West Greenland is renowned for its blue lakes that supply drinking water and help sequester atmospheric carbon.&nbsp;



However, following two months of record heat and heavy rainfall in fall 2022, researchers discovered that an estimated 7,500 of these lakes turned brown, began emitting carbon, and suffered a decline in water quality.&nbsp;



This dramatic change, reported in a study published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2413855122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> (PNAS), underscores how extreme climate events can push <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-lakes-produce-less-methane-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic lakes</a> past critical tipping points.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-changes-in-a-short-time">Unprecedented changes in a short time</h2>



Led by Fulbright Distinguished Arctic Scholar Jasmine Saros of the <a href="https://climatechange.umaine.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maine Climate Change Institute</a>, an international team investigated the rapid transformation of these lakes. 



By July 2023, less than a year after the extreme fall weather, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the lakes had undergone widespread alterations - changes that would normally unfold over centuries.



“The magnitude of this and the rate of change were unprecedented,” said Saros, who also serves as a professor of paleolimnology and lake ecology at UMaine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-climate-extremes-affected-greenland-lakes">How climate extremes affected Greenland lakes</h2>



Greenland typically sees snowfall in the fall, but record temperatures turned precipitation into rain. This shift, combined with the heat, caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/permafrost-is-no-longer-permanent-arctic-communities-in-danger/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">permafrost</a> - frozen soil rich in organic carbon and minerals - to thaw. 



As rainwater washed through the thawing ground, it carried an abundance of carbon, iron, magnesium, and other elements into the lakes, turning their waters brown.



The influx of dissolved organic carbon and nutrients fueled bacterial growth, affecting the lakes’ taste, odor, and color. Increased metals in the water raised health concerns as well.



“The increased dissolved organic material can interact with drinking water treatment processes to produce chlorination byproducts called trihalomethanes, which may be carcinogenic,” Saros explained.



Such changes not only impact water quality but also have broader implications for local communities relying on these lakes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disrupted-ecosystems-and-the-carbon-cycle">Disrupted ecosystems and the carbon cycle</h2>



As the lakes turned brown, water transparency declined, reducing light penetration and altering <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-at-risk-global-warming-threatens-the-oceans-lifeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plankton</a> dynamics. Reduced light hindered phytoplankton that normally absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, while organisms that break down organic matter increased. 



This shift transformed the lakes from carbon sinks into significant sources of carbon dioxide, with emissions rising by 350%.



“Because the lakes turned so brown, it reduced the light coming into the system, which tends to favor organisms that use organic carbon pathways instead of photosynthesis,” Saros said.



This change in plankton behavior and carbon cycling has major ramifications for the Arctic carbon budget and local biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-atmospheric-rivers">The role of atmospheric rivers</h2>



The researchers pinpointed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atmospheric-rivers-will-become-more-intense-as-temperatures-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmospheric rivers</a> - long, narrow streams of water vapor - as the likely cause of the extreme weather. These phenomena brought record-breaking heat and rainfall to the region. 



The <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA) predicts that atmospheric rivers will become much more frequent in Greenland and other parts of the world by the end of the century, potentially leading to more events like those of fall 2022.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-will-the-lakes-of-greenland-recover">Will the lakes of Greenland recover?</h2>



The abrupt transformation raises pressing questions about recovery: Will the lakes return to their former blue state, or will changes persist?&nbsp;



“It was such an overwhelming climate force that drove all the lakes to respond in the same way. When it comes to recovery, will it be the same across lakes or different?” Saros pondered.



Ongoing monitoring and additional research are crucial. The team’s work relied on long-term observations, including annual water sampling and year-round remote sensors, which allowed them to capture the rapid changes caused by the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-extremes-in-2024-what-have-we-learned/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme climate event</a>.



“Our study demonstrates the power of long-term observation. I’ve been working in this area since 2013, and have worked on many projects here. But in the background, my colleagues and I have been trying to maintain a consistent data set of observations,” Saros said.&nbsp;



“That’s how we were able to capture and quantify the effects of this extreme climate event.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-on-greenland-lakes">Future research on Greenland lakes</h2>



The study was made possible through extensive collaboration among researchers from UMaine, NOAA, and various international institutions, as well as contributions from numerous PhD students.&nbsp;



This collective effort has provided valuable insights into how extreme weather events can drastically alter lake ecosystems and carbon dynamics.



As atmospheric rivers become more frequent, understanding their impact on Arctic lakes like those in West Greenland is essential.&nbsp;



Further research into how these lakes recover and how similar events affect other regions will help scientists develop strategies to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.



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Thousands of lakes in Greenland have crossed a tipping point from which they can't recover

West Greenland is renowned for its blue lakes that supply drinking water and help sequester atmospheric carbon.&nbsp; However, following two months of record heat and heavy rainfall in fall 2022, researchers discovered that an estimated 7,500 of these lakes turned brown, began emitting carbon, and suffered a decline in water quality.&nbsp; This dramatic change, reported in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), underscores how extreme climate events can push Arctic lakes past critical tipping points. Unprecedented changes in a short...

The sparkling white sand of Florida’s southwestern beaches aren’t dotted with sunbathers this week. Instead, they’re strewn with the corpses of dead marine creatures, victims of a red tide.

While the toxic algae blooms known as “red tides” are common off the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, the <a href="https://floridadep.gov/">Florida Department of Environmental Protection</a> is calling the current event the worst in a decade. The state’s governor has declared a state of emergency.

At least 400 sea turtles have died, Newsweek is reporting. Several news outlets reported that a dead manatee was also recovered off the Florida coast, and at least one biologist found evidence the red tide may have killed a whale shark. Tissue taken from the whale shark’s organs and muscles tested positive for brevetoxin, a neurotoxin created by the algae.

“This whale shark was definitely exposed to the bloom, and we know brevetoxins (are deadly),” spokeswoman Kelly Richmond of the <a href="http://myfwc.com/">Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission</a> told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</a>.

While biologists are still working to determine the cause of death, if the algae bloom did play a role, it would be the first known incident in which a whale shark has been killed by a bloom.

About 100 miles of the Florida shore have been affected, and the red tide looks like a persistent one. The algae bloom – which gets its name because the microscopic algae often turn water red – has already lasted since November of last year, and could stretch into 2019, some scientists are saying.

“Many people will tell you that this is the worst they have ever seen,” Jacylin Bevis, a reporter with the NBC affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida, told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/">NBC News</a>. “It’s our entire south Florida coastline with the red tide and then with the blue-green algae on the rivers and canals."

Most algae blooms are beneficial to the ocean, providing a source of food for marine creatures. Red tides, on the other hand, produce toxins that can harm or kill sea life.

Usually, cold spells break up or kill off some of the algae, but not this time. The red tide is going strong – and has been joined by toxic blue-green algae invading Lake Okeechobee, and several of the state’s rivers and canals, <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/">Newsweek</a> said.

More than a dozen people have gone to the emergency room after exposure to the blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Red tide kills hundreds of fish, turtles in southwest Florida

The sparkling white sand of Florida’s southwestern beaches aren’t dotted...

After a severe <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/next-san-andreas-fault-earthquake/">earthquake</a>, the biggest fears are typically aftershocks and tsunamis near the initial epicenter of the quake. 

However, new research shows that there’s actually a higher risk of greater magnitude earthquakes following a big quake and these can occur on the very opposite end of the Earth. 

Researchers from <a href="https://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> discovered that there is a three-day window following a big quake with an increased risk of a large earthquake occurring. 

In order to examine the impacts of earthquakes beyond aftershocks, the researchers reviewed and analyzed seismic data from 1973 through 2016, focusing on earthquakes with a magnitude 6.5 or larger. 

After these kinds of earthquakes, the researchers studied global seismic data for a period of three days immediately following the quake. 

The researchers injected a three-day window in test cases for the larger quakes during the 44-year period and had a control group without quake injection periods. 

The team found that higher magnitude earthquakes were more likely to occur after a large quake, and these quakes happened outside of the zone of the first quake, with an increased risk of seismic activity on the opposite part of the world. 

Seismologists now need to be aware that beyond aftershocks, there is an increased risk of large quakes 5.0 or higher following an initial earthquake. 

“The test cases showed a clearly detectable increase over background rates,” said Robert O’Malley, a corresponding author of the study. “The understanding of the mechanics of how one earthquake could initiate another while being widely separated in distance and time is still largely speculative. But irrespective of the specific mechanics involved, evidence shows that triggering does take place, followed by a period of quiescence and recharge.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Big earthquakes can set off tremors on the opposite side of Earth

After a severe earthquake, the biggest fears are typically aftershocks...

For years, Americans were in love with plastic, unaware of its harmful effects on our environment and oceans. Today, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/starbucks-plastic-straws/">plastic straws</a> are rapidly being rejected by companies, people are opting out of single-use plastics, and microplastic is becoming a household word of concern. Microfibers have largely been left out of this conversation, despite the fact that we are shedding them into our waterways every time we wash our clothes.

According to the<a href="https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/"> Marine Debris Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, microfibers are “also a type of microplastic. They include small fibers that enter the water from washing clothing made of synthetic materials, like polyester or nylon.”

These tiny fibers can become dislodged from clothing while in the washing machine. Their small size often allows them the make it through filters at sewage treatment plants where they can enter our waterways. Unfortunately, spandex did not die in the 80s, and many clothing items available today are made with synthetic materials.

A<a href="https://brenmicroplastics.weebly.com/project-findings.html"> study</a> by a research team at the <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California Santa Barbara</a> Bren School of Environmental Science &amp; Management found that when a synthetic jacket is washed, an average of 1,174 milligrams of microfibers are released from the washing machine.

Since washing clothing is such a common occurrence throughout many homes, the potential damage are huge.<a href="http://www.adventurescientists.org/microplastics.html"> The Microplastics Initiative of Adventure Scientists</a> conducted what is believed to be the most extensive documentation of microplastic pollution in the world. They found that “across studies, microfibers, as opposed to other types of microplastics, were dominant: microfibers composed 91% of marine particles, 92% of freshwater particles, and 80% of Gallatin particles.”

Once in our oceans, marine animals can accidentally ingest the microfibers where they can cause starvation and reproductive issues.

A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X12005668">study</a> published in Marine Pollution Bulletin examining microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of fish from the English Channel found rayon was the most common material with 57.8% of the plastic pieces found being rayon.

After being ingested, microfibers can travel up the food chain. Humans and predator species are at risk of ingesting microfibers through eating affected animals. The effects of microfibers on humans is still unknown.

Microfibers are clearly a pressing issue but the solution is less clear. While people can invest in biodegradable clothing materials such as cotton and wool, synthetic fibers are hard to avoid completely.

People can take small steps such as washing synthetic fabrics less often and using a colder wash setting.

Industry and non-profit groups are working towards researching potential solutions. In 2017, Ocean Conservancy and the Bren School of Environmental Science &amp; Management held a microfiber summit which featured stakeholders in the apparel, outdoor recreation, scientific and government sectors.

Outdoor apparel company Patagonia is currently investigating ways to minimize fiber shedding from their clothes and is supporting scientific research on the ecological and public health impacts of microfibers.

While a solution may not be on the horizon, public education and awareness can help shed some light on this issue.

--

By <a href="mailto:brianna.grant134@gmail.com">Brianna Lynne</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Microfibers shed from your clothing are polluting our oceans

For years, Americans were in love with plastic, unaware of...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/">British Heart Foundation</a> (BHF) has revealed that exposure to low levels of air pollution can cause major structural changes to the heart that are similar to those associated with the early stages of heart failure.

A team of scientists at <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/">Queen Mary University of London</a> analyzed data from around 4,000 individuals in the UK Biobank study. For this research, participants had reported on their lifestyles, health, and where they lived. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure the size, weight, and function of the participants' hearts at fixed times.

Furthermore, the researchers eliminated all participants who had moved during the study or had underlying <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/when-the-weather-gets-colder-heart-attacks-get-more-lethal/">heart problems</a>.


The experts found a clear association between individuals who were exposed to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the development of larger right and left ventricles in the heart. Although the participants were healthy and showed no symptoms, the same restructuring of the heart is seen in the early stages of heart failure.

In addition, exposure to higher levels of the pollutants was linked to more extreme changes in the heart. For example, the heart was found to be enlarged by an additional one percent for every 1 extra μg per cubic meter of PM2.5 and for every 10 extra μg per cubic meter of NO2.

“Although our study was observational and hasn't yet shown a causal link, we saw significant changes in the heart, even at relatively low levels of air pollution exposure,” said study lead author Dr. Nay Aung.

Air pollution has become the biggest environmental risk factor linked to deaths across England. In addition, coronary heart disease and stroke account for 58 percent of deaths related to outdoor air pollution globally.

Professor Jeremy Pearson is an associate medical director at the BHF.


“We can't expect people to move home to avoid air pollution - Governments and public bodies must be acting right now to make all areas safe and protect the population from these harms.”

“What is particularly worrying is that the levels of air pollution, particularly PM2.5, at which this study saw people with heart remodelling are not even deemed particularly high by the UK Government - this is why we are calling for the WHO guidelines to be adopted. They are less than half of UK legal limits and while we know there are no safe limits for some forms of air pollution, we believe this is a crucial step in protecting the nation's heart health.”


Dr. Aung said: “Our future studies will include data from those living in inner cities like Central Manchester and London, using more in-depth measurements of heart function, and we would expect the findings to be even more pronounced and clinically important.”

"Air pollution should be seen as a modifiable risk factor. Doctors and the general public all need to be aware of the their exposure when they think about their heart health, just like they think about their blood pressure, their cholesterol and their weight."


The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/circ">Circulation</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Air pollution causes major changes in the heart’s structure

A new study from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has...

Despite the cancer-causing risks of glyphosate used in the herbicide Roundup, the chemical is being used to control water hyacinths growing along the Sacramento, San Joaquin River Delta. 

The <a href="http://www.dbw.ca.gov/">California Department of Boating and Waterways</a> sprayed Roundup along local marinas to eradicate the hyacinths.  

Roundup is an effective herbicide and prevents the plants from clogging the marina’s channel head, according to <a href="https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/07/30/roundup-glyphosate-cancer-delta/">CBS Sacramento</a>. 

Use of glyphosate along the marina has met with mixed reviews as there are those that are concerned about the harmful effects of being exposed to the chemical. 

“I know the hyacinth causes a lot of problems and we have to figure out ways of irradiating it, spraying is the easiest way, but it comes with risks,” Christina Fugazi, Stockton City Councilwoman told CBS Sacramento. 

Monsanto, the company that developed Roundup and made it available to the masses, is facing hundreds of lawsuits in regards to glyphosate’s carcinogenic properties. 

It’s listed as a cancer-causing chemical in California and in 2015 the <a href="https://www.iarc.fr/">International Agency for Research on Cancer,</a> which is part of the <a href="http://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a>, labeled glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen.”

Earlier this year, it was announced that Federal Judge Vince Chhabria would be <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/claims-roundup-cancer/">ruling over a Roundup case </a>with claims that it causes non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

There seems to be a fierce split in regards to whether or not glyphosate and Roundup are safe, but it remains one of the most widely used herbicides around the world. 

The fact that it continues to be so easily accessible and widely distributed isn’t helping resolve its status as a harmless herbicide or cancer-causing carcinogen. 

“Roundup is everywhere and it’s at Orchard Supply and Home Depot, it’s everywhere," Russ Romero, a Stockton City resident told CBS Sacramento. "It’s big time, everyone has weeds and everyone uses it…it causes cancer, it’s on the news, but yet I bought it." 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Despite health risks, herbicide Roundup used in California river

Despite the cancer-causing risks of glyphosate used in the herbicide...

On Thursday, the Trump administration officially announced plans to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-freeze-fuel-efficiency-standards/">freeze fuel efficiency standards through 2026</a>.

The previous fuel efficiency mandates put in place by the Obama Administration required that cars have an mpg standard of 34.5 miles in 2016 with plans to increase to 54.5 miles by 2025. 

The Trump administration along with <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">the Environmental Protection Agency</a> ague that fuel is cheaper, consumers want more buying power, fuel efficiency standards cost auto manufacturers, and freezing standards is actually safer and cheaper for Americans. 

Environmentalists and those who were in favor of Obama’s fuel standards say that in reality, the freeze will result in the exact opposite, more expensive cars, more money spent on gas, and less priority put on safety. 

Many in the automotive industry felt that the Obama fuel efficiency standards would not only limit buyer options and make cars more expensive.

California, along several other states, have their own legal waiver to maintain their own standards for fuel efficiency and environmental protections granted under the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-clean-air-act-weaken/">Clean Air Act of 1970. </a>

Trump’s new freeze will address those freedoms and could limit California’s ability to maintain their own tailpipe emissions standards. 

Already, the state of California is preparing to take legal actions against the administration if the freeze is officially upheld and followed through. 

The freeze was announced following an analysis published by the <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a> and the Environmental Protection Agency that estimated that freezing fuel-efficiency could save $500 billion and avoid thousands of traffic fatalities, according to the<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/2018/08/01/90c818ac-9125-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html?utm_term=.1d371d737151"> Washington Post. </a>

However, regardless of fuel cost, the analysis also admitted that reducing efficiency standards would contribute to climate change due to an increase in carbon emissions. 

Many environmental organizations are deeply concerned about the ramifications the fuel efficiency freeze will have on atmospheric greenhouse gas levels and in turn climate extremes. 

Not only that, but many studies have found that exposure to pollution is harmful to health and wellbeing and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and respiratory problems. 

“By 2030, the pollution equivalent of this rollback will be like firing up 30 coal power plants,” Paul Cort, an attorney at the advocacy group <a href="https://earthjustice.org/">Earthjustice</a>, said in a statement. “It’s a boon for big oil that ordinary Americans will pay for with their health and their wallets.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Trump admin announces plan to freeze fuel efficiency standards

On Thursday, the Trump administration officially announced plans to freeze...

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) have found that a large region of China, home to one of the densest human populations on the planet, may become uninhabitable by the year 2070 if drastic measures are not taken to mitigate climate change.

According to the study, China’s most populated and agriculturally significant region, known as the known as the North China Plain, could experience a repeated pattern of heat and humidity that people cannot survive for extended periods of time. 

Across the North China Plain, the high threat of deadly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-waves-brain-performance/">heat waves</a> is exacerbated by intensive irrigation, a process which leads to high levels of humidity from evaporated water. This humidity makes the heat more stressful to the human body.

The MIT team previously conducted two separate studies which predicted deadly heat waves in the Persian Gulf and in South Asia as well. In this third study, they have found that the North China Plain will be hit the hardest and faces the greatest risk to human life anywhere in the world due to the potential for extreme heat waves.

Study co-author Professor Elfatih Eltahir explained that survivability in hot weather involves a “wet-bulb” measurement of the combination of heat and humidity. At a wet-bulb temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, a healthy person would have difficulty surviving the outdoors for more than six hours. 

The MIT researchers predict that the North China Plain will reach this threshold multiple times in the last three decades of this century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate.

“This spot is just going to be the hottest spot for deadly heat waves in the future, especially under climate change,” said Professor Eltahir.

The experts ran detailed climate model simulations across the North China Plain for the past 30 years and selected only the models that most accurately predicted the actual conditions that were observed.

Using these models, they simulated two different future scenarios under the current rate of emissions and under a rate that was moderately reduced. Each of these simulations was conducted twice to account for the effects of irrigation in one scenario but not in the other.

The team was surprised to find that irrigation alone added about a half-degree Celsius to the overall warming in the region.

Despite the fact that additional moisture in the air produces some local cooling effect at ground level, this benefit is more than cancelled out by higher humidity and extra water vapor in the air.

The researchers emphasized the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid such extreme heat waves in the future.

“China is currently the largest contributor to the emissions of greenhouse gases, with potentially serious implications to its own population: Continuation of the current pattern of global emissions may limit habitability of the most populous region of the most populous country on Earth,” wrote the study authors.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</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>

China’s most populated region may become uninhabitable by 2070

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found...

The Maya civilization was one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world, leaving marvels of architecture and a very famous calendar in its wake. The Mayans spread throughout much of Central America and historians have split the Maya reign into four main periods from 200 BCE to 1539 CE. 

However, during the 9th century, the once dominating rule of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-mayans-raised-dogs/">Mayan</a> dynasties ended following a political collapse in the central Maya region. 

At first, researchers could only speculate as to what caused one of the world’s greatest civilizations to collapse, with everything from war to collapsing trade routes suggested as possible theories for Maya’s demise. 

Then in the 1990s, it was discovered that the collapse of Maya civilization correlated with a severe drought. 

Now, a new study has finally calculated the severity of the drought that occurred 1,000 years ago and led to the Maya downfall. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> and the <a href="http://www.ufl.edu/">University of Florida</a> created a method to calculate climate conditions during the fall of the Maya civilization by measuring water isotopes in the mineral gypsum. 

Gypsum forms when water levels are lowered and the researchers collected gypsum from Lake Chichancanab in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula where the Mayans were based. The results of the study were published in the journal Science. 

“The role of climate change in the collapse of Classic Maya civilization is somewhat controversial, partly because previous records are limited to qualitative reconstructions, for example, whether conditions were wetter or drier,” said Nick Evans, the first author of the study. “Our study represents a substantial advance as it provides statistically robust estimates of rainfall and humidity levels during the Maya downfall.”

The researchers used a geochemical process to measure the amount of water trapped within gypsum from Chichcanacab and analyzed the different isotopes of water contained within. 

This allowed the researchers to estimate climate conditions, precipitation, humidity and reconstruct the history of the lake between 800 and 1000 CE. 

The researchers discovered that during the Maya civilization's collapse, annual precipitations dropped between 41 percent and 54 percent. Rainfall during this times was reduced by 70 percent and there was a decline in humidity. 

Now thanks to this study, researchers not only have a better quantitative understanding of the drought conditions during the Maya civilization collapse but are also one step closer to solving one of the ancient world’s greatest mysteries. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Nick Evans

Severe drought caused the collapse of the Maya civilization

The Maya civilization was one of the greatest civilizations of...

The air quality in the United States has greatly benefited from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-fiat-violating-clean-air-act/">Clean Air Act</a>, which is now nearly 50 years old. Despite this progress, the bill is taking some hard hits from the Trump administration. Most recently, the federal government is focused on lowering vehicle emissions standards.

Earlier this week, however, acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Andrew Wheeler was praising the influence of the Clean Air Act as <a href="https://gispub.epa.gov/air/trendsreport/2018/">Our Nation's Air 2018</a> was released.

The annual air quality report announced that the combined emissions of six common pollutants including fine particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide decreased by 73 percent from 1970 to 2017.

“This progress occurred while the U.S. economy continued to grow, Americans drove more miles and population and energy use increased,” the report states.

Wheeler said in a statement: “These are remarkable achievements that should be recognized, celebrated, and replicated around the around the world.”

“A 73% reduction in any other social ill, such as crime, disease, or drug addition would lead the evening news.”

Critics say that, while boasting about the impact of the Clean Air Act, the EPA is preparing to weaken regulations on fuel efficiency and vehicle emissions, and may strip states such as California of their rights to impose higher standards.

Jeremy Symons is the Vice President for Climate Political Affairs at the <a href="https://www.edf.org/">Environmental Defense Fund</a>.

According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/">Bloomberg</a>, Symons said that proposed changes to the Clean Air Act by the Trump administration are “putting the air we breathe in severe peril” and “reversing decades of clean air progress.”

“If polluter lobbyists had gotten their way for the past 40 years like they do under Trump, we wouldn’t have the clean air today that has improved the health and lives of millions of Americans,” Symons told the news agency. 

“The only reason pollution hasn’t gotten worse yet is because the courts have stopped Trump’s reckless attempts to roll back Clean Air Act protections that have successfully reduced pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks.”

--

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>

EPA praises the Clean Air Act despite ongoing plans to weaken it

The air quality in the United States has greatly benefited...

Where did all of the plastic come from? Plastic: the fall from hero of innovation to city-wide bans. 

In 1983, Norman Mailer told <a href="https://www.harvardmagazine.com/">Harvard Magazine</a>, “I sometimes think that there is a malign force loose in the universe that is the social equivalent of cancer, and it’s plastic. It infiltrates everything. It’s metastasis. It gets into every single pore of productive life…” Where did all of the plastic come from? 

The idea Mailer had thirty years ago has recently come to public focus in the form of company and city wide bans on the practice of single-use plastics, mainly <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/starbucks-plastic-straws/">straws</a>. Now that action is finally being done to address the overuse of plastics and abundance of plastic pollution in our oceans, let’s look back and see how the material grew in popularity to become the massive problem that it is today. After all, <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=texas&amp;cvid=3770fa915754407682649a746df95ac9&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Texas</a> sized islands of pollution weren’t built in a day. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-meadows-remove-plastic-debris-from-the-ocean/">Plastic</a> is so ingrained into modern lifestyles it is hard to imagine when there was a time without it and how we may return to a more ethical use of plastic in an effort to go green and save our oceans. Understanding the diversity, amount, and history of plastic may be an important component of figuring out realistic ways of eliminating and replacing it.

The first man-made plastic was created in 1862 but it was not until the 1900s when plastic was used commercially beginning with military use in weaponry and equipment. By the 1940s, nylon, acrylic, neoprene, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and polyethylene were commonly found around America. 

Between 1940 and 1945, the demand for plastic increased rapidly and tripled in production due to the war, government funding, oversight and the material’s versatility. This led to more inventions in the sector and the variety of plastics took off to include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl, polyvinylidence chloride (SaranTM), Teflon, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). 

PVC is generally found in vegetable oil bottles and food wraps; PET is commonly used in beverage and food containers; HDPE is mostly utilized in the making of milk and detergent bottles; LDPE is a component in plastic bags and shrink wrap; PP can be found in margarine and yogurt containers; and PS often makes egg cartons and disposable utensils. 

Although the first bottled soda water in America was invented in 1835, plastic bottles for soft drinks weren’t common practice until 1970, and the first PET bottle was made three years later. The first plastic straws were made using toxic polystyrene, but now safer and more flexible polypropylene or polyethylene is used instead. 

Milo Cress, a 17 year-old on a mission to calculate how many straws Americans use on a daily basis, estimated that 500 million straws — clear plastic straws, bendy straws, straws on juice boxes, cocktail straws and plastic drink stirrers included —  are wasted everyday by Americans. Though straws make up a small percentage of overall plastic use, banning them is a meaningful step against the 8 million metric tons of plastic building up in our oceans.

The companies and cities around the world listed below are actively banning plastic straws in a conscious effort to reduce plastic waste: 
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">New York City, Hawaii, and California have pending straw ban legislation.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">California: Alameda, Carmel, San Luis Obispo, Davis, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Oakland, Richmond, and Berkeley</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Washington: Seattle and Edmonds</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">New Jersey: Monmouth Beach</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Florida: Miami Beach and Fort Myers Beach</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Vancouver, Canada  </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Scotland plans to be rid of plastic straws by 2019</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Taiwan is banning single-use plastic items, including straws, cups and shopping bags, by 2030</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">In the U.K. Queen Elizabeth II banned plastic straws and bottles from all royal estates,  cafes, and gift shops and Prime Minister Theresa May announced a Britain-wide ban on the sale of plastic straws, stirrers, and plastic cotton swabs. British businesses like Waitrose, London City Airport, McDonalds UK, and Costa Coffee are banning straws. </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">American Airlines </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Alaska Airlines</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Hyatt </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Bon Appétit, a large food service company, is getting rid of plastic straws in all 1,000 of its cafes across 33 states, including locations like AT&amp;T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Getty Museum, Vassar College, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Portland in Oregon. The company plans to fully switch to paper straws by September 2019.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Ryanair aims to be “plastic free” by 2023</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Marriott is implementing a straw ban globally by the end of 2019</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Disney to eliminate plastic straws from all locations by 2019</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Starbucks </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">McDonald’s</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Seaworld Entertainment </li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Royal Carribean by the end of 2018 </li>
</ul>
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By <a href="mailto:bianca@earth.com">Bianca Vierra</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Where did all of the plastic come from?

Where did all of the plastic come from? Plastic: the...

Research from the <a href="https://carnegiescience.edu/">Carnegie Institution for Science</a> has found that blue diamonds, such as the world-famous Hope Diamond at the National Museum of Natural History, formed up to four times deeper in the Earth's mantle than most other diamonds.

“These so-called type IIb diamonds are tremendously valuable, making them hard to get access to for scientific research purposes, and it is very rare to find one that contains inclusions, which are tiny mineral crystals trapped inside the diamond,” said study lead author Evan Smith.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diamonds-found-buried/">Diamonds</a> contain remnants of minerals from the rocks that they crystallized in, which can tell scientists about the conditions under which they formed.

Type IIb diamonds get their blue color from the element boron, an element that is mostly found on the Earth's surface. However, the analysis of mineral grains found in 46 blue diamonds indicate that they crystallized in rocks that only exist under the extreme pressure and conditions of the Earth's lower mantle.

The research team established that blue diamonds form at least as deep as the transition zone between the upper and lower mantle, which is around 410 to 660 kilometers below the planet's surface. The scientists also found clear evidence that some of the diamonds came from deeper than 660 kilometers, or 410 miles, which means they formed in the lower mantle. 


It is a mystery how the boron got down into the Earth's lower mantle when it is usually found in the shallow crust. The experts theorize that it came from the seafloor and was transferred during the movement of tectonic plates in a process known as subduction.

The researchers also propose that boron from the Earth's surface was incorporated into water-rich minerals like serpentine, which crystallized during geochemical reactions between seawater and the rocks of the oceanic plate.

The new discovery reveals that the water-bearing minerals can make their way far deeper into the mantle than previously realized, indicating that a super-deep hydrological cycle may exist.

“Most previous studies of super-deep diamonds had been carried out on diamonds of low quality,” explained study co-author Stephen Shirey. “But between our 2016 finding that the world's biggest and most-valuable colorless diamonds formed from metallic liquid deep inside Earth's mantle and this new discovery that blue diamonds also have super-deep origins, we now know that the finest gem-quality diamonds come from the farthest down in our planet.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://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

Image Credit: Evan Smith/GIA

Some blue diamonds formed 400 miles below Earth’s surface

Research from the Carnegie Institution for Science has found that...

A new study from the <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawaii at Mānoa</a> School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) has revealed that common plastics emit several greenhouse gases as they degrade in the environment.


The production rate of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americans-plastic-straws/">plastic</a> is expected to double over the next two decades, and the degradation of plastic is already known to release a variety of chemicals that can have a negative impact on ecosystems.

The SOEST researchers have made the unexpected discovery that plastics produce methane and ethylene when exposed to sunlight. The team tested the most common plastic materials used to make food storage products, textiles, construction materials, and various plastic goods. 

All of these plastics were found to produce the harmful emissions, including polycarbonate, acrylic, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, high-density polyethylene, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). 

Polyethylene, which is used in shopping bags, is the most produced and discarded synthetic polymer across the globe. The investigation revealed that this plastic produced more of both methane and ethylene than any of the other materials tested.


The team also found that the emission rate of the gases from virgin pellets of LDPE increased over the course of 212 days, and that LDPE debris found in the ocean also emitted greenhouse gases when exposed to sunlight. Once the process had been initiated during daylight hours, the emission of these gases continued in the dark.


Study lead author Sarah-Jeanne Royer is a postdoctoral scholar in the <a href="http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/">Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education</a> (C-MORE).

“We attribute the increased emission of greenhouse gases with time from the virgin pellets to photo-degradation of the plastic, as well as the formation of a surface layer marked with fractures, micro-cracks and pits,” said Royer. 

“With time, these defects increase the surface area available for further photochemical degradation and therefore contribute to an acceleration of the rate of gas production.”

According to the experts, tiny particles known as “microplastics” - which are produced in the environment as larger pieces of plastic break down - may further accelerate gas production.

“Plastic represents a source of climate-relevant trace gases that is expected to increase as more plastic is produced and accumulated in the environment,” said study senior author David Karl. “This source is not yet budgeted for when assessing global methane and ethylene cycles, and may be significant.”

Greenhouse gases have a direct influence on climate change, and inadvertently impact sea level rise, global temperatures, ecosystem health, and extreme weather events such as storms and droughts.

“Considering the amounts of plastic washing ashore on our coastlines and the amount of plastic exposed to ambient conditions, our finding provides further evidence that we need to stop plastic production at the source, especially single use plastic,” said Royer.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Sarah-Jeanne Royer

Common plastics emit harmful greenhouse gases as they degrade

A new study from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa...

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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 



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



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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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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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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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



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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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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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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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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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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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