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Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Rivers Could Have Been Underestimated

Estimates of how much nitrous oxide, a significant greenhouse gas and stratospheric ozone-depleting substance, is being emitted in the central United States have been too low by as much as 40 percent, a new study led by University of Minnesota scientists shows.

29 Jul 2015

Plankton Blooms in Southern Ocean Play Significant Role in Generating Brighter Clouds Overhead

New research using NASA satellite data and ocean biology models suggests tiny organisms in vast stretches of the Southern Ocean play a significant role in generating brighter clouds overhead. Brighter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space affecting the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth's surface, which in turn has implications for global climate. The results were published July 17 in the journal Science Advances.

27 Jul 2015

Abrupt Climate Change had Played a Key Role in Mass Extinction Events in Earth's Past

New research has revealed abrupt warming, that closely resembles the rapid man-made warming occurring today, has repeatedly played a key role in mass extinction events of large animals, the megafauna, in Earth's past.

25 Jul 2015

Abrupt Climate Change May Have Affected Early Civilizations in the Middle East and the Fertile Crescent

New research reveals that some of the earliest civilizations in the Middle East and the Fertile Crescent may have been affected by abrupt climate change. These findings show that while socio-economic factors were traditionally considered to shape ancient human societies in this region, the influence of abrupt climate change should not be underestimated.

24 Jul 2015

Study Reveals Increased Ocean Acidification Could Dramatically Affect Global Populations of Phytoplankton

Oceans have absorbed up to 30 percent of human-made carbon dioxide around the world, storing dissolved carbon for hundreds of years. As the uptake of carbon dioxide has increased in the last century, so has the acidity of oceans worldwide.

22 Jul 2015

Research Shows Slow-Down in Global Warming is not the End of Climate Change

A slow-down in global warming is not a sign that climate change is ending, but a natural blip in an otherwise long-term upwards trend, research shows.

21 Jul 2015

Hotter Temperatures, More Rain-Free Days Increase Likelihood of Forest Fires

When it comes to forest fires, the weather matters.

21 Jul 2015

Study Shows Decline in Ocean Productivity Due to Rising Water Temperatures

Human-induced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere are projected to rise to up to 30 gigatonnes of carbon per year by 2100, assuming a "business-as-usual" scenario. As a result, global mean temperatures are projected to increase by almost five degrees Celsius.

20 Jul 2015

Lake Erie’s Yellow Perch Fish Threatened by Climate Change

Research has suggested yellow perch grow more rapidly during the short winters resulting from climate change, but a new study shows warmer water temperatures can lead to the production of less hardy eggs and larvae that have trouble surviving these early stages of life in Lake Erie.

16 Jul 2015