Hurricane Harvey: Dutch-Texan research shows most fatalities occurred outside flood zones Press release 19 April 2018 A Dutch-Texan team found that most Houston-area drowning deaths from Hurricane Harvey occurred outside the zones designated by government as being at higher risk of flooding: the 100- and 500-year floodplains. Harvey, one of the costliest storms in US history, hit southeast Texas on 25 August 2017 causing unprecedented flooding and killing dozens. Researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and Rice University in Texas published their results today in the European Geosciences Union journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. Read more
Ozone at lower latitudes is not recovering, despite Antarctic ozone hole healing Press release 6 February 2018 The ozone layer – which protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation – is recovering at the poles, but unexpected decreases in part of the atmosphere may be preventing recovery at lower latitudes, new research has found. The new result, published today in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, finds that the bottom part of the ozone layer at more populated latitudes is not recovering. The cause is currently unknown. Read more
Julia Rosen and Vivien Cumming awarded EGU Science Journalism Fellowship Press release 16 January 2018 The European Geosciences Union (EGU) has named journalists Julia Rosen and Vivien Cumming as the winners of its 2018 Science Journalism Fellowship. The support will allow Rosen to travel to the UK to write about the role of soil in the phosphorus crisis, while Cumming will follow scientists in Myanmar to tell the story of carbon in rivers. Read more
Climate changes triggered immigration to America in the 19th century Press release 21 November 2017 From Trump to Heinz, some of America’s most famous family names and brands trace their origins back to Germans who emigrated to the country in the 19th century. Researchers from the University of Freiburg have now found that climate was a major factor in driving migration from Southwest Germany to North America during the 19th century. The results are published today in Climate of the Past, a journal of the European Geosciences Union. Read more
Deforestation linked to palm oil production is making Indonesia warmer Press release 25 October 2017 In the past decades, large areas of forest in Sumatra, Indonesia have been replaced by cash crops like oil palm and rubber plantations. New research, published in the European Geosciences Union journal Biogeosciences, shows that these changes in land use increase temperatures in the region. The added warming could affect plants and animals and make parts of the country more vulnerable to wildfires. Read more
Applications open for EGU 2018 Science Journalism Fellowships (up to €5k) Press release 17 October 2017 The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now accepting applications for the 7th edition of its Science Journalism Fellowship competition. The fellowships enable journalists to report on ongoing research in the Earth, planetary or space sciences, with successful applicants receiving up to €5000 to cover expenses related to their projects. The deadline for applications is 5 December. Read more
Study reveals new threat to the ozone layer Press release 12 October 2017 “Ozone depletion is a well-known phenomenon and, thanks to the success of the Montreal Protocol, is widely perceived as a problem solved,” says University of East Anglia’s David Oram. But an international team of researchers, led by Oram, has now found an unexpected, growing danger to the ozone layer from substances not regulated by the treaty. The study is published today in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, a journal of the European Geosciences Union. Read more
Removing CO2 from the air required to safeguard children’s future Press release 18 July 2017 Reducing greenhouse-gas emissions is not enough to limit global warming to a level that wouldn’t risk young people’s future, according to a new study published in Earth System Dynamics by a team of scientists who say we need negative emissions. Measures such as reforestation could accomplish much of the needed CO2 removal from the atmosphere, but continued high fossil fuel emissions would demand expensive technological solutions to extract CO2 and prevent dangerous warming. Read more
EGU’s reaction to US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement Press release 2 June 2017 Yesterday, the President of the United States announced the country would be withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. The European Geosciences Union (EGU) strongly opposes this decision. The overwhelming scientific consensus on is that climate is changing as a consequence of human activity, and that reducing greenhouse-gas emissions is vital to limit global warming and lower the risk of dangerous climate impacts. Read more
Flat Antarctica – Land height could help explain why Antarctica is warming slower than the Arctic Press release 18 May 2017 Temperatures in the Arctic are increasing twice as fast as in the rest of the globe, while the Antarctic is warming at a much slower rate. A new study published in Earth System Dynamics, a journal of the European Geosciences Union, shows that land height could be a “game changer” when it comes to explaining why temperatures are rising at such different rates in the two regions. Read more
Coral reefs struggle to keep up with rising seas, leave coastal communities at risk Press release 20 April 2017 In the first ecosystem-wide study of changing sea depths at five large coral reef tracts in Florida, the Caribbean and Hawai’i, researchers found the sea floor is eroding in all five places, and the reefs cannot keep pace with sea level rise. As a result, coastal communities protected by the reefs are facing increased risks from storms, waves and erosion. The study, by a US Geological Survey team, is published today (20 April) in Biogeosciences, a journal of the European Geosciences Union. Read more
EGU 2017 General Assembly media advisory 4 – Press conferences live stream, on-site registration Press release 19 April 2017 Next week (23–28 April), some 14,000 scientists will gather in Vienna for the 2017 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The meeting that provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. The press conference programme includes presentations on Cassini’s grand finale, food security, and screaming clouds, among other topics. Interested journalists can register on-site, free of charge, during the meeting. Those who cannot make it to Vienna can watch press conferences remotely through live-streaming links. Read more
EGU 2017 General Assembly media advisory 3 – Press conference schedule, online registration closing tomorrow Press release 16 March 2017 The schedule of press conferences at the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now available. It includes presentations on Cassini’s grand finale, food security, and screaming clouds, among other topics. The EGU General Assembly also features a Union session on how scientists can stand up for science, and debates on global opportunities and threats from Arctic environmental changes, on the 2°C climate target, and on great extinctions. The meeting is taking place on 23–28 April at the Austria Center Vienna and is expected to attract more than 14,000 scientists from around the world. Journalists interested in attending should register online by Sunday. Read more
EGU 2017 General Assembly media advisory 2 – Meeting programme online, provisional press conference topics Press release 1 March 2017 The programme for the 2017 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now online. The meeting, which this year is anticipated to attract over 14,000 scientists, provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. This year’s conference features a Union session on how scientists can stand up for science, and debates on global opportunities and threats from Arctic environmental changes, on the 2°C climate target, and on great extinctions. Press conferences include presentations on the polar regions, cities’ resilience to a changing climate, and the future of food and drink, among other topics. The meeting is taking place on 23–28 April in Vienna, Austria, at the Austria Center Vienna. Read more
Less snow and a shorter ski season in the Alps Press release 16 February 2017 After long-awaited snowfall in January, parts of the Alps are now covered with fresh powder and happy skiers. But the Swiss side of the iconic mountain range had the driest December since record-keeping began over 150 years ago, and 2016 was the third year in a row with scarce snow over the Christmas period. A study published today in The Cryosphere shows bare Alpine slopes could be a much more common sight in the future. Read more
Jane Qiu and Jane Palmer awarded EGU Science Journalism Fellowship Press release 18 January 2017 The European Geosciences Union (EGU) has named journalists Jane Qiu and Jane Palmer as the winners of its 2017 Science Journalism Fellowship. The support will allow Qiu to report on glaciers and fjord ecosystems in Svalbard, while Palmer will travel to Peru to find out more about the threat posed by slow-moving landslides. Read more
EGU 2017 General Assembly media advisory 1 – Media registration now open Press release 14 December 2016 The 2017 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth, planetary and space sciences, and to talk to scientists from all over the world. The meeting, the largest geosciences conference in Europe, brings together over 12,000 researchers, and is taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 23 to 28 April. Read more
The Coldest Decade of the Millennium? How the cold 1430s led to famine and disease Press release 1 December 2016 A team of international researchers has looked into climate data and historical archives to find out more about the extraordinary climate of the 1430s and how it impacted societies in northwestern and central Europe. Their results are published today in Climate of the Past, a journal of the European Geosciences Union. Read more
Antarctic explorers help make discovery – 100 years after their epic adventures Press release 24 November 2016 Heroes of Antarctic exploration have played a crucial role in research, published today in The Cryosphere, that suggests the area of sea ice around Antarctica has barely changed in size in 100 years. Read more
Applications open for EGU 2017 Science Journalism Fellowships (up to €5k) Press release 25 October 2016 The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now accepting applications for the 6th edition of its Science Journalism Fellowship competition. The fellowships enable journalists to report on ongoing research in the Earth, planetary or space sciences, with successful applicants receiving up to €5000 to cover expenses related to their projects. The deadline for applications is 11 December. Read more
Receding glaciers in Bolivia leave communities at risk Press release 20 October 2016 A new study published in The Cryosphere, an European Geosciences Union journal, has found that Bolivian glaciers shrunk by 43% between 1986 and 2014, and will continue to diminish if temperatures in the region continue to increase. “On top of that, glacier recession is leaving lakes that could burst and wash away villages or infrastructure downstream,” says lead-author Simon Cook, a lecturer at the Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK. Read more
El retroceso de los glaciares bolivianos pone en peligro a comunidades Press release 20 October 2016 Un nuevo estudio publicado en The Cryosphere, una revista de la Unión Europea de Geólogos, ha descubierto que entre 1986 y 2014 los glaciares de Bolivia han encogido un 43% y continuarán a hacerlo si las temperaturas en la región siguen incrementando. “Además, el retroceso deja tras de si lagunas que pueden desbordarse llevándose por delante pueblos e infraestructuras situados aguas abajo,” dice el coordinador del estudio Simon Cook, catedrático en la Universidad Metropolitana de Manchester, en el Reino Unido. Read more
Οι κοινότητες της Βολιβίας σε κίνδυνο λόγο της υποχώρησης των πάγων. Press release 20 October 2016 Μία νέα μελέτη η οποία δημοσιεύθηκε στην επιθεώρηση The Cryosphere (Κρυόσφαιρα), της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης Γεωεπιστημών, κατέδειξε ότι οι πάγοι της Βολιβίας έχουν μειωθεί κατά 43% μεταξύ του 1986 και του 1914, θα συνεχίσουν δε μειούμενοι εάν οι θερμοκρασίες στην περιοχή συνεχίσουν ν’ ανεβαίνουν. «Εξάλλου, η τήξη των πάγων καταλείπει λίμνες οι οποίες θα μπορούσαν να υποστούν αιφνίδια εκκένωση, να καταστρέψουν δε τα χωριά και τις υποδομές στα κατάντη» λέει ο επικεφαλής συγγραφέας Simon Cook (Σάιμον Κούκ), λέκτορας στο Μητροπολιτικό Πανεπιστήμιο του Μάντσεστερ στο Ην. Βασίλειο. Read more
Les communautés Boliviennes en danger à cause du recul des glaciers Press release 20 October 2016 Une nouvelle étude publiée dans ”The Cryosphere“, la revue des géosciences de l’union européenne, a démontré que les glaciers Boliviens ont reculé de 43% entre 1986 et 2014, et ils vont continuer de diminuer si l’augmentation des températures dans la région continue. ‘’En outre, le recul des glaciers fait apparaitre des lacs qui peuvent connaitre une vidange brutale susceptible de détruire des villages et tout type d’infrastructure en aval,’’ a souligné l’auteur principal Simon Cook, Maitre de conférences à l’Université Métropolitaine de Manchester au Royaume-Uni. Read more
All polar bears across the Arctic face shorter sea ice season Press release 14 September 2016 New research published in The Cryosphere finds a trend toward earlier sea ice melt in the spring and later ice growth in the autumn across all 19 polar bear populations, which can negatively impact the feeding and breeding capabilities of the bears. Read more
New study reveals where MH370 debris more likely to be found Press release 27 July 2016 A team of researchers in Italy has used the location of confirmed debris from MH370 to determine where the airliner might have crashed, and where further debris could be found. The study is published today (27 July) in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). Read more
Fire clues in cave dripwater – researchers find wildfire signatures in cave formations for the first time Press release 21 July 2016 When mineral-rich water drips from a cave’s ceiling over centuries and millennia, it forms rocky cones that hold clues to the Earth’s past climate. Now, researchers in Australia and the UK have found that these structures can also help trace past wildfires that burned above the cave. Their research is published today in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. Read more
New technique settles old debate on highest peaks in US Arctic Press release 23 June 2016 Finding out which is the highest mountain in the US Arctic may be the last thing on your mind, unless you are an explorer who skis from the tallest peaks around the globe. Ski mountaineer Kit DesLauriers joined forces with glaciologist Matt Nolan to settle a debate of more than 50 years, while testing a new, affordable mapping technique in a steep mountainous region. Their research is published today in The Cryosphere. Read more
1.5°C vs 2°C global warming – new study shows why half a degree matters Press release 21 April 2016 European researchers have found substantially different climate change impacts for a global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C by 2100, the two temperature limits included in the Paris climate agreement. The additional 0.5°C would mean a 10-cm-higher global sea-level rise by 2100, longer heat waves, and would result in virtually all tropical coral reefs being at risk. The research is published today (21 April) in Earth System Dynamics, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), and is presented at the EGU General Assembly. Read more
EGU 2016 General Assembly media advisory 4 – Press conferences live stream, on-site registration Press release 12 April 2016 Next week (17–22 April), some 13,000 scientists will gather in Vienna for the 2016 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), a meeting that provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. The press conference programme includes presentations on the latest results on sea ice decline in the Arctic and on detecting nuclear explosions, among others. Interested journalists can register on-site, free of charge, during the meeting. Those who cannot make it to Vienna can watch press conferences remotely through a live streaming link. Read more
EGU 2016 General Assembly media advisory 3 – Press conference schedule, online registration closing tomorrow Press release 16 March 2016 The schedule of press conferences at the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now available. It includes presentations on methane release from the Arctic seafloor, on finding out how ancient organisms moved and fed, and on the latest developments from ESA’s Asteroid Impact Mission, among other topics. The EGU General Assembly will also feature a debate on economic growth and climate change, a session on the Anthropocene, and a talk by astronaut André Kuipers. The meeting is taking place on 17–22 April at the Austria Center Vienna and is expected to attract some 13,000 scientists from around the world. Journalists interested in attending should register online by tomorrow. Read more
EGU 2016 General Assembly media advisory 2 – Meeting programme online, provisional press conference topics Press release 3 March 2016 The programme for the 2016 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now online. The meeting, which attracts some 13,000 scientists, provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. This year’s conference features debates on sustainable development in the Arctic and on economic growth and climate change. Press conferences include presentations on detecting nuclear explosions, on finding out how ancient organisms moved and fed, and on the latest developments from ESA’s Asteroid Impact Mission, among other topics. The meeting is taking place on 17–22 April in Vienna, Austria, at the Austria Center Vienna. Read more
Fishing meets science with waders and smartphones Press release 29 February 2016 Dutch and American researchers have developed waders equipped with temperature sensors that enable fly-fishers to find the best fishing locations while collecting data to help scientists study streams. The research is published today (29 February) in Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems (GI), an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union. Read more
Screening truffles for radioactivity 30 years from Chernobyl Press release 25 February 2016 Swiss and German researchers have analysed Burgundy truffles collected in central Europe and found they contain only negligible amounts of radioactive caesium, being safe for consumption. The results are published today (25 February) in Biogeosciences. Read more
Terri Cook and Phil McKenna awarded EGU Science Journalism Fellowship Press release 23 February 2016 The European Geosciences Union (EGU) has named journalists Terri Cook and Phil McKenna as the winners of its 2016 Science Journalism Fellowship. The support will allow Cook to look into how artificial floods are used to support sustainable water development, while McKenna will report on how trees and buildings can weaken seismic vibrations. Read more
Applications open for EGU 2016 Science Journalism Fellowships (up to €5k) Press release 5 January 2016 The second call for applications to the 2016 European Geosciences Union (EGU) Science Journalism Fellowship competition is now open. The fellowships enable journalists to follow scientists on location to report on ongoing research in the Earth, planetary or space sciences. Successful applicants receive up to €5000 to cover expenses related to their projects. The deadline for applications is 31 January. Read more
EGU 2016 General Assembly media advisory 1 – Media registration now open Press release 1 December 2015 The 2016 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth, planetary and space sciences, and to talk to scientists from all over the world. The meeting, the largest geosciences conference in Europe, brings together some 12,000 researchers, and is taking place in Vienna, Austria, from 17 to 22 April. Read more
Revealing glacier flow with animated satellite images Press release 26 November 2015 Frank Paul, a glaciologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, has created animations from satellite images of the Karakoram mountain range in Asia to show how its glaciers flow and change. The images of four different regions compress 25 years of glacier changes into just one second, revealing the complex glacier behaviour in the Karakoram. The animations are published today (26 November) in The Cryosphere, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). Read more
Applications open for EGU 2016 Science Journalism Fellowships (up to €5k) Press release 27 October 2015 The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now accepting applications for the 5th edition of its Science Journalism Fellowship competition. The fellowships enable journalists to follow scientists on location to report on ongoing research in the Earth, planetary or space sciences. Successful applicants receive up to €5000 to cover expenses related to their projects. The deadline for applications is 6 December. Read more
Curbing short-lived pollutants – a win-win for climate and air quality Press release 24 September 2015 Ozone, methane and aerosols (tiny pollutant particles) remain in the atmosphere for a shorter time than CO2, but can affect both the climate and air quality. Yet environmental policies tend to separate the two issues, with measures that fight air pollution not always bringing climate benefits and vice-versa. A new study looking into short-lived pollutants reveals measures governments could implement to substantially improve air quality as well as fight climate change. The results, by a team of scientists from around Europe and China, are published today (24 September) in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). Read more
What would a tsunami in the Mediterranean look like? Press release 27 August 2015 A team of European researchers have developed a model to simulate the impact of tsunamis generated by earthquakes and applied it to the Eastern Mediterranean. The results show how tsunami waves could hit and inundate coastal areas in southern Italy and Greece. The study is published today (27 August) in Ocean Science, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). Read more
Most comprehensive projections for West Antarctica’s future revealed Press release 18 August 2015 A new international study is the first to use a high-resolution, large-scale computer model to estimate how much ice the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could lose over the next couple of centuries, and how much that could add to sea-level rise. The results paint a clearer picture of West Antarctica’s future than was previously possible. The study is published today (18 August) in The Cryosphere. Read more
Fungus shapes hair ice – Researchers identify fungus responsible for peculiar ice filaments that grow on dead wood Press release 22 July 2015 Hair ice grows on the rotten branches of certain trees when the weather conditions are just right, usually during humid winter nights when the air temperature drops slightly below 0°C. Now, a team of scientists in Germany and Switzerland have identified the missing ingredient that gives hair ice its peculiar shape: the fungus Exidiopsis effusa. The research is published today in Biogeosciences. Read more
Floods as war weapons – Humans caused a third of floods in past 500 years in SW Netherlands Press release 9 June 2015 A new study shows that, from 1500 until 2000, about a third of floods in southwestern Netherlands were deliberately caused by humans during wartimes. Some of these inundations resulted in significant changes to the landscape, being as damaging as floods caused by heavy rainfall or storm surges. The work, by Dutch researcher Adriaan de Kraker, is published today in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. Read more
Glacier changes at the top of the world – Over 70% of glacier volume in Everest region could be lost by 2100 Press release 27 May 2015 A team of researchers in Nepal, France and the Netherlands have found Everest glaciers could be very sensitive to future warming, and that sustained ice loss through the 21st century is likely. The research is now published in The Cryosphere. Read more
New study shows Antarctic ice shelf is thinning from above and below Press release 13 May 2015 A decade-long scientific debate about what’s causing the thinning of one of Antarctica’s largest ice shelves has now been settled. The Larsen C Ice Shelf – whose neighbours Larsen A and B collapsed in 1995 and 2002 – is thinning from both its surface and beneath. The research, by scientists from the UK and the US, is published today (Wednesday 13 May) in The Cryosphere. Read more
‘Dead zones’ found in Atlantic open waters Press release 30 April 2015 A team of German and Canadian researchers have discovered areas with extremely low levels of oxygen in the tropical North Atlantic, several hundred kilometres off the coast of West Africa. The levels measured in these ‘dead zones’, inhabitable for most marine animals, are the lowest ever recorded in Atlantic open waters. The research is published today in Biogeosciences. Read more
EGU 2015 General Assembly: Media advisory 4 – Press conferences live stream, on-site registration Press release 7 April 2015 Next week (12–17 April), over 12,000 scientists will gather in Vienna for the 2015 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), a meeting that provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. The press conference programme includes presentations on the latest results from ESA’s Rosetta Mission and on changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet. Interested journalists can register on-site, free of charge, during the meeting. Those who cannot make it to Vienna can watch press conferences remotely through a live streaming link. Read more
Travelling pollution – East Asian human activities affect air quality in remote tropical forests Press release 31 March 2015 Researchers from the UK and Malaysia have detected a human fingerprint deep in the Borneo rainforest in Southeast Asia. Cold winds blowing from the north carry industrial pollutants from East Asia to the equator, with implications for air quality in the region. Once there, the pollutants can travel higher into the atmosphere and impact the ozone layer. The research is published today in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. Read more
EGU 2015 General Assembly: Media advisory 3 – Press conference schedule, online registration closing Friday Press release 11 March 2015 The schedule of press conferences at the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), which includes presentations on ESA’s Rosetta Mission and on Iceland’s Bárðarbunga volcanic eruption, is now available. The meeting, taking place on 12–17 April in Vienna, attracts over 12,000 scientists and provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. This year’s programme features debates on water security and on negotiating climate policy. Journalists interested in attending should register online by Friday. Read more
