This figure shows modeled predictions for how the most extreme snowfall events will change for the northeastern U.S. under 2, 3, and 4 degrees C of warming. Credit: McCray et al., JGR Atmospheres

Featured research

Volcanoes may have larger impact on future climate than expected 

Models used to predict climate change may underestimate the cooling impact of volcanoes. A new study found that volcanic sulfur dioxide emissions from 2015 to 2100 will likely exceed the volume of emissions from 1850 to 2015. The authors suggest climate models use scenarios that better represent future volcanic activity instead of historic eruption data. [Geophysical Research Letters research] 

Eastern North American snowstorms to shift north as climate warms 

Annual total snowfall is likely to decrease across the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada as temperatures rise. However, major snowstorms will shift northward and produce most of the region’s snowfall during a few large events. [JGR Atmospheres research] 

Rising temperatures lower Venice’s salt marshes’ ability to sequester carbon 

Salt marshes decompose organic matter slowly, allowing them to sequester and store carbon for long periods of time. In a new study, scientists found that an increase in temperature by one-degree Celsius led to an 8% increase in the marsh’s decomposition rates. As the climate warms, a quicker rate of decomposition could cause the marsh to release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. [JGR Biogeosciences research] 

Western Amazonia more vulnerable to tree-flinging thunderstorms 

Rainforests in western Amazonia are at a higher risk of windthrows than the rest of the Amazon, a new study found. Increasingly large convective storm systems paired with a slower tree growth rate and lower wood density leave this region particularly susceptible to tree mortality – contributing to deforestation and releasing carbon into the atmosphere. [Geophysical Research Letters research] 

A new workflow to image the 3D structure of active faults 

A new approach to illuminate 3D fault structures using earthquake hypocenters could help detect previously unknown, potentially hazardous earthquake-generating faults and improve understanding of earthquakes processes in general. [Eos Editors’ Highlights] [JGR Solid Earth research] 

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Visit the AGU Newsroom to register for access to AGU journals and find experts and featured research in various topic areas. Visit eos.org to read Research Spotlights and Editors’ Highlights.  

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AGU (www.agu.org) is a global community supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct. 

American Geophysical Union
21 June 2023

Featured research

Climate cooling strategy may raise wildfire risk in some areas

Scientists have proposed injecting aerosols that reflect sunlight into the stratosphere to cool global temperatures. But this climate intervention method could actually increase wildfire risk in some regions such as western Central Africa. [Earth’s Future research]

South Asia and Africa to face increased lung cancer risk due to biomass burning

Organic matter is burned during biomass fuel consumption and other activities, creating a cancer-causing byproduct known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Future changes in emissions and climate may increase PAH-associated risks in south Asia and Africa by 2050. [Earth’s Future research]

Rising temperatures limit mobility in densely populated areas

A study found that people in San Francisco were less likely to leave their homes due to excessive heat during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the role of local temperature during a period of already restricted mobility. Lower-income communities were found to be less likely to change their day-to-day mobility than higher-income communities. [GeoHealth research]

Three Gorges Dam turned China’s largest freshwater lake into a carbon sink

The Three Gorges Dam has dramatically altered the surrounding ecosystem, including lowering Poyang Lake’s water level. This has allowed for an expansion of carbon-absorbing wetland vegetation. As a result, the country’s largest freshwater lake has changed from a carbon source to a carbon sink as the surrounding greenery sequesters carbon dioxide. [Geophysical Research Letters research]

Mapping beaver dams with machine learning

Beavers are ecosystem engineers, altering the landscape and ecosystems as they build their dams. Scientists are using machine learning to detect beaver dams across the United States and learn more about their impacts to local environments. [JGR Biogeosciences research] [Eos Editor’s Highlight]

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 Visit the AGU Newsroom to register for access to AGU journals and find experts and featured research in various topic areas. Visit eos.org to read Research Spotlights and Editors’ Highlights.

***  
 AGU (www.agu.org) is a global community supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.

American Geophysical Union
14 June 2023

AGU News

Wildfires Special Collection for all your fire reporting needs

Explore AGU’s “Fire in the Earth System” special collection, which brings together more than 100 studies on wildfires past, present and future. It’s a great resource for digging up background information, discovering new angles and finding new sources for wildfire. [Peruse the Special Collection]

Featured video

The “hole” in the bottom of the sea

The Indian Ocean Geoid Low is the deepest dent in Earth’s gravitational field, but how did it get there? Researchers tackled this question in a new study and found that sinking slabs of an ancient oceanic plate deep into the mantle beneath Africa could be to blame.  [Video][Geophysical Research Letters research]

Featured research

Prescribed burns could reduce smoke exposure in vulnerable rural communities

The U.S. West Coast experiences frequent wildfires, threatening air quality for the region’s most vulnerable communities. Large-scale prescribed burning could mitigate this crisis and reduce the amount of smoke in rural communities and dense population centers across the West. [Harvard press release] [Earth’s Future research]

Large Greenland glacier at risk of melting

Scientists thought one of the largest glaciers in Greenland was stable; while ice around it has shrunk, it’s remained about the same size. But new analyses reveal subglacial channels are growing, suggesting the glacier is more vulnerable to climate change and melt than previously thought. [Geophysical Research Letters research]

Aerosols unexpectedly make parts of the ocean warmer 
While most of the ocean cools when aerosols are added into the atmosphere, parts of the Southern and North Atlantic oceans actually get warmer, a new study finds. The change in temperature depends on ocean currents, sea ice, the concentration of aerosols and where they are being emitted from. [JGR Oceans research]

Send in the drones: safely monitoring volcanic gas emissions

Scientists are sending drones into the plumes of active volcanoes to measure volcanic gases. The team tested this approach at Bagana Volcano in Papua New Guinea and are hoping to use drones to monitor more inaccessible volcanoes in the future. [Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems research] [Eos editor’s highlight]

***
 Visit the AGU Newsroom to register for access to AGU journals and find experts and featured research in various topic areas. Visit eos.org to read Research Spotlights and Editors’ Highlights.

***  
 AGU (www.agu.org) is a global community supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.