Recent research has shed light on an important consequence of our warming climate: an increased risk of flash droughts. These are defined as rapid onset droughts, typically occurring during the growing season, with serious implications for crop yields.
According to the new study, the frequency of flash droughts is expected to increase in the coming decades as global temperatures continue to rise.
Flash droughts are often accompanied by high temperatures and high winds, leading to rapid soil moisture depletion and crop stress. Flash drought hotspots exist over Brazil, the Sahel, the Great Rift Valley, and India, with notable local hotspots over the central United States, southwestern Russia, and northeastern China.
In fact, during the past decade, flash droughts have caused crop losses worth an estimated 12 billion dollars. The potential economic impact of future flash droughts on crop yields could be even more severe.
The study concludes that effective adaptation measures are needed to mitigate the impact of flash droughts on croplands. These measures could include improved soil moisture monitoring, planting drought-tolerant crops, and optimizing irrigation practices.
The findings also highlight the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow down the rate of global warming and mitigate its impact on agricultural productivity.
The frequency of flash droughts is expected to increase in a warming climate, and the impact on croplands could be severe. The need for effective adaptation measures is urgent, and the best response is to act quickly and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent further warming of the planet.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
Researchers around the world are looking for ways to produce hydrogen in a way that is sustainable, cost-effective, and does not emit greenhouse gases. And now, a team of scientists has developed a new catalyst that could make low-cost and energy-efficient production of hydrogen possible.
One promising solution is cobalt, a new catalyst composed of elements that are abundant in the Earth.
The new catalyst is abundant on the Earth, making it a potentially viable solution to the problem of producing environmentally safe hydrogen. The process involves the use of water as the source of hydrogen, which is then split into its component elements using electrolysis.
Up until now, the catalysts used in the process have been expensive metals such as platinum, which has made hydrogen production prohibitively expensive.
Cobalt, a chemical element with the atomic number of 27, belongs to the group of transition metals. It is widely used in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries, ceramics, and paints.
The production of hydrogen is not new, but it requires a lot of energy, making it costly and unsustainable. The use of cobalt as a catalyst can change that, as it has shown to be more efficient and cost-effective.
Cobalt can speed up the process of electrolysis, which breaks up water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, without the need for high temperatures or pressures.
What sets cobalt apart is that it is composed of elements that are abundant in the Earth, unlike platinum, which is rare and expensive. This makes cobalt a potentially viable solution for the production of environmentally safe hydrogen.
Recent statistics suggest that global demand for hydrogen will increase to 450 million metric tons by 2040. This new innovation could help to meet that demand while reducing the environmental impact of the hydrogen production process.
The team responsible for this breakthrough hopes that their work will help to further the development of hydrogen-fueled vehicles and other eco-friendly technologies.
With more research and development, we may soon see a future where hydrogen is a widely used, sustainable, and cost-effective energy source.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
As demand for clean and sustainable energy continues to rise, researchers have been exploring various approaches to harness solar power. One such approach is concentrated solar power, which involves collecting and storing solar heat to create electricity or dry foods. And now, the next generation of solar energy collectors could be rocks.
Recent research has shown that certain soapstone and granite samples from Tanzania could be well-suited for storing solar heat. These rocks have high energy densities and exhibit stability even at high temperatures. In fact, soapstone has a thermal conductivity that is almost twice that of concrete, making it an ideal material for heat storage.
The potential of rock-based technology for solar energy storage is huge. With the right materials, energy could be stored for months, making it possible to generate electricity even when the sun isn’t shining. This could prove to be a game-changer for communities in remote locations or in areas where access to electricity is limited.
Besides this, according to recent reports, the concentrated solar power market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2020-2027, indicating a promising future for this technology.
While there is still much research to be done, the idea of using rocks as solar energy collectors is an exciting prospect that could contribute significantly to a more sustainable future.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
As we strive to reduce the world’s carbon footprint, scientists have been working diligently to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source that could curb our dependence on fossil fuels.
However, a major hurdle in the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cells has been its storage for future use. This is where an unexpected solution comes in – coal.
Recent studies have found that coal may represent a potential way to store large quantities of hydrogen gas. In fact, coal may serve as a hydrogen battery, much like we store electrical energy in conventional batteries for future use.
The process of inserting hydrogen gas into coal and extracting it back out is known as hydrogenation and dehydrogenation, respectively.
Using coal as a medium for hydrogen storage could address some of the major challenges facing the clean energy industry, particularly the intermittent nature of renewable power sources.
This breakthrough technology could help provide grid stability by storing excess renewable energy during times of low demand and releasing it when demand peaks. This has the potential to provide a reliable, continuous supply of clean energy.
Moreover, coal has some economic benefits over conventional means of hydrogen storage.
Coal is a widely available, low-cost, and stable storage medium, which means that less expensive infrastructure would be required for hydrogen storage facilities. This technology has reached an important landmark, and research is ongoing to scale it up.
Coal may represent an unexpected, yet promising solution to the challenge of storing hydrogen for future use in a clean energy economy. The development of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation technology could help address many of the challenges facing the industry.
With more research, we could see a significant shift towards clean, reliable, and abundant energy with the use of hydrogen batteries made possible by coal.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
According to a recent study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, global flash droughts are expected to increase in frequency due to our warming climate, posing a growing threat to croplands worldwide.
The study reviewed data from the past 70 years and analyzed the connection between climate change and flash droughts to determine the level of risk to crops. The results showed that over the past five decades, the frequency of flash droughts has increased exponentially, affecting more than three times the croplands compared to previous years.
Further analysis revealed that prolonged periods of high temperatures cause soils to dry out rapidly, leading to flash droughts that can devastate crops within weeks. The findings of the study are deeply concerning, particularly when combined with the continuing rise in global temperatures projected over the next decades.
As the planet warms, flash droughts will become even more frequent, with scientists predicting that more than half of the global croplands will be exposed to flash drought conditions by the end of this century.
This trend presents significant dangers for the global food supply, as flash droughts destroy crops that would otherwise provide much-needed sustenance to communities worldwide.
Besides that, the risk to global food security is not limited to developing countries; flash droughts are a growing threat to even highly developed agricultural economies, significantly impacting crop yields and production.
It is essential that policymakers and agricultural organizations acknowledge the risks of global flash droughts and act swiftly to develop and implement strategies to adapt to the threat of flash droughts. The findings of this study underscore the critical need for proactive measures to strengthen global food security and sustainable development in the face of a changing climate.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
Engineers have been tirelessly searching for ways to harness clean energy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The answer to this problem may be found in the most unlikely of places – thin air.
A team of researchers have recently discovered a revolutionary technique that allows for the continuous harvesting of electricity from humidity in the air.
This technique is called the ‘generic Air-gen effect’ and it opens up a world of possibilities for affordable, scalable and interruption-free energy. Essentially, the effect can be applied to nearly any material by engineering it with nanopores that are less than 100 nanometers in diameter.
These nanopores can harvest electricity from humidity in the air, even in extremely dry environments such as the Sahara desert.
The implications of this discovery are enormous. In a world where climate change and pollution are major concerns, finding sustainable ways to generate energy has never been more important.
According to the researchers involved, the Air-gen effect has the potential to power small devices, such as sensors and wearables, which are becoming increasingly popular in our connected world. It also has the potential to generate larger amounts of electricity that can be used to power homes and buildings.
Moreover, the cost-effective nature of this technique may make it an attractive option in developing countries where access to energy is limited. The scalability of the Air-gen effect means that it can be implemented on a large scale, providing a continuous source of energy without the need for expensive infrastructure.
This could revolutionize the energy sector and provide a much-needed solution to the growing energy demands of our modern world.
The Air-gen effect represents a significant breakthrough in the quest for clean and sustainable energy. The potential applications of this technique are virtually endless, and it has the capacity to transform the way we generate and consume energy. The future is looking brighter with this new discovery.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
New research shows that coastal ecosystems are a net greenhouse gas sink, making them a powerful ally against increased levels of greenhouse gases. According to a new greenhouse gas budget, coastal ecosystems globally are a net greenhouse gas sink for carbon dioxide (CO2). This is great news, however, emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) counteract some of the CO2 uptake, according to researchers.
Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes are often overlooked in discussions about conservation and climate change.
However, these ecosystems are incredibly valuable for both their ability to store carbon and their importance for biodiversity.
Research has shown that coastal ecosystems can store up to 10 times more carbon per unit area compared to terrestrial ecosystems. This means that protecting these habitats is an important step in mitigating climate change.
Not only do these ecosystems capture and store carbon, but they also provide a range of other ecosystem services such as shoreline protection, erosion prevention and water quality improvement.
Besides their role in carbon storage, coastal ecosystems are also critical for biodiversity. These habitats function as nurseries for many fish and invertebrate species, which are essential for the ocean’s food web.
On top of this, thanks to their ability to filter pollutants, these ecosystems are home to a diverse range of marine species, making them important for both human and ecological health.
And yet, these essential ecosystems are under threat from climate change, land-use changes, and pollution. Rising sea levels and increasing temperatures due to climate change threaten to inundate these areas, while land-use changes such as urbanization and agriculture continue to destroy and fragment these vital habitats.
Pollution from both point and non-point sources further exacerbates these problems.
It is imperative that we take action to protect our coastal ecosystems. This can include implementing policies that promotes constructive and balanced land-use change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, and increasing funding for restoration and conservation efforts.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
Mountain snowpacks are crucial sources of water supply, particularly in the Western United States and Canada. However, a recent study has found that these natural reservoirs are in decline due to earlier snowpack melt caused by warmer winter and spring temperatures.
This trend is causing water scarcity and posing several environmental and economic challenges. The study, which used the Snow Storage Index to track snow water storage from 1950-2013, revealed that more than 25% of the Mountain West has witnessed significant decline in snow storage.
In states like California, Nevada, and New Mexico, this decline has surpassed 50%. Snowpacks provide more than 75% of the freshwater supply in the Western United States and their decline can cause widespread droughts and significantly impact the region’s agricultural and hydroelectric power industries.
The need to tackle this challenge has never been more critical, especially since a hotter climate is predicted to further exacerbate the situation.
Water conservation measures, improved irrigation systems, and other adaptive strategies are some of the steps that can be taken to mitigate the effects of the snowpack decline and ensure that the future water demands of the Western United States are met.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
New research has revealed that the number of farms globally will reduce significantly from 616 million in 2020 to an estimated 272 million in 2100. This poses a significant risk to the world’s food systems, which are already under considerable strain. With the population of the world expected to increase to 11 billion by 2100, food security is a significant concern.
While this may not seem like an issue on the surface, it has far-reaching ramifications that will affect us all. One of the most significant effects is that as the number of people involved in food production dwindles, food systems are put under even more pressure to produce more food using fewer resources.
This pressure to produce more food puts a strain on our environment, as farmers must rely on intensive agricultural methods that consume vast amounts of water, fertilizer, and energy to increase yields. The decline of farms also has a significant impact on rural communities as many farmers are unable to make a living and are forced to leave their land, leading to a loss of local knowledge and expertise.
Furthermore, the decline of small farms also results in the consolidation of food production in the hands of a few large corporations. This shift away from local, small-scale farming reduces the diversity of our food systems, leaving us vulnerable to food security issues and threats such as climate change and disease outbreaks.
The number of small farms in the United States has already been declining for several decades, and this trend is going to have negative implications for the economy. Consolidation of food production in the hands of a few large corporations can have disastrous consequences for local communities and the country as a whole. It’s important to study this issue and understand the reasons behind the decline of small farms and the long-term impacts it can have.
One reason for the decline could be that small farmers often struggle to compete with large corporate farms. Larger agricultural producers have significant economies of scale, allowing for lower costs per unit of production, and thus lower prices for consumers. Meanwhile, small farmers may struggle to maintain profitability due to higher costs, such as land, labor, and machinery.
In addition to contributing to the loss of small farms, consolidation of the food industry has other negative consequences. When just a few large corporations dominate food production, they can dictate the terms of the market, stifling competition and innovation. This can lead to higher prices, reduced quality, and diminished consumer choice.
Also, climate change is causing changes in weather patterns, leading to more erratic and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. These weather events can have a devastating impact on crops, leading to crop failures and causing significant financial losses for farmers.
Adding to this, the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is making it more difficult for crops to absorb nutrients from soil, leading to a decrease in crop yields. This decrease in yield can lead to financial difficulties for farmers and ultimately, their inability to maintain their farms.
Rising temperatures are also causing changes in pest and disease patterns, making it more difficult for farmers to control diseases and pests, which can lead to more crop losses.
As we continue to see the effects of climate change, it is important that we take action to mitigate its impact on our agricultural sector. This includes investing in research and new technologies that can help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns and improve crop yields, as well as implementing policies that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The decline of small farms also has impacts beyond the agricultural sector. Small farms often act as anchors for rural communities, providing employment opportunities and supporting local businesses. When these farms disappear, the entire community can suffer. In contrast, corporate agriculture tends to be more centralized, with profits often flowing out of the local area and into the hands of shareholders.
Moreover, this trend places a vital role in the context of climate change, where variability in rainfall and temperatures are felt, making food production more challenging. Governments and other stakeholders must work closely to find innovative and sustainable methods that continue providing food security for future generations.
A recent study on the temperature trends in North-West Europe shows that the maximum temperature of extremely hot days is increasing at an alarming rate.
The study analyzed data of near-surface air temperatures recorded over the past 60 years and found that the hottest days are warming twice as fast as the average summer days. The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for action by policy makers to adapt essential infrastructure to the impacts of climate change.
According to the statistics, the average temperature in July and August has increased by 1.5°C compared to the 1961-1990 reference period.
However, the increase in the maximum temperature of extremely hot days is significantly higher, at 3.4°C. This is a cause for concern as it poses a threat to human health, agriculture, and energy consumption.
The impact of rising temperatures is not limited to human health, but also extends to the economy. It is predicted that the cost of heat-related damage to infrastructure and buildings will increase by 50% in the coming decades.
The study also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing climate adaptation measures in policy development and decision-making by all stakeholders.
As temperatures continue to rise, it is crucial that governments and businesses engage in sustainable practices and invest in climate adaptation measures. Addressing climate change now may seem like a daunting task, but the consequences of inaction are far more devastating.
Urgent action is essential to ensure a sustainable future.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
Terra Link Research 