Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Climate extremes hit stressed economies even harder      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Economies already under stress respond more strongly to weather events like heat waves, river floods and tropical cyclones, a new study shows. A global economic crisis as during the Covid-19 pandemic strongly amplifies the price increases private households experience from the impacts of weather extremes, a team of researchers finds. The price impacts tripled in China, doubled in the United States and increased by a third in the European Union.

Offbeat: Earth and Climate
Published

A lightweight wearable device helps users navigate with a tap on the wrist      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have developed a fabric-based wearable device that 'taps' a user's wrist with pressurized air, silently helping them navigate to their destination. The study demonstrated that users correctly interpreted which direction the device was telling them to go an average of 87% of the time. Since the wearable embeds most of its control system within the fabric itself, using air instead of electronics, it can be built lighter and more compact than existing designs.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Extreme weather events linked to increased child marriage      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Among the negative impacts of extreme weather events around the world is one that most people may not think of: an increase in child marriages.

Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Researchers take aim at weather forecasters' biggest blindspot      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Anyone who's been caught in an unexpected downpour knows that weather forecasting is an imperfect science. Now, researchers are taking aim at one of meteorologists' biggest blind spots: extremely short-term forecasts, or nowcasts, that predict what will happen in a given location over the next few minutes.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Scientists solve mystery of why thousands of octopus migrate to deep-sea thermal springs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers used advanced technology to study a massive aggregation of deep-sea octopus gathered at thermal springs near an extinct underwater volcano off the coast of Central California. Warm water from hydrothermal springs accelerates development of octopus embryos, giving young octopus a better chance of survival. The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus on the planet -- the size of this nursery, and the abundance of other marine life that thrives in this rich community, highlight the need to understand and protect the hotspots of life on the deep seafloor from threats like climate change and seabed mining.

Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

New modeling method helps to explain extreme heat waves      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To prepare for extreme heat waves around the world -- particularly in places known for cool summers -- climate-simulation models that include a new computing concept may save tens of thousands of lives.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Tree mortality in the Black Forest on the rise -- climate change a key driver      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Climate impacts such as dry, hot summers reduce the growth and increase the mortality of trees in the Black Forest because they negatively influence the climatic water balance, i.e., the difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. That is the central finding of a long-term study of the influence of climate and climate change on trees in the Black Forest.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Oceanography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Barnacles may help reveal location of lost Malaysia Airlines flight MH370      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Geoscientists have created a new method that can reconstruct the drift path and origin of debris from flight MH370, an aircraft that went missing over the Indian Ocean in 2014 with 239 passengers and crew. 

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 Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Heat sensor protects the Venus flytrap from fire      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The sensory hairs of the Venus flytrap contain a heat sensor that warns the plant of bush fires. It reacts to rapid temperature jumps, as researchers have discovered.

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.

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.

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.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Physics: Optics
Published

Clever coating turns lampshades into indoor air purifiers      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Indoor air pollution may have met its match. Scientists have designed catalyst-coated lampshades that transform indoor air pollutants into harmless compounds. The lampshades work with halogen and incandescent light bulbs, and the team is extending the technology so it will also be compatible with LEDs.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate
Published

Cleaning water with 'smart rust' and magnets      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Pouring flecks of rust into water usually makes it dirtier. But researchers have developed special iron oxide nanoparticles called 'smart rust' that actually makes it cleaner. The magnetic nanoparticles attract different pollutants by changing the particles' coating and are removed from water with a magnet. Now, the team is reporting a smart rust that traps estrogen hormones, which are potentially harmful to aquatic life.

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.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Transforming flies into degradable plastics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Imagine using insects as a source of chemicals to make plastics that can biodegrade later -- with the help of that very same type of bug. That concept is closer to reality than you might expect. Researchers will describe their progress to date, including the isolation and purification of the insect-derived chemicals and their conversion into their bioplastics.

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.