climates

(a) Reconstruction of global volcanic forcing. (b) Reconstructed surface temperature anomalies (°C) relative to 1961–1990. (c) Ensemble mean of annual mean SAT anomalies (°C) from multi-model simulations. Credit: Science China Press Recently, a study by Dr. Sun Weiyi and Prof. Liu Jian from the School of Geography at Nanjing Normal University was published in Science China Earth Sciences. …

Recent research highlights significant changes at Earth’s poles, including shifts in ocean-sea ice dynamics and temperature extremes, with 2023’s record-low Southern Ocean ice potentially tied more to long-term warming than previously thought. Studies suggest the Antarctic is undergoing a “regime shift” in sea ice behavior, and differences in energy absorption between the poles could have far-reaching impacts on the climate.New research published in journals of the American Meteorological Society indicate changes in…

Artistic reconstruction of the Cabrières Biota. Credit: Christian McCallNearly 400 exceptionally well-preserved fossils dating back 470 million years have been discovered in the south of France by two amateur paleontologists. This new fossil site of worldwide importance has been analyzed by scientists from the University of Lausanne, in collaboration with the CNRS and international teams. This discovery provides unprecedented information on the polar ecosystems of the Ordovician period.Paleontology enthusiasts have…

Dripstone cut in two lengthwise, showing the different growth layers. Credit: Jenny Maccali A recent study demonstrates how dripstones can be crucial for reconstructing past climates. The new approach can provide a detailed picture of the climate around early human occupations in South Africa. "Dripstones, or speleothems, are…

The Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru has dramatically shrunk from 58 to 40 square kilometers between 1988 and 2023 due to climate change. This retreat is causing the loss of historical climate data preserved in the ice and significant environmental changes, including the formation of meltwater lakes and glacial floods.Ice cores and satellite images are helping preserve the history of a disappearing ice cap in the Peruvian Andes.The Quelccaya Ice Cap rests on a high-altitude plateau of the Andes Mountains in Peru. But like other…

By increasing the operating temperatures, Digital Realty was able to cut its total energy consumption in the two data halls by 2% to 3% during the trial period, according to IMDA. Trials also have commerced at a government data center as part of its sustainability efforts. The facility is operated by Government Technology Agency, which is the public sector's CIO office. The ability to sustainably run such infrastructures is critical as Singapore looks to boost its connectivity and compute capacities to support emerging…

An international research team has recently performed climate and glacier modeling to study the impacts of TP surface darkening on its glacier volume as well as the climate of the surrounding and remote regions in Asia. Their predictions are crucial for informing policymakers in developing better management policies and water allocation strategies. Credit: Shilong Piao from TPESER, China Owing to global warming effects, the…

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain An international team of scientists has reviewed the effectiveness of reanalysis data products for studying the climate over West Africa. Reanalysis data provides scientists with a blend of observations combining past weather forecasts rerun with modern forecasting models. These reanalysis datasets are beneficial alternatives that can be used to investigate climate conditions of any given…

Researchers have developed new lithium-ion batteries that perform well at both freezing cold and scorching hot temperatures while packing a lot of energy. The batteries, described in the journal PNAS, could allow electric vehicles in cold climates to travel farther on a single charge. They could also reduce the need for cooling systems to keep the vehicles' battery packs from overheating in hot climates.The researchers at the University of California (UC) San Diego in the US developed an electrolyte that is not only…

Contrary to popular belief, air-source heat pumps can work very well in cold climates. They’re now the best choice for energy efficiency and reducing heating bills, and that’s why their adoption is going to grow quickly in colder countries. Growth potential for cold-climate heat pumps Even when it’s below zero, there is still heat in the air, so during colder months, heat pumps extract outdoor air and move it to the inside of a home. In warmer months, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, removing heat from…