2025

Diverse forests make complementary use of canopy space and produce more biomass

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:47:19 GMT

Forests with a large diversity of tree species produce more aboveground biomass because different types of trees can more effectively share the canopy space. And these positive effects even strengthen over time, as a study recently published in PNAS shows.

Falling Ice Drives Glacial Retreat in Greenland

UZH Communications — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:41:16 GMT

When an iceberg calves, huge chunks of ice break off at the end of the glacier. These trigger high waves on the surface and underwater, pushing warmer sea water upwards. This accelerates the melting of the ice masses, as glaciologists from GIUZ have shown in collaboration with an international research team.

Fig trees convert atmospheric CO₂ to stone

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:23:32 GMT

Some fig trees can convert surprisingly large amounts of carbon dioxide into calcium carbonate, ensuring that the carbon remains in the soil long after the tree has died. This means that fig trees planted for forestry or their fruit could offer additional climate benefits through this carbon-sequestration process.

Rising temperatures jeopardise the world's critical food crops

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:06:02 GMT

Global food security could be severely affected by a marked decline in crop diversity due to future changes in temperature, precipitation and drought, according to a study recently published in Nature Food and co-authored by GIUZ.

Melting Glaciers Increase Loss of Freshwater Resources and Rise Global Sea Levels

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The melting ice from glaciers worldwide is leading to an increased loss of regional freshwater resources. And it is causing global sea levels to rise at ever-greater rates. Since the year 2000, glaciers have been losing 273 billion tons of ice annually, according to estimates by an international research community led by researchers of the University of Zurich.

Climate Change Increases Risk of Successive Natural Hazards in the Himalayas

UZH Media Relations — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

An international research team has concluded that the Sikkim flood disaster in the Himalayas in October 2023 was caused by some 14.7 million cubic meters of frozen moraine material collapsing into South Lhonak Lake, triggering a 20-meter flood wave. The event is a striking example of the increasing dangers of climate change in high mountain regions.