Chelsea Harvey covers climate science for Climatewire. She tracks the big questions being asked by researchers and explains what's known, and what needs to be, about global temperatures. Chelsea began writing about climate science in 2014. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Popular Science, Men's Journal and others.
Glacier Meltwater Destroys Precious Climate Data in the Alps
Rising temperatures are melting an area of the Swiss Alps where scientists have been working to collect centuries-old ice cores that contain evidence of past environmental conditions
Ocean Trawling May Release Locked-Away Carbon
Some scientists say the controversial fishing practice of ocean trawling stirs up buried organic matter, some of which makes its way to the surface in the form of carbon dioxide
High-Flying Frigatebirds Collect Data from the Top of the Sky
Scientists accidentally discovered a new way of monitoring the Earth’s planetary boundary layer: high-flying great frigatebirds
Internet Cables Offer an Unusual View of Thawing Permafrost
Fiber-optic cables buried in the seafloor off Alaska are helping scientists study the thawing of underwater permafrost, which could release greenhouse gases
Unless We Cut Emissions, Ice Sheets, Forests and Ocean Currents Are Headed for Catastrophe
Hundreds of scientists warn that the world must rapidly phase out planet-warming emissions to avoid crossing dangerous climate “tipping points”
The State of the Planet in 10 Numbers
Here is a snapshot of the warming world, from sea-level rise to fossil fuel subsidies to renewable energy growth
Climate Changes Threatens Every Facet of U.S. Society, Federal Report Warns
The new U.S. National Climate Assessment details how climate change will alter nearly every aspect of American life—and how the U.S. can help avoid “potentially catastrophic outcomes”
Climate Change Has Worsened Drought in the Fertile Crescent
Rising temperatures are increasing the likelihood of severe drought in Syria, Iraq and Iran
Earth Reacts to Greenhouse Gases More Strongly Than We Thought
Climate scientists, including pioneer James Hansen, are pinning down a fundamental factor that drives how hot Earth will get
‘Air-Conditioning’ Rivers and Streams Could Save Overheated Fish
Warming waters pose a danger to Atlantic salmon. A new effort aims to lower the temperature in waterways used by the fish to spawn
We Are Racing toward Earth’s Catastrophic Tipping Points
Temperatures are skyrocketing. Extinctions are accelerating. Groundwater is being depleted. Humanity can limit damage, but it will take collective global action
Arctic Cyclones Are Getting Stronger, More Damaging
As the climate warms, Arctic cyclones are lasting longer and becoming stronger, leading to more sea ice loss
Scientists Explore Pulling Potent Methane Out of the Air to Curb Warming
Methane traps more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, but pulling it from the air could prove to be a more complex task than removing CO2
Here’s Why Salt Water Is Invading the Mississippi and Whether It Will Happen More Often
Raging floods, intensifying drought and rising seas could affect saltwater intrusion
Climate Disasters Displaced 43 Million Children in Just Six Years
The Philippines, India and China have seen the greatest total number of children displaced by disasters—some 23 million—in recent years
Lethal Heat Is Spreading across the Planet
Since 1970 more than 350 weather stations have experienced at least one six-hour period of a potentially deadly combination of heat and humidity. Scientists expect these episodes will increase as temperatures rise
The Grand Canyon Is Getting Even Hotter and More Dangerous
A new study finds that heat-related illness incidents will soar alongside temperatures inside the famed Grand Canyon National Park
The World’s Oldest Moss Outlived the Dinosaurs, but It May Not Survive Climate Change
The world’s oldest moss has survived Earth’s shifting landscapes for more than 400 million years, but climate change is happening faster than it can adapt
Heat Waves Could Kill Off Human-Bred Mosquitoes
Rising heat could debilitate mosquitoes bred to slow the transmission of viruses such as yellow fever and dengue
California Waves Have Grown a Foot Taller because of Climate Change
The number of extreme wave events—when crests are taller than 13 feet—have doubled along California since the mid-20th century
A Sun Shield over Earth? Catch an Asteroid, and It Might Work
A resurfaced idea for solar geoengineering imagines a sunlight-blocking space shield tethered to an asteroid
Is A Mega Ocean Current About to Shut Down?
An alarming study predicts an imminent collapse of a mega ocean current, but some experts say the evidence is insufficient
Deep-Sea Mining Can Chase off Marine Life for Months
Even small deep-sea mining operations can have a significant effect on marine life, a new study has found, just as such mining operations are poised to begin with no industry rules in place
Climate Change Is Changing the Color of the Ocean
The world’s oceans are becoming greener with climate change, possibly because of changing amounts of plankton or other organic material in the water