Observations from the Little Bunker
A systematic observation of climate change, extreme weather events, and their cascading effects on society
🌍 Latest Environmental Observations
After a Hard Year for Environmental Justice, Chicago Communities Are Picking Up the Pieces
When the EPA abruptly terminated “Community Change” grants, the impacts rippled across the country. Chicago groups that won and then lost one of those grants...
A conversation between Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson summed up 2025 for me – and not in a good way | George Monbiot
From merrily dismissing climate science, to promoting irresponsible health claims, the podcast was an unintentional warning for our times Looking back on this crazy year,...
‘Ghost resorts’: as hundreds of ski slopes lie abandoned, will nature reclaim the Alps?
With the snow line edging higher, 186 French ski resorts have shut, while global heating threatens dozens moreWhen Céüze 2000 ski resort closed at the...
Permafrost Thaw Dynamics Drive the Regime Shifts of Iron‐Bound Organic Carbon Sequestration in the East Siberian Arctic Shelf
Abstract In the changing Arctic, permafrost thaw is shifting from gradual to abrupt. Although iron‐bound organic carbon (OC‐FeR) critically modulates permafrost carbon‐climate feedbacks, its decadal‐scale...
Sand Transport Rate and Turbulent Fluctuation in Aeolian Transportation Over the Gobi Surface Under Extremely High Winds
Abstract There are no theoretical formulas that can accurately predict the sand transport rate (Qm) over the Gobi surface. We report herein high‐frequency field observations...
The Guardian view on adapting to the climate crisis: it demands political honesty about extreme weather | Editorial
Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look at how the struggle to adapt...
Efficiency of Electromagnetic Energy Transfer From Solar Wind to Ionosphere Through Magnetospheric Ultra‐Low Frequency Waves
Abstract Ultra‐low frequency (ULF) waves are a ubiquitous carrier of energy in geospace. However, their efficiency in transferring solar wind energy into the upper atmosphere...
In Situ Balloon‐Borne Observations of the Vertical Structure of Relative Humidity in Asian Summer Monsoon Cirrus Clouds
Abstract The vertical structure of relative humidity within cirrus clouds in the upper troposphere remained unexplored, owing to measurement challenges. Twelve years of balloon‐borne simultaneous...
Differences in Tropical Cyclone Tornado Activities and Key Tornadic Environments Between China and the United States
Abstract Tornadic tropical cyclones (TCs) in China occur at a similar frequency to those in the U.S., yet the number of TC tornadoes in China...
<cite>Science</cite> editors pick 2025’s stories that stood out
From ancient humans to modern woes, these are the stories that stuck with our News editors this year
Variability of Particulate Organic Carbon Stock in the South China Sea With Reference to Profile Structures
Abstract Accurate characterization of particulate organic carbon (POC) stock is essential for understanding regional biological pump processes, yet the roles of vertical structure and integration...
Freeze‐Thaw Processes Induce Convective Fingering in Saline Soils
Abstract Saline soils in cold regions are often affected by freeze‐thaw processes, yet how these processes affect two‐dimensional salt transport dynamics remains poorly understood. Here,...
Southern Ocean Clear‐Sky Brightening From Sea Spray Aerosol Increase Drives Departure From Hemispheric Albedo Symmetry
Abstract Observations reveal significant negative trends in reflected shortwave radiation over the 21st century. The global‐mean darkening is primarily driven by clouds, while the global‐mean...
Understanding the Climate Response to Different Vertical Patterns of Radiative Forcing
Abstract The dependence of climate response on the vertical structure of radiative forcing is studied using a set of idealized experiments, with horizontally uniform and...
Oxygenated Organosulfates Are an Effective Nucleation Precursor in Mixed Biogenic and Anthropogenic Environments
Abstract Aerosol nucleation accounts for the majority of secondary aerosols, yet it is unclear how biogenic and anthropogenic chemical precursors contribute to nucleation in mixed...
US voters linking climate crisis to rising bills despite Trump’s ‘green scam’ claims
New polling shows 65% of registered US voters believe global heating is affecting cost of livingMost Americans now connect the worsening climate crisis with their...
How George Wallace and Bull Connor Set the Stage for Alabama’s Sky-High Electric Rates
After his notorious stand in the schoolhouse door, Wallace needed a new target. He found it in Alabama Power.By Dennis PillionWired for Profit: Second in...
Scenes From an Unfolding Climate Drama
ICN international climate policy reporter Bob Berwyn reviews the past decade of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.Story and photos by Bob BerwynThe last 10...
How Earth endured a planet-wide inferno: The secret water vault under our feet
When Earth was a molten inferno, water may have been locked safely underground rather than lost to space. Researchers discovered that bridgmanite deep in the...
Oceans are supercharging hurricanes past Category 5
Deep ocean hot spots packed with heat are making the strongest hurricanes and typhoons more likely—and more dangerous. These regions, especially near the Philippines and...
‘They’re scared of us now’: how co-investment in a tropical forest saw off loggers
Low-cost tech and joined-up funding have reduced illegal logging, mining and poaching in the Darién Gap – it’s a success story that could stop deforestation...
A New Jersey Buyout Program for Flood-Prone Homes Is a National Model
In a state beset by sea level rise and flooding, the Blue Acres program has bought out and demolished 1,200 properties that were repeatedly inundated,...
Lessons on Scaling Gift Economies—and How It Can Help the Planet
Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of “The Serviceberry,” offers ideas rooted in nature for creating sharing economies as a way to bind communities, offer purpose and...
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