Letter
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Matthew Patterson
Summary: Europe has experienced an increase in the frequency and intensity of hot extremes, with the hottest summer days in North-West Europe warming at a faster rate than average summer days. This pattern is relatively unusual in the Northern Hemisphere and is not captured by comprehensive climate models. The hypothesis suggests that the differential rate of warming is due to warm advection from Iberia and North Africa, which are warming faster than North-West Europe. Further research is needed to understand the drivers of this difference in trends.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dan Fu, Ping Chang, Christina M. Patricola, R. Saravanan, Xue Liu, Hylke E. Beck
Summary: The Central American mountains play a role in reducing tropical cyclone activity in the eastern North Pacific by interrupting moisture transport from the Caribbean Sea on a seasonal timescale, reducing TC activity by up to 35%.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Letter
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rachel E. S. Clemesha, Sam F. F. Iacobellis, Alexander Gershunov, Daniel R. R. Cayan, Ivory J. J. Small, Tereza Cavazos
Summary: Low-level stratiform clouds in California's coastal region are influenced by an additional driver during the warm season, particularly in the months of July, August, and September. This driver is associated with the North American Monsoon (NAM) processes, which transport moisture into southern California and reduce cloud cover by diminishing cloud-top longwave cooling. This study highlights the importance of accounting for this previously missing component in future research on coastal cloudiness.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Frank A. La Sorte, Alison Johnston, Toby R. Ault
Summary: This study analyzed 70 years of climate data to estimate the frequency and duration of extreme heat and extreme cold events globally, revealing pronounced seasonal variations and regional characteristics.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
George Zittis, Panos Hadjinicolaou, Mansour Almazroui, Edoardo Bucchignani, Fatima Driouech, Khalid El Rhaz, Levent Kurnaz, Grigory Nikulin, Athanasios Ntoumos, Tugba Ozturk, Yiannis Proestos, Georgiy Stenchikov, Rashyd Zaaboul, Jos Lelieveld
Summary: Global climate projections indicate that in the second half of this century, the Middle East and North Africa will experience unprecedented super- and ultra-extreme heatwaves, with temperatures reaching up to 56 degrees Celsius and lasting several weeks. By the end of the century, it is estimated that approximately 600 million people in the region will be exposed to these extreme heatwaves annually, with over 90% of the affected population living in urban centers and needing to cope with the disruptive weather conditions.
NPJ CLIMATE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. L. Tulley-Cordova, A. L. Putman, G. J. Bowen
Summary: The North American Monsoon (NAM) is a significant source of precipitation in the southwestern United States, particularly important for Native Americans like the Navajo Nation. However, little is known about the characteristics and hydrological significance of NAM in the region. A new 4-year record of stable isotopes in monsoon-season rainfall and water resources across the NN revealed a characteristic pattern of H and O enrichment associated with monsoonal precipitation.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tripti Bhattacharya
Summary: The North American Monsoon (NAM) is an important component of the hydrologic cycle in southwestern North America, but our understanding of its long-term evolution is incomplete. A new study has compiled a Holocene proxy records to create a composite index of NAM evolution and found a relationship between NAM strength and latitudinal temperature gradient over the Holocene. The study highlights the importance of paleoclimatic records, particularly from past warm intervals, in gaining insights into the evolution of regional monsoons.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chandra Rupa Rajulapati, Rohan Kumar Gaddam, Sofia D. Nerantzaki, Simon Michael Papalexiou, Alex J. Cannon, Martyn P. Clark
Summary: Extreme temperature is a major threat to urban populations in Canada. Historical data and projections show increasing temperatures in all cities, with higher-elevation cities experiencing slower rates. Cities in the Prairies are expected to have more summer days, while Vancouver, Victoria, and Halifax will see a significant increase in heat waves. Cold waves are projected to decrease further in the future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vittal Hari, Subimal Ghosh, Wei Zhang, Rohini Kumar
Summary: A new study reveals that the occurrence of summer heatwaves in India is influenced by the large scale atmospheric circulation associated with the Pacific Meridional Mode. The study identifies a significant link between the positive phase of the PMM and increased intensity and duration of heatwaves in North Central India. The findings also suggest that future heatwaves could become even more intense due to anthropogenic warming, which has important implications for mitigation and adaptation strategies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Tian Wei, Cheng Sun, Jianpin Li
Summary: The predictability of temperatures in North America is crucial for local agriculture and human health. A study has found that the spring sea surface temperature anomalies in the southwest Pacific exhibit a strong correlation with autumn temperatures in North America. This finding suggests that the spring southwest Pacific sea surface temperature can be a useful predictor for North American temperatures.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Case Youngflesh, Graham A. Montgomery, James F. Saracco, David A. W. Miller, Robert P. Guralnick, Allen H. Hurlbert, Rodney B. Siegel, Raphael LaFrance, Morgan W. Tingley
Summary: Changes in phenology have been observed globally, with concerns that ecological interactions may become decoupled. However, evidence for the demographic consequences of phenological asynchrony remains elusive.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nuria Marba, Gabriel Jorda, Scott Bennett, Carlos M. Duarte
Summary: Seagrasses have suffered significant losses globally due to human impacts and marine heat waves. The lack of information on seagrass mortality thermal thresholds hinders the assessment of seagrass loss risk in heat waves. Through synthesis of existing data, it was found that seagrass upper thermal limits increase with local annual temperature. By combining climate data and models, the study assessed the proximity of seagrass meadows to their thermal limits and the time required to reach these limits under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The study highlights the importance of implementing the goals under the Paris Agreement and taking actions to remove local anthropogenic stresses.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roshan Jha, Arpita Mondal, Anjana Devanand, M. K. Roxy, Subimal Ghosh
Summary: Irrigation effects on heat stress are overestimated in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, while aerosol abundance has a significant impact on land surface temperature.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. L. Harper, A. Cunsolo, A. Babujee, S. Coggins, E. De Jongh, T. Rusnak, C. J. Wright, M. Dominguez Aguilar
Summary: Since the IPCC's 5th Assessment Report in 2014, there has been significant advancement in climate change and health research in North America, particularly in the areas of climate change impacts, heat-related mortality and morbidity, and respiratory illness. However, research gaps still exist regarding the impacts of climate change on mental health, nutrition, and foodborne disease.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Giacomo Moraglia, Erika Brattich, Gregory Carbone
Summary: This study investigates trends in the pluviometric regime in North and South Carolina, USA using data from forty-four historical stations. The results show that most of the stations do not exhibit consistent, statistically significant trends in precipitation amount, frequency, and intensity. However, a third of the stations show a significant increasing trend in the annual number of light rain days. These findings contribute to the understanding of trends in the southeastern United States and have implications for adaptation planning.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Enrique R. Vivoni, Eli R. Perez-Ruiz, Russell L. Scott, Adam T. Naito, Steven R. Archer, Joel A. Biederman, Nicole P. Templeton
Summary: Woody plant encroachment limits forage productivity of rangelands and alters ecosystem processes. Intervention strategies to reduce woody plant abundance lack observations to quantify changes in ecosystem processes. This study investigated the effects of brush management on an encroached grassland in Arizona.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Mercedes Kindler, Enrique R. Vivoni, Eli R. Perez-Ruiz, Zhaocheng Wang
Summary: This study conducted monitoring and modeling to analyze the effects of compost application in urban parks. The results showed that the use of green waste compost did not significantly change soil moisture or vegetation conditions. However, there were notable differences between flood and sprinkler irrigation practices in terms of seasonality of water balance, plant water stress, and sensitivity to precipitation fluctuations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Efrain Vizuete-Jaramillo, Kathrin Grahmann, Lucy Mora Palomino, Luis Mendez-Barroso, Agustin Robles-Morua
Summary: Monitoring in remote areas is challenging, but this study successfully tested resin samplers and resin bags for monitoring nitrate fluxes in semi-arid catchments in Mexico.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Jose Arturo Montoya Laos, Jose del Carmen Jimenez-Hernandez
Summary: This paper proposes a novel index to predict the failure rate of recently launched products using sales information and failure reports. The index is derived using the maximum likelihood method, and prediction intervals are obtained using a bootstrap approach. The simulation study shows good performance in terms of mean square error and coverage probability.
QUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Benedetto Schiavo, Diana Meza-Figueroa, Efrain Vizuete-Jaramillo, Agustin Robles-Morua, Aracely Angulo-Molina, Pablo A. Reyes-Castro, Claudio Inguaggiato, Belem Gonzalez-Grijalva, Martin Pedroza-Montero
Summary: This research examines the connection between metals associated with oxidative stress (OS) in urban dust and public health. The study also investigates the impact of seasonal variations on the dust's oxidative potential (OP) and the occurrence of diseases affected by OS. The findings highlight the importance of studying dust as an environmental factor that may potentially increase oxidative stress.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhaocheng Wang, Enrique R. Vivoni
Summary: In this study, the imaging capabilities of CubeSats were demonstrated for mapping flash flood hazards in arid regions. The results showed that CubeSat imagery can effectively determine the spatial extent of flooding, providing valuable support for post-flood mitigation efforts.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Kristen M. Whitney, Enrique R. Vivoni, Theodore J. Bohn, Giuseppe Mascaro, Zhaocheng Wang, Mu Xiao, Mohammed I. Mahmoud, Chuck Cullom, Dave D. White
Summary: Studies in the Colorado River Basin have found that warming has caused declines in streamflow since 2000, especially in the Upper Basin. However, it is uncertain if increased precipitation variability could outweigh the effects of future warming. To address this, a model framework was used to project streamflow across the entire basin, showing significant declines in streamflow due to warming and decreased precipitation. The spatial analysis provided actionable information for water management in the basin.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Kristen M. Whitney, Enrique R. Vivoni, Dave D. White
Summary: Growing challenges of climate change require urgent shifts in scientific research to inform environmental decision-making. In the context of water management of the Colorado River Basin (CRB), a web-based tool, CRB-Scenario-Explorer, was developed to provide interactive visual assessments of modelled future CRB hydrology scenarios and support mindful interpretations. Incorporating water manager feedback and user-experience principles, the tool proved effective in assisting with the discovery that future CRB hydrology is more sensitive to climate uncertainty than forest disturbances, sparking discourse around risk management. CRB-Scenario-Explorer exemplifies a novel and effective method to increase the accessibility, applicability, and transparency of environmental science research.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Steven R. Archer, Adam T. Naito, Philip Heilman, Enrique R. Vivoni, Russell L. Scott
Summary: This study documents the effects of a commonly used herbicide blend on Prosopis velutina in grazed Sonoran Desert grasslands. The herbicide treatment resulted in modest and short-term impacts, with a 7% mortality rate and a decline in foliar cover. The researchers suggest that knowledge of physiological activity and environmental conditions can help identify optimal times to apply herbicides.
RANGELAND ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Albert Orwa Akuno, L. Leticia Ramirez-Ramirez, Chahak Mehta, C. G. Krishnanunni, Tan Bui-Thanh, Jose A. Montoya
Summary: This study proposes multi-patch models that take into account the effects of human mobility on the evolution of disease dynamics in a multi-population environment. The models' stability and disease propagation characteristics are rigorously analyzed and studied through numerical simulations, considering the effects of human mobility and the residence time matrix on the evolution of the disease in different patches and the overall environment.
CHAOS SOLITONS & FRACTALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Kristen M. M. Whitney, Enrique R. R. Vivoni, Zhaocheng Wang, Dave D. D. White, Ray Quay, Mohammed I. I. Mahmoud, Nolie P. P. Templeton
Summary: Accelerated climate change and forest disturbances have significant impacts on water resources in the Colorado River Basin. Our stakeholder engagement and modeling process assesses these impacts, showing that permanent forest disturbances can improve streamflow conditions and reverse declines in supply efficiency under warm/wet climate scenarios, but not under hot/dry conditions.
JOURNAL OF WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benedetto Schiavo, Diana Meza-Figueroa, Ofelia Morton-Bermea, Efrain Vizuete-Jaramillo, Agustin Robles-Morua
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal variation in the spatial distribution of mercury (Hg) in dust in an arid area. Dust samples were collected from schools during the pre- and post-monsoon period and analyzed for Hg concentration. The results showed high contamination of Hg in the northern area of the city, which is characterized by brickyard activities. A bull's eye pattern of Hg was observed during the dry season and was attributed to emissions from kiln brick production. The study also highlighted potential health concerns to children and adults.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Zachary T. Keller, Enrique R. Vivoni, Charles R. Kimsal, Agustin Robles-Morua, Eli R. Perez-Ruiz
Summary: This study investigates the controls and thresholds of hillslope-channel connectivity in a small desert catchment. Results show that maximum rainfall intensity plays a crucial role in hillslope runoff production, and changes in channel properties may reduce outlet discharge.
Article
Soil Science
Martha L. Vargas-Terminel, Dulce Flores-Renteria, Zulia M. Sanchez-Mejia, Nidia E. Rojas-Robles, Maritza Sandoval-Aguilar, Bruno Chavez-Vergara, Agustin Robles-Morua, Jaime Garatuza-Payan, Enrico A. Yepez
Summary: Studies conducted in tropical dry forests located in northwestern Mexico revealed that seasonality has varying effects on soil respiration along forest succession pathways. Soil moisture and temperature are key factors influencing soil respiration, with additional controls such as vapor pressure deficit and gross primary production playing a role in different forest successional stages.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mu Xiao, Giuseppe Mascaro, Zhaocheng Wang, Kristen M. Whitney, Enrique R. Vivoni
Summary: This study evaluates the performance of a regional hydrological model applied over the Colorado River Basin using remotely sensed data. The study highlights the value of Earth observing satellites and provides a feasible approach for assessing the sensitivity of the Colorado River to climate change.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)