Articles tagged with Droughts
Researchers at Stanford University developed an electrochemical sulfur oxidation process that can transform wastewater into valuable materials. The technology has the potential to power renewable energy-powered wastewater treatment, creating drinkable water.
Researchers discovered two WOX genes controlling lateral root primordium size in rice, improving drought stress tolerance and crop production. QHB/OsWOX5 regulates S-type roots, while OsWOX10 mediates L-type root development, enhancing water uptake under drought conditions.
Regions such as the southwestern US, Amazon and Mediterranean will experience intensified drought from 1901 to 2100. Hydrological and agricultural droughts are expected to intensify more than precipitation drought due to increasing climatic water demand deficit.
A study found that beetles in German forests shifted their diversity to Red-Ash trees when European Ash trees died due to drought stress. This suggests that non-native trees can provide opportunities for insects during times of climate change.
A new UF study found that climate change intensifies the negative effects of invasive plants on longleaf pine trees, making them more vulnerable to drought and wildfires. The experiment showed that trees under stress from both drought and invasive cogongrass were least likely to survive after fire.
Researchers linked El Niño to decreased enslaved Africans transported to the Americas due to drier conditions, indicating a two-year lag. The study highlights the interplay between weather and human conflict, with lessons applicable to modern-day climate change and potential conflicts.
A new study warns that co-occurring droughts could place an unprecedented strain on the global agricultural system, threatening water security and exacerbating food insecurity. The researchers' analysis shows a ninefold increase in agricultural and human population exposure to severe co-occurring droughts by the late-21st century.
Researchers at NTNU identified a molecular component, THE1, required for modulating cell wall stiffness and abscisic acid production in plants. This finding provides novel insights into plant adaptation to drought and changing environments, with potential benefits for agriculture.
A new Stanford University study reveals that communities near the West's wildland-urban interface are vulnerable to wildfires due to drought-sensitive ecosystems. The research identifies 18 'double-hazard' zones where plant-water sensitivity and atmospheric dryness create high wildfire risks.
Scientists from Nagoya University investigate the formation of air channels in wetland plants, which help them survive floods and droughts. The study reveals that a phytohormone called auxin is required for normal root growth, and two factors lead to the induction of aerenchyma formation in response to flooding.
A new DNA metabarcoding technique identifies nearly 3,000 insect species in European forests, revealing that forest dieback affects insect community composition and ecological functions. The study highlights the importance of preserving environmental features supporting biodiversity.
Increased aridity since the 1950s is evident across several hotspot regions, including Africa, southern Europe, East Asia, and Australia. Climate model projections suggest worsening drought conditions and longer-lasting drought events in the late 21st century.
A new study reveals that trees benefit from having more space, reducing competition and helping them recover from fire damage. By alleviating stress caused by neighbors competing for limited water resources, trees can fend off beetle attacks and heal after fire, increasing their chances of survival.
A new analysis predicts climate change will decline suitable regions for coffee arabica, cashews, and avocados in major producing countries. Suitable areas may expand at higher altitudes and latitudes, particularly for cashews and avocados.
A University of Arizona-led team combined tree-ring data with forest inventory measurements to predict future tree growth. The researchers found a 56-91% decline in individual tree growth, leading to less carbon sequestration by Arizona's forests.
A study found that frequent-fire forests in the Sierra Nevada have far fewer trees due to fire suppression, leading to increased competition among remaining trees. Managing for resilience involves drastically reducing densities to create low-density stands with less tree competition.
Researchers found that sunflowers with larger UV bullseyes retain water more efficiently in drier environments, suggesting a dual role for floral pigmentation in adaptation. The discovery may help increase crop yields and improve pollinator attraction.
Researchers evaluate the impact of severe water restrictions on almond plantations, finding that complete irrigation suspension leads to high mortality rates. Sustained deficit irrigation may be a more beneficial strategy for new plantations, mitigating economic losses and preserving production.
A new analysis reveals that approximately 1.3 million Californians, or nearly 3.5% of the population, rely on domestic wells for their water supply, while 370,000 more may be served by contaminated community water systems. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by drinking water contamination.
A new study found that manufacturing facilities that use large amounts of water during periods of drought often streamline their processes to lower toxic emissions into water, lakes, and rivers. On average, these changes resulted in reduced toxic emissions by over 2.5%.
A new study reveals the Maya had nearly 500 edible plants available to them, many of which are highly drought-resistant. This analysis debunks the assumption that drought led to the collapse of ancient Mayan civilization.
In a new study, desert shrubs in the Southwest have increased their water use efficiency at unprecedented rates to survive a decades-long megadrought. The study found that despite this heroic increase, shrubs may not be adapting quickly enough to long-term drying trends in the West.
Researchers found that diverse plant water-use strategies and soil interactions support forest stability during extreme drought. The study revealed a 70% drop in carbon storage but also showed plants releasing VOCs to signal with soil microbes, mitigating emissions.
A Dartmouth team compiled a global-scale dataset to show how uncertainties over determining snow depth can actually improve predictions of water availability. The approach leverages observational and definitional uncertainties to make better assessments of snow droughts and their impacts.
A recent study found that urban vegetation has a stronger ability to withstand drought compared to rural areas. The researchers attribute this enhanced drought resistance to increased temperature and CO2 concentration, as well as reduced ozone levels in urban environments.
Current climate models underestimate species extinction rates by neglecting the complexities of ecosystems. Researchers used piñon pine data to model how climate affects tree populations and distribution, finding indirect effects that cannot be captured by climate-only models.
Persistent weather conditions are becoming more common in European summer, leading to prolonged heat waves and intense rainfall events. This trend is linked to increased hydro-climatic risks, especially for densely populated regions.
Researchers created a single-cell map of corn's root, identifying key regulators of cellular diversity that help crops tolerate drought and flooding. The study found that the genetic regulator SHORT ROOT (SHR) plays a crucial role in expanding cortex tissue, leading to increased tolerance of climate stressors.
A new study warns that California's Central Valley groundwater may be unable to recover from past and future droughts, with less than a third recovered after the 2012-2016 drought. The researchers found that groundwater recovery times can be halved with modest caps on pumping in drought and post-drought years.
A new prediction framework can forecast extreme climate events like floods and heatwaves up to two days in advance, allowing for crucial preparation time. This network-based approach analyzes large-scale connectivity patterns in observational data to improve forecasting accuracy.
Researchers have identified a series of traits linked to rice plant fitness under drought, including increased crown root density. The study found that interactions between roots and beneficial soil organisms may enhance drought tolerance by improving access to nutrients.
Farmers in the African Sahel have developed crop diversity strategies to cope with high seasonal variability and rising temperatures caused by climate change. By alternating long and short-cycle crop varieties, such as sorghum and pearl millet, they maintain food security despite changing environmental conditions.
Researchers identified 'hotspots' for flash droughts globally, including regions with high agricultural production, and found that half of the contributing factor is a lack of rainfall and hot weather conditions. This study provides a foundation to build off and explore key questions regarding future trends of flash drought occurrence.
A rare collection of non-returning boomerangs from Cooper Creek, South Australia, has been analysed, revealing a diverse range of activities and daily lives of Aboriginal people. The artefacts date back to circa 1650–1830 AD and were likely used for fighting, hunting, digging, fire management, and possibly in ceremonies.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered a central mechanism in plants that helps them deal with drought conditions and water shortages. They found that the ABA signal molecule is stored in inactive state in leaves and released under desired conditions, allowing plants to rapidly respond to changing environmental conditions.
A study by University of Tennessee researchers found two soybean genotypes, 'Ellis' and 'USG Allen', that outperformed others under drought conditions. These varieties showed improved yields and reduced wilting, making them suitable for water-limited areas.
A team of scientists found that technology adoption as a water-saving method for improving irrigation efficiency is ineffective and can worsen water scarcity. The study suggests that modern irrigation technologies may only achieve a 10-20% saving under ideal conditions.
Late-migrating juvenile spring-run Chinook salmon of California’s Central Valley have a survival advantage during droughts and ocean warming due to their ability to grow in cool-water habitats. The study highlights the importance of secure habitats for fish to survive difficult conditions, emphasizing the need for reintroduction to sav...
Researchers developed a new method to locate groundwater using satellite imagery, geospatial techniques, and GIS. The technique identifies most effective recharge zones as those with numerous rock fractures, low drainage, and gentle slopes.
A new project led by Cornell University's Flavio Lehner will improve climate models to reduce uncertainty in future water projections. The research aims to assess the sensitivity of models to changing environmental factors, such as temperature and greenhouse gases.
A study in the Atlantic Rainforest detected high mortality rates among tiny frogs known as pumpkin toadlets infected with the chytrid fungus. The infection causes a physiological imbalance leading to death from a heart attack. Climate change and drought may exacerbate the threat to terrestrial amphibians.
Researchers at INRAE found that drought conditions do not trigger esca leaf symptoms in vines. The scientists used controlled drought conditions to monitor the physiological state of 51 Sauvignon blanc vines, half under drought, and found no correlation between drought and disease development.
A new study by PSE Healthy Energy reveals that over 16 billion barrels of oil and gas wastewater were disposed of in unlined pits, contaminating regional aquifers with salts and toxins. The Tulare Basin, home to four million people, is at risk due to a lack of regulatory protections for groundwater near these disposal sites.
A study in Nature Communications finds that strong El Niño events can drive nearly 6 million children into undernutrition, affecting 70% or more of children globally. Proactive climate action could prevent this tragedy by providing targeted interventions to vulnerable areas.
Researchers found that regular plants have distinct metabolic differences from CAM photosynthesis-adapted species, which could hinder efforts to bioengineer drought tolerance in crops. Understanding these differences is crucial for future research and potential crop improvement.
Heat extremes have increased by 90-fold, with 3-sigma events affecting 9% of land area; record daily rainfall events also increased, with 1 in 4 records attributed to climate change. The small temperature increase has pushed up extreme weather substantially.
A recent study by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin found that the 2011 Texas drought was more severe and widespread than previously estimated. Using satellite data to track soil moisture levels, the team's updated model showed that extreme drought affected over 95% of the state in April 2011.
A new study found that drought may hinder child vaccination coverage in Africa, with polio vaccination rates being the lowest closest to the time of drought. The study suggests that climate change can hinder vaccinations through financial instability, food insecurity and erosion of public health infrastructure.
Groundwater recovery time varies by region and human activity, with some areas taking up to 15 years to recharge. Excessive pumping can cause land subsidence, contaminant mobilization, and decreased water quality.
A new study found that bigleaf maple trees are declining due to warmer, drier summers in Western Washington. The research team discovered that the trees' growth is sensitive to dry weather conditions, leading to smaller leaves and reduced overall mass.
A groundwater market in California's Mojave desert stabilizes resources and increases property values by 200%, generating a net benefit of at least $400 million. The cap-and-trade system enables water to be used more productively while compensating original owners.
International research reveals that children will face a disproportionate increase in lifetime extreme event exposure due to climate change. The study, led by Prof. Wim Thiery of VUB, quantifies the impact of climate change on children born between 1960 and 2020, showing they will experience more heatwaves, droughts, crop failures, riv...
A new study suggests that keeping reservoir levels low during droughts can exacerbate the problem and contribute to Brazil's current water and energy crisis. Storing more water in reservoirs could increase precipitation and river flow, alleviating the crisis.
A new chemical discovered by a UC Riverside team helps dormant seeds germinate, increasing crop yields and food supply. The compound, Antabactin, blocks ABA hormone receptors, allowing seeds to sprout in response to environmental stressors.
Research suggests that climate-caused disruptions to the jet stream's position and intensity could lead to severe weather-related consequences. The study's findings imply that continued warming could cause significant deviations from the norm, rendering the jet stream drastically different within a matter of decades.
A University of Arizona-led study found that drought and seasonal fluctuations in rainfall are larger drivers of evolutionary diversity than warm temperatures. The research team created maps of evolutionary diversity across North, Central and South America, revealing that deserts have more plant species compared to forests due to drought.
A new study published in Frontiers in Water predicts that Europe will experience more frequent and severe summer droughts due to the climate crisis. The research identifies four hotspots in France, the Alps, the Mediterranean, and the Iberian Peninsula as being at high risk of droughts.
Researchers found that late-season weeds had a significant impact on corn yields, with minimal control resulting in an average loss of 50% and exacerbating crop losses under hot or dry conditions. The study suggests that climate change is not the only factor affecting corn yield, but rather its interaction with weeds.
A new study predicts that climate change will lead to longer dry spells in tropical regions, causing important global crops like coffee and cocoa to suffer. This could result from hotter temperatures, increased number of dry days, and longer dry spell lengths, particularly during the dry season.
The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded $3.1 million in grants to develop improved water data, modeling and forecasting capabilities for water managers in western states. The selected projects will provide accurate and reliable information to support informed decision-making in a changing climate.