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Categories: Geoscience: Environmental Issues, Geoscience: Landslides
Published Rivers play key role in destructive coastal flooding, new research shows


Rising oceans get more attention in climate change discussions, but rivers are rising, too, according to new research. The research shows that rivers need more attention in policy management and disaster preparation, both at the coast and farther inland.
Published Earthquakes and extreme rainfall lead to a significant increase in the rates of landslides in Nepal


Researchers outline how they were able to establish a clear pattern between the strength of the monsoon season in Nepal and the amount of landsliding over a 30-year period between 1988 and 2018.
Published The social cost of nitrous oxide is understated under current estimates, new analysis concludes


The social cost of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is the largest remaining threat to the ozone layer, is understated, concludes an international team of researchers. In their assessment, the authors write that improving the accuracy of these calculations would not only give a more accurate picture of the impact of climate change, but also spur nations to more aggressively address it.
Published Bacteria as climate heroes


Acetogens are a group of bacteria that can metabolise formate. For example, they form acetic acid -- an important basic chemical. If these bacteria were manipulated to produce ethanol or lactic acid, a comprehensive circular economy for the greenhouse gas CO2 could be realised. To ensure that the process is sustainable, the CO2 is extracted directly from the air and converted to formate using renewable energy. To find out how exactly formate can be utilised by the Acetobacterium woodii (short: A. woodii), a team led by Stefan Pflügl from the Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering at TU Wien investigated how the bacterium metabolises various substrates -- including formate. Furthermore, the researchers used a metabolic model to study how A. woodii could be genetically modified to produce substances other than acetic acid.
Published Finding the missing piece in global oil life-cycle assessment


New research offers a closer look at the relationship between decreasing demand for oil and a resilient, varied oil market -- and the carbon footprint associated with both.
Published Air pollution decrease in India during COVID-19 lockdown not as high as originally thought


Observational data shows air pollution in India decreased drastically in the first COVID-19 lockdown when emissions from vehicles naturally declined, but researchers say those numbers only tell part of the story -- blue skies and an absence of visible smog can be deceiving and hide pollutants that could potentially cause health issues.
Published Warming temperatures increasingly alter structure of atmosphere


Climate change is having an increasing impact on the structure of Earth's atmosphere, a new international study shows. The research draws on decades of observations to quantify that warming temperatures are playing a greater role in pushing up the top of the lowest level of the atmosphere by about 50-60 meters per decade.
Published On ancient Earth, it never rained but it poured


In a new study, researchers found that during epochs of extreme heat -- 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than today -- Earth may have experienced cycles of dryness followed by massive rain storms hundreds of miles wide that could dump more than a foot of rain in a matter of hours. The research not only sheds light on Earth's distant past and far-flung future but may also help to understand the climates of exoplanets orbiting distant stars.
Published Hungry caterpillars an underappreciated driver of carbon emissions


A study has found that periodic mass outbreaks of leaf-munching caterpillars can improve the water quality of nearby lakes - but may also increase the lakes' carbon dioxide emissions.
Published How quickly does the climate recover?


It took the climate 20,000 to 50,000 years to stabilize after the rise in global temperatures of five to eight degrees Celsius 56 million years ago. Climate change today is causing temperatures to rise and is also increasing the likelihood of storms, heavy rain, and flooding -- the recent flood disaster in the Ahr valley in Germany is just one such example. What we need to ask ourselves in this connection is how quickly the climate can recover from the warming caused by an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Published Smoke from nuclear war would devastate ozone layer, alter climate


The massive columns of smoke generated by a nuclear war would alter the world's climate for years and devastate the ozone layer, endangering both human health and food supplies, new research shows. The international study draws on newly developed computer climate modeling techniques to paint an even grimmer picture of a global nuclear war's aftermath than previous analyses.
Published Urban areas more likely to have precipitation-triggered landslides, exposing growing populations to slide hazards


Urban areas may be at greater risk for precipitation-triggered landslides than rural areas, according to a new study that could help improve landslide predictions and hazard and risk assessments. Researchers found that urban landslide hazard was up to 10 times more sensitive to variations in precipitation than in rural areas.
Published Ocean life helps produce clouds, but existing clouds keep new ones at bay


New findings significantly alter the prevailing understanding of how marine life influences clouds and may change the way scientists predict how cloud formation responds to changes in the oceans.
Published Anticipated spill from deteriorating Red Sea oil tanker threatens public health


A massive prospective spill from a deserted oil tanker in the Red Sea could lead to catastrophic public health effects in war-torn Yemen and neighboring countries unless urgent action is taken, according to a new study.
Published Evacuation during and after the 2018 Montecito debris flow


A new study speaks to the importance of public awareness programs in keeping residents -- and emergency management offices -- informed about rare but potentially lethal natural events in their area.
Published Protecting the ozone layer is delivering vast health benefits


An international agreement to protect the ozone layer is expected to prevent 443 million cases of skin cancer and 63 million cataract cases for people born in the United States through the end of this century, according to new research. The research team developed a computer modeling approach that revealed the effect of the Montreal Protocol and subsequent amendments on stratospheric ozone, the associated reductions in ultraviolet radiation, and the resulting health benefits.
Published Seismic forensics and its importance for early warning


The catastrophic rockslide of February 7, 2021, in India's Dhauli Ganga Valley and the subsequent flood killed at least a hundred people and destroyed two hydroelectric power plants. Researchers traced the disaster minute by minute using data from a network of seismometers. The team posits that seismic networks could be used to establish an early warning system for high mountain regions.
Published Tissue abnormalities found in oysters years after Deepwater Horizon oil spill


Tissue abnormalities found in economically and ecologically important Eastern oysters along the Gulf Coast years after Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Published Unrealistic experiments mean true impact of nitrogen pollution on the environment is unknown


Unrealistic and flawed scientific experiments mean the true impact of nitrogen pollution on the environment is unknownremains poorly understood, a new study warns.
Published High-rate magnesium rechargeable batteries move one step closer to realization


Magnesium rechargeable batteries show immense promise for a greener future because of their energy density, safety, and cost. But the lack of high-performance cathode materials has impeded their development. Now, a research team has developed liquid-sulfur/sulfide composite cathodes that enable high-rate magnesium batteries.