Wildfire smoke from Canada choked the U.S. east coast in 2023. Credit: Wikimedia commons/Anthony Quintaro
Featured Research
Canadian wildfire smoke sent itself to US East Coast
Intense wildfires can “make their own weather,” resulting in unusual weather patterns. In 2023, wildfires in Canada shot smoke to the U.S. East Coast because aerosols in the smoke intensified a cyclone while helping it stand still. That stagnant cyclone then sent the smoke southward. [Geophysical Research Letters research]
Many houses — especially second homes — remain uninsured despite flood risk
More than two-thirds of properties at risk of flooding are uninsured, lowering their climate resiliency. Following a flood in a county, the rate of insurance adoption rises 7% within a year, but drops after that, a new study finds. Relying on households to close this “insurance gap” may not work, the authors suggest, especially where flood-exposed houses are not primary residences. [Earth’s Future research]
Glaciers in Peru, Bolivia fastest-shrinking in the Andes
Glaciers atop the Andes in South America are shrinking quickly, and new research finds those in the tropical Andes — in Peru and Bolivia — have lost the most mass and shrunk the most quickly since the Little Ice Age (1400 – 1850) of any Andean glaciers. [Geophysical Research Letters research]
Climate, cropland and population growth threaten orchids in China
China is home to more than 1,500 species of orchids, which can be highly vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic influences. Of these, about 43% are threatened. Most threatened species are in southwestern, central, and northwestern China, with cropland expansion and increases in population density driving the threats, according to a new study. [JGR Biogeosciences research]
Ancient, buried swamps hint at “remarkable resilience” of Gulf coastlines
A 72,000 year old forest off Alabama’s coast was preserved thanks to “swamp power,” new research reveals. [Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems research][LSU press release]
Fifty-three experts weigh in on the global methane budget
A survey of experts revealed that uncertainty in estimates of global methane levels stems largely from data on fresh water, vegetation, and coastal areas. [Eos research spotlight][Earth’s Future research]
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