Lukas Rudolph, Linus Hormuth, Jan Freihardt, Vally Koubi
{"title":"Perceived deservingness shapes attitudes toward environmental migrants in rural Bangladesh.","authors":"Lukas Rudolph, Linus Hormuth, Jan Freihardt, Vally Koubi","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03320-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-026-03320-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As climate change intensifies, internal migration due to extreme climate events is becoming increasingly common in the Global South. Yet, little is known about how rural host communities respond to incoming environmental migrants. Here, we study attitudes toward environmentally displaced people in northern Bangladesh, focusing on perceived deservingness, empathy through shared experience, and exploratory proxy indicators of prior migrant exposure/contact. Using a pre-registered face-to-face survey of 265 rural residents, including a forced-choice conjoint experiment, we assess how migrant characteristics (reason for migration, occupation, religion, distance to origin) affect host community attitudes. We find that migrants displaced by riverbank erosion are more likely to be accepted than economic migrants (by 21%-points, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and face less discrimination based on other characteristics, indicating that deservingness strongly shapes attitudes. Regarding shared experience of erosion, which we propose as a proxy for empathy, models estimated a positive coefficient (13%-points, <i>p</i> = 0.122), hence not supporting, but indicative of a positive association between experiential proximity and greater acceptance of environmental migrants. We find no credible evidence for heterogeneity in migrant acceptance using coarse proxy measures of prior migrant exposure/contact. These results suggest that, even in resource-constrained regions, moral judgments play a central role, and that experiential proximity may be associated with more inclusive attitudes, informing policies for societal resilience under environmental stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"247"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12995714/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147485045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Duc Nguyen, Phan Phuong Thanh, Heidi L Burdett, Inna Yaneva-Toraman, Zhiling Liao, Qingping Zou, Trinh Quang Tu, Le Trung Dung, Le Thi Thu Huong, Ryan Pereira, Thomas Wagner, Huong Thi Thuy Ngo, Michel J Kaiser
{"title":"Marine plastic pollution undermines the livelihoods and income of fishing communities in Viet Nam.","authors":"Duc Nguyen, Phan Phuong Thanh, Heidi L Burdett, Inna Yaneva-Toraman, Zhiling Liao, Qingping Zou, Trinh Quang Tu, Le Trung Dung, Le Thi Thu Huong, Ryan Pereira, Thomas Wagner, Huong Thi Thuy Ngo, Michel J Kaiser","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03567-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-026-03567-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Globally, small-scale fishing communities are impacted by plastic debris accumulating in coastal waters. We studied the socioeconomic impact of marine plastic on fishers in the Mekong and Red River Deltas. Using a mixed methods design, we quantified the impacts of marine plastics through socioeconomic structured interviews with nearshore fishers (<i>n</i> = 199), post-hoc verification interviews (<i>n</i> = 94) and waste audits of debris in fishing nets (<i>n</i> = 282). The total cost of plastic pollution was calculated as ~3400 USD vessel<sup>-1</sup> year<sup>-1</sup>, equivalent to 12% of the annual vessel revenue and 25% of the owner's income. Fishers also experienced injuries and fatalities when dealing with plastic entanglement incidents at sea. Results highlighted a disproportionate and unequitable higher economic burden faced by lower-income fishers in the Mekong Delta compared to the Red River Delta. Our study found that incentive-based plastic collection at priority locations could reduce pollution while supporting sustainable livelihoods.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"452"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13246506/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148216758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oliver Müller, Jessie Gardner, Lasse Mork Olsen, Evgenii Salganik, Philipp Assmy, Rolf Gradinger, Gunnar Bratbak, Clara J M Hoppe, Benjamin A Lange, Morven Muilwijk, Dmitry V Divine, Nicole Aberle, Jeffrey W Krause, Marit Reigstad, Eva Leu, Tatiana M Tsagaraki, Aud Larsen, Knut V Høyland, John Paul Balmonte, William Boulton, Håkon Dahle, Lena Eggers, Allison A Fong, Gaël Guillou, Benoit Lebreton, Katja Metfies, Thomas Mock, Elzbieta Petelenz, Agnieszka Tatarek, Sinhué Torres-Valdés, Anders Torstensson, Jozef Wiktor, Mats A Granskog
{"title":"Arctic sea-ice ridges are biomass hotspots harboring diverse microbial communities.","authors":"Oliver Müller, Jessie Gardner, Lasse Mork Olsen, Evgenii Salganik, Philipp Assmy, Rolf Gradinger, Gunnar Bratbak, Clara J M Hoppe, Benjamin A Lange, Morven Muilwijk, Dmitry V Divine, Nicole Aberle, Jeffrey W Krause, Marit Reigstad, Eva Leu, Tatiana M Tsagaraki, Aud Larsen, Knut V Høyland, John Paul Balmonte, William Boulton, Håkon Dahle, Lena Eggers, Allison A Fong, Gaël Guillou, Benoit Lebreton, Katja Metfies, Thomas Mock, Elzbieta Petelenz, Agnieszka Tatarek, Sinhué Torres-Valdés, Anders Torstensson, Jozef Wiktor, Mats A Granskog","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03364-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-026-03364-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although sea-ice ridges are prominent features of the Arctic Ocean, very little is known about their role as habitats and in biogeochemical cycles. Here, we show that ridges provide complex sea-ice habitats which host unique and diverse biological communities. Seasonally, ridges appear to transition from a biological repository in winter to biological hotspots in summer, surpassing algal biomass in level ice and surface waters by up to eight-fold. In summer, ridges can contain up to 80% of the total area integrated sea-ice algal biomass, emphasizing their importance in the Arctic sea-ice ecosystem. However, environmental shifts, such as meltwater infiltration and freezing inside the ridge in late summer, alter microbial communities from being predominantly autotrophic to heterotrophic. Our work provides evidence of contrasting roles of sea-ice ridges for Arctic carbon cycling in summer and shows that the habitats in the ridge interior harbor unique microbial communities, adding complexity to Arctic biodiversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"385"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13128458/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147811738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qiming Sun, Francesca Bassani, Marta Tuninetti, Sara Bonetti
{"title":"Uncertainties in global hydrological and climate models challenge future estimates of crop water use and sustainability.","authors":"Qiming Sun, Francesca Bassani, Marta Tuninetti, Sara Bonetti","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03621-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03621-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Assessing crop water requirements and sustainability under future climates is crucial to concurrently address water scarcity, food security, and ecosystem preservation. Yet, global climate and hydrological models differ substantially in estimating precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and renewable freshwater, challenging future crop water use and sustainability assessments. Here, we perform a multi-model analysis to quantify how model uncertainty propagates into crop water needs and sustainability estimates. Results show end-of-century global uncertainty spreads of ~ 18% and ~ 51% for green and blue water footprints, respectively, relative to ensemble means. Blue water sustainability exhibits even larger variability, from 250% to 451%, depending on scenario and model choices. These uncertainties further intensify at finer spatial scales. Hydrological model discrepancies dominate blue water assessments, whereas climate model variability primarily affects green water estimates, particularly under high-emission scenarios. Accounting for model uncertainty is essential for reliable crop water estimates and to inform agricultural water management under climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"676"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13485690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148789208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simon Whitburn, Lieven Clarisse, Hélène De Longueville, Keith P Shine, Pierre F Coheur, Cathy Clerbaux, Andy W Delcloo
{"title":"Satellite-based estimates of radiative forcing of long-lived halogenated gases from spectral observations.","authors":"Simon Whitburn, Lieven Clarisse, Hélène De Longueville, Keith P Shine, Pierre F Coheur, Cathy Clerbaux, Andy W Delcloo","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03691-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-026-03691-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While the atmospheric concentrations of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are gradually declining following regulatory measures, the levels of other halogenated compounds, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF<sub>6</sub>), continue to rise or are only just starting to stabilize. These halogenated substances are potent greenhouse gases. Their radiative efficiency, which quantifies, along with their lifetime, their impact on the climate, has until now only been estimated indirectly by means of models. Here, we report the clear-sky instantaneous radiative efficiencies of CFC-11, CFC-12, SF<sub>6</sub>, HCFC-22, and HFC-134a estimated directly from an observational dataset. This is achieved by combining trends observed in 15 years (2008-2022) of spectrally resolved infrared radiance fluxes from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer on Metop satellites, with concentrations measured from ground and space. Comparisons with literature-reported values generally confirm previous model estimates, with some notable differences. The most significant discrepancies are for CFC-11 and SF<sub>6</sub>, with our estimates being 27% lower, but nevertheless, within the bounds of the uncertainty estimates.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"698"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13506331/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148825682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jian Xu, Yajing Liu, Junlun Li, Marco P Roth, Rebecca M Harrington, Yicheng He
{"title":"Elevated in-situ Vp/Vs preceding hydraulic-fracturing-induced earthquakes.","authors":"Jian Xu, Yajing Liu, Junlun Li, Marco P Roth, Rebecca M Harrington, Yicheng He","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03690-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-026-03690-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Seismic hazard management in geo-energy development demands real-time assessment of fault instability. However, real-time monitoring of pore pressure change during fluid injection remains challenging. Here, we present a high-resolution ( ~150 m and ~2 days), non-tomographic strategy that tracks the seismic velocity ratio (Vp/Vs) as a proxy for pore pressure coevolution with induced seismicity clusters. Applying this strategy to the southern Sichuan Basin, China, we observe a distinct ~4% elevation in in-situ Vp/Vs that precedes M > 3 hydraulic-fracturing-induced earthquakes by several days of seismic quiescence. This quiescence reveals a prolonged diffusion phase, during which injected fluids gradually condition rupture zones by elevating pore pressure to critical levels. Such a preparation phase provides a valuable time window for operational intervention, offering more precise timing for hazard mitigation than traditional traffic-light protocols. Our results suggest a viable strategy for near-real-time seismic hazard assessment in diverse fluid-rich environments susceptible to induced or natural earthquakes.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"710"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13521807/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148850012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin F De Jarnatt, Thomas R Walter, Michael J Heap, Daniel Müller, Antonino Fabio Pisciotta
{"title":"Hydrothermal weakening and slope instability at Vulcano (Italy) analyzed using drones and in-situ strength measurements.","authors":"Benjamin F De Jarnatt, Thomas R Walter, Michael J Heap, Daniel Müller, Antonino Fabio Pisciotta","doi":"10.1038/s43247-025-03014-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-025-03014-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Instability at volcanic edifices poses significant hazards, yet the processes driving rock weakening, particularly on steep, eroding flanks, remain poorly understood due to limited accessibility. Hydrothermal alteration is a key factor in weakening volcanic rocks, contributing to edifice destabilization and flank instability. La Fossa cone (Vulcano, Italy) provides an ideal setting for this study, with accessible hydrothermal alteration at the crater rim and similar alteration along inaccessible flanks that have a recent history of mass wasting. Here, we developed an integrated methodology combining drone photogrammetry with in situ Schmidt hammer testing to derive an empirical alteration-to-strength relationship for the crater rim and applied this knowledge to alteration sites on inaccessible flanks. An alteration map was generated using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to aid our classifications. This map was used to transpose over 1000 Schmidt hammer measurements (R-values ranging from 10.5 to 82), creating a thematic strength-alteration map. Results indicate a ~50% reduction in relative rock strength correlating with areas of degassing and hydrothermal activity, which coincides with past mass-wasting events. This integrated approach offers a transferable workflow for assessing volcanic slope instability, with direct applications to hazard monitoring and early warning systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"3"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12764430/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145905733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Combined models of violent conflict and natural hazards improve predictions of household mobility in Bangladesh.","authors":"Maxine Leis, Kristina Petrova","doi":"10.1038/s43247-025-03086-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-025-03086-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2023, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported over 110 million displaced individuals globally, many in regions facing extreme weather and violence. Here we examine how these crises interact to shape household mobility in Bangladesh. Using data linking local conflict events, natural hazards, and household characteristics from 2011 to 2018, we apply machine learning models to capture complex, non-linear relationships between these risks. We find that combining conflict and hazard information improves predictions of household mobility. While exposure to violence or disasters increases mobility, households with remittances are more likely to move, whereas those with loans often remain. Interactions, such as between one-sided violence and landslides, further amplify movement, highlighting the importance of understanding how multiple stressors jointly influence household decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"67"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12823410/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146050736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stefan Schmutz, Daniel S Hayes, Simon Führer, Franz Greimel, Bernhard Zeiringer, Mathias Jungwirth, Stefan Auer
{"title":"Hydropeaking strands and displaces larval and juvenile fish across species.","authors":"Stefan Schmutz, Daniel S Hayes, Simon Führer, Franz Greimel, Bernhard Zeiringer, Mathias Jungwirth, Stefan Auer","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03580-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-026-03580-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydropeaking, the intermittent operation of hydropower, generates rapid flow fluctuations that disrupt river ecosystems. However, the mechanisms driving stranding and displacement of young fish under varying hydropeaking conditions remain poorly understood. Using a nature-like experimental facility, we conducted ∼1,000 hydropeaking trials involving >120,000 larval and juvenile fish from four species to assess how hydropeaking intensity, environmental conditions, and biotic factors influence fish behavior. Stranding and downstream displacement increased with hydropeaking intensity, particularly at night, in smaller fish, and lower water temperatures. Flow peaks with cold-water releases (thermopeaking) further amplify displacement. Fish demonstrated behavioral adaptation, reducing displacement over successive peaks, suggesting learning effects. The patterns were largely consistent across species. By identifying critical ecological thresholds, our findings inform hydropower strategies that minimize ecological harm while supporting renewable energy production.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"592"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13364723/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148444728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Retreaded tires are an overlooked source of microplastics with distinct additive leaching and ecotoxicity.","authors":"Hao Liu, Tianchi Cao, Yan Lin, Guoliang Shi, Kaiwei Huang, Zhi Cao, Tong Zhang, Thilo Hofmann, Wei Chen","doi":"10.1038/s43247-026-03566-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43247-026-03566-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Retreaded tires constitute a substantial segment of the commercial tire market and are an important source of tire wear particles (TWPs), yet the environmental risks of this major microplastic category remain uninvestigated. Here, we show that although the total additive mass is generally lower in TWPs from retreaded tires, these particles exhibit a markedly greater additive leaching potential, particularly for <i>p</i>-phenylenediamines (PPDs). Notably, the highly water-soluble additive <i>N</i>-isopropyl-<i>N'</i>-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (IPPD), present at high concentrations in some retreaded-tire TWPs, is especially leachable. Correspondingly, leachates from retreaded-tire TWPs cause greater growth inhibition in <i>Vibrio fischeri</i> and <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> than those from new or used tires. Furthermore, our numerical model projections under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 2 (SSP2) scenario show that global emissions of retreaded-tire TWPs could increase several hundred-fold by 2060. The substantial and growing risks identified in our study underscore the urgent need for broader investigations into the environmental impacts of these particles.</p>","PeriodicalId":10530,"journal":{"name":"Communications Earth & Environment","volume":"7 1","pages":"567"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13327939/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148390190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}