According to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres the world is “perilously close to tipping points that could lead to cascading and irreversible” consequences. Many experts share this belief.
Continue reading “Climate tipping points”Northern glaciers retreating
Across the Northern Hemisphere, more than 1,700 glaciers touch the ocean. Many of these glacier fronts are floating, with some spreading out into wide, flat ice sheets. Others are grounded, connected to the seafloor. Most of them are retreating.
Continue reading “Northern glaciers retreating”Permafrost thawing faster than expected
For the past 50 years, the Arctic has been warming three times faster than the average rate of global warming and this warming thaws the permafrost. A new study has revealed that extreme summer rainfall is accelerating the process. As extreme rainfall events become more frequent, the permafrost may thaw even faster than under the influence of rising temperatures alone.
Continue reading “Permafrost thawing faster than expected”Lockdown CO2 decrease
For the first time, researchers have detected short-term, regional fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide across the globe due to emissions from human activities.
Continue reading “Lockdown CO2 decrease”Forests do more than store carbon
According to new research, the world’s forests play a far greater and more complex role in tackling climate change than previously thought, due to their physical effects on global and local temperatures.
Continue reading “Forests do more than store carbon”Arctic Ocean sinkholes
Scientists have discovered massive sinkholes on the Arctic seafloor as submerged permafrost thaws. Rather than climate change, these sinkholes appear to be caused by heated, slowly moving groundwater systems.
Continue reading “Arctic Ocean sinkholes”Wildfire smoke warming Arctic
Alarming heatwaves at both of the Earth’s poles are causing great concern among climate scientists, who have warned the “unprecedented” events could signal faster and abrupt climate breakdown.
Continue reading “Wildfire smoke warming Arctic”Arctic 30C above normal
Alarming heatwaves at both of the Earth’s poles are causing great concern among climate scientists, who have warned the “unprecedented” events could signal faster and abrupt climate breakdown.
Continue reading “Arctic 30C above normal”Arctic sea ice thinning
Over the past two decades, the Arctic has lost about one-third of its winter sea ice volume, mostly due to a decline in sea ice that persists over several decades, called multiyear ice, according to a new study. The study also revealed that sea ice is likely thinner than previous estimates.
Continue reading “Arctic sea ice thinning”Amazon tipping point
Satellite images taken over the past several decades show that more than 75 percent of the Amazon rainforest is losing resilience, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The vegetation is dryer and takes longer to recover after a disturbance. Even the most densely forested regions struggle to bounce back.
Continue reading “Amazon tipping point”