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Degradation of peatlands generates 5% of anthropogenic emissions. Photo: Pixabay, Pixabay LicencePixabay, Pixabay Licence

Drainage channels in peatlands produce significant emissions

In Southeast Asian peatlands, man-made channels to drain soil contribute to carbon leakage into the atmosphere, research says
A good irrigation strategy is crucial as the increasing frequency of extreme events favors floods and droughts. Photo: Global Water Forum CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

In northern China, spring irrigation mitigates effects of heat waves

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Combination of spring and summer irrigation "reduces the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events by 6.5 days and 1°C," according to a Chinese study
Peatlands store one-third of the organic carbon in global soils. Photo: Brian Nelson CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 GenericBrian Nelson CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

In peatlands, climate change supports the degradation of organic carbon

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An experiment shows that in peatlands all organic soil components decompose more rapidly when temperatures are higher
The effects of soil desiccation cracking promoted by drought are an example of the feedback loop between climate change and soil. Photo: Christopher Michel CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericChristopher Michel CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

Soil releases more GHGs than expected as drought plays a crucial role

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A U.S. study hypothesizes the existence of an "amplifying cycle" involving drought, soil desiccation and CO2 emissions. A mechanism that climate models do not seem to take into account
Per comprendere l’effetto del clima sui microbi i ricercatori hanno esaminato una prateria subartica in Islanda soggetta, da oltre mezzo secolo, al riscaldamento geotermico. Foto: Christina Kaiser Universität Wien Press ReleaseChristina Kaiser Universität Wien Press Release

Diversity of soil microbes increases with climate change

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A study from the University of Vienna brings new insights into the microbiome-climate cycle in the soil. Higher temperatures activate dormant bacteria, scientists explain
Bacteria were detected in soils of the Franz Joseph Land archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Photo: Wofratz CC BY-SA 2.5 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 GenericPhoto: Wofratz CC BY-SA 2.5 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic

Cold-resistant bacteria can degrade oil in the Arctic

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The Russian study: some bacteria decompose biopolymers and hydrocarbons and convert phosphates into soluble forms. In this way they contribute to the decontamination of permafrost
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.

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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

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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
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

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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
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

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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