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Study Links Mid-14th Century Volcanic Eruption to Spread of Black Death

Study Links Mid-14th Century Volcanic Eruption to Spread of Black Death

A recent study suggests that a mid-14th-century volcanic eruption may have triggered the spread of the Black Death in Europe. Researchers found that the eruption led to a period of unusually cold conditions, causing agricultural shortages and redirecting grain trade routes. This shift in trade is believed to have facilitated the transport of plague-infected fleas into the Mediterranean, contributing to the pandemic's spread. The study highlights the interplay between environmental shocks and global trade networks in the spread of pandemics.
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Study Reveals Impact of Artificial Light on Carbon Sequestration in North America and Europe

Study Reveals Impact of Artificial Light on Carbon Sequestration in North America and Europe

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change by Alice S. A. Johnston and colleagues from Cranfield University, UK, has highlighted the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on carbon fluxes across North America and Europe. The research utilized nighttime light datasets and eddy covariance observations to assess how ALAN affects ecosystem-level respiration and net ecosystem exchange. The findings indicate that ALAN enhances respiration and weakens the net ecosystem exchange, thereby reducing the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems on a continental scale. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that light pollution is a significant factor in global change, affecting the carbon sequestration capabilities of ecosystems.
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Researchers Link Unknown Volcanic Eruption to Spread of Black Death in Europe

Researchers Link Unknown Volcanic Eruption to Spread of Black Death in Europe

A recent study by researchers Martin Bauch and Ulf Büntgen suggests that an unidentified volcanic eruption around 1345 may have contributed to the spread of the Black Death in Europe. The eruption is believed to have released climate-cooling ash and sulfur into the atmosphere, leading to crop failures across the Mediterranean. This environmental shift forced major port cities to open trade routes with the Golden Horde in Central Asia, inadvertently facilitating the entry of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the plague, into Europe. The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, combines historical records with scientific data from polar ice cores and European tree rings to support this hypothesis.
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Study Links Volcanic Eruption to Spread of Black Death in Europe

Study Links Volcanic Eruption to Spread of Black Death in Europe

A recent study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment suggests that a significant volcanic eruption may have played a crucial role in the spread of the Black Death across medieval Europe. Researchers Martin Bauch and Ulf Büntgen analyzed tree ring growth, volcanic sulfur in ice cores, and historical writings to identify a major eruption around 1345 CE. This event is believed to have caused cooling and wetter conditions, leading to widespread crop failures and famine in regions such as Spain, southern France, and Italy. In response, Italian city-states imported grain from the Black Sea, potentially carrying plague-infected fleas, which may have accelerated the pandemic's spread.
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Researchers Identify Weakening Ocean Circulation as Cause of North Atlantic Cold Spot

Researchers Identify Weakening Ocean Circulation as Cause of North Atlantic Cold Spot

A century-old mystery regarding a persistent cold spot in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland, has been addressed by researchers at the University of California, Riverside. The study, led by climate scientist Wei Liu and doctoral student Kai-Yuan Li, attributes the cold spot to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This ocean circulation system is crucial for regulating global climate by transporting warm, salty water northward and cooler water southward. The research, published in Communications Earth & Environment, utilized a century's worth of temperature and salinity data to reconstruct past changes in the AMOC. The findings indicate that only climate models reflecting a weakened AMOC align with the observed cooling and freshening in the region.
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2025 Marks Second Hottest Year on Record, Intensifying Climate Concerns

2025 Marks Second Hottest Year on Record, Intensifying Climate Concerns

The year 2025 is on track to be the second hottest year since records began, with mean temperatures reaching 1.48°C above preindustrial levels. This follows 2024, the hottest year recorded, and ties with 2023. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service attributes this trend to ongoing fossil fuel emissions and extreme weather events. The year witnessed significant climate-related disasters, including heatwaves in Europe causing 16,500 additional deaths and Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, which resulted in over 80 fatalities and $8.8 billion in damages. The report highlights the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events as global temperatures rise.
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Study Reveals Artificial Light at Night Reduces Carbon Sink Capacity in Ecosystems

Study Reveals Artificial Light at Night Reduces Carbon Sink Capacity in Ecosystems

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change by Alice S. A. Johnston and colleagues at Cranfield University, UK, has highlighted the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on carbon fluxes across North America and Europe. The research utilized nighttime light datasets and eddy covariance observations to assess how ALAN affects ecosystem-level respiration and net ecosystem exchange. The findings indicate that ALAN enhances respiration and weakens the net ecosystem exchange, thereby reducing the carbon sink capacity of ecosystems on a continental scale. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that light pollution is a significant factor in global change, affecting the carbon sequestration capabilities of ecosystems.
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Severe Drought Linked to Extinction of Homo Floresiensis on Flores Island

Severe Drought Linked to Extinction of Homo Floresiensis on Flores Island

A study by international scientists, including those from the University of Wollongong, has linked severe drought to the extinction of Homo floresiensis, known as 'hobbits', on Flores Island, Indonesia. Published in Communications Earth & Environment, the research used chemical records from cave stalagmites and isotopic data from fossil teeth to reconstruct past climate conditions. The findings indicate a significant drying trend starting 76,000 years ago, with severe drought between 61,000 and 55,000 years ago. This environmental stress likely led to the decline of the hobbits and their prey, the Stegodon florensis insularis.
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Hiker's Discovery of Ancient Reindeer Trap Highlights Global Ice Loss Impact

Hiker's Discovery of Ancient Reindeer Trap Highlights Global Ice Loss Impact

A hiker named Helge Titland discovered a 1,500-year-old reindeer trap in Norway's Vestland County, revealing ancient hunting practices. The trap, found at 4,600 feet above sea level, includes large wooden fences and well-preserved tools from the Early Iron Age. Researchers from the University Museum of Bergen and Vestland County confirmed the trap's age and significance. The site also contained a brooch made from reindeer antler, wooden arrows, and iron spearheads. The trap was likely abandoned during a colder period in the mid-sixth century and preserved under snow and ice until recent warming trends began melting the ice.
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Record Fossil Fuel Emissions in 2025 Contribute to Second-Hottest Year on Record

Record Fossil Fuel Emissions in 2025 Contribute to Second-Hottest Year on Record

In 2025, global temperatures have continued to rise, making it the second-hottest year on record, following 2024. This increase in temperature is occurring despite the transition from the El Niño phase, which typically warms the planet, to the La Niña phase, which usually cools it. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that the mean temperature for 2025 is 1.48°C above the preindustrial average. This warming trend is largely attributed to record levels of fossil fuel emissions, which have exacerbated extreme weather events worldwide. Notable incidents include a deadly heatwave in Europe, Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, and severe storms in Southeast Asia. The report also highlights the alarming reduction in Arctic and Antarctic sea ice.
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2025 Marks Second-Hottest Year on Record, Climate Change Intensifies Extreme Weather

2025 Marks Second-Hottest Year on Record, Climate Change Intensifies Extreme Weather

The year 2025 is set to be the second-hottest year on record, with global mean temperatures reaching 1.48°C above preindustrial levels. This follows 2024, the hottest year recorded, and highlights the ongoing impact of climate change. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that despite the cooling effects of the La Niña phase, fossil fuel emissions have continued to drive temperature increases. The year has seen significant extreme weather events, including deadly heatwaves in Europe and Hurricane Melissa, which caused extensive damage in Jamaica. The Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extents are also at record lows for this time of year.
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Climate change threatens Asia’s water and power systems, reports warn

Climate change threatens Asia’s water and power systems, reports warn

Climate change is hammering Asia’s water and power systems, endangering the lives and livelihoods of millions, with countries facing billions in protection costs, according to Asia-based lenders and advocacy groups