Climate change–accelerated seaweed growth could cause seaweed-dependent microbes to proliferate and consume more oxygen, leading to a rise in oxygen-starved zones.
Research Spotlights
Research spotlights are plain-language summaries of recent articles published in AGU’s suite of 24 journals.
New Global River Map Is the First to Include River Bifurcations and Canals
GRIT provides a much more detailed look at how rivers merge and split, which could enhance hydrological modeling, flood forecasting, and water management efforts.
An Ancient Warming Event May Have Lasted Longer Than We Thought
New research on the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum used probabilistic analysis to learn more about its duration and how long modern warming could affect the carbon cycle.
Heat and Pollution Events Are Deadly, Especially in the Global South
Researchers found that the combination of heat waves and high PM2.5 pollution led to nearly 700,000 premature deaths in the past 30 years—most of which occurred in the Global South.
The Uncertain Fate of the Beaufort Gyre
Climate models produce widely varying predictions for what will happen to this influential ocean current, but most models predict it will weaken or stop.
Proposed Experiment Could Clarify Origin of Martian Methane
Curiosity’s detection of the gas, if atmospheric, could be an indicator of life on the Red Planet. But skeptics say further work is needed to rule out the rover itself as the source of the methane.
Mapping the Ocean Floor with Ancient Tides
A new study uses a paleotidal model to trace the formation of carbon-rich mud deposits over thousands of years.
Flood Prediction Could Boost Road Resilience off Georgia’s Coast
Researchers and community members worked together to develop recommendations for how Little Cumberland Island can mitigate flooding hazards.