Letters in 2015

Contrary to expectation, some fish species living around CO₂ vents—natural ‘laboratories’ for studying the effects of ocean acidification—show increased abundance due to indirect positive effects of acidification on habitat and food resources.

Public perceptions of climate change policies change over time. A national survey shows that although acceptance of the carbon pricing policy stayed stable throughout the election campaign, this did not indicate support for the policy.

A shift from coral to macroalgae dominance of reef systems affected by volcanically acidified waters around Maug (Mariana Islands, North Pacific Ocean) increases fears that reef corals will be displaced by algae as a result of ocean acidification.

The thermal comfort standards developed in the 1960s were based on the average male. Altering these standards to account for female metabolic rates could save energy and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from buildings.

A series of simple and communicable risk metrics for agriculture are developed by integrating information on the interacting systems of climate, crops and economy under different climate and adaptation scenarios.

Indonesian mangrove carbon stocks are estimated to be 1,083 ± 378 MgC ha⁻¹. In the past three decades Indonesia has lost 40% of its 2.9 Mha of mangroves; this is estimated to have resulted in annual CO₂-equivalent emissions of 0.07–0.21 Pg.

The co-occurrence of storm surge and heavy precipitation can compound coastal flooding. Research now estimates the probability of such co-occurrences for the US and shows that the number of events has increased significantly over the past century.

The mechanisms that allow some species to adjust to changing environmental conditions across generations are poorly understood. This study reveals the molecular processes underlying transgenerational acclimation in a common reef fish.

The responses of phytoplankton growth rates to ocean acidification were investigated in a meta-analysis. A marine ecosystem model calibrated with the results indicates that these different responses will result in changes in community structure.

A risk assessment framework shows that policymakers’ preferences affect carbon budget choices more than future uncertainties. Such preferences are as important as the much-discussed discount rate.

Modelling shows that although the impact of warmer summers and winters may cancel each other out, climate change could still have a significant impact on mortality rates in New England owing to changes in temperature variability.

An analysis of US domestic flight data for the past two decades reveals the overwhelmingly tight control of climate variability on air travel. Potential feedbacks between aviation and climate change are quantified using CMIP5 model projections.

Rapid climate warming has been linked to increasing shrub dominance in the Arctic tundra. Research now shows that climate–shrub growth relationships vary spatially and according to site characteristics such as soil moisture and shrub height.

Bioclimatic modelling suggests that as species distributions shift in response to climate change, few currently isolated but closely related species are likely to come into contact, implying that hybridization and competition risks will remain small.

A comprehensive analysis of the spatial distribution of infrastructure of 12 Pacific island countries reveals that their built assets are often concentrated close to the coast, exposing them to a variety of natural and climate change-related hazards.

Climate projections are about what typical climate will be, not what each individual season will be. This study considers natural variability combined with projections to allow comparison with seasonal weather and inform adaptation.

Autonomous vehicles move passengers without human intervention. Modelling suggests that autonomous taxis could reduce transport emissions by 87–94% per mile in 2030 and save approximately 7 billion barrels of oil.

An analysis of quantitative sociological data reveals that adaptive capacity has increased in coastal fishing communities in Kenya, but that underprivileged segments of society remain vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

A combination of retreating sea ice and different rates of warming in the Greenland and Iceland seas is reducing winter air–sea heat fluxes. These fluxes drive ocean convection and are projected to decrease further.

The relative climate benefits of sustainable forest use versus conservation are much debated. Consequential life-cycle assessment is typically employed to answer this question but results are sensitive to contextual factors including policy institutions.