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Cooperation among hydropower producers could hold the answer to reviving the mighty Mekong

Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design show that restoring natural water availability to the Mekong's floodplains is possible through coordination among hydropower producers. By altering dam release decisions and production plans, key components of hydrological variability can be restored, leading to improved ec...

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalNature Sustainability·DateOct 31, 2022

Maps of the past may shed light on our climate future

Researchers created global temperature maps of Earth during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a time period similar to our own future under climate change. The study found that the climate was more sensitive to carbon dioxide increases than previously thought, with sensitivity between 5.7 to 7.4 degrees Celsius per doubling.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 11, 2022

Earth Summit mission 2022: Scientific Expedition and Research on Mt. Qomolangma helps reveal synergy of westerlies and the monsoon as well as their climatic and environmental effects

Researchers conducted the Earth Summit Mission 2022 to investigate the interaction mechanisms between westerlies and monsoonal flow near Mt. Qomolangma. They discovered strong glacial wind and vertical momentum exchange between large-scale westerlies and boundary layer in the region.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateSep 19, 2022

New study by researchers from Pusan National University explores the prevalence of heatwaves in East Asia

A new study by Pusan National University researchers finds that dry heatwaves mainly occur in northwestern East Asia, while moist heatwaves prevail over southern East Asia. The study predicts more frequent dry heatwaves and longer-lasting moist heatwaves under climate change scenarios.

SourcePusan National University·Journalnpj Climate and Atmospheric Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 25, 2022

Climate factors predict future mosquito activity

A new study finds that climate variables like temperature, rainfall, and ocean warming predict mosquito population growth in Sri Lanka for the next one to six months. The research can inform programs to limit dengue transmission, a major public health problem in the country.

SourceNew York University·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·DateJul 6, 2022

How does Indochina Peninsula affect Asian summer monsoon?

The Indochina Peninsula plays a significant role in inducing and maintaining the Asian summer monsoon, with both land-sea thermal contrast and orography contributing to its development. The study found that the orographic effect increases South Asian rainfall while reducing it over other regions, whereas the land-sea contrast has oppos...

A novel method to diagnose model uncertainties in projecting the South Asian summer monsoon

Researchers revealed key sources of uncertainty in projecting the South Asian summer monsoon's circulation under global warming, attributing it to tropospheric meridional thermal contrast. A novel diagnostic method identified atmospheric dynamics, cloud radiation effects as dominant contributors to uncertainty.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateFeb 17, 2022

Natural variability in Pacific Ocean drives decade-long intensification in Pacific walker circulation

A new study reveals that natural decadal variability related to the Pacific Ocean played a significant role in modulating the Pacific Walker circulation change. The research found that the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) could explain 63% of the observed strengthening trend in the Walker circulation between 1980-2015.

Earthquakes and extreme rainfall lead to a significant increase in the rates of landslides in Nepal

A recent study found that earthquakes and extreme rainfall lead to a significant increase in landslide rates in Nepal during the monsoon season. The research, published in Nature Communications, reveals that landscape damage caused by the April 2015 Gorkha earthquake increased landslide risk by six times.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 18, 2021

High impact climate events: Better adaptation through earlier prediction

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.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 15, 2021

A look back into record-breaking 2020 Mei-yu rainfall and flooding throughout China: Magnitude, scale, and dynamics

Heavy precipitation affected a significant portion of China, with the Yangtze River basin experiencing extreme flooding and multi-day rain events. The study found that the East Asian Summer Monsoon front played a dominant role in bringing persistent precipitation to the region.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateOct 4, 2021

Using fossil plant molecules to track down the Green Sahara

Researchers analyzed pollen and leaf waxes to reconstruct vegetation cover and rainfall in the past. Mediterranean plants tolerate arid conditions with winter rain, suggesting a southward shift of westerlies during the African Humid Period. This climate scenario produced a Green Sahara with two seasonal rains.

SourceMARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 31, 2021

Air-sea coupling improves the simulation of the western North Pacific summer monsoon in the WRF4 model at a synoptic scale resolving resolution

The WRF4-LICOM model shows improved summer mean monsoon rainfall, circulations, and sea surface heat fluxes. Regional air-sea coupling enhances the simulated daily SST-rainfall relationship, offering a more accurate representation of the western North Pacific summer monsoon.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateNov 25, 2020

Without the North American monsoon, reining in wildfires gets harder

New research shows that climate change is altering the role of the North American monsoon in regulating wildfire season. Without the monsoon's winter rains, winter rainfall and snowpack are not enough to stop severe fires, leading to more destructive blazes. The US may learn from Mexico's land management strategies to mitigate wildfires.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire·DateOct 13, 2020

First in situ radiation measurements 21 km up into the air over Tibetan Plateau

Researchers developed a balloon-based system to study stratospheric radiation over the Tibetan Plateau, providing in situ measurements for the first time. The data helps understand radiation variations and thermal conditions associated with clouds and aerosols during the Asian summer monsoon period.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateAug 27, 2020

Spread of monsoon circulation changes explains uncertainty in global land monsoon precipitation projection

Research finds global land monsoon summer precipitation increased by 2.54% and 5.75% in lowest and highest emission scenarios respectively, driven by thermodynamic responses to increased moisture. Model spread in projection was larger for higher emission scenarios, emphasizing importance of circulation change prediction.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 13, 2020

Future of the western North Pacific Subtropical High: Weaker or stronger?

New research from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics suggests a future intensification of the WNPSH under RCP 8.5, leading to stronger East Asian summer monsoon and increased rainfall but reduced typhoon landfalls over East Asia. However, this may also imply increased risk of heatwaves in southern and eastern China.

Scientists work toward more reliable prediction of South Asian summer monsoon rainfall for the upcoming 15-30 years

Researchers used ensemble simulations to quantify uncertainty caused by internal variability in SASM rainfall projections. They found a linkage between the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) phase and the spread in projected SASM rainfall, identifying IPO as a leading internal mode influencing near-term projection.

Driven by Earth's orbit, climate changes in Africa may have aided human migration

A recent study suggests that climate changes in Africa, driven by Earth's orbit and vegetation patterns, may have provided resource gradients for humans, driving migration outward to areas with more water and plant life. The model showed large increases in rainfall and vegetation at specific time periods, potentially creating advantage...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2020

Human migration out of Africa may have followed monsoons in the Middle East

A new study suggests that summer monsoons from Asia and Africa reached the Middle East at least 125,000 years ago, providing suitable corridors for human migration. This finding corresponds with cyclical changes in Earth's orbit that brought increased summer precipitation, supporting animal and human migration into the region.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 26, 2019

Paleoclimate of the Middle East

A study analyzing carbonate minerals in Soreq Cave, Israel, suggests the summer monsoon periodically impacted the region during the last interglacial period. The findings coincide with archaeological evidence of human migration out of Africa, implying paleoclimate may have influenced early human movement.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 25, 2019