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Climate change, forest fires drove widespread surface melting of Greenland ice sheet

A Dartmouth-led study reveals that climate change and Northern Hemisphere forest fires combined to drive large-scale surface melting of the Greenland ice sheet in 1889 and 2012. The research suggests nearly annual widespread melting of the ice sheet's surface by 2100, with a positive feedback mechanism set in motion.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

How does snow affect the amount of water in rivers?

New research shows that the amount of water flowing through rivers in snow-affected areas depends on how much precipitation falls as snowfall. In a warming climate, reduced snowfall leads to decreased river discharge. The study highlights the importance of streamflow for society, including ecosystem stability and hydropower.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 18, 2014

New risk factors for avalanche trigger revealed

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered that the amount of snow needed to trigger an avalanche in the Himalayas can be up to four times smaller than in the Alps. This finding has significant implications for mitigating natural hazards and safeguarding people on mountain villages, roads, and ski resorts.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalInternational Journal of Fracture·DateApr 4, 2014

River ice reveals new twist on Arctic melt

A recent study by Simon Fraser University geographer Lance Lesack discovered that warmer springs with unexpected snowfall declines are driving earlier-than-expected ice breakup in great Arctic rivers. This finding is significant as it challenges previous assumptions about the effects of climate change on Arctic ice systems.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 2, 2014

Lessons from a meadow

The study provides a detailed picture of biological events like flower blooming, animal emergence, and leaf fall, showing a more complex pattern than previously thought. Over 39 years, the flowering season expanded by more than a month due to earlier snowmelt and warming climate.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 17, 2014

How smartphones help find avalanche victims

Researchers have developed a smartphone-based system that can locate buried avalanche victims using satellite navigation, promising faster and more precise rescue operations. The Galileo-LawinenFon system uses the combined signals of GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS satellite systems to pinpoint accident victims in seconds.

Cockroach never seen before in US is identified in New York

Rutgers researchers confirm presence of Periplaneta japonica, a species well-documented in Asia, which can survive freezing temperatures and outdoor conditions. The new species was first spotted in New York in 2012 and is not expected to pose an alarm, but may compete with existing cockroach species for space and food.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Economic Entomology·DateDec 8, 2013

Snow in an infant solar system

Astronomers have imaged the carbon monoxide snow line around a young star, TW Hydrae, for the first time. The discovery sheds light on planet and comet formation, with implications for the origin of life.

SourceESO·JournalScience·DateJul 18, 2013

Wildfires in Siberia

Wildfires in Siberia have been reported across two regions, with multiple hotspots detected by NASA's MODIS satellite. The Kosmosnimki website reports a total of 85 outbreaks in the Suntarsky Ulus region and 237 outbreaks in the Kobjajsky ulus region.

Snowflakes falling on cameras

Researchers developed a high-speed camera system to photograph snowflakes in 3D as they fall, capturing their true complexity and size. The Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera collects vast amounts of data to improve weather forecasting models and simulate precipitation.

Amplified greenhouse effect shaping North into South

A recent study published in Natural Climate Change reveals a significant reduction in temperature and vegetation seasonality over northern latitudes. As snow and ice cover diminished, temperatures increased at different rates during the four seasons, causing this region to resemble areas farther south in terms of vegetation patterns.

SourceBoston University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMar 10, 2013

Lake-effect snow sometimes needs mountains

A new study reveals that mountains can play a crucial role in triggering lake-effect snowstorms over large bodies of water. The research found that three key mountain-related factors were necessary to produce the October 2010 storm that hit metropolitan Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Range.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalMonthly Weather Review·DateFeb 18, 2013