Nature Climate Change

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Nature Climate Change is a monthly journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research papers that describe the most significant and cutting-edge research on the causes, impacts and wider implications of global climate change. The journal publishes climate research across the physical, biological and social sciences and strives to integrate and communicate interdisciplinary research. The journal aims to play a leading role in: providing accessibility to a broad audience to research published both within and outside the journal; raising the visibility of climate change research in related research communities as well as the mainstream media; and offering a forum for discussion of the challenges faced by researchers and policy makers (and other interested parties) in understanding the complex mechanisms and impacts associated with the Earth’s changing climate.
Updated: 2 hours 44 min ago

Coastal sink outpaces open ocean

Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 22 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01968-6

The ocean stores about 30% of the carbon emitted by human activities, regulating atmospheric CO2 levels and the Earth’s climate. Research suggests that this uptake of CO2 has strengthened much faster in coastal ocean waters than in the open ocean due to enhanced biological activity.

The foraging behaviour of consumers leads to more extinctions when temperature increases

Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 22 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01969-5

When the temperature increases, so do the energetic requirements of species. We find that the energetic stress caused by increases in temperature pushes fish species to consume the first prey they encounter to fulfil their immediate needs, rather than focusing on more energetically rewarding prey. This behaviour increases the vulnerability of communities to climate change.

Enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> uptake of the coastal ocean is dominated by biological carbon fixation

Fri, 03/22/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 22 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01956-w

The coastal ocean is a dynamic environment, and CO2 uptake is increasing faster than in the open ocean. Incorporating coastal processes into a global model shows that biological responses to climate-induced circulation changes and riverine nutrient inputs are key to the enhanced uptake.

Asymmetric hysteresis response of mid-latitude storm tracks to CO<sub>2</sub> removal

Thu, 03/21/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 21 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01971-x

How the climate system changes under negative emissions is not well known. Here the authors show that the mid-latitude storm tracks change in an asymmetric way, leading to stronger Northern Hemisphere and weaker Southern Hemisphere storm tracks after recovery to present-day CO2 concentrations.

Expert review of the science underlying nature-based climate solutions

Thu, 03/21/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 21 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01960-0

Nature-based climate solutions are widely incorporated into climate change mitigation plans and need firm scientific foundations. Through literature review and expert elicitation, this analysis shows that for some major pathways there is strong support, while for others their efficacy remains uncertain.

Effective climate action must integrate climate adaptation and mitigation

Tue, 03/19/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01963-x

Mitigation and adaptation strategies have historically been, and continue to be, developed separately. The climate is already changing and integration of adaptation and mitigation in policy and practice is now urgently needed.

Trends in the global invention and international diffusion of methane abatement technologies

Tue, 03/19/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01948-w

Analysis of patent data from 1990 to 2019 reveals a global decline in the invention and international diffusion of high-quality methane-targeted abatement technologies (MTATs) from 2010 to 2019. Moreover, there is a mismatch between where MTAT inventions are concentrated and the countries or regions expected to have most growth in future methane emissions.

Global trend of methane abatement inventions and widening mismatch with methane emissions

Tue, 03/19/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01947-x

Innovations in methane-targeted abatement technologies (MTAT) are needed to curb climate change in the short term. This Analysis reveals the trend, distributions and diffusion of MTAT-related patents for the past few decades, highlighting the mismatch between emissions sources and technical capacity.

Historical impacts of grazing on carbon stocks and climate mitigation opportunities

Fri, 03/15/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 15 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01957-9

Grazing has been shown to have diverse effects on soil carbon, with local variation. This study assesses carbon changes related to grazing globally and finds that, although grazing has reduced soil carbon stocks, managing intensity could increase carbon uptake in both soils and vegetation.

The emerging human influence on the seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature

Fri, 03/15/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 15 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01958-8

It is important to detect human influence on the climate, but natural variability can hide signals of change. Here the authors show the anthropogenic signal has emerged for sea surface temperature seasonality, primarily driven by greenhouse gas increases, and with geographical differences in change.

Realizing the full potential of behavioural science for climate change mitigation

Fri, 03/15/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 15 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01951-1

Behavioural science offers valuable insights for mitigating climate change, but existing work focuses mostly on consumption and lacks coordination across disciplines. In this Perspective, the authors make six recommendations for improving the quality and impact of behavioural research on mitigation.

An amplified groundwater recharge response to climate change

Tue, 03/12/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 12 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01955-x

Groundwater recharge replenishes aquifers and enables them to sustain irrigated agriculture and household water access, but the sensitivity of recharge to climate change remains unclear. Our analysis of global recharge rates demonstrates their sensitivity to climatic conditions, implying that amplified and nonlinear impacts of climate change on recharge rates are likely.

Groundwater recharge is sensitive to changing long-term aridity

Tue, 03/12/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 12 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01953-z

How groundwater recharge changes with global warming is not well constrained. Here, the authors use an empirical relationship to show that groundwater recharge is more sensitive to aridity changes than expected, implying a strong response of water resources to climate change.

Author Correction: Climate threats to coastal infrastructure and sustainable development outcomes

Mon, 03/11/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 11 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01974-8

Author Correction: Climate threats to coastal infrastructure and sustainable development outcomes

Feeding the future world

Fri, 03/08/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 08 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01970-y

The impacts of climate change on food production will affect us all. It is important that research and funding are available to minimize these effects and support the most vulnerable.

Education outcomes in the era of global climate change

Fri, 03/08/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 08 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01945-z

Children’s education outcomes are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This Review examines the impact of various climate stressors on children’s educations, develops a framework to understand these risks, and discusses methodological challenges and directions for future research.

Aligning renewable energy expansion with climate-driven range shifts

Fri, 03/08/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 08 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01941-3

The authors conduct a systematic literature review on renewable energy expansion and biodiversity. Comparing renewable energy siting maps with the ranges of two threatened species under future climates, they highlight the potential conflict and need for consideration of climate-change-driven range shifts.

River water quality shaped by land–river connectivity in a changing climate

Thu, 03/07/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-023-01923-x

River water quality affects water security and is expected to degrade under climate change—an issue that has garnered limited attention. Here the authors review the impacts of climate change and climate extremes on water quality, highlighting the pivotal role of land–river connectivity.

Deforestation may cause more widespread ectotherm population decline under climate change

Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 05 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01940-4

In a changing climate, tree trunks serve as crucial refuges for animals, particularly ectotherms, seeking to escape extreme climatic conditions. Therefore, while climate change could generally promote population growth among ectotherms, deforestation could reverse these positive effects in some populations or exacerbate the negative impacts of climate change in others.

Deforestation poses deleterious effects to tree-climbing species under climate change

Tue, 03/05/2024 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 05 March 2024; doi:10.1038/s41558-024-01939-x

The authors develop a biophysical model to understand the impacts of tree loss and climate change on the activity patterns and population trends of a diurnal ectotherm (lizard). They show that deforestation can reverse the positive effects of climate change and even accelerate population declines.

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