Each week on Nature Climate Change, we select three papers published within the last month that we find noteworthy for their novelty and wide interest. Our latest picks are:
Policy: Global cooperation game
International cooperation on technological development might be a crucial part of the much-needed breakthrough in tackling climate change.
Original paper: Golombek, R. & Hoel, M. International cooperation on climate-friendly technologies. Environ. Res. Econ. doi:10.1007/s10640-010-9442-x (2010).
Climate change can cause vegetation to move up- or down-slope depending on water availability.
Original paper: Crimmins, S. M., Dobrowski, S. Z., Greenburg, J. A., Abatzoglou, J. T. & Mynsberge, A. R. Changes in climatic water balance drive downhill shifts in plant species’ optimum elevations. Science doi:10.1126/science.1199040 (2011).
Atmospheric science: Sun’s energy output
Accurately estimating the Sun’s energy output is vital for attributing climate change correctly. Improved measurements have now been obtained from a space-based instrument.
Original paper: Kopp, G. & Lean, J. L. A new, lower value of total solar irradiance: Evidence and climate significance. Geophys. Res. Lett. 38, L01706 (2011).