PLOS Climate’s Post

A paper by the Thermokarst Mapping Collective, a research collaborative to systematically inventory indicators of permafrost thaw sensitivity by mapping and aerial assessments across the Northwest Territories, Canada, has documented the first comprehensive inventory of thermokarst and thaw-sensitive terrain indicators for a 2 million km2 region of northwestern Canada. Kokelj, S.V. et al. The Northwest Territories Thermokarst Mapping Collective: a northern-driven mapping collaborative toward understanding the effects of permafrost thaw. Arctic Science. https://lnkd.in/gkR5ByXp

🌍 New paper shows ice-ages were much wetter than previously thought 🌱 As we delve deeper into the mysteries of Earth’s climatic past, recent studies are turning the tables on what we thought we knew about the Late Pleistocene ice-age climates. Contrary to what was assumed, data drawn from the growth patterns of speleothems suggests that climatic moisture levels actually peaked during glacial periods, including the Last Glacial Maximum. Meanwhile, warmer interglacials may have been drier. This breakthrough provides a moisture record that sidesteps the influence of ancient flora, giving us a clearer picture of past climate conditions.💧 Dr Liz Reed from University of Adelaide and colleagues from University of Melbourne and University of Cape Town collected samples from caves in Southern Australia and their research suggests a big paradigm shift in how we view past ice-age environments across the Earth. Nature paper available here: https://lnkd.in/gF5Cd3Wa The Conversation Australia NZ article: https://lnkd.in/geS3yBrv #climatescience #ecosystems #co2 #environmentalscience Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

How much water is actually on Earth? 🌍 A captivating illustration from the US Geological Survey (USGS) reveals an astonishing perspective on Earth’s water. When visualized as spheres juxtaposed against our planet, the volumes appear remarkably small. The largest sphere, embodying all forms of Earth’s water—from the vast oceans to atmospheric water vapor, including ice caps and even the moisture within living organisms—measures about 860 miles in diameter, with a circumference of roughly 2,700 miles. To put this into perspective, consider these direct flight distances: • Los Angeles, USA, to Portland, USA: approximately 835 miles • Cape Town, South Africa, to Windhoek, Namibia: approximately 800 miles • New York City, USA, to Los Angeles, USA: approximately 2,450 miles* This comprehensive sphere aggregates every drop of water on Earth. However, focusing on the liquid freshwater crucial for everyday human, animal, and plant life, the second sphere dramatically shrinks to about 169.5 miles in diameter, with a circumference near 530 miles. Interestingly enough the bulk of this water is groundwater and is virtually inaccessible to humans. A particularly striking visual is the minuscule sphere above Atlanta 🌎🔍, symbolizing the water contained in all lakes and rivers—vital for most terrestrial life. This sphere’s diameter stands at just 34.9 miles (roughly a marathon-and-a-half), illustrating the limited availability of accessible freshwater. This visualization serves as a powerful reminder of water’s value and the fragility of our ecosystems. It underscores the critical importance of water conservation and the need to appreciate and protect every drop. #WaterConservation #Sustainability #EarthScience #DidYouKnow #FridayFunFact Credits: Howard Perlman, Hydrologist, USGS, Jack Cook, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Adam Nieman, Igor Shiklamonov

Unveiling the Hidden Water Cycles of Earth: Our planet’s water systems are more complex than they appear. In our latest blog, we explore the underground water cycles that are essential for sustaining life and maintaining ecological balance. Whether you're in water management or simply curious about Earth's natural processes, this is a must-read. Dive into the article! #WaterManagement #EnvironmentalScience #AquaterreX

Our new study in Nature Geoscience illustrates the impact of glacier shrinkage on alpine streams, unveiling a pivotal shift towards a greener ecosystem. Links below: https://lnkd.in/emd2YSJV https://lnkd.in/evxxYW8K

NEW Paper about Noble gas paleoclimate reconstructions in Central Europe! In order to fully understand our present climate and to predict future climate evolution, a thorough understanding of the natural variability exhibited by past climates is required. An excellent proxy for this mystery is the noble gas paleothermometer. After shedding more light to the groundwater dynamics of the thermal aquifer below Munich using 14C-DOC and 81Kr, Theis and co-authors have studied the paleoclimate reconstruction in Central Europe by noble gases stemming from the same aquifer.  Congratulation to Theis Winter for his nice paper published in WRR with the title: "Reconstruction of the Pleistocene paleoclimate from deep groundwater in Southern Germany from noble gas temperatures linked with organic radiocarbon dating".  For more details please look through his paper in Water Resources Research. #climate #paleoclimate #groundwater #germany #resources #research

Scientists study Arctic ice sheets to analyse forest growth, retreat, and recovery over millennia. This research reveals the impact of industrialisation on global forests, providing insights for future forest management. To learn more, head to: https://lnkd.in/gxPqG7Vm

🎊 Exciting news! Our latest research on climatic heterogeneity in mountain regions is now available in #ScientificData. 🔍 We conducted a detailed study at the #LTER site Val Mazia - #Matschertal in the Italian Alps, focusing on the meso- and microclimatic variations along an #elevational #gradient ranging from 983m to 2705m. Our objective was to advance understanding of local #climate #dynamics and their #ecological implications. 🔧 Utilizing data from six state-of-the-art measuring stations equipped with sensors for air #temperature, #humidity, #wind dynamics, solar #radiation, #soil properties, #precipitation, and #snow depth, we collected continuous measurements from 2017 to 2022. Rigorous data processing and maintenance ensured high accuracy and reliability. 💡 Key contributions of our dataset include: 🌦️ Enhancing the precision of regional climate models and insights into atmospheric processes. 💧 Supporting the refinement of #hydrological models for catchment-scale applications. 🌱 Providing detailed insights into the influence of elevation on #vegetation #dynamics and soil #ecology. 🛰️ Validating #remotesensing methodologies developed for complex mountainous terrains. 🏞️ Informing #strategic decisions regarding #landmanagement, #water resource planning, and community #resilience in mountainous #environments. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dhTuB9Px

Methane, an influential yet elusive greenhouse gas, has long captivated scientific curiosity due to its impact on Earth's climate system....READ More #methanotrophsandmethanogens #geologicalreservoirs #Geological #convertmethaneintoenergy #sciencenews #fossilfueldeposits #biogeochemicalcycles #whatismethane #wetlandecosystems #carboncycle #monooxygenases

Research to real-world impact! Dr. Hannah Baranes, a coastal scientist in our Climate Center, was the lead author on a recent paper published in Nature Scientific Reports showing that the fastest rates of measured relative sea level rise in California are more than 50 miles inland from the coast in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which provides drinking water to 27 million people and 6,000 square miles of agricultural land. It caught the attention of the California State Legislature, opening doors for policy discussions on sea level rise legislation. Understanding water levels in deltas, estuaries, and coastally-influenced river environments is complicated, and is a particular knowledge gap that affects us here in Maine. The knowledge Hannah gained in working on this project now serves as a launching point for studying tidally-influenced rivers in the Gulf of Maine. Read the paper: https://lnkd.in/e388undF