Scientists found that low autumn snow levels in western Eurasia are associated with dry, warm winters in California, increasing the Golden State’s wildfire risk.
seasonal variation
Posted inResearch & Developments
2026 Has Already Broken Climate Records. El Niño Could Break More.
As the midpoint of the year approaches, several climate records have already been broken. Arctic winter sea ice extent reached a record low. Several countries saw record-breaking winter heat waves. And more than 150 million acres have already burned globally in wildfires.
Posted inResearch & Developments
Arctic Winter Sea Ice Hits a Record Low, Again
Sea ice in the Arctic has likely hit its maximum extent for the year, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said on 26 March. That maximum extent is one of the lowest ever recorded, tying last year’s record for the least sea ice coverage in the 48-year observational record.
Posted inNews
Shrinking Sea Ice Is Ruffling Emperor Penguins’ Feathers
A scientist stumbled upon evidence of penguin molting sites in satellite data, but the sea ice these birds rely on is disappearing.
Posted inNews
Earth’s “Green Wave” Is on the Move
Researchers analyzed 40 years of satellite data and found that Earth’s seasonal wave of greenness is shifting northeast.
Posted inNews
When the Snow Melts, Microbes Bloom
A new study illuminates a complex and changing world of microbes and nitrogen cycling that occurs during the winter.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How the Spring Thaw Influences Arsenic Levels in Lakes
Four lakes near Yellowknife, Canada, show that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Posted inNews
Could Future Mars Habitats Be Made of Ice?
Models suggest that clear ice, sourced and distilled on Mars, could offer a feasible alternative for building stable off-world structures.
Posted inNews
Changing Winters Leave Indigenous Alaskans on Thin Ice
Researchers are blending Indigenous Knowledges with climate models to describe shifts in snow and ice.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Wintertime Spike in Oceanic Iron Levels Detected near Hawaii
Seasonal rainfall and runoff of sediments from the Hawaiian Islands could be responsible for the previously undetected peak.