Newswise Breaking News Channel: Drought

Major dust-up for water in the Colorado River

University of Utah — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:05:10 EST

New research debuts a powerful remote-sensing dataset that for the first time, informs the timing and magnitude of dust deposition and impacts on snowmelt rates across the Colorado Basin, in real time. The study's insights could improve forecasting and water allocation for a system under extreme pressure from changing climate and populations.

Unlocking the Genetic Secrets of Alfalfa Roots for Higher Yields

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:40:32 EST

In a major scientific advancement, researchers have decoded the genetic foundation of root system architecture (RSA) in alfalfa, a critical determinant of crop productivity and drought resilience. By analyzing six key root traits in 171 alfalfa genotypes, the team identified 60 significant genetic markers and 19 high-confidence candidate genes influencing root development.

New Genetic Pathway Unlocks Drought-Resistant Cucumbers with Fewer Branches

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:30:03 EST

A new discovery has unveiled a genetic module, CsTIE1-CsAGL16, that simultaneously regulates lateral branch development and drought tolerance in cucumbers. This dual-function genetic pathway offers a promising new approach to breeding cucumber varieties that are both resilient to water scarcity and tailored to market preferences. By deciphering how these genes coordinate water conservation and branch growth, researchers have opened new doors for improving crop adaptability and productivity in the face of climate change.

UA Little Rock Economist Awarded Nearly $750K NSF Grant to Study Water Use in Agriculture

University of Arkansas at Little Rock — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:45:33 EST

Dr. Kent Kovacs, an associate professor of accounting, economics, and finance at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has received a nearly $750,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Research, Innovation, Synergies, and Education (RISE) to study how farmers' risk preferences impact water use during droughts.

NJIT Biologist Wins NSF CAREER Award to Explore Hidden Hydrological Factor to Forest Resilience

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:25:13 EST

New Jersey Institute of Technology biologist Xiaonan Tai has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to investigate how landscape positions determine forest fate during extreme heat and drought.

Beyond the Burn: Harvesting Dead Wood to Reduce Wildfires and Store Carbon

Florida Atlantic University — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:30:23 EST

A century of fire suppression, climate change, and drought has worsened wildfires in the Western U.S. While prescribed burns help reduce fuel, a "fire deficit" increases wildfire risks, with significant health and environmental impacts. Deforestation and pests further limit carbon storage. Emulating Indigenous practices, a new study shows that combining physical harvesting of dead wood with thinning reduces wildfire risks, lowers carbon emissions, and boosts carbon storage through products like biochar.

New SIF model tracks drought effects in real-time

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:00:59 EST

A new study has unveiled a high-resolution, hourly solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) dataset designed to monitor vegetation photosynthesis during droughts. This innovative approach offers unprecedented insights into how plants respond to drought stress, providing a powerful tool for real-time drought monitoring and ecosystem management.

Wildland Fires Are Unpredictable. NASA's Spaceborne Lidar Is Helping Reduce That Uncertainty

Northern Arizona University — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 20:20:05 EST

Researchers and land managers have long known that reducing the amount of forest fuel helps reduce wildfire severity. But not all fuel is created equal, and the vertical location of that fuel may matter more than the sheer amount, especially when weather conditions are hot, dry and windy. Recent research from NAU, using data collected from NASA spaceborne lidar, shows that large-scale maps of ladder fuels can help predict areas at greatest risk from wildfires and suggests that a focus on reducing ladder fuels may be the most direct means to reduce wildfire severity.

New Research and Art Instillation Demonstrates the Viability of Using Fog as a Water Source

University of California, Santa Cruz — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 09:10:43 EST

In a state known for its droughts, where the southern half recently experienced devastating fires, understanding California's natural water sources is more important than ever. Three University of California, Santa Cruz professors have teamed up to create a multipart scientific and artistic research study, Art+Fog as a collective,

Rising Temperatures Nationwide Pose Risk to Bees and Food Production, BGSU Study Reveals

Bowling Green State University — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:30:00 EST

Researchers established thresholds at which the bees succumbed to warming or dehydration and assembled the largest known data set of bee tolerances

Expert Available: Washington Post Report: Most U.S. Cities Aren't Prepared for Climate Change

George Washington University — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:08 EST

A report out today by The Washington Post finds most cities in the United States are not prepared for climate change. ...

Ongoing Drought and Wildfires Across New Jersey and Northeast Lead To Poor Air Quality Warnings

Hackensack Meridian Health — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:45:07 EST

Expert pitch on smoke dangers from wildfires

From Cali to Belem: United Nations Conventions Must Fight Climate and Biodiversity Crises With United Efforts

Wildlife Conservation Society — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 07:55:22 EST

It is imperative that governments meeting here at the UN's Biodiversity Conference take action ensuring an alignment of the world's biodiversity and climate agendas.

Watershed Moment: Engineers Invent High-Yield Atmospheric Water Capture Device for Arid Regions

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 19:30:21 EST

As a megadrought stresses the water supply throughout the Southwest, revolutionary research out of UNLV is answering this problem with a groundbreaking technology that pulls large amounts of water from the air in low humidity.

Green Leaf Volatiles: A Natural Ally in Plant Stress Resistance

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:55:59 EST

Scientists have identified a natural compound, (Z)-3-hexenyl butyrate (HB), that can induce stomatal closure in plants, a defense mechanism to conserve water and protect against pathogens. This discovery could lead to more sustainable agricultural practices by enhancing crop resilience to environmental stresses without the need for synthetic pesticides.

New Parasite Discovered Amid Decline of California's Unique Channel Island Fox

Florida Atlantic University — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 08:30:27 EST

In the 1990s, the San Miguel Island fox nearly went extinct, with numbers dropping to just 15. A recovery program increased their population by 2010, but from 2014 to 2018, it fell to 30% of its peak due to a new acanthocephalan parasite, exacerbated by a prolonged drought. A collaborative research effort employed morphological and molecular methods, alongside necropsy records, to identify the parasite and assess its health impacts on the foxes.

Not Running Dry: UNLV Project Tackles Water Scarcity in Rural Communities

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 18:45:16 EST

A UNLV research team is developing sustainable water management solutions for rural arid areas in the U.S. and China, focusing on wastewater reuse through solar-powered treatment processes. The project aims to provide low-cost technologies for non-potable -- and possibly potable -- reuse in rural communities in both countries, addressing water scarcity and quality issues.

Declines in Plant Resilience Threaten Carbon Storage in the Arctic

Ohio State University — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:05:45 EST

Rapid warming has impacted the northern ecosystem so significantly that scientists are concerned the region's vegetation is losing the ability to recover from climate shocks, suggests a new study.

Experts Say Drought Can Affect Wildlife, Livestock

West Virginia University — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 11:00:56 EST

Expert Offers Insight on Restoring Groundwater Reserves Following Prolonged Drought

West Virginia University — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:45:00 EST