Combinations of heatwaves with wildfires, flooding, and crop failure will be more common by 2100. Credit: NOAA
Featured Research
Combinations of heatwaves with wildfires and other climate hazards to increase by 2100
New models show that under current greenhouse gas emissions, communities will have to battle multiple climate hazards at once. An increase of paired heatwaves and wildfires will be seen globally. Heatwaves coupled with crop failures will be more prevalent in Africa and the Americas, and in combination with soil drought around the Mediterranean. [Earth’s Future study]
Massive, exposed rock beds may have caused Snowball Earth
Earth entered two Snowball climate events, where ice covers most of the Earth, between 1 billion to 540 million years ago. How exactly the Earth came to be covered in ice has remained a mystery. Now researchers argue that the weathering of an area of land made of fresh volcanic rocks that stretched from Alaska through Northern Canada to Greenland, may be to blame. The weathering process removes carbon dioxide from the air, lowering the temperatures in a reverse greenhouse effect. The authors say ancient Earth has the perfect climate for a snowball effect, with a large volcanic explosion, low climate temperatures, and no plants that existed yet to obscure the rock’s view. [Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets study]
Synesthesia in humans inspires a new way for driverless cars to navigate busy city streets
A new machine learning model called Synesthesia of Machines outperformed other path prediction systems for AI-driven cars in a new study. The new method, which uses multiple input methods like mmWave radar, LiDAR, RBG-Depth cameras and light detection, responded faster and more accurately during model testing for intelligent transportation systems in AI-driven cars. [Radio Science study]
The risk of health problems will only increase as Earth passes planetary boundaries
A review of the latest science on “planetary boundaries” found a direct association between health risks and a breach of nine critical thresholds the researchers say Earth must maintain or risk catastrophic environmental loss. The review found a correlation between issues including increased temperatures and pollution with higher cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and worsening health for vulnerable populations. [GeoHealth review]
What’s changed—and what hasn’t—since the EPA’s endangerment finding
A scientist-authored brief played a role in the 2009 determination that greenhouse gases endanger public health. With the finding now up for reconsideration, the same scientists revisit their opinion. [Eos research spotlight] [AGU Advances study]
Where do Antarctic submarine canyons get their marine life?
A new study investigates how much of the phytoplankton in the Palmer Deep submarine canyon is homemade and how much is delivered. [Eos research highlights] [JGR Oceans study]
Early apes evolved in tropical forests disturbed by fires and volcanoes
Fossils discovered at an early Miocene site in Kenya include a new type of early ape and offer clues about the environment inhabited by human ancestors. [Eos research highlight] [Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology study]