Open access notables
Multiple studies indicate changes in the properties of Antarctic bottom water (AABW) over the past half century. These changes involve density and hence will affect both local and distant circulation of the oceans, not least overturning effects that are vital for marine biology but also climate and weather far distant from Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. While we can see what s happening, our understanding of what s driving change is incomplete. By synthesizing multiple observational channels in a uniquely suitable region, Kathryn Gunn et al. produce an important increment in our understanding of what s perturbing this system in Recent reduced abyssal overturning and ventilation in the Australian Antarctic Basin, just published in Nature Climate Change. It looks as though glacial meltwater is an growingly important factor. The paper confirms and extends prior indication that substantial change is occurring in Antarctic bottom waters. This a
Open access notables
Visiting online haunts of climate science rejectionists reveals a nexus of anxieties in some sections of the public: climate change and population migration. Judging from connections formed in headlines and article texts, one could easily conclude that readers fears are being exploited; it s not hard to find content implying that the concept of climate change is a subterfuge to justify opening borders to foreigners. Given what we know of developing physical effects of climate change, it may seem intuitively obvious that growing pressures on populations can lead affected people to upping stakes and trying to escape increasingly poor living conditions. What s the reality of the situation? It s not entirely clear, according to Tabitha Watson et al., publishing in Climate Resileince and Sustainability and offering their literature survey The climate change, conflict and migration nexus: A holistic view. The authors find a picture that is larg
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The Intelligence Community Must Evolve To Meet the Reality of Arctic Change is a product of the Wilson Center s subject specalist center The Polar Institute. As its title suggests the report is squarely centered on nitty-gritty details of geopolitical adaptations forced by climate change as they re reflected in national security matters, here (unsurprisingly given the Wilson Institute s mission and purpose) specifically the security of the United States. Let alone what passport is in one s pocket, the report s provenance and urgency is a bellwether indicator of radical change in the Arctic thanks to our sudden climate accident. Recommendation #4 is rather striking but is based on a claimed track record of success in other arenas: Prioritize Top Secret with Special Access clearances for non-IC Federal Interagency Arctic and climate experts. This report is included in this week s collection of government/NGO repor
Open access notables
In connection with how do we feed ourselves without disrupting the climate, Research needs for a food system transition by Sunala Shukli McDermid and coauthors and published in Climatic Change first reviews what we ve learned of impacts from our agriculture and in particular animal husbandry on Earth systems, including climate. The review s conclusion remains familiar: there s an urgent need to make some major changes. That s going to need a lot of attention to a lot of detail, and how to work at that level is the main thrust of the article s purpose. The authors go on to argue we need to practice concerted, systematic research in key areas of agriculture and agricultural policy so as to inform our steering of transitions, identify pitfalls, and make translating scientific findings into policy more efficient. They break this big overall challenge into more digestible conceptual chunks, with suggestions on how to get started.