Climate velocities and species tracking in global mountain regions. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38538797/)

These scientists wanted to understand how animals and plants in mountain areas are affected by climate change. They knew that mountain regions have many unique species that can only be found there. They also realized that as the Earth's temperature changes, these species might need to move to higher elevations to survive.

To study this, the scientists looked at how temperatures change as you go up a mountain. They used data from satellites to map out these temperature changes. They also used scientific rules to account for water vapor in the air. By looking at how much the surface of the Earth has warmed over the years, they were able to calculate how fast temperatures are shifting up the mountains.

They found that in some mountain regions, the temperatures are changing very quickly, which could be a problem for the plants and animals living there. They identified 17 mountain areas where this shift is happening faster than in other places. These regions include places like northern Sumatra, the Brazilian highlands, and southern Africa.

The scientists also found that some species are able to move to higher elevations to keep up with the changing temperatures, but others are not moving fast enough. This means that even if we try to slow down climate change, some species might still be in trouble.

Their study is important because it helps us understand how climate change is affecting mountain regions and the unique species that live there. This information can help us come up with better ways to protect these areas and the plants and animals that call them home.

Chan WP., Lenoir J., Mai GS., Kuo HC., Chen IC., Shen SF. Climate velocities and species tracking in global mountain regions. Nature. 2024 May;629(8010):114-120. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07264-9. Epub 2024 Mar 27.