Global emissions dropped markedly in 2020, due in large part to lockdowns that slowed economic and social activity, but the climate likely won’t be noticeably affected.
Climate Change
Chicxulub Impact Changed Tropical Rain Forest Biodiversity Forever
Sixty-six million years ago, an asteroid reset most of life on Earth. But without this catastrophic event, the composition of neotropical rain forests wouldn’t be the same.
Years After the Pacific Marine Heat Wave, Ecosystem Shifts Persist
Researchers question whether Gulf of Alaska species will return to pre–heat wave conditions.
Dry Soils Enhanced the 2018 Heatwave in Northern Europe
A range of observations show that a shift in land-atmosphere coupling exacerbated the hot drought experienced in Europe in 2018.
Global Effects of Disruptions to the Stratospheric Circulation
Major disruptions to the stratospheric circulation have far-reaching effects, including increased likelihood of snowstorms, growth of the ozone hole, and interference in global telecommunications.
Improving Air Quality in China’s Greater Bay Area
New simulations show how reducing residential and agricultural pollution outside the Greater Bay Area could improve public health inside this megalopolis and across China.
A Warming World Threatens Colombia’s Coffee Future
Colombia is the second-largest producer of Arabica coffee, but changing climate, soil, and precipitation patterns are already altering the harvest volume, production techniques, and even the taste of coffee.
The Rain Forest Can Recover After Fire, but It’s Not the Same
New research finds that temperatures rise in the Amazon rain forest after a fire, even in areas that are not converted to agricultural land or pastures.
A Better Way to Understand Drought
New models should consider drought a process, not merely a product, and should factor in the huge variety of causes, effects, and feedbacks that play out in the real world.
