https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/floods/ Flood Research News. Current research into flood prediction, flood preparedness, risk assessment. Is climate change contributing to extreme weather and an increase in flooding? en-us Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:31:50 EDT Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:31:50 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/floods/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260420014750.htm Many of the world’s largest river deltas—home to hundreds of millions of people—are sinking faster than rising seas, according to a sweeping global study. Using high-resolution satellite radar maps, researchers found that human activities like groundwater pumping, reduced sediment flow, and rapid urban growth are driving widespread land subsidence across 40 major deltas. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:20:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260420014750.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260416071958.htm A hidden threat is emerging in the world’s glaciers: while most are shrinking, a rare group known as “surging glaciers” can suddenly accelerate, unleashing powerful and sometimes destructive events. Scientists have identified over 3,100 of these glaciers worldwide, with many clustered in high-risk regions like the Arctic and the Karakoram Mountains, where communities lie directly in their path. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:28:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260416071958.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260413232421.htm For years, water managers have been puzzled as the Colorado River kept delivering less water than expected—even when snowpack levels looked promising. New research reveals the missing piece: spring rain, or rather, the lack of it. Warmer, drier springs mean plants are soaking up more snowmelt before it can reach rivers, fueled by sunny skies that boost growth and evaporation. In fact, this shift explains nearly 70% of the shortfall, tying the mystery directly to the long-running Millennium drought. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:30:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260413232421.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260404191033.htm A sweeping new study reveals that as Arctic permafrost thaws, it is dramatically reshaping rivers and releasing vast amounts of ancient carbon that had been locked away for thousands of years. By analyzing decades of high-resolution data across northern Alaska, scientists found that runoff is increasing, rivers are carrying more dissolved carbon, and the thawing season is stretching further into the fall. This carbon eventually reaches the ocean, where some of it turns into carbon dioxide, intensifying global warming. Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:17:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260404191033.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260326064157.htm A sweeping global report finds that migratory freshwater fish are in steep decline, with populations down roughly 81% since 1970. These species depend on long, connected rivers, but dams and human pressures are cutting off their routes. Hundreds of species now need coordinated international protection. Experts say restoring river connectivity is critical to preventing further collapse. Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:51:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260326064157.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222092321.htm A new 30-year analysis reveals that melting land ice is now the main force behind rising global sea levels. Researchers discovered that oceans rose about 90 millimeters since 1993, with most of the increase coming from added water mass rather than just warming expansion. Ice loss from Greenland and mountain glaciers accounts for the vast majority of this gain. Even more concerning, the rate of sea-level rise is accelerating. Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:08:38 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260222092321.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206232249.htm Arctic sea ice helps cool the planet and influences weather patterns around the world, but it is disappearing faster than ever as the climate warms. Scientists have now developed a new forecasting method that can predict how much Arctic sea ice will remain months in advance, focusing on September when ice levels are at their lowest. By combining long-term climate patterns, seasonal cycles, and short-term weather shifts, the model delivers real-time predictions that outperform existing approaches. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 23:56:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206232249.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080725.htm Deep ocean hot spots packed with heat are making the strongest hurricanes and typhoons more likely—and more dangerous. These regions, especially near the Philippines and the Caribbean, are expanding as climate change warms ocean waters far below the surface. As a result, storms powerful enough to exceed Category 5 are appearing more often, with over half occurring in just the past decade. Researchers say recognizing a new “Category 6” could improve public awareness and disaster planning. Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:03:27 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251212022244.htm Fossils from Qatar have revealed a small, newly identified sea cow species that lived in the Arabian Gulf more than 20 million years ago. The site contains the densest known collection of fossil sea cow bones, showing that these animals once thrived in rich seagrass meadows. Their ecological role mirrors that of modern dugongs, which still reshape the Gulf’s seafloor as they graze. The findings may help researchers understand how seagrass ecosystems respond to long-term environmental change. Fri, 12 Dec 2025 02:58:26 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251212022244.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251126095049.htm Human development and climate-driven sea level rise are accelerating global beach erosion and undermining the natural processes that sustain coastal ecosystems. Studies reveal that urban activity on the sand harms biodiversity in every connected zone, magnifying worldwide erosion risks. Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:19:02 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251126095049.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251122234723.htm A massive solar storm in May 2024 gave scientists an unprecedented look at how Earth’s protective plasma layer collapses under intense space weather. With the Arase satellite in a perfect observing position, researchers watched the plasmasphere shrink to a fraction of its usual size and take days to rebuild. The event pushed auroras far beyond their normal boundaries and revealed that a rare “negative storm” in the ionosphere dramatically slowed the atmosphere’s ability to recover. These observations offer valuable insight into how extreme solar activity disrupts satellites, GPS signals, and communication systems. Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:00:14 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251122234723.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251115095918.htm Scientists discovered that a week of full submergence is enough to kill most rice plants, making flooding a far greater threat than previously understood. Intensifying extreme rainfall events may amplify these losses unless vulnerable regions adopt more resilient rice varieties. Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:59:18 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251115095918.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251106003941.htm Researchers warn Antarctica is undergoing abrupt changes that could trigger global consequences. Melting ice, collapsing ice shelves, and disrupted ocean circulation threaten sea levels, ecosystems, and climate stability. Wildlife such as penguins and krill face growing extinction risks. Scientists stress that only rapid emission reductions can avert irreversible damage. Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:23:51 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251106003941.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251030075121.htm The Taurid meteor shower, born from Comet Encke, delights skywatchers but may conceal hidden risks. Research led by Mark Boslough examines potential Taurid swarms that could increase impact danger in 2032 and 2036. Using planetary defense modeling and telescope data, scientists assess these threats while fighting misinformation and promoting preparedness. Fri, 31 Oct 2025 02:18:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251030075121.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251023031627.htm Sea levels are rising faster than at any time in 4,000 years, scientists report, with China’s major coastal cities at particular risk. The rapid increase is driven by warming oceans and melting ice, while human activities like groundwater pumping make it worse. In some areas, the land itself is sinking faster than the ocean is rising. Still, researchers see progress as cities like Shanghai adopt new technologies to stabilize the ground and prepare for the future. Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:11:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251023031627.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081831.htm Researchers at KAUST have confirmed that the Red Sea once vanished entirely, turning into a barren salt desert before being suddenly flooded by waters from the Indian Ocean. The flood carved deep channels and restored marine life in less than 100,000 years. This finding redefines the Red Sea’s role as a key site for studying how oceans form and evolve through extreme geological events. Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:27:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081831.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250916221828.htm The Dead Sea isn’t just the saltiest body of water on Earth—it’s a living laboratory for the formation of giant underground salt deposits. Researchers are unraveling how evaporation, temperature shifts, and unusual mixing patterns lead to phenomena like “salt snow,” which falls in summer as well as winter. These processes mirror what happened millions of years ago in the Mediterranean, leaving behind thick salt layers still buried today. Thu, 18 Sep 2025 09:44:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250916221828.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250909031516.htm Flathead catfish are rapidly reshaping the Susquehanna River’s ecosystem. Once introduced, these voracious predators climbed to the top of the food chain, forcing native fish like channel catfish and bass to shift diets and habitats. Using stable isotope analysis, researchers uncovered how the invaders disrupt food webs, broaden dietary overlaps, and destabilize energy flow across the river system. The findings show how a single invasive species can spark cascading ecological consequences. Tue, 09 Sep 2025 18:54:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250909031516.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250906013453.htm Satellite data reveals sea-level rise has unfolded almost exactly as predicted by 1990s climate models, with one key underestimation: melting ice sheets. Researchers stress the importance of refining local projections as seas continue to rise faster than before. Sat, 06 Sep 2025 01:34:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250906013453.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250831010533.htm Stanford researchers reveal meandering rivers existed long before plants, overturning textbook geology. Their findings suggest carbon-rich floodplains shaped climate for billions of years. Sun, 31 Aug 2025 07:14:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250831010533.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001159.htm Sargassum has escaped the Sargasso Sea and exploded across the Atlantic, forming the massive Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Fueled by nutrient runoff, Amazon outflows, and climate events, these blooms now reshape ecosystems, economies, and coastlines on a staggering scale. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:44:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250830001159.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250816113525.htm Rising CO₂ levels will make the upper atmosphere colder and thinner, altering how geomagnetic storms impact satellites. Future storms could cause sharper density spikes despite lower overall density, increasing drag-related challenges. Sun, 17 Aug 2025 23:04:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250816113525.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250812234532.htm Advanced computer modeling suggests that by 2080, waves driven by sea level rise could flood Ahu Tongariki and up to 51 cultural treasures on Rapa Nui. The findings emphasize the urgent need for protective measures to preserve the island’s identity, traditions, and tourism economy. Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:44:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250812234532.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801021013.htm A jaw-dropping 515-mile lightning bolt lit up the skies from Texas to Kansas City, smashing previous records and reshaping our understanding of extreme weather. Thanks to advanced satellite tech, scientists like Randy Cerveny and Michael Peterson are uncovering the mechanics of "megaflash" lightning—rare, colossal discharges that span hundreds of miles across the sky. These massive bolts, emerging from long-lived, sprawling thunderstorms, pose real danger even when skies seem clear. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:30:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801021013.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250726234415.htm For over two decades, satellites have quietly documented a major crisis unfolding beneath our feet: Earth's continents are drying out at unprecedented rates. Fueled by climate change, groundwater overuse, and extreme drought, this trend has carved out four massive "mega-drying" regions across the northern hemisphere, threatening freshwater supplies for billions. Groundwater loss alone now contributes more to sea level rise than melting ice sheets, and unless urgent global water policies are enacted, we could face a catastrophic freshwater bankruptcy. Sun, 27 Jul 2025 04:38:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250726234415.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724232419.htm What would happen if a nuclear war triggered a climate-altering catastrophe? Researchers have modeled how such a scenario could devastate global corn crops cutting production by as much as 87% due to blocked sunlight and increased UV-B radiation. Using advanced climate-agriculture simulations, they propose a survival strategy: emergency resilience kits containing fast-growing, cold-tolerant seeds that could keep food systems afloat not just after nuclear war, but also after volcanic eruptions or other mega-disasters. Thu, 24 Jul 2025 23:24:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250724232419.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250718031220.htm Clear-cutting forests doesn’t just raise flood risk — it can supercharge it. UBC researchers found that in certain watersheds, floods became up to 18 times more frequent and over twice as severe after clear-cutting, with these effects lasting more than four decades. The surprise? Terrain details like which direction a slope faces played a huge role in flood behavior. Conventional models miss these dynamics, which could mean we've been underestimating the danger for decades — especially as climate change accelerates extreme weather. Sat, 19 Jul 2025 09:15:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250718031220.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm Long-lost 1960s aerial photos let Copenhagen researchers watch Antarctica’s Wordie Ice Shelf crumble in slow motion. By fusing film with satellites, they discovered warm ocean water, not surface ponds, drives the destruction, and mapped “pinning points” that reveal how far a collapse has progressed. The work shows these break-ups unfold more gradually than feared, yet once the ice “brake” fails, land-based glaciers surge, setting up meters of future sea-level rise that will strike northern coasts. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 01:06:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it's not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery is reshaping how we understand rainforest health and carbon storage, as storms may be responsible for up to 60% of tree deaths in some regions. Researchers now warn that failing to account for this hidden force could undermine forest conservation and climate models alike. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:26:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020711.htm A massive and surprising change is unfolding around Antarctica. Scientists have discovered that the Southern Ocean is getting saltier, and sea ice is melting at record speed, enough to match the size of Greenland. This change has reversed a decades-long trend and is letting hidden heat rise to the surface, melting the ice from below. One of the most dramatic signs is the return of a giant hole in the ice that hadn’t been seen in 50 years. The consequences are global: stronger storms, warmer oceans, and serious trouble for penguins and other polar wildlife. Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:54:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250701020711.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250627234122.htm Parts of New Orleans are sinking at alarming rates — including some of the very floodwalls built to protect it. A new satellite-based study finds that some areas are losing nearly two inches of elevation per year, threatening the effectiveness of the city's storm defenses. Sat, 28 Jun 2025 23:52:33 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250627234122.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250627021853.htm At current emission rates, we're just over three years away from blowing through the remaining carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C. This new international study paints a stark picture: the pace of climate change is accelerating, seas are rising faster than ever, and the Earth is absorbing more heat with devastating consequences from hotter oceans to intensified weather extremes. Fri, 27 Jun 2025 02:18:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250627021853.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250624044332.htm Wildfires don’t just leave behind scorched earth—they leave a toxic legacy in Western rivers that can linger for nearly a decade. A sweeping new study analyzed over 100,000 water samples from more than 500 U.S. watersheds and revealed that contaminants like nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and sediment remain elevated for up to eight years after a blaze. Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:13:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250624044332.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250623233210.htm Ancient coral fossils from the remote Seychelles islands have unveiled a dramatic warning for our future—sea levels can rise in sudden, sharp bursts even when global temperatures stay steady. Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:32:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250623233210.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250614121958.htm Atmospheric rivers, while vital for replenishing water on the U.S. West Coast, are also the leading cause of floods though storm size alone doesn t dictate their danger. A groundbreaking study analyzing over 43,000 storms across four decades found that pre-existing soil moisture is a critical factor, with flood peaks multiplying when the ground is already saturated. Sat, 14 Jun 2025 12:19:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250614121958.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155513.htm New research adds to our understanding of how rapidly rising sea levels due to climate change foreshadow the end of the Great Barrier Reef as we know it. The findings suggest the reef can withstand rising sea levels in isolation but is vulnerable to associated environmental stressors arising from global climate change. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:55:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155513.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155338.htm Flooding in coastal communities is happening far more often than previously thought, according to a new study. The study also found major flaws with the widely used approach of using marine water level data to capture instances of flooding. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:53:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155338.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154901.htm Researchers have developed a deep learning model called LSTM-SAM that predicts extreme water levels from tropical cyclones more efficiently and accurately, especially in data-scarce coastal regions, to offer a faster, low-cost tool for flood forecasting. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:49:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154901.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155413.htm Hurricane Ida wreaked an estimated $75 billion in total damages and was responsible for 112 fatalities -- including 32 in New Jersey and 16 in New York state. Yet the hurricane could have been even worse in the Big Apple, find scientists. Thu, 29 May 2025 15:54:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155413.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124119.htm Immediate recovery efforts receive the most attention after severe natural disasters, yet new data from researchers at Drexel University and the University of Maryland suggests these climate events often also leave a critical long-term -- and often unaddressed -- problem in declines in access to health care. Thu, 29 May 2025 12:41:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124119.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120445.htm As sea levels climb and weather grows more extreme, coastal regions everywhere are facing a creeping threat: salt. Salinization of freshwater and soils adversely affects 500 million people around the world, especially in low-lying river deltas. A new study sheds light on how rising oceans are pushing saltwater into freshwater rivers and underground water sources in the world's largest river mouth -- the Bengal Delta in Bangladesh. Fri, 23 May 2025 12:04:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120445.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124607.htm Hurricane winds are a major contributor to storm-related losses for people living in the southeastern coastal states. As the global temperature continues to rise, scientists predict that hurricanes will get more destructive -- packing higher winds and torrential rainfall. A new study projects that wind losses for homeowners in the Southeastern coastal states could be 76 percent higher by the year 2060 and 102 percent higher by 2100. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:46:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124607.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520122244.htm Worldwide, coastal areas are squeezed between a rising sea level on one end and human structures on the other. The distance between a sandy coastline and the first human structures averages less than 400 meters around the world. And the narrower a coastline is, the lower its biodiversity as well. Tue, 20 May 2025 12:22:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520122244.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516134410.htm New research from an international group looking at ancient sediment cores in the North Atlantic has for the first time shown a strong correlation between sediment changes and a marked period of global cooling that occurred in the Northern Hemisphere some 3.6 million years ago. The changes in sediments imply profound changes in the circulation of deep water currents occurred at this time. This crucial piece of work, which showed sediments changed in multiple sites east of the mid-Atlantic ridge but not west of that important geographical feature, opens multiple doors to future research aimed at better understanding the link between deep water currents, Atlantic Ocean heat and salt distribution and ice-sheet expansion, and climatic change. Fri, 16 May 2025 13:44:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516134410.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131955.htm A team has created the most complete map of the world's rivers ever made offering a major leap forward for flood prediction, climate risk planning, and water resource management in a warming world. The new study introduces GRIT -- a mapping system that finally shows how rivers really flow, branch, and connect landscapes. Thu, 15 May 2025 13:19:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131955.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180732.htm A team of engineers has developed a system that could transform desalination practices, making the process more adaptable, resilient and cheaper. The new system is powered by sunlight and uses a creative approach to heat recovery for extended water production -- with and without sunshine. Wed, 14 May 2025 18:07:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180732.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514175419.htm Traditional methods of assessing damage after a disaster can take weeks or even months, delaying emergency response, insurance claims and long-term rebuilding efforts. New research might change that. Researchers have developed a new method that combines remote sensing, deep learning and restoration models to speed up building damage assessments and predict recovery times after a tornado. Once post-event images are available, the model can produce damage assessments and recovery forecasts in less than an hour. Wed, 14 May 2025 17:54:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514175419.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514155300.htm The increasing frequency of once-in-a-decade agricultural and ecological drought has underscored the urgency of studying hydrological changes. A research team has analyzed the estimated changes in land water storage over the past 40 years by utilizing space geodetic observation technology and global hydrological change data. This innovative method has revealed a rapid depletion in global soil moisture, resulting in a significant amount of water flowing into the oceans, leading to a rise in sea levels. The research provides new insights into the driving factors behind the alarming reduction in terrestrial water storage and rise in sea levels. Wed, 14 May 2025 15:53:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514155300.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514141905.htm The impacts of human activity and climate change are coalescing to make coastal lagoons saltier, changing the microbial life they support and the function they play in their ecosystems, according to new research. Wed, 14 May 2025 14:19:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514141905.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250513112454.htm Researchers report on ionospheric sporadic E layer (Es) activity during the Mother's Day geomagnetic storm. The team found that the Es layers were significantly enhanced over Southeast Asia, Australia and South Pacific, as well as the eastern Pacific regions during the recovery phase of the geomagnetic storm. They also observed a propagation characteristic in the Es enhancement region wherein the clouds were first detected in high latitudes and detected successively in lower latitudes as time progressed. Tue, 13 May 2025 11:24:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250513112454.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113134.htm A glacier in Antarctica is committing 'ice piracy' -- stealing ice from a neighbor -- in a phenomenon that has never been observed in such a short time frame, say scientists. Thu, 08 May 2025 11:31:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113134.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508112609.htm Across America’s 28 biggest cities, the ground is shifting—literally. A new study using millimeter-precision satellite data reveals that almost all these cities are sinking, with some areas plummeting by up to two inches per year. It’s not just coastal cities at risk; inland metropolises like Dallas, Denver, and Chicago are also affected. In many cases, the culprit is massive groundwater extraction, which compresses underground sediment and causes the surface to drop. Some cities are even warping unevenly—sinking in some places and rising in others—posing a unique threat to buildings and infrastructure that weren’t designed to handle such lopsided movement. Thu, 08 May 2025 11:26:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508112609.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125838.htm Climate scientists reveal that millions of today's young people will live through unprecedented lifetime exposure to heatwaves, crop failures, river floods, droughts, wildfires and tropical storms under current climate policies. If global temperatures rise by 3.5 C by 2100, 92% of children born in 2020 will experience unprecedented heatwave exposure over their lifetime, affecting 111 million children. Meeting the Paris Agreement's 1.5 C target could protect 49 million children from this risk. This is only for one birth year; when instead taking into account all children who are between 5 and 18 years old today, this adds up to 1.5 billion children affected under a 3.5 C scenario, and with 654 million children that can be protected by remaining under the 1.5 C threshold. Wed, 07 May 2025 12:58:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125838.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506135744.htm Researchers have released their 2024 U.S. sea level 'report cards,' providing updated analyses of sea level trends and projections for 36 coastal communities. Encompassing 55 years of historical data in a new, interactive dashboard, the report cards aid planning and adaptation efforts by forecasting rates of sea level rise to 2050. Tue, 06 May 2025 13:57:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506135744.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505204924.htm Hydrologists show most streamflow out of the West's mountains is old snowmelt on a multi-year underground journey. New study finds that spring runoff is on average 5 years old. Mon, 05 May 2025 20:49:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505204924.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121618.htm Could the artificial introduction of oxygen revitalise dying coastal waters? While oxygenation approaches have already been proven successful in lakes, their potential side effects must be carefully analysed before they can be used in the sea. This is the conclusion of researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Radboud University in the Netherlands. In an article in the scientific journal EOS, they warn: Technical measures can mitigate damage temporarily and locally, but they are associated with considerable uncertainties and risks. Above all, they do not offer a permanent solution because the oxygen content will return to its previous level once the measures end, unless the underlying causes of the problem, nutrient inputs and global warming, are not tackled. Mon, 05 May 2025 12:16:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121618.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121426.htm Endemic to China's Yangtze River, the Yangtze finless porpoise is known for its intelligence and charismatic appearance; it looks like it has a perpetual smile on its face. To track how this critically endangered porpoise's habitat range has changed over time, a team of biodiversity and conservation experts compiled 724 ancient Chinese poems referencing the porpoise from historic collections across China. Their results show that the porpoise's range has decreased by at least 65% over the past 1,400 years, with the majority of this decline occurring in the past century. Mon, 05 May 2025 12:14:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121426.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141832.htm In 2013, a sea star wasting syndrome decimated populations of Pisaster along the west coast of North America and along the Monterey Peninsula in California, where this study was conducted. The orange and purple stars have a hungry appetite for mussels in the rocky intertidal. Without the voracious sea stars lurking around, mussel populations exploded, expanding in cover from around five percent to more than 18 percent within three years. In the wake of the sea star die-off, mussels became a major prey surplus for sea otters, revealing a surprising link between the adjacent rocky intertidal and kelp forest ecosystems. The new research into the phenomenon shows how the loss of a keystone predator (Pisaster) in one ecosystem can impart changes to another (sea otters), linking ecosystems. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:18:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141832.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220430.htm A powerful earthquake, combined with rising sea levels, could significantly increase flood risks in the Pacific Northwest, impacting thousands of residents and properties in northern California, Oregon, and Washington, according to new research. The study found that a major earthquake could cause coastal land to sink up to 6.5 feet, expanding the federally designated 1 percent coastal floodplain, an area with a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, by 35 to 116 square miles. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:04:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220430.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111913.htm A new study lays out a scientific framework for holding individual fossil fuel companies liable for the costs of climate change by tracing specific damages back to their emissions. The researchers use the tool to provide the first causal estimate of economic losses due to extreme heat driven by emissions. They report that carbon dioxide and methane output from just 111 companies cost the world economy $28 trillion from 1991 to 2020, with the five top-emitting firms linked to $9 trillion of those losses. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:19:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423111913.htm