase due to changing climate conditions.
Two types of flash drought have been identified in China, Type I driven by high temperatures and evapotranspiration, while Type II is initiated by rainfall deficiency. Both types have increased significantly over the past 30 years, with a two-fold greater increase for Type I.
Climate change will lead to declines in barley yields, resulting in price surges and reduced availability of beer worldwide. The study projects a decline of 16% in beer supply during severe climate events, affecting hundreds of millions of people.
A WSU climate scientist analyzed The Great Drought of 1875-78, leading to the Global Famine that killed 50 million people. Climate conditions characterized as more severe than before could be replicated with global warming.
Climate projections suggest China's drought intensity and area will increase, leading to significant economic losses. Limiting future warming to 1.5°C could save trillions of dollars in drought-related losses
A new study projects that China's drought losses will increase ten-fold under a 1.5°C temperature rise and nearly three-fold under a 2.0°C rise, equivalent to tens of billions of USD in annual losses. The Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to 1.5°C to reduce these risks.
A study found that experiencing extreme weather does not necessarily convince climate change sceptics of human impact. Instead, partisan news reporting and personal views play a significant role in shaping perceptions. The research suggests that media coverage can have a greater effect on people's beliefs than actual weather events.
A Rutgers-led study suggests that rapid Arctic warming is causing persistent dry and wet spells, leading to extreme weather events like droughts, heat waves, and storms. The frequency of these long-duration weather conditions has increased over recent decades.
Research by University of Utah biologist William Anderegg and colleagues found that diverse forests are more resilient to droughts due to a variety of hydraulic traits in tree species. Forests with multiple types of trees and diverse water use patterns showed less impact from droughts, with satellite data confirming the findings.
Wheat harvests will be affected by climate change in high latitudes, with the optimal growing area expected to move north-east and into the Far East. The study found that global warming makes it easier to grow wheat in previously cold areas but also increases drought frequency in southern regions.
Researchers found that stronger connectivity alters how rainfall affects moisture, heat, and carbon fluxes in ecosystems, as well as the progression from early to late-stage drought. The study provides insights into how connectivity influences ecosystem responses to extreme events.
Researchers surveyed 1400 Kenyans affected by drought, finding that those who relocated are more likely to experience violence. However, migrants themselves do not express increased support for violence, suggesting a complex relationship between migration and conflict.
Researchers found a decline in snakebites during droughts and an increase after rainy periods. Climate change exacerbates extreme weather events, leading to more snakebites.
A new study found that rainy years lead to a 3.9% spike in snake bites across California's 58 counties, contradicting the notion that drought increases encounters with venomous reptiles. The researchers suspect that rodents, which thrive in rainy conditions, may be the primary driver of this unexpected trend.
A new study uses satellite technology to measure the impact of droughts on photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration. Researchers found that during dry years, natural ecosystems removed about 30% less carbon from the atmosphere, leading to faster CO2 concentration increases.
A new Cornell University study reveals that the San Joaquin Valley in central California is sinking by up to a half-meter annually due to drought and ongoing groundwater extraction. Groundwater depletion has been estimated at 10 miles cubed between 2012 and 2016, posing significant engineering problems and threatening water quality.
A University of Basel study reveals that native forest trees can adapt to extreme drought by closing their pores, preventing damage and reducing water loss. Despite this, researchers caution that prolonged dry spells could weaken trees and make them more susceptible to insect infestations.
Researchers used information theory techniques to track changes in rainfall, heat, soil moisture and carbon flow in two ecosystems before, during and after rainfall and drought events. The study found that stronger connectivity alters how rainfall affects moisture, heat and carbon flux in the system.
A long-term study found that drought helped ecological underdogs by stressing dominant species, while carnivores suffered when their prey became scarce. The Carrizo Plain National Monument revealed patterns relevant for climate change, with implications for conservation efforts.
A new study found that frequent fires in eastern US forests make droughts harder for young trees to survive, even in wet areas. The research shows that fire can promote warmer, drier conditions and reduce nitrogen availability, leading to increased drought stress.
Researchers improved soil moisture drought forecasting over the Yellow River Basin by combining climate and land surface hydrology models, achieving higher probabilistic drought forecasting skill and reliability. The multimodel ensemble approach provides valuable information for drought adaptation in this region.
A new study reveals that the Terminal Classic Period drought led to significant reductions in rainfall and relative humidity in the Maya Lowlands. The research found annual rainfall decreased by nearly 50% on average, with up to 70% during peak drought conditions.
Researchers measured isotopes of water trapped in gypsum to determine changes in rainfall and relative humidity during the Maya downfall. Annual precipitation decreased by 41-54% and relative humidity declined by 2-7%. These findings support theories that drought contributed to the Maya civilization's collapse.
A new study reveals that climate change is altering soil microbial networks, affecting plant communities and ecosystem function. The research found that drought increases the abundance of a certain fast-growing grass, leading to decreased soil moisture.
Dry months are experiencing temperature increases faster than average climate warming, according to a new UCI study. The research team found regions undergoing droughts warmed more than four times faster than areas with average weather conditions.
A new tool predicts dengue outbreaks in the Caribbean after droughts and intense rainfall, helping plan interventions to reduce disease risk. The model, developed by ISGlobal, considers combined impacts of drought and rainfall on mosquito-borne diseases.
The Mekong Delta is experiencing environmental changes that threaten the livelihoods of its 15 million people, with rising sea levels and droughts affecting agricultural productivity. The delta's unique ecosystem is being disrupted by dam-building upstream and climate change, leading to saltwater intrusions and reduced sedimentation.
A team of ASU and JPL scientists used satellite-based Earth remote sensing techniques to map California's Central Valley aquifer system. The analysis revealed significant drops in groundwater levels and permanent loss of storage capacity during the 2007-2010 drought period.