About 6 million years ago, an extraordinary event occurred that restructured the Mediterranean and its water. This phenomenon, known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis, transformed the sea into a massive salt basin.



But how did a million cubic kilometers of salt come to rest in such a short time on the Mediterranean seabed? Until now, that remained a mystery.



Now, scientists have made a significant breakthrough. By analyzing chlorine isotopes found in the salt on the Mediterranean seabed, they've unveiled the two distinct phases of this intense evaporation event.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phases-of-desiccation-and-salt-accumulation">Phases of desiccation and salt accumulation</h2>



The first desiccation phase lasted approximately 35,000 years. During this time, salt deposition occurred exclusively in the eastern <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/corsica-sardinia-mediterranean-sea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mediterranean</a>. This was due to a restriction of the Mediterranean outflow into the Atlantic, resulting in a brine-filled basin in the east.



The second phase, however, was a different story altogether. Over less than 10,000 years, salt accumulation took place throughout the entire Mediterranean.



An expeditious evaporative event caused such a sharp decline in sea-level - 1.7-2.1 kilometers in the east, and approximately 0.85 kilometers in the west - that the Mediterranean basin lost up to 70% of its total water volume.



Moreover, change on such a monumental scale didn't occur without <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/distress-signals-earths-water-cycle-is-becoming-more-erratic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">repercussions</a>. The effects of the spectacular fall in sea level were far-reaching and not just limited to the marine environment itself.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-linked-to-mediterranean-water-loss">Factors linked to Mediterranean water loss</h2>



Local volcanic eruptions may have been triggered due to the release of pressure on Earth's crust. These eruptions could be thought of as Earth's reactions to the rapid loss of such a substantial amount of water weight.



Moreover, this large scale evaporative event also might have influenced global climate patterns. The drastic depression caused by the sea-level drawdown rippled outwards, affecting weather systems far and wide.



These results point towards a better understanding of not just the Messinian Salinity Crisis, but also of the ways extreme desiccation events can drastically alter ecosystems and climates on a global scale.



In the last moments of this salinity crisis, the sea-level of the Mediterranean was almost a kilometer below that of the Atlantic Ocean. This extreme difference lead to the eventual collapse of the Strait of Gibraltar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mediterranean-water-loss-and-marine-life">Mediterranean water loss and marine life</h2>



The Messinian Salinity Crisis also posed significant challenges for marine life in the Mediterranean basin. 



The extreme hypersaline conditions would have been inhospitable for most marine organisms, leading to mass extinctions of species that could not adapt. 



However, evidence suggests that some extremophilic organisms (organisms capable of surviving in highly saline environments) managed to persist during this period. 



Fossil records indicate that isolated pockets of less saline water, or refugia, may have existed, providing temporary habitats for certain species. These pockets paint a picture of resilience amidst an environment of extreme ecological stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-restoration-of-the-mediterranean-water">Restoration of the Mediterranean water</h2>



The collapse of the Strait of Gibraltar acted as a gateway for the Atlantic Ocean to flow back into the Mediterranean. This sudden influx of water ended the prolonged desiccation, refilling the Mediterranean basin and restoring its water levels. 



As a result, the Mediterranean transitioned from a nearly dry, hypersaline basin dominated by thick salt deposits into a thriving open sea once again, with normal marine conditions and ecosystems returning over time. 



This event marked the resolution of the Messinian Salinity Crisis, reshaping the region's geography and ecological dynamics permanently.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-challenges">Modern climate challenges</h2>



The insights gained from studying the Messinian Salinity Crisis carry valuable lessons for our understanding of current and future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-has-caused-crisis-levels-of-food-and-water-scarcity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental changes</a>. 



This event showcases how rapid geological and hydrological transformations can trigger cascading effects on the climate, ecosystems, and even tectonic activity. 



Contemporary concerns about rising temperatures, altering precipitation patterns, and water scarcity echo some of the climate disruptions that may have been felt during the crisis. 



By learning from this historic event, scientists emphasize the importance of global collaboration and sustainable resource management to mitigate the impacts of looming environmental challenges on both natural systems and human societies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-the-study">Significance of the study</h2>



This research on the history of Mediterranean water has provided fresh insights into historical geological events, enhancing our comprehension of these past occurrences.



By examining these findings, scientists and researchers have the opportunity to improve their predictions about future geological phenomena. 



Understanding the patterns and causes of past events allows for better preparation and response strategies, potentially reducing the adverse impacts of similar events that may occur in the future. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learning-from-geological-history">Learning from geological history</h2>



The study emphasizes the importance of learning from past geological activities to make informed decisions that safeguard communities and environments against natural disasters. It raises a critical question: will we apply the lessons learned to protect our future? 



The findings from the study serve as a call to action, urging society to integrate historical lessons into future planning and preparedness efforts.



The study was led by G. Aloisi, a scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (<a href="https://www.cnrs.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNRS</a>), which is one of the largest governmental research organizations in France.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53781-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



Image Credit: Pibernat &amp; Garcia-Castellanos



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The Mediterranean Sea lost almost all of its water, triggering a global crisis

About 6 million years ago, an extraordinary event occurred that restructured the Mediterranean and its water. This phenomenon, known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis, transformed the sea into a massive salt basin. But how did a million cubic kilometers of salt come to rest in such a short time on the Mediterranean seabed? Until now, that remained a mystery. Now, scientists have made a significant breakthrough. By analyzing chlorine isotopes found in the salt on the Mediterranean seabed, they've unveiled the two distinct phases of this intense...

A new study has linked air pollution to 1.1 million <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfires-in-the-west-linked-to-smoke-related-deaths-in-the-east/">deaths</a> across Africa in 2019. Pollution from indoor cookstoves was responsible for approximately 700,000 premature deaths, while outdoor air pollution was tied to 400,000 deaths.&nbsp;



Dr. Philip Landrigan is a professor of Biology at <a href="https://www.bc.edu/">Boston College</a>, who led the project with United Nations Environment Programme Chief Environmental Economist Pushpam Kumar. 



Dr. Landrigan said that while deaths from household air pollution have declined slightly, deaths caused by ambient air pollution (AAP) are on the rise.



“The most disturbing finding was the increase in deaths from ambient air pollution,” said Dr. Landrigan. “While this increase is still modest, it threatens to increase exponentially as African cities grow in the next two to three decades and the continent develops economically.”



The experts found that air pollution is costing African countries billions in gross domestic product. Poor air quality in Africa is also correlated with a devastating loss in the intellectual development of Africa’s children, according to the research.



“Air pollution in Africa has major negative impacts on health, human capital and the economy,” said the study co-authors. “These impacts are growing in magnitude as countries develop.”



“Experience from other countries suggests that the increases in AAP appearing in Africa today could be the harbinger of a looming problem."



"In the absence of visionary leadership and intentional intervention, AAP could become a much larger cause of disease and premature death than at present and could pose a major threat to economic development.”



The study authors noted that Africa’s population is set to more than triple over the course of this century, jumping from 1.3 billion in 2020 to 4.3 billion by 2100.&nbsp;



Overall, air pollution is one of the top two causes of death in Africa, second only to AIDS.



“We encourage Africa's leaders to take advantage of the fact that their countries are still relatively early in their economic development and to transition rapidly to wind and solar energy, thus avoiding entrapment in fossil-fuel-based economies,” said Dr. Landrigan.&nbsp;



“We argue that African countries are in a unique position to leapfrog over mistakes made elsewhere and to achieve prosperity without pollution.”



“Air pollution in Africa threatens economic development and future growth, but can be avoided by wise leaders who transition rapidly to wind and solar energy and avoid entrapment by coal, gas and oil."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/home">The Lancet Planetary Health</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

Air pollution caused 1.1 million deaths across Africa in 2019

A new study has linked air pollution to 1.1 million...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain/">Nature Sustainability</a> warns that a massive prospective spill from a deserted oil tanker in the Red Sea could have catastrophic public <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-are-damaging-their-health-by-eating-plastic/">health</a> effects in Yemen and neighboring countries.



The FSO Safer is a tanker abandoned since 2015 due to the conflict in Yemen. It is currently located five nautical miles off Yemen’s coast and contains 1.1 million barrels of oil. The tanker is increasingly likely to leak oil due to the deterioration of its hull, or to catch fire through a buildup of volatile gases.



A research team led by <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> modeled the tanker spilling oil under various weather conditions, taking into account variables such as wind patterns, sea temperatures, current patterns, and salinity gradients.&nbsp;



The scientists estimated that it would take six to ten days for the oil to reach Yemen’s coastline, significantly impacting Yemen’s port within two weeks, and the port of Aden within three weeks. The delivery of critical supplies could be disrupted, and millions of people might be left without clean water and food aid. Moreover, about 38 percent of Yemen’s fuel needs could be seriously affected, causing fuel prices to spike.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“Yemen is very fuel-dependent, so losing fuel means shutting down things like hospitals and water systems,” said&nbsp;Benjamin Huynh, a graduate student in Biomedical Informatics at Stanford University. “The main takeaway I want audiences to have is that this environmental disaster would also be a severe humanitarian disaster, and that a massive oil spill can substantially harm human health.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



According to the simulations, the air pollution from a full spill would increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations by 5.8 percent in Yemen’s general population, with cleanup workers and others directly exposed to the oil potentially experiencing up to 530 percent increase of such risks. &nbsp; &nbsp;



“We knew of course that there would be some negative impacts of an oil spill, but were surprised by how many people would be impacted in the majority of our scenarios,” said&nbsp;David Rehkopf, an associate professor of Epidemiology and Population Health, and co-director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://med.stanford.edu/phs.html">Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences</a>. “We hope that puts more pressure on the international community to offload the oil and prevent this disaster.”



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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

Deserted oil tanker in the Red Sea is a danger to public health

A new study published in the journal Nature Sustainability warns...

Seabirds from Marion Island near Antarctica, Gough Island in the south of the Atlantic Ocean, and the coasts of Western Australia and Hawaii have developed a dangerous habit: eating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-and-climate-change-are-interconnected/">plastic</a>.&nbsp;



A new study led by the <a href="https://www.tuat.ac.jp/en/">Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology</a> has found that across 32 species of seabirds sampled from around the world, 52 percent ate plastic and accumulated its harmful chemical components in their bodies.



“Globally, approximately 400 million metric tons of plastics are produced each year, and a portion of these escape into the environment, eventually finding their way into the oceans,” said corresponding author Hideshige Takada, a professor in the <a href="https://web.tuat.ac.jp/~gaia/english/english.html">Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry </a>&nbsp;at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.&nbsp;



“When floating on the sea surface or stranded on beaches, plastics are exposed to UV radiation from the sun and break down into smaller fragments.”



These plastic fragments, similar in size to seabirds’ usual prey of small fish and insects, are not biodegradable, and they are light enough to move with the oceanic currents.&nbsp;



“Consequently, huge amounts of plastics are available to a suite of consumers in the world’s oceans,” Professor Takada explained. “As of 2020, 180 species of seabirds, corresponding to half of the total species of seabirds around the globe, have been reported to have ingested plastics. It has also been predicted that by 2050, 99 percent of seabird species will have ingested plastics.”



While the often lethal dangers of eating plastic are well-known, much less is understood about the biological consequences of consuming the additives that are used to bind, stabilize, and improve plastic materials.&nbsp;



By examining the chemical composition of oils from the preen gland of 145 seabirds from 16 different places in the world, the researchers detected high levels of additives in the birds that have ingested large plastic loads.



“The detection of additives demonstrated that significant portions of the world’s seabirds - 10 to 30 percent - are likely the accumulate chemicals directly from ingesting plastics, but the health consequences of this are not fully understood,” concluded Professor Tanaka.&nbsp;



Further research is needed to understand the effects of such a “diet” on seabirds and other animals, and to find ways of mitigating the harmful effects of plastic pollution on various ecosystems.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/emcr/1/0/1_20210009/_article">Environmental Monitoring and Contaminants Research</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

Seabirds are damaging their health by eating plastic

Seabirds from Marion Island near Antarctica, Gough Island in the...

Researchers have made a new discovery about Earth's carbon sinks. These vast ecosystems have an even greater capacity to remove CO2 from the atmosphere due to previously unknown rock <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-adjust-roots-to-reach-their-preferred-form-of-nitrogen/">nitrogen</a> weathering reactions that distribute natural fertilizers around the world. The new study highlights the importance of preserving these carbon sinks to fight climate change.



Mankind has been flooding the atmosphere with carbon dioxide since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Nearly half of these emissions have been naturally removed from the atmosphere by land, vegetation and oceans, whereas the other half remains in the atmosphere contributing to climate change.&nbsp;



“Excess carbon is already harming people, economies and our planet,” said study senior author Benjamin Houlton of <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>. “But we’ve been enjoying a free subsidy provided by Earth – a large carbon sink on land and in the ocean – and, as a society, we’re not paying for the carbon-sink service explicitly. But where is this sink and how long will it last?”&nbsp;



Houlton emphasized the importance of finding sustainable alternatives to store and retreat carbon from the atmosphere to combat the threats from climate change.



The researchers stated that the background nitrogen inputs from rock weathering and physiological fixation can provide two to five times more terrestrial carbon uptake than nitrogen pollution primarily from agricultural and industrial activities.



“Previously, we had believed that this terrestrial carbon sink was more vulnerable. Now we're suggesting that because of the previously undiscovered slow-release nitrogen, the terrestrial carbon sink will continue to be robust.” said study lead author Pawlok Dass, a postdoctoral researcher at Northern Arizona University.



The researchers emphasized that society should be vigilant, as the use of fossil fuels tends to release surplus nitrogen into the atmosphere. In this case, rather than functioning as a fertilizer, the nitrogen bypasses terrestrial carbon cycles and pollutes downstream water bodies. According to Dass, reducing excessive nitrogen pollution can improve human health, the environment, and the economy without harming natural, terrestrial carbon sinks.



Dass explained that the biologically diverse tropical forests, mountainous regions and the rapidly changing boreal zone (the entire stretch of forests stretching from Alaska to Canada to Siberia, for example) are rich in rock nitrogen weathering or biological nitrogen fixation and they should be conserved to preserve the carbon sinks.&nbsp;



“Our work suggests that the conservation of these ecosystems, which have built-in capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, is going to be vital to making sure that we don’t lose out on Earth’s terrestrial carbon sink service in the future," said Houlton.



The study was conducted at the laboratory at the University of California, Davis and Cornell University and was published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19449224">Global Biogeochemical Cycles</a>.



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By <a href="http://mailto:ashikha92@gmail.com">Ashikha Raoof</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Carbon sinks are a powerful weapon against climate change

Researchers have made a new discovery about Earth's carbon sinks....

A new study has concluded that levels of daily <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-is-not-the-primary-source-of-mercury-in-the-ocean/">rainfall</a> and extreme heat events are increasing at a non-linear rate across the globe. The researchers used observational data to calculate the current levels of 3-sigma and 4-sigma heat events, weather events that deviate strongly from what is normal within a specific region.&nbsp;



The study revealed that the range of land area that is being affected by extreme weather events has increased by 9000% in the last decade compared to the time period from 1951 to 1980.



“For extreme extremes, what we call 4-sigma-events that have been virtually absent before, we even see a roughly 1000-fold increase compared to the reference period. They affected about 3 percent of global land area in 2011-20 in any month,” explained study lead author Alexander Robinson.&nbsp;



“This confirms previous findings, yet with ever-increasing numbers. We are seeing extremes now which are virtually impossible without the influence of global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels.”



Key examples of such extreme weather include the wildfire-inducing heatwaves of Siberia and Australia in 2020, and the life-threatening temperatures that struck North America in 2021. Record-breaking heat extremes have increased most significantly across tropical regions, but the study suggests that the problem will become increasingly common in mid-to-high latitude regions in the near future.



Furthermore, the researchers discovered that record daily rainfall events are also increasing in a non-linear fashion, with 1 in 4 of these being attributable to climate change, and showing no signs of slowing down. Wet regions such as central and North Europe have seen strong increases in rainfall extremes leading to devastating flooding, whilst dry regions such as South Africa have seen decreases leading to further drought.



Ultimately, the experts compared the new data with data collected between 2000 and 2010. They concluded that areas being affected by 3-sigma events approximately doubled. Deviations from this data which are so extreme that they were not present in previous data have emerged, being named "4-sigma events."



“These data show that extremes are now far outside the historical experience. Extreme heat and extreme rainfall are increasing disproportionally,” explained co-author Stefan Rahmstorf, from the <a href="https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/home">Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research</a>. “Our analysis confirms once again that for the impacts of global heating on us humans, every tenth of a degree matters.”



The research has been published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/npjclimatsci/">Climate and Atmospheric Science</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Extreme heat events are becoming increasingly common

A new study has concluded that levels of daily rainfall...

An in-depth review of the history of sage grouse hunting and population trends across the Intermountain West has shown that a significant decline in the bird’s numbers during past decades prompted important changes in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/domestic-cats-go-hunting-out-of-instinct-rather-than-hunger/">hunting</a> season regulations in order to protect the endangered birds.&nbsp;



In a study published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253635">PLOS One</a>, a research team investigated the history of grouse hunting regulations in 11 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, as well as the impact of these regulations on growth rates of this species.&nbsp;



Once numbering millions across the Intermountain West, sage grouse populations dwindled in the first decades of the 20th century, prompting wildlife agencies to impose hunting restrictions in the 1930s and 1940s. These restrictions included reducing possession limits and hunting season lengths, and setting season starting dates later in September in order to avoid the killing of females with young broods.&nbsp;



“We found that wildlife agencies throughout western North America have set increasingly more conservative harvest regulations over the past 25 years to conserve sage grouse,” said study co-author Jeffrey Beck, a professor of Wildlife Habitat Restoration Ecology at the <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/">University of Wyoming</a>.



“It appears that, overall, agencies are doing well with adjusting the timing of hunting seasons, reducing season lengths and maintaining later hunting seasons as supported by previous research,” added study lead author Jonathan Dinkins, an assistant professor of Agricultural Sciences at <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a>.&nbsp;



“Also, by retaining hunting seasons but lowering bag and possession limits, agencies continue to bring in important funding for conservation from hunting permits while ensuring hunter take is limited to sustain populations.”



However, regarding the overall effect of hunting season regulations on population growth rates, the scientists found mixed results: although discontinuing harvest in the largest sage grouse population in Idaho resulted in greater population growth rates, this was not the case for smaller populations.&nbsp;



In a separate study published in the same <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0257198">journal</a>, the researchers also assessed the impact of weather conditions, human activity such as oil and gas development, and habitat loss due to fires on population trends. The team once again found that not all sage grouse populations were influenced by the same factors in the same ways.&nbsp;



Although these studies come with mixed results, the researchers hope that their models will help management agencies better understand population trends and focus conservation efforts on factors that may lead to increasing the survival and reproduction rates of endangered birds.



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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

Hunting regulations have helped safeguard the sage grouse

An in-depth review of the history of sage grouse hunting...

A poll of 800 voters in Washington state shows that the majority support a plan that includes removing four dams on the Snake River in support of salmon. The plan also included investments in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clean-energy-should-be-prioritized-during-covid-19-recovery/">clean energy</a> and agricultural infrastructure. Among those people polled, 58 percent wanted scientists, tribes, local communities and other stakeholders to collaborate on plans for dam removal on the Snake River in order to save salmon from extinction.&nbsp;



“Voters understand the situation is urgent, and they want action. Washington voters are determined that we cannot let salmon disappear, and that we can also take care of farm and energy needs at the same time," said Mark Mellman, CEO of <a href="https://mellmangroup.com/">The Mellman Group</a>, which conducted the poll.&nbsp;



The results of the survey also showed that across the political spectrum and throughout Washington, 62 percent of people are extremely worried about salmon going extinct in the state.&nbsp;



An estimated 7,000 Chinook salmon are returning to spawn in the Salmon River Basin. This figure represents half the 10 year average of returning salmon. In particular, less than 3,000 steelhead returned, the lowest number recorded since counts began in 1938.&nbsp;



“The loss of salmon is an existential threat to Native Nations, fishers, business owners, and communities - and would trigger ecological devastation in our region," said Alyssa Macy, CEO of Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters.



"We must take decisive action to prevent extinction, including removal of dams on the lower Snake River and replacement of their benefits. If salmon no longer exist, who will we be?”



Governor and one time presidential candidate, Jay Inslee has previously said he’s committed to engaging stakeholders in a plan to save both salmon and the orcas that depend on them from extinction. Details of this plan are not yet released.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The poll was funded by the <a href="https://waterfdn.org/">Water Foundation</a>.



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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

Washington voters want dam removal to save salmon

A poll of 800 voters in Washington state shows that...

The world’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-has-destroyed-14-percent-of-the-worlds-coral-reefs/">climate</a> is changing, across the globe, and associated with this is a growing sense of impending disaster at the situation. Eco-anxiety – defined as the chronic fear of environmental doom – is on the rise, according to Mala Rao and Richard A Powell, in an opinion piece published recently in the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/">British Medical Journal</a>.



Although not yet formally considered a diagnosable condition, eco-anxiety is being recognized by more and more psychologists and psychiatrists, particularly among patients who are children, youth or from communities that have the least resources to overcome the adverse consequences of the climate crisis.&nbsp;



The authors refer to a 2020 survey of child psychiatrists in England that found more than half (57%) are seeing children and young people distressed about the climate crisis and the state of the environment.&nbsp;



Climate anxiety is not confined to the UK either, as confirmed recently by the “largest and most international” survey of climate anxiety in young people aged 16 to 25 to date. The results showed that the psychological (emotional, cognitive, social, and functional) burdens of climate change are “profoundly affecting huge numbers of these young people round the world.”



Young people also feel a sense of betrayal and abandonment by governments and adults, noted the researchers. For not only are there warnings from climate change groups that “greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk,” but also there seems to be great inertia on the part of many adults, including those in positions of power, to take any significant action. Leaders are consequently seen as failing to respond adequately, leaving young people with “no future” and “humanity doomed.”



In addition, it is likely that the effects of increasing eco-anxiety on health and wellbeing will add substantially to the national cost of addressing the climate crisis, particularly if these effects are not dealt with timeously. There is evidence linking the experience of climate change effects with increased risks of depression, low mood, extreme mental distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, and further deterioration in those with a history of mental illness, explained the experts.



And they call on leaders to “recognize the challenges ahead, the need to act now, and the commitment necessary to create a path to a happier and healthier future, leaving no one behind.”



According to Rao and Powell, there are ways we can alleviate the rising levels of climate anxiety.



“The best chance of increasing optimism and hope in the eco-anxious young and old is to ensure they have access to the best and most reliable information on climate mitigation and adaptation."



“Especially important is information on how they could connect more strongly with nature, contribute to greener choices at an individual level, and join forces with like-minded communities and groups.”



“The climate crisis is an existential threat, and fearfulness about the future cannot be fully tackled until a common, united, global strategy is put in place to address the root cause, global warming, and to give everyone – especially the young and the most vulnerable communities – the hope of a better future.”



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

As the climate crisis intensifies, eco-anxiety is on the rise

The world’s climate is changing, across the globe, and associated...

New research from <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> shows that tidal marshes - the ecosystem where freshwater meets the ocean - are likely to be flooded by rising sea levels in New Jersey. The study, including potential solutions to save the marshes, was published in the journal <a href="https://cdnsciencepub.com/journal/anc">Anthropocene Coasts</a>.&nbsp;



Study lead author Judith Weis explained how a marsh is destroyed by sea level rise, “Faced with sea level rise, a marsh has two options - it can either increase its elevation at a rate equal to that of sea level rise or it can migrate inland. Otherwise, it will be submerged and drown.”



Marshes are an important habitat for a collection of birds, fishes, crabs and other invertebrates. Tidal marshes are also valuable buffer zones against storms and absorb toxic pollutants, acting as a type of natural filter.&nbsp;



When researchers looked at tidal marshes in New Jersey, they found that half of those investigated were being lost to erosion due to sea level rise. The scientists found that some of this loss was being compensated by the marshes “marching” inland as the sea rose.



Unfortunately, the marsh moving inland sometimes kills trees by exposing them to salt water. Furthermore, such movement isn’t possible everywhere - especially in developed areas.&nbsp;



The researchers also found something unexpected. The tidal marshes moving most substantially away from rising sea levels were occupied by the invasive common reed (Phragmites australis). Although the reed reduces plant diversity, it allows marshes to move. When they die, the reeds accumulate sediment which raises the marsh level. This acts as a better buffer to flooding than natural grasses.&nbsp;



“Some reeds should be left on the marsh surface to give the marsh a better chance of keeping up with sea level rise," said Weis. "This will be controversial and likely opposed by many marsh managers, which will require a revolutionary change in marsh management.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://cdnsciencepub.com/journal/anc">Anthropocene Coasts</a>.



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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

New Jersey's tidal marshes are vanishing

New research from Rutgers University shows that tidal marshes -...

Humans have introduced non-native species to ecosystems all over the globe. In a new study from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a>, researchers have found that specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-explore-the-fascinating-topic-of-vocal-learning-in-animals/">animals</a> such as silver carp and American signal crayfish cause declines in other important species in aquatic environments.&nbsp;



The experts report that these types of invasive fish can push lake ecosystems to a tipping point beyond which there is an abrupt shift from healthy to degraded conditions. According to the researchers, this shift is difficult to reverse.



The introduction of invasive fish leads to a decrease in water quality. When a freshwater ecosystem collapses and becomes unhealthy, it is often dominated by algal blooms. These blooms create toxins that poison freshwater supplies as well as block sunlight, destroying other life forms in a pond or lakes.&nbsp;



“Algal blooms represent one of the most significant threats to the security of the Earth’s surface freshwaters," said study first author Dr. Sam Reynolds. "Simply undoing the circumstances that triggered a tipping point will not restore the ecosystem - the road to recovery is slow and steep,”



While some invasive species can push a freshwater ecosystem towards collapse, other non-native species such as zebra mussels actually help stall ecosystem collapse and may even restore degraded lakes.&nbsp;



“Managers of drinking water reservoirs, for example, may be able to avoid the cost of dealing with blooms of harmful algae, by removing invasive crayfish but allowing established non-native zebra mussels to remain and act as biological filters," said study senior author Professor Davis Aldridge.



"Early detection and rapid response plans should always be our first line of attack. But in situations where invaders have already established and can no longer be eradicated, it may be appropriate to embrace their positive effects.”



Although the research focuses on relatively shallow lake ecosystems, the scientists believe the framework of their research could also be used for other ecosystems facing the threat of collapse.&nbsp;



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652486">Global Change Biology</a>.&nbsp;



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

Invasive fish can cause ecosystem collapse

Humans have introduced non-native species to ecosystems all over the...

House,Plants,Display.,Indoor,Plants,In,Window

According to a new study commissioned by the organization <a href="https://www.thejoyofplants.co.uk/">The Joy of Plants</a> for the launch of the <a href="https://www.thejoyofplants.co.uk/houseplant-hideout-gives-londoners-slice-plant-paradise">Houseplant Hideout</a> in London, people feel happier and more productive when surrounded by houseplants. These benefits might arise from the soothing effects of the green color, combined with the opportunity to provide care for living beings.



A study of 2,000 British adults found that the perfect working environment should include a selection of plants, bright colors, and decorative stationery. Over half of the survey participants said they feel more productive when surrounded by plants, while two-thirds claimed that plants have a positive impact on their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/boys-who-play-sports-as-young-children-have-better-mental-health/">mental health</a>.&nbsp;



Almost three-quarters of the participants had an average of five houseplants in their homes. Many of these individuals expressed that the plants have a calming effect (45 percent), add color to the environment (44 percent), and improve the quality of indoor air (39 percent). Some of them even speak to their houseplants (23 percent), or put music on for them (20 percent).



“As a botanist, I am fascinated by the growing body of scientific evidence which supports what this new consumer research highlights - that being around plants can measurably improve both mental and physical health,” said study lead author James Wong, an ethnobotanist, presenter, and garden designer. “The effect of houseplants seems to work on a number of inter-related levels and the best thing is that the only side effect of this therapy is having a beautiful home.”



According to Wong, the rich green color characterizing houseplants can reduce stress levels and pain, and improve feelings of self-worth. Furthermore, having a living thing to nurture and focus on could act in a similar way to mindfulness exercises, and relieve feelings of anxiety and tension.



“The research stats prove what we’ve often thought - having plants in the home helps moods and productivity,” a spokesman for the Joy of Plants said. “It’s no secret being outdoors and surrounded by nature often helps improve mental health and decrease stress levels and it’s great to see that bringing the outdoors in has a similar effect.”



“Particularly when working, which many of us have been doing from home the past year and a half, people clearly like to have a plant nearby, not only for productivity but also to boost their mood,” he concluded.



The Houseplant Hideout in Shoreditch in London is open between 7th and 10th October.



---



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

Houseplants improve mood and productivity

According to a new study commissioned by the organization The...

Family,With,Kids,In,Face,Mask,In,Shopping,Mall,Or

A new study has found that masking mandates and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic were highly effective at stopping the spread of other respiratory <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-bats-resist-covid-19-infection/">infections</a>. According to the researchers, social distancing helped prevent the spread of influenza and bronchiolitis, the disease caused by respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV).



Influenza infects up to 15 percent of the world population annually, and kills a substantial number of vulnerable children and older adults. RSV also causes significant damage, bringing almost 300,000 people to the emergency room each year in the United States alone.&nbsp; 



New research conducted at <a href="https://www.akronchildrens.org/">Akron Children’s Hospital</a> in Ohio examined the impact of pandemic-related masking and social distancing practices on these two other dangerous diseases.



The investigation was conducted during the peak of seasonal respiratory illnesses from October 2020 to April 2021. Mandatory masking and social distancing in Ohio during the COVID-19 outbreak provided a unique opportunity to study how such measures affected the spread of other infectious diseases.&nbsp;



During the study period, the scientists found no cases of influenza A and RSV, and just two cases of influenza B, among the children from the Akron hospital. After March 14, 2021 though, when social distancing measures were relaxed in Ohio, viral infections such as influenza or RSV re-emerged. 



This proves that masking and social distancing practices can be highly effective tools to decrease the rates of potentially dangerous respiratory diseases, such as influenza and bronchiolitis, in the pediatric population.&nbsp;



“Numbers don’t lie. Face masking, and proper hygiene and isolation can be effective means to protect the vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and young children during the respiratory virus season,” said study lead author Osama El-Assal, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Akron Children’s Hospital. “It can be a simple non-medicinal way to save lives.



The research will be presented at the <a href="https://aapexperience.org/">American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference &amp; Exhibition</a>.



---



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

Masking and social distancing stopped the spread of the flu

A new study has found that masking mandates and social...

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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

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://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

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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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

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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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



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.

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[sendtonews key="Ccjk8KEMzv-2550719-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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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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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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