Articles tagged with Earth Systems Science
The US weather enterprise faces significant risks due to federal science funding cuts, which could lead to reduced weather forecasting accuracy and increased vulnerability to hazardous weather. The value of weather information to the US economy exceeds $100 billion annually.
The 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5) aims to study the Arctic and work towards climate solutions. Research emphasizes science diplomacy and international cooperation to address the climate emergency.
A study published in Science Bulletin has created a comprehensive tree density map of China, estimating 142.6 billion trees across the country, with varying densities by region and ecosystem type.
A USC study has found a drastic increase in building collapses in Alexandria, Egypt, due to rising sea levels and seawater intrusion. The researchers used a three-pronged approach to assess the impact of shoreline changes on the city's buildings.
A new study reveals that climate change is driving intensifying wildfires by altering vegetation and humidity levels, but not significantly impacting lightning strikes. The simulations predict a 14% increase in global area burned by fires annually with every degree of global warming.
A study found that excessive Tibetan Plateau spring warming was the primary factor driving catastrophic June 2024 heavy rainfall in southern China. The research used the ESM to simulate extreme warm temperatures over the TP and heavy rainfall in S. China, reproducing approximately 55% of the observed anomaly.
This study explores fungal biomass's role in stabilizing carbon in soils, showing a strong correlation between microbial biomass and reactive mineral-associated carbon. Fungal necromass interacts with nanoparticles to further stabilize the carbon after death, proposing a new conceptual model for hypha-mineral interactions.
A global program called TIMES aims to synchronize age models for geological climate records, enabling the study of past warm climate stages and their impact on future climate pathways. The project is crucial for understanding the Earth's climate dynamics and obtaining reliable information about past climate events.
A recent study found that terrestrial vegetation growth was fueled by temperate and colder regions, with effects of climate warming most prominent. China and India were major contributors to global greening, driven by tree planting and land restoration efforts.
Research reveals that Eurasian Steppe grasslands are more susceptible to drought than North American Great Plains due to lower plant diversity. The study found a 43% reduction in annual productivity in Eurasia compared to a 25% reduction in North America under similar extreme drought conditions.
Researchers gained insight into the early history of the solar system through well-preserved asteroid samples. The analysis revealed a variety of salts, including sodium carbonates, phosphates, sulphates, and chlorides, which formed from evaporation of brines. These findings may provide clues about the presence of life on distant icy b...
Recent study finds that optimal reference heights provide better estimates of surface turbulent fluxes and thus better Earth system model predictions. The results show that computing momentum flux and heat flux are particularly improved with these new reference heights.
Researchers analyzed tropical storm-related precipitation to understand its impact on local water resources and provide insights into climate predictions. The study aims to help communities prepare for extreme storms and manage water resources before and after the storms.
A collaborative project between ASU and industry partners aims to develop a regional Direct Air Capture Hub in the Four Corners area, with the goal of removing at least 1 million metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. The project will also create jobs, stimulate local economies, and support climate change mitigation efforts.
A recent study by Cornell University researchers suggests that the 2020 regulatory changes in international shipping emissions led to a significant increase in global temperatures. The study found that removing sulfur dioxide from shipping fuel increased the planet's temperature by 0.08 degrees Celsius.
The study introduces a novel framework that accurately predicts global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions without relying on complex climate models. It confirms human-caused greenhouse gas emissions drive observed global warming, independently of conventional approaches.
The 105th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society will address key issues in weather, water, and climate. The meeting features a Presidential Forum on physical, social, cultural, and economic impacts of climate change, with experts from the region of the Mississippi River Delta.
A new study warns that human civilization is poised for a significant transformation as industrial civilization declines, giving rise to a postmaterialist, clean energy-based system. Rising authoritarianism poses a threat to this transition.
A new study from Tel Aviv University uses smartphone data to predict wildfire risk, overcoming individual device errors by averaging large amounts of public data. The method provides valuable insights into wildfire evaluation, especially in remote areas lacking traditional weather stations.
Researchers are on the trail of the 2011 mega earthquake's causes through deep-sea drilling. They aim to determine properties and processes in subduction zones, which can contribute to tsunamis.
Researchers criticize the Digital Twin of Earth concept, highlighting the discrepancy between scientific models and reality. New computer models require new methods for appropriate data analysis and interpretation to ensure accurate knowledge and results.
The report charts a course correction for how the world grows food and uses land, highlighting the central role of land in maintaining Earth's stability. Land degradation is undermining the planet's capacity to support humanity, with seven out of nine planetary boundaries negatively impacted by unsustainable land use.
The winning team presented an exascale climate emulator that addresses the growing computational and storage requirements of high-resolution Earth System Models. This innovation enables more advanced climate modeling capabilities, holding significant potential for advancing climate research and policy-making.
Scientists will present new research on bio-inspired floating offshore wind farms, harbor seals' whisker sensing abilities, and Manu jumping. The conference features over 300 sessions and nearly 2,800 presentations.
The Planetary Boundaries framework, developed by Johan Rockström and Katherine Richardson, identifies nine global biophysical boundaries essential for regulating the Earth system. The third update highlights six transgressed boundaries, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate action to mitigate further risks.
Scientists analyzed particles from asteroid Ryugu, revealing a weak magnetic field that likely pulled matter inward to form the outer planetary bodies. The team estimates that such a low-grade field intensity would have been enough to play a role in giant planet formation, from Jupiter to Neptune.
A new study suggests that a slowing Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could reduce projected Arctic warming by 2 degrees Celsius. However, this slowdown may also cause other climate disruptions, such as changes in the Intertropical Convergence Zone and sea level rise.
Scientists estimate a 31% increase in global photosynthesis due to rising CO2 levels, with pan-tropical rainforests accounting for the largest difference. This improvement can enhance climate predictions and highlight the importance of natural carbon sequestration.
Researchers confirm Rottnest Island and Swan River geological histories through ancient mineral grains. The study offers insights into the coast's transformation over thousands of years and its future adaptations to rising sea levels.
Researchers found that rising temperatures accelerate weathering of rocks in the Canadian Arctic, leading to increased CO2 release and a positive feedback loop. This process could contribute significantly to climate change, with predicted emissions doubling by 2100 under moderate emission scenarios.
The UK is investing £170 million in new research and innovation projects to support clean living, tackle climate change, and boost economic growth. The projects will focus on land use transformation, sustainable agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
A recent study found that climate factors play a more dominant role in determining wood density for tree species than soil characteristics, while both factors equally influence shrub species. The research provides new insights into vegetation responses to environmental factors, with implications for improving ecosystem predictions.
Researchers from Göttingen University identified the low crystallisation temperatures and groundwater origin of amethyst geodes in northern Uruguay. The study proposes a new model explaining their formation, which could improve exploration techniques and lead to sustainable mining strategies.
Scientists have found that the Pinnacles in Western Australia were formed about 100,000 years ago during a wet period, distinct from the current Mediterranean climate. The iron-rich nodules trapped helium from radioactive decay, providing a precise record of their formation.
A new study led by University of Illinois Chicago scientist Akintomide Akinsanola found that most Americans can expect wetter winters in the future due to global warming. Winter precipitation and extreme weather events are expected to increase across most of the country, with six regions experiencing more frequent very wet winters.
A Dartmouth-led study found that air pollution from fossil fuels reaches the remote Arctic, altering its fundamental atmospheric chemistry. The researchers detected declines in methanesulfonic acid, a biomarker linked to phytoplankton productivity, which plummeted in environments high in emissions.
A new study warns that future climate change will intensify wildfires in the Arctic region, leading to an abrupt switch from no fires to very intense ones within just a few years. The accelerated permafrost thawing is expected to increase soil water and vegetation biomass, exacerbating fire fuel.
Researchers confirm multi-stage lithospheric dripping as cause of basin subsidence in Central Anatolian Plateau. Laboratory experiments and satellite data reveal intricate connection between plateau uplift and basin formation events.
A new report by the Earth Commission warns that inequalities and overconsumption of finite resources are key drivers of the shrinking 'Safe and Just Space', which is expected to collapse unless urgent transformations take place. The paper calls for changes in economy, resource management, and investment in sustainable technologies to r...
A Dartmouth-led study projects that Antarctica's glaciers will rapidly retreat and potentially collapse by 2200, increasing global sea levels by up to 5.5 feet by 2300. The researchers used 16 ice-sheet models to refine the projection of ice loss over the next 300 years.
Research explores changes in global precipitation patterns and how they relate to climate change. Bird nests are found to predict rainfall in rural India, while heat stress is increasing in the southeastern US, particularly at night. European 'bomb' storms may intensify due to warming climate.
The American Meteorological Society recognizes outstanding contributions to the weather, water, and climate community with its 2025 Awards and Honors. This year's honorees have made significant impacts on scientific advancement and public safety, including warnings of wildfires and refinements in modeling techniques.
A new study led by Dartmouth researchers questions the rapid polar ice collapse model used in the IPCC's sixth assessment report. The team found that the expected rate of retreat is significantly lower than predicted, making the worst-case scenario less likely, but still dire due to ongoing ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica.
Researchers found the stone's age and chemical composition matched rocks from northeast Scotland, differentiating it from Welsh bedrock. The discovery suggests a high level of societal organization and implies long-distance trade networks along the British coast.
The State of Wildfires report found that carbon emissions from wildfires globally were 16% above average, with Canada and Amazonia experiencing unusually high numbers of fires. Climate change increased the likelihood of extreme wildfires in these regions by at least three times and up to six times.
A study by ETH Zurich scientists found that global warming's effects on plant recovery can last for thousands to millions of years. The research team discovered that the severity of climate shifts and the speed at which carbon is sequestered affect the duration of climate warming.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure soil moisture in the vadose zone using seismic technology that detects vibrations from traffic noise. The technique, called distributed acoustic sensing, can provide real-time information on soil water content, crucial for managing water use and conservation efforts.
Scientists have developed a state-of-the-art computational model predicting land, ice and global sea-level interactions. The model estimates that reducing greenhouse gas emissions could slow melting Antarctic ice enough to allow Earth uplift to partially stabilize the ice sheet and prevent some future sea-level rise.
A new study shows that predicting exact tipping times for critical Earth system components is challenging due to large uncertainties. The authors identified three primary sources of uncertainty and found that predicted tipping times for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) ranged from 2050 to 8065.
Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed new pathways for the formation of aerosol particles, which are shown to be nearly triple the amount estimated using traditional methods. The team's work improves climate models' ability to predict Earth's system changes and reduces uncertainty in aerosol-climate science.
A recent study warns that overshooting 1.5°C of global warming poses significant risks to the Earth's climate system, but swiftly reversing warming can minimize these risks. The study suggests that achieving and maintaining net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2100 is crucial to limit tipping risks.
Researchers analyzed four core climate tipping elements, including the Greenland Ice Sheet and Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, to determine the risks of destabilization due to overshooting 1.5°C. Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to limit tipping risks.
Researchers have found that the Southern Ocean absorbs 25% more carbon dioxide than previously estimated. The new study used direct measurements to assess existing flux products in the Southern Ocean.
A new junior professorship in Earth System Science at Mainz University, sponsored by the Volkswagen Foundation, will establish a specialized lab for paleoclimate research. The lab will analyze high-resolution sediments formed thousands to millions of years ago to reconstruct past climates, including seasonal patterns.
Researchers found that sea ice's cooling power decreased by about twice as much as the decrease in annual average sea ice area since 1980. The Arctic has seen the largest declines in sea ice cooling power, while the Antarctic's cooling power has also weakened since 2016.
The University of Maryland has been awarded a five-year, $388 million cooperative funding agreement with NOAA to conduct collaborative research in Earth system science. The Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS) will continue its national leadership in this field.
A recent study predicts that lakes worldwide will experience unprecedented surface and subsurface warming, leading to severe disruptions in ecosystems. Tropical lakes are expected to be the first to emerge from natural temperature bounds, while high-latitude lakes may shield their subsurface layers from surface warming.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found a new mechanism that produces a significant amount of particles in the Earth's atmosphere, which could impact climate change and weather patterns. The discovery suggests that stratospheric air intrusions play a crucial role in forming these particles.
A study by University of Texas at Dallas geoscientist Dr. Robert Stern and colleague Taras Gerya suggests that plate tectonics, oceans, and continents are necessary for the evolution of intelligent civilizations. The researchers propose refining the Drake equation factor to account for these requirements, which could explain the Fermi ...
Nitrous-oxide emissions have increased by 40% over the past four decades, resulting in accelerating atmospheric accumulation of this potent greenhouse gas. Agricultural production is the largest source of emissions, and improving practices can help reduce nitrous-oxide emissions and water pollution.