Phys.org: Earth science

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The latest news on earth sciences and the environment
Updated: 5 hours 32 min ago

Everglades ecosystems show mixed reactions to rising sea levels

Mon, 06/30/2025 - 20:37
Scientists have discovered that changes in climate and water levels are reducing the ability of some ecosystems in the Everglades to sequester carbon, while the environmental shifts are enhancing the potential for carbon uptake by scrub mangroves.

New 3D glacier visualizations provide insights into a hotter Earth

Mon, 06/30/2025 - 20:10
As glaciers retreat due to a rise in global temperatures, one study shows that detailed 3D elevation models could drastically improve predictions about how they react to Earth's warming climate.

Southern Ocean saltier, hotter and losing ice fast as decades-long trend unexpectedly reverses

Mon, 06/30/2025 - 19:00
Researchers have discovered a dramatic and unexpected shift in the Southern Ocean, with surface water salinity rising and sea ice in steep decline.

How rare earth elements move and accumulate in the desert and other cold regions

Mon, 06/30/2025 - 18:33
They're in the headlines every week—critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and the rare earth elements essential for high-technology and national security applications.

Santorini earthquakes traced to sideways magma movement in crust, not traditional volcanic centers

Mon, 06/30/2025 - 13:10
When the island of Santorini was rattled by thousands of small earthquakes earlier this year, many people were left mystified about the source of the tremors.

Natural hazards don't disappear when the storm ends or the earthquake stops—they evolve

Sat, 06/28/2025 - 12:20
Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.

Tiny ocean migrants play a massive role in Southern Ocean carbon storage, study finds

Fri, 06/27/2025 - 18:24
A new study has revealed that small but mighty zooplankton—including copepods, krill, and salps—are key players in the Southern Ocean's ability to absorb and store carbon.

Study reveals uneven land sinking across New Orleans, raising flood-risk concerns

Fri, 06/27/2025 - 18:00
Parts of New Orleans and its surrounding wetlands are gradually sinking, and while most of the city remains stable, a new study from Tulane University researchers suggests that sections of the region's $15 billion post-Katrina flood protection system may need regular upgrades to outpace long-term land subsidence.

Study challenges recent claims about rapid Antarctic 'greening'

Fri, 06/27/2025 - 15:42
A new study challenges recent claims about dramatic "greening" in Antarctica and how this conflicts with decades of field-based ecological knowledge. The new opinion article, "Is Antarctica Greening?" published in Global Change Biology, responds directly to recent high-profile studies that asserted unprecedented ecological transformations based on remote sensing data.

New study tracks soil carbon pathways and confirms mineral-associated organic matter as the most stable carbon pool

Fri, 06/27/2025 - 14:12
A global study has revealed that mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) serves as the most stable long-term reservoir of carbon across diverse ecosystems, providing new insights into how carbon moves and stabilizes in soils.

Mild to moderate harmful algal bloom predicted for western Lake Erie

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 20:33
NOAA and its research partners are forecasting a mild to moderate harmful algal bloom (HAB) in western Lake Erie this summer. This year's bloom is expected to measure 3 on the HAB severity index, with a potential range of 2–4.

New research aims to better predict and understand cascading land surface hazards

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 20:16
When an extreme weather event occurs, the probability or risk of other events can often increase, leading to what researchers call "cascading" hazards.

These Canadian rocks may be the oldest on Earth

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 19:15
Scientists have identified what could be the oldest rocks on Earth from a rock formation in Canada.

New gravity mission will detect weakening ocean conveyor

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 19:10
At this year's Living Planet Symposium, attendees heard how ESA's Next Generation Gravity Mission could provide the first opportunity to directly track a vital ocean circulation system that warms our planet—but is now weakening, risking a possible collapse with far-reaching consequences.

Scientists capture slow-motion earthquake in action

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 18:00
Scientists for the first time have detected a slow slip earthquake in motion during the act of releasing tectonic pressure on a major fault zone at the bottom of the ocean.

Ocean warming patterns key to accurate tropical cyclone climate projections

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 17:00
A new review published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences sheds light on one of climate science's enduring puzzles: how the patterns of tropical ocean warming influence the behavior of tropical cyclones (TCs) in a warming world. An international team of scientists synthesizes decades of observational evidence and climate modeling advances to chart a path forward for more reliable TC projections.

Study shows controlled burns can reduce wildfire intensity and smoke pollution

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 13:00
As wildfires increasingly threaten lives, landscapes, and air quality across the U.S., a Stanford-led study published in AGU Advances finds that prescribed burns can help reduce risks.

Study challenges climate change's link to the wild winter jet stream

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 13:00
A new study challenges the idea that climate change is behind the erratic wintertime behavior of the polar jet stream, the massive current of Arctic air that regulates weather for much of the Northern Hemisphere.

AI enhances sea surface temperature data for better climate and weather forecasts

Thu, 06/26/2025 - 11:07
Every summer, typhoons threatening the Korean Peninsula draw their energy from the warm waters of the Northwest Pacific Ocean. In recent years, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events—such as heat waves, droughts, and heavy rains—have been increasingly linked to rising sea surface temperatures (SST).

Low-cost carbon capture? Bury wood debris in managed forests

Wed, 06/25/2025 - 17:25
Taking carbon out of the atmosphere is essential for slowing global warming—and a team of Cornell University researchers has estimated "huge" potential for carbon capture using a method that is low-tech, sustainable and relatively simple: burying wood, especially the debris from managed forests.

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