Tree-ring records reveal Asian monsoon variability

Chinese researchers along with international colleagues recently reported a 6,700-year-long, precisely dated and well-calibrated tree-ring stable isotope chronology from the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. It reveals full-frequency precipitation variability in the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) from interannual to multimillennial timescales with…

Remotely-piloted sailboats monitor ‘cold pools’ in tropical environments

Conditions in the tropical ocean affect weather patterns worldwide. The most well-known examples are El Niño or La Niña events, but scientists believe other key elements of the tropical climate remain undiscovered. In a study recently published in Geophysical Research…

Extreme events: Ecosystems offer cost effective protection

Decision-makers around the world are increasingly interested in using ecosystem solutions such as mangroves, coral reefs, sand dunes and forests on steep slopes to help buffer the impacts from hazard events and protect populations. But what evidence exists to show…

New models predict fewer lightning-caused ignitions but bigger wildfires by mid century

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Human-caused wildfire ignitions in Central Oregon are expected to remain steady over the next four decades and lightning-caused ignitions are expected to decline, but the average size of a blaze from either cause is expected to rise,…

Mains to Rains website promotes steps towards sustainable gardening

Researchers at Cranfield University have worked with colleagues at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to launch a new website aimed at saving water in the garden. Gardeners visiting the Mains to Rains website can pledge to reduce their dependence on…

Study of harvey flooding aids in quantifying climate change

How much do the effects of climate change contribute to extreme weather events? It’s hard to say–the variables involved are plentiful, each event is unique, and we can only do so much to investigate what didn’t happen. But a new…

Feeling hot and bothered? It’s complicated

Rising temperatures are increasingly affecting the quality of life in many regions, setting new challenges for architects, urban planners and healthcare systems. Researchers at KAUST have analyzed discomfort due to outdoor heat across Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions to help…

Predicting the ocean: Improved forecast and insights for the Mediterranean and Black Seas

Marine forecasters face the challenge of predicting a very complex and constantly changing marine environment by applying ocean science, knowledge and technological skills to produce predictions of the state of the ocean . Operational forecasts are delivered daily in near…

The best strawberries to grow in hot locations

It’s strawberry season in many parts of the U.S, and supermarkets are teeming with these fresh heart-shaped treats. Although the bright red, juicy fruit can grow almost anywhere with lots of sunlight, production in some hot, dry regions is a…

Towards a better understanding of natural hazard risk and economic losses in Europe

The ” Science for Disaster Risk Management 2020: acting today, protecting tomorrow “, the second of its series, has been produced with the collaboration of more than 300 experts in disaster risk management. The participants come from different disciplines and…