Arctic rivers face big changes with a warming climate, permafrost thaw and an accelerating water cycle − the effects will have global consequences

A new study shows how thawing permafrost and intensifying storms will change how water moves into and through Arctic rivers.

Ambarish Karmalkar, Assistant Professor of Geosciences, University of Rhode Island • conversation
March 5, 2024 ~8 min

El Niño may be drying out the southern hemisphere – here's how that affects the whole planet

New research finds fresh water losses are concentrated in South America, most of Africa and much of Australia.

Kevin Collins, Senior Lecturer, Environment & Systems, The Open University • conversation
Nov. 2, 2023 ~6 min


How climate change intensifies the water cycle, fueling extreme rainfall and flooding – the Northeast deluge was just the latest

Parts of New York’s Hudson Valley were hit with 10 inches of rain, and the mountains of Vermont – where runoff can quickly turn deadly – saw some its worst flooding since Hurricane Irene.

Mathew Barlow, Professor of Climate Science, UMass Lowell • conversation
July 11, 2023 ~5 min

Rainforests pump water round the tropics – but the pulse of this heart is weakening

By calling the Amazon “the lungs of the world”, the forest’s role in the water cycle is overlooked.

Jess Baker, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Tropical Climate, University of Leeds • conversation
March 8, 2023 ~6 min

PFAS: you can't smell, see or taste these chemicals, but they are everywhere – and they're highly toxic to humans

Toxic synthetic chemicals, called PFAS, are a serious threat to humans and wildlife – but many people are unaware of them.

Patrick Byrne, Reader in Hydrology and Environmental Pollution, Liverpool John Moores University • conversation
Jan. 5, 2023 ~6 min

What is hydroelectric energy and how does it work?

How does flowing water make electricity? An engineer explains hydroelectric generation.

Brian Tarroja, Associate Professional Researcher and Lecturer of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine • conversation
Nov. 14, 2022 ~6 min

What is a flash drought? An earth scientist explains

Flash droughts can develop within a few weeks, causing water shortages, damaging crops and worsening fire risks.

Antonia Hadjimichael, Assistant Professor of Geosciences, Penn State • conversation
Nov. 10, 2022 ~6 min

The Horn of Africa has had years of drought, yet groundwater supplies are increasing – why?

High intensity rain has actually increased, which is topping up underground water stores.

Markus Adloff, PostDoctoral Researcher, Earth System Modelling, Université de Berne • conversation
Nov. 1, 2022 ~7 min


Rivers worldwide are running dry – here's why and what we can do about it

The world’s great rivers are see-sawing from trickles to floods.

Catherine E. Russell, Fulbright-Lloyd's Visiting Scholar, University of New Orleans & Honorary Researcher, University of Leicester • conversation
Aug. 30, 2022 ~4 min

Climate change is intensifying the water cycle, bringing more powerful storms and flooding – here's what the science shows

Extreme downpours caught people off guard from Las Vegas to Kentucky in July 2022.

Mathew Barlow, Professor of Climate Science, UMass Lowell • conversation
July 29, 2022 ~5 min

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