Droughts self-propagate, just like wildfires
Up to 30% of the rainfall deficit can be caused by "drought self-propagation," the DRY–2–DRY European Research Council (ERC) project shows......»»
Wildfire smoke kills thousands of Californians a year: It doesn"t have to be so deadly, say researchers
When wildfires rage, the immediate threat is obvious—but smoke from the fires actually kills far more people than the flames do. It doesn't have to be so deadly......»»
Fires in Brazil"s Pantanal push wetlands community to limit
A riverside community in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands narrowly escaped raging wildfires last month, but some say the record-setting blazes—still burning nearby—are compounding threats to their way of life......»»
China"s 2023 annual temperature hit a new high with serious floods and droughts
Climate is a major factor affecting economic and social outcomes. In China, the country's National Climate Center releases an annual climate report that comprehensively covers China's achievements and progress that year in climate monitoring and impa.....»»
Study reveals ancient Nile floods were highly variable during wetter climates
Global warming as well as recent droughts and floods threaten large populations along the Nile Valley. Understanding how such a large river will respond to an invigorated hydrological cycle is therefore a pressing issue. Insights can be gained by stu.....»»
Horn of Africa droughts: Research shows how a network of groundwater bores could help
The Horn of Africa recently suffered its worst drought in almost half a century, and its sixth failed rainfall season in a row......»»
The World Is Ignoring the Other Deadly Kind of Carbon
Not only is black carbon terrible for human health, but ever-fiercer wildfires are covering the Arctic with the dark particles, accelerating melting......»»
Canadian oil city lifts wildfire evacuation orders
Residents forced to flee wildfires threatening a Canadian oil-producing hub were allowed to return home Saturday after evacuation orders were lifted......»»
Hawaii study shows almost 75% of Maui wildfire survey participants have respiratory issues
A University of Hawaii study examining the health effects of last year's deadly wildfires on Maui found that up to 74% of participants may have difficulty breathing and otherwise have poor respiratory health, and almost half showed signs of compromis.....»»
No sign of widespread lead exposure from Maui wildfires, Hawaii health officials say
Lead screening conducted on west Maui residents after last summer's devastating wildfires showed no widespread exposure to the toxic metal, Hawaii health officials said Thursday......»»
Researchers: Heat is coming for our crops—we have to make them ready
Australia's vital agriculture sector will be hit hard by steadily rising global temperatures. Our climate is already prone to droughts and floods. Climate change is expected to supercharge this, causing sudden flash droughts, changing rainfall patter.....»»
Extreme heat drives Chile wildfires leaving at least 51 dead
Chileans Sunday feared a rise in the death toll from wildfires blazing across the South American country that have already killed at least 51 people, leaving bodies in the street and homes gutted......»»
Contemporary wildfires not more severe than historically in western US dry forests: Study
Wildfires have increased over the last few decades in dry forests, which cover 25.5 million ha (63 million acres) of the western U.S. But are high-severity fires that kill 70% or more of trees already burning at rates that exceed historical (preindus.....»»
Wildfires in wet African forests have doubled in recent decades, large-scale analysis finds
A new study presents the first large-scale analysis of fire patterns in West and Central Africa's wet, tropical forests. The number of active fires there typically doubled over 18 years, particularly in the Congo Basin. The increases are primarily du.....»»
Nepal battles raging wildfires across the country
Firefighters and local residents battled a massive wildfire on the outskirts of Nepal's capital Thursday as the Himalayan republic endures a severe fire season authorities have blamed on a heat wave......»»
Climate change supercharged a heat dome, intensifying 2021 fire season, study finds
As a massive heat dome lingered over the Pacific Northwest three years ago, swaths of North America simmered—and then burned. Wildfires charred more than 18.5 million acres across the continent, with the most land burned in Canada and California......»»
Scientists discover how soil microbes survive in harsh desert environments
Prolonged droughts followed by sudden bursts of rainfall—how do desert soil bacteria manage to survive such harsh conditions? This long-debated question has now been answered by an ERC project led by microbiologist Dagmar Woebken from the Centre fo.....»»
CO₂ worsens wildfires by helping plants grow, model experiments show
By fueling the growth of plants that become kindling, carbon dioxide is driving an increase in the severity and frequency of wildfires, according to a UC Riverside study......»»
The South"s aging water infrastructure is getting pounded by climate change. Fixing it is also a struggle
Climate change is threatening America's water infrastructure as intensifying storms deluge communities and droughts dry up freshwater supplies in regions that aren't prepared......»»
Reptiles in South Africa are under threat, but there"s good news too
Media reports about the biodiversity crisis and what researchers have argued qualifies as a mass extinction event tend to focus on the big ecological effects. Melting ice sheets, severe weather events, droughts, habitat loss and wildfires dominate he.....»»
Americans more willing to pay for climate action after extreme weather
People who personally experience extreme climate events, especially wildfires and hurricanes, are willing to pay significantly more for climate action, even if they report skepticism about human-caused climate change, finds new research from the Univ.....»»