Publications

Plant diversity patterns in neotropical dry forests and their conservation implications

Publication ID: pub.1021014064

Publication date: 22/09/2016

Keywords: Biodiversity; Caribbean Region; Conservation of Natural Resources; Decision Making; Forests; Grassland; Latin America; Seasons; Trees; Tropical Climate; Wood

Seasonally dry tropical forests are distributed across Latin America and the Caribbean and are highly threatened, with less than 10% of their original extent remaining in many countries. Using 835 inventories covering 4660 species of woody plants, we show marked floristic turnover among inventories and regions, which may be higher than in other neotropical biomes, […]

Should We Tolerate Climate Change Denial?

Publication ID: pub.1026054642

Publication date: 19/09/2016

Keywords: Anthropogenic; Climate Change Denial; Climate Science; Debate; Deceptive Misrepresentation; Global; Legislation; Organized; Paris Agreement; Public Opinion; Tolerance/Toleration; United States

A multi-decade record of high-quality fCO2 data in version 3 of the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT)

Publication ID: pub.1048541121

Publication date: 15/09/2016

Keywords: Biogeochemical Models; Data Collection; Data Sets; Fugacity of Carbon Dioxide; Global; Ocean Acidification; Quality Control (QT); Surface Oceans and Coastal Seas; Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) Version 3; Sink

Abstract. The Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) is a synthesis of quality-controlled fCO2 (fugacity of carbon dioxide) values for the global surface oceans and coastal seas with regular updates. Version 3 of SOCAT has 14.7 million fCO2 values from 3646 data sets covering the years 1957 to 2014. This latest version has an additional 4.6 million fCO2 […]

Thermomechanical controls on magma supply and volcanic deformation: application to Aira caldera, Japan

Publication ID: pub.1033396622

Publication date: 13/09/2016

Keywords: Aira Caldera; Eruption; Eruption Forecasting; Japan; Magma Supply; Models; Risk Mitigation; Source Processes; Thermomechanical Heterogeneity; Volcanic Deformation

Ground deformation often precedes volcanic eruptions, and results from complex interactions between source processes and the thermomechanical behaviour of surrounding rocks. Previous models aiming to constrain source processes were unable to include realistic mechanical and thermal rock properties, and the role of thermomechanical heterogeneity in magma accumulation was unclear. Here we show how spatio-temporal deformation […]

An unexpected disruption of the atmospheric quasi-biennial oscillation

Publication ID: pub.1023645731

Publication date: 08/09/2016

Keywords: Atmosphere; Disruption; Equatorial Stratosphere; Global; Projected; Quasi-biennial Oscillation (QBO); Seasonal Forecasts; Warming Climate; Wind Jets

One of the most repeatable phenomena seen in the atmosphere, the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) between prevailing eastward and westward wind jets in the equatorial stratosphere (approximately 16 to 50 kilometers altitude), was unexpectedly disrupted in February 2016. An unprecedented westward jet formed within the eastward phase in the lower stratosphere and cannot be accounted for […]

Marine microplastic debris: a targeted plan for understanding and quantifying interactions with marine life

Publication ID: pub.1031712928

Publication date: 01/08/2016

Keywords: Aquatic Biota and Ecosystems; Biological Interactions; Fate; Global; Impact; Marine Pollutant; Marine Life; Mechanisms; Microplastic Debris; Movement; Oceans; Redistributing Plastic; Research Agenda

Microscopic plastic (microplastic) debris is a marine pollutant that threatens aquatic biota and ecosystems. Microplastics have been detected throughout the world’s oceans; however, the relative importance of different processes that control the spatial distribution and long-term fate of microplastics in the marine environment remains largely unknown. Results from laboratory and field studies indicate that interactions […]