Livestock agriculture is bearing the cost of extreme weather events. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how heat stress affects U.S. dairy production, finding that high heat and humidity lead to a 1% decline in annual milk yield. Small farms are hit harder than large farms, which may be able to mitigate some of the effects through management strategies.

Nature-based solutions like restoring mangroves, and hybrid solutions, protect vulnerable shorelines. However, they need careful planning to be effective. A new GIS-based tool, combined with varied experts’ input, has identified the best shoreline stabilization methods for the Florida Keys. Findings show that about 8% of coastline is suitable for nature-based or hybrid solutions, while 25.1% is unsuitable, and 67% is already vegetated or naturally protected. The tool integrates data on shoreline types, environmental factors and wave exposure to guide decisions on shoreline protection.

New research reveals that heavy precipitation sourced from the Atlantic Ocean, are the primary drivers of present-day lake filling in the northwestern Sahara. The study finds that only the most intense and prolonged precipitation events trigger lake-filling episodes, challenging long-standing assumptions about past climate conditions in the region. These findings suggest that projections of enhanced rainfall intensity and frequency in the Sahara could potentially reshape water availability in the desert.

A recent study unravels why North America, despite its comparable geographical setting to East Asia, lacks a distinct rainy season like that of East Asia. Led by scientists from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the research reveals how shifts in paleogeography and climate change have shaped the spring rainfall pattern we see today.

A new study sheds light on the driving force behind the grand sprite fireworks—lightning and thunderstorms.