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Growth and decay of the Iceland Ice Sheet through the last glacial cycle

We simulated the Icelandic Ice Sheet over the last 120 kyr using an ice sheet model constrained by geological data with robust uncertainty assessment. At the Last Glacial Maximum, ice reached the continental shelf break, with a potential ice bridge connecting to the Greenland Ice Sheet. Model consistency with geological constraints during deglaciation is only possible with meltwater-driven ice fracture at the ice sheet margin, destabilizing the marine ice sheet and accelerating its collapse.

Proglacial wetlands: an overlooked CO₂ sink within recently deglaciated landscapes

SOIL
DOI 10.5194/soil-12-441-2026
17 April 2026

When glaciers retreat, new land surface is revealed. Using detailed glacial retreat maps, it is possible to determine for how long a location has been ice-free. That age is used in this study to analyse how fast carbon is incorporated into the soil. Our results show that the wetness of the soil strongly determines the CO₂ uptake and carbon incorporation rates. Wetlands cover a small percentage of the land surface but are nonetheless important for the carbon storage in the deglaciated area.

Widespread occurrence of large molecular methylsiloxanes in ambient aerosols

We identify a previously unrecognized class of synthetic organic compounds, large molecular methylsiloxanes, in ambient aerosols across diverse environments in three countries. These compounds are present at substantial levels, primarily originating from traffic emissions related to engine lubrication. Their high abundance and significant daily human exposure suggest potential, yet still poorly understood, implications for both health and climate.

Geological factors and fracture distribution in deep and ultra-deep sandstones in Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin, China

This study integrates geological and geophysical data to examine controls of sedimentary factors, earth stress, and tectonic structure on fracture distribution in deep and ultra-deep sandstones in Kuqa Depression. Key findings show fracture density increases with sandbody thickness and paleostress magnitude, is higher near faults and fold hinges, and is favored by thinner sand-mud interbeds. Increased horizontal stress differences contributes to reduced fracture apertures.

Quiet New Particle Formation is a significant aerosol source in the Amazon boundary layer

Aerosols are tiny particles that help clouds form and influence the climate. In the Amazon, clear events of new aerosol particle formation are rare, making it difficult to explain their origin. Using ten years of measurements, we discovered a subtle but frequent process called Quiet New Particle Formation. This hidden mechanism slowly produces and grows small particles and is responsible for nearly half of the smallest aerosols observed during the wet season.

The Destination Earth digital twin for climate change adaptation

The Climate Change Adaptation Digital Twin (Climate DT) pioneers the operationalisation of global climate projections. It produces global simulations with local granularity for adaptation decision-making. Applications are embedded to generate tailored indicators. A unified workflow orchestrates all components in several supercomputers. Data management ensures consistency and streaming enables real-time use. It is a complementary innovation to initiatives like CMIP, CORDEX, and climate services.

Results of the second Ice Shelf–Ocean Model Intercomparison Project (ISOMIP+)

The second Ice Shelf-Ocean Model Intercomparison Project, ISOMIP+, compares 12 ice shelf-ocean models with a common, idealised, static configuration, aiming to assess inter-model variability. Models show similar basal melt rate patterns, ocean profiles and circulation but differ in ice-ocean boundary layer properties. Ice-ocean boundary layer representation is a key area for future work, as are realistic-domain ice sheet-ocean model intercomparisons.

Emerging Climate Signals in Tropical Oxygen Minimum Zones

The ocean is losing oxygen due to climate change, threatening ecosystems, especially in naturally low-oxygen areas called Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs). Using the IPSL-CM6A-LR Large Ensemble, this study identifies when climate-driven changes in OMZ volumes and regional deoxygenation emerge from natural variability. We highlight hemispheric asymmetries due to ocean ventilation and provide model-based estimates for the timing of detectable OMZ evolution.

The Scenario Model Intercomparison Project for CMIP7 (ScenarioMIP-CMIP7)

We propose a set of seven plausible 21st century emission scenarios, and their multi-century extensions, that will be used by the international community of climate modeling centers to produce the next generation of climate projections. These projections will support climate, impact and mitigation researchers, provide information to practitioners to address future risks from climate change, and contribute to policymakers’ considerations of the trade-offs among various levels of mitigation.

Emerging low-cloud feedback and adjustment in global satellite observations

Recent decades have seen a marked decrease in global low-level cloud cover, leading to more sunlight heating the Earth. This trend is poorly understood, raising the concern that clouds may amplify global warming more than previously thought. We show that the cloud decrease is mostly caused by human forcing on climate, and that it agrees with previous estimates of how clouds respond to decreasing aerosol pollution, increasing greenhouse gas concentration, and their effects on global temperature.

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