Researchers from Japan and Thailand have found that microplastics are invading all three parts of coral anatomy - the exterior mucus, tissue, and skeleton. This alarming discovery may offer new clues about the "missing plastic problem."



A whopping 70% of the plastic litter that has entered the oceans has vanished without a trace. The researchers propose that corals may be the unsuspecting culprits, absorbing microplastics from the oceans, acting as a "plastic sink."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enormous-issue-of-plastic-pollution">Enormous issue of plastic pollution</h2>



We can’t deny, plastics have made our lives easier. But <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-are-infiltrating-the-human-body-even-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">at what cost</a>? The repercussions of our reliance on plastics are becoming evident, damaging ecosystems in ways that are still being unearthed. 



Picture this - an estimated total of 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plastics make their way into marine environments each year.



Study lead author Suppakarn Jandang is a professor at <a href="https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kyushu University</a>’s Research Institute for Applied Mechanics (<a href="https://www.riam.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/index-e.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RIAM</a>) in Japan.



“In Southeast Asia, plastic pollution has become a significant issue. Collectively, nearly 10 million tons of plastic waste are dumped annually, equivalent to 1/3 of the world’s total,” said Professor Jandang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extracting-microplastics-from-corals">Extracting microplastics from corals</h2>



To battle plastic pollution, RIAM partnered with Thailand's <a href="https://www.chula.ac.th/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chulalongkorn University</a> in 2022, initiating the Center for Ocean Plastic Studies. 



Led by Professor Atsuhiko Isobe from RIAM, the research team set out to explore the impact of microplastics on local coral reefs. The experts focused on the coast of Si Chang Island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for its reef flats and anthropological study potential.



Each coral has three anatomical parts: surface mucus on the outside, tissue on the inside, and a skeleton made of calcium carbonate deposits. The researchers developed a simple yet effective way to extract and identify microplastics from corals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-microplastics-in-corals">Identifying microplastics in corals</h2>



The team collected 27 coral samples, discovering 174 microplastic particles which were mostly the width of a human hair.



Among these particles, 38% were found in the surface mucus, 25% in the tissue, and a shocking 37% in the coral skeleton. 



The most common microplastics were nylon, polyacetylene, and PET. The findings suggest that corals might be playing a role in the missing plastic problem. 



“Since coral skeletons remain intact after they die, these deposited microplastics can potentially be preserved for hundreds of years. Similar to mosquitos in amber,” explained Professor Jandang.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-threat-to-marine-life">Threat to marine life</h2>



The infiltration of microplastics into coral anatomy represents a grave threat to marine biodiversity. As primary ecosystems in tropical waters, coral reefs support a vast array of organisms. 



However, when microplastics invade these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coral-seeding-increases-resistance-to-extreme-heatwaves/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corals</a>, the repercussions ripple through the food chain. Fish that depend on coral for shelter and sustenance may inadvertently consume these plastics, leading to bioaccumulation. 



This process not only adversely affects marine health but also poses a threat to human populations reliant on seafood. The delicate balance of these ecosystems is at risk, highlighting the urgency for targeted interventions aimed at mitigating plastic pollution.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-action-is-needed">Global action is needed</h2>



Recognizing the profound implications of their findings, the research team advocates for stronger global initiatives to combat the proliferation of microplastics. 



Efforts to reduce plastic production and enhance waste management systems are imperative. On this front, international cooperation is essential for enacting regulations and fostering sustainable practices. 



Innovations in biodegradable materials and increased recycling rates could curtail further environmental degradation.



By emphasizing education and awareness campaigns, the scientific community can rally public support for policies aimed at <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-process-converts-microplastics-into-valuable-graphene-wonder-material/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preserving our oceans</a>. Continued research will be pivotal in devising sustainable solutions to safeguard marine biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-our-oceans">Future of our oceans</h2>



While the results are eye-opening, the team agrees that more global studies on an array of coral species are needed for a comprehensive understanding. 



“We also do not know the health effects of microplastics on coral and the larger reef community. There is still much to be done to accurately evaluate the impact of microplastics on our ecosystem,” said Professor Isobe.



The story of plastic's invasion in the oceans is still unfolding, and the role of corals in this narrative is just beginning to be understood.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724063666?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science of The Total Environment</a>.



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Microplastics found in the tissue and skeletons of corals

Researchers from Japan and Thailand have found that microplastics are invading all three parts of coral anatomy - the exterior mucus, tissue, and skeleton. This alarming discovery may offer new clues about the "missing plastic problem." A whopping 70% of the plastic litter that has entered the oceans has vanished without a trace. The researchers propose that corals may be the unsuspecting culprits, absorbing microplastics from the oceans, acting as a "plastic sink." Enormous issue of plastic pollution We can’t deny, plastics have made our lives easier....

An invasive tree species native to Australia is now endangering an important biodiversity hotspot in Jamaica. 

The tree is the Pittosporum undulatum, also known as the mock orange tree because of its bright orange fruit that has seeds covered with a sugary coating. 

These seeds attract birds, and so the mock orange tree is dispersing through Jamaican forests at record speeds. Hurricane damage has only helped the species spread. 

A team of researchers from <a href="https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/">Landcare Research</a> in New Zealand, the Universities of <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">Cambridge</a>, <a href="https://www.du.edu/">Denver,</a> and <a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/">Bangor</a> conducted a study of forests in the<a href="https://www.blueandjohncrowmountains.org/"> Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park</a> to better understand the invasive nature of the Pittosporum undulatum. 

The study was published in the journal Biological Conservation.

The park is a protected preserve and a necessary home to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/save-endangered-species/">endangered species</a> that exist only in Jamaica, and mock orange trees pose a dangerous threat to the rare plants and animals that live there.

For example, mock oranges are endangering a group of plant species called bromeliads which grow on stems but can’t grow on the Pittosporum undulatum because the bark is too smooth. 

Bromeliads are important for many insect species who rely on the plant for water, and the insects, in turn, are a food source for the endangered Jamaican Blackbird. 

The invasive nature of the mock orange tree is tipping the delicate ecosystem of the protected national park forests. 

The research team studied the Jamaican forests using a record of the their history that ranged 4o years. The results showed a constant increase of Pittosporum, and currently, the species accounts for more than 10 percent of all tree stems. 

The study shows how important biodiversity is and how delicate ecosystems are easily threatened by invasive species. 

The researchers hope their results will urge policymakers to control the spread of invasive species like the mock orange in vital Jamaican forests. 

“We are sure that active intervention at this stage would be very cost effective, reducing the much greater costs of trying to restore the native forests if the invasion is allowed to spread further,” said Peter Bellingham, the lead researcher.

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: J Healey, Bangor University

Invasive species threatens crucial Jamaican biodiversity hotspot

An invasive tree species native to Australia is now endangering...

For years, China has been criticized for sacrificing the health of the environment for economic gain. But now, policies limiting pollution due seem to be slowing China’s manufacturing sector, according to the new Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released on Sunday. 

China is known for its booming economy and exports, but the PMI shows a decrease from 51.8 in November to 51.6 in December. 

Experts have predicted that the economic growth in China would slow, but the overall future outlook for expansion and growth look promising. 

“Overall, 2017's economic performance continues to be steady and good, establishing a generally good foundation for 2018,” the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-pmi-factory-official/china-december-factory-growth-eases-as-tough-pollution-measures-bite-idUSKBN1EP009">Reuters</a>. “Recent PMI surveys show companies are confident for economic development in the new year, with production and operating activity expectation indices showing significant improvement."

The reason for the economic slowdown can be linked to government policies meant to limit smog and pollution, as well as curbs on the housing market.  

Steelmakers in 28 cities are cutting down on their output, and some manufacturing activity has been stalled or hindered thanks to a campaign to convert coal to natural gas in order to limit environmental pollution and smog. 

Air quality in Beijing, China has been a concern for some time.

In the winter months, the haze is particularly toxic, and covers Beijing and other parts of China in thick rolling clouds that can cause respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease. 

Burning coal has also been linked to thousands of premature deaths in China. According to a report published on <a href="https://www.healtheffects.org/publication/burden-disease-attributable-coal-burning-and-other-air-pollution-sources-china">Healtheffects.org</a>, and the pollution problem is so large that smog is related to almost <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-smog-deaths-2016-12">one-third of all deaths in the country</a>. 

The efforts to combat <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/asian-pollution-increased-smog/">smog</a> could cost China billions, but so far, <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/27/news/economy/china-crackdown-pollution-economy/index.html">economists and analysts say </a>China’s economy is strong enough to handle the hit to the manufacturing sector. 

However, there are arguments that if the health of the economy is at stake, Chinese policies limiting pollution may ease up or even reverse.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Chinese manufacturing sacrifices growth for environmental gains

For years, China has been criticized for sacrificing the health...

As the holidays come to an end, many people are faced with the dilemma of what to do with their live Christmas trees. A lot of cities offer curbside pickup, but there are also some creative and environmentally friendly ways to recycle the trees.

For those who wish to extend the life of their Christmas tree instead of putting it out with the trash, <a href="http://www.realchristmastrees.org/">The National Christmas Tree Association</a> (NCTA) has some very unique ideas. 

The authors of the organization's <a href="http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/All-About-Trees/How-to-Recycle">website</a> write: “After the holidays, don’t throw your real Christmas tree in the trash or set it on the curb. Real <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/christmas-trees-wild-instagram/">Christmas trees</a> are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes.”

One proposed suggestion is to buy live trees that still have the roots. The experts recommend digging a hole in the fall before the ground freezes and planting the tree right after Christmas is over.

The NCTA also points out that, “Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially for lake and river shoreline stabilization and river delta sedimentation management.”

According to the website, many areas are also making use of shredded trees as a renewable path material for developing hiking trails. 

In addition, Christmas trees can be used as fish feeders or bird feeders. The authors say that trees “make an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish” when placed in the bottom of private fish ponds. 

To transition a Christmas tree into a bird feeder: “Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract the birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter. (Make sure all decorations, hooks, garland and tinsel strands are removed).”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Environmentally friendly ways to get rid of your Christmas tree

As the holidays come to an end, many people are...

Beginning this month, China will no longer be importing plastic waste and garbage from other countries. China normally receives millions of tons of recyclables from across the globe, and some countries such as the UK are now facing the challenge of how to build up their own recycling industries so that waste does not end up becoming a major environmental issue.

In 2016 alone, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossilized-dinosaur-eggs-found/">China</a> imported 7.3 million tons of plastic waste from major countries such as the UK, the United States, and Japan. 56 percent of the world's plastic waste was taken in by China in 2012, which totaled almost 9 million tons.

In a <a href="http://m.greenpeace.org/eastasia/high/press/releases/toxics/2017/Chinas-ban-on-imports-of-24-types-of-waste-is-a-wake-up-call-to-the-world---Greenpeace/">press release</a> from <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/">Greenpeace East Asia</a>, plastics campaigner Liu Hua said, “This regulation will send shockwaves around the world, and force many countries to tackle the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude we've developed towards waste.”

“The world cannot continue with the current wasteful consumption model based on infinite growth in a finite world,” said Hua. “Rather than find new places to export waste, governments and the private sector must find ways to simply reduce the amount of waste we are creating.”

According to the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/">BBC</a>, Britain has been exporting up to 500,000 tons of plastic for recycling in China every year. Simon Ellin, chief executive of the <a href="http://www.therecyclingassociation.com/">UK Recycling Association</a>, explained to the news outlet that there is currently no short-term plan in place to deal with the excess waste.

“It's a huge blow for us...a game-changer for our industry," Ellin told the BBC. “We've relied on China so long for our waste… 55% of paper, 25% plus of plastics. We simply don't have the markets in the UK. It's going to mean big changes in our industry.”

China announced its decision to ban the imports of 24 types of waste in July 2017, writing to the <a href="https://www.wto.org/">World Trade Organization</a> that their country has become extremely polluted from the garbage. They reported that an investigation into the imports revealed that “large amounts of dirty wastes or even hazardous wastes are mixed in the solid waste that can be used as raw materials.”

Britain, for one, has responded to the ban by exporting more of its waste to other countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam, who do not have nearly the capacity of China's former waste disposal.

According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk">The Guardian</a>, a representative from the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that the organization is “looking at ways to process more of our recycling at home as part of our resources and waste strategy.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

China stops importing plastic waste, UK scrambles for strategies

Beginning this month, China will no longer be importing plastic...

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded over the New Year's holiday in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/india-cannon-air-pollution/">New Delhi</a>, as thick fog descended upon the city for the second day on Monday. 

An estimated 300 flights departing from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport were either cancelled or backlogged due to poor visibility on the runways.

Sanjiv Kapoor is the Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer for Vistara, an Indian domestic airline. 

Kapoor <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSanjivKapoor/status/947694022906097664">posted</a> on Twitter: 

“Happy New Year! Another tough day at DEL. All departures were held up due to fog, arrivals not getting gates as all occupied by aircraft waiting to depart. Departures finally starting to happen now. Consequential delays expected through the day across the network.”

Kapoor updated travelers again today on Twitter to warn that the fog is back and is expected to remain in the area overnight into Tuesday morning. “Please be prepared for extensive delays again,” he wrote.

An <a href="https://twitter.com/dtptraffic/status/947844598507782144">advisory</a> from the Delhi Traffic Police was posted on New Year's Eve, which encouraged drivers to delay their travel plans when fog warnings are in place. Drivers who end up in foggy conditions were asked to slow down, avoid passing, and increase their following distance. 

The tweet from Delhi traffic officials advised people driving in fog to “reduce the distractions" in their vehicles by turning off music and cell phones.

Over two dozens trains were also delayed Monday morning, leaving passengers stranded for a short time at New Delhi’s railway station. 

The fog is predicted to continue up until Wednesday when it will begin to moderate, according to the <a href="http://www.imd.gov.in/">India Meteorological Department</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fog delays holiday travel in New Delhi

Hundreds of passengers were left stranded over the New Year's...

A surge of cold Arctic air blasted regions of the United States with dangerous subzero temperatures and widespread wind chill warnings over the weekend, and more <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cold-environments-increase-cancer/">cold weather</a> is on the way. Another Arctic surge is in the forecast later this week, which will bring temperatures back down just as soon as they have a chance to rise.

Hundreds of thousands of people showed up to ring in 2018 despite the shivering cold weather in New York City last night. With a temperature of 9 degrees, the event was the second-coldest New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square ever recorded.

The first morning of the new year brought below-freezing temperatures to more than 230 million Americans, according to <a href="https://weather.com/">The Weather Channel</a>. The news outlet also announced that the average temperature across the United States at 8:00 Eastern time on New Year's morning was 8.2 degrees, and Tuesday morning will be even colder.

Temperatures in some areas of the Northeast are 15 to 30 degrees below average, and many states in the Midwest are facing frigid temperatures as well. Places in the South including parts of the Plains and the Gulf Coast are experiencing single digits and temperatures in the teens.

The Weather Channel reported that dozens of new record lows have been set, and more are expected as the week progresses. This morning, Watertown, New York, hit a new daily low of - 31 degrees, while Des Moines, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois, both set new records at - 19 degrees.

Over the weekend, the town of Embarrass, Minnesota, hit a temperature of - 45 degrees, and wind chills in North Dakota and Minnesota dropped to as low as -55 degrees. 

Temperatures will get a few degrees warmer in some regions on Wednesday and Thursday as the first system weakens, but another Arctic air mass will spill into the United States from Canada during the second half of the week and reinforce the freezing weather by Friday.

There may be some relief from the cold for affected regions in the not-so-distant future. Experts from the Weather Channel explained, “There's a chance a pattern change may allow milder - relative to average, or at least less cold - temperatures to return in January's second week, but the details remain highly uncertain.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

2018 opens with record cold temperatures over most of the U.S.

A surge of cold Arctic air blasted regions of the...

Even though the five-year drought that plagued California has technically ended, wildfires ravaged the state in December, leaving behind massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/burn-scars-california-wildfires/">burn scars</a>.

North America recently experienced an uptick in forest fires, as has parts of Russia, which have been linked to both global warming and <a href="http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/its-like-war-as-wildfires-rage-across-siberia-and-the-russian-far-east/">human activities</a>.

Forest fires cause habitat degradation, a shortage of resources, and can cost billions in damages. Wildfires also release large amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. 

Boreal forests act as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The roots, leaves, stems, and branches soak up carbon and help store it. But when a wildfire removes hundreds of acres of trees, the previously stored carbon is released. 

Now, researchers from the <a href="http://www.ras.ru/en/index.aspx">Russian Academy of Science</a> and <a href="https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/">Hokkaido University</a> have found that charcoal remains left behind after a fire increased decomposition of organic matter and sped up carbon release. 

The researchers performed field litterbag experiments, where organic matter is put in a bag and left in the open for a period of time in order to measure decomposition. 

The researchers incubated fine larch tree roots and soil in bags with different concentrations of charcoal in the soil and left them for 515 days. 

There were four different charcoal levels for the experiments, either equal to, less, or more than the charcoal levels found naturally in the field where the experiments took place. 

After a time, the fine roots decomposed in mass quantity no matter the charcoal content in the soil, but the researchers noted that more roots decomposed the greater the levels of charcoal in the soil. 

This means that forest fires, which leave charcoal remains in their wake, add even more carbon emissions than previously realized. 

“Our study has provided the first field evidence that fire-derived charcoal might accelerate the decomposition of fine larch roots and consequently CO2 emissions from boreal forest,” said  Makoto Kobayashi, a co-author of the study. 

The results of the study are useful for future predictions of accurate C02 emissions from wildfires. 

--

By<a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com"> Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Photo Credit: Bryanin S.V.

Charcoal left behind by wildfires speed up carbon emissions

Even though the five-year drought that plagued California has technically...

An international team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.uea.ac.uk/">University of East Anglia</a> have determined that many regions of the planet will become substantially drier if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migration-europe-drastically-increase/">global warming</a> reaches 2 degrees Celsius. In fact, the team has determined that over 25 percent of the world will experience less moisture and will be more prone to drought and wildfires.

The experts also found that limiting the increase in global temperatures to under 1.5 degrees Celsius could drastically reduce the amount of the land that will suffer significant changes.

By combining calculations of precipitation and evaporation, scientists can measure the dryness of the land surface, which is also known as aridity. The research team analyzed projections from 27 climate models to identify the regions of the planet which will have the biggest changes in aridity as global warming continues.

“Aridification is a serious threat because it can critically impact areas such as agriculture, water quality, and biodiversity,” said study co-author Dr. Chang-Eui Park. “It can also lead to more droughts and wildfires - similar to those seen raging across California.”

Dr. Park said that as humid regions become increasingly dry, there is “a shift to continuous moderate drought conditions, on top of which future year-to-year variability can cause more severe drought.” 

He explained that a rise in temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius would lead to the further aridification of 15 percent of semi-arid climates.

“Our research predicts that aridification would emerge over about 20-30 percent of the world's land surface by the time the global mean temperature change reaches 2C,” said study co-author Dr. Manoj Joshi. “But two thirds of the affected regions could avoid significant aridification if warming is limited to 1.5C.”

Study author Dr. Su-Jong Jeong pointed out that the world has already warmed by 1 degree Celsius. “But by reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere in order to keep global warming under 1.5C or 2C could reduce the likelihood of significant aridification emerging in many parts of the world,” he said.

Over the past couple of decades, drought severity has been increasing across the Mediterranean, southern Africa, and the eastern coast of Australia. Meanwhile semi-arid areas of Mexico, Brazil, southern Africa and Australia have had some fertile land transition to desert.

“The areas of the world which would most benefit from keeping warming below 1.5C are parts of Southeast Asia, Southern Europe, Southern Africa, Central America and Southern Australia - where more than 20 percent of the world's population live today,” said co-author Professor Tim Osborn.

The findings are published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate/current-issue">Nature Climate Change</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Global warming will lead to widespread aridification

An international team of researchers led by the University of...

Have you made a New Year’s resolution to invest in solar panels, use public transportation more, or ask your city to look installing charging stations for hybrid cars? If so, you may be helping to curb climate change, a new study says.

The study, led by Dr. Brian Beckage of the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/">University of Vermont</a>, drew on both social psychology and climate data to determine how humans are reacting to climate change and whether the changes they’re making are having any effect on rising global temperatures.

"A better understanding of the human perception of risk from climate change and the behavioral responses are key to curbing future climate change," Beckage said in a press release.

The study – a joint effort by the <a href="http://www.nimbios.org/workinggroups/WG_risk">Working Group on Human Risk Perception and Climate Change</a> at the <a href="https://www.utk.edu/">University of Tennessee, Knoxville</a>, and the <a href="https://www.sesync.org/">National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center</a> at the <a href="https://www.umd.edu/">University of Maryland</a> – used data on human perceptions of climate change and its associated risks going back to 2013, as well as climate data.

They found that behavioral changes – especially those that could not be easily reversed, like insulating homes, buying hybrid cars, or installing solar panels – do actually help to curb climate change.

The study calls out a missing aspect of most climate change models: human behavior. Many climate change models don’t take human behavior or efforts to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions into account.

“It is easy to lose confidence in the capacity for societies to make sufficient changes to reduce future temperatures. When we started this project, we simply wanted to address the question as to whether there was any rational basis for 'hope' – that is a rational basis to expect that human behavioral changes can sufficiently impact climate to significantly reduce future global temperatures," said Louis J. Gross, director of the Working Group at University of Tennessee and a study co-author.

The study has been published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-017-0031-7">Nature Climate Change</a>. Funding was provided by the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Changes in behavior can help curb climate change

Have you made a New Year’s resolution to invest in...

Monitoring streams can be a key part of making sure a healthy landscape stays healthy. Streams and their ecosystems can be the first places many negative environmental changes are seen, making them a sort of early warning system for the local watershed.

But monitoring methods can be improved for many streams and waterways, according to a new study.

"Basically, instead of standing in a large stream far from the headwaters and observing what flows past us through time, we illustrate that it can be much more informative to periodically travel around the region and grab samples from the smallest to the largest streams in the watershed," Dr. Jay Zarnetske said in a press release. 

Zarnetske, a professor at <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>, co-authored the study, which looked at how streams can reflect the health of the surrounding watershed.

A watershed is the land surrounding a river, stream or other body of water where rainfall or snow melt flows into that body of water. However, it’s not just rain that flows from a watershed into a stream or river. Agricultural fertilizer and pesticides can also flow into a stream, as can oil and other road waste through storm drain systems, damaging an otherwise healthy landscape.

Monitoring a stream can give water and land use managers, scientists and other stakeholders a better idea of what they can do to make sure practices are sustainable. 

For example, agriculture can be a major polluter. Nutrients from phosphorus- and nitrogen-based fertilizers can cause algae blooms and overgrowth of certain plants, including invasive species. Pesticides and fuel runoff can harm wildlife and cause “dead zones” in the water.

"Most people have no idea that the human manipulation of the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles is occurring, is affecting nearly every place on the planet and is one of, if not the greatest, current threat to the fate of humanity,” Zarnetske said.

By traveling to collect samples and make observations throughout a stream’s course rather than monitoring a single point at the headwaters or where it flows into a larger lake or sea, scientists can get a better idea of the stream and watershed’s overall health, as well as pinpoint problems that might be harming an otherwise healthy landscape.

The study, led by Dr. Ben Abbott of <a href="https://www.byu.edu/">Brigham Young University</a>, studied a watershed in an agricultural region in France. They found that factors such as temperature and water flow could be enough to alter the stream’s chemistry.

While better monitoring can help improve farming sustainability, it can also be helpful in predicting how melting Arctic and Antarctic landscapes might affect local watersheds.

The study has been published in the journal <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1461-0248">Ecology Letters</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Dr. Ben Abbott, Brigham Young University

Want a healthy landscape? Monitor the streams

Monitoring streams can be a key part of making sure...

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uah.es/en/">University of Alcala de Henares</a> and the <a href="https://www.ehu.eus/en">University of the Basque Country</a> are answering some important questions about changing weather patterns. The interaction of two major climate trends affects weather cycles and ecosystems, according to the study.

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), which is largely responsible for drought in Europe, is a large-scale fluctuation in the atmosphere located between the area of subtropical high pressures and the low polar pressure in the North Atlantic basin. The NAO impacts a range of activities in the environment, ranging from tree growth to forestry pest cycles.

The researchers have determined that inconsistencies in climate cycles - when events such as long-term forestry production did not match up to what was predicted by the NAO values - can be attributed to changes in the surface temperatures of the Atlantic Ocean. These periodic anomalies are known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). The experts determined that the AMO significantly impacts the atmosphere, yet the effects are not seen immediately.

To test out this theory, the research team analyzed data from historical archives, climatology, statistical models, and forestry ecology. 

“It has been a fascinating piece of work, dusting off archives of the end of the 19th century to get accurate estimates about how the productivity of forests across the Peninsula evolved over the last century and analyse them using 21st-century tools to understand the causes of the climate cycles and their consequences for the productivity of ecosystems," said the authors of the study.

The research was primarily focused on pine forests in the Spanish regions of Castilla-La Mancha and in Castilla y Len. The study revealed for the first time that it is the interaction of the two climate modes, NAO and AMO, that largely controls the productivity of ecosystems.


“The monitoring of the climate modes analyzed may help to predict periods of severe drought, although it would not be an easy task, thus encouraging the applying of measures to adapt the forests more effectively,” said study co-author Asier Herrero. 

The findings of this analysis could be utilized by land managers for water, agricultural, and forestry planning. The research could be particularly useful in assessing the climate vulnerability of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oil-palm-damage-ecosystems/">ecosystems</a>.

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

Two separate systems interact to produce climate cycles

Researchers from the University of Alcala de Henares and the...

Residents living near two national parks in Panama support jaguar conservation, but they’re a little shaky on how they can help, according to a new survey.

The survey measured the attitudes of residents living near the Cerro Hoya and Darién National Parks in Panama. Survey participants were generally worried about the futures of both parks, and residents near Darién didn’t feel the park – Panama’s largest – is adequately protected.

But the survey also found that residents’ feelings about the jaguars that make their homes in both parks were more positive among educated respondents and land owners.

"Attitudes of stakeholder groups are especially important to consider, as they can significantly affect policy, thus making the foundations of carnivore management as social and political as they are scientific," the study found.

The survey team, made up of Ricardo Moreno and Ninon Meyer of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/yaguarapty/">Fundación Yaguará Panama</a> and Clayton Neilsen, Jessica Fort, and Andrew Carver from <a href="http://siu.edu/">Southern Illinois University</a>, interviewed 139 people living in nearly 30 rural communities around the two parks.

The team surveyed residents over 18 who demonstrated the ability to identify jaguars and other large cats that lived in the parks. They focused on cattle ranchers and landowners who might be most affected by the wild cats. Due to the parameters of their survey, the participants skewed male.

They found that the residents were interested in preserving the parks and jaguar conservation, but that they were also in favor of policies that would harm the jaguar populations in both parks.

For example, from 1989 to 2014, around 230 jaguars are estimated to have been killed by humans in Panama. More than 95 percent of those kills were in retaliation for attacks on cattle and other livestock, the research team said.

Residents near the parks also favored building more roads through the wild lands, but those roads could split up jaguar populations, encourage poaching and illegal mining, and lead to other activities that could harm the big cats, the researchers said.

"According to our study, there is more human-jaguar conflict in Darién National Park, probably because communities are near larger tracts of unbroken forest, which is much better jaguar habitat," Moreno said. "Ironically, the respondents' ideas about roads into the parks are likely to increase this conflict and make effective park management significantly more challenging."

Other general findings of the survey:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">More women than men said they’d prefer to see the jaguars gone from the parks.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">About a third of survey participants near Cerro Hoya National Park admitted to hunting within the park in the past year, though their prey was the collared peccary, not jaguars.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Seven participants reported being affected by jaguars preying on domestic livestock.</li>
</ul>
The researchers found, however, that some of the survey participants were open to exploring methods for protecting their livestock that wouldn’t harm the local jaguar population. Improved community outreach and education about jaguar conservation could give residents more positive attitudes toward their feline neighbors, the researchers said.

The study has been published in the conservation journal <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/factors-influencing-local-attitudes-and-perceptions-regarding-jaguars-panthera-onca-and-national-park-conservation-in-panama/50B40CA76D388808E50C780CBA3A762D">Oryx</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Ricardo Moreno, <a href="http://www.stri.si.edu/">Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute</a>

Jaguar conservation requires the right attitude

Residents living near two national parks in Panama support jaguar...

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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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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Saturn,-,High,Resolution,3d,Images,Presents,Planets,Of,The

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique.&nbsp;



"Inhambane Bay is a deep inlet into which the small Mutamba River flows," says ESA. "On one side of the bay lies the historical city of Inhambane, capital of the Inhambane Province, while the sister city of Maxixe, the economic capital of Inhambane, sits across from it. The province is the second largest grower of cashews, after Nampula, and it also produces coconut and citrus fruits."



The beaches of Barra and Tofo are popular with tourists. There are also coral reefs along the long coastline of Inhambane, making it an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.



"Mozambique’s extensive coastline heightens the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian Ocean as well as storm surge flooding," says ESA.



"More than half of the population lives in low lying coastal areas, putting communities at risk. Inhambane Bay was dangerously close to where Cyclone Idai made landfall in 2019 causing widespread destruction to the country."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. The glacier is located on the east coast of the Greenland ice sheet.



As human-induced climate change continues to drive up temperatures, global ice loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. ESA reports that, over the past decade alone, 3.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from the Greenland ice sheet. This is enough to cover the UK with meltwater 15 meters deep.



Based on satellite imagery, researchers determined that Kangerlussuaq entered a new phase of rapid retreat and acceleration in 2017. In their study, published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2019.00123/full">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>,&nbsp; the experts report that the glacier's ice front is now at its most retreated position since the early 20th century.



"Given Kangerlussuaq’s previous impacts on both the magnitude and pattern of ice sheet wide mass loss, we predict that its new phase of retreat, acceleration and thinning will markedly enhance the south-east region’s contribution to increasing discharge from the ice sheet," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"More broadly, accurate forecasting of the ice sheet’s contribution to sea level rise will require a deeper understanding of, and responses to, these non-linear ice dynamic processes."



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the complex relationship between ocean and climate. ESA's Climate Change Initiative will help us understand how oceans influence the climate and how climate change is impacting the oceans.&nbsp;



"Earth’s oceans are huge heat stores, soaking up 93% of the excess heat from human activity over the past 70 years. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, from the Equator to the poles. Where this ocean heat goes influences weather patterns and regional climate," explains ESA.



"As well as absorbing heat, oceans are a natural carbon sink, absorbing a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. This has led to the acidification of ocean water, threating marine life."



The amount of heat and carbon dioxide soaked up by the ocean depends on specific variables, including phytoplankton, temperatures, waves, salinity, and ice cover. Satellites can be used to measure these variables from space.



"From their unique vantage point, satellites provide key information for understanding the complexities of our planet and monitoring environmental issues," says ESA.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the importance of monitoring the shape of the sea surface, which is constantly changing. These observations have many applications, such as ship routing, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-modem-ocean-is-a-tough-place-for-whales-to-survive/">ocean</a> current forecasting, and debris tracking.



"A project supported by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities recently investigated a new technique to measure sea surface topography very precisely," reports ESA.



"The technique involves looking at satellite navigation (GNSS) signals that have been reflected off of the sea surface at very low angles. At these so-called grazing angles, waves and surface roughness have very little impact on the reflection process; the sea surface acts as a very smooth mirror."



Estel Cardellach is the principal investigator at the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia, who first submitted the idea for the project.



“In a mirror-like reflection the phase of the signal can be tracked – it is continuous," said Cardellach. "Different surface heights result in different phase measurements. It gives a very precise measurement of the surface altitude at a few centimetres’ precision.”



The researchers developed a GNSS receiver and set up an experiment in the Balaeric Islands to collect signals from the receiver that were reflected off the sea surface. Ultimately, these signals will provide improved measurements of the shape of the sea surface.



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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Aerial,Photo,Of,River,In,Amazon,Rainforest,Jungle,In,Peru

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center</a> describes how scientists are using autonomous sound sensors to monitor deforestation in the Amazon. By recording soundscapes, the experts can determine which animals are present through their distinct sounds.&nbsp;



Using this method, sounds can be used as scientific measurements to analyze the effects of deforestation. The researchers will gain a better understanding of how the acoustics of a forest can be used to measure its health.&nbsp;



"From space, parts of the Amazon rainforest that have previously been logged or burned may look lush and green, like a place buzzing with activity and full of sounds. But inside the rainforest, the animal life may tell a different story, of a harsh environment and a quieter soundscape," says NASA.



Video Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center&nbsp;



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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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