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By experimentally manipulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, drought, air and soil temperature, and herbivory simultaneously, this study provides evidence that climate change affects interactions between above- and belowground organisms through changes in nutrient availability under field conditions.

The complexity and politicization of climate computer models can hinder communication of their science, uses and limitations. Evidence suggests that information on climate models in US newspapers is declining and that when it appears, it is often within sceptic discourses. Furthermore, model projections are frequently portrayed as probably being inaccurate, and political opinion outlets provide more explanation of model results than many news sources.

Agricultural expansion and deforestation contribute to approximately 17% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. The fate of cleared wood and subsequent carbon storage as wood products, however, has not been consistently estimated. Now research fills this gap and shows that 30 years after forest clearance the percentage of carbon stored in wood products and landfills ranges from about 0% to 62% globally.

This study looks at changes in North Atlantic tropical storm occurrence in the twenty-first century, and finds that over the first half of the century, storm frequency increases were caused by radiative forcing changes, not increasing carbon dioxide. The chaotic nature of the climate system and the climate response to radiative forcing are the largest uncertainties in North Atlantic tropical storm frequency.

In 2010 and 2011, Republicans and Democrats in the United States proposed mandating clean electricity generation. Research has now analysed public support for a national clean energy standard (NCES) and found that the average US citizen is willing to bear an annual 13% increase in electricity bills in support of a NCES that requires 80% clean energy by 2035.

This Review discusses current knowledge regarding agriculture as a source for nitrous oxide — a major greenhouse gas. It offers an outlook on future developments about the consequences of increasing use of biofuels and the potential importance of aquaculture, as well as options for mitigation.

Using information on current species distributions and dispersal traits, this study forecasts climate-driven range dynamics of plant species across the European Alps. Simulations predict moderate range contractions over the twenty-first century; however, more severe effects of climate warming on mountain plant diversity are expected in the longer term.

A study using a newly developed framework shows how future peak temperature is related to cumulative emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and sustained emissions of shorter-lived species such as methane, and suggests an approach for limiting future warming to 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.

Rising carbon dioxide concentrations in oceanic waters is conventionally expected to stimulate marine primary productivity, as long as sufficient light is available. Now research shows that the combination of increased carbon dioxide and increased light exposure can negatively impact photosynthesis in marine primary producers; an effect with the potential to cause widespread declines in future marine primary productivity.

Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) potentially provides joint solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss — a win–win situation. Based on a literature review, this study focuses on the different policy approaches available, including an assessment of their costs and benefits.

As host to the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Brazil will draw international attention to its policy on climate change, but the measures announced so far are not commensurate with the recently set reduction goal.

The discovery of an apparently universal function describing the frequency distribution for 24-h precipitation leads to a formula relating heavy precipitation to the mean amounts and the number of days when it rains. The formula has been validated using more than 30,000 daily rain-gauge records from around the world.

By combining satellite observations with global climate models, this study provides evidence that a few key equatorial islands and coral atolls could be spared the brunt of previously predicted tropical ocean warming and productivity decline, potentially providing crucial refuges for marine biodiversity amid global climate change.

There is increasing interest in the possible impacts of wind farms on regional weather and climate. Focusing on three large wind farms located in Texas, USA, this study finds evidence for a significant warming trend at night-time and also a small warming effect at daytime over wind farms.