Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2022

An article in Global Change Biology finds that ecosystem production and respiration of a 100-year-old aspen forest shows a decreasing sensitivity to temperature over a 21-year period.

An article in Science Advances reports the age of the oldest dated piece of cratonic mantle lithosphere (2.8 Ga), which was found at a mid-ocean ridge.

Ryan Glaubke describes the use of fossil foraminiferal Mg/Ca as an ocean paleothermometer.

Andrea Stoellner explains how differential mobility particle sizing (DMPS) can help identify the sources of airborne plastic particles.

Albert Larson describes the use of neural networks to enhance the resolution of satellite data and provide a more detailed understanding of water cycling.

Sam Woor discusses how optically stimulated luminescence dating is used to date the relics of ancient landscapes

Atmospheric aerosols alter Earth’s radiation balance and serve as cloud condensation nuclei, but their climate forcing potential is poorly understood. This Review describes the occurrence of aerosols in the atmosphere, assesses the known impact on climate and proposes approaches to further constrain their climate effects.

The planetary boundaries framework outlines a safe operating space for humanity according to key Earth system dynamics. This Perspective proposes the addition of a green water planetary boundary based on root-zone soil moisture and demonstrates that widespread green water modifications now present increasing risks to Earth system resilience.

Atmospheric transport of microplastics could be a major source of plastic pollution to the ocean, yet observations currently remain limited. This Perspective quantifies the known budgets of the marine-atmospheric micro(nano)plastic cycle and proposes a future global observation strategy.

The size and shape of alluvial river channels control and adjust to the flow of water and sediment, with consequences for flooding and ecological habitat. This Perspective examines how the sediment entrainment threshold constrains the size, shape and dynamics of alluvial rivers.