Paleoclimatology

Recent research led by Penn State indicates that trees in warmer, drier environments struggle to absorb carbon dioxide, compromising their ability to counteract climate change. The study highlights an increase in photorespiration—a process where stressed trees release CO2—under these conditions, challenging the efficacy of trees as natural carbon sinks in a warming world. Credit: SciTechDaily.comTrees are struggling to sequester heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) in warmer, drier climates, meaning that they may no longer…

Australian geologists have identified low volcanic CO2 emissions and rock weathering in Canada as key factors behind an extreme ice age 700 million years ago. Their research, informed by plate tectonic modeling and geological evidence from South Australia, sheds light on Earth’s climate sensitivity and its natural thermostat mechanisms, contrasting the slow pace of geological climate change with the rapid changes driven by human activities. Credit: NASAVolcanic carbon emissions reached an all-time low, triggering a global…

By MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen February 7, 2024A collaborative study has revealed a correlation between climate change and the occurrence of pandemics in the Roman Empire, suggesting that climate-induced stress may have played a role in triggering these outbreaks. This research underscores the importance of examining the links between climate change, health, and societal resilience to better prepare for future challenges.Specimens obtained from the seabed offer the inaugural…