Climate Science News - SciTechDaily

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 [...]

Cryospheric Collapse: Andean Glaciers Retreat Unseen in Over 11,700 Years

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 05:33:09 +0000

A new study indicates that Andean tropical glaciers have shrunk to their smallest sizes in over 11,700 years, signaling a severe impact of modern global warming. Researchers used cosmogenic nucleotide measurements from bedrock samples near Andean glaciers to show that these glaciers are currently smaller than at any point during the Holocene. This finding underscores [...]

Ice in Crisis: Andean Glaciers Have Retreated to Lowest Levels in 11,700 Years

Boston College — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 18:00:24 +0000

No longer covered in ice, Andean rocks signal the world’s glaciers are melting far faster than predicted. Tropical glaciers have reached their smallest size in over 11,700 years, according to a study in Science by Boston College researchers. Utilizing isotope analysis of rocks near Andean glaciers, evidence indicates these glaciers are smaller than at any [...]

How Close Are We to the Climate’s Point of No Return?

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:00:48 +0000

Researchers highlight the severe risks of destabilizing Earth’s tipping elements like ice sheets and ocean currents due to climate change, emphasizing the need to maintain the 1.5 °C limit set by the Paris Agreement to avoid dire future consequences. Failure to adhere to these limits increases the likelihood of tipping events, which are significant changes [...]

Volcanic Turnaround: How Hunga Tonga’s Eruption Contradicts Global Warming Expectations

Grant Hawkins, Texas A&M University — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 20:03:09 +0000

Widely thought to be responsible for Earth’s extreme warmth during the past two years, researchers say the Hunga Tonga eruption actually cooled the climate. Research by Texas A&M University explores the 2022 Hunga Tonga volcano eruption’s climate effects, discovering that it caused cooling rather than warming. This contradicts earlier beliefs and stresses the need for [...]

Moonlight Mysteries: How the Moon Helps Us Understand Earth’s Climate

Lindsey Doermann, NASA Earth Observatory — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 07:10:12 +0000

Fifty-five years after our giant leap, scientists continue to learn about both the Moon and Earth from our celestial neighbor. A recent ISS photo captures the Moon’s crescent and Earthshine, offering insights into Earth’s decreasing albedo and climate trends, highlighted by NASA’s CERES project. Since NASA first landed humans on the Moon during the 1969 [...]

The End of El Niño: What It Means for Our Climate

Emily Cassidy, NASA Earth Observatory — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:05:13 +0000

In 2024, El Niño ended after influencing global climate with extreme weather conditions for a year. The natural climate phenomenon significantly altered sea levels and temperatures, leading to record global temperatures and widespread environmental impacts. After heating up the eastern Pacific Ocean for about a year, El Niño finally died out in May 2024. The [...]

East vs. West: Antarctica’s Ice Tells Two Very Different Tales

Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 20:04:55 +0000

New findings indicate East Antarctica began glaciating 34 million years ago, unlike West Antarctica which remained ice-free longer. The study emphasizes regional differences in Antarctica’s ice response to climate shifts. Global warming has left its mark on the Antarctic ice sheets in recent years. The “eternal” ice in Antarctica is melting faster than previously assumed, [...]

Breaking the Thermometer: Analyzing the Science Behind 2024’s Heat Anomalies

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:15:18 +0000

Heat waves swept across parts of Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, leaving vulnerable populations in jeopardy. This year has seen unprecedented global heat records, causing widespread health emergencies and power challenges. Studies emphasize the dangers to vulnerable populations like the elderly and recommend systemic and individual actions to reduce heat exposure. Record-Breaking Global [...]

Slushy Surprise: AI Reveals Twice As Much Meltwater on Antarctic Ice Shelves

University of Cambridge — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:00:18 +0000

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have used artificial intelligence to map the distribution of slush on Antarctic ice shelves, discovering that it accounts for 57% of all meltwater. This finding is significant as slush absorbs more solar heat compared to ice and snow, potentially leading to increased ice shelf instability and accelerated sea level [...]

Global Cooling Breakthrough: Scientists Discover Ocean Algae’s Crucial Climate Impact

University of East Anglia — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 14:38:34 +0000

A common type of ocean algae plays a significant role in producing a massively abundant compound that helps cool the Earth’s climate, new research has discovered. Researchers have identified Pelagophyceae algae as significant producers of DMSP, a compound crucial for climate regulation. This discovery suggests higher than expected levels of DMSP and its byproduct DMS, [...]

Venezuela’s Last Glacier, Humboldt, Has Melted Away

Kathryn Hansen, NASA Earth Observatory — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 22:39:51 +0000

Venezuela is the first postglacial nation in the Andes, as its last substantial patch of ice is now considered too small to flow under its own weight. Venezuela’s Humboldt Glacier has completely disappeared, marking a significant environmental change as it was the last glacier in a country historically covered by such ice formations. Satellite imagery [...]

Liftoff for PREFIRE and Ice! Rocket Lab Launches Second Polar Heat CubeSat

NASA — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 07:14:02 +0000

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched from New Zealand, carrying the second NASA PREFIRE satellite. This mission is aimed at understanding Earth’s heat loss to space from polar regions. Each of the CubeSats is equipped with thermal infrared spectrometers to analyze light, which will aid climate and ice models. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket lifted off [...]

Scientists Uncover Unexpected Impact of Ocean Floor Geometry on Climate

University of California - Los Angeles — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 04:13:46 +0000

Recent research reveals that up to 50% of the variations in carbon sequestration depths can be attributed to seafloor topography. The carbon cycle, which involves the transfer of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, and continents, plays a crucial role in controlling Earth’s climate. Various factors contribute to this cycle: volcanic eruptions and human activities release [...]

NASA and Rocket Lab Gear Up for Second PREFIRE Satellite Launch

NASA — Fri, 31 May 2024 21:07:53 +0000

NASA plans to launch the second CubeSat for its PREFIRE mission on June 1, utilizing advanced technology to study Earth’s polar heat emissions and contribute to climate research. NASA and Rocket Lab are targeting Saturday, June 1, to launch the second CubeSat for the agency’s PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission. The [...]

NASA’s PREFIRE Climate Change CubeSat Launched To Decode Earth’s Polar Mysteries

NASA — Sun, 26 May 2024 17:52:12 +0000

NASA’s PREFIRE mission uses CubeSats to track heat emissions from Earth’s poles, enhancing predictions for sea ice loss and climate change impacts. The first of a pair of climate satellites designed to study how much heat the Arctic and Antarctica radiate into space for NASA is in orbit after lifting off atop Rocket Lab’s Electron [...]

NASA’s Cutting-Edge Missions To Crack Earth’s Climate Code

Jet Propulsion Laboratory — Sun, 26 May 2024 14:05:26 +0000

NASA’s Earth System Explorers Program selected four proposals to study greenhouse gases, the ozone layer, ocean currents, and ice changes. Each will get $5 million for a one-year study before NASA picks two for future launches. Four proposals have been selected by NASA for concept studies of missions to help us better understand Earth science [...]

5 Things To Know About the PREFIRE Mission – NASA’s Tiny Twin Polar Satellites

Jet Propulsion Laboratory — Sun, 19 May 2024 17:30:24 +0000

NASA’s PREFIRE mission, utilizing twin CubeSats, will measure the far-infrared energy emitted by Earth’s polar regions to boost our understanding of how much heat Earth’s polar regions radiate out to space and how that influences our climate. NASA is preparing to deploy twin shoebox-sized climate satellites to study the Arctic and Antarctic, two of Earth’s [...]

Vanishing Pollinators: Unraveling the Decline of Bees and Butterflies

PLOS — Wed, 15 May 2024 18:00:23 +0000

Bee and butterfly populations are declining in North America due to environmental changes. A study highlights regional trends and calls for improved monitoring and conservation efforts to address research gaps and protect pollinators. In major regions of North America, bee and butterfly populations are in decline due to ongoing environmental change. Our ability to protect [...]

Cold Case: Scientific Sleuths Solve the Case of the Mysterious Giant Opening in Antarctic Sea Ice

University of Gothenburg — Tue, 07 May 2024 22:24:51 +0000

Researchers have discovered the missing piece of the puzzle behind a rare opening in the sea ice around Antarctica, that occurred during the winters of 2016 and 2017. It reveals a key process that had eluded scientists as to how the opening, called a polynya, was able to form and persist for several weeks. The [...]

Mysterious Polynya: Scientists Finally Explain Huge Hole in Antarctic Sea Ice

University of Southampton — Sat, 04 May 2024 14:11:02 +0000

A recent study explains the formation of a large Antarctic sea ice opening by detailing the oceanic and atmospheric interactions that caused it. Researchers have discovered the missing piece of the puzzle behind a rare opening in the sea ice around Antarctica, which was nearly twice the size of Wales and occurred during the winters [...]

Quantifying the “Carbon Gap” – Unmasking the Shortfalls in Global Climate Efforts

University of East Anglia — Fri, 03 May 2024 09:00:12 +0000

Insufficient carbon dioxide removal efforts jeopardize meeting the Paris Agreement’s climate goals, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced technologies and strategies. New research suggests that countries’ current plans to remove CO2 from the atmosphere will not be enough to comply with the 1.5 ºC warming limit set out under the Paris Agreement. Since 2010, the [...]

NASA’s PREFIRE Mission To Study Polar Heat Escape Set To Launch

Jet Propulsion Laboratory — Thu, 02 May 2024 19:09:04 +0000

Data from NASA’s PREFIRE mission will improve our understanding of how the Arctic and Antarctic help to regulate Earth’s climate, the mechanisms of polar ice loss, and related issues of sea level rise and sea ice loss. NASA and Rocket Lab are targeting no earlier than Wednesday, May 22, 2024, for the first of two [...]

NASA Satellite Captures a Monumental Dust Wall Over the Korean Peninsula

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 17:23:12 +0000

Every spring, satellites observe massive plumes of dust streaming from the Gobi Desert over East Asia. These thick dust storms negatively affect millions by worsening air quality and increasing health risks. In East Asia, the arrival of spring means warming temperatures, greening vegetation, and blooming flowers. But March and April also bring another guest: vast [...]