Observations from the Little Bunker
A systematic observation of climate change, extreme weather events, and their cascading effects on society
đ Latest Environmental Observations
The wealthy profit from public lands, and taxpayers pick up the tab
Stan Kroenke doesnât need federal help to make a business flourish. He is worth an estimated $20 billion, a fortune that has allowed him to...
Google Data Centers Will Bring Nuclear Power Back To Tornado Country
A destructive storm in 2020 prematurely shut down Iowaâs only nuclear plant. With Googleâs plans to reopen it to power nearby data centers, will extreme...
Forestry Carbon Credit Programs Have a Poor Track Record. Can a More Refined Approach Fix the Problem?
The Family Forest Carbon Program pays landowners not to timber their trees, then sells the additional growth as carbon credits. But critics question whether it...
A New Tool Could Help Track Deep-Sea Mining Activity
Countries are still debating whether to mine the seafloor for minerals, but exploratory efforts have already begun.By Kiley PriceAs demand for critical minerals surges around...
Journal retracts weed killer study backed by Monsanto, citing âserious ethical concernsâ
Highly cited paper was used as evidence that the widely used herbicide Roundup is safe
Trade-off between water-saving and cooling objectives: restricting irrigation increases the number of hot days
Irrigating urban greenery can be an effective strategy to mitigate heat. However, as drought-heatwave combined events become more prevalent, cooling efforts may be compromised by...
IEA: Slow transition away from fossil fuels would cost over a million energy sector jobs
A slower shift to clean energy could leave the world with 1.3 million fewer energy sector jobs by 2035 compared with a scenario in which...
South Australian bus ads misled public by claiming gas is âclean and greenâ, regulator finds
Ads to be removed from Adelaide Metro buses after advertising regulator rules they breach its environmental claims codeSign up for climate and environment editor Adam...
These Countries Are Adopting Electric Vehicles the Fastest
Electric vehicle sales have been growing exponentially due to falling costs, improving technology and government support. Globally, 22% of passenger vehicles sold in 2024 were...
Hybrid Frictional Behavior of HydrothermallyâAltered Fault Zones in LongâLived Polyphase Geothermal Reservoirs
Abstract Geothermal reservoirs commonly record seismic and creep events, constituting earthquake hazards in enhanced geothermal systems. To understand the geological controls on mixedâmode frictional behaviors...
Seasonality of the South Pacific Meridional Mode: Role of Oceanic Meridional Advection Feedback Beyond Thermodynamics Dominance
Abstract The South Pacific Meridional Mode (SPMM), a dominant airâsea coupling mode in the subtropical southeastern Pacific, serves as a precursor to equatorial Pacific variability....
Dampening of the Precipitation Response to Aerosol Pollution From Turbulence in Cumulus Clouds
Abstract Using aircraft observations and a cloud model with particleâbased microphysics, it is shown that the enhancement of drop collisionâcoalescence from turbulence in clouds not...
Local Time Variability of Gravity Wave Activity Revealed by SABER Temperature Observations
Abstract The global characteristics of gravity wave potential energy variation depending on local time are analyzed using satellite observations covering a broad range of local...
Intermittent Supershear Rupture Punctuated by BarrierâInduced Stopping Phase During the 2025 Mw 7.8 Myanmar Earthquake: Evidence From NearâFault Strong Motion Observation
Abstract Supershear rupture has been investigated by many studies, yet its exact characteristics during natural earthquakes are not fully clear, due to the paucity of...
Geodetic Observations Reveal NearâZero Uplift Rates in the Transantarctic Mountains: Implications of Surface Mass Loading Deformation
Abstract The exposed bedrock of the Transantarctic Mountains (TAM) provides rare opportunity to constrain presentâday Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) in East Antarctica, with impacts on...
SeeâSaw Variability in Subduction Rates of the South Pacific Subtropical Mode Water and Its LongâTerm Change
Abstract Subduction of water masses is crucial for thermocline ventilation and climate variability. Using four ocean reanalysis products, we identify a significant interannual seeâsaw variability...
Permeability Evolution and Gouge Formation During Fracture Shearing
Abstract Hydroâmechanical processes are crucial in shearâcontrolled geoscientific applications such as enhanced geothermal systems and often result in stressâdependent permeability changes. The present study aims...
DeBriefed 5 December: Deadly Asia floods; Adaptation finance target examined; Global south IPCC scientists speak out
Welcome to Carbon Briefâs DeBriefed. An essential guide to the weekâs key developments relating to climate change. This week Deadly floods in Asia MOUNTING DEVASTATION: The...
IPCC opens registration of experts to review the first draft of the Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers
GENEVA, December 5 â The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) opened this week registration for experts to serve as Expert Reviewers on the First-Order...
UNFCCC carbon trading could undermine global climate action
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 05 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02517-5Recent United Nations policymaking on international emissions trading fails to reconcile longstanding flaws that could jeopardize the...
Temporary carbon dioxide removals to offset methane emissions
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 05 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02487-8Methane emissions have a large short-term impact on temperature, which can be potentially offset by nature-based solutions...
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