News & Views |
Featured
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Article
| Open Access
Underestimated burden of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in global surface waters and groundwaters
A global data analysis suggests that a large fraction of surface waters and groundwaters globally have concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that exceed international advisories or national regulations.
- Diana Ackerman Grunfeld
- , Daniel Gilbert
- & Denis M. O’Carroll
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Editorial |
Connecting geology to ecology
Understanding the ecosystem response to global environmental change requires consideration of geological processes, highlighting the interconnected nature of our Earth system.
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Article |
Observational evidence for Criegee intermediate oligomerization reactions relevant to aerosol formation in the troposphere
Measurements of Criegee intermediate oligomerization signatures in the Amazon rainforest indicate that the role of Criegee intermediate chemistry in the composition of Earth’s troposphere has been underestimated.
- R. L. Caravan
- , T. J. Bannan
- & C. J. Percival
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Article
| Open Access
Global emergent responses of stream microbial metabolism to glacier shrinkage
Glacier shrinkage intensifies phosphorus limitation but alleviates carbon limitation in glacier-fed streams, according to analyses of resource stoichiometry and microbial metabolism in glacier-fed streams from mountain regions.
- Tyler J. Kohler
- , Massimo Bourquin
- & Tom J. Battin
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Article
| Open Access
Substantial contribution of tree canopy nitrifiers to nitrogen fluxes in European forests
Canopy nitrification contributes up to 80% of the nitrate reaching the soils via throughfall in European forests, according to analyses of nitrogen deposition and oxygen isotopes in nitrate at ten forested sites.
- Rossella Guerrieri
- , Joan Cáliz
- & Maurizio Mencuccini
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Article |
Geomorphic controls on the abundance and persistence of soil organic carbon pools in erosional landscapes
Erosion rate is a first-order control of abundance and persistence of soil organic carbon in hilly and mountainous regions, according to analyses of the physiochemical properties of soils from field sites in Oregon, USA.
- Brooke D. Hunter
- , Joshua J. Roering
- & Kimber C. Moreland
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All Minerals Considered |
Ubiquitous magnetite
Magnetite is found throughout the Earth system and has many uses, explains Barbara Maher. It is a tracer of plate tectonic movements, a sub-cellular navigation aid and an economic resource, but also a pollutant.
- Barbara Maher
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Article |
Formation of secondary organic aerosol from wildfire emissions enhanced by long-time ageing
The amount of secondary organic aerosol produced from wildfire emissions is much higher than previously thought, according to model simulations of evolution of individual species of organic aerosol over time.
- Yicong He
- , Bin Zhao
- & Neil M. Donahue
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Article
| Open Access
Long-distance migration and venting of methane from the base of the hydrate stability zone
Methane dissociated from the base of the hydrate stability zone off Mauritania during warm interglacials travelled up to 40 km landward beyond where methane hydrates are typically found before venting out, according to 3D seismic imagery.
- Richard J. Davies
- , Jinxiu Yang
- & Mads Huuse
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Article
| Open Access
Local cooling and drying induced by Himalayan glaciers under global warming
High-elevation meteorological observations and reanalysis data indicate local cooling and drying near Himalayan glaciers due to enhanced katabatic winds in response to global warming.
- Franco Salerno
- , Nicolas Guyennon
- & Francesca Pellicciotti
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Article |
Ozone pollution mitigation strategy informed by long-term trends of atmospheric oxidation capacity
Summer ozone in urban Beijing increased until 2014 and then decreased, according to 15 years of measurements in August from 2006 to 2020.
- Wenjie Wang
- , Xin Li
- & Yuanhang Zhang
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Article
| Open Access
Globally limited but severe shallow-shelf euxinia during the end-Triassic extinction
While global ocean redox patterns during the end Triassic were similar to today, pulses of localized anoxia were probably linked to mass extinctions on continental shelves, according to analysis of molybdenum records.
- Andrew D. Bond
- , Alexander J. Dickson
- & Bas van de Schootbrugge
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Article
| Open Access
Substantial and increasing global losses of timber-producing forest due to wildfires
Wildfires have caused widespread and increasingly severe losses within timber-producing forests in recent decades, according to maps of logging activity and wildfires.
- Christopher G. Bousfield
- , David. B. Lindenmayer
- & David P. Edwards
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Comment |
Spotlight on air pollution in Africa
Africa’s worsening air pollution has received too little attention. We argue that actions are needed in energy transition management, transport emission regulation and waste management to protect Africa’s air quality.
- Mohammed Iqbal Mead
- , Gabriel Okello
- & Francis David Pope
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Editorial |
Healthier air, healthier planet
Air pollution is a leading cause of death globally. Efforts to clean the air will not only save lives but contribute to addressing broader environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
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Perspective |
Atmospheric new particle formation from the CERN CLOUD experiment
The CLOUD experiment provides important insights into new particle formation in different atmospheric environments.
- Jasper Kirkby
- , António Amorim
- & Douglas R. Worsnop
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Research Briefing |
Locally surprising megafloods in Europe can be anticipated from continent-wide observations
Megafloods are rare and hence difficult to predict. However, using a collation of historical flood observations across Europe, it is now shown that recent megafloods could have been anticipated — local surprises are in fact not surprising at the continental scale.
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Article |
Substantial halogenated organic chemicals stored in permafrost soils on the Tibetan Plateau
Chemical analyses show permafrost soils on the Tibetan Plateau contain large amounts of halogenated organic chemicals that could be remobilized in a changing climate.
- Xiaojing Zhu
- , Fan Yang
- & Jan Schwarzbauer
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Article |
Increasing contribution of nighttime nitrogen chemistry to wintertime haze formation in Beijing observed during COVID-19 lockdowns
Analyses of atmospheric nitrogen chemistry in Beijing’s air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown suggest an increasing role of nighttime nitrogen chemistry in haze formation above the city.
- Chao Yan
- , Yee Jun Tham
- & Markku Kulmala
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Article |
Sustained emission reductions have restrained the ozone pollution over China
Sustained emission reductions have altered the prevailing regime for ozone formation over China, weakening the trade-off in pollution control between aerosols and ozone, according to analyses of ozone pollution chemistry between 2013 and 2021.
- Yutong Wang
- , Yu Zhao
- & Chris P. Nielsen
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Article |
Long-distance atmospheric transport of microplastic fibres influenced by their shapes
Flat microplastic fibres have much longer residence times and travel further in the atmosphere than previously appreciated, according to simulations of the settling of microplastics with different shapes.
- Shuolin Xiao
- , Yuanfeng Cui
- & Qi Li
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Article |
Widespread increases in soluble phosphorus concentrations in streams across the transboundary Great Lakes Basin
Analyses of phosphorus concentrations in more than 370 watersheds of the Great Lakes Basin from 2003 to 2019 suggest widespread increases in soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations, despite often decreasing or non-significant trends in total phosphorus.
- Nitin K. Singh
- , Kimberly J. Van Meter
- & Nandita B. Basu
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Article
| Open Access
Arctic warming by abundant fine sea salt aerosols from blowing snow
Fine sea salt aerosols produced by blowing snow in the Arctic impact cloud properties and warm the surface, according to observations from the MOSAiC expedition.
- Xianda Gong
- , Jiaoshi Zhang
- & Jian Wang
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Article |
Local surface cooling from afforestation amplified by lower aerosol pollution
Climate model simulations suggest that reducing aerosol pollution enhances the cooling effects of afforestation, which could partially counteract the warming effect of air quality measures.
- Jun Ge
- , Xin Huang
- & Weidong Guo
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News & Views |
Arctic rivers tell tales of change
Two decades of measurements across large Arctic rivers reveal unexpectedly divergent biogeochemical changes that have important implications for the Arctic Ocean. This calls for an improved understanding of current disruptions over the boundless Arctic landscape.
- Fabrice Lacroix
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Research Briefing |
Estimates of global marine plastic mass demystify the missing plastic paradox
There is a large discrepancy between estimates of oceanic plastic input and the amount of plastic measured floating at the ocean surface. Model results show that this can be explained by large objects being underestimated in previous mass budget analyses, combined with lower input estimates.
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Article
| Open Access
Global mass of buoyant marine plastics dominated by large long-lived debris
A 3D global marine plastic mass budget suggests that larger items contribute more than 95% of buoyant plastics by mass and are longer lived than previously estimated, which suggests there is no missing sink of marine plastic pollution.
- Mikael L. A. Kaandorp
- , Delphine Lobelle
- & Erik van Sebille
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Article
| Open Access
Shortwave absorption by wildfire smoke dominated by dark brown carbon
Atmospheric short-wave absorption due to wildfire smoke is caused predominantly by dark brown carbon particles, according to observations from smoke plumes in the United States.
- Rajan K. Chakrabarty
- , Nishit J. Shetty
- & Rohan Mishra
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Article
| Open Access
Groundwater springs formed during glacial retreat are a large source of methane in the high Arctic
Groundwater springs formed during the retreat of a melting glacier are likely hotspots of methane emissions in the high Arctic according to measurements of methane concentrations in springs recently formed in central Svalbard.
- Gabrielle E. Kleber
- , Andrew J. Hodson
- & Alexandra V. Turchyn
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Article |
High natural nitric oxide emissions from lakes on Tibetan Plateau under rapid warming
High-resolution satellite observations reveal that large lakes on the Tibetan Plateau have total nitric oxide emissions comparable to anthropogenic emissions from individual megacities worldwide.
- Hao Kong
- , Jintai Lin
- & Wanyun Xu
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Article |
Arctic mercury flux increased through the Last Glacial Termination with a warming climate
Mercury deposition onto the Greenland Ice Sheet increased from the Last Glacial Termination to early Holocene as the North Atlantic warmed and sea ice retreated, according to an ice-core mercury record and atmospheric chemistry modelling.
- Delia Segato
- , Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
- & Andrea Spolaor
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Article
| Open Access
Positive correlation between wet-day frequency and intensity linked to universal precipitation drivers
Precipitation frequency and intensity across different geographic regions are positively correlated in reanalysis data and observations, suggesting universal precipitation-generating processes.
- Cameron McErlich
- , Adrian McDonald
- & Sapna Rana
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Article |
The global contribution of soil mosses to ecosystem services
Mosses support carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition and plant pathogen control in soils across the globe, according to a global survey of soil attributes in ecosystems with and without mosses.
- David J. Eldridge
- , Emilio Guirado
- & Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
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Review Article |
Phosphorus availability on the early Earth and the impacts of life
A review of aqueous phosphorus availability on the Earth’s early surface suggests a range of phosphorus sources supplied the prebiotic Earth, but that phosphorus availability declined as life evolved and altered geochemical cycling.
- Craig R. Walton
- , Sophia Ewens
- & Matthew A. Pasek
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News & Views |
A fly in the ozone and climate ointment
The Montreal Protocol has successfully guided the world’s transition from chlorofluorcarbons that deplete ozone to hydrofluorocarbons that pose no direct threat to the ozone layer. A study suggests that a recent rise in atmospheric chlorofluorcarbons is linked to the inadvertent release of these gases during the production of hydrofluorocarbons.
- Ross J. Salawitch
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Article |
Global increase of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons from 2010 to 2020
Levels of five chlorofluorocarbons rose in the atmosphere from 2010 to 2020 despite their production being banned by the Montreal Protocol, probably arising as by-products of hydrofluorocarbon production, according to analysis of abundance and emissions data.
- Luke M. Western
- , Martin K. Vollmer
- & Johannes C. Laube
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Article |
Rapid night-time nanoparticle growth in Delhi driven by biomass-burning emissions
Measurements suggest that emissions from biomass burning drive the rapid growth of particles from nanoscale into sizes relevant for haze formation during the night in Delhi.
- Suneeti Mishra
- , Sachchida Nand Tripathi
- & Andre S. H. Prevot
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Research Briefing |
Satellite data shows Antarctic Peninsula glaciers flow faster in summer
Satellite observations reveal that glaciers on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula flow 12% faster on average in summer than in winter. These increased flow speeds are attributed to a combination of seasonal atmospheric and oceanographic forcing mechanisms.
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News & Views |
Earth science looks to outer space
Satellite data are revolutionizing coastal science. A study revealing how the El Niño/Southern Oscillation impacts coastal erosion around the Pacific Rim shows what is possible.
- Patrick L. Barnard
- & Sean Vitousek
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Article
| Open Access
Shifts in vegetation activity of terrestrial ecosystems attributable to climate trends
An analysis fusing satellite data with a process-based model of plant growth attributes changes in vegetation activity across terrestrial ecosystems to climatic changes.
- Steven I. Higgins
- , Timo Conradi
- & Edward Muhoko
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Article |
Increased night-time oxidation over China despite widespread decrease across the globe
Measurements show that night-time production of atmospheric nitrate radicals increased in China but decreased in the European Union and the United States from 2014 to 2019. This suggests the increasing contribution of night-time atmospheric oxidation in China to air pollution.
- Haichao Wang
- , Haolin Wang
- & Yuanhang Zhang
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Perspective |
Formation of necromass-derived soil organic carbon determined by microbial death pathways
Microbial death pathways affect the quantity and composition of microbial necromass and its associated soil organic carbon.
- Tessa Camenzind
- , Kyle Mason-Jones
- & Johannes Lehmann
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Comment |
Geology for the wellbeing economy
The recent emergence of a new economic model that is focused on the pursuit of human and ecological wellbeing — the wellbeing economy — offers a fresh framework for geology to contribute to society. The challenge will be to extend the social purpose of geology beyond material and financial goals to the ultimate ends of sustainability through delivering long-term wellbeing for all.
- Iain Stewart
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Article |
Oxygen priming induced by elevated CO2 reduces carbon accumulation and methane emissions in coastal wetlands
Elevated atmospheric CO2 reduces soil carbon accumulation and methane emissions from wetlands by changing soil redox potential resulting from increased oxygen fluxes produced by plants, according to a four-year field experiment.
- Genevieve L. Noyce
- , Alexander J. Smith
- & J. Patrick Megonigal
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Article |
Half of global agricultural soil phosphorus fertility derived from anthropogenic sources
About half of the current available phosphorus in agricultural soil globally is derived from anthropogenic sources, according to country-scale simulations of phosphorus dynamics between 1950 and 2017.
- Joséphine Demay
- , Bruno Ringeval
- & Thomas Nesme
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Brief Communication
| Open Access
Recovery from microplastic-induced marine deoxygenation may take centuries
Regional recovery from microplastic pollution-induced marine deoxygenation may take hundreds of years, according to a combination of biogeochemical and microplastic modelling.
- Karin Kvale
- & Andreas Oschlies
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Research Briefing |
Phased variation of soil respiration in tropical forests in response to nitrogen deposition
Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition is known to affect forest soil respiration, but it remains unclear how soil respiration responds to nitrogen deposition over time. Monitoring of CO2 emissions over 9–13 years of nitrogen-addition treatments in three tropical forests in southern China reveals a three-phase pattern of soil respiration.
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News & Views |
Plants water the planet
Greening of the planet has increased global surface water availability, but vegetation changes can have diverse local and remote impacts across different regions.
- Arie Staal
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Article |
Temporal patterns of soil carbon emission in tropical forests under long-term nitrogen deposition
Field experiments suggest that long-term responses of soil respiration and carbon emissions to nitrogen deposition in tropical forests can be divided into different phases as soil environment and biological response change.
- Mianhai Zheng
- , Tao Zhang
- & Wei Zhang
Pervasive fluorinated chemicals