Climate
World’s Oldest Cave Paintings Are Fading—Climate Change May Be to Blame
Repeated shifts between wet and dry conditions boost the growth of salt crystals that destabilize the rock canvas
Stories by Chelsea Harvey
EARTH
Millions of Groundwater Wells Could Run Dry
Overpumping, drought and climate change are lowering water tables worldwide
EARTH
Glacier Is Surging Down Denali Mountain in Alaska
The slumping ice is moving 50 to 100 times faster than usual
Environment
Heat-Trapping Methane Surged in 2020
Aquatic ecosystems, many altered by human activities, played a surprisingly large role
Conservation
Seagrass Forests Counteract Ocean Acidification
More of the coastal vegetation could lessen stress on corals and shellfish
Climate
Greenland’s Lakes Are Vanishing during Winter as Well as Summer
Special satellite radar reveals the unexpected drainage through the porous Greenland ice sheet
Climate
Iconic Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming Earlier Than Ever in Washington, D.C.
And in Japan, this year’s arrival was the earliest in 1,200 years
Climate
Solar Geoengineering Should be Investigated, Scientists Say
Recommendation from the National Academies stirs controversy over consequences
Environment
Lightning Rises Sharply in the Arctic
Warmer temperatures and higher humidity may be key factors
Environment
Noisy Cicadas Are Emerging Earlier
More and more broods are crawling out of the ground sooner than expected
Environment
Eight States Are Seeding Clouds to Overcome Megadrought
But there is little evidence to show that the process is increasing precipitation
Climate
Huge Atmospheric Rivers Could Quicken Antarctic Ice Melt
Some of the big storms actually bring more snow, but others cause major melting
Environment
European Forests Have Become More Vulnerable to Insect Outbreaks
Climate change may be playing a role as higher heat makes trees less resilient to pests
Climate
Mountain Mammals Climb Higher to Beat the Heat
In the Rocky Mountains, dozens of small mammal species have shifted to higher elevations over time
Climate
Texas Power Outage Underscores Looming Climate Tests
Extreme weather is increasingly likely to test electric grids and energy supply systems
Environment
When Two Tibetan Glaciers Collapsed, the Whole Landscape Changed
The avalanches, linked to climate change, could alter local ecology and increase flood risks
Natural Disasters
Deadly Himalayan Flood Shows Perils of Mountain Warming
Scientists think a huge chunk of ice or rock fell and caused a devastating surge of water down a river in India
Environment
U.S. Cities Are Underestimating Their Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The errors could make it more difficult for cities to meet goals for reducing their planet-warming footprint
Natural Disasters
Hurricanes Are Hitting Maximum Strength Closer to Land
The storms are also migrating to higher latitudes
EARTH
Earth Has Lost 28 Trillion Tons of Ice since the Mid-1990s
Melt has accelerated over recent decades, contributing to sea level rise
