Human litter has now infiltrated the deepest parts of Earth's oceans and seas. Debris and trash produced by human activity was spotted at a depth of 5,112 meters (3.2 miles) in the Mediterranean Sea. 



The site, which is the deepest point in the Mediterranean, is known as Calypso Deep, and is located off the south-western coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea.



In a new study, researchers have identified 167 objects at the bottom. Of these, 148 were clearly marine debris, while 19 were believed to be of human origin, though less definitively.



According to the authors, this represents one of the highest concentrations of litter documented at great depths in any sea.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-debris-in-the-bottom-of-the-sea">Debris in the bottom of the sea </h2>



To investigate the Calypso Deep, scientists used a crewed submersible called the Limiting Factor, a deep-submergence vehicle capable of withstanding extreme pressure.



Images captured by the Limiting Factor confirm that besides accumulating on coasts, surface waters and shallower bottoms, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-it-still-possible-to-save-the-ocean-from-plastic-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine waste</a> also reaches the deepest, most remote points of the Mediterranean Sea.&nbsp;



Given the heavy impact of human activities on this nearly enclosed sea, the discovery emphasizes the urgency of global actions to reduce marine debris and a need for lifestyle changes that cut waste and protect marine environments worldwide.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-calypso-deep-as-a-debris-trap">The Calypso Deep as a debris trap</h2>



Located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south west of the Peloponnese coast in Greece, the Calypso Deep is a depression within the Hellenic Trench system. 



Surrounded by steep terrain in an area with active faults, it has slopes measuring thousands of meters and a mostly flat floor at its lowest point. 



Its deeper, kidney-shaped portion extends over approximately 20 by 5 kilometers (12 by 3 miles) at depths surpassing 5,000 meters (3 miles).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-litter-s-journey-to-the-bottom">Litter's journey to the bottom</h2>



But how does rubbish collect so far down?



According to Miquel Canals from the University of Barcelona’s <a href="https://www.ub.edu/portal/web/earth-sciences" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Faculty of Earth Sciences</a>, the debris comes from various sources, both terrestrial and marine. 



It could have arrived by various routes, including both long-distance transport by <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/weakening-ocean-currents-could-cost-trillions-of-dollars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean currents</a> and direct dumping. 



Canals explains that plastic items, for instance, can drift from coastal waters. 



Some light waste, such as plastics, comes from the coast, from where it escapes to the Calypso Deep, just 60 kilometers [37 miles] away. 



Some plastics, such as bags, drift just above the bottom until they are partially or completely buried, or disintegrate into smaller fragments.



“We have also found evidence of the boats’ dumping of bags full of rubbish, as revealed by the pile-up of different types of waste followed by an almost rectilinear furrow," Canals continued.



"Unfortunately, as far as the Mediterranean is concerned, it would not be wrong to say that ‘not a single inch of it is clean.'"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-debris-transport-across-the-sea">Debris transport across the sea</h2>



Canals noted that the Calypso Deep is a closed depression, which favors the accumulation of debris inside it. He pointed out that the weak currents in the trench also facilitate the deposition of light debris at the bottom.



Floating debris originates mostly in the southern Ionian Sea or further south, and drifting eddies bring it toward the Calypso Deep.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-litter-debris_bottom-seafloor_Mediterranean-Sea_montage_credit-Caladan-Oceanic_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/marine-litter-debris_bottom-seafloor_Mediterranean-Sea_montage_credit-Caladan-Oceanic_1s.webp" alt="The debris identified by the international team in the Calypso Deep warns of the need to implement global policy actions to reduce ocean waste, as well as to encourage changes in citizens’ consumption habits and waste reduction in order to protect seas and oceans around the world. Credit: Caladan Oceanic" class="wp-image-1962233"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The debris identified by the international team in the Calypso Deep warns of the need to implement global policy actions to reduce ocean waste, as well as to encourage changes in citizens’ consumption habits and waste reduction in order to protect seas and oceans around the world. Credit: Caladan Oceanic</figcaption></figure>



“When these eddies are located over the Calypso Trench, some debris tends to fall slowly to the bottom, aided by degradation mechanisms and ballasting processes that increase its density," explained Canals 



"Surface currents can also transport debris from the Adriatic Sea to the north, through the Strait of Otranto, and from the waters off north-western Greece."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology-to-explore-the-abyss">Technology to explore the abyss</h2>



Investigating such extreme depths demands cutting-edge tools. In this case, the Limiting Factor submarine, built by Triton Submarines, allowed a small crew of two to descend. 



Moving at about 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) per hour to obtain clear images, the Limiting Factor covered roughly 650 meters (0.4 miles) in a straight line over a 43-minute window on the bottom.&nbsp;



“On each dive, more time is usually spent descending and ascending the vehicle back to the surface than inspecting the bottom. Each complete dive usually takes a few hours,” Canals noted.



The expedition revealed no substantial impact on local marine life, likely due to the area’s low biodiversity. 



Only a few species - namely, the fish Coryphaenoides mediterraneus and the crustacean Acanthephyra eximia - appeared in the footage. 



“However, in places with more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-ocean-day-a-unified-approach-to-protect-biodiversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a>, there are different types of interaction between the debris deposited on the bottom and the organisms, such as ghost fishing, burial, hooking or ingestion, but also the use of debris as a substrate where animals can grow, hide or lay their eggs,” Canals said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mediterranean-s-pollution-problem">Mediterranean’s pollution problem</h2>



Scientists first documented trash on the ocean floor in 1975, in the North Atlantic’s Skagerrak Strait. Areas like canyons and seamounts are especially prone to accumulating garbage, either from settling, burial, or erosion processes. 



Now, the Mediterranean ranks among the worst-affected seas. In 2021, research identified the Strait of Messina as the global hot spot for seafloor litter. 



This highlights broader concerns about intensifying human influence on an enclosed region subject to heavy maritime traffic and fishing.



“The Mediterranean is an enclosed sea, surrounded by humanity, with intense maritime traffic and widespread fishing activity," noted Canals. 



"The evidence provided by our research should shake up global efforts, and in particular in the Mediterranean, to mitigate waste dumping, especially plastics, in the natural environment and ultimately in the sea, in line with the <a href="https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UN Global Plastics Treaty</a> against plastic pollution, which is still pending approval."



Canals emphasized that the ocean floor is still largely unknown to society as a whole, which makes it difficult to raise social and political awareness about the conservation of these spaces. 



"It is necessary to make a joint effort between scientists, communicators, journalists, the media, influencers and other people with social impact. The problem is there, and it has an enormous scope, even if it is not directly visible. We should not forget about it."



Details of the study are published in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25000852?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marine Pollution Bulletin</a>.



Image Credit: Caladan Oceanic



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Human trash has found its way to the deepest parts of Earth's seas and oceans

Human litter has now infiltrated the deepest parts of Earth's oceans and seas. Debris and trash produced by human activity was spotted at a depth of 5,112 meters (3.2 miles) in the Mediterranean Sea. The site, which is the deepest point in the Mediterranean, is known as Calypso Deep, and is located off the south-western coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea. In a new study, researchers have identified 167 objects at the bottom. Of these, 148 were clearly marine debris, while 19 were believed to be...

Hormones, the chemicals distributed throughout our body via the endocrine system, play a major role in regulating health and development. When the endocrine system is disrupted, it can cause developmental problems and malformations, increase the risks of some cancers, inhibit reproduction, and disrupt the nervous and immune systems. 

Exposure to emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals or personal hygiene products found in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tap-water-contaminants/">drinking water and wastewater</a> can cause endocrine problems and are a threat to the human health even at low doses.

A collection of presentations at the <a href="http://www.sra.org/news/registration-2018-annual-meeting-now-open">2018 Society for Risk Analysis Meeting</a> this week discussed the dangers of emerging contaminants in the public water supply and the risks of exposure. 

One of the presentations focused on hormones and pharmaceuticals in drinking water. Laura Bexfield, who presented the study, analyzed data from the <a href="https://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/">U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project study</a>. 

1,091 groundwater sites across the United States were tested for 21 different hormones and 103 pharmaceuticals. 

The results of the assessment found that there was one or more hormones or pharmaceuticals in untreated groundwater in six percent of 844 sites used for public drinking water and eleven percent of 247 sites used as a domestic supply. 

Bexfield's presentation examined the risk emerging contaminants in groundwater poses to human health and safety, but pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and hormones are also harmful to local ecosystems. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uri.edu/">University of Rhode Island </a>presented a study that measured contaminants in ponds in Rhode Island and proposed several solutions for reducing and managing pond contaminant levels in the area. 

Another study looked at the ecological risks of emerging contaminants along sites along a tributary in Delaware.

For that study, researchers from <a href="https://www.wcupa.edu/">West Chester University</a> developed efficient methods for detecting contaminants in watersheds worldwide.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Contaminants detected in water supply threaten human endocrine system

Hormones, the chemicals distributed throughout our body via the endocrine...

According to researchers at the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> (UEA) and the Global Carbon Project, global carbon emissions will hit an all-time high in 2018. The total worldwide emissions from burning fossil fuels is projected to reach 37.1 billion tons of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-co2-emissions/">CO2</a> this year.

The anticipated rise of more than two percent can be attributed to sustained growth in the use of oil and gas and to an increase in the use of coal for the second year in a row. 

The research team says that energy trends are changing and that there is still time to address climate change, but only if efforts to curb carbon emissions expand rapidly throughout all sectors of the economy.

“We need strong policy and economic support for rapid deployment of low carbon technologies to cut emissions across the energy and transport sectors, from buildings and from industry,” said lead researcher Professor Corinne Le Quéré.

“Energy trends are changing rapidly, with coal use decreasing in many parts of the world and still below its 2013 level globally, and an explosion in wind and solar energy. But while renewables are rising fast, it is not yet enough to reverse global emissions trends. The rapid actions needed to address climate change also need to be fair to all generations.”

This will be the second consecutive year of rising CO2 emissions, after three years of little-to-no growth from 2014 to 2016. In 2018, the 10 biggest carbon emitters are China, the United States, India, Russia, Japan, Germany, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Canada. Representing a region of countries, the EU ranks third.

[caption id="attachment_1863516" align="aligncenter" width="700"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/carbon-project.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1863516" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/carbon-project-724x1024.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="990" /></a> Image Credit: Global Carbon Project[/caption]

“We are seeing a strong growth of global CO2 emissions once again,” said Professor Le Quéré. “Emissions need to peak and rapidly decrease to address climate change. With this year's growth in emissions, it looks like the peak is not yet in sight.”

“To limit global warming to the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5°C, CO2 emissions would need to decline by 50 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by around 2050. We are a long way from this and much more needs to be done because if countries stick to the commitments they have already made, we are on track to see 3°C of global warming.”

“This year we have seen how climate change can already amplify the impacts of heatwaves worldwide. The California wildfires are just a snapshot of the growing impacts we face if we don't drive emissions down rapidly.”

The report is a further call to action for representatives from almost 200 countries attending the UN Climate Change Conference (COP24), which is taking place this week in Katowice, Poland.

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Global carbon emissions expected to hit an all-time high in 2018

According to researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA)...

Sea ice and ice sheet loss are some of the biggest drivers of sea level rise, and nowhere on Earth is ice loss as rampant as it is in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-ice-is-melting-faster-than-previously-believed/">Greenland</a>.

Now, a new study found that surface melting across the Greenland’s thick ice sheet is happening at an “unprecedented rate” and won’t be slowing down any time soon. 

Measurements of ice loss depend on satellite images, but these only go back so far and don’t provide a complete picture of the impacts of climate change. 

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> analyzed ice core samples to map ice loss and melting rates dating back as far as the 17th century in Greenland. 

The results, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0752-4">Nature</a>, show that surface melt across Greenland increased during the 19th century and took off in the 20th and 21st century. 

“From a historical perspective, today's melt rates are off the charts, and this study provides the evidence to prove this,” said Sarah Das, the co-author of the study. “We found a fifty percent increase in total ice sheet meltwater runoff versus the start of the industrial era, and a thirty percent increase since the 20th century alone.”

Over half of the ice melt contributing to sea level rise from Greenland comes from snow and ice runoff which the researchers found does not bode well for future sea level rise. 

“Rather than increasing steadily as climate warms, Greenland will melt increasingly more and more for every degree of warming,” said Luke Trusel, the lead author of the study. “The melting and sea level rise we've observed already will be dwarfed by what may be expected in the future as climate continues to warm.” 

Measuring the runoff rates of surface melt is difficult because at lower elevations once ice melts and runs into the ocean, there’s no record of the melt left. However, higher up, surface melt quickly re-freezes and leaves tightly packed layers chronicling the rates and levels of sea ice melt over a long period. 

The researchers took core samples of Greenland's ice sheet at elevations over 6,000 feet above sea level. 

After drilling for the samples, the ice cores were taken back to several labs and analyzed to help determine the thickness and age of each of the core’s layers. Thicker layers coincided with warmer years and higher rates of melting, and thinner layers suggested less surface melting. 

The researchers combined the core sample data with satellite images which helped confirm how quickly surface melt had sped up over the years. 

“We have had a sense that there's been a great deal of melting in recent decades, but we previously had no basis for comparison with melt rates going further back in time,” said Matt Osman, a co-author of the study. “By sampling ice, we were able to extend the satellite data by a factor of 10 and get a clearer picture of just how extremely unusual melting has been in recent decades compared to the past.”

Minimal warming is required to cause significant increases in surface melting, according to the study. The researches worry that as climate change continues, it will only speed up ice sheet loss and drastically impact sea level rise. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Sarah Das, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com </a>

Greenland ice sheet melting at an “unprecedented rate”

Sea ice and ice sheet loss are some of the...

Experts at the <a href="http://www.cnrs.fr/en/aboutcnrs/overview.htm">National Center for Scientific Research</a> (CNRS) have produced the first global map of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) by analyzing satellite measurements that were collected between 2008 and 2016. The IASI interferometer made it possible for the team to document more than 200 sources of ammonia, two-thirds of which had never been identified before. 

The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) is considered to be the most powerful tool onboard the Metop satellites. The IASI has been providing scientists with global data on various atmospheric components for the last twelve years. 

Ammonia emissions, which are mainly caused by <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/feed-livestock-reduce-land-use/">livestock production</a> and industrial activities, are particularly concerning because ammonia breaks down into fine salt particles that have a negative impact on air quality. Despite growing concerns, the processes regulating ammonia emissions are not completely understood on a local or national level. 

Using data from IASI on ammonia levels over a time period of nearly ten years, the researchers created a map of the global atmospheric distribution of ammonia. When the map was combined with satellite imagery, the team identified and categorized 241 point sources of anthropogenic NH3 emissions. The experts pinpointed 83 sources linked to intensive livestock production and 158 sources linked to industrial activities.


The study not only revealed new NH3 sources, but also showed that emissions from known sources have been greatly underestimated. The data changed over time, enabling the researchers to track the influence of human activities, including the expansion of industrial complexes and intensive livestock farming. 

The findings suggest that a comprehensive review of ammonia emissions is needed before management can be improved. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Ammonia emissions have been greatly underestimated

Experts at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) have...

Large amounts of mercury are released into the atmosphere during forest fires, but some of the mercury gets trapped in ash instead. A team of researchers has studied the ash from the recent <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/california-fire-evacuations/">California wildfires</a> to analyze its potential to capture mercury. 

The heat and drought conditions during the summers of 2017 and 2018 fueled hundreds of wildfires in the western United States. In November, two additional wildfires broke out in California. The Camp Fire and the Woolsey Fire were both devastating events that claimed many lives, destroyed homes, and burned up thousands of acres of forest.

The powdery nature of mercury makes it likely to run off into aquatic environments, where it can be converted by microbes into highly toxic methylmercury. It is not clear,  however, what exactly happens to mercury absorbed in wildfire ash, which can be black or white in color. Low-intensity burning creates black ash, while more intense fires generate white ash.

For the current study, which is from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a>, the researchers set out to examine mercury levels and reactivity in black and white ash from the Woolsey and Camp Fires. 

The analysis of mercury levels revealed that black ash, white ash, and unburned vegetation from the wildfire areas contained similar amounts of mercury. However, most of the ash samples contained higher amounts of mercury that was in a chemically non-reactive state compared to the samples from unburned vegetation. 

In addition, stream water mixed with black or white ash for a number of weeks had lower amounts of mercury and methylmercury compared with stream water that contains unburned vegetation. The researchers theorized that black carbon in the ash could bind mercury and keep it in a non-reactive form that is not released into the water.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</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

Wildfire ash traps mercury and keeps it in a non-reactive form

Large amounts of mercury are released into the atmosphere during...

Solar and wind energy are often looked at uncritically by environmental proponents. Any type of energy comes with some cost to the environment though, and solar and wind energy is no different.  

Bats and birds are <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/wind-turbines-bird-populations/">killed</a> every year by wind turbines.  Solar panels can take up large chunks of desert previously used by a host of wildlife from pronghorns and tortoises to coyotes and rattlesnakes.  Without efficiency and reasonable limits to energy use, solar and wind power only benefit the environment so much. There is still an initial input of resources to create wind turbines and solar panels as well.

Solar panels require plastic and metal to produce, and <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/">National Geographic</a> reports that production also requires sodium hydroxide and hydrofluoric acid.  Wind turbines also require enormous amounts of concrete and both solar and wind utilize large amounts of land dedicated to the production of electricity.  The International Union of Concerned Scientists <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/renewable-energy/environmental-impacts-wind-power#.W_mWyDhKj3g">website</a> adds:

“Harnessing power from the wind is one of the cleanest and most sustainable ways to generate electricity as it produces no toxic pollution or global warming emissions. Wind is also abundant, inexhaustible, and affordable, which makes it a viable and large-scale alternative to fossil fuels…Despite its vast potential, there are a variety of environmental impacts associated with wind power generation that should be recognized and mitigated.”

A study the <a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/">Union of Concerned Scientists</a> shows that on average, a wind farm uses 30 to 141 acres per megawatt of electricity produced.  The website goes on to say that some of the land disturbance is temporary and some of the land can still be used for other purposes as well.  Grazing livestock and hiking trails are proposed uses. I’m sure livestock can still graze around wind turbines but I’m also sure I wouldn’t find hiking through a wind farm very fulfilling.  

Other problems include wildlife death.  Birds and bats are killed by wind turbines but studies have found that the impact doesn’t hurt species overall, being relatively low impact.  The placement of wind turbines in areas less frequented by birds and bats can also limit the impact on flying animals. The fact of the matter is, we’re looking at the further impact of wind on an already severely impacted avian (and bat) population.  

Keeping bird and bat populations the same as they are isn’t a bad goal but growing them to healthier, historic numbers is a greater goal.  Could wind installations made across the US hurt the possibility of animal population growth? It’s uncertain but many other impacts would need to be mitigated before it caused a significant problem.  Production of wind turbines has its own impacts though. 

Estimates of carbon dioxide emissions associated with wind energy are between 0.02 pounds and 0.04 pounds per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced.  Electricity from the relatively clean natural gas produces an estimated 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity. A big part of the carbon in wind farm production comes from concrete.  

Footings for a 300 foot wind turbine require up to 30 to 40 truckloads of concrete each, according to <a href="https://www.rutefoundations.com/single-post/2016/1/19/Creating-Wind-Energy-Expansion-in-Rural-Oregon">Rute Foundations</a>, an organization dedicated to making wind use less concrete.  According to <a href="http://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/environmental-impacts-of-concrete/">Green Spec</a>, concrete production is the third greatest producer of anthropomorphic greenhouse gases.  If wind can use less concrete, the impact would be substantial. 

Looking only to carbon emissions is looking at only one part of a greater problem though.  Green Spec barely even mentions that concrete could have other impacts on the environment beyond greenhouse gases.  Limestone mining to create concrete is also problematic. <a href="https://education.seattlepi.com/environmental-hazards-limestone-mining-5608.html">Seattle Pi</a>, an education website, cites problems of ground and surface water pollution from limestone mining.  Concrete also changes how water flows over the earth, how heat is absorbed and released. We can’t expect to know exactly how covering a landscape that was previously empty with wind turbines will impact our world long term if done on a global scale.

Offshore wind turbines are also changing marine ecosystems. <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/608930/first-evidence-that-offshore-wind-farms-are-changing-the-oceans/">MIT Technology Review</a> reports that offshore wind energy production in Europe is creating colonies of marine species where previously there were none.  The offshore turbines are huge but mostly their concrete and steel structures sit underwater. Mussels attach to the turbine footings, creating the basis of an increasingly complex ecosystem surrounding wind turbines.  Who knows if this could change the shape of our ocean in the long term if at sea wind farms continue to grow. 

Meanwhile, solar energy has its own unanswered questions. An article in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2018/05/23/if-solar-panels-are-so-clean-why-do-they-produce-so-much-toxic-waste/#8ba3f30121cc">Forbes</a> asks, ‘If Solar Panels Are So Clean, Why Do They Produce So Much Toxic Waste?’  The piece sums up some problems with solar energy concisely in three statements by a senior Chinese solar official:

“The problem of solar panel disposal “will explode with full force in two or three decades and wreck the environment” because it “is a huge amount of waste and they are not easy to recycle.”

“The reality is that there is a problem now, and it’s only going to get larger, expanding as rapidly as the PV industry expanded 10 years ago.”

“Contrary to previous assumptions, pollutants such as lead or carcinogenic cadmium can be almost completely washed out of the fragments of solar modules over a period of several months, for example by rainwater.””

Disposal or recycling of solar panels, in themselves expensive and resource intensive to produce, is a problem we have not yet come to terms with and it’s important for something billed as environmentally friendly.  It’s projected that solar panel waste could reach 78 million metric tons by 2050, without a way to recycle that waste, it means that much more trash in a landfill and there are some nasty toxins such as cadmium in solar panels that could cause problems we can’t simply bury.               

Pump jacks move with unending consistency across whole prairie regions in places like Wyoming and Texas but slowly wind turbines are replacing them.  Solar panels spread like flowers under the hot desert sun. Our actions often have unintended consequences. The solution to the problem is actually very straightforward.  There are better ways to create electricity than fossil fuels but there is no problem-free way to create electricity. Less is more. 

As counterintuitive as it may sound, especially during this season of mass consumption, the best thing we may be able to do for the environment is nothing.  Use as little electricity as you can no matter where it comes from. Take what you need; nothing more is the perfect axiom. Like a bumper sticker I once saw says to promote meditation, “Don’t just do something.  Sit there.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

The environmental impacts of solar and wind energy

Solar and wind energy are often looked at uncritically by...

An alarming new study led by the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> has found microplastics in the guts of all seven species of sea turtles. The researchers examined more than 100 sea turtles across three different oceans.

In collaboration with Greenpeace Research Laboratories, the team looked for synthetic particles less than 5 millimeters in length, including microplastics, which were discovered to be present in all of the turtles.

The most common synthetic particles found were fibers that may have originated in clothing, cigarette filters, ropes, or fishing nets.

“The effect of these particles on turtles is unknown,” said lead author Dr. Emily Duncan. “Their small size means they can pass through the gut without causing a blockage, as is frequently reported with larger plastic fragments.”

“However, future work should focus on whether microplastics may be affecting aquatic organisms more subtly. For example, they may possibly carry contaminants, bacteria or viruses, or they may affect the turtle at a cellular or subcellular level. This requires further investigation.”

Overall, more than 800 synthetic particles were found in the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sea-turtles-flippers-hands/">sea turtles</a>, but this number is estimated to be about 20 times higher due to the fact that the experts only tested a small portion of the gut in each animal. 

While it is not yet clear how the turtles ingest the particles, the contaminants likely originate in polluted seawater and sediments.

“It really is a great shame that many or even all of the world's sea turtles have now ingested microplastics,” said study senior author Professor Brendan Godley. “At the moment, this is not the main threat to this species group but it is a clear sign that we need to act to better govern global waste.”

Dr. Penelope Lindeque of Plymouth Marine Laboratory added, “While this study has been successful, it does not feel like a success to have found microplastic in the gut of every single turtle we have investigated.”

“From our work over the years we have found microplastic in nearly all the species of marine animals we have looked at; from tiny zooplankton at the base of the marine food web to fish larvae, dolphins and now turtles.

"This study provides more evidence that we all need to help reduce the amount of plastic waste released to our seas and maintain clean, healthy and productive oceans for future generations."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652486">Global Change Biology</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

Microplastics found in the guts of every sea turtle species

An alarming new study led by the University of Exeter...

A new study published December 4th in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2006841">PLOS Biology</a> proves that, as humans alter local environments for their own use, local iconic species are lost and replaced with more common species.

The study, led by Tim Newbold from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> and Andy Purvis from the <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/">Natural History Museum in London</a>, used data from 81 countries provided by more than 500 researchers around the world. Newbold and Purvis found that when humans modify an environment for farming, housing, or urbanizing purposes, we negatively affect the naturally-occurring species in that area. 

Those lost unique animals and plants are soon replaced with species that are able to populate modified environments — species that can be found in many different places globally, like pigeons within cities and rats on farming land.

"As humans, we place great value on animals and plants that are confined to particular locations," said Newbold. "We travel around the world to see animals like tigers in Asia or rhinoceroses in Africa, and animals and plants are often our national emblems."

However, Newbold notes that as humans continue to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/freshwater-bodies-increasingly-polluted/">change and shape environments</a> that hosted unique species, we are actually favoring the development and spread of common species while losing animals and plants that make global environments so unique.

Newbold and Purvis’ findings show how important wildlife conservation is and how humans need to be more aware of how specific animals and plants play into their ecosystem function. The researchers hope to use this new revelation and apply it to their understanding of how human-caused climate change may also be lending a hand in the disappearance of local iconic species and the spread of cosmopolitan ones.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

With human interference, local species are replaced by common ones

A new study published December 4th in the journal PLOS...

Several new studies are exploring the best risk assessment and risk mitigation practices to prepare for future severe weather events. Due to the extreme weather patterns associated with <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>, past strategies are no longer adequate. 

As scientists are considering the possibility of Category 6 hurricanes and sea levels continue to rise, coastal communities are increasingly threatened. Adaptation plans are needed, and researchers are urging local officials to perform risk assessments to identify the biggest dangers in their areas. 

There is considerable debate about which adaptation strategies can realistically reduce the vulnerability of communities. Some measures, such as building sea walls, can inadvertently increase long-term vulnerability. To demonstrate, researchers led by Tom Logan at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> used models combining land use changes and tsunami-inundation. The team has also found that educating a community on hazard awareness can successfully reduce vulnerability.

In another study, a team led by Tamsin Lyle of Ebbwater Consulting Inc. has been working with the city of Vancouver to thoroughly assess flood risk and risk tolerance.

“Some of the tools that we developed and will be presenting push boundaries in terms of coupling flood impacts and likelihoods with non-stationary climate hazards,” said Lyle. “We have added a third dimension to traditional ideas and methods. This was effective at showing how flood mitigation actions work over time.”

In Louisiana, six billion dollars has been allocated to the Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, which is a 50-year plan for reducing flood risk and preventing land loss. The plan involves flood risk reduction measures such as elevating homes, floodproofing commercial properties, and buying out high-risk assets. 

However, the plan still lacks a solid implementation strategy as well as established mitigation standards. Dr. David R. Johnson at Purdue University is leading a team of researchers that has identified the best strategies for implementing the plan. Their recommendations, which are based on a wide range of future climate conditions, will improve upon the expected risk reduction of similar projects.

The studies will be presented at the 2018 <a href="http://www.sra.org/">Society for Risk Analysis</a> (SRA) Annual Meeting at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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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 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

New strategies needed to prepare for flooding and sea level rise

Several new studies are exploring the best risk assessment and...

According to scientists at <a href="http://www.usu.edu/">Utah State University</a> (USU), one out of every four bee species in the United States is found in Utah, and there are more bee species across the state than most others in the country. About half of these species live within the former boundaries of the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/trump-grand-staircase-escalante/">Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument</a>, which is shrinking due to legislation that was passed last year.

“The monument is a hotspot of bee diversity,” said Joseph Wilson, an associate professor in USU's Department of Biology. 

Last month, along with several other scientists, Professor Wilson reported on 660 bee species identified in the protected region. A follow-up study was conducted to examine the impacts from the reduction of the monument. The researchers found that 87 percent of the 660 bee species still exist within the reduced boundaries of the monument. 

“But that leaves about 84 species no longer inhabiting protected land,” said Professor Wilson. “This includes some new, undescribed species, as well as ‘morphospecies,’ which are unique individuals that don't match known species.”

Furthermore, some species that are only known to exist in the Mojave Desert are now among the bees outside of the protected area.

“This is significant because these are 'edge' populations,” said Professor Wilson. “That is, in the face of climate change, they could be the first to go extinct as the region gets hotter and drier, or the area could provide a refuge for populations of the same species now inhabiting the Mojave desert.”

The lack of consideration of pollinators in the new management plans for the monument is an even bigger concern, said Professor Wilson.

“Will the reduction in monument size affect the pollinators? We don't know. But if development is allowed in the unprotected areas, say, mining, road development, more recreational development than, yes, pollinator habitat could be lost.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://peerj.com/">PeerJ</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 

Image Credit: Joseph S. Wilson, USU

Some bee species will vanish as Grand-Staircase Escalante shrinks

According to scientists at Utah State University (USU), one out...

Shocking new research led by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a> has revealed that marine organisms can absorb billions of plastic nanoparticles in a matter of hours. The study was focused on the great scallop, which is an edible saltwater species found in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. 

In a lab experiment, the scallop accumulated billions of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-ingest-microplastics/">plastic</a> nanoparticles after just six hours of exposure. The researchers found an alarming number of particles measuring approximately 250 nanometers in the scallop’s intestines. However, they discovered even more particles measuring 20 nanometers in other parts of the body,  including the kidney, muscle, and the gill.

The study, which was led by Dr. Maya Al Sid Cheikh, is the first to quantify the uptake of nanoparticles at predicted environmentally relevant conditions.

“For this experiment, we needed to develop an entirely novel scientific approach,” explained Dr. Cheikh. “We made nanoparticles of plastic in our laboratories and incorporated a label so that we could trace the particles in the body of the scallop at environmentally relevant concentrations. The results of the study show for the first time that nanoparticles can be rapidly taken up by a marine organism, and that in just a few hours they become distributed across most of the major organs.”

Professor Richard Thompson added, “This is a groundbreaking study, in terms of both the scientific approach and the findings. We only exposed the scallops to nanoparticles for a few hours and, despite them being transferred to clean conditions, traces were still present several weeks later.”  

“Understanding the dynamics of nanoparticle uptake and release, as well as their distribution in body tissues, is essential if we are to understand any potential effects on organisms. A key next step will be to use this approach to guide research investigating any potential effects of nanoparticles and in particular to consider the consequences of longer term exposures.”

The researchers used autoradiography to examine the number of particles present in organs and tissue. This technology was also used to determine how long it took for the particles to be flushed out of the scallop’s system. The team found that it took 14 days for the smallest particles to disappear and 48 days for the particles measuring 250 nanometers to be released. 

“Understanding whether plastic particles are absorbed across biological membranes and accumulate within internal organs is critical for assessing the risk these particles pose to both organism and human health,” said Professor Ted Henry. “The novel use of radiolabelled plastic particles pioneered in Plymouth provides the most compelling evidence to date on the level of absorption of plastic particles in a marine organism.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</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 

Image Credit: University of Plymouth

Ocean animals can absorb billions of plastic particles in just hours

Shocking new research led by the University of Plymouth has...

Research funded by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>, the <a href="https://sealevel.nasa.gov/">NASA Sea Level Change Team</a>, and the <a href="https://www.energy.gov/">U.S. Department of Energy</a> shows that uneven sea level rise that occurred within the last quarter century can partly be blamed on human-caused <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>. Furthermore, regions where the sea level has increased as a higher-than-average rate will continue to see an increase in ocean height as atmospheric temperatures continue to warm.

This study, published on December 3rd in <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>, relied on data from the satellite altimetry sea level record, which has been collecting sea surface height measurements since 1993. Scientists and members of the NASA Sea Level Change Team John Fasullo from the <a href="https://ncar.ucar.edu/">National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)</a> and Steve Nerem from the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a>, used this existing data to predict future global sea level rise and how certain regions diverge from the average.

"By knowing that climate change is playing a role in creating these regional patterns, we can be more confident that these same patterns may linger or even intensify in the future if climate change continues unabated," Fasullo said. "With sea levels projected to rise a couple of feet or more this century on average, information about expected regional differences could be critical for coastal communities as they prepare."

Nerem and Fasullo noted that the U.S. West Coast and the oceans around Antarctica have had lower-than-average sea level rise, whereas the U.S. East Coast and Southeast Asia have experienced the opposite. These regional differences depend on where warm water is stored within the ocean, how heat is transported around the global via wind, and the melting of ice sheets.

However, by using climate models, Nerem and Fasullo were able to determine that half of sea level variation is caused by climate change. This has proved difficult to determine in the past because climate change factors can sometimes present themselves as natural occurrences when in fact a direct result of human activity.

The study’s findings are crucial for coastal officials to take note of, and the scientists’ model system can be used to forecast sea level rise in at-risk regions across the globe. “We now have a new tool — long-term satellite altimeter measurements — that we can use to help stakeholders who need information for specific locations,” Nerem said.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

New study reveals uneven sea level rise is linked to climate change

Research funded by the National Science Foundation, the NASA Sea...

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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



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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



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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 



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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



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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



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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



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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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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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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



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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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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

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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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