Climate

Climate

A U.S. oil-producing region is leaking twice as much methane as once thought

Satellite measurements identify the Permian Basin, a massive U.S. oil- and gas-producing area, as a large source of leaked methane to the atmosphere.

Climate

Climate change made a southwestern U.S. drought one of the worst in 1,200 years

Tree ring records show that the 2000–2018 drought in southwestern North America is among the most severe to strike the region in over a millennium.

Climate

The largest Arctic ozone hole ever measured is hovering over the North Pole

A strong polar vortex in early 2020 led to what may be a record-breaking hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic.

Earth

Roughly 90 million years ago, a rainforest grew near the South Pole

A forest flourished within 1,000 kilometers of the South Pole, probably because of high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and an ice-free Antarctica.

Climate

These women endured a winter in the high Arctic for citizen science

Two women have spent the winter on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard to collect data for climate scientists around the world.

Climate

How Hurricane Maria’s heavy rains devastated Puerto Rico’s forests

Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rican forests in some unexpected ways.

Climate

Australia’s wildfires have now been linked to climate change

Australia’s devastating 2019–2020 wildfires were at least 30 percent more likely due to human-caused climate change.

Climate

Ordering from a local store can curb online shopping’s CO₂ emissions

Online shopping isn’t necessarily better for the environment than going to the store in person, a new study finds.

Climate

How scientists wrestle with grief over climate change

With climate change altering our world at an increasing pace, scientists who monitor and study nature are frustrated and grieving.

Climate

Economic costs of rising seas will be steeper than we thought, unless we prepare

A study estimates 4 percent in annual global GDP losses by 2100 due to sea level rise, unless people curb emissions and prepare for flood risks.

Climate

Climate change is slowly drying up the Colorado River

Annual water flow in the Colorado River decreased by over 11 percent due to warming in the 20th century, a new study estimates.

Climate

Fossil fuel use may emit 40 percent more methane than we thought

Ice cores suggest natural seeps release less methane than was estimated, meaning industry produces nearly all of today’s geologic methane emissions.