Arctic,Region,And,Greenland,Viewed,From,A,Satellite.,Physical,Map

Ecological warning lights have flashed across the Arctic for decades. New research on climate warming reveals that some of the most extreme shifts are happening in Siberia, Canada’s Northwest Territories, and Alaska.



The study, published in&nbsp;Geophysical Research Letters, offers a detailed look at how Arctic and boreal ecosystems are experiencing rapid and alarming transformations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-warming-hotspots">Arctic warming 'hotspots'</h2>



The research team - comprising scientists from Woodwell Climate Research Center, the <a href="https://www.uio.no/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Oslo</a>, the <a href="https://www.umt.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Montana</a>, Esri, and the <a href="https://www.udl.cat/ca/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Lleida</a> - analyzed over 30 years of geospatial data.



The experts assessed temperature, moisture, and vegetation changes to pinpoint regions facing severe climate stress.



“Climate warming has put a great deal of stress on ecosystems in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rock-weathering-drives-further-warming-in-the-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high latitudes</a>, but the stress looks very different from place to place and we wanted to quantify those differences,” said Dr. Jennifer Watts, Arctic program director at <a href="https://www.woodwellclimate.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woodwell Climate</a> and lead author of the study.



Using spatial statistics, the team detected regions of intense change, known as “hotspots.” These areas have experienced substantial shifts in recent decades, with permafrost being a common denominator.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-levels-indicate-vulnerability">Permafrost levels indicate vulnerability</h2>



Permafrost, ground that remains frozen year-round, is crucial for stabilizing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-melting-arctic-sea-ice-could-disrupt-earths-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> ecosystems. However, in the last few decades, these frozen landscapes have seen rapid warming and drying. The study found that all 20 of the most vulnerable regions contained permafrost.



“The Arctic and boreal regions are made up of diverse ecosystems, and this study reveals some of the complex ways they are responding to climate warming,” said Dr. Sue Natali, who leads the Permafrost Pathways project at Woodwell Climate.



“However, permafrost was a common denominator - the most climate-stressed regions all contained permafrost, which is vulnerable to thaw as temperatures rise. That’s a really concerning signal.”



The study revealed stark contrasts in climate impacts across different regions. While parts of Siberia and the Canadian Northwest Territories experienced drying, areas like Alaska’s Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta saw rising surface water and flooding. 



These changes are likely linked to thawing permafrost, which can destabilize ecosystems and release stored carbon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-localized-data">Importance of localized data</h2>



Rather than relying on broad regional averages, the research team emphasized the need for localized data to guide climate adaptation strategies.



“This study is exactly why we have developed these kinds of spatial statistic tools in our technology," said Dr. Dawn Wright, chief scientist at <a href="https://www.esri.com/en-us/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Esri</a>.



"We are so proud to be working closely with Woodwell Climate on identifying and publishing these kinds of vulnerability hotspots that require effective and immediate climate adaptation action and long-term policy. This is essentially what we mean by the ‘Science of Where.’”



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-hotspots_ecosystem-stress_map_credit-Christina-Shintani_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/arctic-hotspots_ecosystem-stress_map_credit-Christina-Shintani_1s.webp" alt="Map of areas that experienced ecosystem climate stress in the Arctic-boreal region between 1997-2020 as detected by multiple variables including satellite data and long-term temperature records. Credit: Christina Shintani/Woodwell" class="wp-image-1957096"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Map of areas that experienced ecosystem climate stress in the Arctic-boreal region between 1997-2020 as detected by multiple variables including satellite data and long-term temperature records. Credit: Christina Shintani/Woodwell</figcaption></figure>



Using detailed mapping, the researchers hope to provide land managers with more precise information, much like Covid-19 tracking data, which varies across communities. 



By focusing on localized climate patterns, decision-makers can implement targeted adaptation and conservation strategies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saving-the-arctic-from-rapid-warming">Saving the Arctic from rapid warming</h2>



One of the most alarming findings of the study was the significant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-ocean-warming-four-times-faster-than-global-average/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warming</a> across the Siberian boreal forest region. 



These forests, which have historically absorbed and stored carbon dioxide, are now under severe climate stress. This increases the risk of wildfires and carbon release, compounding global climate challenges.



“These forested regions, which have been helping take up and store carbon dioxide, are now showing major climate stresses and increasing risk of fire,” said Dr. Watts.



“We need to work as a global community to protect these important and vulnerable boreal ecosystems, while also reining in fossil fuel emissions.”



This research highlights an urgent need for action. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-is-headed-toward-a-historic-low/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> ecosystems are rapidly transforming, and their stability is crucial for the planet’s climate balance. 



Monitoring these changes with precision will help shape effective policies and conservation efforts. However, without global cooperation and immediate action, these warning lights may soon signal irreversible damage.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-if-we-do-nothing">What happens if we do nothing?</h2>



If Arctic warming continues unchecked, the consequences will be severe. Melting permafrost will release massive amounts of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, accelerating global warming. 



Rising temperatures will cause more wildfires, destroying boreal forests and releasing stored carbon. Flooding and coastal erosion will threaten <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-ocean-warming-in-2024-is-a-warning-for-our-planet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> communities, forcing people to relocate. 



Beyond the physical changes, Arctic warming has serious implications for wildlife and indigenous communities. 



Iconic animals like polar bears, seals, and walruses rely on ice for hunting, breeding, and protection. As their habitats shrink, these species struggle to survive, leading to declining populations and even extinction in some cases. 



Indigenous peoples who have lived in harmony with the Arctic environment for generations face challenges as their traditional ways of life are disrupted.



Scientists warn that ignoring these changes could push the planet past a tipping point, making climate recovery nearly impossible.



Doing nothing is not an option.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023GL108081" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.



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New Arctic warming map shows alarming changes in climate 'hotspots'

Ecological warning lights have flashed across the Arctic for decades. New research on climate warming reveals that some of the most extreme shifts are happening in Siberia, Canada’s Northwest Territories, and Alaska. The study, published in&nbsp;Geophysical Research Letters, offers a detailed look at how Arctic and boreal ecosystems are experiencing rapid and alarming transformations. Arctic warming 'hotspots' The research team - comprising scientists from Woodwell Climate Research Center, the University of Oslo, the University of Montana, Esri, and the University of Lleida - analyzed over 30 years...

Air quality is the leading environmental threat to public health, according to the 2018 <a href="http://epi.yale.edu/">Environmental Performance Index</a> (EPI).

The EPI is a biennial report produced by researchers at <a href="https://www.yale.edu/">Yale</a> and <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia</a>. 2018 marks the 10th report since the EPI’s beginnings 20 years ago. 

EPI researchers work with global datasets from different international research projects and companies like the<a href="http://www.healthdata.org/"> Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation</a> and the <a href="http://www.fao.org/">United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization</a>. 

The goal of the EPI is to rate environmental risks, ecosystem vitality risks such as biodiversity and deforestation, governing policies, and gross national income to see how countries prioritize sustainability and public health. 

2018’s EPI ranks 180 countries across 10 issue categories using 24 performance indicators, and the results show how important environmental concerns and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-removed-websites/">climate change</a> have become on a global scale. 

More and more countries are working towards reducing emissions and improving public health and quality of life, but the EPI found that income and governance were two of the biggest drivers of change and environmental policies. 

Some of the countries at the top of the EPI’s list include Switzerland, France, Denmark, Malta, and Sweden, all of whom lead the world in sustainability and have strong policies in place for climate protection and air quality. 

The countries that rank higher show more commitment to air quality, sanitation, and public health, and reducing emissions while protecting important natural resources. 

India ranks as one of the lowest countries on the list, not only because of poor air quality and the risk of pollution to public health, but also because of the lack of national sustainability as a priority. 

The United States ranks 27th on the EPI, behind other industrialized nations like France, Canada, and Germany who have made their stance on climate change, sustainability, and environmental issues clear. 

The EPI shows how environmental risks to public health like air quality have shaped global policies and which countries are committed to reducing and mitigating the impacts of climate change. 

“As the world community pursues new sustainable development goals, policymakers need to know who is leading and who is lagging on energy and environmental challenges,” said Daniel C. Esty, director of the <a href="https://envirocenter.yale.edu/">Yale Center for Environmental Law &amp; Policy</a>. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Poor air quality listed as the leading environmental threat

Air quality is the leading environmental threat to public health,...

Nearly 80 percent of Michigan's Upper Peninsula is affected by toxic mercury, leading to continued fish advisories in and around the Great Lakes. Researchers at <a href="https://www.mtu.edu/">Michigan Technological University</a> are now investigating what must be done to make the fish safe for consumption.

Mercury is a widespread pollutant and its regulations vary worldwide. For the the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), the question has become: when is it safe to eat the fish? In order to answer this question, an interdisciplinary study was developed among biogeochemical modelers, environmental engineers, and social scientists.

Mercury is an atmosphere-surface exchangeable pollutant (ASEP). These molecules are invisible, tasteless, and they can move over great distances. ASEP molecules travel through the air, landscape, water, and animals.

Study lead researcher Judith Perlinger is a professor of Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech.

“We're taking phenomena that act on a global scale and predicting what they will do,” said Perlinger. She added that working with the KBIC was critical to the project. “Clearly the issue matters to them, so how can we make the science relevant to them?”

The research team focused on mercury and three different policy scenarios through the year 2050. In the first scenario, mercury emissions from human activities were completely eliminated. In the second, more moderate policy action was taken, and no policy action was implemented in the third scenario.


The study revealed that there would be little change within the lifetimes of the KBIC community regardless of the scenario. Study co-author Noel Urban explained that the process would likely take generations to reach levels that the community considers safe.

“People assume that what is deposited in a forest is also deposited the same in a lake, which isn't true, so models have been miscalculating,” said Urban. “This is apparent in the Great Lakes, and the Upper Peninsula is a particularly sensitive landscape to mercury.”

The analysis of mercury concentration in the lakes combined with estimates of mercury in fish from similar water bodies revealed that mercury persists differently depending on the size of the lake.

“Which poison do you want?” said Urban. “Go to the big lakes and get PCBs, go to the small lakes and get mercury.”

While admitting that there is no simple answer to the KBIC’s question, the team will continue to assess the regional impacts of mercury in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antidepressants-fish-great-lakes/">Great Lakes</a>. The current study will be published in the journal journal <a href="https://www.environmentalscience.org/">Environmental Science</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

No simple solution to Great Lakes mercury pollution problem

Nearly 80 percent of Michigan's Upper Peninsula is affected by...

The balance of bacteria within coral mucus is very important because it serves as a type of artificial immune system, keeping corals healthy by preventing bad bacteria from entering their systems. Researchers at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">Ohio State University</a> have identified two effects of climate change which can disrupt the vital balance in coral microbe populations and allow bad bacteria to take over their bodies.

“Just like we need good bacteria to be healthy, so do coral,” said Professor Andrea Grottoli. “Coral don't have immune systems like humans do, but the microbes living in and on their bodies can impart immune-like function. When that falls apart, they can become sickly.”

The primary objective of this study was to help guide the development of effective coral conservation strategies before the anticipated rise in ocean temperature and acidity, which has been predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to happen by the end of this century.

“If we want to make good decisions about which coral populations are more resilient and which ones need more help, this study suggests that we have to take their associated microbial communities into account,” said Professor Grottoli.

The research team focused its study on two species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mass-coral-bleaching-common/">coral</a> which are found commonly across the globe, including staghorn coral and yellow scroll coral. 

Symbiotic algae within the coral’s cells produce the animal's colors. Stress causes the corals to expel the algae and turn white, an event known as coral bleaching. In recent years, microbes have also emerged as an important component of coral ecology.

Yellow scroll coral is much more resistant to bleaching in rising temperatures than staghorn coral. Researchers expected that the yellow scroll coral would also have the advantage regarding microbes, because this species makes more mucus. Most microbes in the coral microbiome live in the mucus that covers the outside of their bodies.

The researchers exposed both species of coral to a rise in temperature from 26.5 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius over the course of 24 days. The team also gradually increased the acidity of the water until it was about 80 percent more acidic.

The study revealed that the yellow scroll coral maintained a stable microbiome under stress, while the staghorn coral experienced a decline in microbial diversity and a rise in bad bacteria populations. The staghorn was much more sensitive to temperatures and bleached in response to stress, showing signs of an overall health decline.

On the other hand, the yellow scroll coral had the strongest microbiome and did not bleach. This indicates that the dynamic between this particular coral, its algae, and its microbe communities makes it exceptionally durable.

The study, which is the first of its kind to investigate how the coral microbiome responds to the strain of both rising ocean temperatures and acidification, is published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Corals have weaker immunity as the climate warms

The balance of bacteria within coral mucus is very important...

Researchers are reporting that the small crystals found in volcanic rocks may contain critical information that could help predict volcanic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/philippines-volcano-spewing-lava/">eruptions</a>. 

The crystals form when magma starts rising from up to 18 miles below the Earth’s surface and they are carried along inside of the magma, changing in size and composition as they are transported.

Dr. Teresa Ubide from the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a> and Professor Balz Kamber from <a href="http://www.tcd.ie/">Trinity College Dublin</a> teamed up to conduct a study on Mount Etna, which is the most active volcano in Europe.

Using an advanced laser technique, the researchers managed to view the inside of volcanic crystals in a way they had never been seen before. They discovered that the crystals contain a memory in the form of growth layers that resemble tree rings, which may be utilized in the future for more effective volcanic hazard monitoring.

“They essentially 'record' the processes right before the eruption starts,” said Dr. Ubide. “At Mount Etna, we found that the arrival of new magma at 10 km depth is a very efficient trigger of eruptions -- and within only two weeks.”

“In this case, therefore, earth tremors at the depth of magma recharge must be taken as serious signs of potential imminent eruptions. At other volcanoes, the method will allow to establish the relationship between recharge depth, recharge frequency and eruption efficiency. This can then help scientists to better relate physical signs of recharge to eruption potential.”

The research team will expand their analysis to other volcanoes around the world. They plan to compare the information with geophysical signs of magma movement.

“The new approach may also prove useful for studying volcanoes that have remained dormant, such as the currently erupting volcano on Kadovar Island, Papua New Guinea,” said Professor Kamber.

“For many volcanoes there is no eruption history, but geologists can collect lavas from past eruptions and study their crystals.”

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.google.com/earth/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The small crystals that can help predict volcanic eruptions

Researchers are reporting that the small crystals found in volcanic...

The <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)</a> is preparing a weather prediction system that can tell how much snowpack will occur in the mountains as much as eight months in advance. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/californias-snowpack-measures-low/">Snowpack</a> is the high elevation reservoir of snow that melts and runs off into rivers, streams, and the local water supply. 

The ability to predict snowpack would, in turn, forecast how much snow melt a city or town would get which is crucial for water managers and farmers. Water from melting snow can also help with drought and wildfire prevention. 

The prediction system can even be targeted to a single mountain range so water forecasts could be regionally specific.

Long-range climate predictions are not out of the question, but they’ve typically been used to show how much snow and precipitation levels will decline in the long-term.

Now, water managers would be able to plan for city water needs based on seasonal snowfalls nearly a year ahead of time. 

The prediction system is still in its experimental phases, and while accurate for much of the western United States, NOAA researchers are still having trouble with climate conditions in the Sierra Nevadas. 

“Having seasonal snow forecasts would be a tremendous boon to water managers,” said Frank Gehrke, chief of the <a href="https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/">California Cooperative Snow Survey Program</a>. “I'm not surprised prediction is running into difficulty in the Sierra Nevada, but I'm hopeful the work we're doing now to improve data from this terrain will help improve prediction here.”

Improving snowpack predictions was made a national priority by <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/353">The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017</a>, and the NOAA’s predictions systems could be monumental in implementing better resource management and reducing the risk of drought and wildfire for much of the United States.  
--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Dale Kolke/ California Department of Water Resources

Scientists may soon be able to predict snowpack months in advance

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is preparing a...

Conservation practices employed by lobstermen in Maine have helped reduce population declines and make the area lobster fishery resilient to climate change. 

New research has found that lobsterman in Maine who have spent years returning large lobsters to the ocean and marking egg-bearing lobsters have had more success increasing populations than those in New England where conservation is not a priority. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://www.gmri.org/">Gulf of Maine Research Institute</a> and the <a href="https://umaine.edu/marine/">School of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine</a>, and published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal. 

The world's oceans are getting warmer, and these temperature increases are disrupting many marine ecosystems. 

In southern New England, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pepsi-logo-lobsters-claw/">lobster</a> populations declined by 78 percent, while in the Gulf of Maine, a shift in summer ocean temperatures combined with conservation measures caused lobster populations to rapidly increase by 515 percent.

For the study, the researchers used computer models which simulated ecosystem scenarios under different conditions. 

The models allowed the researchers to understand how the rise in ocean temperatures impacted lobster populations both with and without conservation efforts. 

According to the results, the reason the Gulf of Maine saw such a drastic increase in populations was through conservation, as this helped the lobsters become resilient to the changing temperatures. 

A warmer ocean also boosted populations, but the methods implemented by the lobstermen made a huge difference as the simulations showed that without any conservation methods, the populations would have only increased by 242 percent. 

The results are promising as it shows that with proper management strategies in place, the severe consequences of climate change, including loss of biodiversity and population declines, can be lessened. 

“This paper shows how climate and fisheries management are connected,” said Arnault Le Bris, the lead author of the study. “Communities that embrace anticipatory conservation methods can continue to thrive in a warming ocean.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Conservation efforts help make lobster populations resilient

Conservation practices employed by lobstermen in Maine have helped reduce...

Determining how and when snow melts is important in many areas of the globe in order to plan for reservoirs, water supply, and potential flooding issues. Although it may seem like that determination is as simple as just looking at a thermostat, it’s actually a little more complex.

New research published in <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> shows that changes in humidity may have a big impact on how the snowpack melts as the climate warms. 

It sounds counterintuitive, but their findings show that cloudy, gray, humid winter days can actually cause the snowpack to warm faster. On the other hand, conditions with clear skies and low humidity may allow the snow to become colder than the air around it, preserving the snowpack. 

This is important to know, since <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-mental-health/">climate change</a> can alter winter humidity up in some areas and down in others. “It means that trends and patterns in humidity will be very important to the future of snow,” says Adrian Harpold, a professor at the <a href="https://www.unr.edu/">University of Nevada, Reno</a>.

While scientists have known that a changing climate might have significant impacts on snowmelt-derived water resources, it has been difficult to determine why some areas are more sensitive to change, while others are more resilient. 

So why do cloudy, humid days increase snowmelt? Well, snow’s white appearance comes from snow crystals reflecting solar radiation – minimizing energy input into the snow. On clear nights, the molecular structure of snow allows it to emit energy back into the sky, serving to cool the snowpack. On cloudy, humid days, this cooling process is reversed, as cloud cover prevents the snow from emitting energy. The condensation of water vapor on the snow also releases latent heat, which warms the snow. 

The researchers looked at snowpack data from over 400 locations around the West, from the dry desert southwest to the humid Pacific Northwest. They found that both dry and humid environments respond to climate warming with episodes of snowpack loss. In humid areas, these episodes were primarily snowmelt, while in dry areas the episodes were mainly sublimation – the direct loss of snow to the atmosphere. The researchers believe these effects will only become more significant with more warming.

“As we reach a tipping point and see our customary water storage system, the snowpack, melting more and earlier in the winter, systems that rely on snowmelt will need to be reevaluated and modified,” explains Harpold. 

For now, it’s a step in the right direction that we at least better understand the effect humidity has on snowmelt. Moving forward, we may also need to find better ways to manage a quicker and earlier melting of the snowpack.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Changes in humidity can impact snowmelt, water supply

Determining how and when snow melts is important in many...

According to a new study, shallow lakes and ponds are potential hotspots for increased methane emissions that could contribute to global warming.

Shallow waters contain pockets of methane, typically absorbed by the plants in the water’s ecosystem. However, as lakes warm and more plants die off, the trapped pockets of methane will bubble up in a process called ebullition. 

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clams-worms-high-methane/">Methane</a> has 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, so as more methane bubbles up and is emitted into the atmosphere, the greater the greenhouse effect will be. 

The new study, conducted by researchers from <a href="http://www.au.dk/en/">Aarhus University</a> in Denmark, describes the “synergistic” relationship between methane bubbles in lakes, warming temperatures, and eutrophication. 

Eutrophication occurs when a large number of nutrients, often from fertilizer runoff, enrich bodies of water and increase phytoplankton while starving out other plants.

The results of the study show how important it is to implement strategies to mitigate methane emissions from shallow waters. 

The researchers used a mesocosm experiment to examine the impact that warming and eutrophication would have on methane bubbling. A mesocosm is any controlled outdoor experiment that studies how climate and other conditions affect water and natural environments. 

Both an increase in nutrients and warming temperatures were found to be the main drivers of methane bubbling and methane emissions. 

The researchers also found that warming temperatures alone increased methane emissions by 50 percent in shallow lakes, but combined with eutrophication, emissions rose to 95 percent. 

Plants had a significant effect on keeping methane emissions in check, which was canceled out by the biodiversity loss that happens with eutrophication. 

The study shows how vital plants are in mitigating methane emissions in lakes and ponds, and the research could help pave the way for management strategies that reduce nutrient runoff from fertilizer to keep biodiversity intact. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Ben Goldsmith

Warmer temps and nutrients could increase lake methane emissions

According to a new study, shallow lakes and ponds are...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University</a> have conducted the first-ever study on the potential consequences of geoengineering. The experts are reporting that once the process of climate intervention is started, there will be serious biological impacts if it is ever stopped. 

The geoengineering technique that has been explored the most by scientists is the idea of spraying sulfur dioxide into the upper atmosphere. In the event of a climate crisis, this would form a cloud over the Earth to help cool the planet. However, the new study finds that this type of climate intervention could have devastating impacts.

“Rapid warming after stopping geoengineering would be a huge threat to the natural environment and biodiversity,” said study co-author Alan Robock. 

“If geoengineering ever stopped abruptly, it would be devastating, so you would have to be sure that it could be stopped gradually, and it is easy to think of scenarios that would prevent that. Imagine large droughts or floods around the world that could be blamed on geoengineering, and demands that it stop. Can we ever risk that?”


Even though the climate impacts of geoengineering have been analyzed in great detail, scientists know very little about the effects that climate intervention may have on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-road-biodiversity-hotspot/">biodiversity</a> and ecosystems. 

Robock pointed out that if a cloud is created from sulphur dioxide, airplanes would have to continuously fly into the upper atmosphere to maintain the cloud because it would last only about a year if spraying stopped. He said that the airplane spraying technology may be developed within a decade or two.

For their investigation, the research team developed a global scenario with moderate cooling through the use of geoengineering. They worked under the assumption that the sulfuric acid clouds would reduce the global temperature by about 1 degree Celsius. 

However, if geoengineering was stopped, this would lead to warming at a rate of 10 times faster than if geoengineering had never been implemented. Plants and animals would be put at a major disadvantage.

“We really need to look in a lot more detail at the impact on specific organisms and how they might adapt if geoengineering stops suddenly," said Robock.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate intervention engineering can’t be stopped once started

Researchers at Rutgers University have conducted the first-ever study on...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-reduce-plastic-pollution/">Plastics</a> are often derived from petroleum, which contributes to harmful greenhouse gas emissions. But now, experts at the <a href="https://www.glbrc.org/">Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center</a> have developed a much more environmentally friendly method of making plastic from biomass.

Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a chemical needed to make a renewable plastic called polyethylene furanoate (PEF). The research team has developed an economical and high-yielding process of producing FDCA from a plant-derived solvent called gamma-Valerolactone (GVL). 

This means that PEF could become a bio-based substitute for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is derived from petroleum and has a market demand of 1.5 billion tons per year.

Coca-Cola, Ford Motors, H.J. Heinz, Nike, and Procter &amp; Gamble have all committed to developing a sustainably sourced, 100 percent plant-based PET for their products and packaging. In the past, however, the potential of PEF to fill this role has been limited by the high cost of producing FDCA.

“Until now, FDCA has had a very low solubility in practically any solvent you make it in,” said study co-author Ali Hussain Motagamwala. “You have to use a lot of solvent to get a small amount of FDCA, and you end up with high separation costs and undesirable waste products.”

The new process developed by the team begins with fructose, which is converted into FDCA using a two-step process. The end result is a high yield of FDCA.

“Using the GVL solvent solves most of the problems with the production of FDCA,” said Motagamwala. “Sugars and FDCA are both highly soluble in this solvent, you get high yields, and you can easily separate and recycle the solvent.”

The system does not require expensive mineral acids for catalysis and also does not produce waste salts. Furthermore, the FDCA crystals can be easily separated from the solvent by using a simple cooling process.

“We think this is the streamlined and inexpensive approach to making FDCA that many people in the plastics industry have been waiting for,” said lead author James Dumesic. “Our hope is that this research opens the door even further to cost-competitive renewable plastics.”

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is now working to license the team’s GVL technology for use in bioplastics production. The study is published in the journal <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/earth/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: UW-Madison image by Ali Hussain Motagamwala and James Runde

New “green” plastic can be made from renewable sources

Plastics are often derived from petroleum, which contributes to harmful...

Researchers from <a href="http://www.au.dk/en/">Aarhus University</a> are reporting that heat from the Earth itself is a driving force behind Greenland’s melting ice sheet. The study reveals that the deep bottom water in northeastern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-glaciers-risk-melting/">Greenland</a> is being warmed up by heat from the Earth's interior, causing glaciers to slide away from the ice sheet.

“North-East Greenland has several hot springs where the water becomes up to 60 degrees warm and, like Iceland, the area has abundant underground geothermal activity,” said lead author Soren Rysgaard.

The melting of the Greenland ice sheet has become a major concern for scientists. The extent of melting has gained strength and has accelerated at a rate that was not anticipated.

For over a decade, the researchers have measured the temperature and salinity in the fjord Young Sound, which has many hot springs, and south of the rapidly melting glacier Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, which is connected to the North-East Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS).

Based on their measurements of how deep the water was heated over ten years, researchers have estimated that the loss of heat from the Earth's interior to the inlet is about 100 MW m-2. This is the equivalent of a 2 megawatt wind turbine providing electricity to a large heater at the bottom of the inlet all year long.

When geothermal heat is released into an inlet, this heat also moves up to the bottom of the glaciers. This causes the glaciers to melt from below and then slide more easily out toward the sea.


“It is a combination of higher temperatures in the air and the sea, precipitation from above, local dynamics of the ice sheet and heat loss from the Earth's interior that determines the mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet,” said Rysgaard.

“There is no doubt that the heat from the Earth's interior affects the movement of the ice, and we expect that a similar heat seepage takes place below a major part of the ice cap in the north-eastern corner of Greenland.”

The findings of this research will help to improve models of ice sheet dynamics, allowing for better predictions of the stability of the Greenland ice sheet. The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/earth/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Heat from Earth’s interior is melting the Greenland Ice Sheet

Researchers from Aarhus University are reporting that heat from the...

Populations of native carnivores that live near human settlements are in decline, scientists say. That could be bad news for their human neighbors, who benefit from the critical “services” – from pest control to waste disposal – that the animals provide.

"While predators and scavengers are a large source of conflict, such as big cats in Africa and Asia or dingoes in Australia, there are many examples where they may provide benefits to humans," Dr. Christopher O'Bryan of the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a> said. 

O’Bryan and fellow researchers from the university and the <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a> undertook an exhaustive analysis of research literature about leopards, bats, vultures and other carnivores – hunters and scavengers alike – to discover the benefits each species might offer humans.

"Our paper identifies studies that have shown these benefits across a broad spectrum, from mountain lions reducing deer-vehicle collisions and bats saving corn farmers billions per year by reducing crop pests, to vultures savings millions in livestock carcass removal,” O’Bryan said.

For example, efforts to rebuild cougar populations in the U.S. have led to a drop in vehicle-deer collisions. 

They also found that declining carnivore populations bring problems. Regions where red fox populations drop tend to see an increase in Lyme disease, they discovered.

And that’s bad news, because the researchers also found that native carnivores are on the decline in many areas where humans have set up shop, including leopards, African lions and 17 different vulture species.

"There is a lot about of research highlighting the negative impacts of predators and scavengers, and we are only just now beginning to understand the potentially irreplaceable services that these animals can provide human societies,” said co-author Dr. James Watson, director of science at the Wildlife Conservation Society. “We must understand that if we lose these animals, humanity loses.”

The research analysis has been published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-017-0421-2">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: Julie Larsen Maher, <a href="https://www.wcs.org/">Wildlife Conservation Society</a>

Humans may be bad news for native carnivores

Populations of native carnivores that live near human settlements are...

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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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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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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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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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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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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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...