Articles tagged with Monsoons
Scientists found that sediment size in Himalayan river is larger during summer monsoon, revealing relationship between landslides and erosion. The study suggests that coarse material may be lost en route to the ocean, raising questions about sediment origins.
A recent study published in Nature journal Scientific Reports found that the Asian monsoon played a crucial role in the evolution of African mole rats and bamboo rats. The researchers discovered that changes in monsoon strength over 24 million years influenced the rodents' teeth, head shape, and digging behavior.
Hyongki Lee, a University of Houston researcher, is training South Asian government officials to independently manage their water resources. With the help of a novel software toolbox, these officials can better predict and prepare for floods and monsoons, saving lives and reducing devastation.
Researchers analyzed sediments from Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana, to reconstruct precipitation patterns in West Africa over the past 20,000 years. The study suggests that the African monsoon's response to climate forcing is more complex than previously understood, with a gradual decrease and southward migration over several thousand years.
A new study by Montana State University researchers found that extreme weather events can significantly impact the chemical composition of tea. Samples from two extreme weather events revealed a 50% decrease in certain antioxidant compounds and a corresponding drop in household income for tea farmers.
A recent study suggests that emissions from human activity have caused a decline in monsoon rainfall over the past 50 years. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, found that rising levels of anthropogenic aerosols are responsible for the decrease, which affects billions of people primarily in India and parts of Africa.
Research reveals Asian monsoon's origins date back 40 million years to high CO2 levels and warmer temperatures. The climate pattern was stronger then than now and weakened with decreasing CO2 levels during an ice age.
A new study reveals that sea-level spikes can cause more damage to beaches than hurricanes, while a volcanic risk assessment in Saudi Arabia highlights the danger of future eruptions. Additionally, research finds that large volcanic eruptions can trigger strong droughts in eastern China, posing a threat to its food supply.
Researchers found a previously unknown mechanism linking the closing of the Panama Seaway to increased sea ice formation, intensified monsoons, and global cooling. This led to massive glacier growth across the Northern Hemisphere.
A first-year Environmental Science student at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus published a literature review on the Southeast Asian monsoon in Geoscience Frontiers. The study found that future climate warming could lead to a 15-day delay in the monsoon onset by the start of the next century.
Scientists found a link between climate change and the decline of Indus Civilization's megacities in northwest India 4,100 years ago. A weakening of the summer monsoon led to droughts that coincided with the beginning of the civilization's decline.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Trami and monsoon rains caused severe flooding in the northern Philippines, including Manila, resulting in three deaths and two missing. The storms enhanced each other's rainfall, bringing heavy downpours to the region.
The journal Geology has published new articles on various geoscience topics, including the tracking of silicic magma reservoirs and thermal decomposition along natural carbonate faults during earthquakes. The studies provide valuable information about the chemical and thermal histories of magmatic systems.
A NASA-led modeling study projects that global warming will lead to an increase in heavy rainfall and a decrease in moderate rainfall worldwide. The study suggests that regions around the equator, such as the Pacific Ocean and Asian monsoon areas, will experience significant increases in heavy precipitation.
Researchers found a strong correlation between summer monsoon and climate patterns that preceded it, enabling forecasts to predict the monsoon a few months in advance. The study discovered that El Niño's influence on the Indian Ocean temperature and atmospheric anomalies in the western Pacific amplifies each other.
The Northern Hemisphere monsoon has intensified, with a 9.5% increase in rainfall, due to natural climate swings rather than global warming alone. Natural long-term climate swings, such as the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, contribute significantly more to this intensification.
A new study predicts that the summer monsoon rains over the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico will arrive later in the coming decades due to climate change. The delay is expected to affect agriculture, livestock, and desert ecosystems, with potential impacts on crop yields, wildfires, and water resources.
A new study led by the University of Arizona has found that monsoon failure plays a significant role in prolonged droughts in the Southwest. The researchers used tree-ring analysis to reconstruct summer precipitation patterns over a 470-year period, revealing that dry summers coincided with severe winter droughts.
A UCI study found that doubling of moisture in air doubles summer rain, boosting runoff but also accelerating monsoons. The extra water vapor accelerates atmospheric circulation, drawing in more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
Researchers at the University of Hawaii's International Pacific Research Center have made a breakthrough in predicting Asian summer monsoon rainfall and tropical storm activity. By analyzing fluctuations in the western Pacific Subtropical High, they achieved substantially improved skills in forecasting these weather phenomena.
Tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea have intensified since 1997, attributed to decreased vertical wind shear. The earlier occurrence of these storms is linked to a warming Asian landmass and an advanced southwesterly monsoon onset. This shift creates more favorable conditions for tropical cyclone formation and intensification.
A team of researchers led by the University of Saskatchewan discovered that small volcanic eruptions can inject aerosols into the stratosphere, cooling the Earth's surface. The study used data from the Canadian Space Agency's OSIRIS instrument to analyze the effects of a 2011 eruption in Eritrea.
A review of recent research articles found that the South Asian summer monsoon is expected to experience more variability in rainfall due to climate change. However, regional projections for devastating droughts and floods remain uncertain due to inconsistent observations and complex thermodynamic processes.
A new study combines archaeology and geoscience to reveal that climate change was a key factor in the collapse of the ancient Indus civilization around 4000 years ago. The research suggests that weakened monsoon rains led to reduced river dynamics, contributing to the decline of cities and the shift towards small farming communities.
Researchers are developing a climate model to predict malaria outbreaks in India by identifying areas at risk of heavy monsoon rainfall. The model aims to inform early intervention methods and prevent the spread of malaria, reducing economic and health impacts.
Low pressure centers have drenched northeastern Australia, causing severe flooding and displacing thousands of people. The TRMM satellite measured extreme rainfall amounts, with totals over 520 mm (~20.5 inches) reported in the Gulf of Carpentaria region.
The University of Arizona has received a $2.95 million grant to study the ecological processes influenced by the monsoon phenomenon. The five-year project will use advanced computer modeling approaches to understand how summer rains affect plant growth and spread invasive grasses, as well as explore connections between lower elevation ...
A 2,300-year climate record reveals sharp drops in tropical monsoon rainfall since 1900, leading to severe droughts and water shortages. The study suggests that rising Northern Hemisphere temperatures are drawing the Intertropical Convergence Zone north, reducing rainfall on which tropical areas rely.
Soot on snow accelerates glacier melt, altering snowmelt and monsoon patterns in Asia. The Tibetan Plateau's surface temperature increased by over 2 degrees Fahrenheit due to soot on snow, leading to stronger monsoons.
Researchers used Doppler weather radar data to improve forecast models for monsoon systems, reducing landfall error from 200km to 75km. This enhancement can better prepare people for heavy rains and catastrophic floods in coastal areas of India.
A new study of tree rings provides the most detailed record yet of at least four epic droughts that have shaken Asia over the last thousand years. The research reveals the role of climate in historical events, such as the fall of China's Ming Dynasty and the collapse of kingdoms in Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand.
A new study reveals that pollutants from Asia are being transported to the stratosphere during monsoon season, potentially affecting global climate. The research found that black carbon, sulfur dioxide, and other pollutants are lifted into the stratosphere by Asian monsoon circulation patterns.
Climate scientists suggest that Himalayan heat and moisture are crucial for the South Asian monsoon. The research implies that changes in land use over the Indian subcontinent could influence albedo and moisture levels.
The Himalayas' distinct geography, combined with industrial soot and dust, exacerbates glacial melting. Aerosols enhance the monsoon's intensity, transferring heat from low-lying lands to high-altitude surfaces, hastening glacial retreat.
Researchers mapped sand dune activity across northern China and found unexpectedly high levels of mobility and change between 8,000 to 11,500 years ago, a time period generally thought to have a wetter climate. The result suggests that common assumptions about the effects of future climate changes may be incorrect.
A new study finds that abrupt changes in climate may lead to shifts in monsoon patterns, resulting in lower vegetation growth, drier tropics, and increased wildfires. The research used oxygen isotopes in air from ice cores and ancient stalagmites to support these findings.
A new review reveals that global monsoons have been driving the long-term cyclicity of oceanic carbon reservoirs for at least 600 million years. The study found a 400,000-year cycle related to the 'long eccentricity' of Earth's orbit, which is linked to changes in oceanic carbon reservoirs and has implications for climate prediction.
A Purdue University study projects a weakened summer monsoon season in South Asia, potentially causing delayed onset and reduced precipitation. The research suggests that climate change could exacerbate seasonal flood risks and impact agricultural production, water availability, and hydroelectric power generation.
A new study reveals a steady increase in East Asian monsoon intensity from 23 to 10 million years ago, followed by a weakening until about 4 million years ago. This pattern is correlated with Himalayan erosion rates and suggests a complex system between the hydrosphere and atmosphere in mountain building.
A study published in Nature Geoscience suggests a connection between Himalayan erosion and monsoon climate over 23 million years. Geochemical data from sediment cores reveal an increase in East Asian monsoon intensity from 23 to 10 million years ago, followed by weakening until 4 million years ago.
Researchers found that weakening Asian monsoons may have contributed to the fall of three Chinese dynasties, leading to periods of popular unrest. A strong summer monsoon prevailed during a 'golden age' of rice cultivation and rapid population growth in China.
A weakening of the summer Asian Monsoons in ancient China may have contributed to the fall of three dynasties. The researchers found that periods of weak summer monsoons coincided with times of social unrest, but a strong monsoon prevailed during one of China's golden ages.
Researchers propose an alternative explanation for monsoon formation, suggesting interaction between tropical circulation and large-scale turbulent eddies. This new understanding may lead to better predictions of monsoons and semi-empirical models.
Researchers find global sea level acceleration may have started in the 18th century, causing a 6 cm rise during the 19th century and 19 cm during the 20th century. The US east coast also subsided since the Eocene, with wind-launched ocean eddies triggering formation and propagation in the South China Sea.
A study on Mercury's gravity reveals a comet-like tail extending over 2.5 million kilometers away from the planet. Meanwhile, research finds that rising carbon dioxide levels are linked to increased ground-level ozone concentrations, harming lung function and respiratory systems.
Researchers identify critical thresholds in climate system components that could trigger drastic changes, such as the melting of Arctic sea-ice and Greenland Ice Sheet. These 'tipping elements' require immediate consideration in international climate politics to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences.
A 120-foot sediment core from the Gulf of Guinea reveals a 155,000-year record of continuous monsoon history, tied to Northern Hemisphere climate shifts and local solar radiation. The study demonstrates the sensitivity of the monsoon region to global climate conditions.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution compiled longest-ever record of Atlantic hurricane strikes, revealing strong connection between El Niño/Southern Oscillation and West African monsoon. Long-term trends indicate periods of more frequent intense hurricanes from 5,000 to 3,600 years ago and 1700 AD to present.
The ESSP's Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study aims to understand the effects of human activities on the monsoon system in the region. The study will explore how changes in land use, water resources, and urbanization affect the monsoon circulation system.
A NASA study reveals that small dust particles, known as aerosols, help trigger rainfall in South Asia's Tibetan Plateau during the monsoon season. The 'elevated heat pump' effect amplifies this process, causing an earlier and longer wet season in northern India.
University of Utah meteorologist Ed Zipser leads a NASA mission to study African weather disturbances that intensify into hurricanes. The study aims to improve hurricane prediction and understanding of extreme events like category 5 storms.
Researchers analyzed fossilized pollen samples to determine temperature and precipitation changes in East Asia from 16,000 to 10,000 years ago. The results indicate that East Asia reacted differently to global warming during the last cold surge event.
The study aims to improve the ability to observe and simulate monsoons over North America. Researchers gathered extensive atmospheric, oceanic, and land surface observations in the core region of the North American monsoon, providing insights into warm-season convective processes.
Researchers found three pronounced cooling periods indicating drought, linked to African deforestation and global temperature increases. The study suggests that these changes will disrupt the monsoon system, affecting agriculture and food security in equatorial Africa.
A new study links drought in southern Africa to the warming of the Indian Ocean, contradicting earlier research that connected it to the Sahelian region. The analysis suggests a late 20th-century cooling of the North Atlantic Ocean was key to Sahelian drought, with recent warming leading to increased rainfall in the area.
A new study suggests that ancient humans' systematic burning of Australia's interior led to the desertification of the region. The research indicates that this burning altered the flora enough to decrease the exchange of water vapor between the biosphere and atmosphere, causing the failure of the Australian Monsoon over the interior.
Research on Neoproterozoic low-latitude sedimentary rocks reveals that tropical oceans were likely very cold during the Cryogenian period, leading to widespread sea ice. In contrast, a Cretaceous alluvial sequence provides evidence of long-term amplification of the global hydrologic cycle and greenhouse climate signals.
Researchers found pronounced nitrogen oxide pollution plumes extending across central Indian Ocean, mainly from Africa and southeast Asia. The study suggests that the Indian Ocean is not always pristine and that feedbacks in atmospheric chemistry can result in downwind regions being highly insensitive to upwind emissions.
The Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 aims to understand how much moisture is retained in soils, helping estimate potential flooding or water absorption. By analyzing data from satellites, airplanes, and ground teams, researchers can provide better forecasts for monsoon rainfall and water supply.
The African monsoon has two distinct seasons: a late spring season strongly influenced by sea surface temperatures near the Gulf of Guinea, and a later summer season driven by African Easterly Waves. The waves play a major role in this summer season monsoon rainfall.