A new study finds nature can’t have it both ways: On the basis of thousands of case studies from dozens of hurricanes, there’s always a trade-off between resistance and resilience.
ecosystems
A Sharper Look at the World’s Rivers and Catchments
Digital hydrographic maps have transformed global environmental studies and resource management. A major database update will provide even clearer and more complete views of Earth’s waterways.
U.S. Fires Quadrupled in Size, Tripled in Frequency in 20 Years
Changes including intensifying drought, expansion into burnable land, and an increase in human-caused ignitions have led to a shift in fire patterns.
Satellites Reveal Slow Shift of the Entire Boreal Biome
According to a new study, warmer temperatures and high soil nitrogen levels are causing Earth’s largest land biome to advance northward.
Mortality of Seagrass Meadows May Not Kill Their Methane Release
New research indicates that seagrasses continue to release methane even after they die, complicating blue carbon initiatives.
Pharmaceuticals Found in Rivers on All Continents
A quarter of 258 observed rivers had unsafe levels of at least one drug. The findings raise concerns about Earth’s aquatic life and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
A Global Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory Becomes a Reality
Building on the successful Argo network of seafaring temperature and salinity sensors, work is underway to deploy 1,000 floats equipped to study ocean biogeochemistry in greater detail than ever.
Climate Report Rebukes Overshoot Plans with “Irreversible Consequences”
Many pathways to stopping climate change involve overshooting 1.5°C temporarily. The latest synthesis of 34,000 references says that’s a bad idea.
Modeling Forest-Atmosphere Exchange
Studying the interactions between the atmosphere and forests is a key component of understanding forest ecosystems and the interplay between our atmosphere and the living world.
More Fires, More Problems
Increasing incidents of wildfires in the Arctic are not only thawing permafrost but changing the entire underlying structure of the region.