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Spring Leaves Expected to Sprout Sooner in North American Forests
Posted by Environmental News Network: Allison Winter on January 31st, 2013
Environmental News Network: This year the spring equinox falls on March 20th, marking the first day of spring. But regardless of the date, it feels like spring when the temperature warms and we start to see new green leaves and flowers bloom after a dormant winter. According to new research, trees in the continental U.S. could send out new spring leaves up to 17 days earlier than expected in the coming century as global temperatures start to rise. Researchers at Princeton University suggest that these climate-driven changes...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Spring Leaves Expected to Sprout Sooner in North American ForestsIntercropping with nitrogen-fixing crops leads to increased maize yields, says study
Posted by Environmental News Network: Allison Winter on October 18th, 2012
Environmental News Network: Growing maize crops alongside legume trees has been shown to naturally fertilize fields and increase crop yields in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. As a region known for its extremely volatile climate and it's population facing global hunger issues, this discovery is extremely important for the future of agroforestry in the area.
In a study published in the Agronomy Journal by researchers at the World Agroforestry Center, researchers compared yield stability in three scenarios: maize intercropped...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Intercropping with nitrogen-fixing crops leads to increased maize yields, says studyIncreased Rainfall Causes Drop in Sea Level?
Posted by Environmental News Network: Allison Winter on October 16th, 2012
Environmental News Network: Current perception of climate change leads us to believe that sea levels are constantly rising due to thermal expansion and melting ice caps. However, from the beginning of 2010 until mid-2011, the average level of the world's oceans dropped by 0.2 inches.
According to a recent study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, this sea level decline was due to an increase in the amount of rainfall in Australia, northern South America and Southeast Asia.
This increase in rainfall led to La...
Anthropogenic Methane Traced Back 2,000 Years
Posted by Environmental News Network: Allison Winter on October 12th, 2012
Environmental News Network: A new study suggests that human have been producing traceable amounts of atmospheric methane earlier than thought. The results will challenge global warming predictions, because what was assumed to be 'natural' levels of methane, have in fact been inflated by human activities since Roman times.
An international team of researchers looked at carbon isotopes in methane trapped in air bubbles from Arctic ice cores, to reveal the different levels and concentrations of methane.
"With our research,...
US Forest mortality declines due to lack of food for mountain pine beetle
Posted by Environmental News Network: Allison Winter on September 20th, 2012
Environmental News Network: Forests are not only threatened by man-made decisions like logging and development expansion, but also by insect infestation. From beetles to forest weevils, moths to borers and timber worms, insects cost millions of dollars each year in forest destruction from eating and living in these trees.
Insects and diseases are important in maintaining a balance between healthy, functioning forests and catastrophic outbreaks and forest loss. These critical roles affect more than 750 million acres of forest...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on US Forest mortality declines due to lack of food for mountain pine beetleDeforestation affects rainfall, another reason to protect the rainforests
Posted by Environmental News Network: Allison Winter on September 7th, 2012
Environmental News Network: From regulating climate systems to offering food and medicines, to being home to many plants, animals, and indigenous people, rainforests are not only a local ecosystem but their benefits extend globally.
Adding to its effects is new research that shows rainforests have a huge impact on rainfall. A team from the University of Leeds and the NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology found that air passing over tropical forests produces at least twice as much rain as air passing over little vegetation...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Deforestation affects rainfall, another reason to protect the rainforestsSpecies Adapting to Climate Change is more complicated than thought
Posted by Environmental News Network: Allison Winter on August 24th, 2012
Environmental News Network: With climate change happening, species will be forced to adapt or to move out of the habitats they are accustomed to. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are trying to understand how these species will respond to changing environmental conditions and where they will go.
One study published in the journal Global Change Biology finds that changes in precipitation have been overlooked as a factor in driving bird species out of their normal range. The second study, published in...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Species Adapting to Climate Change is more complicated than thought