Earth & Climate News, Research & Discoveries - SciTechDaily

Antarctica’s Ice Deception: New Study Reveals Surprising Thinness of Ice Shelves

Ohio State University — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 01:40:07 +0000

A new effort aims to more accurately measure the loss of ice shelves in Antarctica. Global ice dams are weakening due to rising temperatures, leading...

The Heat Is On: Thermal Anomalies Detected in Ethiopia’s “Gateway to Hell”

Lindsey Doermann, NASA Earth Observatory — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 16:08:42 +0000

Erta Ale, in the East African Rift, is Ethiopia’s most active volcano. The heat is always on at Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia. In East...

Unstable Ice: Antarctic Glacier’s Sudden Collapse Rattles Scientists

University of Leeds — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:05:42 +0000

Scientists have found that even seemingly stable glaciers in the Antarctic can “switch very rapidly” and lose large quantities of ice as a result of...

Life on Earth Is in Danger – New Report Reveals That Earth’s Vital Signs Have Deteriorated to Levels Unprecedented in Human History

Oregon State University — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 21:50:13 +0000

An international team of climate scientists has recently published a paper warning that the Earth’s vital signs have deteriorated to levels unprecedented in human history,...

A Solar Superstorm Struck Earth 150 Years Ago – Now, New Research Reveals That They Are Much More Common That We Thought

Nagoya University — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 14:32:44 +0000

In November this year, the northern lights were seen unusually far south, in locations like Italy and Texas. This was due to the effects of...

Cracking Earth’s Deepest Secrets: Iron’s Quantum Role in Planetary Formation

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 12:18:12 +0000

New research exploring the quantum properties of elements in extreme environments has significant implications for our understanding of Earth’s history, the interpretation of unique seismic...

Global Drought Catastrophe: UN Uncovers “An Unprecedented Emergency on a Planetary Scale”

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 23:27:22 +0000

UNCCD launches ‘Global Drought Snapshot’ report at COP28 in collaboration with International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA). Recent drought-related data based on research in the past...

Navigating NASA’s Waves: Google’s Voyage Through Earth’s Water Cycle

Jet Propulsion Laboratory — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 18:37:16 +0000

Google’s “A Passage of Water” Brings NASA’s Water Data to Life This immersive experience leverages satellite data to illustrate how climate change is impacting Earth’s...

Twists of Nature: Spectacular Swirls in the Sky and Sea Around Norway’s Remote Bear Island

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 09:53:29 +0000

Fluid dynamics put on a spectacular show around Norway’s remote Bear Island. Theodore von Kármán, a Hungarian-American physicist, is well-known within NASA for helping found...

Turning Up the Heat: How Climate Change Supercharges CO2’s Impact

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 19:42:47 +0000

New study shows potency of the greenhouse gas increases with increased concentrations. A team of scientists found that carbon dioxide becomes a more potent greenhouse...

Catastrophic Floods Strike East Africa After Historic Drought

Emily Cassidy, NASA Earth Observatory — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 10:41:00 +0000

Heavy rainfall in the Horn of Africa submerged entire towns in floodwater. Heavy rainfall led to extensive flooding in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya in October...

California’s Hidden Climate History: A Remarkable 600-Year Tree Ring Analysis

David Nutt, Cornell University — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:53:44 +0000

Research on 600 years of tree ring data from California’s San Joaquin Valley shows that historic climate extremes surpass modern records, highlighting the compounded effects...

New Study: The Ocean Is Emitting Millions of Pounds of Plastic Into the Atmosphere

PNAS Nexus — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:52:01 +0000

A new study quantifies how much microplastic is sent into the air from ocean spray. When sea bubbles pop, they launch tiny particles, like salt...

The Towering Inferno: Mount Erebus’ Dramatic Emergence From the Antarctic Clouds

Lindsey Doermann, NASA Earth Observatory — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:13:39 +0000

The fiery and icy upper reaches of the Antarctic volcano pierced through a canopy of clouds. On a late spring day in 2023, the summit...

Ancient Extinction Mirrors Today’s Ocean Crisis: Deoxygenation’s Role Unveiled

Trinity College Dublin — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 09:24:52 +0000

Scientists have discovered a pivotal role of oceanic anoxia in the Triassic–Jurassic mass extinction, indicating that even localized deoxygenation can lead to widespread ecosystem collapse....

Riot of Color: The Fiery Hues of Alaska’s Malaspina Glacier

Lindsey Doermann, NASA Earth Observatory — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:02:04 +0000

An unexpected color palette reveals the features of an iconic glacial landscape in southeastern Alaska. To human eyes, glacial ice typically looks white tinged with...

Melting Majesty: Quelccaya’s Ice Cap Shrinks in Climate’s Grip

Kathryn Hansen, NASA Earth Observatory — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 18:46:56 +0000

Ice cores and satellite images are helping preserve the history of a disappearing ice cap in the Peruvian Andes. The Quelccaya Ice Cap rests on...

Salt and Spectacle: Satellite Reveals East Africa’s Pink Lakes

European Space Agency (ESA) — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 23:45:31 +0000

The European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captures the colorful waters of two salty lakes in East Africa: Lake Natron in northern Tanzania and Lake...

Nature’s Surprise: Plants Might Be Able To Absorb More CO2 Than Expected

Trinity College Dublin — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 21:19:55 +0000

A new study reveals that plants might absorb more CO2 than expected, offering hope in combating climate change. However, reducing emissions remains crucial, as planting...

Alarming Findings: Glaciers in the Western United States Are Disappearing

Portland State University — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 18:58:53 +0000

Glaciers in the Western United States are disappearing. A recent study by researchers at Portland State University has revealed significant changes in glaciers. The findings...

Accelerated Melting: Greenland’s Glacier Retreat Doubled in 20 Years

Northwestern University — Sun, 26 Nov 2023 08:51:50 +0000

The new findings are ubiquitous, even among Earth’s northernmost glaciers. New study documents how Greenland’s peripheral glaciers have changed from 1890 to 2022 Using satellite...

Boreal Forests at Risk: Lightning-Induced Wildfires Threaten Crucial Carbon Storage

University of Leeds — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 23:42:30 +0000

Research indicates an increased threat of lightning-induced wildfires in boreal forests due to climate change, potentially exacerbating global warming by destabilizing significant carbon stores in...

The Great Green Wall: China’s Fight Against Desertification

Adam Voiland, NASA Earth Observatory — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 13:57:03 +0000

Flanked by mountain ranges on three sides, the basin in northwestern China sees frequent dust storms. The Taklamakan desert, located in China’s Tarim Basin, is...

Snowpocalypse Now: Anchorage Smashes Snowfall Records

Lindsey Doermann, NASA Earth Observatory — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 23:35:46 +0000

The Alaskan city of Anchorage received record snowfall in November 2023. Winter weather arrived in force in Southcentral Alaska in 2023. Anchorage logged its snowiest...