Reviews & Analysis

Gyres, jets and waves are thought to have an important role in Earth’s core dynamics. This Review explores these core processes, based on satellite observations and numerical simulations, and discusses the implications for deep-Earth coupling and forecasting geomagnetic field changes.

Although model projections indicate increased El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability in the future, contemporary impacts of anthropogenic forcing on ENSO variability have been difficult to ascertain. This Perspective discusses these contemporary effects, outlining that an increase in post-1960 ENSO variability is likely related to greenhouse gas forcing.

A digital twin of Earth would fully integrate Big Data observations within an Earth–human system model, to assess the interactions between these subsystems. This Review explores the current progress in Big Data manipulation in Earth sciences providing pathways toward digital twins of Earth.

Extreme weather and climate events could increase ecosystem disturbances and, potentially, destabilize ecosystems, but different feedbacks between climate and ecosystems are often not accounted for. This Perspective proposes a framework to characterize ecoclimatic events and understand the role of human activities in driving them.

Ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) metamorphism represents the most extreme thermal conditions that the continental crust is capable of sustaining at 15–55 km depth. This Review assesses the characteristics of UHT metamorphism, the tectonic mechanisms, and the implications for metamorphism in present-day orogens.

Remediation of contaminated and disused brownfields enables urban development, but many remediation strategies have high environmental or social burdens. This Review examines sustainable technologies to remediate and redevelop these sites, highlighting strategies to maximize co-benefits.

Rainfall variability in Eastern Africa is associated with considerable social and environmental impacts, including threats to water, energy and food security. This Review outlines the drivers of this rainfall variability, their corresponding impacts, and potential future changes with anthropogenic warming.

Constructed wetlands are used to remove organics and nutrients from wastewater while providing ecosystem services. This Review discusses the application, principles and operational strategies of CWs, and provides guidance on their design and maintenance.

Continental rift zones are regions of crustal extension that manifest through seismic and magmatic activity. This Review explores the variety and development of rifts by assessing their geodynamic drivers, resisting factors and weakening processes.

Lithium is an essential resource for the energy transition, owing to its widespread use in rechargeable batteries. This Review describes the fresh water and chemical inputs, wastes and environmental impacts of direct lithium extraction technologies and how to manage them.

The advent of advanced plate tectonic reconstruction software has instigated an explosive growth in their generation and use by the wider Earth science community. This Technical Review provides a best-practice guide for quantitative plate reconstructions and their applications.

Continental margins record the last stages of rifting before a new ocean basin is formed, with their variety reflecting interactions between tectonic, magmatic, sedimentary and hydrothermal processes. This Review provides a process-based understanding of rifted margin formation, gaining insights into their resource potential for the energy transition.

Water resources are threatened by human activities and climate variability. This Review discusses trends in water storage and availability and examines ways to enhance water-resource resilience through green and grey solutions.

Carbon uptake by the ocean has increased alongside rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, but with substantial variability. This Review examines trends in ocean CO₂ uptake and the internal and external factors driving its variability, finding an ocean uptake of –2.7 ± 0.3 Pg C year^–1 for the period 1990 through 2019.

Subsurface carbon dioxide and green energy storage are enablers to limiting anthropogenic warming to 1.5 °C. This Review assesses the feasibility of expanding carbon dioxide storage to gigatonne scales and explores how this experience could accelerate the development of underground hydrogen storage.

Dust influences the global energy budget through various Earth system interactions. This Review outlines these interactions, revealing a total radiative effect of −0.2 ± 0.5 W m⁻², which, alongside 55 ± 30% historical increases in dust, have contributed a radiative forcing of −0.07 ± 0.18 W m⁻².

Detection, monitoring and prediction are essential to managing landslide risks. This Technical Review examines the use of remote-sensing technology in tracking landslides and mitigating disaster.

Connections between climate and conflict have been the centre of critical debate and discussion. In this Viewpoint, five researchers provide their thoughts and opinions on the topic, outlining the types of conflict that can be linked to climate variability, and how these relationships might evolve with ongoing climate change.

Heatwaves are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity, necessitating prediction so as to minimize loss of life and other impacts. This Review outlines heatwave predictive capabilities at daily to decadal timescales, and discusses heatwave projections with anthropogenic warming.

Compound heat and moisture extremes influence crop yield, threatening food security. This Review outlines the mechanisms, projections and adaptation options for compound extreme–crop yield relationships, highlighting an urgency to better understand the impact of joint stresses.