The Earth is a water planet, with over 71% of its surface covered by oceans. These vast bodies of water play a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate, influencing weather patterns and distributing heat.



One of the most significant systems within this global ocean network is the&nbsp;Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a massive conveyor belt of currents that moves warm and cold water between the tropics, poles, and continents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-of-amoc-on-climate">Impact of AMOC on climate</h2>



The AMOC has a profound impact on global weather and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collapse-of-main-atlantic-ocean-circulaton-current-amoc-is-already-happening/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a>. It helps keep European winters milder, affects monsoon patterns in Africa and Asia, and supports marine ecosystems that millions of people depend on for food and livelihoods. 



However, scientists have long feared that climate change, particularly the melting of polar ice sheets, could weaken or even collapse the AMOC. 



A decline in the AMOC would lead to extreme weather shifts, including more severe storms, colder winters in some regions, and dramatic sea level rise along the U.S. East Coast. A complete collapse would be even more catastrophic, potentially triggering irreversible changes to the global climate.



Recent research, however, suggests that the AMOC may be more stable than previously thought. A study by scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) challenges earlier claims that the AMOC has been weakening over the past several decades.



The findings indicate that, contrary to previous studies, the AMOC has not declined over the last 60 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-perspective-on-amoc-stability">New perspective on AMOC stability</h2>



For years, scientists have attempted to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atlantic-current-system-may-collapse-by-2037/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">track changes</a> in the AMOC by analyzing&nbsp;sea surface temperature (SST) data. 



A 2018 study, which concluded that the AMOC had significantly weakened over the past 70 years, relied heavily on this approach. 



However, researchers from WHOI now argue that SST-based reconstructions are less reliable than initially thought. Instead of using sea surface temperature as a proxy, they examined&nbsp;air-sea heat fluxes, which measure the exchange of heat between the ocean and the atmosphere.



Nicholas P. Foukal, adjunct scientist at <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/who-we-are/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WHOI</a> and assistant professor at the University of Georgia, emphasized that the AMOC’s status today is different from what was previously believed. 



"Our paper says that the Atlantic overturning has not declined yet. That doesn't say anything about its future, but it doesn't appear the anticipated changes have occurred yet."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-analyzing-amoc-behavior">Analyzing AMOC behavior</h2>



To improve the accuracy of their study, the researchers used&nbsp;data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), a collection of advanced <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atlantic-and-arctic-mixing-is-crucial-for-earths-climate-stability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> models developed by the&nbsp;World Climate Research Program. 



The team analyzed 24 different climate simulations, which allowed them to refine their understanding of how the AMOC has behaved over time. The findings indicate that the AMOC remains stable and has not shown any long-term weakening over the past six decades.



Jens Terhaar, a senior scientist at the University of Bern, explained why the new method was necessary. "We've learned that sea surface temperature doesn't work as well as initially thought," he said. 



By focusing on air-sea heat fluxes instead, the researchers were able to build a more reliable picture of how the AMOC has evolved.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-air-sea-heat-fluxes-matter">Why air-sea heat fluxes matter</h2>



The AMOC plays a key role in moving warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic, where it releases heat into the atmosphere. This process helps regulate the climate of many regions. 



When the AMOC is strong, more heat is transferred from the ocean to the air. By measuring these&nbsp;air-sea heat exchanges, the researchers could track changes in AMOC strength with greater confidence.



Linus Vogt, a scientist at <a href="https://www.sorbonne-universite.fr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sorbonne Université</a>, highlighted the significance of these findings. "Based on the results, the AMOC is more stable than we thought. This might mean that the AMOC isn't as close to a tipping point as previously suggested." 



The research team concluded that&nbsp;the AMOC has remained steady between 1963 and 2017, reinforcing the idea that its collapse is not imminent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-this-means-for-the-future">What this means for the future</h2>



Despite these findings, the study does not suggest that the AMOC is invariable. Nearly all <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collapse-of-major-ocean-system-would-cause-weather-chaos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate</a> models agree that the AMOC will slow down in the future due to global warming. The real question is whether it will weaken gradually or collapse suddenly.



Foukal emphasized that the AMOC’s future remains uncertain. "It's almost unanimous at this point that the Atlantic overturning will slow in the future, but whether or not it will collapse is still up for debate. This work indicates that there is still time to act before we reach this potential tipping point."



While this study provides reassurance that we are not yet at a crisis point, it does not eliminate the long-term risks. 



As the planet continues to warm, melting&nbsp;polar ice sheets will introduce large amounts of freshwater into the North Atlantic, disrupting the delicate balance that keeps the AMOC functioning. 



If too much freshwater enters the system, the AMOC could weaken rapidly, leading to dramatic shifts in global weather patterns.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncertainties-and-limitations">Uncertainties and limitations</h2>



As with all climate research, this study has limitations. The findings rely on&nbsp;proxy data, meaning they are based on indirect measurements rather than direct observations of AMOC strength. 



Air-sea heat flux measurements from past decades are limited, which introduces some uncertainty into the results. However, the researchers believe their approach provides a&nbsp;more accurate reconstruction of AMOC behavior&nbsp;than previous methods.



Jens Terhaar acknowledged these limitations but remained confident in the study’s conclusions. "A decline in AMOC over the last 60 years seems very unlikely," he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bigger-picture">The bigger picture</h2>



If the AMOC were to collapse, the consequences would be devastating. Scientists predict that such a shutdown could lead to harsher winters in Europe, more intense hurricanes in the Atlantic, and major disruptions to monsoon systems in Africa and Asia. 



Additionally, the U.S. East Coast would experience rapid sea level rise, threatening major cities like New York and Miami.



Given these potential risks, continued monitoring of the AMOC is essential. While this study suggests that we&nbsp;still have time to act, it reinforces the urgency of addressing climate change. 



Reducing carbon emissions and slowing global warming remain critical to ensuring that the AMOC does not reach an irreversible tipping point.



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



The AMOC is one of the most important components of the global climate system. While past research suggested it was already in decline, this new study challenges that idea. 



Instead, the AMOC appears to have remained stable over the past 60 years. This does not mean that the AMOC is safe forever, but it does suggest that we may have more time than previously thought to prevent a worst-case scenario.



The future of the AMOC - and the climate as a whole - depends on human action. The world must continue to study, monitor, and mitigate climate change to ensure that this crucial ocean current remains stable for generations to come.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55297-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



Image Credit: NOAA AOML



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Critical ocean current may be more stable than previously thought

The Earth is a water planet, with over 71% of its surface covered by oceans. These vast bodies of water play a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate, influencing weather patterns and distributing heat. One of the most significant systems within this global ocean network is the&nbsp;Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a massive conveyor belt of currents that moves warm and cold water between the tropics, poles, and continents. Impact of AMOC on climate The AMOC has a profound impact on global weather and climate. It...

How can reefs avoid coral bleaching as ocean temperatures rise? Practice, practice, practice, one new study suggests.

Coral reefs that weather frequent temperature changes can better withstand the conditions that cause bleaching, the international team of scientists discovered. 

The researchers looked at 118 reefs around the world. Noting that some of the reefs showed only patchy bleaching, the team set out to see how sections that resisted coral bleaching differed from areas that could not. 

They found that the areas that experienced frequent temperature changes were better able to survive warming events. Those that experienced more stable temperatures were more likely to fall to bleaching.

"Importantly, our results show that the resistance of corals to bleaching in areas of high-frequency temperature variability occurs in reef regions throughout the world,” co-author Dr. Gareth Williams of <a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/">Bangor University</a> said in a press release. 

In some cases, the researchers found, reefs just a few hundred meters apart – or even just a few dozen – had different temperature conditions and different responses to warming events.

The study offers some hope for coral reefs, many of which have been damaged by bursts of warm water temperatures in recent years. It could also help scientists better understand how and why coral bleaching happens.

But that doesn’t mean people should let their guards down, the research team warned. Warming events that damage coral reefs have become more frequent, they said. This is an issue of global concern, they said, because reefs are so vital to shoreline protection, fisheries and other important parts of the ocean ecosystem.

“This positive news should not distract from the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect coral reefs globally, but instead help guide strategic management actions in the inevitable interim,” Williams said.

The study has been published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04074-2">Nature Communications</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey,<a href="http://www.earth.com"> Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Paul Marshall

Coral bleaching less likely in reefs used to temperature changes

How can reefs avoid coral bleaching as ocean temperatures rise?...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/six-tornadoes-southeast-louisiana/">Tornadoes</a> can happen anywhere around the world as long as weather conditions are just right, but nestled along the center of the United States is the aptly named “Tornado Alley,” an area where twisters are a common occurrence. 

According to the <a href="https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climate-information/extreme-events/us-tornado-climatology">National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA), the United States experiences over 1,000 tornadoes every year. 

However, 2018 has been an unusually quiet year for tornadoes in the US so far. Kansas and Oklahoma haven’t had a single tornado yet, making it officially the latest start to a tornado season since the NOAA began keeping records in 1950. 

“On the whole, across the United States, we have seen around half the number of eyewitnessed tornado reports that we would normally expect by this time of year,” meteorologist Patrick Marsh told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/25/us/tornado-season-canada-trnd-wxc/index.html">CNN</a>. “Across the Plains, it is about as quiet as it can possibly be.” 

Tornado Alley includes north Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa, and spring is the time of year when these dangerous storms reach their peak. 

Changing weather patterns, and shifts in warm air clashing with cold air create the ripe conditions for tornadoes.

This year though, the late arrival of spring in much of the U.S. has halted the normal weather patterns that would bring warm air and with it perfect tornado conditions. 

“This means the usual flow of warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico has deflected further east, and Tornado Alley has been stuck in abnormally colder, drier air,” <a href="https://www.bbc.com/weather/features/43898995">the BBC </a>reported.

The string of spring snowstorms in the US, cooler than average temperatures in some regions, and a long cold snap in the UK that is partly driving the slow tornado season can be traced back to the Sudden Stratospheric Warming event that occurred earlier in the year. 

According to CNN, cold air coming in from Central Canada has also played a role. 

Even though it’s been a quiet, uneventful start to spring in tornado alley, all it takes is one storm to cause a major outbreak in twisters, and that the slow start doesn’t mean that there will be fewer or less severe tornadoes overall for the 2018 tornado season.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

A quiet start to the 2018 twister season in Tornado Alley

Tornadoes can happen anywhere around the world as long as...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-galapagos-islands-are-struggling-from-the-growth-of-ecotourism/">Tourists</a> are generally considered to be either oblivious or indifferent to their impact on the natural environment, so it’s natural to be a bit skeptical of new rise of ‘ecotourism’ and ‘volunteerism’ as forces for good.  Many of the people I’ve met make a distinction between being a traveler and a tourist, but if I’m honest with myself, the distinction often becomes a bit fuzzy. Largely those who call themselves travelers and disdain the title of ‘tourist’ are speaking from a lofty, even classist vantage.  Those with little funds for long term travel or little wherewithal to travel independent of organized tours, hotels with security or areas catering to those speaking English are shunted into the category of ‘tourist’.

The whole idea of tourism seems to be changing though.  The <a href="http://www.un.org/en/">United Nations</a> (UN) declared 2017 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development’, recognizing:

“the important role of sustainable tourism as a positive instrument towards the eradication of poverty, the protection of the environment, the improvement of quality of life and the economic empowerment of women and youth and its contribution to… sustainable development, especially in developing countries.”

The UN designated 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism.  According to the UN World Tourism Organization, in 2030, 57% of arriving tourists will be in emerging economies.  Tourism is growing too, in 2016 international tourist arrivals reached 1.2 billion, a 3.9% growth from the year before.  Some regions are increasingly reliant on tourist dollars for their economies and consumer demand has the power to make change for good or for ill.  

I’ve travelled to the Bahamas to help with parrot research and conservation.  I stayed in a beach house lent by a friend to the project with three other volunteer research assistants.  Days were spent hiking in the forest listening carefully for parrots, following the birds and marking nests on a GPS.  The parrots loud squawking, the damp heat of the forest, the quick glimpse of a buzzing Bahama Woodstar (hummingbird) passing are some of my better memories from the Bahamas.  Learning to use Technu soap to wash poison wood sap off, early hours and the loss of hot water in the house were just par for the course. While I was in the Bahamas, the game warden was generous enough to invite us to his house for delicious meals, take us through the forest to visit a lighthouse and generally share his country with us.  

There was a moment in the Bahamas when everything seemed to change.  I drove the project truck into the field as I’d been doing for some time.  People were walking through the forest, along the dirt road. Many of the people I saw didn’t have shoes.  Some had small backpacks with some supplies, most had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Children walked hand in hand with exhausted looking parents.  There was a worn look of poverty over the people we saw in the forest, people with no money and no recourse was my impression. 

I didn’t talk to any of the people I saw in the forest that day.  I didn’t understand who the people were or why they were there at first.  One of the other volunteers encountered a man in the forest who asked her for water, which she gave him, he said, “God bless the USA”.

The people in the forest were Haitians who’d spent probably most of all the money they had to be smuggled to the US; which is where they thought they were.  Dropped off in the Bahamas, the people I saw were in a desperate situation, fleeing poverty for opportunities Americans take for granted, they risked everything.  This wasn’t long after the earthquake had hit Haiti in 2010, killing an estimated 220,000 to 300,000 people and injuring 300,000. 1.5 million people were initially misplaced by the earthquake.      

The Haitian refugees were rounded up by the government of the Bahamas, including the game manager and his dogs helped catch those desperate people in the forest.  As a volunteer I was helpless, we all were, the woman who selected us was complicit in the refugees being captured and even complained about illegal immigrants. I couldn’t help but question what I was doing there.  I felt for the plight of the parrots that were captured in the pet trade and those killed by non-native feral cats. I also felt more deeply the desperation and pain of the refugees in the forest that day; I wanted to help them.  

Since that time in the Bahamas I’ve volunteered with sea turtles in Equatorial Guinea and reforestation in Madagascar, I co-managed a nature reserve in Ecuador.  I’ve often had a mix of feelings about my own place volunteering in another country. I’ve had locals offer to carry me across streams they crossed daily so I wouldn’t get a parasite that they commonly suffered.  I’ve given food to people staring hungrily through the window of a restaurant I was eating at. Largely I’ve felt incredibly helpless to make a change for good for either wildlife or people no matter how hard I tried.  Madagascar has its share of Peace Corps members, Catholic aid groups and UN workers but its problems are incredibly complex. Equatorial Guinea is at a crossroads as cities boom with newfound wealth and modernization from oil and villages without roads have no electricity or running water.

Many problems volunteers try to combat are partially caused by their home countries governments or consumption.  One Canadian volunteer in Madagascar I talked to complained about a friend who was going to work for an oil company in environmental compliance.  To the Canadian, his friend was selling out as an environmentalist; I reminded him that he was using a lot of oil to get to Madagascar from Canada.  I was no different. I wonder at the motivation of many international volunteers, myself included. Sure, I wanted to help but I also wanted to see an exotic place, learn, grow in a rather selfish way and perhaps even further my own career.  

A look at the <a href="https://www.gooverseas.com/">GoOverseas.com</a> makes me wonder even more at the motives behind the growing number of overseas volunteers.  The website ranks the top 15 countries searched on their website for volunteers in 2012. Haiti, the same country that was devastated by an earthquake, whose refugees I saw in the Bahamas, rated at #14.  Ireland and Australia, significantly wealthier countries rated higher at #12 and #9 respectively. I wonder if someone volunteering in a country like Australia or Ireland thinks they’re really helping solve deeply entrenched problems.  The website noted that interest of volunteers waned in countries like Haiti overtime but it’s hard to imagine Haiti couldn’t use the help more than Australia a mere 2 years after a major earthquake. In 2014, 145,000 Haitians remained misplaced, living in temporary camps.

The project I volunteered at in Equatorial Guinea also monitored monkeys in the area and had years of data showing monkey populations diving as proof.  Collecting data isn’t always enough to help protect a species. We can’t always make real change sticking to the safe work organizations will allow international volunteers to do.  

I still travel.  I still encourage others to travel.  I still even maintain a positive attitude about travel.  Travel and volunteering are more complex than whether you can ‘change the world’ or ‘make a difference’ yourself.  I believe in education and I know of no better education than being in another culture, another place, another environment than the one you know best.  The world is complex and its problems are equally complex. We must learn from others, not just export our ways to the world if we want to solve any problems.  I feel like a better informed citizen of my own country, more valuable in my home because of my experiences abroad. I would be blissfully unaware of my own culpability in war, in economic inequality, in environmental destruction if I’d stayed at home.  Bananas I buy may contribute to birth defects in Latin America because of pesticides. I can read an article about the pesticides but it isn’t the same as seeing pain first hand. 

As Vanda Shiva said, 

“The poor are not those who have been ‘left behind’; they are the ones who have been robbed.”

It’s important to know the people and even the plants and animals robbed for your own benefit.  The only way we’ll ever change the world is by letting it change us. 

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzer</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The effects of overseas tourism and volunteerism are not so clear

Tourists are generally considered to be either oblivious or indifferent...

The invasion of Japanese knotweed is challenging scientists who are testing for ways to get the species under control. Experts from <a href="http://www.swansea.ac.uk/">Swansea University</a> conducted the largest-ever field study to find a ways to kill the aggressive plant, and have 19 failed approaches to show for it.

Study lead author Professor Dan Eastwood said that the team began investigating knotweed when there was “a great deal of hysteria surrounding it.”

“Over five years, we tested all 19 of the main physical, chemical and integrated methods of controlling Japanese knotweed in the UK, working with the biology of the plant to inform our treatment approaches,” said Professor Eastwood. 

“Our research tested more methods of control than any other invasive species trial ever conducted, allowing us to replace outdated guidance based on short-term experiments and anecdotal information.”

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasions-from-alien-species-threaten-developing-nations/">Japanese knotweed</a> grows and strengthens at remarkable speeds, particularly underground, and is notorious for its resilience as it chokes out vegetation in its path. 

Listed as one of the worst invasive species on the planet by the World Conservation Union, the species has become a major problem for homeowners and gardeners in the UK. Relief is not yet in sight, as the findings of this study suggest that the plant cannot be completely eliminated.

“Off the back of the first three years of data we've found that eradication is not possible. Hopefully over the longer term we may move towards that by using new chemicals we're looking at,” said Professor Eastwood.

“But it's not a question of eradication, it's a question of sustained control and management and well informed control and management.”

“Claims made by companies, stating that they could eradicate Japanese knotweed using herbicides in short spaces of time have now been proven to be false, based on our experiments.”

“Furthermore, we have shown that applying the wrong herbicides at the wrong time of the year leads to greater herbicide use and environmental impacts.”

As a result of the study, the experts designed “The 4-Stage Model” to serve as a starting point for the development of more effective knotweed control.

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.springernature.com/gp/">Springer Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

One of the world’s most invasive species cannot be killed

The invasion of Japanese knotweed is challenging scientists who are...

When more and more claims were made against big tobacco in the 1990s that smoking causes cancer, it led to lawsuits like the one filed against <a href="https://www.justice.gov/civil/case-4">Phillip Morris by the Department of Justice in 1999</a>, and completely changed the way tobacco products were sold and marketed. Now, public health advertisements about the dangers of smoking are frequently seen on TV <a href="https://www.npr.org/2016/05/24/479349619/cdc-report-reveals-decline-in-american-smokers">and smoking has been</a> on the decline since the 1990s. 

The results of the lawsuits against tobacco companies show that citing public health problems is a strong motivator for bringing cases to court. In fact, a new study found that presenting public health risks could help shape the way people view <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>. 

Researchers from <a href="https://www.gwu.edu/">George Washington University</a> and the <a href="https://publichealth.gwu.edu/">Milken Institute School of Public Health</a> examined judicial decisions relating to climate change in order to see how health concerns factored in climate lawsuits. 

The study was published in the journal American Journal of Public Health.

The researchers found that even though health concerns are cited a minority of the time in climate litigation, claims about health risks have considerable potential for persuading court rulings and protecting communities from the risks of pollutants. 

“Many experts believe that climate change is the biggest threat to public health in the 21st century, and the courts have been and will continue to be a central avenue for the development of climate-related policy in the United States,” said Sabrina McCormick, the study’s lead author. 

For the study, the researchers looked at 873 judicial decisions involving climate change and coal-fired power plants between 1990 and 2016. 

Only 16 percent of the cases referenced health issues, and air pollution cases were most likely to discuss the increased risks of cardiovascular and respiratory disease that CO2 emissions and pollutants cause. 

After analyzing the different cases, the researchers found strong associations between health claims and their potential in climate litigation. 

According to the researchers, health claims may help bring a case to court and certain cases may be better supported by evidence about health issues like energy efficiency and renewables. 

The researchers suggest that for future climate lawsuits, the plaintiff should detail a list of the all the health benefits that would ensue if known aggravators to climate change, like emissions from power-plants, were reduced.  

The courts can again play a central role in protecting public health, just as they have with the cases against tobacco companies. 

“The courts represent a pivotal branch of government in climate policy formation,” said McCormick and her co-authors. “Increasing inclusion of health concerns in emergent areas of litigation could catalyze effective climate policy-making.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Citing health risks in climate lawsuits could sway public opinion

When more and more claims were made against big tobacco...

<a href="http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/the-uk-plastics-pact">The UK Plastics Pact</a> has officially been launched in an effort to transform the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-plastic-pollution-bacteria/">plastics</a> system and reduce unnecessary waste. More than 40 businesses, governments, and organizations have joined the initiative, agreeing to change the way they design, produce, use, and dispose of plastic pollution.

The growing list of businesses participating in the project include Aldi, Coca Cola, P&amp;G, Pizza Hut, and Pepsico. The <a href="http://www.bbc.com/">BBC</a> is reporting that the companies who have aligned with the pact are responsible for over 80 percent of the plastic packaging on products sold in supermarkets across the UK.

Critics of the project say that these companies need to make changes that are enforced by government action, and not just on a voluntary basis.

The organizations that signed the pact have promised to make huge strides by the year 2025. 

The pledges that must be honored by the target date include: 100 percent of all plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable; 70 percent of all plastic packaging will be effectively recycled or composted; all plastic packaging will contain an average of 30 percent recycled content; and unnecessary or problematic single-use packaging will be eliminated.

The UK Plastics Pact website states:

“Our throwaway culture needs to change. We need to move away from a linear plastics economy, where we take, make and dispose of plastic, towards a circular system where we capture the value of plastics material - keeping plastic in the economy and out of the oceans." 

The website cautions that around 5,000 pieces of marine plastic pollution have been found per mile of beach in the UK.

The initiative was launched by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a nonprofit group that strives toward a sustainable, resource-efficient economy. 

“Creating a circular economy for plastics amounts to a huge opportunity for the economy as well as providing a longer-term benefit for the environment,” said Ellen MacArthur. “Achieving it will require close collaboration and significant commitment from industry, government, and society at large.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Major companies collaborate to reduce plastic pollution in the UK

The UK Plastics Pact has officially been launched in an...

The <a href="https://www.easac.eu/">European Academies’ Science Advisory Council</a> (EASAC) and the InterAcademy Partnership are urging European policymakers to modify their current approach to food, agriculture, the environment, and human health. 

The experts say that more policy coherence is needed to effectively address the issues of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/europe-drought-regions-climate-change/">climate change</a>, nutrition, and food waste. They are recommending a “food systems approach,” which is an integrative system that includes all of the steps involved from growing to consuming food.

Professor Joachim von Braun, is the co-chair of the <a href="https://easac.eu/meetings-events/details/public-launch-of-our-easac-iap-report-on-food-security-in-europe/">EASAC-IAP project on food and agriculture.</a>

“A food systems approach is critical to tackling some of the most pressing issues of our day, such as climate change, sustainable land and water use, food waste, and of course human health,” said Professor von Braun. “This calls for science initiatives that cut across disciplines, tailored to the complexity of food systems by both, EU and Member States.”

The researchers noted that the negative impacts of climate change must be met by the introduction of climate-smart agriculture, such as developing crops that are resistant to drought. The study authors also pointed out that, although agriculture plays a critical role in the change that is needed, the changes must be reflected in consumer behavior as well.

On the other hand, agriculture itself is significantly contributing to climate change, which means that new practices and consumer behaviors must be aimed at lowering agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the consumption of alternative protein sources such as insects or cell-cultured meat would lower the demand for livestock products.

The adjustment of meat consumption patterns should also have targeted health benefits, such as reducing the overconsumption of meat and dairy products in high-income countries while providing more nutritious diets for developing countries. Across Europe, obesity and undernutrition are critical public health issues.

Estimates from the research suggest that adopting the World Health Organization guidance on healthy diets could reduce mortality worldwide by up to 10 percent and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 percent over the next three decades.

“As malnutrition remains a huge global problem and in recent years global hunger has increased again, EU science policy on food, nutrition and agriculture needs to take an international view,” said Professor von Braun. “Related innovations in Europe can have large positive impacts elsewhere in the world, if shared in science partnerships. Other themes of promising international collaborative science are food safety and healthy diets.”


Study co-author Professor Volker ter Meulen added, “This report is part of a larger project involving 130 science academies around the globe. Europe's approach to food, agriculture, and the environment is crucial because Europe's actions affect others around the world.”

The EASAC-IAP report, “Opportunities and Challenges for Research on Food and Nutrition Security and Agriculture in Europe,” was launched at the <a href="https://visit.brussels/fr/place/Palais-des-Academies">Palais des Académies</a> in Brussels.

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By <a href="http://csextom@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Europe faces unsustainable future with food and agriculture

The European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC) and the InterAcademy...

Future summers in Europe could get even hotter due to a partial collapse of the Atlantic Ocean heat transport. The last time this occurred it triggered major weather extremes during the Younger Dryas period 12,000 years ago. 

Much of Europe, particularly Spain, France and Italy dealt with crippling heat waves during the summer of 2017.  Climate change has only worsened drought and increased summer temperatures in some regions and driven weather extremes.

Now, according to a new study, in addition to the impacts of climate change, the record-breaking cold ocean temperatures in the Atlantic is weakening heat transport through the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). 

The study was conducted by researchers from <a href="https://www.su.se/english/">Stockholm University</a> and published in the journal Nature Climate Change. 

The results show that the Atlantic heat transport system is at a long-term minimum and could be the weakest it's ever been in the past 1,600 years.

A similar event occurred before the beginning of the Holocene (Earth’s current geological era) and researchers can look at climate records to help predict future temperatures and prepare for the inevitable drastic extremes should the Atlantic heat transport system continue to weaken or even collapse. 

The partial collapse of the AMOC during the Younger Dryas was one of the most rapid cooling events that occurred during the transition from the late glacial climate to the climate we see today in the Holocene.  

Because the rapid cooling happened during a period of rapid warming, the researchers created a climate model that compares the Younger Dryas cold reversal to a potential future cold reversal even with warming due to climate change. 

The climate model showed that the weakened AMOC will cause even warmer European summers and bitterly cold winters. 

The model simulations also shed insight into the mechanisms behind the processes causing the weather extremes. The root cause appears to be atmospheric blocking, a process where high-pressure systems are stationary for a period of time ranging from days to weeks.  

With the high-pressure systems stuck in place, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/risk-wildfires-europe-increase/">Europe</a> is cut off from westerly winds that would promote cooler summers and warmer winters. 

“If the slowdown of the Atlantic overturning proceeds as observed and projected by most climate models for the future, atmospheric blocking might increase in intensity and/or frequency and could lead to even stronger heat waves than we would expect from the gradual warming trend in response to greenhouse gases,” said Frederik Schenk, the lead author of the study. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Key Atlantic Ocean system may trigger hotter summers for Europe

Future summers in Europe could get even hotter due to...

Research from <a href="https://www.usu.edu/">Utah State University</a> (USU) is providing new insight into the flow of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/goodyear-eco-friendly-tires/">carbon dioxide</a> (CO2) between Lake Superior and the atmosphere. Scientists have discovered that the lake shifts from absorbing and storing CO2 to releasing it into the atmosphere.

Most lakes produce CO2 emissions, but this gas transfer process can be altered by external factors, such as humans or the weather. Research from the late 1990s and early 2000s found that Lake Superior was a net source of CO2 to the atmosphere, as expected. Prior to these studies, however, it was thought that Lake Superior acted more as a natural carbon sink.

Dr. Soren Brothers set out to solve the mystery by using 50 years of monitoring data to analyze levels of dissolved oxygen in Lake Superior. The results of the investigation suggest that, in most years, the lake absorbs CO2 in late May to early October, and then emits CO2 during the colder winter months.

However, Dr. Brothers and his co-author Dr. Paul Sibley also found that a major weather event combined with the effects of climate change could cause Lake Superior to become a temporary source of CO2 to the atmosphere in the summer. 

For example, a powerful El Nino event in 1997-1998 resulted in significantly less winter ice cover in Lake Superior, while climate change had warmed the water and reduced cloud cover. As the sky cleared, water clarity also increased - allowing more light into the lake. 

Ultimately, these events freed up the carbon pool which was released into the atmosphere as CO2. The experts established that, since the early-to-mid 2000s, the lake has returned to its role as a carbon sink in the warmer summer months.

The research highlights how the shifting dynamics of CO2 in lakes not only contributes to climate change, but is also influenced by it.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19395590">Limnology &amp; Oceanography</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Superior both stores and emits carbon dioxide

Research from Utah State University (USU) is providing new insight...

Is it possible to have too many trees, especially in recent years where climate change and habitat degradation has and is taking a dangerous toll on the world’s greenery?

The answer is yes, according to scientists from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> (NSF) and <a href="http://criticalzone.org/sierra/">the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory (CZO)</a> who found that California’s dense forests put a major strain on water resources in the area. 

Trees and plants soak up water in the ground, and in a process called evapotranspiration they emit water vapor into the atmosphere where it will eventually become precipitation. 

The amount of water that trees in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feds-drought-killed-66-million-trees-in-the-sierra-nevada-forests/">Sierra Nevada</a> forests absorb is substantial, and according to a new study, is problematic when other species rely on precious water systems but won’t have access to the water until it rains or snows. 

The new research was published in the journal Ecohydrology and shows that forest thinning from wildfires may be a saving grace for California as evapotranspiration has decreased over the years, saving billions of gallons of water.

Contrary to previous forest management policies, recently fires have been allowed to thin out certain forests in California. 

“Forest wildfires are often considered disasters,” said Richard Yuretich, director of the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/news/newsmedia/ENV-discoveries/CZO-discovery-series.jsp">NSF's CZO program</a>, which funded the research. “But fire is part of healthy forest ecosystems. By thinning out trees, fires can reduce water stress in forests and ease water shortages during droughts. And by reducing the water used by plants, more rainfall flows into rivers and accumulates in groundwater.”

In order to see how much water was saved in recent years due to the new thinning policies, the researchers used data from the CZO and U.S Geological survey satellites. 

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that between 1990 and 2008, forests that were thinned out saved 3.7 billion gallons of water in the California Kin River Basin and 17 billion gallons in the American River Basin every year. 

Overall, in the next 20 years, thinning could increase water flow from the Sierra Nevada by 10 percent. Thinning is also helpful in combating potentially disastrous wildfires. 

“The need for forest restoration is being driven largely by the need to lower the risk of high-intensity wildfires and restore forest health,” said Roger Bales, the study co-author. “Downstream users who benefit from the increased water yield are an important potential revenue stream that can help offset some of the costs of restoration.”

Forest restoration, which includes thinning and controlling brush pile up, is a costly process but one that the U.S Forest Service says 58 million acres of national forests need. With this new study, policy makers and forest managers have more incentive to spend on restoration efforts. 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com </a>Staff Writer 

Image Credit: G. Dickman

Wildfires thinning forests, saving billions of gallons of water

Is it possible to have too many trees, especially in...

Experts at the <a href="https://www.seas.harvard.edu/">Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences</a> (SEAS) are describing the dangerous health impacts that could be caused by rising airborne dust levels in the southwestern United States.

“Our results indicate that future droughts driven by climate change could pose a potentially substantial public health burden in the U.S. Southwest," said study first author Pattanun Achakulwisut. “This is a climate penalty that is not yet widely recognized.”

Although there has been extensive research confirming a link between dust particle exposure and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-dangerous-seniors/">cardiovascular</a> and respiratory issues, the risk of rising airborne dust levels has barely been addressed.

“The U.S. Southwest has been seeing some of the fastest population growth in the U.S., and the area is projected to experience severe and persistent droughts in coming decades due to human-caused climate change,” said co-lead author Susan Anenberg. 

“We know that droughts are associated with increases in exposure to small dust particles (PM2.5) and minerals. These pollutants can penetrate deeply into the lung and are linked to asthma, respiratory inflammation, and cardiovascular mortality, as well an illness known as Valley Fever that is on the rise in the Southwest.”


The team analyzed airborne dust levels and regional drought conditions over the past sixteen years, and then modeled future changes in dust levels based on various climates scenarios through the end of the century. These projections were used to quantify human health impacts.


According to the study, airborne dust levels could rise by 10 to 30 percent, causing premature deaths to increase by 20 to 130 percent. Furthermore, hospitalizations caused by exposure to fine dust could rise by 60 to 300 percent.

“This research highlights the need to better understand both the potential effects climate change will have on dust levels, as well as the specific health impacts of exposure to fine dust in populated, arid regions that may be vulnerable to climate change,” said co-lead author Loretta Mickley. 

“Our results suggest that drought-driven increases in fine dust would pose a substantial public health burden in the U.S. Southwest, especially under the worst-case climate change scenario.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Dust exposure in southwestern U.S. threatens human health

Experts at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering...

<a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has announced a controversial new rule that places heavy restrictions on which scientific research will be used to inform policies. The proposal has raised concerns that decades of environmental studies, which formed the foundation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-clean-air-policies/">clean air</a> and water regulations, could be disregarded.

If the legislation is passed, EPA policies will be based only on scientific studies with data that is reproducible and can be made public. This has sparked outrage from scientists who explain that many crucial public health studies cannot be replicated because it would mean exposing people to harmful contaminants. 

Furthermore, making all data public would compromise the confidentiality of study participants by releasing sensitive information.

Gina McCarthy is a former EPA administrator who now directs the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard University.

 “The best studies follow individuals over time, so that you can control all the factors except for the ones you’re measuring,” McCarthy told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</a>. “But it means following people’s personal history, their medical history. And nobody would want somebody to expose all of their private information.”

Earlier this week, 985 scientists aligned with the Union of Concerned Scientists signed a <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/ucs-documents/science-and-democracy/secret-science-letter-4-23-2018.pdf">letter</a> to Pruitt, urging him to stop pursuing the new restrictions.

“EPA can only adequately protect our air and water and keep us safe from harmful chemicals if it takes full advantage of the wealth of scientific research that is available to the agency,” the letter states.


Before President Trump put him in charge of the EPA, Scott Pruitt sued the agency 13 times as Oklahoma's attorney general to block clean air and water policies. Like Trump, the EPA administrator has been very vocal about his doubt for climate science.

While the EPA is describing its proposed rule as a push for transparency, critics are warning that the outcome will be anything but transparent.

The letter composed by the Union of Concerned Scientists suggests that the real motivation behind the legislation is to make it easier for “political interference in science-based decision making.”

“The result will be policies and practices that will ignore significant risks to the health of every American.”

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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

Pruitt proposes new rule to limit what research the EPA can use

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has announced a...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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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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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

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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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

[sendtonews key="gRpsplpwpe-2251464-12187" 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.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...