Climate Warming Research Articles

Warming, nitrogen deposition, and provenance shift above-belowground insect interactions and host compensatory growth.

Above-belowground insect herbivore interactions and plant compensatory growth are crucial for reshaping the fitness of invasive plants, and it is likely that climate warming, nitrogen (N) deposition, and plant provenance influence this interaction and growth in a complex way. We performed an experiment with Solidago canadensis from home and introduced ranges, leaf-chewing Spodoptera litura, and root-feeding Protaetia brevitarsis under climate warming and N deposition, and addressed how these abiotic stressors and plant provenance jointly shaped the reciprocal effects between S. litura and P. brevitarsis and the compensatory growth of S. canadensis after herbivory. Under ambient conditions, S. litura and P. brevitarsis inhibited each other on the basis of growth; warming, N addition or warming plus N addition shifted or even reversed this competition depending on provenance. While the survival-based above-belowground interactions differed from growth-based ones, warming or warming plus N addition also shifted or even reversed the neutralism or amensalism detected under ambient conditions depending on provenance. S. canadensis from its home range was more tolerant of herbivory than from its introduced range under ambient conditions; warming, N addition or warming plus N addition decreased the plant compensatory growth of native S. canadensis, but increased that of invasive S. canadensis relative to ambient conditions. These findings suggest that climate warming and N deposition could enhance positive above-belowground insect interactions, increasing insect pressures on S. canadensis, and that plant provenance might be important in mediating climate change effects on insect interactions and host compensatory growth under plant invasions.

First insights into global permafrost-agroecosystems and recommendations for policymakers

First insights into global permafrost-agroecosystems and recommendations for policymakers Melissa Ward Jones discusses a recent paper published in Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research of the first global study on permafrost-agroecosystems, published by members of the International Permafrost Association Permafrost-agroecosystem Action Group. When one thinks of high-latitude and mountainous regions, one usually thinks of cold and snow, not agriculture. But agriculture does occur in these areas. The climate of these regions limits the options for which crops to grow, and chosen animal species, such as yaks and reindeer, are adapted to cold. These regions also contain permafrost, or perennially frozen ground, a unique feature of these regions. The response to thawing permafrost, caused either by climate warming or land use change for cultivation, is varied (Ward Jones, 2024). These responses range from simple increases in ground temperatures to ground surface collapse when permafrost is ice-rich. The presence of permafrost and its response to thaw can add additional challenges to agricultural activities.

A slower North Equatorial Countercurrent but faster Equatorial Undercurrent in a warming climate

Abstract We analyze century-end projections for the tropical Pacific upper-ocean currents simulated within the Climate Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) under global warming. We find that while the intensity of precipitation within the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) increases, the ITCZ also shifts towards the equator and broadens, which reduces wind stress curl north of the equator. Consequently, the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) shifts equatorward, following the ITCZ, and weakens, despite the more intense ITCZ. The strength of the North Equatorial Current (NEC) and the South Equatorial Current (SEC) also decreases due to the weakening of the Walker circulation and the corresponding wind stress. However, despite the weaker winds, the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) intensifies as it shoals due to stronger vertical stratification induced by surface warming. Furthermore, we find a slightly stronger zonal pressure gradient along the core of the EUC, instead of a weaker one expected from weaker wind stress and sea surface height gradient along the equator. Ultimately, we argue that it is reduced vertical friction theory due to increased ocean stratification and hence larger Richardson number that explains the faster EUC. These intricate balances control future changes in equatorial currents, and the uncertainties of projected changes need to be further examined.

CMIP6 models project a shrinking precipitation area

Reanalysis and satellite data indicate a decreasing precipitation area in recent decades, affecting local water resources and precipitation intensities. We have used CMIP6 simulations to test the hypothesis of a shrinking precipitation area in a warming climate. Our analyses reveal that SSP5-8.5 projections show a robust decrease in the precipitation area between 50 °S and 50 °N, and globally in 75% of the simulations. The new findings support the observed relationship, although to a lesser extent than earlier found in reanalysis and satellite data. We find a poleward shift of precipitation, increasing the daily precipitation area in the Arctic from 18% to 28%. At lower latitudes the precipitation area is reduced due to a decreasing occurrence of precipitation. These changes are related to the expansion of low relative humidity zones in the lower-to-mid troposphere, specifically at the poleward edges of the subtropics.

Evaluation and projection of changes in temperature and precipitation over Northwest China based on CMIP6 models

AbstractNorthwest China is much more sensitive to climate warming, and the climate has varied rapidly from warm and drought to warm and humid conditions. In addition, due to the complex terrain of Northwest China, the methods and parameterization schemes of different CMIP6 models, these models are mostly applied to arid areas in Northwest China or Central Asia, lacking climate data for plateau areas and eastern Lanzhou, specifically in filtering CMIP6 models and evaluating applicable models. In this paper, 34 CMIP6 climate models are used to evaluate and forecast future trends in Northwest China under the SSP126, SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios in the short, medium and long term. CMIP6 models of temperature and precipitation are identified by applying the interannual variability skill score (IVS) between CN05.1 datasets and historical CMIP6 models, which are suitable for Northwest China. Then, we assess the characteristics, warming and wetting deviations, and uncertainties in the prediction of climatic change according to CMIP6 models over Northwest China. The results show that CMIP6 models in precipitation and temperature applicable to Northwest China are AWI‐CM‐1‐1‐MR, BCC‐CSM2‐MR, FGOALS‐g3, INM‐CM4‐8, INM‐CM5‐0 and MRI‐ESM2‐0. The multi‐model ensemble mean (MMEM) has better capability than individual CMIP6 models in precipitation and temperature prediction. Spatiotemporal climatic change over Northwest China shows overall warming and wetting trends. The IVS provides the ability to estimate CMIP6 model simulation performance both temporally and spatially. The temperature simulation is quite good in the Tarim Basin and Hexi Corridor region, and the precipitation simulation is quite good in the plateau region, Altai Mountains, Tianshan Mountains and Hexi Corridor region. Cold and wet deviations occur in Northwest China due to the topography and few stations, which are common reasons. The main sources of uncertainties in temperature prediction during this century are model uncertainty (before the 2090s) and scenario variability (after the 2090s), and model uncertainty in precipitation for CMIP6 becomes the main source of uncertainty.

Изменения литоральных популяций рачков-балянусов Semibalanus balanoides (L.) Кольского залива и Восточного Мурмана в период потепления климата в Арктике

Methods for bioindication of early climate impacts in the marine ecosystem are unknown and being developed for the first time. The high rate of changes in the littoral barnacle Semibalanus balanoides (L.) populations is of key importance for bioindication. Mass mortality and significant decrease in the abundance over 1–3 years were observed in estuaries only and mainly associated with an increase of spring floods during the period of ongoing climate warming in the Arctic. The survival of the juveniles appeared in 2023 (up to 8000 sp/m2) fully depends on further climate changes.

Earth observation reveals the shifting patterns of China's lake colour driven by climate change and land cover

Water colour has been recognized as one of the most important Essential Climate Variables of the lake ecosystem, as it is directly related to changes in water constituents and almost all of the lake's ecological changes could alter water colour. Given the high retrieval accuracy from existing Earth observation satellite data, water colour, in terms of Forel Ule Index (FUI), can be a realistic indicator to track the long-term changes in the lake ecosystem and further explore the lake response to environmental changes. This paper aims to comprehensively investigate the spatiotemporal variation patterns of FUI in 159 large lakes (≥25 km2) across China during 2000–2022 based on the MODIS data and detect the climatic and anthropogenic driving forces of these changes. The 23 years of MODIS records revealed an overall downward trend of lake FUI across China, indicating the lakes in China shifted to bluer colour during the past two decades. Through driving factor analyses, the complicated interplay among lake colour, lake morphology, regional climate shifts and human interference dynamics was uncovered. In the long term, it was found the pronounced change in lake colour in the western lake zones was primarily attributed to climate warming and humidification, whereas that in the eastern lake zones was mainly related to the alterations in regional land cover during the past two decades. Seasonally, lake basin's air temperature was identified as the main factor impacting the seasonal patterns of lake colour, followed by wind speed and runoff. Spatially, there was high spatial variability in lake colour across China, which was mainly associated with lake elevation and lake basin's precipitation rate, although the factors exhibited considerable divergence across different zones. Based upon the above findings, the implications for lake environment protection and management in different regions of China were further discussed.

Temporal dynamics of alpha and beta diversity of lake algae: Opposing patterns and influencing factors over the past 200 years

Abstract Better understanding of the responses of algal biodiversity to multiple pressures, such as climate warming and eutrophication, is a key issue in aquatic ecology. Alpha and beta diversity may have various patterns over temporal scales, especially in the Anthropocene, when external pressures became more multifaceted. However, the limited availability of historical data hampers the exploration of algal biodiversity through time. Recently, sediment DNA has emerged as a potential tool for elucidating temporal patterns in algal communities. Here, we used sediment DNA to reconstruct temporal turnover and diversity of algal communities in four remote lakes in northern China over the past 200 years. Furthermore, to distinguish the contributions of possible influencing environmental factors, we conducted structural equation modelling. Our results revealed that algal communities have experienced rapid shifts since the Anthropocene, characterized by increased alpha diversity and decreased temporal beta diversity. Warmer climate and eutrophication were associated with changes in alpha diversity, while temporal environmental variation was associated with temporal beta diversity. This study revealed opposing patterns in alpha and beta diversity for algal communities, possibly caused by warming, eutrophication and lower temporal environmental variation, respectively. While climatic factors played a major role in remote lakes with a natural environment, lakes that are more human impacted may be more structured by nutrient‐related factors. Under climate warming and intensified human activities, remote lakes may encounter complex pressures in the near future. Our findings offer valuable insights into patterns in aquatic biodiversity and possible factors underlying multiple pressures.

The origins of Storm Ciarán: From diabatic Rossby wave to warm‐seclusion cyclone with a sting jet

AbstractThe evolution of Storm Ciarán was different from what is commonly attributed to windstorms affecting northwest Europe. Ciarán initially developed as a diabatic Rossby wave, driven by low‐level latent heat release and with negligible upper tropospheric forcing. It then crossed the jet stream, intensifying explosively while developing a low‐level warm seclusion and producing extreme near‐surface winds, including sting jets. Ciarán is an example of an extreme windstorm following this pathway and highlights the need of a systematic assessment of its relevance in our warming climate.

Automatic Detection and Identification of Calcareous Nannofossils in Chalk Using Deep Learning: A Proof-of-Concept Study for Biostratigraphy and Climate Research

Calcareous nannofossils serve as crucial indicators for establishing the biostratigraphic age of chalk macrofossil specimens in natural science collections. Better age control of specimens collected several hundred years ago enables us to uncover the dark data hidden within these collections and incorporate these data into current research projects, examining ecosystem response to past climate change. However, the manual identification of these microscopic organisms is laborious and subjective, and so we are harnessing deep learning techniques for automatic nannofossil detection and identification. This approach required the construction of a robust dataset, currently comprising over 100,000 labelled images, complemented by the development of multiple specialised deep learning models. While some models focus on detecting target species, others are dedicated to species classification. Evaluation on an independent test set showcases the efficacy of our methodology, with the current detection model achieving a balanced accuracy of 93%. Similarly, the classification model demonstrates robust performance, attaining an average balanced accuracy of 96%. Furthermore, as well as assisting with our biostratigraphic studies, the dataset of accurately labelled images has enabled us to test other aspects of ecosystem response. For example, examining morphometric changes in nannofossils over geological time can provide valuable insights into the potential impact of current global warming on modern phytoplankton assemblages (Mancini et al. 2021). This is particularly important for coccolithophores (Young et al. 2005), which play a critical role as primary producers in the global carbon cycle. A decrease in their size could lead to bottom-up ecosystem impacts and reduced carbon sequestration (Poulton et al. 2007, Krumhardt et al. 2017). Using our dataset, we conducted a deep-learning-enhanced automatic morphometric analysis focusing on the nannofossil species, Tranolithus orionatus. Our analysis revealed that two key morphometric parameters, minor axis and area size, showed statistically significant differences between the Cenomanian stage (approximately 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago) and the post-Cenomanian stages of the Late Cretaceous (approximately 93.9 to 66.0 million years ago). Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests (Massey 1951) between the two samples yielded p-values of 0.039 for the minor axis and 0.031 for the area size. Understanding these morphometric changes is crucial due to the close parallels between current climate projections and the warming and greenhouse climate of the Late Cretaceous, particularly the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary event (Arthur et al. 1990). Insights into how organisms changed morphologically during past periods of environmental stress can help us more effectively predict future responses of organisms under similar conditions (Razmjooei et al. 2020). These findings underscore the effectiveness of our approach in automating the identification and recognition of chalk nannofossils, helping to unlock natural science collections and to address key questions related to marine response to past climate change.

Surging compound drought–heatwaves underrated in global soils

Compound drought-heatwaves (CDHWs) accelerate the warming and drying of soils, triggering soil compound drought-heatwaves (SCDHWs) that jeopardize the health of soil ecosystems. Nevertheless, the behavior of these events worldwide and their responses to climatic warming are underexplored. Here, we show a global escalation in the frequency, duration, peak intensity, and severity of SCDHWs, as well as an increase in affected land area, from 1980 to 2023. The increasing trends, which are particularly prominent since the early 2000 s, and projected to persist throughout this century, are dominated by summertime SCDHWs and enhanced by El Niño. Intensive soil warming as well as climatologically lower soil temperatures compared to air temperatures lead to localized hotspots of escalating SCDHW severity in northern high latitudes, while prolonged duration causes such hotspots in northern South America. Transformation of natural ecosystems, particularly forests and wetlands, to cropland as well as forest degradation substantially enhance the strength of SCDHWs. Global SCDHWs consistently exhibit higher frequencies, longer durations, greater severities, and faster growth rates than CDHWs in all aspects from 1980 to 2023. They are undergoing a critical transition, with droughts replacing heatwaves as the primary constraint. We emphasize the significant intensification of SCDHWs in northern high latitudes as well as the prolonged duration of SCDHWs in the Southern Hemisphere, posing an underrated threat to achieving carbon neutrality and food security goals.

Sedimentary factors controlling the organic matter enrichment in oil shale, Seyitömer Lacustrine Basin, Western Anatolia: New implications from organic and inorganic geochemistry

AbstractWestern Anatolia, an important segment of the Alp‐Himalayan Belt, hosts numerous Neogene lacustrine basins with potential oil shale reserves surpassing 1.6 billion tonnes. Among these basins, the Seyitömer Basin (Kütahya) stands out, containing oil shales that are intercalated with claystone, marl, limestone and coal layers. This study presents a comprehensive dataset of organic and inorganic chemistry to gain insight into the palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironmental factors that control the enrichment of organic matter. The studied samples exhibit high total organic carbon contents, averaging 12.85% (ranging from 2.22 to 36.21%), high hydrogen indices (486–812 mgHC/g rock) and low oxygen indices (33–70 mgCO2/g total organic carbon), indicating their substantial hydrocarbon‐source potential. These characteristics indicate predominantly ‘excellent’ to occasionally ‘very good’ source rock qualities and very high oil potential. Their pyrolysis, gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometer parameters indicate an immature‐early mature characteristic for Seyitömer oil shale samples. They comprise dominantly Type‐I kerogen with minor Type‐II kerogen and lacustrine algal organic matter. Their sedimentological characteristics, along with various geochemical values, such as total organic carbon versus S, B versus Ga and dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene, reveal a moderately deep fresh/brackish to saline lacustrine environment. The Ga/Rb, K/Al and Sr/Cu ratios suggest dominantly humid and warm climate conditions, occasionally interrupted by periods of less humidity. The prevalence of warm and humid climate conditions leads to intense chemical weathering processes, supported by high Chemical Index of Alteration and low Rb/Sr ratios in the associated oil shale samples. Intense chemical weathering and high runoff resulted in dissolved nutrient enrichment, promoting ecological dynamics favourable to increased productivity. Their low Pr/Ph and Mo/total organic carbon ratios, high Ni/Co ratio and, relatively low MoEF/UEF ratio, along with well‐developed lamination of the oil shales, indicate the presence of anoxic conditions in the bottom water. These anoxic conditions would have facilitated the preservation potential of organic matter in the samples. Thus, the palaeoclimate conditions integrated with sedimentary factors have an important role in the ecological dynamic and physical–chemical environmental conditions, ultimately contributing to the organic matter enrichment of the studied samples. This work provides a case study to better understand the sedimentary factors controlling organic matter enrichment in the lacustrine basins of the Alp‐orogenic belt.

Necromass responses to warming: A faster microbial turnover in favor of soil carbon stabilisation

Microbial byproducts and residues (hereafter ‘necromass’) potentially play the most critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, little is known about the influence of climate warming on necromass accumulation in the agroecosystem and the underlying mechanisms associated with microbial life strategies. In order to address these knowledge gaps, we used amino sugars as biomarkers of microbial necromass, and investigated their variation through an 8-year trial in an agroecosystem with two warming levels (+1.6 and + 3.2 °C) compared to ambient temperature. The results showed that the lower warming level had no impact on total microbial necromass carbon. Conversely, warming the soil 3.2 °C above ambient increased total microbial necromass by 17 % and its contribution to SOC by 21.3 %, mainly by increasing fungal necromass (+19.8 %), whereas +3.2 °C warming had no impact on bacterial necromass. At the phylum level, compared with the ambient control, +3.2 °C warming induced an increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria and a decrease in both Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria, whereas in the fungal community, Ascomycota increased and Mortierellomycota decreased. This indicates that r-strategists outcompete K-strategists in warmer climates, which led to increased microbial necromass production and accumulation, as supported by the positive correlation between r-strategists and microbial necromass. Stronger microbial competition for resources also resulted in a higher biomass turnover rate, greater cell death, and greater production of microbial necromass. This was supported by the lower bacterial and fungal network complexity and trophic links under warming conditions. In addition, the necromass generated from accelerated microbial turnover further offsets warming-induced deceases in microbial biomass. Consequently, bulk SOC did not change, despite microbial necromass having a much greater response to warming than the soil C pool. Therefore, future climate warming may influence the composition and persistence of SOC during microbial degradation.

Exceptional heatwaves and mortality in Europe: Greater impacts since the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak

Record-breaking hot weather (exceptional heatwaves) has been increasingly common worldwide, posing a significant threat to human health. However, little is known about the effect of these exceptional heatwaves on mortality in Europe, especially since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which converges with climate change to affect healthcare systems and human lives. We collected mortality data of 967 regions in 30 European countries over the last decade (2014–2023) from the Eurostat. A standard time-series analysis was used to estimate the effect of exceptional heatwaves by quasi-Poisson regression model, including the main effect (effect from heatwave intensity) and the added effect (effect from heatwave duration), on mortality for each region during two periods (before and since the COVID-19 outbreak). We used random effects meta-analysis to pool the mortality risk (i.e., relative risk [RR]) and burden (i.e., attributable fraction [AF]) associated with exceptional heatwaves, at the country level and for Europe as a whole. In Europe, the mortality burden attributable to main and added effects increased from 0.492% (95% CI: 0.488%–0.496%) to 1.276% (95% CI: 1.266%–1.285%) and from 0.307% (95% CI: 0.294%–0.318%) to 0.428% (95% CI: 0.407%–0.448%), respectively. Furthermore, substantial variations across countries were observed, with some countries such as France and Spain experiencing a large increase in the mortality burden attributable to exceptional heatwaves since the COVID-19 outbreak. Our findings underscore the urgent need for heat-health actions to consider the multi-effects of exceptional heatwaves amidst a warming climate.

Changes in the radial growth patterns of two dominant tree species in north-central China under climate warming

The radial growth pattern of alpine coniferous trees in the mid-high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere has an unstable and inconsistent response to climate warming. Understanding the growth trends of trees in the past and future is crucial for forest cultivation against the background of climate change. Thus, we used traditional dendroclimatological methods to analyze the radial growth patterns and stability in response to climate change of the two dominant species on Guancen Mountain and concluded that: (1) the radial growth of Larix principis-rupprechtii was more sensitive than that of Picea meyeri to climatic factors; (2) before and after the abrupt temperature change, the major controlling climatic factors for the radial growth of the two dominant species were spring precipitation and mean temperature, respectively; (3) before the abrupt temperature change, the radial growth of L. principis-rupprechtii was affected by the mean temperature in autumn, while that of P. meyeri was restricted by the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index in spring; after the abrupt temperature change, the major controlling climate factors of L. principis-rupprechtii and P. meyeri were winter drought and the combination of water and heat in summer, respectively; and (4) after the abrupt temperature change, the interannual basal area increments of the two species followed an upward trend, however, the radial growth rate of both species decreased after detrending, and the growth and development of both species were seriously stressed by drought. Under the background of climate warming, to explore the coping situation of different tree species in the same habitat, to provide theoretical and mechanism support for the future cultivation of forests according to local conditions, and to provide suggestions for the "greening" problem fundamentally.

Long-term rice-crayfish farming alters soil dissolved organic carbon quality and biodegradability by regulating microbial metabolism and iron oxidation

The biodegradability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a crucial process in the migration and transformation of soil organic carbon (SOC), and play a vital role in the global soil carbon (C) cycle. Although the significance of DOC in SOC transportation and microbial utilization is widely acknowledged, the impact of long-term rice-crayfish (RC) farming on the content, quality, and biodegradability of DOC in paddy soils, as well as regulatory mechanisms involved, remains unclear. To address this gap, a space-for-time method was employed to investigate the effects of different RC farming durations (1-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20- years) on the quality and biodegradability of DOC, as well as their relationship with soil microbial metabolism and minerals in this study. The results revealed that continuous RC farming increased the soil DOC content, but reduced DOC biodegradability. Specifically, after 20 years of continuous RC farming, the DOC content increased by 52.7% compared to the initial year, whereas the DOC biodegradability decreased by 63.4%. Analysis using three-dimensional fluorescence and ultraviolet spectroscopy demonstrated that continuous RC farming resulted in a decrease in the relative abundance of humus-like fractions, humification, and aromaticity indexes in DOC, but increased the relative abundance of protein-like fractions, biological, and fluorescence index, indicating that long-term RC farming promoted the simple depolymerization of the molecular structure of DOC. Continuous RC farming increased the activity of hydrolase involved in soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles and oxidase, but decreasing the hydrolase C/N and C/P acquisition ratios; moreover, it also stimulated an increase in soil iron oxides and exchangeable calcium content. Structural equation modeling suggests that soil hydrolases and iron oxides are the primary drivers of DOC quality change, with DOC biodegradability being driven solely by soil iron oxides and not regulated by DOC quality. In conclusion, long-term RC farming promotes the catalytic decomposition of DOC aromatic substances and the production of DOC protein-like components by increasing soil oxidase activity and decreasing the hydrolase C/N acquisition ratio; these processes collectively contribute to the simple depolymerization of DOC molecular structure. Additionally, long-term RC farming induced legacy effects of soil iron oxides and enhanced chemical protection role leading to reduced DOC biodegradability. These findings suggested that long-term RC farming may reduce the rapid turnover and loss of DOC, providing a negative feedback on climate warming.

A simulation analysis on the internal and external application of new silica-aerogel-based (Quartzene) coatings effects on energy use in a typical building in two different climates

The study investigates the impact of improved synthetic amorphous silica, specifically developed aerogel-based insulating coatings, Quartzene (Qz), on energy efficiency in buildings across cold and warm climate zones. Simulations were conducted on various coatings and thicknesses for exterior and interior wall surfaces, as well as roofs. These were evaluated using a prototype residential building under dynamic thermal conditions. Wall coatings were analyzed, including a base plaster and a mixture with 10%Wt aerogel-based Quartzene. Additionally, three roof coating samples were tested: Qz 12.5%Wt, TiO2 3.3%Wt, and a blend of aerogel-based mixtures and TiO2. Mixtures containing Qz exhibited the lowest thermal conductivity (0.05 W/(m·K)) and high short-wave reflectance (up to 0.93 μm), impacting transmission loads, time lag, and decrement factor. Energy savings of up to 11% were observed in warm climates when implementing the coatings (unaged performance). Overall, the coated surfaces increased time lag and reduced decrement factor compared to uncoated surfaces. Aerogel-based coatings showed enhanced effectiveness in lowering transmission loads.

A Study of the Diversity Patterns of Desert Vegetation Communities in an Arid Zone of China.

The Gobi Desert ecosystem is currently experiencing the impacts of persistent climate warming and extreme weather. However, the relative influences of factors such as soil, climate, and spatial variables on the β-diversity of desert plants and their key components have not been systematically studied. In this research, the Dunhuang North Mountain and Mazong Mountain areas were selected as study areas, with a total of 79 plant community plots systematically established. The aim was to explore intercommunity β-diversity and its components and to analyze the interrelationships with climate factors, soil factors, and geographic distance. The results indicate that (1) there is a geographic decay pattern and significant differences among plant communities in the Dunhuang North Mountain and Mazong Mountain areas, with β-diversity primarily driven by replacement components. (2) Climate, soil, and geographic distance significantly influence β-diversity and its replacement components, with climate factors exerting the greatest influence and geographic distance the least. (3) Multiple regression analysis (MRM) reveals differential effects of climate factors, soil factors, and geographic distance on β-diversity and its replacement components, with climate and soil factors exerting a much greater influence than geographic distance. In summary, the β-diversity of plant communities and their replacement components in the Dunhuang North Mountain and Mazong Mountain areas result from the combined effects of habitat filtering and dispersal limitation, with habitat filtering having a greater impact, while environmental heterogeneity is an important factor influencing species differences in this region.

Plant community responses to the individual and interactive effects of warming and herbivory across multiple years.

Anthropogenic climate warming affects plant communities by changing community structure and function. Studies on climate warming have primarily focused on individual effects of warming, but the interactive effects of warming with biotic factors could be at least as important in community responses to climate change. In addition, climate change experiments spanning multiple years are necessary to capture interannual variability and detect the influence of these effects within ecological communities. Our study explores the individual and interactive effects of warming and insect herbivory on plant traits and community responses within a 7-year warming and herbivory manipulation experiment in two early successional plant communities in Michigan, USA. We find stronger support for the individual effects of both warming and herbivory on multiple plant morphological and phenological traits; only the timing of plant green-up and seed set demonstrated an interactive effect between warming and herbivory. With herbivory, warming advanced green-up, but with reduced herbivory, there was no significant effect of warming. In contrast, warming increased plant biomass, but the effect of warming on biomass did not depend upon the level of insect herbivores. We found that these treatments had stronger effects in some years than others, highlighting the need for multiyear experiments. This study demonstrates that warming and herbivory can have strong direct effects on plant communities, but that their interactive effects are limited in these early successional systems. Because the strength and direction of these effects can vary by ecological context, it is still advisable to include levels of biotic interactions, multiple traits and years, and community type when studying climate change effects on plants and their communities.

Amazon severe drought in 2023 triggered surface water loss

Abstract The Amazon underwent a severe austral springtime drought attributed to the onset of El Niño in 2023 and the warmer North Atlantic, Indian, and North Pacific Oceans. The Amazon rivers, lakes, small streams, wetlands, and reservoirs quickly lowered their water level below historical records due to decreased rainfall and warmth in the region. Based on satellite imagery, this study presents the first estimate of the water loss extent in the 4.2 million km2 of the Brazilian Amazon biome (∼62% of the Amazon total biome) in 2023. We estimated the loss of 3.3 million hectares of surface water relative to 2022, with an overall accuracy of 92%. The surface water losses were concentrated in the states of Amazonas (59.4%) and Pará (25.5), adding up to 2.8 million hectares. The warmer and drier climate in the region affected the main rivers in the Amazon. Among them, the Solimões, Negro, Purus, Acre, and Branco suffered extreme drops in their levels in some regions, resulting in a high negative impact on the aquatic biodiversity, yet estimated only in local areas. A total of 1.14 million hectares of surface water loss (i.e. 35%) was detected within protected areas territories, affecting extractivist, indegenous, African-Brazilian, and fishing and traditional communities. Proximity analysis revealed that 75% of the 2023 surface water loss was within 25 km of small towns, 48% and 65.8% at 50 km from indigenous villages and urban areas, respectively. Our results reinforce people’s vulnerability to climate change, anticipating a plausible adverse impact scenario in the Amazon region and urging solutions to adaptation and mitigation. Therefore, an integrated monitoring system based on climate and water dynamics from satellite and ground stations is necessary to improve understanding of the problem for timing response of climatic change negative impacts.