Featured
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Article
| Open AccessEnhanced atmospheric oxidation toward carbon neutrality reduces methane’s climate forcing
Atmospheric chemistry-climate model projections reveal an increase in global hydroxyl radical concentrations on the path toward carbon neutrality in the 21st century. This consequently benefits methane mitigation.
- Mingxu Liu
- , Yu Song
- & Tong Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessIntegrating social vulnerability into high-resolution global flood risk mapping
The study introduces a method of integrating gridded estimates of social vulnerability into high-resolution global flood risk maps demonstrating new insights into the geography of flood risk within and between countries.
- Sean Fox
- , Felix Agyemang
- & Jeffrey Neal
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Article
| Open AccessThe deepwater oxygen deficit in stratified shallow seas is mediated by diapycnal mixing
Oxygen deprivation in the marine environment is likely to be exacerbated by climate change. We present data to show the potential impact of changing weather patterns in the development of a seasonal oxygen deficit in seasonally stratifying shelf seas.
- Tom Rippeth
- , Sijing Shen
- & Jonathan Sharples
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Article
| Open AccessAmundsen Sea circulation controls bottom upwelling and Antarctic Pine Island and Thwaites ice shelf melting
On-shelf circulation modulates vertical velocity via bottom Ekman dynamics, controlling thermocline depth and melting of Amundsen Sea ice shelves. This mechanism does not support the widely believed linkage between off-shelf wind and on-shelf heat.
- Taewook Park
- , Yoshihiro Nakayama
- & SungHyun Nam
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Article
| Open AccessMaximizing carbon sequestration potential in Chinese forests through optimal management
The authors show China’s forests can sequester 172.3 million tons of carbon per year in biomass by 2100, with an additional 28.1 million tons from improved management practices, but neglecting wood harvest impacts will distort long-term future projections.
- Zhen Yu
- , Shirong Liu
- & Evgenios Agathokleous
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Article
| Open AccessContrasting carbon cycle along tropical forest aridity gradients in West Africa and Amazonia
This study finds that West African ecosystems are generally more productive than equivalent ecosystems in Amazonia. It also suggests that a semi-deciduous forest site in Ghana is the world’s most productive forest measured to date.
- Huanyuan Zhang-Zheng
- , Stephen Adu-Bredu
- & Yadvinder Malhi
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Article
| Open AccessGlobal energy use and carbon emissions from irrigated agriculture
The global energy and carbon footprint of irrigation remain uncertain. Here, the authors show that energy consumption and carbon emissions from irrigation are primarily driven by groundwater pumping and are significant in major agricultural nations.”
- Jingxiu Qin
- , Weili Duan
- & Lorenzo Rosa
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessReply to: Rectifying misinformation on the climate intervention potential of ocean afforestation
- Lennart T. Bach
- , Veronica Tamsitt
- & Philip W. Boyd
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessRectifying misinformation on the climate intervention potential of ocean afforestation
- Victor Smetacek
- , Mar Fernández-Méndez
- & Jiajun Wu
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Article
| Open AccessMeta-analysis indicates better climate adaptation and mitigation performance of hybrid engineering-natural coastal defence measures
This meta-analysis compares the performance of hard, hybrid, soft and natural coastal defence measures. Results show that all measures have a positive economic return over 20 years yet hybrid measures perform best for climate adaptation and mitigation.
- Lam Thi Mai Huynh
- , Jie Su
- & Alexandros Gasparatos
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Article
| Open AccessEuropium in plagioclase-hosted melt inclusions reveals mantle melting modulates oxygen fugacity
Distributions of the multivalent element Europium are used to recover the partial pressure of oxygen from basaltic mantle melt inclusions trapped in plagioclase crystals, suggesting Earth’s mantle is reduced by partial melting.
- Nicholas Dygert
- , Gokce K. Ustunisik
- & Roger L. Nielsen
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Article
| Open AccessLandslide hazard cascades can trigger earthquakes
While earthquakes are known to trigger landslides and initiate hazard cascades, the authors show that landslide hazard cascades can instead trigger earthquakes by increasing stresses on faults through direct loading and pore pressure diffusion.
- Zhen Zhang
- , Min Liu
- & Jinrong Su
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Article
| Open AccessThermodiffusive desalination
Current desalination technologies are energy intensive and suffer from membrane degradation and fouling. Here, authors propose and explore the potential of thermodiffusion as a means of membrane-free, single-phase thermal desalination. A pathway towards a feasible thermodiffusive desalination is provided.
- Shuqi Xu
- , Alice J. Hutchinson
- & Juan F. Torres
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Comment
| Open AccessIntegrating science and the arts to deglobalise climate change adaptation
Setting goals that are context-specific, relevant, and collectively shared is critical in adaptation. As necessary elements in target setting, imaginaries for adaptation and the language connected to them remain vague. Visuals produced through art-science collaborations can be great allies to (de)construct imaginaries and deglobalise discourses of adaptation.
- Marta Olazabal
- , Maria Loroño-Leturiondo
- & Josune Urrutia
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Article
| Open AccessThe effect of a political crisis on performance of community forests and protected areas in Madagascar
The effectiveness of community-based land protection compared to traditional top-down protection is debated. Here, the authors show that both community-managed forests and traditional protected areas in Madagascar experienced deforestation during a political crisis but the former were especially vulnerable in the post-crisis period.
- Rachel A. Neugarten
- , Ranaivo A. Rasolofoson
- & Amanda D. Rodewald
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Article
| Open AccessA mechanism for reconciling the synchronisation of Heinrich events and Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles
In this study, an atmospheric perturbation mechanism is introduced that reconciles the synchronisation of Heinrich events and Dansgaard-Oeschger Cycles.
- Clemens Schannwell
- , Uwe Mikolajewicz
- & Florian Ziemen
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Article
| Open AccessContamination of 8.2 ka cold climate records by the Storegga tsunami in the Nordic Seas
Tsunamis can disturb sea floor sediments. This study shows that climate records of the famous 8200-year-old cold spell inferred from Norwegian Sea sediments are likely contaminated by tsunami waves from the giant Storegga Landslide.
- Stein Bondevik
- , Bjørg Risebrobakken
- & Finn Løvholt
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Article
| Open AccessIncrease in concerns about climate change following climate strikes and civil disobedience in Germany
Climate movements aim to raise public awareness of climate change through protests, but their efficacy is debated. Here, the authors show that concerns about climate change increased in Germany after climate strikes and non-violent acts of civil disobedience.
- Johannes Brehm
- & Henri Gruhl
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Article
| Open AccessBat species assemblage predicts coronavirus prevalence
Human encroachment into nature alters species communities and can lead to changes in disease dynamics. Here, Meyer et al. find that coronavirus prevalence increased in less diverse bat communities, which were dominated by susceptible host species.
- Magdalena Meyer
- , Dominik W. Melville
- & Simone Sommer
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Article
| Open AccessA genome-centric view of the role of the Acropora kenti microbiome in coral health and resilience
This study provides insights into the functional roles of microbial symbionts within the reef-building coral Acropora kenti. The findings reveal molecular mechanisms underpinning coral health and adaptation to local environmental stressors, which may support host resilience in the face of anthropogenic climate change and pollution.
- Lauren F. Messer
- , David G. Bourne
- & Gene W. Tyson
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Article
| Open AccessLate Paleozoic oxygenation of marine environments supported by dolomite U-Pb dating
A proxy is developed for oxygen levels in seawater, based on U-Pb dating of dolomite. It shows a step-increase in O2 400 million years ago, suggesting that oceans were largely oxygen-limited at the ‘dawn’ of animal life.
- Michal Ben-Israel
- , Robert M. Holder
- & Uri Ryb
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Article
| Open AccessIce shelf basal channel shape determines channelized ice-ocean interactions
Interactions between meltwater flow and ice shelf basal channels are studied using a 3D boundary current model. Deep channels are found to significantly enhance channelized basal melting, meltwater channeling, and warming and salinization of channel flow.
- Chen Cheng
- , Adrian Jenkins
- & Chengyan Liu
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Article
| Open AccessNortheast Pacific warm blobs sustained via extratropical atmospheric teleconnections
Atmospheric wave trains, triggered by increased rainfall over the Mediterranean and decreased rainfall over the North Atlantic, can induce a high-pressure anomaly over the Northeast Pacific, which is crucial for warm blob development in the cold season.
- Jian Shi
- , Hao Huang
- & Xiaopei Lin
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Article
| Open AccessDecreased Indian Ocean Dipole variability under prolonged greenhouse warming
This study shows that the variability of the Indian Ocean Dipole robustly weakens due to long-term warming. The findings provide compelling evidence for an anthropogenic influence on the Indian Ocean Dipole intensity.
- Soong-Ki Kim
- , Hyo-Jin Park
- & Jong-Seong Kug
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Article
| Open AccessDefect-induced triple synergistic modulation in copper for superior electrochemical ammonia production across broad nitrate concentrations
Converting nitrate to ammonia in wastewater with a wide range of nitrate concentrations remains a challenging task. Here the authors report defect-rich Cu nanowire electrocatalyst which can achieve 50 to 1100 mA cm−2 and over 90% Faradaic efficiency using 1–100 mM nitrate wastewater.
- Bocheng Zhang
- , Zechuan Dai
- & Genqiang Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessRecent autumn sea ice loss in the eastern Arctic enhanced by summer Asian-Pacific Oscillation
A recent phase shift of the summer Asian-Pacific Oscillation (APO), featuring out-of-phase variations in upper-tropospheric temperatures between Asia and the North Pacific, accelerated autumn sea ice loss in the eastern Arctic.
- Botao Zhou
- , Ziyi Song
- & Haishan Chen
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Article
| Open AccessSubslab ultra low velocity anomaly uncovered by and facilitating the largest deep earthquake
A small ultralow velocity anomaly has been identified between the Pacific subduction and upper-lower mantle boundary. This anomaly implies significant buoyancy, which may bring the slab easier to develop into a M8+ deep earthquake.
- Weiwen Chen
- , Shengji Wei
- & Weitao Wang
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Article
| Open AccessSubstantially reducing global PM2.5-related deaths under SDG3.9 requires better air pollution control and healthcare
Reducing PM2.5 air pollution from biomass burning, transport, energy, and manufacturing, in combination with improvements in healthcare, especially in emerging economies like India and China, will be crucial to meeting SDG3.9
- Huanbi Yue
- , Chunyang He
- & Brett A. Bryan
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Article
| Open AccessGrave-to-cradle photothermal upcycling of waste polyesters over spent LiCoO2
The increasing production of lithium-ion batteries and plastics presents significant challenges to resource sustainability and ecosystem integrity. This study highlights the utilization of spent lithium cobalt oxide cathodes as photothermal catalysts to transform various waste polyesters into valuable monomers.
- Xiangxi Lou
- , Penglei Yan
- & Jinxing Chen
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Article
| Open AccessGenome-scale community modelling reveals conserved metabolic cross-feedings in epipelagic bacterioplankton communities
Identifying the metabolic interactions that underlie microbial communities is challenging. Here, the authors combine Tara Oceans -omics data with co-activity networks and genome-scale metabolic models to predict biotic interactions among planktonic prokaryotes in the upper ocean.
- Nils Giordano
- , Marinna Gaudin
- & Samuel Chaffron
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Article
| Open AccessIntermediate soil acidification induces highest nitrous oxide emissions
Intermediate soil acidification alters the denitrifier community composition and induces high nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, which contributes to the observed acceleration of N2O emissions from global soils
- Yunpeng Qiu
- , Yi Zhang
- & Shuijin Hu
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Comment
| Open AccessChallenges and ways forward for sustainable weather and climate services in Africa
Sustainability of African weather and climate information can only be ensured by investing in improved scientific understanding, observational data, and model capability. These requirements must be underpinned by capacity development, knowledge management; and partnerships of co-production, communication and coordination.
- Benjamin Lamptey
- , Salah SAHABI ABED
- & Erik W. Kolstad
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Article
| Open AccessNitrogen and phosphorus trends in lake sediments of China may diverge
Nutrient levels in Chinese lakes have rapidly increased since 1950 but future trends in lacustrine nitrogen and phosphorus across China will differentiate, according to projections up to 2100.
- Panpan Ji
- , Jianhui Chen
- & Fahu Chen
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Article
| Open AccessTreeline displacement may affect lake dissolved organic matter processing at high latitudes and altitudes
Shifts in the treeline may induce changes in organic matter composition of lakes at high altitude and latitude. Here, the authors experimentally unravel effects of soil-derived DOM for lake carbon biogeochemistry and bacterial carbon use efficiency.
- Núria Catalán
- , Carina Rofner
- & Hannes Peter
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Perspective
| Open AccessEngineering biology and climate change mitigation: Policy considerations
Engineering biology is a dynamic field that uses gene editing, synthesis, assembly, and engineering to design new or modified biological systems. Here the authors discuss the policy considerations and interventions needed to support a role for engineering biology in climate change mitigation.
- Jonathan Symons
- , Thomas A. Dixon
- & Isak S. Pretorius
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Article
| Open AccessMeta-analysis shows the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions
International initiatives set ambitious targets for ecological restoration. Here, the authors conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions and find that forest, grassland, and wetland restoration reduce global warming potential.
- Tiehu He
- , Weixin Ding
- & Quanfa Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessAccounting for albedo change to identify climate-positive tree cover restoration
Restoring tree cover is a prominent climate solution but can cause global warming due to changes in albedo. This paper maps albedo and carbon changes from restoring tree cover to highlight where the greatest net climate benefits can be achieved.
- Natalia Hasler
- , Christopher A. Williams
- & Susan C. Cook-Patton
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Perspective
| Open AccessEcological countermeasures to prevent pathogen spillover and subsequent pandemics
In this Perspective, the authors discuss the importance of preventing zoonotic spillover to prevent pandemics. They highlight mechanisms by which environmental changes can enable spillover, identify ecological interventions for spillover prevention and suggest policy frameworks through which interventions can be implemented.
- Raina K. Plowright
- , Aliyu N. Ahmed
- & Annika T. H. Keeley
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Article
| Open AccessField-scale crop water consumption estimates reveal potential water savings in California agriculture
This study introduces a novel framework for generating high-resolution, in-situ estimates of agricultural evapotranspiration (ET) using satellite-based ET data combined with machine learning. This approach is leveraged to assess the water-saving potential of various management strategies and in calculating irrigation efficiency across California’s Central Valley.
- Anna Boser
- , Kelly Caylor
- & Tamma Carleton
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Article
| Open AccessLandslide topology uncovers failure movements
This study analyzes the 3d shapes of landslides and introduces a method to discern landslide movements, such as slides, flows and falls.
- Kushanav Bhuyan
- , Kamal Rana
- & Nishant Malik
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Article
| Open AccessThe Persian plateau served as hub for Homo sapiens after the main out of Africa dispersal
The timing and chronology of the movement of Homo sapiens after migration out of Africa remains unclear. Here, the authors combine a genetic approach with a palaeoecological model to estimate that the Persian Plateau could have been a hub for migration out of Africa, suggesting the environment may have been suitable for population maintenance.
- Leonardo Vallini
- , Carlo Zampieri
- & Luca Pagani
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Article
| Open AccessFire suppression makes wildfires more severe and accentuates impacts of climate change and fuel accumulation
Fire suppression removes less-extreme wildfires, concentrating fires under extreme conditions. The authors use model simulations to show how this “suppression bias” intensifies fire behavior and effects, beyond fuel accumulation and climate change impacts.
- Mark R. Kreider
- , Philip E. Higuera
- & Andrew J. Larson
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Article
| Open AccessSingle drop cytometry onboard the International Space Station
Real-time lab analysis is key to support clinical research during space missions. Here, the authors show scant test samples can be measured in microgravity using a miniature cytometery-based analyzer, the rHEALTH ONE with specific spaceflight modifications.
- Daniel J. Rea
- , Rachael S. Miller
- & Eugene Y. Chan
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Article
| Open AccessThe role of mountains in shaping the global meridional overturning circulation
This paper presents quantitative evaluation of the role of different continental mountains in shaping the global meridional overturning circulation. The Tibetan Plateau is likely to have been crucial in molding the global thermohaline circulation.
- Haijun Yang
- , Rui Jiang
- & Jiangping Huang
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Article
| Open AccessAtmospheric isoprene measurements reveal larger-than-expected Southern Ocean emissions
High atmospheric concentrations of isoprene have been observed in the Southern Ocean. The authors investigate their potential marine sources and show how these emissions impact the modelling of atmospheric processes and composition in remote environments.
- Valerio Ferracci
- , James Weber
- & Neil. R. P. Harris
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Article
| Open AccessElevation-dependent pattern of net CO2 uptake across China
The authors employed 203 eddy covariance towers to reveal a negative and varying elevation dependent pattern of CO2 uptake, under changes in Earth’s climate and human activities.
- Da Wei
- , Jing Tao
- & Xiaodan Wang
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Article
| Open AccessWidespread extracellular electron transfer pathways for charging microbial cytochrome OmcS nanowires via periplasmic cytochromes PpcABCDE
How do cells put electrons to rest? Using a minimal pathway to get rid of excess metabolic electrons, diverse environmentally important microbes overcome large spatial, kinetic, and thermodynamic barriers in order to survive in extreme anoxic conditions.
- Pilar C. Portela
- , Catharine C. Shipps
- & Nikhil S. Malvankar
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Article
| Open AccessHigh hydrostatic pressure stimulates microbial nitrate reduction in hadal trench sediments under oxic conditions
Hadal trenches are the deepest oceanic ecosystems, with water depth over 6000 m, and are among the least explored habitats on Earth. This research demonstrates that high hydrostatic pressure enhances denitrification activity under oxic conditions, potentially making hadal trenches fixed nitrogen loss hotpots.
- Na Yang
- , Yongxin Lv
- & Yu Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessClimate change will reduce North American inland wetland areas and disrupt their seasonal regimes
Earth system modeling is used to project future changes in North American wetlands. Climate change will reduce inland wetland areas and disrupt their seasonal regimes, with substantial summer drying and shrinkage in cold regions.
- Donghui Xu
- , Gautam Bisht
- & L. Ruby Leung