EurekAlert! News by Subject: Earth Science - News by Subject: Earth Science

Earth Science

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Dec-2025 17:12 ET (18-Dec-2025 22:12 GMT/UTC)

New study shows Hurricane Hunter flights significantly increase forecast accuracy

University at Albany, SUNY
Peer-Reviewed Publication

When a hurricane is in the forecast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) deploys its famed Hurricane Hunter team to gather data directly from the storm. The team uses specialized aircraft to fly into the hurricane and collect information about its intensity, structure, and movement, which is used to improve forecasts and warnings.

These missions significantly increase the accuracy of hurricane forecasts, according to a new study published by researchers at the University at Albany.

The researchers focused on Hurricane Hunter missions conducted with NOAA’s Gulfstream IV during recent Atlantic hurricane seasons.

Journal: Weather and Forecasting

Decline in aerosols could lead to more heatwaves in populated areas

University of Texas at Austin
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent around the world. And while rising temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions are part of the problem, the declining levels of aerosols — the small particles that make up smog and air pollution — may be driving the rise even more, particularly in populated areas.

Funder: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. National Science Foundation

What makes debris flows dangerous

ETH Zurich
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Time and again debris flows cause death and destruction. A research team has measured these flows of water, earth and debris with high precision. The study shows previously unexplained factors that determine the destructive force of debris flows – which allows appropriate protective measures to be put in place.

Journal: Communications Earth & Environment

Relief from drought in southwest U.S. likely isn’t coming, according to new research

University of Texas at Austin
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The Southwest United States is currently facing its worst megadrought of the past 1,200 years. According to a recent study from The University of Texas at Austin, the drought could continue at least until the end of the century, if not longer.

Journal: Nature Geoscience

UNM study finds link between Grand Canyon landslide and Meteor Crater impact

University of New Mexico
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Geology is full of detective stories about Earth’s history, and a new paper in Geology by University of New Mexico Distinguished Professors Emeritus Karl Karlstrom and Laurie Crossey, along with their co-authors, links two iconic geologic landmarks of the American Southwest: the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater.

Journal: Geology

Reduction in supply of prey was decisive factor in extinction of saber-toothed tigers, study finds

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Cross-referencing climate data and fossils from around 15 million years ago shows that the decline in prey availability may have played a role in the extinction of these felines. Another study cites competition with elephants and an increase in predators as factors that reduced the once diverse antilocaprids to a single species today.

Journal: Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Funder: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

New genus and species of mole discovered at the Camp dels Ninots site

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team of researchers from the UAB, the IPHES and the ICP has identified and described Vulcanoscaptor ninoti, a previously unknown genus and species of Pliocene mole, discovered at the Camp dels Ninots palaeontological site (Caldes de Malavella, Girona). The most complete Pliocene mole fossil ever found in Europe reveals an unexpected evolutionary link to modern North American species.

Journal: Scientific Reports

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