Our oceans do more than just serve as massive bodies of water. These vast, briny expanses actively participate in regulating our planet's climate. But, how do they do it? 



The answer lies in a small, sulphur-based compound produced by ocean creatures called "methanethiol."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-s-secret-weapon-methanethiol">Ocean's secret weapon: Methanethiol</h2>



In a recent study led by the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) and the Blas Cabrera Institute of Physical Chemistry (IQF-CSIC) in Spain, a new understanding of marine life's role in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-hidden-skin-could-protect-us-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate regulation</a> came into light.



The sea creatures we share our planet with are inadvertently helping to combat global warming through a gas of their own - methanethiol.



Despite its substantial climatic impact, methanethiol remained off the radar for a long time. This was because it was incredibly difficult to measure and was only recently detected. 



Most previous research was biased towards warmer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collapse-of-main-atlantic-ocean-circulaton-current-amoc-is-already-happening/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oceans</a>, but it turns out that the polar oceans are the real emission powerhouses. This discovery truly challenges traditional thinking.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-ocean-element-with-a-big-climate-effect">Small ocean element with a big climate effect</h2>



The research team included Dr. Charel Wohl, formerly of <a href="https://www.icm.csic.es/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICM-CSIC</a> and now at the University of East Anglia (<a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UEA</a>). 



"This is the climatic element with the greatest cooling capacity, but also the least understood. We knew methanethiol was coming out of the ocean, but we had no idea about how much and where. We also did not know it had such an impact on climate," said Dr. Wohl.



So, what is methanethiol exactly and why is it so significant for the oceans? Methanethiol is a sulfur-based gas emitted by marine organisms, particularly plankton. Its significance lies in its role in regulating Earth's climate.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-methanethiol-in-climate-regulation">The role of methanethiol in climate regulation </h2>



Methanethiol contributes to the formation of aerosols, tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere. These aerosols reflect solar radiation back into space, reducing the amount of heat that reaches and stays on Earth’s surface. This process helps cool the planet.



Additionally, methanethiol-derived aerosols play a crucial role in cloud formation. Clouds enhance the cooling effect by reflecting even more sunlight and moderating Earth's temperature. 



Together, these mechanisms make methanethiol an important natural contributor to the mitigation of global warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-cooling-effects-of-the-ocean">Climate cooling effects of the ocean</h2>



Previously, it was thought that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-oceans-are-rapidly-changing-colors-matching-climate-predictions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">oceans</a> only emitted sulfur in the form of dimethyl sulfide, a byproduct of plankton. This compound is primarily responsible for the signature smell of shellfish. 



However, with the evolution of measurement techniques, it was discovered that plankton also emit methanethiol. 



This knowledge helps to more accurately represent clouds over the Southern Ocean in climate models and calculate their cooling effect more realistically.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-methanethiol-and-ocean-sulfur-emissions">Methanethiol and ocean sulfur emissions</h2>



Thanks to methanethiol, marine sulfur emissions increase by 25% annually on a global average. 



"It may not seem like much, but methanethiol is more efficient at oxidizing and forming aerosols than dimethyl sulfide and, therefore, its climate impact is magnified," noted Dr. Julián Villamayor, a researcher at <a href="https://www.iqf.csic.es/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IQF-CSIC</a>.



Identifying methanethiol as a key component of ocean sulfur emissions represents a big step toward closing the knowledge gap between climate models and observations.



The effects were particularly noticeable in the Southern Hemisphere, where vast oceans and limited human activity make sulfur emissions from fossil fuel burning less prevalent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-frontier-in-climate-research">New frontier in climate research</h2>



The discovery of methanethiol as a critical player in climate regulation marks a new frontier for scientific inquiry linked with oceans. 



Researchers now aim to explore its interactions with other atmospheric elements and its role in the broader biogeochemical cycles.



This path could reveal even more about the Earth's natural mechanisms for balancing its climate. With this knowledge, climate models can be further refined, enabling more precise predictions about global warming and the effects of sulfur emissions. 



Importantly, studying methanethiol sheds light on how interconnected ecosystems are, from microscopic plankton to the global atmospheric systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-policy-and-conservation">Implications for policy and conservation</h2>



Understanding the critical role of methanethiol has significant implications for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pacific-sea-levels-are-rising-faster-than-anywhere-in-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental policy</a> and marine conservation efforts. 



Protecting polar and Southern Ocean ecosystems becomes even more vital, as these regions produce some of the highest levels of this cooling compound. 



Policymakers might see these findings as a call to double down on preserving marine biodiversity and combating threats such as ocean acidification and overfishing. 



Furthermore, this research highlights the need for international collaboration to create climate policies that regard the oceans as vital climate regulators, ensuring their role in mitigating global warming is sustained for future generations.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq2465" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>.



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Oceans cool the climate more than previously realized

Our oceans do more than just serve as massive bodies of water. These vast, briny expanses actively participate in regulating our planet's climate. But, how do they do it? The answer lies in a small, sulphur-based compound produced by ocean creatures called "methanethiol." Ocean's secret weapon: Methanethiol In a recent study led by the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) and the Blas Cabrera Institute of Physical Chemistry (IQF-CSIC) in Spain, a new understanding of marine life's role in climate regulation came into light. The sea creatures we...

<a href="https://www.ciwf.org.uk/">Compassion in World Farming</a> (CIWF) is encouraging people to consider a plant-based diet for real change in the New Year. The organization claims that despite some positive changes, a greater number of animals are raised in factory farms. With the number of humans on the planet projected to reach ten billion by 2050, current dietary trends would lead to disastrous consequences.&nbsp;



Scaling up the current global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/avocado-linked-to-overall-healthier-diets/">diet</a> to feed a population of ten billion would increase greenhouse gasses, destroy wildlife and natural habitat and of course increase the suffering of livestock. Besides this, CIWF claims that a plant-based diet is healthier. A well-rounded diet without meat, eggs or dairy has been shown to decrease risk of heart disease, type II diabetes and cancer. 



Beyond these benefits, CIWF highlights the positive impacts that a plant-based diet can have on animals raised for food. Over 60 billion animals are farmed globally for food each year.&nbsp;



Nine billion chickens are raised in the US annually alone. Factory farmed chickens suffer from a host of genetic ailments and are kept cruelly confined.&nbsp;



"The more I learned about what goes on over in the factory farms, the less I was able to write it off as a necessary evil," said Laura Union, a CIWF supporter.



"Switching to a plant-based diet was a simple swap of the meat on my plate to other protein sources like beans, tofu, lentils, or plant-based meat."



"Everything else stayed the same. My plant-based diet has resulted in a much more diverse diet. I'm more inclined to try new things and have concocted various vegetable experiments in my kitchen - many of which are now requested by friends."



"In addition to the economic, environmental, and health benefits, it's just a pleasant change that is surprisingly easy to stick with. There are way more options out there than people realize."



---



By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A plant-based diet may be a great way to start the new year

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is encouraging people to consider...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home">Current Biology</a> has found that far beneath the vast ice sheets of the Antarctic, there is much more marine life than previously thought. Under the massive ice sheets, which are occupying nearly 1.6 million square kilometers, dozens of species are thriving in perpetually dark, cold, and still habitats.



In 2018, a research team led by the <a href="https://www.awi.de/en/">Alfred Wegener Institute</a> (AWI) from Germany drilled two holes through nearly 200 meters of the Ekström Ice Shelf close to the Neumayer Station III in the South Eastern Weddell Sea.&nbsp;



There, they discovered an unexpectedly rich and biodiverse array of specimens (77 species) apparently thriving in an extremely harsh and cold environment. In fact, the samples that they collected proved to be much richer than many others found in continental regions with more light and food sources.



“This discovery of so much life living in these extreme conditions is a complete surprise and reminds us how Antarctic marine life is so unique and special,” said study lead author Dr. David Barnes, a marine biologist at the <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/">British Antarctic Survey</a>.



“It’s amazing that we found evidence of so many animal types, most feed on micro-algae (phytoplankton) yet no plants or algae can live in this environment. So the big question is how do these animals survive and flourish here?”



According to Dr. Barnes and his colleagues, large quantities of algae are probably constantly carried under the ice sheets from open water, thus helping to maintain a strong food web.



“Another surprise was to find out how long life has existed here. Carbon dating of dead fragments of these seafloor animals varied from current to 5800 years,” said study co-author Dr. Gerhard Kuhn from AWI, who coordinated the drilling project. &nbsp;



“So, despite living 3-9 km from the nearest open water, an oasis of life may have existed continuously for nearly 6000 years under the ice shelf. Only samples from the seafloor beneath the floating ice shelf will tell us stories from its past history.”



However, the scientists warn that, due to the possible collapse of the ice shelves caused by climate change, these incredibly rich and diverse marine ecosystems could be significantly threatened in a matter of decades, if not even years.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dozens of species found thriving under vast ice sheets

A new study published in the journal Current Biology has...

According to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/">University of Utah</a>, shrubs in the desert Southwest have significantly increased their water use efficiency in order to cope with a decades-long megadrought. However, although the shrubs’ efficiency increases are extraordinary, they may not be enough to help them survive the long-term drying trend in the American Southwest.



Although <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-are-not-keeping-pace-with-climate-change/">climate</a> data from various Southwestern sites did not show significant changes in mean annual precipitation from 1989 to 2019, at several sites, vapor pressure deficit (a key measure of how dry the air is) has increased dramatically since 2007.



“The Southwest is in a really dry period, and this is further evidence of how much the ‘megadrought’ has impacted plant functioning and how anomalous this period is,” said study lead author Steven Kannenberg, a postdoctoral research associate in Biology at the University of Utah.



Kannenberg and his colleagues have found that,&nbsp; in order to adapt to their increasingly dry environments, the desert shrubs from those area have ramped up their water use efficiency (iWUE), that is, the ratio of the amount of photosynthesis in a plant to how open its stomata (the small openings in the leaves that allow carbon dioxide to enter and water waper to go out) are.



For nearly four decades, researchers have traveled to the Mojave Desert and collected shrub leaves, which they brought to the University of Utah’s labs to analyze their stable isotopes - the chemical signatures that offer clues regarding how the plants obtain and use water and carbon dioxide. These measurements helped the scientists calculate the shrubs’ annual iWUE.



They discovered that, in comparison with other plants in desert environments, shrubs’ iWUE in the Mojave Desert went up six to ten times faster, suggesting that shrubs are much more sensitive to increasing aridity than trees and other types of plants.



“Given the rapid uptick in aridity across the region in recent decades, this has resulted in shrub iWUE increasing at (as far we can find) the second fastest rate ever documented in any plant species [after the conifers],” said Dr. Kannenberg.



Although shrubs’ ability to adapt to environmental stressors is extraordinary, the scientists fear that if the Southwest will become even drier, increased iWUE may not be enough to save them.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2118052118">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How desert shrubs have survived a megadrought

According to a new study led by the University of...

The Indigenous organization ORPIO with support from Rainforest Foundation Norway has worked tirelessly to painstakingly document an isolated group of Indigenous people in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indigenous-knowledge-can-help-protect-amazon-wildlife/">Amazon</a>. 



The team recently released a report documenting the Amazonian people and the extent of their territory, Territorial Corridor of the Isolated Peoples and Contiguous Forests of Yavarí-Tapiche.&nbsp;Unfortunately, the large tract of pristine rainforest where the Indigenous people live is increasingly threatened.&nbsp;



“The corridor includes territories of Indigenous peoples without contact with the outside world. At present, it is their refuge," explained Beatriz Huertas, who led the research.&nbsp;



"Many have isolated here to escape illness, death, persecution and abuse during the rubber boom at the turn of the 20th century, but the threats continue today through the invasion of lumberjacks and drug smugglers.”



Huertas, an anthropologist based in Lima, Peru, is leading the effort to document the isolated Amazonian people. She has flown over head to take photos, interviewed Indigenous people in the area, and analyzed satellite data to map where these people live.&nbsp;



Ultimately, Huertas found that the isolated Amazonian people inhabit an area of 160,000 square kilometers of 95-percent intact forest. This is roughly the size of Suriname and the forest is one of the richest places in biodiversity and carbon on Earth. The territory stretches across the border from Peru’s Loreto and Ucayali states to Acre and Amazon states in Brazil.&nbsp;



Jorge Perez of ORPIO explained the importance of protecting these people’s right to isolate themselves. "The isolation of our Indigenous brothers and sisters is important because they are highly vulnerable to foreign diseases. Abruptly leaving the territory would be fatal."



"The best way to protect them is to legally recognize the area as a corridor for isolated groups, and strengthen the local communities in their knowledge and ability to protect the area. Neighboring Indigenous groups should form a wall of protection from external threats," said Perez.



Both Peru and Brazil have official policies of zero contact with indigenous people in self-imposed isolation. Nevertheless, dozens of logging permits overlap the area, which would bring not only an immediate threat but also build roads and allow an influx of outsiders into the region.&nbsp;



Logging and mining, as well as illegal coca growing and drug smuggling, are increasing in the area. Sometimes these activities force indigenous peoples to leave their homes. Disease brought by these outsiders can devastate entire communities.&nbsp;



So far, Peru has granted official protection to people living in just 27 percent of this corridor, and the rest remain without official recognition. The Brazilian government has recently weakened its own protection of Indigenous peoples.&nbsp;



"Due to the unique qualities of this area, we encourage the leaders of Brazil and Peru, and the rest of the world, to work together to protect this land from invasion," said Toerris Jaeger, Secretary General of Rainforest Foundation Norway.



"It is crucial in order to preserve biological diversity and to curb global warming, and most importantly to avoid the extinction of some of the world's most vulnerable people."



---



By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Isolated Indigenous people deserve protection

The Indigenous organization ORPIO with support from Rainforest Foundation Norway...

A new study has shown that forest restoration limits the potential for "megafires," which can help protect species such as the California spotted <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/barn-owls-construct-mental-maps-during-flight/">owl</a> in the long term.



The researchers noted that in the seasonally dry forests of western North America, large-scale restoration may reduce severe fire and increase forest resilience. However, the experts wanted to investigate whether restoration treatments may inadvertently eliminate existing habitat for sensitive wildlife species.&nbsp;



Study lead author Dr. Gavin Jones is a research ecologist with the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/">USDA Forest Service</a> (USFS) Rocky Mountain Research Station. He explained the research shows that forest restoration and the preservation of the spotted owl are not mutually exclusive, as had previously been feared.



“We’ve shown that restoration provides co-benefits to owls by reducing their exposure to stand-replacing wildfire, which leads to loss of nesting habitat,” said Dr. Jones.



The researchers developed a fire simulation model to predict severe fire across the Sierra Nevada through the year 2050. As forest restoration strategies were accounted for in the model, the predicted amount of severe fire decreased.



"We modeled bioregional-scale effects of forest restoration on future severe fire activity and occupancy dynamics of an old-forest species declining in abundance, the spotted owl (Strix occidentalis), in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California," explained the researchers.



"Our findings suggest restoring historical forest structure may mitigate severe fire activity as the climate warms, particularly when restoration occurs in owl habitat."&nbsp;



The study revealed that placing treatments inside spotted owl territories reduced the amount of predicted severe fire by nearly 50 percent compared to using treatments outside of owl territories.&nbsp;



"Even under climate change, forest management can move the needle on forest ecosystem conservation by reducing future stand-replacing fire and do so in a way that safeguards habitat for sensitive species like the California spotted owl," said Dr. Jones.



He noted that the research team is now expanding its efforts beyond the spotted owl to see how the broader forest wildlife might respond to future fire and forest management.



"On average, benefits provided by restoration to owls (reduced severe fire) were found to exceed potential costs (direct habitat alteration) by mid-century," wrote the study authors.&nbsp; "However, the magnitude and direction of restoration trade-offs varied spatially, which informs restoration planning. When large, old trees are maintained, forest restoration can provide co-benefits to old-forest species and forest ecosystem resilience under climate change."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.esa.org/frontiers-in-ecology-and-the-environment/">Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment</a>.



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Forest restoration could protect spotted owls in the long term

A new study has shown that forest restoration limits the...

New research led by the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a> has found that, during recent decades, Himalayan glaciers have lost ice ten times faster than on average since the last major glacial expansion known as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-reveal-the-surprising-cause-of-the-little-ice-age/">Little Ice Age</a> (400-700 years ago). Moreover, they seem to shrink far more rapidly than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/africas-glaciers-may-disappear-by-2040/">glaciers</a> in other parts of the world. The accelerating melting of these glaciers threatens the water supply of millions of people in Asia.



By using satellite images and digital elevation models, the scientists have reconstructed 14,798 Himalayan glaciers during the Little Ice Age and calculated that these glaciers have lost around 40 percent of their area, shrinking from a maximum of 28,000 km2&nbsp;to around 19,600 km2&nbsp;today.&nbsp;



During that period, the glaciers have also lost 390 km3&nbsp;and 586 km3&nbsp;of ice, which is the equivalent of all the ice contained today in Scandinavia, the European Alps, and the Caucasus. The researchers estimate that this ice loss may have raised the sea levels all over the world by 0.92 mm to 1.38 mm.



“Our findings clearly show that ice is now being lost from Himalayan glaciers at a rate that is at least ten times higher than the average rate&nbsp;over past centuries. This acceleration in the rate of loss has only emerged within the last few decades, and coincides with human-induced climate change,” explained study corresponding author Dr. Jonathan Carrivick, a professor of Geography at the University of Leeds.



Currently, the glaciers are losing mass faster in the eastern regions (with Nepal and Bhutan as a dividing line). This variation is probably caused by differences in geographical features on the two sides of this mountain range and their interaction with atmospheric processes.&nbsp;



Moreover, glaciers with significant amounts of natural debris on their surfaces are also melting faster, contributing around 46.5 percent of total volume loss, although they make up just 7.5 percent of the total number of glaciers.



“While we must act urgently to reduce and mitigate the impact of human-made climate change on the glaciers and meltwater-fed rivers, the modelling of that impact on glaciers must also take account of the role of factors such as lakes and debris,” Dr. Carrivick said.



“People in the region are already seeing changes that are beyond anything witnessed for centuries. This research is just the latest confirmation that those changes are accelerating and that they will have a significant impact on entire nations and regions,” added study co-author Simon Cook, a senior lecturer in Geography and Environmental Sciences at the <a href="https://www.dundee.ac.uk/">University of Dundee</a>.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03805-8">Scientific Reports</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Himalayan glaciers are melting exceptionally fast

New research led by the University of Leeds has found...

Apple,Orchard,,Ripe,Fruits,Hanging,On,Branch

A new study suggests that wells in Connecticut are contaminated by arsenic from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-the-obesity-crisis-linked-to-the-use-of-a-common-pesticide/">pesticide</a> use more than half a century ago.&nbsp;



Much of the land that was once dedicated to fruit orchards has been converted into residential and commercial property. Regardless, researchers at the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut</a> and Eastern Connecticut State University have now found a strong correlation between arsenic contamination and proximity to historic orchards.



In the 1930s, the state was home to about 47,000 fruit orchards that were heavily treated with lead arsenate-based pesticides through the 1950s.



The study revealed that the closer a well is to the location where fruit trees were once raised, the greater the likelihood of finding arsenic.&nbsp;



Study co-author Professor Gary Robbins explained that the research project started with a request from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in 2013. The team has since been investigating groundwater contamination to trace the source of contaminants.



The researchers were asked to survey wells for arsenic in eastern Connecticut starting in Lebanon. The project was led by Dr. Meredith Metcalf, who collected water samples from hundreds of homes around the eastern half of the state



Overall, the experts analyzed over 100 wells and 189 orchards, using soil samples to look for the presence of lead and arsenic.



“After sampling, we looked at the distribution and possible sources of arsenic that caused the groundwater contamination, because a significant percentage of wells were contaminated and many of those were above the EPA drinking water standard,” said Professor Robbins. “The issue that came up is, Where is this all coming from?”



He explained that initially, it was suspected that arsenic-rich geologic formations could be the culprits. But when the researchers investigated historic uses of arsenic, they found that arsenic-based pesticides were widely used from the late 1800s until the 1950s, when DDT became popular.



During this time frame, tens of millions of pounds of arsenical pesticides were applied every year in the United States, according to the study authors. Lead arsenate pesticides were not fully prohibited in the country until 1988.



Study lead author Dr. Mark Higgins, a hydrogeologist at Haley &amp; Aldrich, Inc. who maintains a research affiliation with UConn, found a report listing all the registered farms and agricultural lands in Connecticut in 1935. There more than 47,000 individual fruit orchards documented, including peach, pear, and apple trees.



“These pesticides would be sprayed on all fruit trees to kill the pests like gypsy moths up to six times a year in some cases,” said Dr. Higgins. He explained that heavy application rates, coupled with the fact that lead and arsenic can travel quite slowly through the ecosystem, is a combination that makes for long-lasting remnants of the poisons



When the researchers analyzed soil cores down to three feet at the orchard sites, they found high levels of arsenic persisting. They said it was more than one would expect for 50 to 60-plus years after these pesticides were applied. "It is unlikely that they’re migrating downward into the water anymore and are probably immobile.”



Dr. Higgins pointed to recent studies which show that certain compounds (like phosphate-containing fertilizers) can alter environmental conditions and begin to mobilize previously immobile contaminants in the soil.



In other areas of the state, domestic wells are in close proximity to both historic orchards and arsenic-rich geologic formations, and this poses additional challenges to determining the source of the contamination, said Dr. Higgins.&nbsp;



“How do we definitively say the contamination came from one or the other or both? We need these additional lines of evidence."



With this paper, we have a strong dataset as far as the numbers of orchards. With additional funding and data from a larger area, I think it will be telling of whether it’s coming from the orchards or not, and how it is getting into the wells.”



“It is important for people in these areas to know, because arsenic at these concentrations is not something that will make you sick tomorrow or in 10 years. But if you’re drinking this low-level arsenic for 30 years, there are likely health risks from chronic exposure to this known carcinogen.”



The study is published in <a href="https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15372537">The Journal of Environmental Quality</a>.



---



By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Arsenic in Connecticut wells linked to former fruit orchards

A new study suggests that wells in Connecticut are contaminated...

A new study has found that bananas, the world’s most consumed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fruits-vegetables-memory-loss-men/">fruits</a>, are under threat due to an emerging “blood disease.” This bacterial infection has already caused severe outbreaks and crop losses in Indonesia and Malaysia. Scientists fear that, if left unchecked, the disease will spread throughout all of Southeast Asia.



Caused by the Ralstonia syzygii&nbsp;(subsp.&nbsp;Celebesensis) bacterium, the blood disease – so named because afflicted banana stems look like they are bleeding - makes banana fruits rot and leaves wilt, ultimately leading to the plant’s death. It was first reported in the Kayuadi Island in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, in 1905, where it devastated the local banana plantations.&nbsp;



Although farmers managed to contain the outbreak to this small area for 60 years due to restrictions on the movement of banana plant materials, it eventually escaped. In 1987, the disease was found in West Java and afterwards it spread rapidly across the entire country. To date, it is recorded in 25 or the 34 Indonesian provinces, and even managed to spread to Malaysia, making scientists and farmers worry that it will soon spread to other Asian countries.



“Without intervention, the losses are likely to be devastating due to epidemics in areas where growers have no experience managing this disease,” explained study lead author Jane Ray, a PhD student in Biology and Epidemiology at the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a>, Australia.&nbsp;



“I am determined to understand this disease and use this information to develop improved diseases management options, helping to reduce crop loss, and mitigate the risk of spread to new areas, improving food security in the tropics.”&nbsp;



Dr. Ray and her colleagues reviewed multi-lingual information about the disease from Dutch, Indonesian, and English sources and conducted extended surveys across Indonesia to assess the current geographical distribution of the disease. They confirmed the disease in 18 different types of bananas, including Cavendish – the world’s most popular type. “Greater clarity regarding modes of disease transmission is urgently required to develop effective disease management approaches as the rapid expansion of blood disease is an emerging threat to banana production in Southeast Asia,” said Ray.&nbsp;



“Our study shows that all disease problems start small and can be contained if acted on early but if left unchecked and allowed to spread, they can become major constraints to production over large geographic areas.”&nbsp;



“The rapid expansion of its geographical range makes Blood disease an emerging threat to banana production in Southeast Asia and beyond,” the authors concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS-01-21-0149-RE">Plant Disease</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Deadly banana disease has arrived in Southeast Asia

A new study has found that bananas, the world’s most...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.760725/full">Frontiers in Marine Science</a> has found that up to 65 percent of beaches in the Balearic Islands may be permanently lost by the end of the 21st century due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/">climate</a> change. This archipelago in Spain includes famous tourist destinations such as the beaches of Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca.



A research team from the <a href="https://www.bodc.ac.uk/resources/inventories/edmed/org/1409/">Balearic Islands Oceanography Center</a> has created a highly complex computer model to estimate sea level changes and flooding scenarios under moderate and severe climate change projections.&nbsp;



Earlier studies have predicted that sea levels will increase by up to 26 inches around the Balearic Islands, under the most pessimistic global warming scenario. However, the quality of beaches for tourism will be affected by more factors than sea level rises. According to the researchers, flood levels, which depend upon fluctuations in tides and waves, are a more important indicator of the future fate of these beaches.&nbsp;



By taking into account the shape and slope of 868 beaches across the Balearic Islands, the extent of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-meadows-absorb-less-co2-than-previously-thought/">seagrass</a> meadows, and the granularity of the sand, the scientists estimated that, under a moderate climate change scenario, 66 percent of the beaches will be flooded, and 37 beaches will completely disappear by the end of the century. However, in the case of the most pessimistic global warming scenario, up to 86 percent of the beaches could be flooded, and 72 beaches would permanently disappear.



“In both cases, the average permanent loss of beach surface at the end of the century would be larger than 50 percent, rising over 80 percent during storm conditions,” the study authors wrote.



“The results obtained for the Balearic Islands can be extrapolated to the rest of the Mediterranean as the beaches in all the regions have similar characteristics and will be affected by similar changes in sea level and wave climate. These projections indicate that adaptation plans for beach areas should be put in place as soon as possible,” they concluded.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Ibiza beaches may vanish by the end of the century

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Marine...

Red,Icebreaker,In,The,Middle,Of,Arctic,Ocean

Narwhals living in the Arctic have been relatively undisturbed by modernity, only visited by small numbers of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/indigenous-knowledge-has-been-greatly-undervalued/">indigenous</a> peoples. Now with the expansion of mechanized tourism, a booming human population and melting sea ice, this is changing.&nbsp;



A growing human population with more access than ever to the Arctic is coming more in contact with the fabled narwhal, an iconic tusked whale. Even relatively small noises have been shown to disturb and interrupt natural behaviors of narwhals and other marine animals. Noises caused by mine blasting, explosions from seismic surveys and cruise ships can trigger stress in these shy animals, even from miles away.&nbsp;



New research from the University of Copenhagen and the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources (Pinngortitaleriffik) has investigated how narwhals are impacted by noise pollution.&nbsp;



Narwhals are usually hard to study, living in relatively inaccessible habitats in the far north. The team however, was able to tag a group of the whales in the Scoresby Sound fjord system of East Greenland. The researchers bombarded the animals with noises to observe their reactions. In particular, they tested a ship’s engine and a seismic airgun used for oil exploration.



"The narwhals’ reactions indicate that they are frightened and stressed. They stop emitting the click sounds that they need to feed, they stop diving deep and they swim close to shore, a behaviour that they usually only display when feeling threatened by killer whales. This behavior means that they have no chance of finding food for as long as the noise persists," said study co-author Outi Tervo.



Unfortunately, narwhals are especially sensitive to sounds. Because the Arctic is dark for approximately half of the year, the whales evolved to live in complete darkness for a significant portion of their lives. Even in the brighter parts of the year, narwhals spend time at depths in the ocean that are still dark.&nbsp;



To compensate for lack of visibility, the whales use clicks as part of a type of echolocation, similar to that used by bats. Unusual noises can disrupt navigation and normal behaviors of the narwhals. 



"Our data shows that narwhals react to noise 20-30 kilometers away from a noise source by completely stopping their clicking sounds. And in one case, we could measure this from a source 40 kilometers away. It is quite surprising that we can measure how something so far away can influence whale behavior," said Susanne Ditlevsen of Copenhagen’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, who was involved in analyzing data on the research.



"Even when a ship’s noise is lower than the background noise in the ocean and we can no longer hear it with our advanced equipment, the whales can hear and distinguish it from other sounds in their midst. And so, to a degree, their behavior is clearly affected. This demonstrates how incredibly sensitive narwhals are."



The scientists hope that their research can prompt lawmakers to create new regulations to protect narwhals in this remote part of the world from human disturbances.&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Increased human traffic is a threat to rare narwhals

Narwhals living in the Arctic have been relatively undisturbed by...

Forests with higher levels of diversity are more resilient to extreme <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deadly-honey-bee-diseases-are-influenced-by-the-weather/">weather</a> conditions than forests with fewer species, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://english.cas.cn/">Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters</a>. The researchers also found that diverse forests with a greater number of species grow more consistently and produce more wood.&nbsp;



The study was focused on data from the Biodiversity Ecosystem Functioning Experiment China (BEF-China), the world's largest experiment studying forest biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems.



In recent decades, forests are under an increasing amount of stress as a result of climate change and they do not always have the ability to adapt to rising temperatures. The trees experience reduced growth and carbon absorption, which acts as a reinforcing feedback factor that further drives global warming.&nbsp;



When the forests suffer, ecosystems services like climate regulation, water storage and the provision of materials for building also decline.



The researchers set out to identify the factors that influence the functioning of forests under environmental stress and how these factors interact. The study revealed that diverse forests are best safeguarded against the effects of climatic stress.&nbsp;



For example, explained the study authors,&nbsp; if some tree species in a forest grow less due to extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall or drought, others can counterbalance the loss. This stabilizes the overall forest system.



The study also showed that diverse forests provide more stable timber growth and wood production than less species-rich forests because they have improved weather protection.



Study lead author Florian Schnabel said that the connection between species richness and stable productivity, as well as the mechanisms underlying this connection, had previously only been shown in grassland experiments.



"We can now, for the first time, show this under experimental conditions for highly diverse subtropical forest ecosystems."



The experts report that the stability of forest growth in this study was not primarily linked to the number of different tree species - but to their different functional characteristics. While one tree species may grow well in a wet year, another grows better a dry one. These characteristics and interactions affect the growth stability of the entire tree community.



"In particular, the trait based mechanism underlying the links between tree species richness, asynchrony and community stability remain unknown for forests," said study co-first author Dr. LIU Xiaojuan.



The findings suggest that drought tolerance, hydraulic conductance, and evaporative capacity are especially important factors in tree growth stability. The more diverse the characteristics of a forest community, the more stable that the community's biomass production rate will be under unstable environmental conditions.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/journal/sciadv">Science Advances</a>.



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Diverse forests are more resilient and productive

Forests with higher levels of diversity are more resilient to...

Extreme weather events created by human-caused climate change have increased throughout the world. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/crops-have-a-drought-memory-that-prepares-them-for-tough-times/">Droughts</a>, flooding, and storms often occur in combinations that intensify the impacts.&nbsp;



Research on extreme weather events has been mainly focused on the terrestrial impacts, and few studies have looked closely at changes occurring in the largest part of the Earth - the ocean.&nbsp;



In 2011, a heatwave off the coast of western Australia destroyed biodiverse kelp forests. This is probably the worst case known of the “blob,” a massive bubble of warm water that formed in the Pacific, killing millions of sea birds, fishes and other animals.&nbsp;



A team of scientists led by Professor Nicolas Gruber at ETH Zurich developed an ocean model to examine this extreme weather event. The researchers concluded that it was not only high temperatures that caused the mass die-offs, but also a combination of events occurring simultaneously.&nbsp;



“When marine life is confronted with multiple stressors at once, it has difficulty acclimatizing," said Professor Gruber. "For a fish species that’s already living at the upper end of its optimal temperature range, an added oxygen deficiency can mean death.”



In a paper published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>, the scientists call upon other researchers to pay greater attention to extreme weather events in the world’s oceans.&nbsp;



“To assess the risks of these kinds of events, we urgently need to study the chain of different environmental factors leading to such extremes more closely – and not only in individual regions, but also at the global level,” said Professor Gruber.



Leading by example, the scientists analyzed extreme weather events in the period from 1861 to 2020 and compared this to preindustrial times. The results showed that the number of warm ocean days has increased annually from an average of four to an average of 40.



Even though this is an obvious problem, the unfortunate reality is we know much less about marine ecosystems than the ones on land in which we live. For example, we do not know the tolerances of many different marine species.&nbsp;



"We know from Swiss forests that beech trees are less drought-​tolerant than, for instance, pines,” said Meike Vogt, a senior researcher in Gruber’s group.



“We lack broad understanding of the ecosystem structure and function in the various ocean regions. Only when we have this foundation will we be able determine the impact of climate change and extremes."



---By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How does extreme weather impact marine ecosystems?

Extreme weather events created by human-caused climate change have increased...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. 



"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."



"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.



"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> features a visual dataset of.methane emissions from wetlands across the globe. Atmospheric methane levels have reached record highs in recent years, and wetlands are a major source of these emissions.&nbsp;



"Methane is an important greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming. On a molecule by molecule basis, methane is much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, the main driver of warming," says NASA.



"Though human activities, including agriculture, oil and natural gas production and use, and waste disposal, collectively contribute the majority of methane to the atmosphere, about a third of total methane emissions comes from wetlands."&nbsp;



According to NASA, understanding methane emissions from wetlands and other natural sources is critically important for scientists and policymakers who are working to combat climate change by reducing emissions from human activities.



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.



Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes how Earth is unique in our solar system for its ability to sustain liquid water on its surface. But now, the water cycle is shifting as the climate warms, and scientists must find ways to predict how these changes will affect water availability.



Overall, 96 percent of Earth's water is saltwater, and nearly all of freshwater is found in ice and groundwater. These sources of water are linked as it passes through solid, liquid and gas phases.



In a warmer climate, the water cycle will be transformed. It will be easier for water to evaporate and form clouds, and storms will become more frequent and intense. Some regions will get too much water, while others will be left without enough water. In addition, soil moisture will be lost - which threatens food security.



Scientists are using satellite data from over the last 40 years to track changes that are happening in the water cycle. This will ultimately help us prepare for extreme events and better manage our water resources, according to ESA.



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Saturn,-,High,Resolution,3d,Images,Presents,Planets,Of,The

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> features images of Saturn from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The photographs capture the start of the mysterious "spoke season" on Saturn - when unexplained features appear on its rings. 



According to NASA, both the cause of the spokes and their seasonal variability have yet to be fully explained by planetary scientists.



"Like Earth, Saturn is tilted on its axis and therefore has four seasons, though because of Saturn's much larger orbit, each season lasts approximately seven Earth years. Equinox occurs when the rings are tilted edge-on to the Sun," explains NASA.



"The spokes disappear when it is near summer or winter solstice on Saturn. (When the Sun appears to reach either its highest or lowest latitude in the northern or southern hemisphere of a planet.) As the autumnal equinox of Saturn's northern hemisphere on May 6, 2025, draws near, the spokes are expected to become increasingly prominent and observable."



Experts believe that the spokes may be a product of the planet's variable magnetic field. When magnetic fields interact with solar wind, an electrically charged environment is created. This phenomenon is visible on Earth as the northern lights.&nbsp;



"Scientists think that the smallest, dust-sized icy ring particles can become charged as well, which temporarily levitates those particles above the rest of the larger icy particles and boulders in the rings," says NASA.



The spokes were first observed in the early 1980s by NASA's Voyager mission. Depending on the angle of the rings, the spokes can appear dark or light.



"Thanks to Hubble's OPAL program, which is building an archive of data on the outer solar system planets, we will have longer dedicated time to study Saturn’s spokes this season than ever before," said NASA senior planetary scientist Amy Simon, head of the Hubble Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program.



"Despite years of excellent observations by the Cassini mission, the precise beginning and duration of the spoke season is still unpredictable, rather like predicting the first storm during hurricane season."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/">NTU Singapore</a> reveals that some plants can remove toxic heavy metals from soil.&nbsp;



The researchers analyzed samples of various tropical plant species to test for levels of heavy metals and metalloids. The study showed that there are existing plants with high levels of these contaminants, which means that these species are great candidates for drawing pollutants out of the soil.&nbsp;



Among the plants examined in the study, 12 species had accumulated several types of heavy metals and metalloids. These plants are widely available, including species that are native to Singapore.



“In a small nation like Singapore, land may be repurposed to support new development plans, so it is important that we have a green and sustainable way to remediate land that is contaminated," said Professor Lam Yeng Ming.



"We set out to uncover how to better make use of tropical plants to do phytoremediation and through advanced characterization techniques, we showed how some of these tropical plant species can be an environmentally friendly and literally a 'green' way to remove contaminants in soil."&nbsp;



"Phytoremediation also has benefits of cost effectiveness, simplicity of management, aesthetic advantages, and long-term applicability and sustainability. The strategy prevents erosion and metal leaching by stabilizing or accumulating heavy metals, so that helps reduce the risk of contaminant spread.”



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes why herbicides are not as effective in killing weeds anymore. In the 20th century, chemical companies developed thousands of herbicides. The most commonly used herbicide was glyphosate, which was introduced in 1974.



Over the past few decades, dozens of species of weeds have evolved resistance to glyphosate. Depending on the site of action, the part of the plant that an herbicide interacts with, weeds may even be resistant to herbicides that have not been developed yet.&nbsp;



With increasing resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides, weeds are - once again - becoming a major concern for farmers.&nbsp;



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) describes a dust storm on Mars that was nearly twice the size of the United States. As the storm covered the southern hemisphere of the planet, some of NASA’s explorers had to delay their normal activities.



NASA’s Insight lander put itself in a "safe mode" for 11 days to conserve battery power because solar power was disrupted by the dust. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter postponed flights until conditions improved.



"A fleet of NASA orbiters monitor Martian dust storms like this one and serve as lifelines to Earth by relaying data from the rovers and lander on the ground back to the team. This includes the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and Odyssey," reports JPL.



"Dust storms like this recent one start close to the ground and are spread by wind as they rise – warming the cold Martian atmosphere."



The images in the video were captured by NASA’s Curiosity as the dust rolled in. A fleet of orbiters monitored the dust storm from above, relaying data from Mars’ explorers back to scientists on Earth.



Video &amp; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.



Qeshm is separated from the Iranian coast by the Clarence Strait, also known as Khuran.&nbsp;The Hara Forest Protected Area is a network of shallow waterways and forest located between the island and the mainland. This protected region is home to sea turtles, snakes, and more than 150 species of migrating birds.



Qeshm is famous for its wide range of&nbsp;ecotourist&nbsp;attractions, such as the&nbsp;Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5 percent of the world birds and 25 percent of Iran's native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-hummingbirds-avoid-sexual-harassment-by-looking-like-males/">birds</a> annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran.



Tourists are also drawn to the island to see an age-old Portuguese&nbsp;fort, historic mosques, the&nbsp;Seyyed Mozaffar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bibi Maryam&nbsp;shrines, and the "Valley of Stars."



The average temperature on the island is 81 degress and the region is often hot and humid. From June to August, the island is described as being oppressively hot. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season. 



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique.&nbsp;



"Inhambane Bay is a deep inlet into which the small Mutamba River flows," says ESA. "On one side of the bay lies the historical city of Inhambane, capital of the Inhambane Province, while the sister city of Maxixe, the economic capital of Inhambane, sits across from it. The province is the second largest grower of cashews, after Nampula, and it also produces coconut and citrus fruits."



The beaches of Barra and Tofo are popular with tourists. There are also coral reefs along the long coastline of Inhambane, making it an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.



"Mozambique’s extensive coastline heightens the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian Ocean as well as storm surge flooding," says ESA.



"More than half of the population lives in low lying coastal areas, putting communities at risk. Inhambane Bay was dangerously close to where Cyclone Idai made landfall in 2019 causing widespread destruction to the country."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. The glacier is located on the east coast of the Greenland ice sheet.



As human-induced climate change continues to drive up temperatures, global ice loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. ESA reports that, over the past decade alone, 3.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from the Greenland ice sheet. This is enough to cover the UK with meltwater 15 meters deep.



Based on satellite imagery, researchers determined that Kangerlussuaq entered a new phase of rapid retreat and acceleration in 2017. In their study, published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2019.00123/full">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>,&nbsp; the experts report that the glacier's ice front is now at its most retreated position since the early 20th century.



"Given Kangerlussuaq’s previous impacts on both the magnitude and pattern of ice sheet wide mass loss, we predict that its new phase of retreat, acceleration and thinning will markedly enhance the south-east region’s contribution to increasing discharge from the ice sheet," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"More broadly, accurate forecasting of the ice sheet’s contribution to sea level rise will require a deeper understanding of, and responses to, these non-linear ice dynamic processes."



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the complex relationship between ocean and climate. ESA's Climate Change Initiative will help us understand how oceans influence the climate and how climate change is impacting the oceans.&nbsp;



"Earth’s oceans are huge heat stores, soaking up 93% of the excess heat from human activity over the past 70 years. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, from the Equator to the poles. Where this ocean heat goes influences weather patterns and regional climate," explains ESA.



"As well as absorbing heat, oceans are a natural carbon sink, absorbing a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. This has led to the acidification of ocean water, threating marine life."



The amount of heat and carbon dioxide soaked up by the ocean depends on specific variables, including phytoplankton, temperatures, waves, salinity, and ice cover. Satellites can be used to measure these variables from space.



"From their unique vantage point, satellites provide key information for understanding the complexities of our planet and monitoring environmental issues," says ESA.



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the importance of monitoring the shape of the sea surface, which is constantly changing. These observations have many applications, such as ship routing, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-modem-ocean-is-a-tough-place-for-whales-to-survive/">ocean</a> current forecasting, and debris tracking.



"A project supported by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities recently investigated a new technique to measure sea surface topography very precisely," reports ESA.



"The technique involves looking at satellite navigation (GNSS) signals that have been reflected off of the sea surface at very low angles. At these so-called grazing angles, waves and surface roughness have very little impact on the reflection process; the sea surface acts as a very smooth mirror."



Estel Cardellach is the principal investigator at the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia, who first submitted the idea for the project.



“In a mirror-like reflection the phase of the signal can be tracked – it is continuous," said Cardellach. "Different surface heights result in different phase measurements. It gives a very precise measurement of the surface altitude at a few centimetres’ precision.”



The researchers developed a GNSS receiver and set up an experiment in the Balaeric Islands to collect signals from the receiver that were reflected off the sea surface. Ultimately, these signals will provide improved measurements of the shape of the sea surface.



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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Aerial,Photo,Of,River,In,Amazon,Rainforest,Jungle,In,Peru

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center</a> describes how scientists are using autonomous sound sensors to monitor deforestation in the Amazon. By recording soundscapes, the experts can determine which animals are present through their distinct sounds.&nbsp;



Using this method, sounds can be used as scientific measurements to analyze the effects of deforestation. The researchers will gain a better understanding of how the acoustics of a forest can be used to measure its health.&nbsp;



"From space, parts of the Amazon rainforest that have previously been logged or burned may look lush and green, like a place buzzing with activity and full of sounds. But inside the rainforest, the animal life may tell a different story, of a harsh environment and a quieter soundscape," says NASA.



Video Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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