Earth & Climate News, Research & Discoveries - SciTechDaily

Scientists Sound the Alarm: Record Ocean Heat Puts the Great Barrier Reef in Danger

University of Wollongong — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:09:16 +0000

The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing devastating coral bleaching due to the highest sea temperatures in 400 years, driven by human-induced climate change, with scientists calling for urgent global action. New research indicates the Great Barrier Reef is under critical pressure, with warming sea temperatures and mass coral bleaching events threatening to destroy the remarkable [...]

1268 Meters Down: Record-Breaking Mantle Core Reveals Earth’s Deep Geological Secrets

American Association for the Advancement of Science — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:22:29 +0000

A recent 1268-meter drill core into Earth’s mantle from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge has revealed new insights into its mineral composition and processes, challenging existing geological models and underscoring the role of deep-sea drilling in scientific discovery. A record-breaking 1268-meter (4160 feet) drill core into Earth’s mantle, collected from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic, [...]

Challenging Climate Models: Unexpectedly Large Methane Source Discovered in Overlooked Landscape

University of Alaska Fairbanks — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 05:30:02 +0000

Scientists found unexpected methane emissions in Alaska’s drylands, suggesting these areas could significantly contribute to climate change, contrary to previous models. When Katey Walter Anthony heard rumors of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, ballooning under the lawns of fellow Fairbanks residents, she nearly didn’t believe it. “I ignored it for years because I thought ‘I [...]

Greenland’s Ice Sheet Isn’t As Solid as We Thought – and That’s Terrifying

University of Vermont — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:24:48 +0000

New evidence shows Greenland’s ice sheet once melted completely, revealing a tundra below. This suggests increased vulnerability to climate change and significant potential sea level rises. New research provides the first direct evidence that the center, not just the edges, of Greenland’s ice sheet melted in the recent geological past and the now-ice-covered island was [...]

The Surprising Way Climate Change Could Make Soil More Toxic

American Chemical Society — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 12:00:59 +0000

The Minamata Convention on Mercury aims to reduce global mercury emissions, but a recent study suggests these efforts may not be enough. Researchers found that soil holds far more mercury than previously estimated, particularly in plant-dense areas and regions with permafrost. As climate change promotes vegetation growth, this could lead to increased soil mercury levels, [...]

Geomorphic Transformations: Landslide in British Columbia Ushers In Unexpected New Lake

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 23:39:44 +0000

On July 30, 2024, a significant landslide occurred in Farwell Canyon, British Columbia, resulting in a massive earth deposit that blocked the Chilcotin River and created a new lake. The debris prompted immediate flood warnings and evacuation orders for downstream areas. By August 5, water levels rose, challenging the stability of the dam formed by [...]

650 Feet High: The Megatsunami That Rocked Greenland’s East Coast

GFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:34:21 +0000

Seismologists measure tremors from distances up to 5000 km away. On September 16, 2023, a massive wave struck a fjord on Greenland’s east coast, leaving evidence of flooding up to 200 meters (650 feet) high in some areas. Researchers, led by Angela Carrillo Ponce from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), have analyzed seismic [...]

Groundbreaking Antarctic Survey Reveals Hidden Patterns in Ice Shelf Melting

University of East Anglia — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 10:22:17 +0000

Scientists have used a submersible to map the underside of Antarctica’s Dotson Ice Shelf, revealing rapid melting and unusual patterns that contribute to understanding sea level rise. The research highlights the need for improved predictive models and continued exploration to comprehend future changes in ice shelf dynamics. The first detailed maps of the underside of [...]

Climate Change Predictions May Be Underestimated – Aerosol Study Reveals New Insights

Chiba University — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 23:22:23 +0000

Researchers suggest a novel metric that employs aerosols to explore shifts in cross-border air pollution routes caused by climate variations. Climate change stands as one of the most pressing environmental challenges today, contributing to extreme weather events such as droughts, wildfires, and floods. The main cause of climate change is the emission of greenhouse gases [...]

Defying Expectations: Mature Trees Show Significant New Growth Amid Rising CO2

University of Birmingham — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 09:22:28 +0000

Mature forests are critical in the fight against climate change – extracting carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and locking it into new wood. In a groundbreaking study, researchers demonstrated that older trees can significantly increase woody biomass production in response to elevated CO2 levels, challenging previous beliefs about mature forests. The findings, derived from [...]

New Clues to the Origins of Life: Record-Breaking Mantle Rock Recovery Could Redefine Earth’s History

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:41:24 +0000

An international team has begun to investigate the mantle’s role in supporting life on Earth, driving volcanism, and influencing global cycles. Scientists have successfully recovered the first long section of rocks originating from the Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the crust and the planet’s largest component. These rocks are expected to shed light on the [...]

Debby’s Deluge: The Southeast Submerged by Over a Foot of Rainfall

Kathryn Hansen, NASA Earth Observatory — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 22:40:23 +0000

Tropical Storm Debby struck the U.S. Southeast in early August 2024, bringing with it over a foot of rainfall across several states. After initially hitting Florida, the storm caused extensive flooding in the Carolinas. NASA is actively tracking the storm’s progression and its impact. Tropical Storm Debby lashed the U.S. Southeast in the first week [...]

How Hot Was July 2024? NASA Shows Earth Just Set a Scorching Record!

NASA — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 14:22:48 +0000

On July 22, 2024, Earth experienced its hottest day ever recorded, a milestone in a series of unprecedented high temperatures reported by NASA. This event is a stark indicator of the ongoing global warming trend, primarily driven by human activities such as the emission of greenhouse gases. NASA, leveraging its vast array of Earth-observing satellites, [...]

Mapping Marathon Heat With NASA Tech at the Paris Olympics

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 08:32:49 +0000

Over the past century, Paris has warmed significantly, presenting a challenging environment for the 2024 Olympic marathon runners. The course features tough terrain and historical landmarks, while the athletes also face urban heat effects, exacerbated by limited green spaces and dense architecture. Innovative satellite imaging has improved monitoring of these conditions, offering crucial data to [...]

Unveiling the Mystery: How “Contaminated” Aluminum Oxide Turns Into Precious Sapphires

Heidelberg University — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 06:07:23 +0000

Researchers at Heidelberg University are investigating how this distinctively blue-colored crystal forms in volcanic melts. Sapphires, highly valued as precious gems, are essentially aluminum oxide, or corundum, with chemical impurities. These typically blue crystals are predominantly found in silicon-poor volcanic rocks worldwide. It is widely believed that sapphires form in deep crustal rocks and are [...]

Andean Glaciers Reach Historic Lows: A Dire Warning for Global Climate

University of Wisconsin-Madison — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 15:54:23 +0000

Recent research shows that Andes glaciers are shrinking to sizes unseen since the last ice age due to global warming, possibly forecasting similar future trends for global glaciers. As they are in many places around the globe, glaciers perched high in the Andes Mountains are shrinking. Now, researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and their [...]

Groundbreaking Antarctic Glacier Survey Reveals Hidden Secrets

New York University — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 22:30:55 +0000

First comprehensive maps of a glacier’s underside, created using an autonomous underwater vehicle, provide insights into potential future sea-level changes. An international research team used an autonomous underwater vehicle, Ran, to create detailed maps of the underside of the Dotson Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Their findings reveal new patterns and features that challenge previous assumptions [...]

Exploring Greenland’s Underwater Glaciers: Scientist’s Groundbreaking Mission To Predict Sea Level Rise

University of Texas at Austin — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 10:48:29 +0000

A team from the University of Texas is conducting a groundbreaking study on Greenland’s glaciers to understand the underwater mechanisms of glacier melting and the role of sediments in slowing this process. Their findings will provide insights into future sea level rises, essential for preparing coastal communities globally. A team of scientists from the University [...]

Arctic Ice Won’t Let Go: The Surprising Truth Behind the Northwest Passage

Lindsey Doermann, NASA Earth Observatory — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 04:31:48 +0000

Despite overall declines in the thickness and extent of Arctic sea ice, shipping routes along the northern coast of North America have become less navigable in recent years. The Northwest Passage, a challenging Arctic route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, has seen fewer than 400 voyages since 1906 due to treacherous ice conditions. Recent [...]

A Million-Year Journey: Slow Recovery of Vegetation From Global Warming

ETH Zurich — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 18:00:09 +0000

Examining historical climatic shifts, researchers have identified how vegetation’s response to drastic temperature increases can extend the warming period for millennia. Disruption of the functioning of vegetation due to warming can lead to the failure of climate regulating mechanisms for millions of years. Vegetation changes can alter the planet’s climate equilibrium. Geological and climatic history [...]

New Research Shows Antarctic Uplift Could Reduce Sea Level Rise by 40%

Ohio State University — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:03:07 +0000

The study finds that the effects will vary depending on the level of control over global warming. A new study suggests that the uplifting terrain beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet could significantly impact sea level rise in the future. Despite feeling like a stationary mass, most solid ground is undergoing a process of deformation, sinking, [...]

Decoding the Domino Effect: Climate Tipping Risks at 1.5°C Overshoot

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:06:32 +0000

Current climate policies imply a high risk for tipping of critical Earth system elements, even if temperatures return to below 1.5°C of global warming after a period of overshoot. A new study indicates that these risks can be minimized if warming is swiftly reversed. Anthropogenic climate change poses a risk to critical components of the [...]

Antarctic Ice Melt: New Study Highlights Urgency of Emission Reductions

McGill University — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:27:07 +0000

A McGill-led study finds that understanding the relationship between the Antarctic Ice Sheet and the underlying earth is crucial for predicting the impacts of future climate change. A study led by McGill University indicates that Earth’s natural processes may significantly mitigate Antarctica’s contribution to rising sea levels, provided that carbon emissions are rapidly curtailed in [...]

Reimagining Earth’s History: New Study Challenges Long-Held Theories of Continent Formation

University of Illinois Chicago — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 01:25:32 +0000

A recent study challenges traditional views on how Earth’s continents were formed, suggesting that subduction may not have been necessary. His findings propose that the melting of Earth’s crust could explain the formation of continents, casting doubt on when plate tectonics began and highlighting its impact on life’s origin. The formation of Earth’s continents billions [...]