A new study from the University of California San Diego identifies an unexpected influence on global crop stability: the original source of rainfall. Published in Nature Sustainability, the research follows atmospheric moisture back to the place where it first evaporated, whether from the ocean or from land surfaces such as soil, lakes and forests. Sunlight heats these surfaces, converting water to vapour that rises into the atmosphere and eventually returns as rain. Ocean-derived moisture can travel across continents within large weather systems including atmospheric rivers, monsoons, and tropical storms. Moisture that comes from land, often referred to as recycled rainfall, is created when water evaporates from nearby soils and vegetation, fuelling more localized storms. According to the study, the ratio of ocean to land moisture strongly shapes regional drought risk and agricultural productivity.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/

New research from the University of St. Andrews reports that some coastal regions are on track to become far more acidic than scientists once believed. As additional atmospheric CO2 enters the air, it dissolves into the ocean more quickly than anticipated, driving a rapid drop in pH that threatens coastal industries and livelihoods around the world. Because atmospheric CO2 and ocean pH (acidity) rise and fall together, any increase in CO2 above the ocean is soon reflected in the water below. This steady absorption of carbon makes seawater progressively more acidic over time. In a study published on November 13, 2025 in Nature Communications, the research team used the California Current as a case study.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/