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Salt has always been used on roads to help melt ice during winter periods Photo: Michael Pereckas from Milwaukee, WI, USA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Michael Pereckas from Milwaukee, WI, USA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Antifreeze salt impacts groundwater year-round

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Used in winter to melt ice from roads, salt seeps deep into groundwater until it reaches surface waters. A University of Delaware study illustrates some of the dynamics that affect the phenomenon
Mud on the roads in Montecito, California, January 2018. Prolonged drought makes soil less permeable promoting landslides during wet periods. Photo: California National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)California National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Climate and drought are the perfect recipe for disruption (not just) in California

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During extended drought periods, soil loses its ability to absorb water, writes The New York Times. When rain occurs, landslide risk increases. A combination of phenomena that climate change makes increasingly frequent
The spread of droughts is linked to rising temperatures. In 2022, the number of times negative monthly precipitation records were broken was the third highest since 1979. Photo: bluesbby from Mountain View, USA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)bluesbby from Mountain View, USA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

The water cycle has changed. And it favors floods and droughts

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Extreme rainfall concentrated in short periods is becoming more frequent just like months characterized by exceptionally low rainfall, scientists from the Global Water Monitor Consortium explain. Growth in duration and severity of heat waves causes "flash droughts" especially in Europe and China
By consuming plant material, herbivores divert potential fuel from wildfires. Photo: World Wildlife CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain DedicationWorld Wildlife CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Herbivores are a surprising ally of climate and soil

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Far from being destructive, herbivores contribute to climate change mitigation, according to a new research. Their ability to prevent wildfires and return carbon and seeds to the soil is crucial
The extensive use of charcoal, which 90 percent of the population routinely uses as a cheap fuel at home, fuels deforestation in Tanzania. Photo: KelvinJM Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Photo: KelvinJM Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Charcoal and poverty fuel deforestation in Tanzania

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Deforestation is a result of the national and international economic scenarios, British newspaper The Guardian writes. Environmental policies are ineffective. And the problem affects many African countries
Grazing may have negative effects in warmer arid areas with highly seasonal rainfall and lower biodiversity Photo: John Coppi, CSIRO Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)John Coppi, CSIRO Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Climate and biodiversity impact the effect of grazing on soil

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Positive impacts of grazing on soil become negative as temperatures rise, an international research says. A more diversified vegetation presence helps offset the issue
MRIDA, or soil in Hindi, is an application developed to estimate carbon sequestration potential. Photo: AS Rao, ICRISAT Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)AS Rao, ICRISAT Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

A new soil app from India can teach you climate-smart agriculture

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Helping farmers and decision makers in developing climate-smart practices in soil management. That's the goal of MRIDA, the new app created in India to assess the carbon sequestration potential of different agricultural strategies
Over two decades, trees in Finnish forests have promoted carbon sequestration in the soil with an average growth of 36 grams per square meter. Photo: Ajattokoj Ahyaj Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)Ajattokoj Ahyaj Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Forests, climate and carbon storage: the lesson of Finnish trees

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A 20-year survey by the Helsinki Ministry of Agriculture highlights the role of trees in promoting soil carbon storage. Logging reduces the amount retained. Some species prove more successful than others in sequestration
British forests are sequestering up to 8 tons of carbon per hectare per year. Photo: N Chadwick licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)N Chadwick licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

UK researchers investigate carbon sequestration capacity in forests

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British forests can contribute significantly to climate mitigation. A project aims to define the potential of agroforestry and open the way to a new market
The Congo River Basin is home to one-fifth of the world's plant and animal species. Photo: Corinne Staley Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)Photo: Corinne Staley Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Deforestation in the Congo Basin is growing at an alarming rate

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In 2021, deforestation in the Congo Basin increased by 4.9 percent affecting more than 630 thousand hectares of land. This is a particularly worrying trend, explains the Dutch NGO Climate Focus, when considering the area's importance for climate mitigation and biodiversity

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