In eastern U.S. forests, trees cool the land surface by 1-2°C per year compared to nearby grasslands and agricultural fields. Photo: Miguel.v CC0 1.0 DEED CC0 1.0 UniversalMiguel.v CC0 1.0 DEED CC0 1.0 Universal

Reforestation curbed climate change in the eastern U.S.

,
Reforestation that began in the 1930s was able to mitigate the effect of climate, explains an Indiana University study. Trees cooled the eastern U.S. while the rest of the country became warmer
Summer soil moisture increased in 57 percent of the continental United States between 2011 and 2020. Photo: Carl Wycoff CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericCarl Wycoff CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

Soil moisture rises despite climate change

,
Precipitation, not temperature, explains soil moisture trends, a Harvard University study has found. It is critical to improve forecasts of long-term changes in rainfall in response to climate change
Scientists have long studied the ability of legumes to fix nitrogen in the soil. Photo: pfeifferichard0 free to use Pixabay Content licensepfeifferichard0 free to use Pixabay Content license

Legumes can offer a solution for sustainable agriculture

,
Crucial is the ability of legumes to fix nitrogen, an essential element for ensuring soil productivity. In Cambridge, a team of researchers is studying this dynamic to understand how to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers
The initiative targets multiple soil professionals from Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Spain and France. Photo: PREPSOILprepsoil

Prepsoil survey reveals knowledge of soil health among stakeholders

,
There is time until Feb. 29 to participate in the soil health knowledge survey launched by PREPSOIL, the project funded by the Horizon Europe program
Arctic areas of the Siberian taiga in northern Russia are no longer represented in the INTERACT project's monitoring system. Photo: Lyudmila LebedevaCC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 UnportedLyudmila LebedevaCC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

Lack of data from Russia puts Arctic climate study at risk

,
After the invasion of Ukraine, communications between Arctic stations in Russia and those located in Western countries broke down. And not without consequences, says a Danish study
Ants may be perfect candidates for providing useful insights into crop impacts. Photo: Poranimm Athithawatthee Pexels Free to UsePhoto: Poranimm Athithawatthee Pexels Free to Use

Ants offer new guidance on biodiversity in biofuel crops

,
Effects on the communities of ants are one example of the consequences of energy policies and subsequent land use change, a study from U.S. has found
In the 21st century, the share of China's grasslands subject to severe and moderate desertification fell from 52 percent to 37 percent. Photo: neverdance CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unportedneverdance CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

A new index details the decline of desertification in China

,
In the 21st century, the share of China's grasslands experiencing severe and moderate desertification has dropped from 52 percent to 37 percent. This is revealed in a new survey by the Beijing Academy of Sciences
La foresta amazzonica conserva circa il 30% del mercurio sequestrato nel suolo a livello globale. Foto: Neil Palmer/CIAT CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Deforestation fosters mercury emissions into the atmosphere

,
Forests perform an essential ecosystem service by storing mercury and preventing its spread into waterways. That's why deforestation poses a threat in terms of pollution, a MIT study finds
Simulations indicate that compound droughts will be more frequent in the future due to climate change Photo: Sreyasvalsan CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 InternationalSreyasvalsan CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Drought limits carbon uptake more than expected

,
A Chinese study challenges methods for detecting compound drought events affecting vegetation. The impact of these events is likely to increase in the future
Mining waste can have a negative impact on the environment. Photo: Roy Luck CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericRoy Luck CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

Mining waste threatens biodiversity conservation

,
According to an Australian study, 29 percent of mining tailings storage facilities are located in or near protected areas. With significant risks to the environment