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New Delhi: Climate change could significantly worsen air quality across large parts of North America by the end of the century, exposing millions more people to unhealthy levels of pollution during summer months, according to a new study published by researchers from the University of Waterloo. The research warns that rising temperatures, changing weather patterns and increased atmospheric instability could reverse decades of progress made in improving air quality, posing serious health risks to vulnerable populations. According to the study, nearly 100 million Americans could be exposed to unhealthy summer air by 2100, compared to around 14 million people in 2000. Researchers found that climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of air quality alerts, particula...

Beijing: Reservoirs located in limestone rich regions may play a much larger role in combating climate change than previously believed, according to a new study published in Carbon Research. Scientists have discovered that these reservoirs not only capture significant amounts of carbon but also store it in forms that can remain locked away for long periods. The findings come from a year-long investigation of the Songbaishan Reservoir in China's Guizhou Province, offering fresh insights into how certain freshwater ecosystems contribute to carbon sequestration. Looking Beyond Carbon Burial Rates For decades, scientists have measured how much carbon settles into reservoir sediments to estimate their climate benefits. However, researchers from Guizhou University argue that these calcu...

Delhi air quality improved during the summer months is showing worrying signs of deterioration this year. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has consistently remained in the low to mid-200 range and, on some occasions, has even crossed the 300 mark, prompting concerns among environmental experts and researchers. Historically, such pollution levels have been associated with winter months when crop residue burning, low wind speeds, and temperature inversions trap pollutants close to the ground. However, experts say the current situation points to a growing environmental problem linked to the degradation of the Aravalli mountain range. Meteorologists have identified dust transported from the deserts and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan as a major contributor to the rising pollution levels in Del...

A new scientific study has revealed that climate change is making Himalayan rivers increasingly unstable raising concerns about flooding, erosion, water security and damage to infrastructure relied upon by billions of people across Asia. Researchers found that warming temperatures are accelerating changes in river channels throughout the Himalayan region, causing rivers to shift course more frequently and become less predictable. The findings suggest that communities living along riverbanks could face growing risks in the coming decades. The Himalayas, often called Asia's "water towers," supply freshwater to some of the continent's largest river systems. Nearly two billion people depend on water originating from Himalayan glaciers and snowfields for drinking water, agriculture, and i...

A long held belief about Europe natural past is being challenged by new research that suggests the continent was not once covered by dense, unbroken forests. Instead, scientists say Europe spent much of the last 23 million years as a diverse landscape of grasslands, meadows, shrubs and scattered trees. The study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, brings together evidence from pollen records, plant fossils, ancient DNA, charcoal remains and chemical traces preserved in animal teeth. Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark found that the image of a dark, closed-canopy forest stretching across Europe is largely a modern assumption rather than a historical reality. For decades, ecologists have worked under the "closed-forest paradigm," which held that dense forests ...

After days of relentless heat and soaring temperatures, parts of North and Central India are expected to receive much needed relief as a fresh Western Disturbance moves across the region. The weather system is likely to trigger thunderstorms, hailstorms, dust storms and strong winds while the southwest monsoon continues its gradual advance over the country. The contrasting weather conditions across India remained evident this week. Southern states witnessed widespread rainfall, with several areas in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands receiving significant precipitation. Bhoothpur in Telangana's Mahabubnagar district recorded the highest rainfall of the day at 11 centimetres. Isolated hailstorms were also reported from parts of Marathwada...

    Climate change is increasingly contributing to the depopulation of rural Bhutan with many villages witnessing a steady decline in residents as environmental pressures make traditional livelihoods more difficult to sustain, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter and the Royal University of Bhutan. The study found that climate related challenges including rising temperatures unpredictable rainfall patterns and an increase in natural disasters, are making farming and rural livelihoods increasingly uncertain. As a result many people are leaving their homes in search of better opportunities in urban centres or overseas. Researchers reported that out of Bhutan 205 administrative regions, 138 have experienced population decline. M...

As heatwaves become more frequent and intense across the world, scientists are searching for innovative ways to keep buildings cool while reducing energy consumption. Researchers at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with startup Dewpoint Innovations, have developed a new "smart paint" that reflects up to 97 per cent of sunlight and could significantly reduce the need for air conditioning during extreme heat. The experimental coating is designed using a nano engineered polymer known as polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene (PVDF-HFP). Unlike conventional paints that absorb heat from the sun, the new material contains microscopic pores that scatter incoming sunlight and minimise heat absorption. The coating works through a process called passive daytime radiative coolin...

    A new long term study has found that climate change is sharply reducing the reproductive capacity of Europe’s forests, even as many woodlands still appear healthy on the surface. Researchers reported that viable seed production in five major European tree species declined by more than 30 per cent over the past 34 years, raising concerns that forests may be losing their ability to naturally regenerate under rising temperatures. The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change analysed more than 40,000 seed harvest observations collected in Poland between 1988 and 2021. Scientists examined reproductive trends in English oak, sessile oak, Scots pine, silver fir and European beech. Among the hardest-hit species were oaks and Scots pine, which recorded decl...