Drought makes heatwaves hotter but less deadly
During heatwaves, the land dries out. That drought further enhances the rising of heatwave temperatures. However, desiccated soils still make the heatwaves less rather than more deadly to humans, due to a reduction in air humidity......»»
All That Rain Is Driving Up Cases of a Deadly Fungal Disease in California
Valley fever is thriving as California swings widely between drought and flooding......»»
Donkeys are unsung heroes in Ethiopia"s humanitarian crisis—and they could do even more with better support
Conflict and drought in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia has triggered a humanitarian crisis. The Ethiopian government says 16 million people across the country are facing food shortages, with almost half of those suffering emergency or severe.....»»
Drought may drive deadly amphibian disease, researchers find
Pumpkin toadlets are in trouble. Progressively severe droughts are disrupting the microbiomes of the thumbnail-sized orange frogs, potentially leaving them vulnerable to a deadly fungal disease, according to a new study by an international research t.....»»
Weather v climate: How to make sense of an unusual cold snap while the world is hotter than ever
Earlier this year, the UK's weather and climate service, the Met Office, announced average global temperatures in 2023 were 1.46°C above pre-industrial levels. This made it the hottest year on record, 0.17°C higher than the previous record in 2016......»»
What"s causing the Amazon"s ongoing record drought?
The devastating drought in the Amazon River Basin that reported in October has continued into Northern Hemisphere winter, which is the heart of the wet season in the southern part of the basin. The drought is cutting off rural and riverside communiti.....»»
Female mosquitoes found to regulate their own population density at breeding sites using communal cues
When female mosquitoes feed, they don't seem to mind a crowd because lots of carbon dioxide usually means there's food. They were thought to be more solitary, however, when laying eggs. New research has revealed quite the opposite for the deadly Aede.....»»
Innovative hybrid models enhance soil moisture forecasting
Soil moisture intricately influences climate and hydrological systems by modulating water and energy exchange processes. Accurate predictions of soil moisture are not only instrumental in drought monitoring but are crucial for effective water resourc.....»»
Burning question: what can we expect in a 1.5C world?
Massive wildfires exposing millions to toxic smoke, drought shriveling crops and key waterways, destructive storms supercharged by record ocean temperatures—in the last year the world has had a taste of what to expect with warming of 1.5C......»»
World sees first 12 months above 1.5C warming level: climate monitor
Earth has endured 12 months of temperatures 1.5C hotter than the pre-industrial era for the first time on record, Europe's climate monitor said Thursday, in what scientists called a "warning to humanity"......»»
Back from COP28, California climate leaders talk health impacts of warming
Wildfire smoke. Drought. Brutal heat. Floods. As Californians increasingly feel the health effects of climate change, state leaders are adopting sweeping policies they hope will fend off the worst impacts—and be replicated by other countries......»»
Chile"s deadly wildfires extinguished
Firefighters said Wednesday they had extinguished all wildfires in Chile's coastal region of Valparaiso, where flames razed entire communities and left 131 dead......»»
The number of monarch butterflies at their Mexico wintering sites has plummeted this year
The number of monarch butterflies at their wintering areas in Mexico dropped by 59% this year to the second lowest level since record keeping began, experts said Wednesday, blaming heat, drought and loss of habitat......»»
Innovative detection system allows researchers to differentiate oak wilt and drought
Oak forests play a vital role in our ecosystem, providing climate regulation and erosion control across North America. However, these forests face compounding threats from drought and oak wilt, and it can be challenging to tell these two issues apart.....»»
A new origin story for deadly Seattle fault
The Seattle fault zone is a network of shallow faults slicing through the lowlands of Puget Sound, threatening to create damaging earthquakes for the more than four million people who live there......»»
El Nino brings hunger, drought fears to Madagascar
In a small village in southern Madagascar, dozens of women shelter from the scorching sun under a tree as they wait to weigh their children......»»
Climate models often miss how plants respond to drought, research suggests
Plants both absorb carbon dioxide and release water vapor through their stomata, or pores on their leaves. In drought conditions, plants close these pores to conserve water, and this reduces their carbon dioxide uptake as well......»»
The planet is dangerously close to this climate threshold: What 1.5°C really means
The alarm bells are loud and clear. Federal and international climate officials recently confirmed that 2023 was the planet's hottest year on record—and that 2024 may be even hotter......»»
Deadly California storm brings unrelenting rain, flooding
A powerful storm lashing California on Monday has left at least three people dead and caused devastating mudslides and flooding, after dumping months' worth of rain in a single day......»»
Researchers uncover biological circuit that offers a new avenue for creating drought-resistant crops
Climate change is already harming agricultural yields and may one day pose a significant threat to the world's food supply. Engineering more resilient crops, including those able to thrive in the face of drought or high soil salinity levels, is an in.....»»
West"s "hot drought" is unprecedented in more than 500 years
There's no precedent in at least five centuries for how hot and dry the West has been in the last two decades, new research asserts using analysis of tree rings......»»