Earth

A recent study conducted by Earth scientist Niels de Winter has shed light on the impact of climate change on seasonal temperatures. Through analyzing fossil shells from mollusks that lived during the Pliocene era, approximately three million years ago, de Winter and his colleagues were able to uncover valuable data about how summers and winters

In a world where global temperatures are reaching alarming levels, the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has become more critical than ever. Methane, in particular, has been identified as a major contributor to climate change due to its potent global warming potential. Traditional methods of monitoring methane emissions have been limited in their effectiveness,

Greenland, a massive island located in the Arctic, is experiencing significant ice melt due to rising global temperatures. This ice melt has serious implications for sea levels and climate change. Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have developed a new method to track ice melt in Greenland on a daily basis, providing valuable

The rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide increase today has been found to be ten times faster than at any point in the past 50,000 years. This startling discovery was made through a detailed chemical analysis of ancient Antarctic ice, shedding light on abrupt climate change periods in Earth’s history. Published in the Proceedings of the

The transition from the African humid period (AHP) to dry conditions in North Africa serves as a significant example of climate tipping points in recent geological history. These tipping points occur when small perturbations trigger a large, non-linear response in the system, leading to a shift in the climate to a different future state. This

Recently, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin conducted a study analyzing seven years of earthquake data from the Midland Basin. The findings revealed a concerning trend – seismic activity is shifting northeast towards the community of Big Spring. While past earthquakes were primarily concentrated in the southwest region near Odessa and Midland, a

Maintaining the health and vitality of intertidal areas and salt marshes is vital for the future of our coasts, according to a recent study published in Nature Geoscience by a team of Dutch-Chinese researchers. The research conducted by NIOZ researcher Tim Grandjean highlights the necessity of turbid water for the growth and preservation of these

The movement of tectonic plates is responsible for shaping the rocky features that adorn Earth’s surface. From the formation of mountain ranges to ocean trenches, the convergence and divergence of these plates play a crucial role. However, it is not solely the plates themselves that dictate Earth’s topography. The mantle layer beneath them exerts its

A recent study has shed light on the alarming increase in the number of forest fires in West and Central Africa’s wet, tropical forests. Over the course of 18 years, the frequency of active fires has doubled, with a significant rise observed in the Congo Basin. The surge in forest fires can be attributed to

Angola, located on the southern coast of Africa, presents a rare opportunity to witness a key part of Earth’s history. Ancient rocks and fossils discovered in this region provide a clear picture of the splitting of South America and Africa, and the subsequent formation of the South Atlantic Ocean. Unlike other parts of the world

Recent research published in Nature Geoscience has shed light on the sensitivity of soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to climate warming in permafrost-collapsed areas. The study, which combined field warming experiments with laboratory soil sampling, highlights the potential impact of permafrost thawing on ecosystem carbon cycling in the face of rising global temperatures. Researchers led

California experienced a remarkable snow deluge in 2023, which helped to alleviate a two-decade long megadrought. However, a new study warns that such occurrences may become increasingly rare in the future due to the effects of climate change. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the significance of last