University of Minnesota researchers have recently introduced a groundbreaking tool to measure ethane emissions from space. This tool has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of fossil fuel emissions on a global scale. Ethane, commonly found in natural gas and used primarily in plastics manufacturing, plays a significant role in air quality degradation and climate
Earth
The ocean has a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, absorbing approximately a quarter of the carbon emissions from human activities annually. Recently, a study published in Nature Geoscience shed light on the significance of rainfall in contributing to the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) by the ocean. The research, co-authored by a University
Methane emissions, a significant contributor to climate change, have been steadily increasing despite global efforts to reduce them. Recent research indicates that methane levels have risen at an unprecedented rate in the last five years, contradicting the goals set by the global methane pledge. This concerning trend poses a serious threat to the planet’s climate
A recent study conducted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and European University of Rome highlighted the negative effects of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) on economic earnings in adulthood. The study emphasized the significant association between higher exposure to PM2.5 during infancy
The Oder River, which runs along the German-Polish border, faced a devastating environmental disaster in August 2022. Dead fish, mussels, and snails were spotted floating on the surface, indicating a severe ecological crisis. The culprit? A deadly mixture of factors including excessive salinity, high water temperatures, low water levels, and an influx of nutrients and
As reported by European climate service Copernicus, the summer of 2024 has officially been declared the hottest on record, further solidifying the trend of rising global temperatures. This year is now poised to surpass all previous records, marking it as the warmest year in human history. The data collected for the northern meteorological summer, spanning
In recent years, concerns about the safety of tap water have been growing, especially after incidents like the lead contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan. As a response to these concerns, many consumers have turned to bottled water or water filters. A team of water technicians at SimpleLab conducted a study to analyze the chemical levels
Wildfires have long been known to leave a lasting impact on the environment, but recent research has shed light on the specific role of dark-brown carbon (d-BrC) in snow warming. Unlike previously thought, d-BrC has been found to be 1.6 times more potent than the main culprit, black carbon, in enhancing the absorption of sunlight
Tropical forests play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, accounting for more than 50% of the terrestrial carbon sink. However, new research from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Colorado State University, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute suggests that climate change could alter the carbon balance of these ecosystems. The study, published in
The study of earthquakes and the ability to predict them have always been a topic of interest and concern for scientists and the general public alike. Recent research conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks has shed light on a new method of forecasting major earthquakes using machine learning techniques.
Drylands cover nearly half of the world’s land surface, comprising deserts, shrublands, grasslands, and savanna woodlands. These regions are characterized by water scarcity, causing significant effects on natural ecosystems and human-managed landscapes like agriculture and forestry. Climate change and land management practices have long been known to contribute to dryland expansion, but new research reveals
Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) recently made a groundbreaking discovery deep within Earth’s liquid core – a doughnut-shaped region thousands of kilometers beneath our feet. This structure, previously unknown to researchers, sits parallel to the equator and is found only at low latitudes. While the Earth’s core consists of two layers – the
In a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Southampton, the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, the National Oceanography Center, and Stockholm University, the crucial role of the mixing of Atlantic and Arctic waters in sustaining the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) has been highlighted. This circulation system plays a vital role in
Canada experienced extreme forest fires in 2023, fueled by the warmest and driest conditions in decades. The fires released approximately 640 million metric tons of carbon, which is comparable to the annual fossil fuel emissions of a large industrialized nation. These wildfires burned an area roughly the size of North Dakota from May to September
Global warming, exacerbated by human activities, has resulted in escalating average temperatures worldwide. Although the entire planet is experiencing the effects of climate change, Greenland is undergoing even more rapid warming, leading to accelerated melting of its ice sheets. This intensified warming in the northern regions, known as Arctic Amplification, poses a significant threat to