Antarctica is melting from the bottom-up!
Reference: Silvano, A., Rintoul, S.R., Pena-Molino, B., Hobbs, W.R., van Wijk, E., Aoki, S., Tamura, T., and Williams, G.D. 2018.
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Summer and fall heat may delay the timing of autumn foliage
We’re entering the most beautiful time of year—autumn—when temperate and boreal forests change from vibrant green to dozens of hues of yellow, orange, and red. Have you ever wondered what affects the timing of autumn leaf change? A recent study suggests that warmer than average summer and fall temperatures may delay the timing of leaf change in European beech trees, and while temperature may be the driving factor, how temperature differences may interact with other conditions (like drought) in the future is still unclear.
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Elephant Birds Never Forget
Recent research has uncovered evidence of human presence on Madagascar more than 6000 years earlier than previously thought. This may have big implications for how we understand human colonization of the island, as well as how prehistoric human-animal interactions can inform modern conservation.
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Left on REDD: International conservation policies fail to respond to local context
What happens when a groundbreaking international conservation program causes national inequity? As one participant states,
“we all have a common interest in keeping trees. The question is how? And for that we need to recognize the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples.”
Where will the tall trees grow?
What will the landscape look like when the world is four degrees warmer? Seven degrees warmer? Will you see the same trees and shrubs? Will the same birds visit your bird feeder? If you live in a forest now, will you then live in a desert? The implications have wide consequences not least for the production of food and the provision of water for your future self.
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At risk from atrazine?
Atrazine is one of the most widely used weed killers in the United States. It has been found in water used for drinking, irrigation, bathing etc. This post summarizes a recently released EPA report that looked to see if humans are at risk from atrazine.
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Using Mathematical Models to Better Understand Mosquito-Borne Disease Transmission
Diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are largely (or entirely!) spread by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes thrive in hot, humid weather. This is why we see more mosquitoes during the warm summer months – hotter weather means more mosquitoes. That should mean more mosquito-borne disease too, right? Not exactly. Recent research is showing that the relationship between temperature and the spread of these diseases is actually more complicated.
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Biking – When and where you ride could affect your health
Trading your car for a bike to get around can help reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, which is why many major cities have started to install bike lanes along roads. This study looks at the potential exposure to airborne black carbon, an indicator of fossil fuel combustion, that a bicyclist could experience during their commute in a major Brazilian city.
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Dropping the base: Could climate change make rivers and lakes more acidic?
We can thank the Clean Air Act for doing a lot to improve our environment, including helping to make rivers and lakes less acidic. But in some places, climate change has the potential to reverse some of that progress. In this study, scientists set out to investigate a potentially hidden impact of climate change: making rivers and streams more acidic.
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The vulnerability of Cafecito in Puerto Rico
Temperature change because of global climate change can impact the success of many important crops. Increasing temperatures can be challenging for coffee plants that thrive in cool and shaded environments. Read on to find out what the future holds for café in Puerto Rico.
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