University of Minnesota researchers have come up with a groundbreaking tool to measure ethane emissions from space, providing valuable insights into fossil fuel emissions globally. Ethane, a component commonly found in natural gas and used in plastics manufacturing, plays a significant role in air quality and climate change. By utilizing measurements from a satellite-based instrument,
Earth
The ocean plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, absorbing a significant amount of carbon dioxide emitted by human activities each year. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience, co-authored by a University of Hawai’i at Mānoa oceanographer, shed light on the impact of rainfall on the ocean’s ability to sequester carbon dioxide.
As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, one of the major culprits, methane emissions, remains a pressing issue. Despite the global methane pledge to reduce emissions by 30% in the current decade, new research reveals that methane emissions have actually been increasing at an alarming rate over the past five
A recent study conducted by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and European University of Rome has shed light on the long-term effects of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) exposure during infancy. The study reveals a concerning association between higher levels of
The recent environmental disaster on the Oder River, which transpired in early August 2022, has raised significant concerns regarding the health and well-being of the aquatic ecosystem in the German-Polish border river. The calamity, characterized by vast amounts of dead fish, mussels, and snails floating on the surface of the water, has been attributed to
Summer 2024 has been reported as the hottest on record, pushing the boundaries of what humanity has experienced in terms of temperatures. According to European climate service Copernicus, the average temperature for the northern meteorological summer of June, July, and August was 16.8 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2023. This continuous trend
In a recent study conducted by a team of water technicians at SimpleLab, chemical levels in various water samples were tested. The research, published in the journal PLOS Water, aimed to compare the quality of water from different sources in the San Francisco Bay area. While tap water has traditionally been considered safe for consumption,
Wildfires are known to leave behind particles that can have a significant impact on the climate. These particles, also known as aerosols, can enhance the absorption of sunlight and warm the atmosphere. Recent research conducted by experts at Washington University in St. Louis sheds light on the role of dark-brown carbon (d-BrC) – a type
Tropical forests play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, acting as a significant carbon sink. However, with the looming threat of climate change, the delicate balance of carbon in these ecosystems is at risk. New research from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) sheds light on how the warming and drying of tropical forest
Exploring the possibility of providing advanced warning for major earthquakes, a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist, Társilo Girona, along with geologist Kyriaki Drymoni from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Germany, conducted research analyzing seismic activity prior to two significant earthquakes in Alaska and California. Their work, recently published in Nature Communications, utilized machine learning to detect abnormal
Drylands have become a significant concern globally, with nearly half of the world’s land surface now classified as such. These regions, including deserts, shrublands, grasslands, and savanna woodlands, are characterized by water scarcity, impacting not only natural ecosystems but also human-managed landscapes like agriculture, forestry, and livestock production. Recent research has shown that drylands are
A recent discovery made by scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) has unveiled a doughnut-shaped region thousands of kilometers beneath Earth’s surface within the liquid core. This newfound structure, located at low latitudes and parallel to the equator, has remained undetected until now. The significance of this discovery lies in its potential to provide
A recent study conducted by researchers from various institutions sheds light on the importance of the mixing of Atlantic and Arctic waters in maintaining the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). By analyzing ocean data from nearly the past four decades, the study offers valuable insights into how this process helps regulate Earth’s climate. The AMOC
In a shocking discovery by NASA scientists, it was revealed that the extreme forest fires in Canada in 2023 released a staggering 640 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere. This amount is comparable to the annual fossil fuel emissions of a large industrialized nation. The researchers used satellite observations and advanced computing techniques
The effects of global warming have been felt worldwide, with rising temperatures impacting various regions differently. Greenland, in particular, has been experiencing accelerated warming compared to the rest of the world. This phenomenon, known as Arctic Amplification, poses significant threats to coastal areas and ecosystems due to the potential rise in sea levels. While global