Articles tagged with Earth Systems Science
The University of Bath has launched a new Centre for Earth System Governance to investigate how societies govern environmental change. Researchers from across disciplines will work with policymakers and practitioners to develop effective responses to global sustainability challenges.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that ancient ocean chemistry created a self-sustaining cycle that kept oxygen levels high after they first rose. This cycle, fueled by phosphorus recycling, allowed for biological productivity and maintained oxygen in the atmosphere.
A recent paper suggests AI can reconstruct ocean interior, predict waves, and forecast ENSO by incorporating physical knowledge and ocean dynamics. This approach improves reliability and interpretability of AI-based predictions, especially when observations are sparse or conditions differ from training data.
Researchers found that realistic seafloor topography can sustain and reshape the key features of climate system even when continents are removed. The study revealed that ocean bathymetry plays a crucial role in driving the modern Earth's climate in the absence of land surfaces.
Aoguangviridae, a marine virus family associated with Poseidoniales, has been found to be far more diverse and widespread than previously suspected. The expanded genomic framework reveals 22 subfamilies, 157 genera, and 167 species, with transcriptional activity in deep waters and potential influence on host metabolism.
Research highlights advances in global weather modeling, sea ice convergence, and changes in seasonal drought patterns. Tornado emergencies are also explored, with a focus on Latinx communities and the importance of building trust and partnerships.
Researchers propose a pre-rerouting strategy to minimize service disruption and resource overhead in LEO satellite networks. The strategy leverages an extended OSPF protocol to synchronize link state databases and redefine routing metrics, enabling seamless service switching before predictable link interruptions.
A study analyzing 224 flood-related deaths in Germany and Belgium reveals that many occurred outside officially mapped flood hazard zones, with older people and those with mobility impairments disproportionately affected. The researchers call for improved risk management and hazard mapping to better protect vulnerable groups.
Researchers found lead levels were 7 times higher near airports compared to other areas of Portland, with aviation fuel as the dominant source. The study highlights the need for soil testing to address lead exposure risks for children.
Researchers at UT San Antonio have found a way to create tiny clusters of disordered atoms that move oxygen ions more easily at lower temperatures, boosting fuel cell efficiency and durability. The breakthrough could help make fuel cells cheaper, more durable and easier to use outside the lab.
New measurements show that human-induced carbon dioxide emissions have penetrated deep into the North Atlantic, altering the ocean's isotopic signature. The Suess effect is detectable in nearly all North Atlantic water masses, with strongest signals in young, subsurface waters.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong discovered that fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) weakens plants' ability to efficiently use water and absorb carbon dioxide. PM2.5 pollution reduces photosynthetically active radiation and carboxylation capacity, hindering plants' ability to thrive and capture carbon.
Scientists propose a colossal cliff across ancient North America may have exposed Grand Canyon's oldest rocks nearly a billion years before it was carved by the Colorado River. The study suggests the 'great escarpment' of steep rocky cliffs formed when the supercontinent Rodinia broke apart 800 million years ago.
A new study found that nearly a third of culverts studied are single points of failure, cutting off entire neighborhoods from hospitals. Disconnection can leave up to 30% of the population without access to emergency care.
Climate researchers have discovered a significant increase in neighborhood-level hurricane warnings, widespread wildfires in the US, and unprecedented changes in Earth's energy budget. These findings suggest that greenhouse gases are driving these trends, with smoke and fire-related carbon emissions rising due to increased aridity.
The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.
Scientists are working to provide geodiversity data to researchers, helping close the gap in understanding ecosystems. By analyzing satellite data, they can capture more than just the mean environment, revealing microclimates that support specific species.
Scientists used chemical clues in microscopic fossils to find evidence that ocean acidification caused one of the largest extinction events in planktic foraminifera history. The study suggests that volcanic eruptions and rising CO2 levels led to a decrease in shell-building ability, ultimately contributing to the extinction.
The American Meteorological Society recognizes individuals and organizations making a positive difference in the world through fundamental research, public engagement, teaching, and informed decision-making. This year's honorees include Rong Fu, Paola Cessi, Sharon Nicholson, Renhe Zhang, Christian Kummerow, and David Thompson.
Researchers developed an open-source tool RIME-X to generate regional climate and impact projections while capturing uncertainties. The new method combines simple climate models with regional information from multi-model climate and impact model ensembles, producing scenario- and time-dependent probability distributions.
Researchers analyzed the 2025 Texas Hill Country floods, which killed at least 135 people, including 28 at Camp Mystic. Experimental models showed they could have predicted extreme flows with greater lead time.
A team of astronomers has detected the first atmosphere on an Earth-like, rocky planet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star. The discovery provides evidence that worlds with conditions similar to Earth could exist beyond our solar system.
Researchers discovered that cyanobacteria band together into protective flocs when attacked by predators, a survival strategy that could influence how carbon is stored in the world's waters. This behavior helps explain why cyanobacteria invest energy in forming flocs despite the apparent cost to their growth.
New research shows that tadpoles adapt their diet in response to rising temperatures, consuming more plant material and eating overall. However, this natural strategy becomes less effective as temperatures continue to rise, with consequences for growth, development, and survival.
A new study finds that a slowing Atlantic Ocean current will strengthen powerful storms in California while reducing snowfall over Greenland. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation's weakening is projected to increase atmospheric moisture and high-altitude winds, creating more destructive atmospheric rivers.
A new study highlights the annual AU$7 trillion value of nature in mental health benefits and calls for urgent government action to expand access to nature as a frontline response to the worsening global mental health crisis. Regular, intentional exposure to natural environments is proposed as a proven yet underused solution to improvi...
The University of Bath's Centre for Climate Adaptation & Environment Research has joined the STRIVE mission, a NASA Earth System Explorer project aiming to improve weather forecasting and climate modeling. The team will focus on understanding atmospheric waves and their impact on energy transport.
A study by Okayama University reveals that garnet governs the formation of Earth's 660-km seismic boundary, shaping the mineral transitions that control heat and material circulation. This finding provides a unified explanation for complex seismic observations and supports a homogeneous, pyrolite-like mantle composition.
Researchers found that the formation of escarpments and mountains in East Antarctica created high ground for snow and ice to accumulate. This led to the initial ice sheet formation 34 million years ago, allowing it to spread across the continent and eventually become the largest ice sheet on Earth.
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has released a statement expressing concerns about the proposed OMB rule on federal grantmaking changes. The rule could reduce public access to weather information, slow commercialization of advances in weather science, and limit scientific collaboration.
The Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) has been conducting aerosol remote sensing for five years, providing insights into Saharan dust and volcanic particles over the Atlantic. The measurements have revealed pronounced seasonal dust events and high variability in dust intensity.
Researchers from Stellenbosch University found high concentrations of DMSP in Antarctic sea ice, which produces climate-cooling gases when broken down. This discovery highlights the crucial role of the Southern Ocean marginal ice zone in global sulfur cycling and climate regulation.
Researchers found that carbon from land was eroded and transported into the ocean, locking some carbon away for long periods. This process may have acted as a stabilising climate feedback, helping to gradually reduce atmospheric carbon levels over thousands to tens of thousands of years.
A new study by Tulane University researcher Sönke Dangendorf found that human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide. Coastal flooding events expected once every 100 years now occur on average about 12 times more likely to occur globally.
Mangrove forests worldwide are no longer in net decline and are now growing overall, driven by natural regeneration and expansion. The research highlights a more hopeful trajectory for these ecosystems, which play a critical role in protecting coastlines and storing climate-warming carbon.
Researchers used the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model to predict internal tide sea-surface height signatures and improve SWOT satellite observations of small-scale ocean eddies. The new approach accounts for 60% more internal tide signal, yielding a clearer picture of these important ocean patterns.
Global wildfire activity in 2025 resulted in destructive and deadly fire events, with 335 million hectares burned globally - 16% below the long-term average. The fires accounted for 38% of all insured natural hazard losses, with Canada experiencing its third consecutive year of extreme fire activity.
Researchers at the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa have discovered large volumes of natural hydrogen in the Canadian Shield, which could provide a domestic source of cost-effective energy. The study suggests that harnessing this resource could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support local industry hubs.
Recent studies investigate the relationship between weather conditions and extreme events like heat-related mortality, tropical cyclone hazards, and changes in precipitation patterns. Researchers also explore new modeling methods to predict visually appealing atmospheric phenomena like 'ornamental twilight'.
PFAS contamination is linked to wastewater discharges and local industrial sources, but airborne transport may carry chemicals across long distances before returning to Earth. The research team identifies possible source regions and better understand how weather and atmospheric transport influence PFAS contamination.
A study by Dartmouth researchers shows that annual rainfall is increasingly concentrated into bigger and wetter storms with longer dry periods in between. This means less water is available for land, soil can only absorb so much at once, and what's not soaked up evaporates more readily.
A new study reveals Antarctica's sea ice collapse is driven by a triple whammy of climate chaos, resulting in record-breaking lows. The Southern Ocean's transformation led to the loss of vast areas of ice equivalent to Greenland, destabilizing global ocean currents and accelerating global warming.
A Harvard study resolves a longstanding climate puzzle by proposing that the Sturtian glaciation could have lasted 56 million years due to oscillating 'snowball' and 'hothouse' conditions. The researchers suggest intense weathering of volcanoes triggered global glaciations, which warmed and retreated over repeated cycles.
A University of Maryland study attributes record-breaking heat in 2023 and 2024 to the Indian Ocean Dipole, a climate cycle similar to El Niño. The research found that the IOD explained nearly all of the temperature anomaly in both years.
A new study by iC3 researchers found that Neogloboquadrina pachyderma shells can grow with different chemical compositions, affecting temperature estimates. This discovery could help improve reconstructions of past polar ocean conditions and provide more accurate climate records.
Twelve climate researchers present a policy brief calling for the phasing out of fossil fuels, citing international law and economic feasibility. The policy package offers six integrated solutions to facilitate a controlled transition, addressing key obstacles such as production, taxation, and labor protection.
A new study finds that water masses from the Southern Hemisphere have been a major contributor to the Indonesian Throughflow for over 800,000 years. The researchers measured nitrogen isotopes in sediment cores and found a remarkable long-term stability of the nitrogen cycle along the equatorial Pacific.
New research from the American Meteorological Society explores AI forecasting limits, the impact of climate change on hurricane trends, and simplifies the heat index. The studies find that machine learning can outperform numerical physics-based models in certain conditions, but not universally.
A research team found that enhanced silicate weathering contributed to CO2 drawdown and the onset of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age, reducing atmospheric CO2 levels by approximately 800 ppm. This process also boosted marine nutrient supply and productivity, leading to the observed shifts in carbon isotopes.
Research reveals strong global link between ancient subduction zones and formation of rare earth element deposits and carbonatites. Ancient tectonic processes are critical to locating economically viable rare mineral deposits.
A new study by the University of Manchester has developed a way to measure the impact of urban traffic on city temperatures, revealing that everyday vehicle use can raise temperatures in cities. The researchers found that traffic heat increases simulated air temperatures by around 0.16°C during summer and 0.35°C in winter.
A recent UNH study reveals that New Hampshire ski industry professionals are increasingly concerned about climate change, with 85% expressing alarm or concern. The industry generates $278.8 million annually and supports over 10,000 jobs, highlighting the need for sustainable practices and advocacy.
Researchers at Curtin University discovered how ancient ichthyosaur fossils formed in oxygen-free ocean floor settings. Anaerobic microbes triggered chemical reactions that caused minerals to form inside the bones, preserving them three-dimensionally.
Researchers from Beijing Normal University decode historical chemical footprint in Mongolia's Orkhon River Basin to track toxic emissions drivers. The study reveals a link between economic booms and traffic jams and chemical fallout, providing insights for rewriting water management policies across Central Asia.
A 50-year study in Kerala, India found that expanding tree plantations can result in zero net carbon gains underground. The research highlights the importance of considering the type of plantation and historical soil profile when designing climate mitigation strategies.
A new satellite-driven model, dEARTH, provides more realistic predictions of sand and dust storm (SDS) severity by accounting for dynamic changes in soil surfaces. The study found that SDS transport is sparse and discontinuous, reducing affected land area by 69% and global transport magnitude by 45%.
Researchers investigated the Mississippi River's hydrological trends, ocean carbon storage, and gender dynamics in flood mortality. A study found that precipitation increases, but soil moisture decreases, while high-resolution models reveal stronger Southern Ocean carbon absorption. Additionally, data showed men are overrepresented in ...
The American Meteorological Society strongly opposes the dismantling of NCAR, highlighting its central role in atmospheric sciences and its impact on the nation's economy. The AMS recommends that NSF engage in a rigorous process to develop a strategy for enhancing scientific innovation in the weather enterprise.
A new study suggests that chemical weathering beneath thick continental ice sheets may have consumed atmospheric carbon dioxide and prolonged global glaciations during the snowball Earth event. This process could have slowed atmospheric warming and delayed deglaciation, helping to explain the long durations of some snowball Earth events.
A research team analyzed 2.2 million thunderstorm events to identify a physical explanation for their formation. The study found that differences in soil moisture generate near-surface winds, leading to intense thunderstorms. High-resolution satellite measurements of soil moisture were crucial for this analysis.