Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Severe Weather Geoscience: Volcanoes
Published

Atmospheric circulation weakens following volcanic eruptions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of scientists found that volcanic eruptions can cause the Pacific Walker Circulation to temporarily weaken, inducing El Niño-like conditions. The results provide important insights into how El Niño and La Niña events may change in the future.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Fire, disease threatening sanctuary plants for Australian wildlife      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has revealed Australia's iconic grasstrees -- known as 'yaccas' -- play a critical role in protecting wildlife from deadly weather extremes, thereby ensuring their survival. But the grasses themselves are under threat due to back burning, clearing and disease.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Physics: Optics
Published

Improvements in silicon-perovskite tandem cells that helped achieve a whopping 32.5 percent efficiency      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In the ongoing quest for more efficient solar cells, the most current published record for tandem perovskite solar cells is 32.5 percent. In a new paper, researchers report on the improvements in silicon-perovskite tandem cells that have made this possible.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New approach shows hydrogen can be combined with electricity to make pharmaceutical drugs      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The world needs greener ways to make chemicals. In a new study, researchers demonstrate one potential path toward this goal by adapting hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Study observes sudden acceleration of flow, generates new boundary layer      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In an experiment on how turbulent boundary layers respond to acceleration in the flow around them, aerospace engineers at the observed an unexpected internal boundary layer.

Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Without aggressive climate action, U.S. property values will take a hit from escalating wildfire risk and tree mortality, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Research attempts to quantify the value of U.S. property at risk in forested areas exposed to increased ecological disturbance associated with climate change, such as wildfire and tree mortality. Property exposed to such climate risks, especially in California, is project to climb substantially if emission-reduction measures are not taken.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

To improve solar and other clean energy tech, look beyond hardware      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new analysis reveals that soft technology, the processes to design and deploy a solar energy system, contributed far less to the total cost declines of solar installations than previously estimated. Their quantitative model shows that driving down solar energy costs in the future will likely require either improving soft technology or reducing system dependencies on soft technology features.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Greater excess mortality after hurricanes more recently and for most socially vulnerable in the U.S.      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Over recent decades, there was a large variation in cyclone-related excess deaths by hurricane, state, county, year, and social vulnerability for counties in the United States, with 83 percent of hurricane-related deaths occurring more recently and 94 percent in more socially vulnerable counties.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Medications for chronic diseases affect the body's ability to regulate body temperature, keep cool      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Medications to treat various chronic diseases may hinder the body's ability to lose heat and regulate its core temperature to optimal levels. The loss of effective thermoregulation has implications for elderly people receiving treatment for illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular, Parkinson's disease/dementia and diabetes, particularly during hot weather, according to a review by a team of scientists.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Extreme heat may hasten cognitive decline in vulnerable populations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study finds that ongoing extreme heat can worsen cognitive decline among vulnerable groups -- particularly Black older adults and those living in poor neighborhoods.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Irrigating more US crops by mid-century will be worth the investment      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

With climate change, irrigating more crops in the United States will be critical to sustaining future yields, as drought conditions are likely to increase due to warmer temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns. Yet less than 20% of croplands are equipped for irrigation. A new study finds that by the middle of the 21st century under a moderate greenhouse gas emissions scenario, the benefits of expanded irrigation will outweigh the costs of installation and operation over an expanded portion of current U.S. croplands. The study maps where it makes the most sense to install irrigation for corn and soybeans and if there's enough water to do so.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Death tolls from climate disasters will 'balloon' without investment in Africa's weather stations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Investment in 'hydromet systems' using technologies from AI to SMS would provide a nine-to-one ROI in saved lives and assets across African nations.

Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Dry lightning can spark wildfires even under wetter conditions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Dry lightning can still be disastrous even when conditions aren't so dry, a study has found. These cloud-to-ground strikes during little to no rainfall were previously thought to pose wildfire danger only if occurring with less than 2.5 mm of rain in a day (about 0.10 inches). A new study of lightning-ignited wildfires in the U.S. West found the strikes caused wildfires despite up to 7.7 mm (about 0.3 inches) of precipitation. While still a low amount of rain, the more accurate estimation could help responders detect fires earlier, especially those known as 'holdovers,' which can smolder for many days before exploding into full-blown wildfires.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Physics: Optics
Published

Chromium replaces rare and expensive noble metals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Expensive noble metals often play a vital role in illuminating screens or converting solar energy into fuels. Now, chemists have succeeded in replacing these rare elements with a significantly cheaper metal. In terms of their properties, the new materials are very similar to those used in the past.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Measuring the extent of global droughts in unprecedented detail      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While some parts of the world suffer extreme heat and persistent drought, others are being flooded. Overall, continental water volumes vary so much over time that global sea levels fluctuate significantly too. By combining the hydrological model WaterGAP with GRACE satellite data, a team of geodesists have come up with a new set of data that shows how the total distribution of water over the Earth's land surfaces has changed over the past 20 years more accurately than ever before.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

AuNi alloy on Au electrodes for hydrogen evolution reaction: Towards a cleaner tomorrow      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Gold (Au)-based electrocatalysts used for hydrogen production via water electrolysis exhibit high chemical stability but low hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. Alloying them with nickel (Ni) can improve their HER activity. A recent study investigated the HER activity and surface properties of AuNi alloy prepared on single crystal Au surfaces, revealing the atomic structural changes and surface sites responsible for enhanced HER activity of AuNi/Au catalyst during electrolysis.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather Paleontology: Climate
Published

Then vs. now: Did the Horn of Africa reach a drought tipping point 11,700 years ago?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

If climate models predict that much of tropical Africa will become wetter with a warming climate, then why does it keep getting drier in the Horn of Africa?

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Telecommunications cable used to track sea ice extent in the Arctic      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A telecommunications fiber optic cable deployed offshore of Oliktok Point, Alaska recorded ambient seismic noise that can be used to finely track the formation and retreat of sea ice in the area, researchers report.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

An early warning system for joint heat and ozone extremes in China      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have identified large-scale climate patterns that could be used to predict the co-occurrence of extreme heat and ozone days in China months before they occur. Like predictions for hurricane and wildfire seasons, the forecasts could help the government prepare resources and implement policies to mitigate the severity of the season.

Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

New Antarctic extremes 'virtually certain' as world warms      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Extreme events in Antarctica such as ocean heatwaves and ice loss will almost certainly become more common and more severe, researchers say.