The scorching heatwaves we experience, the wildfires that rage across nations, and the invisible carbon dioxide that fills the air are severely impacting our planet.



In 2023, the world saw extreme heatwaves that fueled substantial wildfires and induced severe droughts across the globe. 



What's more, these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-wildfires-are-gaining-even-more-speed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adverse conditions</a> significantly weakened the land's ability to absorb atmospheric carbon. 



The result? A notable surge in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, growing the scale of concern about accelerating climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-and-atmospheric-carbon">Heat and atmospheric carbon </h2>



Data from Hawaii's <a href="https://gml.noaa.gov/obop/mlo/aboutus/aboutus.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mauna Loa Observatory</a> showed that atmospheric carbon concentrations skyrocketed by an alarming 86% in 2023 compared to 2012. This increase sets a new record high since tracking of these levels began in 1958.



Interestingly, the rise in carbon dioxide levels cannot solely be pointed towards fossil fuel emissions. These, it seems, only rose by roughly 0.6 percent.



So, what's the primary culprit behind the spike in emissions? It's likely due to weakened <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-fire-risk-has-grown-exponentially-in-a-hotter-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon absorption</a> by natural ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weakened-carbon-sink">Weakened carbon sink </h2>



An international team of scientists backed by the <a href="https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Extreme_heat_weakens_land_s_power_to_absorb_carbon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a> Science for Society Near-Realtime Carbon Extremes project - along with the Climate Change Initiative RECCAP-2 project - set out to investigate the root causes of this event.



The experts used global vegetation models and satellite data to expedite a carbon budget report for 2023.



Land typically absorbs about one-third of human-generated carbon dioxide emissions. However, in 2023, this absorption capacity fell to a mere one-fifth of its usual level, marking the weakest performance by land carbon sink in two decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extreme-heat-and-carbon-storage-capacity">Extreme heat and carbon storage capacity </h2>



“Our research shows that 30% of this decline was driven by the extreme heat of 2023, which fueled massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ultrafine-particles-in-wildfire-smoke-change-weather-patterns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfires</a> that ravaged vast areas of Canadian forest and triggered severe drought across parts of the Amazon rainforest," said Philippe Ciais, a scientist from France’s Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences.



"These fires and droughts led to substantial vegetation loss, weakening the land ecosystem’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. This was further compounded by a particularly strong El Niño, which historically reduces the carbon absorption capacity in the Tropics." 



The situation was made worse by a particularly potent El Niño, which historically reduces carbon absorption capacity in the tropics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-emitted-from-wildfires">Carbon emitted from wildfires</h2>



Widespread wildfires across Canada and droughts in the Amazon in 2023 released nearly the same amount of carbon to the atmosphere as North America's total fossil fuel emissions. 



This finding highlights the severe impact of climate change on natural ecosystems.



The Amazon rainforest, one of the planet's most essential carbon sinks, is showing signs of long-term distress. Some regions of the Amazon that no longer absorb carbon have shifted into net sources of carbon emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-declining-capacity-to-absorb-carbon">Earth's declining capacity to absorb carbon </h2>



The declining capacity of Earth's land ecosystems to absorb carbon dioxide may signify that these natural carbon sinks are nearing their limits. 



They won't be able to continue to provide the mitigation service of absorbing half of human-induced carbon dioxide emissions.



"Consequently, achieving safe global warming limits will require even more ambitious emission reductions than previously anticipated," Ciais adds.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-earth-s-carbon-cycle">Saving Earth's carbon cycle</h2>



The study also highlights that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-underestimate-sea-ice-melt-and-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">current climate models</a> might be underestimating the pace and impact of extreme events such as droughts and fires on the degradation of these crucial carbon reservoirs.



"Understanding the knock-on effects of climate change on the carbon cycle is imperative, and the two ESA study projects demonstrate the importance of Earth observation in developing methodologies to provide rapid assessment of these impacts globally," said Stephen Plummer, <a href="https://www.esa.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a> Earth Observation Applications Scientist.



"These results are particularly alarming, especially considering the difficulty the world is having limiting warming to 1.5°C, as laid out in the Paris Agreement," noted Clement Albergel, ESA’s Acting Head of the Actionable Climate Information Section.



Given these alarming revelations, it's vital that we ask ourselves: how can we contribute to mitigating these effects? Can we consume less, recycle more, and seek out greener alternatives in our daily lives? The need for climate action could not be more urgent.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/nsr/nwae367/7831648?login=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Science Review</a>.



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Extreme heat of 2023  weakened Earth's carbon storage capacity

The scorching heatwaves we experience, the wildfires that rage across nations, and the invisible carbon dioxide that fills the air are severely impacting our planet. In 2023, the world saw extreme heatwaves that fueled substantial wildfires and induced severe droughts across the globe. What's more, these adverse conditions significantly weakened the land's ability to absorb atmospheric carbon. The result? A notable surge in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, growing the scale of concern about accelerating climate change. Heat and atmospheric carbon Data from Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory showed...

Each year, scientists in the Arctic measure the region’s sea ice extent – the peak of the winter’s growth, before the ice begins to thaw for the spring and summer.

And this year, researchers found that the sea ice extent was one of the four lowest on record. The other three were 2015, 2016 and 2017.

"The Arctic sea ice cover continues to be in a decreasing trend and this is connected to the ongoing warming of the Arctic," Dr. Claire Parkinson of NASA's <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> said in a press release. "It's a two-way street: the warming means less ice is going to form and more ice is going to melt, but also, because there's less ice, less of the sun's incident solar radiation is reflected off, and this contributes to the warming."

Every year, sea ice in the Arctic Circle grows during the winter, peaking around mid-March, then shrinks until it reaches its minimum in September. Then, the cycle repeats.

On March 17, sea ice in the Arctic covered 5.59 million square miles – the peak for the year. That’s about 448,000 square miles smaller on average than the sea ice extent in winters from 1981 to 2010, about the size of California and Texas combined, according to the NASA researchers.

The only time the sea ice extent has been lower was in the winter of 2017. The National Snow &amp; Ice Data Center has <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2018/03/arctic-sea-ice-maximum-second-lowest/">published an analysis</a> of this year’s study.

This winter, the Arctic saw several unusual warm spells, at several points reaching temperatures above freezing. In February, one of these warm periods lasted several days. Cooler weather in March spurred ice growth, but not enough to lift this year out of the second-lowest spot.

At one point in February, a thick, multiyear portion of the sea ice cover north of Greenland melted, exposing open water. While that area has refrozen, it remains fragile.

"This old, thicker ice is what we expect to provide stability to the Arctic sea ice system, since we expect that ice not to be as vulnerable to melting out as thinner, younger ice," ice research Dr. Alek Petty said. "As ice in the Arctic becomes thinner and more mobile, it increases the likelihood for rapid ice loss in the summer."

While the Arctic is beginning its melting season at a low point, the scientists can’t predict what that means for the coming months. Chilly spring temperatures or a cooler than usual summer could prevent another record-low summer, Parkinson said.

NASA’s aerial survey project, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/icebridge/">Operation IceBridge</a>, is currently mapping the Arctic’s sea ice cover. In the fall, the agency will launch a new satellite mission to monitor the thickness of Arctic sea ice and how it is changing.

—

By Kyla Cathey,<a href="http://www.earth.com"> Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Nathan Kurtz, <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>

The not-so-big freeze: Arctic sea ice extent low again this year

Each year, scientists in the Arctic measure the region’s sea...

Metal pollution isn’t just a problem for humans or water-dwelling animals. Even songbirds have shown signs of harm in areas where levels of toxic metals are higher due to human activity.

While scientists have studied the physiological effects of metal poisoning on plants and animals, research into how metal exposure can affect behavior has been minimal. 

Dr. Andrea Grunst of the <a href="https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/">University of Antwerp</a> and a team of researchers set out to change that by examining how metal pollution affects the songbirds known as great tits, aka Parus major. 

For the study, they compared five populations of the birds living near smelters – in areas where lead, cadmium and other metal levels have been registered in higher than normal amounts – to their fellows in less polluted areas. They found that the metal exposure seems to affect the great tits’ hormone levels, which in turn changes their personalities.

“We employed the novel environment exploration test, a proxy for variation in personality type, and also measured territorial aggressiveness and nest defense behavior,” the researchers wrote in their study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718305904">Science of the Total Environment</a>. “At polluted sites birds of both sexes displayed slower exploration behavior, which could reflect impaired neurological or physiological function.”

The detrimental effects metal exposure appears to have on exploration behaviors could impact the populations of great tits living near smelters. The birds that lived closest to the smelter were much less active than their counterparts, the researchers found. 

The metal pollution was also found to have an effect on eggs and young birds, the scientists said.

On the plus side, the scientists found that the metal pollution did not seem to affect territorial aggression or nest defense. Both male and female great tits that felt threatened in a series of tests using taxidermied birds were still protective of their nests, the scientists discovered.

While the changes in exploration behavior are an area for concern, metal exposure doesn't seem to affect every aspect of individual birds' personalities, they said.

—

By Kyla Cathey,<a href="http://www.earth.com"> Earth.com</a> staff writer

Metal pollution linked to personality changes in songbirds

Metal pollution isn’t just a problem for humans or water-dwelling...

An abrupt rise in sea level in the northern Aegean Sea likely caused a standstill in the Neolithic Revolution around 7,600 years ago. 

At that time, agricultural settlements were just beginning to emerge, signifying the transition from a culture of hunter-gatherers to an agricultural one. 

This was a period of major upheaval during the early years of humankind and settlements were just beginning to form spreading out to southeastern Europe and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/summer-eastern-mediterranean/">Mediterranean</a>.  

However, archaeological studies point to a tapering off of these settlements and a subsequent halt in the progress of civilization. 

A new study using sediment core samples found evidence of sea level rise that easily explains why progress was ground to a stop. 

A team of researchers from the <a href="http://www.bik-f.de/root/index.php?page_id=57">Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre</a>, the <a href="http://www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de/">Goethe University </a>in Frankfurt and the <a href="https://www.utoronto.ca/">University of Toronto</a> conducted the research, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports. 

“Approximately 7,600 years ago, the sea level must have risen abruptly in the Mediterranean regions bordering Southeastern Europe,” said Jens Herrle, the lead author of the study. “The northern Aegean, the Marmara Sea, and the Black Sea recorded an increase of more than one meter. This led to the flooding of low-lying coastal areas that would have been ideal areas for settlement.” 

The researchers focused on tiny fossils of calcifying marine algae found in seafloor sediment in the Aegean Sea. 

The researchers used the algae to reconstruct salinity levels in the Mediterranean between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago. 

Some of the algae showed drastic changes in ocean salinity during their lifetime which, according to the researchers, could only be explained by a change in sea level. 

“These calcifying algae evidence two rapid decreases in the salt content, at approximately 8,400 and again 7,600 years ago, which can only be explained by the fact that a higher volume of low-saline surface water flowed from the Black Sea into the northern Aegean at these times,” said Herrle. 

After analyzing the new evidence, the researchers are confident that an abrupt rise in sea level affected settlements along the Mediterranean which explains the halt in progress in the Neolithic age.

What’s more, the researchers say the study could be used as a model to predict the impact that future sea level rise will have on coastal cities. 

“Due to climate change, we expect global sea levels to rise by up to one meter over the next 100 years,” said Herrle. “Millions of people could thus be displaced from coastal regions, with severe social and economic consequences.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/">, Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sea level rise slowed the advancement of civilization

An abrupt rise in sea level in the northern Aegean...

Studying the dynamics of volcanoes and their origins beneath the Earth’s crust is important for understanding the Earth’s mantle and its geochemical processes.

One proposed mantle mystery that has been the subject of debate is the existence of deep mantle plumes that could explain the the hotspot beneath the famed <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earthquakes-yellowstone-supervolcano/">Yellowstone</a> Caldera. 

Researchers from the<a href="https://www.utexas.edu/"> University of Texas</a> may have finally proven that mantle plumes exist and that the one beneath Yellowstone reaches as far as Mexico. 

A magma plume is a theorized mushroom-shaped thermal anomaly with a thin trail of magma rooted in the boundary between the Earth’s core and mantle. 

The volatile conditions that occur at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) are the supposed cause of mantle plumes, but their existence is not widely accepted. 

Many have theorized that a mantle plume lies beneath Yellowstone’s supervolcano which could explain the array of geothermal features and surface activity around Yellowstone National Park. 

The researchers analyzed data from the <a href="http://www.usarray.org/ceusn">USArray network</a> which records and tracks seismic activity around North America. 

By focusing specifically on the seismic activity around Yellowstone and using new imaging techniques, the study gives compelling evidence for a plume of magma underneath Yellowstone. 

The researchers discovered a 45 by 34 mile channel below the earth's surface where seismic waves are slower. 

If this were a mantle plume, according to the study’s calculations the mantle would be hotter than anything around it and could reach temperatures of 800 degrees Celsius. 

The researchers conclude in their paper that this plume is the likely “driving source” behind the volcanic activity around Yellowstone. 

“Our results strongly support a deep origin for the Yellowstone hotspot, and also provide evidence for the existence of thin thermal mantle plumes that are currently beyond the resolution of global tomography models,” write the researchers.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Magma plume may be the source of Yellowstone’s famed supervolcano

Studying the dynamics of volcanoes and their origins beneath the...

One the of the biggest threats of climate change is the rise in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-rise-displace/">sea level</a> due to melting ice sheets and climate variations in the Earth’s oceans. Sea level rise will impact coastal cities and important ecosystems, and the economic and environmental toll would be catastrophic.

Now, a new study has measured the impact that reducing greenhouse gas emissions would have on specific coastal cities around the world.

Researchers are adamantly working to pose solutions and model scenarios in order to project likely sea level rise outcomes so islands, cities, and nations can be better prepared.

“Mitigating greenhouse gases will reduce sea level rise later this century, with some regions seeing especially significant benefits,” said Aixue Hu, the lead author of the study. “As city officials prepare for sea level rise, they can factor in the compounding effect of local conditions, which are due to the winds and currents that cause internal variability in the oceans.”

Researchers from the <a href="https://ncar.ucar.edu/">National Center for Atmospheric Research</a> created a powerful computer model that estimated the impact two different emissions scenarios would have on winds, currents, and sea level rise.

The results, published in the journal Nature Communications, highlight the need for a speedy reduction of carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses as sea level rise would be significantly less rather than waiting to curb emissions later on.

The research found that cities on the coast of the Atlantic and Indian oceans would benefit the most from emission reduction policies.

The model does not factor in the impact of runoff from melting ice sheets on sea-level rise, so the study does not show a complete picture. The researchers instead focused on climate and the changes in currents and wind patterns that would cause sea level rise.

The team used two sets of computer simulations based on either a business-as-usual emissions scenario or a reduced emissions scenario.

Even if emissions were reduced, it would not mitigate sea level rise for the next two decades. However, from 2061 to 2080 the benefits of reducing emissions would be felt around the world.

In the reduced emissions scenario, the model predicted a reduced sea level rise of 25 percent, lowering the projected rise of seven inches in a business-as-usual scenario to 5.2 inches.

Some of the biggest factors influencing projected sea level rise in the study are winds and currents.

Climate change would cause certain currents like the Gulf Stream to weaken, which would increase sea level rise in the North Atlantic. However, currents in much of the Pacific Ocean seem much less sensitive to climate changes.

This is why some cities like New York City, Boston, and London would see greater benefits if emissions were reduced immediately.  

Even though this new research excluded the impact of melting ice sheet runoff on sea level rise, the results show how sea level rise is affected by climate change and the increased risk that certain coastal cities face unless emissions are reduced.

[caption id="attachment_1166691" align="aligncenter" width="812"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/165976.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1166691 size-large" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/165976-812x1024.jpg" alt="" width="812" height="1024" /></a> Sea level rise for major cities worldwide will vary depending on whether society continues to increase emissions of greenhouse gases at the current rate (a scenario known as RCP 8.5) or begins to reduce them (RCP 4.5). Some cities like New York and London will see significant benefits if emissions are reduced. Image Credit: Simmi Sinha, UCAR[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

U.S. east coast cities would benefit most from reduced emissions

One the of the biggest threats of climate change is...

Researchers at the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> (MIT) have created a new device that can extract water out of dry air. The potential of the instrument has already been demonstrated, and the experts say that they will now be working to scale up the process.

The system is based on relatively new high-surface-area materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). It was designed to extract potable water from even the driest <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-earths-driest-desert-mars/">desert</a> conditions. 

The concept was initially described last year in the journal Science, and senior author Evelyn Wang said that the paper drew a lot of attention.


“It got a lot of hype, and some criticism,” she said. But now, “all of the questions that were raised from last time were explicitly demonstrated in this paper. We've validated those points.”


A small version of the device that was tested on a rooftop at <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a> proved that the extraction system can work even in subzero dewpoints powered by nothing but sunlight. 

The researchers explained that, if the device was scaled up, its output would be equivalent to more than a quarter-liter of water per day per kilogram of MOF.


Dew-harvesting systems that are currently in use require 50 percent humidity, and fog-harvesting methods require 100 percent humidity. Remarkably, the new system can work with relative humidity as low as 10 percent.

According to Wang, the next step is to work on scaling up the system and boosting its efficiency.

“We hope to have a system that's able to produce liters of water.” The small test systems were only designed to produce a few milliliters of water, but Wang says “we want to see water pouring out!” 

The water extracted by the system was tested for impurities and no traces were found. Further testing showed that “there's nothing from the MOF that leaches into the water. It shows the material is indeed very stable, and we can get high-quality water,” said Wang.

Ultimately, the team would like to produce systems that can supply water to individual households.

The study 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

New device can extract water from even the driest desert air

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

The largest accumulation of floating garbage in the ocean is now twice the size of the state of Texas and still growing. A study led by <a href="https://www.theoceancleanup.com/">The Ocean Cleanup</a> foundation has revealed that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), located between California and Hawaii, has reached a size of over 617,000 square miles.

The researchers determined that the GPGP contains at least 79,000 tons of plastic debris, which is between four and sixteen times more than previously reported.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bottled-water-contaminated-microplastics/">Microplastics</a> were found to account for just around 8 percent of the total mass of the giant garbage pile, yet the scientists discovered that these tiny plastic particles make up 94 percent of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of waste.

The researchers were also surprised at how much of the garbage consisted of large pieces of plastic.

Global plastic consumption has now reached over 320 million tons per year, with more plastic produced in the last decade than ever before.

Approximately 60 percent of the plastic that is produced is less dense than seawater, which allows it to float. This buoyant plastic is often carried by the ocean current back to the shoreline or broken down by the sun, but much of it accumulates in remote regions of the ocean and remains there.

The researchers collected samples of the garbage and also studied aerial views of the massive waste pile over the course of three years to quantify both the characteristics and the amount of debris.

“Historical data from surface net tows (1970–2015) indicate that plastic pollution levels are increasing exponentially inside the GPGP, and at a faster rate than in surrounding waters,” wrote the study authors. 

“While this does not necessarily mean that the GPGP is the final resting place for ocean plastic reaching this region, it provides evidence that the plastic mass inflow is greater than the outflow.”

The study authors emphasized an urgent need to clean up the trash before it is breaks down further and becomes completely unmanageable.

The research was published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/">Nature Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is now twice as big as Texas

The largest accumulation of floating garbage in the ocean is...

An investigation into the extent of sea ice melt on one of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/supercolony-adelie-penguins-antarctica/">Antarctica’s</a> largest glaciers is raising new concerns. Scientists discovered that more of the Totten Glacier is floating than previously realized, which could substantially accelerate the rate at which the ice continues to melt.

The massive glacier holds enough water to raise global sea level by at least 10 feet, according to experts.

Dr. Ben Galton-Fenzi is an ocean ice-sheet modeller from the <a href="http://www.antarctica.gov.au/">Australian Antarctic Division</a> and the study’s lead author.

“Since the 1900s the global sea-level has risen by around 20 centimeters and by the end of the century it's projected to rise by up to one meter or more, but this is subject to high uncertainty which is why studying glaciers such as the Totten is important,” said Dr. Galton-Fenzi.

The Totten Glacier has been losing mass for nearly three decades, primarily due to the invasion of warm ocean waters that melt the glacier at its base.

The research team, including scientists from the University of Tasmania’s <a href="http://www.imas.utas.edu.au/">Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies</a> and <a href="https://www.cwu.edu/">Central Washington University</a>, spent the summer studying the Totten Glacier as part of the Australian Antarctic Program.

Study co-author Professor Paul Winberry explained the approach that was taken to observe the glacier below its surface.

“A hammer-generated seismic wave was used to ‘see’ through a couple of kilometers of ice. In some locations we thought were grounded, we detected the ocean below indicating that the glacier is in fact floating,” said Professor Winberry.

If more of the glacier is, in fact, exposed to warm ocean waters, this could explain why it is melting so fast. The team left behind instruments to collect data on the glacier’s flow and thickness over the course of a year.

“These precise measurements of Totten Glacier are vital to monitoring changes and understanding them in the context of natural variations, and the research is an important step in assessing the potential impact on sea-level under various future scenarios.”

The study was funded by the Australian Research Council <a href="http://www.imas.utas.edu.au/antarctic-gateway-partnership">Antarctic Gateway Partnership</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Shrinking Antarctic glacier holds a huge amount of floating ice

An investigation into the extent of sea ice melt on...

A powerful new instrument was successfully launched to the International Space Station earlier this year. The Total and Spectral solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS-1) was designed to direct itself toward the Sun during daylight hours to collect information about the Sun's influence on the Earth.

NASA has been measuring the incoming energy from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-solar-panels-rain/">Sun</a> for the last 40 years. TSIS-1, which became fully operational this month, will revolutionize the way this data is collected.

Dong Wu is project scientist at NASA's <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">Goddard Space Flight Center</a> in Greenbelt, Maryland.

“TSIS-1 extends a long data record that helps us understand the Sun’s influence on Earth’s radiation budget, ozone layer, atmospheric circulation, and ecosystems, and the effects that solar variability has on the Earth system and climate change,” explained Wu. 

A team at the <a href="http://lasp.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics</a> (LASP) has been testing TSIS-1 for the last two months to refine its pointing platform, a critical component of the sensor which controls the projection of the solar instruments toward the Sun.

TSIS-1 was initially launched on December 15th, 2017 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It was transported by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the space station. 

NASA explained in a statement:

“TSIS-1 studies the total amount of light energy emitted by the Sun using the Total Irradiance Monitor, one of two sensors onboard. This sensor's data will give us a better understanding of Earth's primary energy supply and provide information to help improve models simulating the planet's climate.”

“The monitor first started collecting science data - called "first light" - on January 11th after its doors were opened to fully view the Sun. The sensor extends a 40-year measurement of the sun's total energy to Earth.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

New sensor measures how much of the Sun’s energy reaches Earth

A powerful new instrument was successfully launched to the International...

A new report from the UK predicts that the amount of plastics in the Earth’s oceans will triple in the next ten years, with 150 million tons of plastic pollution littered in the seas by 2025. 

<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/693129/future-of-the-sea-report.pdf">The Foresight Future of the Sea Report </a>was conducted by Chief Scientific Advisors from the UK <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science">Government Office for Science.</a>

The report was created to brief ministers in the government of the many issues that the oceans could face and inform their long-term approach to the ocean <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/end-ocean-plastic-litter/">plastic problem</a>. 

Measuring the future economic impact of the oceans, understanding the critical importance that oceans play in regulating temperature and storing carbon, and boosting research efforts are all key elements to the report. 

One of the biggest issues emphasized by the new findings is the problem of “sea blindness,” or the fundamental lack of understanding about the world’s oceans. 

According to the <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/exploration.html">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA), the oceans are the lifeblood of Earth and cover more than 70 percent of the surface, 95 percent of which is unexplored. 

“First and foremost is our ‘sea blindness’, a widespread lack of understanding of the sea and its value,” say the authors. “This is best demonstrated by the fact that the seabed is less mapped than the surface of Mars. The consequence of this is an increased risk of policymakers, industry and the public underestimating the opportunities from the sea, and the implications of damaging its environment.” 

Mapping the world’s oceans and expanding our understanding of marine ecosystems will be important as the role of the sea in the global economy continues to increase. 

More and more people will depend on the oceans for food, and already innovative research and development is underway for harvesting wind power offshore. 

In Britain alone, the opportunities afforded by the global maritime economy could double to two trillion pounds by the year 2030. 

According to the report, this is why it is vital to put science first in order to protect and conserve one of the Earth’s most precious resources. 

The plastics problem, unregulated parts of the ocean, and commercial operations established before a full environmental impact report is conducted were all mentioned as major issues to address in the coming years. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plastic pollution in Earth’s oceans could triple by 2025

A new report from the UK predicts that the amount...

Norwegian scientists at <a href="https://www.sintef.no/ocean/">SINTEF Ocean</a> are currently testing a way to slow hurricanes down by cooling seawater surface temperatures in an effort to cut off the storms’ energy source. The idea is to produce air bubbles deep in the ocean that will carry cold water along with them as they rise to the surface.

Warm ocean temperatures give <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hurricane-harvey-worst-hurricanes/">hurricanes</a> and other tropical storms the fuel they need to strengthen and continue churning. In addition, the hot water contributes to a warmer atmosphere which can hold more water.

Unusually warm seawater in the Atlantic Ocean intensified the devastating 2017 hurricane season, which claimed hundreds of lives and caused a reported $370 billion in damages worldwide.

Hurricanes form when hot and cool air collide over ocean water that is at least 79.7 degrees Fahrenheit, or 26.5 degrees Celsius.

Grim Eidnes is a Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF Ocean.

“Climate change is causing sea surface temperatures to increase,” said Eidnes. “The critical temperature threshold at which evaporation is sufficient to promote the development of hurricanes is 26.5 degrees Celsius.”

“In the case of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in the period August to September 2017, sea surface temperatures were measured at 32 degrees Celsius.”

OceanTherm founder Olav Hollingsæter first came up with the concept of cooling the ocean after witnessing the catastrophic power of Hurricane Katrina. He proposed his idea to scientists at SINTEF, who were already testing the bubble technique to control the spread of oil spills, and the project was launched.

Using the “bubble curtain” method, bubbles are released from a perforated pipe filled with compressed air. As the bubbles rise, they bring up cold water from deep in the ocean to cool the surface.

“Our initial investigations show that the pipes must be located at between 100 and 150 meters depth in order to extract water that is cold enough,” said Eidnes. “By bringing this water to the surface using the bubble curtains, the surface temperature will fall to below 26.5 degrees Celsius, thus cutting off the hurricane’s energy supply.”

Bubble curtains have been successfully used for many years to keep Norwegian fjords free of ice. Hollingsæter explained that the technique can be implemented on a small or a large scale, and that bubble curtains can be deployed based on oil production platforms.

“The cost-benefit potential of the SINTEF project is very great,” said Hollingsæter. “The most intense hurricanes cause communities major material damage and, in some cases, many lives are lost. This project is both meaningful and important. I hope and believe that we will succeed.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Inducing air bubbles into the ocean may help slow down hurricanes

Norwegian scientists at SINTEF Ocean are currently testing a way...

Nitrogen runoff can occur in bodies of water near agricultural areas, where nitrogen-heavy fertilizer leaches through soil and groundwater into waterways, and can cause a number of environmental issues. The biggest problem it causes is usually algae blooms, which can take over an ecosystem and result in the death of many species. 

Agriculture around the Mississippi Basin has been a source of nitrogen runoff in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/birds-challenges-gulf-mexico/">Gulf of Mexico</a> for decades. As of 2017, this runoff had resulted in a “dead zone,” which is a hypoxic zone where the level of oxygen is so low that it can result in the loss of marine life. This dead zone takes up an area of almost 23,000 square kilometers. 

In the early 2000s, a task force began studying this dead zone in an effort to determine potential strategies to slow its spread. 

Unfortunately, despite the efforts of this task force, the hypoxic zone remains as large as ever. In order to determine what future strategies may need to be employed to combat this dead zone, Kimberly Van Meter and colleagues used modeling to analyze a “business-as-usual” scenario, including 25%, 75%, and 100% reductions in agricultural nitrogen levels. 

The results of the study showed that, due to earlier efforts to reduce nitrogen levels, continuing these efforts under the business-as-usual scenario would decrease nitrogen loads by another 11 percent by 2050. But in order to come close to the goal of reducing the hypoxic zone by 5,000 square kilometers by 2050, nitrogen levels would need to be dropped to zero. This is a scenario that the authors say is “not only considered unrealistic, but also inherently unsustainable.” Safe to say, it seems like the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. 

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Gulf of Mexico dead zone isn’t going anywhere soon

Nitrogen runoff can occur in bodies of water near agricultural...

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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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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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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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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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

[sendtonews key="sFFhiK9OOn-1720418-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> 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

[sendtonews key="yPSXGZek1I-2312529-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&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

[sendtonews key="u0TYxxqfF7-2186404-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA’s...