Western wildfire smoke plumes are getting taller
In recent years the plumes of smoke crawling upward from Western wildfires have trended taller, with more smoke and aerosols lofted up where they can spread farther and impact air quality over a wider area. The likely cause is climate change, with de.....»»
Combining community values with science is key to ecosystem restoration, study demonstrates
Up on the "roof of the world," one of the world's largest ecosystem restoration projects is taking place. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) in western China is the world's highest plateau and covers a land area roughly five times the size of France......»»
Mathematical method for spectral density estimation set to unlock ocean mysteries
Researchers at The University of Western Australia's ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Transforming Energy Infrastructure through Digital Engineering (TIDE) have made a significant mathematical breakthrough that could help transform ocea.....»»
Evidence shows ancient Saudi Arabia had complex and thriving communities, not struggling people in a barren land
To date, little has been known about people living in north-western Saudi Arabia during the Neolithic—the period traditionally defined by the shift to humans controlling food production and settling into communities with agriculture and domesticate.....»»
Thousands told to flee raging California wildfire
Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire rages out of control in northern California, with a swathe of the United States in the grip of a "record-breaking and dangerous" heat wave that was complicating firefighting efforts......»»
Extreme heat waves highlight climate injustice while western countries fail to act—how governments can help
Average global air temperatures breached 1.5°C for the first time at the start of 2024—at least five years earlier than predicted. So, while developing countries burn, global climate injustice persists......»»
Biologist calls for protection and more studies of natural time capsules of climate change
Packrats, also known as woodrats, are the original hoarders, collecting materials from their environment to make their nests, called middens. In deserts throughout western North America, for instance, packrat middens can preserve plants, insects, bon.....»»
Drones offer new perspective on vulnerable tide-exposed coral reefs
A new study has used drone technology and cutting-edge analytical methods for the first time to map the intertidal coral reefs of the Rowley Shoals off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia......»»
"Cape of Storms": Climate researchers explain Cape Town"s recent extreme weather
A severe storm hit South Africa's Western Cape province between 6 and 9 April 2024, with extreme winds gusting at up to 135km/h. The storm left a trail of destruction across Cape Town and surrounding areas—at least 1,500 people were left homeless a.....»»
Ecological impact of eucalyptus trees: Balancing benefits and risks
A new study has found that Eucalyptus trees, widely planted in Israel's Western Negev, have a significant allelopathic effect, reducing herbaceous plant biomass and flowering density of red anemones, particularly in unshaded areas......»»
Thousands of residents ordered to flee homes as volatile wildfire threatens town: "Extremely concerning"
Thousands of residents ordered to flee homes as volatile wildfire threatens town: "Extremely concerning".....»»
Historical signs in the landscape: Investigating the practice of pollarding in Western Norway
In the lush landscapes of Western Norway, pollarded trees bridge the past with modern environmental concerns. In a recent study, researchers investigated what motivates farmers to continue this ancient tree pruning practice......»»
Desert poplar"s genetic blueprint: Insights into adaptation and survival mechanisms
Populus pruinosa is a relic species surviving in the harsh desert environments of western China and Central Asia. As global warming and desertification intensify, understanding the genetic mechanisms behind its ecological adaptation is crucial. Previ.....»»
Climate change will reduce streamflow in the upper Colorado river basin as groundwater levels fall, study finds
The Colorado River makes life possible in many Western cities and supports agriculture that sustains people throughout the country. Most of the river's water begins as snowmelt from the mountainous watersheds of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and a war.....»»
Researchers show taller plant communities are more productive and sensitive to climate warming
Climate warming, a result of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, is causing significant shifts in the composition of plant species with different traits worldwide. These changes are particularly pronounced in colder or higher elevation regions, wher.....»»
Ancient DNA study reveals population history of Western Tibetan Plateau
According to a study published in Current Biology on May 22, the genetic components of the ancient populations in the western Tibetan Plateau are closest to ancient populations in the southern Tibetan Plateau, and their major genetic components have.....»»
Study examines impacts of increased smoke on California lakes
As much as 70% of California was covered by wildfire smoke during parts of 2020 and 2021, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published in the journal Communications: Earth & Environment, combined lake-based sens.....»»
Tracking down toxic metals from tobacco smoke
Cigarette smoke has been studied for years, revealing a multitude of contaminants, including toxic metals. But exactly which of those metals can be traced to secondhand or thirdhand smoke?.....»»
Researchers say economies in South China and Indochina set to suffer under precipitation extremes
Not a week seems to go by without news somewhere in the world of a disastrous flood, drought, wildfire, or some other kind of extreme climatic event. In Asia, the region of South China and Indochina (INCSC) is no exception......»»
Seychelles: Floating baby corals can help save damaged reefs, says new study
The Seychelles archipelago of 115 islands stretches across a vast area of the western Indian Ocean. Each island is fringed by coral reefs......»»
Apple chipmaker TSMC makes contingency plans against Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2027
The prospect of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is a nightmare scenario that keeps western intelligence agencies awake at night, and there are growing concerns that this could happen in 2027. With the US legally obliged to defend Taiwan, the potentia.....»»