The warming climate is one of the most pressing issues that mankind face today. Scientists continue to conduct research in an attempt to reverse or prevent unwanted consequences as well as better understand the effects of the phenomenon. Here are five of these climate change findings:
Americans could be exposed to extreme heat six times higher than today half a century from now
Researchers used a computer model showing where Americans will likely live by the year 2070 to better understand the effects of population changes on the consequences of climate change. Current trends suggest rapid population growth in the Sun-belt cities such as Tampa, Phoenix, Dallas and these cities are likely the ones to experience more days of 95-degrees-plus temperatures in the future. The computer model likewise showed that the average yearly exposure of Americans to extreme heat will increase between 10 billion to up to 15 billion person-days between the years 2041 to 2070. The average from 1971 to 2000 was only 2.3 billion person-days.
The effect of climate change on the water cycle of Midwestern U.S. is still uncertain
One of the potential effects of a warming climate is the modification of water cycle in agricultural areas such as in the Midwestern United States, where the agricultural output is crucial to the country's economy and global food security.
Researchers conducted multiple regional climate model experiments with the aim of projecting the water cycle changes during summer over an area of the Midwest. Using Illinois' unique observational dataset of water budget, the team found that the trend over the past 26 years was not significant when compared with global climate trends. Researchers revealed that the analysis of model simulations and observations show that the impact of climate change on the Midwest's water cycle remain uncertain.
Fjord soak up global warming linked-atmospheric carbon
Locking carbon can prevent it from being converted to carbon dioxide, one of the heat trapping greenhouse gases that contribute to global warmingIn a study published in the journal Nature Geosciences researchers reported that fjords capture and store atmospheric carbon more efficiently compared with other open-water marine systems. Fjords are particularly good when it comes to storing carbon because of their depth. Carbon-rich river water likewise flows to them and have calm and oxygen-starved waters where carbon can sink fast without bacteria breaking it down.
Shape of mountains affects affects survival of species relative to climate change
A study published in the Nature Climate Change shows that the shapes of whole mountain ranges are aptly portrayed as hourglasses or even upside-down pyramids. Experts project that species face loss of territory with increasing resource competition as they move to higher elevation to escape the warming temperatures but the findings of the study suggest that many species might actually benefit from seeking higher altitude as they move to an elevation that has more land area compared with the ones that they have left.
Sea spray aerosol may help in stopping climate change
Sea spray aerosol has been found to have significant impact on the warming climate and this can be attributed and phytoplankton, the basic source of nutrition in the ocean. Researchers found that when microorganisms decay, they are broken down by bacteria to release chemicals, proteins, sugars and lipid, and these materials are transferred to the atmosphere along with the ocean mist that interact with air and change how sunlight reflects and bounces off of the ocean.
Photo: USDA/Scott Bauer | Flickr
