Scientists have uncovered a disturbing twist in how climate change affects our oceans, revealing that tiny changes at the bottom of the food chain can have massive impacts on most fish populations.



The findings of a recent study highlight the intricate workings of the ocean's food web and how it's more vulnerable to warming temperatures than previously thought.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiny-ocean-creatures-big-fish-impact">Tiny ocean creatures, big fish impact</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-heatwaves-have-complex-effects-on-phytoplankton-food-web/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phytoplankton</a> are tiny, plant-like organisms that float around in oceans, seas, and lakes. Even though you can't see them without a microscope, they're incredibly important. 



They use sunlight to make their own food through photosynthesis, just like plants do on land. In the process, they produce a huge amount of the Earth's oxygen -- some estimates say up to half of it. 



These little guys are the starting point of the food chain in aquatic environments, feeding small fish, shrimp, and other marine creatures.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dust-from-africa-sparked-a-massive-phytoplankton-bloom/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phytoplankton</a> also play a big role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to regulate our planet's climate. But they're sensitive to changes in their environment, like warming waters.



When climate models predict that warming oceans will reduce phytoplankton levels by 16% to 26% in regions like the North Atlantic, it's a cause for concern.



But here's where it gets alarming: the study found that this seemingly modest drop in phytoplankton could slash the ocean's capacity to support fish by a staggering 38% to 55%. That's more than double the initial decrease in phytoplankton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-phytoplankton-and-the-hidden-amplifier">Phytoplankton and the hidden amplifier</h2>



Dr. Angus Atkinson from the <a href="https://pml.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plymouth Marine Laboratory</a> and Dr. Axel Rossberg of <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University</a> of London led the research team behind this discovery.



They took a straightforward approach by examining real-world data on plankton sizes from oceans, seas, and lakes around the globe. 



By looking at the sizes of plankton, they could determine how efficiently energy moves up the food chain -- from tiny phytoplankton to the fish we rely on.



This amplification effect hinges on a surprising twist: temperature, often blamed for food web disruptions, appears to play a secondary role. 



Instead, the key driver is the overall amount of phytoplankton, which governs how efficiently energy flows from tiny plankton to larger fish.



"Our global analysis sheds light on a hidden vulnerability," explained Dr. Atkinson. "We were surprised to find temperature didn't directly affect food web efficiency. Instead, we see ecosystems <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invisible-forest-of-phytoplankton-thrives-in-a-warming-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adapting to warming</a> by changing plankton size. "



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nutrients-the-unsung-hero">Nutrients: The unsung hero</h2>



In the open ocean, nutrients come from deeper waters. As the surface warms, it becomes more layered, making it harder for these nutrients to reach the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/spectacular-phytoplankton-bloom-in-the-north-atlantic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phytoplankton at the top</a>.



"Close to shore or in lakes, excess nutrients from land can cause imbalances like harmful algal blooms," notes Dr. Rossberg. 



"But at the vast scales relevant to climate change, it's the lack of nutrients from deeper waters that becomes the major bottleneck."



To clarify, warming oceans, seas, and lakes impact fish indirectly by reducing nutrient supply from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toxic-legacy-decades-old-ddt-found-in-deep-sea-fish/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deeper waters</a>, ultimately shrinking phytoplankton size and hindering energy transfer throughout the food web.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-impact-for-ocean-fish">Real world impact for ocean fish</h2>



When phytoplankton numbers change, the impact can ripple through the entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oceans-twilight-zone-stabilizes-the-marine-food-chain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystem</a>, impacting everything from water quality to the abundance of fish.



This isn't just a problem for the fish; it's a problem the planet. Many communities around the world depend on fishing for food and livelihood. 



The study highlights the need to consider climate change impacts when managing fisheries.



"Global averages can mask the true picture," explains Dr. Atkinson. "Some of the most significant projected declines are in areas with concentrated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-stocks-are-collapsing-globally-as-overfishing-continues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fishing activities</a>."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



So, what can we do about it? The researchers suggest a multi-pronged approach to ensure sustainable fisheries in the face of climate change. 



"We need a combination of data on plankton size structure and sophisticated computer simulation models to design truly 'climate-smart' ocean protection strategies," concludes Dr. Rossberg. 



"By understanding the hidden amplifiers within the food web, we can better safeguard the future of our oceans and the vital resources they provide."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oceans-fish-and-the-global-food-chain">Oceans, fish, and the global food chain</h2>



To sum it all up, these scientists found that even a small drop in phytoplankton levels due to warming oceans can massively reduce fish populations. 



They discovered that it's not just the temperature rise itself causing problems, but the decrease in nutrients reaching these tiny organisms. 



This leads to smaller plankton and less efficient energy transfer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microbial-awakening-arctic-food-webs-are-transforming-from-green-to-brown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">up the food chain</a>, which is bad news for fish and, by extension, us.



This study underscores underscores the interconnectedness of Earth's ecosystem. Tiny changes at the bottom can have huge impacts at the top. 



It's a reminder that we need to pay attention to even the smallest players in the ecosystem if we want to protect the health of our planet. 



By understanding these hidden mechanisms, we can work towards smarter strategies to safeguard our oceans and the communities that rely on them.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44406-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Earth’s oceans, seas, and lakes are quickly losing their ability to keep fish alive

Scientists have uncovered a disturbing twist in how climate change affects our oceans, revealing that tiny changes at the bottom of the food chain can have massive impacts on most fish populations. The findings of a recent study highlight the intricate workings of the ocean's food web and how it's more vulnerable to warming temperatures than previously thought. Tiny ocean creatures, big fish impact Phytoplankton are tiny, plant-like organisms that float around in oceans, seas, and lakes. Even though you can't see them without a microscope, they're...

Parts of the Great Barrier Reef are starting to reproduce again after two devastating mass <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/coral-bleaching-event-life/">bleaching events</a>. 

This discovery could have positive implications for reef recovery worldwide as the impact of global warming becomes more severe. 

Tiny coral eggs were found in bleached coral in the Great Barrier Reef, surprising a survey team from the <a href="http://www.aims.gov.au/">Australian Institute of Marine Science</a>. 

“We traveled to 14 reefs between Townsville and Cairns, including Fitzroy Island where we saw surviving coral producing eggs, which was not expected at all,” said Dr. Neal Cantin, the leader of the project and part of the coral bleaching response team.

Not only did the researchers find coral eggs that indicate a quicker recovery rate than supposedly thought, but also that parts of the Great Barrier Reef have grown back after bleaching, even gaining their original colors. 

Stone coral spawning is one of the most impressive events in the natural world. According to the <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral-spawning.html">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)</a>, coral colonies release both their eggs and sperm at the same time once a year in sync with the lunar cycle. 

The NOAA describes the event as “an underwater blizzard with billions of colorful flakes cascading in white, yellow, red, and orange.” 

After fertilization occurs, coral larva called planula float for a while before sinking to the seafloor to attach itself to already matured coral and grow at a rate of approximately four inches a year. 

Cantin and his research team will take some of the eggs they discovered in the Great Barrier Reef and test to see if they can be fertilized, which is projected to happen in December. 

This discovery brings hope to coral colonies who have undergone bleaching events, showing that recovery is possible and may happen at a quicker rate than scientists previously thought. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Australian Institute of Marine Science, Neal Cantin

Great Barrier Reef showing signs of life after mass bleaching

Parts of the Great Barrier Reef are starting to reproduce...

<a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> would like to acknowledge the famous folks who manage to use their platform to make a positive impact on the world and the environment. Here are the 11 most eco-friendly celebrities on the scene today. 

Leonardo DiCaprio is probably the most well known eco-friendly celebrity. Not only has he been campaigning for the preservation of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-reduce-plastic-pollution/">oceans</a>, rainforests, and Antarctica since 1998, he’s also been working to provide access to clean drinking water and supported countless organizations like <a href="http://www.awf.org/">African Wildlife Foundation</a> that work to protect endangered species. Named the UN Messenger of Peace on Climate Change in 2014, DiCaprio has also converted his New York City apartment to “Riverhouse,” rumored to be one of the world’s most eco-efficient urban dwellings.

Matt Damon, Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Golden Globe winning-actor, hosted a PBS documentary series called <a href="http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/home/">Journey to Planet Earth</a>, uncovering issues like global warming and the impact of illegal fishing on endangered species of fish. But Damon isn’t just paying lip service to the issues. He also founded the nonprofit <a href="https://water.org">Water.org</a> which works to provide clean drinking water and sanitation services to communities in the developing world. 

Mexican actress Salma Hayek is a board member of <a href="http://www.globalgreen.org">Global Green USA</a>, a nonprofit organization that helps to provide nearly 2.5 million people with clean drinking water and works to fight global warming. She has also supported <a href="https://www.nrdc.org">Natural Resources Defense Council</a>, <a href="http://oceana.org/">Oceana</a>, and <a href="http://www.conservation.org">Conservation International</a>, helping to build “a healthier, more prosperous, and productive planet.”

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am partnered with Coca-Cola and W Hotels Worldwide to develop the sustainable fashion and design brand, <a href="http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/recycling-fashion-william-coca-cola-launch-new-brand">EKOCYCLE</a>. Of the project, will.i.a.m says, “I'm on a mission to educate and inspire consumers around the globe to seek out more sustainable lifestyle choices that will ultimately play a part in the movement toward a world with zero waste.”

In 2008, singer Jack Johnson used profits from touring to create the <a href="http://www.johnsonohana.org/">Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation,</a> a nonprofit working to promote positive change in environmental, arts, and music education. He donated 100 percent of  profits from his touring between 2008-2013 to environmental charities. He has a “<a href="https://jackjohnsonmusic.com/greening/2017">Tour Greening Report</a>” on his website that helps fans track the ways he and his crew are working to minimize the environmental impact of the tour. He has also been named a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for its Environment Programme.

Rosario Dawson has been fighting for the environment for over a decade. As far back as 2005 she was working with the United Nations on summits aimed at preserving the environment and with Global Cool Foundation in helping direct consumers to clean-energy alternatives. Her recent work in Water Defense helped save the Delaware River, which supplies drinking water to 15 million people, from natural gas extraction known as fracking. She also supports <a href="http://www.globalgreen.org">Global Green USA</a>.

Mark Ruffalo has also been a vocal opponent of fracking, or drilling to extract natural gas and oil, and continues to advocate for replacing fossil fuels with renewable energies. He posted an <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/actor-mark-ruffalo-calls-out-monsanto-you-are-poisoning-people/">open letter</a> to Hugh Grant, the CEO of biotech giant Monsanto, about the ways the company’s food monopoly is “poisoning people.” If that wasn’t enough, Ruffalo also founded <a href="https://waterdefense.org/">Water Defense</a>, a nonprofit whose mission is “to use technology and public engagement to keep our waterways and drinking water sources free from contamination and industrial degradation.” 

In 2010, actor Don Cheadle was named Goodwill Ambassador for the <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34934#.WdQ_u0yZNjs">United Nations</a> environment agency. At a ceremony in Rwanda marking World Environment Day, Cheadle said, “I would love it if we were able to live in a world which is in harmony with its environment. But it is money over people, money over environment, money over everything.” He added, “I am surprised the environment is not at the top of the agenda. What is more important than clean air and a healthy planet?”

Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett, who supports <a href="https://www.acf.org.au/">Australian Conservation Foundation</a> and <a href="https://solar-aid.org/">SolarAid</a>, has long been vocal with her concerns about global warming. "I care about climate change because of our children. I want to safeguard their future. It is a situation that affects each and every one of us, in this country and around the world.” She added, “It is a crisis that provides us with an opportunity to change for the better. To change the way we consume, the way we think and the way we behave. By assuming responsibility, we protect and respect the generations behind us."

Singer Akon grew up with firsthand knowledge of the challenges 600 million Africans face daily while living without electricity. He founded the <a href="http://akonlightingafrica.com/">Akon Lighting Africa Project</a>, which works to “provide a concrete response at grassroots level to Africa’s energy crisis and lay the foundation for future development.”

Russell Simmons, hip-hop mogul and author of “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Vegan-Living-Healthy-Successful/dp/B016J3IXYG">The Happy Vegan</a>,” has been vegan for almost 20 years. His <a href="http://www.argyleculture.com/">Argyleculture</a> vegan fashion brand helped make him PETA’s Person of  the Year in 2011. “The horrible abuse of animals is the worst karmic disaster in the history of humankind," said Simmons. "The work that PETA does to combat this catastrophe is amazing. I'm truly humbled to be chosen as this year's Person of the Year, but the praise should go to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers that are on the ground doing the work. I accept this honor on their behalf."

-- 

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Darryl Joseph</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The 11 most eco-friendly celebrities today

Earth.com would like to acknowledge the famous folks who manage...

According to new research, increased livestock grazing in protected forests is shrinking the habitats of wild giant pandas and driving them away.

A new <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a> study published in the journal Biological Conservation reports that one-third of all giant panda habitats in the <a href="http://www.discoversichuan.com/wanglang-national-nature-reserve/">Wanglang National Nature Preserve</a> have been damaged from free-range livestock grazing.

As grazing has increased, it has resulted in severe habitat degradation in the preserve, pushing the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/panda-habitats-shrinking-splintered/">pandas</a> out.

"Local communities leave their livestock to free range in the forests and only come to feed them salt twice a month. So the livestock feed on the bamboos year-round, especially in winter," said Binbin Li, assistant professor at <a href="https://dukekunshan.edu.cn/en/research/environmental-research-center">Duke Kunshan University’s Environmental Research Centre</a>, and leader of the study.

Increased grazing has been driven by a multitude of factors, including a logging ban, the increased demand for meat, and drops in tourism, prompting farmers to raise livestock in the protected forests. 

“It is not just an ecological problem, but also a gamble between the communities, the nature reserves, local governments and other stakeholders,” said Li. 

The Wanglang National Nature Preserve is one of 67 nature reserves in China and has the largest population of wild giant pandas. Even though China has implemented conservation policies to stop deforestation, grazing is becoming an increasing problem. 

For the study, the researchers collected data from the park’s monitoring systems. GPS collars on livestock helped track where the grazing occurred and where in the park the panda habitats were most affected. 

The results of the study show that grazing drives out giant pandas and damages bamboo regeneration. 

“If grazing is left uncontrolled, we are going to lose huge amounts of suitable panda habitats, to which we have devoted so much effort to protect in the past decades,” said Li.

--

By: <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Binbin Li

Increased livestock grazing is shrinking panda habitats

According to new research, increased livestock grazing in protected forests...

As <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americans-climate-change-hurricanes/">we reported</a> last week, a new Washington Post poll found that 55 percent of US adults believe that climate change intensified the severity of the recent wave of severe hurricanes. Now, according to a new survey conducted by the <a href="https://epic.uchicago.edu/">Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)</a> and <a href="http://www.apnorc.org/">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>, sixty-one percent of Americans want the government to intervene and combat climate change. 

43 percent of Republicans and 80 percent of Democrats said they wished the government would take action to address climate change.

The majority also voiced opposition to withdrawing from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-leaders-react-paris-agreement/">Paris Climate Agreement</a> and the repeal of the Clean Power Plan. 

But when each respondent was asked how much they would be willing to pay on their electric bill to reduce emissions, the answers varied widely. 

Half of the respondents didn’t want to have to pay anything, and 18 percent claimed they would pay upwards of $100 a month. 

“Although half of households said they were unwilling to pay anything for a carbon policy in their monthly electricity bills, on average Americans would pay about $30 per month, as a meaningful share of households report that they are willing to pay a substantial amount. What is particularly striking is that it's projected to cost less than $30 per person to pay for climate damages from the electricity sector,” said Michael Greenstone, the director of EPIC. 

The survey covered a wide range of topics including fracking, energy policy, and the construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines. 

On the subject of fracking, the survey found that many people, when told fracking would save them money on their natural gas bills, were in favor of it. 

The numbers of those in favor of fracking spiked from 17 percent to 41 percent when told that they could save $250 a year on their natural gas bill. 

Although the survey shows a mixed response regarding willingness to pay out of pocket to combat climate change, the majority of responders who want the government intervene is a clear sign that climate change may no longer be a debated political topic. Instead of arguing the existence of climate change, it may be to time to argue over the details of government's plan to address it.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

61 percent of Americans want government to combat climate change

As we reported last week, a new Washington Post poll...

Scientists have identified an unexpected region that contains radioactive material from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster. Cesium has accumulated in sands and groundwater beneath beaches as far as 60 miles away from the site of the accident, and has been released back into the ocean over the last six years.

"No one is either exposed to, or drinks, these waters, and thus public health is not of primary concern here," explained the authors of the study. On the other hand, they added that "this new and unanticipated pathway for the storage and release of radionuclides to the ocean should be taken into account in the management of coastal areas where nuclear power plants are situated."

The researchers theorized that high levels of radioactive cesium released during <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/japan-committed-to-nuclear-power-despite-fukushima-disaster-2/">the accident</a> were carried down the coast by ocean currents. Next, the cesium was transported to the sand surfaces by waves and tides. Brackish water, which is salty enough to remove the cesium from the sand, was able to transfer the radioactive material back into the ocean.

Virginie Sanial is a study co-author from the <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a>.

"No one expected that the highest levels of cesium in ocean water today would be found not in the harbor of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, but in the groundwater many miles away below the beach sands," said Sanial.

The team sampled eight beaches within 60 miles of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. The cesium levels in the groundwater beneath these beaches were up to 10 times higher than the levels found in ocean water within the harbor of the nuclear power plant itself. High levels of cesium were also detected more than 3 feet deep in the sand.

"It is as if the sands acted as a 'sponge' that was contaminated in 2011 and is only slowly being depleted," said co-author Ken Buesseler.

The tests found not only cesium-137, which could have originated from nuclear weapons tests, but also cesium-134, which can only be traced to the 2011 Fukushima accident.

"Only time will slowly remove the cesium from the sands as it naturally decays away and is washed out by seawater," said Sanial.

Once released, radioactive cesium has a long half-life and persists in the environment.

"There are 440 operational nuclear reactors in the world, with approximately one-half situated along the coastline," the study's authors wrote. They urged that this particular source of contamination "needs to be considered in nuclear power plant monitoring and scenarios involving future accidents."

The research is published today in the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Radioactive material found 60 miles from 2011 Fukushima disaster

Scientists have identified an unexpected region that contains radioactive material...

Billions of years ago, meteorites landed into warm ponds and started the necessary steps toward creating all life on Earth, according to new research from <a href="http://www.mcmaster.ca/">McMaster University</a> and the <a href="https://www.mpg.de/institutes">Max Planck Institute</a> in Germany.

The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, documents how researchers were able to plausibly show what was previously just a theory. 

The team ran extensive calculations and included data from many different fields such as astrophysics, geology, chemistry, and biology. 

“No one's actually run the calculation before. This is a pretty big beginning. It's pretty exciting,” said lead author Ben K.D. Pearce from the McMaster's Origins Institute. 

Pearce and fellow co-author Ralph Pudritz explain that while the Earth was in its volatile stages, meteorites carrying essential elements landed in warm, nutrient-rich ponds and bonded molecular building blocks to pave the way for life. 

This bonding process was an important part in the creation of RNA polymers, what the authors describe as the “spark of life.” 

RNA-based life, according to the study, inhabited the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planets-earth-mars-created/">Earth</a> until DNA and in turn, higher based life forms evolved. 

“DNA is too complex to have been the first aspect of life to emerge. It had to start with something else, and that is RNA,” said Pudritz. 

This process of meteorites landing into ponds happened thousands of times, according to the to researcher’s calculations. 

“We're thrilled that we can put together a theoretical paper that combines all these threads, makes clear predictions and offers clear ideas that we can take to the laboratory,” Pudritz says.

The results also combat other popular theories of how life started on Earth. 

One alternative theory postulates that that life started in warm hydrothermal vents in the ocean. But the researchers contest this as a possibility because the bonding process could only have occurred in wet and dry cycles caused by the Earth’s natural processes of evaporation and condensation. 

Another theory suggests that space dust, which carries the same elements as meteorites, was the origin of life on Earth. But these researchers explain that space dust would have been too finite in concentration to create life. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Ben K.D. Pearce, McMaster University

Life on Earth began with meteorites crashing into small ponds

Billions of years ago, meteorites landed into warm ponds and...

Last month’s severe earthquake in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/severe-earthquake-mexico-city/">Mexico City</a> served as a reminder of how much damage quakes can cause. As history has shown us time and again, earthquakes can flatten buildings and steal lives, especially in areas where they are more likely to occur. Earth.com presents: The top 10 deadliest earthquakes of all time.

Shaanxi, China (1556)

The deadliest earthquake ever recorded took place in Shaanxi, China on January 23, 1556. An estimated 830,000 people were killed. The earthquake triggered massive fires and mountains were completely leveled across 520 miles of devastation. 

Tangshan, China (1976)

The Tangshan earthquake is the deadliest of the twentieth century. It is believed to have killed 650,000 people when it hit just before 4:00 a.m. on July 28, 1976. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake destroyed hundreds of thousands of buildings and tremors were felt almost 500 miles away. 

Indian Ocean (2004)

In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that killed as many as 280,000 people in 14 countries. Billions of tons of seawater was displaced and slammed into coastlines around the Indian Ocean, engulfing entire communities.

Haiti (2010)

Up to 316,000 people were killed when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti in 2010. 1.5 million people were displaced as over 300,000 homes collapsed. Tens of thousands remain displaced to this day.

Aleppo, Syria (1138)

In 1138, a devastating earthquake completely destroyed most of Aleppo, Syria, one of the world's oldest cities. The 8.5 magnitude earthquake traveled as far as 200 miles and claimed the lives of 230,000 people.

Haiyuan, China (1920)

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiyuan, China in 1920 killed an estimated 200,000 people. One town was completely buried beneath a landslide triggered by the earthquake, and its force was felt as far away as Norway.

Damghan, Iran (856)

A 220-mile stretch of Iran was destroyed by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the year 856. One of the oldest earthquakes ever recorded, it took the lives of an estimated 200,000 people. Aftershocks were said to cause damage to the area for years.

Kanto, Japan (1923)

At least 140,000 people died in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923. It struck the main Japanese island of Honshu, causing the most damage the country had ever seen. Firestorms ravaged cities and fires persisted for days.

Ardabil, Iran (893)

The Iranian city of Ardabil was decimated by an earthquake in the year 893. An estimated 150,000 people were killed, making it the 9th deadliest earthquake in history.

Kashmir, Pakistan (2005)

In 2005, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake devastated the Kashmir region of Pakistan. Entire towns slid off of cliffs and roads were wiped out by landslides. 80,000 people died and approximately 4 million were left homeless.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The top 10 deadliest earthquakes of all time

Last month’s severe earthquake in Mexico City served as a...

With farming changes, it could be possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without severely risking food security, according to new research.

Sharply curbing deforestation and increasing sequestration of carbon in soil could bring significant cuts to carbon emissions without major risks to the global food supply, according to scientists from the <a href="http://www.iiasa.ac.at/">International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis</a>. 

But such a strategy could also lead to a rise food prices, the study showed.

"The land-use sector is key for successful climate change mitigation," said Dr. Stefan Frank, who led the IIASA study. "But providing an increasing amount of biomass for energy production to substitute fossil fuels while at the same time reducing emissions from the land use sector, for example through a carbon tax, could also have the effect of raising food prices and reducing food availability."

The land-use sector – made of agriculture, forestry and related fields – contributes nearly a quarter of carbon emissions globally. However, land-use can also help to mitigate the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Vegetation can help to absorb carbon dioxide and store it before it reaches the atmosphere.

But deforestation releases much of that stored carbon, and the machinery used to strip new land for agriculture also emits carbon dioxide.

Farming changes could help to cut deforestation and drastically reduce carbon emissions, the researchers said.

Changes could include crop rotation, cover crops, and residue management, which have benefits such as preserving soil health and boosting crop production. 

"You keep the soil healthy, you offset greenhouse gas emissions, and you preserve crop yields at the same time," Frank said. 

Countries with a soil carbon sequestration program could even offer financial incentives to farmers who practice these crop management practices. 

"Agricultural soils could provide a key solution for climate change mitigation and adaptation and for food security, but changing land management to store carbon in soil organic matter will require large efforts that could be facilitated by multi-stakeholder platforms like the 4 per 1000 initiative,” said Dr. Jean-Francois Soussana of the <a href="http://www.inra.fr/en/Scientists-Students">French National Institute for Agricultural Research</a>, who coauthored the study.

The study has been published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa8c83">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Farming changes could be key to reducing greenhouse gases

With farming changes, it could be possible to reduce greenhouse...

Climate change is extending blooming seasons – and that could be bad news for important pollinators like bees.

Researchers at <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">North Carolina State University</a> studying the effects of earlier and longer-lasting blooming seasons found that, far from helping bees, they may actually be causing harm.

"We asked whether variation in snowmelt timing and summer precipitation directly affected bumble bee colonies and their survival, or if the snowmelt and precipitation effects on flowers were more important,” said Dr. Rebecca Irwin, who co-led the study. “It turns out that the effects on flowers played a more critical role in affecting bee populations."

The researchers were specifically looking at the effects of climate change on three species of bumble bees that live at higher altitudes, Irwin said.

She and her colleagues studied in depth a collection of data gathered at the <a href="http://www.rmbl.org/">Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory</a> in Colorado over a period spanning more than 40 years. After analyzing the data, they used modeling to examine the effects of climate change on the blooming seasons and the bees that rely on flowers in the region.

The data showed that, when snowmelt comes early, blooming seasons start earlier and last longer, which sounds like a good thing for pollinators at first. But plants don’t actually produce more flowers, Irwin and her colleagues found. Instead, they stretch the usual number of blooms over a longer period of time, meaning that on a day-to-day basis there are actually fewer flowers for bees in search of food.

"Longer flowering seasons mean an increasing number of resource-poor days for bees, which means that bee abundance suffers," Irwin said. "We found that bee abundance increased when there was more summer precipitation and shorter flowering seasons."

The researchers plan to continue collecting and analyzing data on the three bee species, as well as expand to look at other species of pollinators. 

Their research has been published in the journal <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ele.12854/abstract">Ecology Letters</a>. It was funded 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

Longer flower blooming seasons may be bad for bees

Climate change is extending blooming seasons – and that could...

After a string of some of the most severe and devastating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hurricane-maria-slams-puerto-rico/">hurricanes</a> to ever hit the United States, climate change is once again back at the top of the news cycle. But with a president who has denied the existence of climate change and appointed a climate-change denier the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, many have wondered if there is anything that will help penetrate the stubbornness of those who still do not believe that climate change is real. 

But now, a new poll conducted by the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</a> shows that the majority of Americans now feel that climate change largely impacted this year’s hurricane season. 

The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2017/09/28/National-Politics/Polling/release_494.xml?tid=a_inl">Washington Post-ABC News poll</a> was conducted by phone and surveyed a little over 1000 adults. 

Many of the questions had to do with the current political climate, and asked about President Trump’s policies, if respondents approved of the way he was handling certain crises, if the President is divisive, and so on. 

A few questions on the survey dealt with the recent hurricanes. 

The results showed that 55 percent of Americans believe that climate change had an impact on the recent hurricanes. 

According to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/28/majority-of-americans-now-say-climate-change-makes-hurricanes-more-intense/?utm_term=.3e362add4a8d">Washington Post</a> piece covering the poll, this is a major shift in public opinion compared to polls taken 12 years ago after Hurricane Katrina. 

“In a <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PollVault/story?id=1174220&amp;page=1">2005 Post-ABC poll</a>, taken a month after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast and devastated New Orleans, 39 percent of Americans said they believed climate change helped to fuel the intensity of hurricanes. Today, 55 percent believe that,” writes Emily Guskin and Brady Dennis, authors of the article. 

Scientifically, warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico contributed to hurricanes Harvey and Irma, increasing their intensity, precipitation levels, and storm surges. 

Climate change has become a major political issue, and the results of the new poll could point to scientific findings and research holding more sway than political agendas. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Poll: Most Americans think climate change made hurricanes worse

After a string of some of the most severe and...

“Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep me from you” went the old Motown smash hit song. But we wonder if the song’s writers knew exactly what they were getting into, as some of Earth’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/earth-from-space-the-snow-covered-mountains-of-sicily/">mountains</a> are, well, really tall! Earth.com presents: The 10 highest mountains in the world.

Annapurna I, Nepal

Annapurna I found in the Annapurna massif in Nepal’s Himalaya range is the tenth highest mountain at 8.091 meters (26,545 feet). Of the top ten, Annapurna is knows as the most deadly to climb.

Nanga Parbat, Pakistan

At 8,126 meter (26,660 feet) above sea level, this mountain is the western anchor of the Himalayas range in Pakistan. It is located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan.

Manaslu, Nepal

Also known as “Kutang,” the name of the eighth highest mountain translates to “mountain of the spirit.” It is 8,163 meters (26,781 feet) above sea level and located in the Mansiri Himal range of the Nepalese Himalayas.  

Dhaulagiri I, Nepal

Translated from Sanskrit, its name means “dazzling, white, beautiful mountain.” Located in the Nepalese Himalayas, Dhaulagiri I is 8,167 meters (26,795 feet) above sea level.

Cho Oyu, China-Nepal

The western-most major peak of the Khumbu range of the Mahalangur Himalayas is 8,188 meters (26,864 feet) above sea level and stands on the China-Nepal border. The sixth highest mountain is 20 kilometers west of Mount Everest.

Makalu, China-Nepal

Also standing on the China-Nepal border, Makalu is in the Mahalangur range of the Himalayas. The four sided pyramid peak of Makalu stands at 8,485 meters (27,838 feet) above sea level.  

Lhotse, China-Nepal

Lhotse means “south peak” in Tibetan. The fourth highest mountain is in the Mahalangur range of the Himalayas.  The main summit is 8,516 meters (27,940 feet) above sea level and is located between the border of Tibet and the Khumbu region of Nepal.  

Kangchenjunga, Nepal-India

The third highest mountain lies in the Kangchenjega Himal range of the Himalayas, part of which is in Nepal, and part of which is in Sikkim, India. The mountain stands at 8,586 meters (28,169 feet) above sea level.

K2 (aka Mount Godwin-Austin or Chhogori), China-Pakistan

Commonly called “Savage Mountain” due to the extreme difficulty of its ascent, the second highest mountain on earth stands at 8,611 meters (2,8251 feet). It is located on the border of China and Pakistan in the Baltoro Muztagh region of the Karakoram range.

Mount Everest (aka Sagarmatha or Chomolungma), Nepal-China

The highest mountain in the world stands at 8,848 meters (29,029 feet). The international border between China (Tibet Autonomous Region) and Nepal runs along its highest peak. Mount Everest (named such in 1865 by the Royal Geographic Society) is located in the Mahalangur range of the Himalayas. 

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Darryl Joseph</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The 10 highest mountains in the world

“Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep me from you”...

Although methane does not linger in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, methane emissions have a more devastating impact on the climate in the short-term. A new study sponsored by <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a> reveals that global livestock methane emissions have been significantly underestimated due to use of outdated guidelines.

Scientists from the <a href="http://www.globalchange.umd.edu/">Joint Global Change Research Institute</a> found that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cowspiracy-film-review/">methane (CH4) emissions</a> for 2011 are 11 percent higher than previously evaluated. These calculations were based on guidelines provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2006. 

Dr. Julie Wolf of the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> and the <a href="https://www.ars.usda.gov/">Agricultural Research Service</a> is the senior author of the study. 

"In many regions of the world, livestock numbers are changing, and breeding has resulted in larger animals with higher intakes of food,” said Dr. Wolf. “This, along with changes in livestock management, can lead to higher methane emissions.” 

According to Dr. Wolf, “Methane is an important moderator of the Earth's atmospheric temperature. It has about four times the atmospheric warming potential of carbon dioxide.”

The current study found 8.4 percent more CH4 from enteric fermentation in dairy cows and 36.7 percent more manure management CH4 than was found using IPCC-based calculations.

“Direct measurements of methane emissions are not available for all sources of methane,” explained Dr. Wolf. “Thus, emissions are reported as estimates based on different methods and assumptions. In this study, we created new per-animal emissions factors - that is measures of the average amount of CH4 discharged by animals into the atmosphere - and new estimates of global livestock methane emissions."

Based on the updated emissions factors created in this study, the researchers produced significantly larger livestock CH4 emission estimates compared to calculations made using IPCC emission factors for most regions. However, emission estimates varied considerably by region.

"Among global regions, there was notable variability in trends in estimated emissions over recent decades,” said co-author Dr. Ghassem Asrar. “For example, we found that total livestock methane emissions have increased the most in rapidly developing regions of Asia, Latin America and Africa. In contrast, emissions increased less in the US and Canada, and decreased slightly in Western Europe.”

According to Dr. Asrar, the largest increases in annual emissions were found “over the northern tropics, followed by the southern tropics." The study is published in the open access journal <a href="https://cbmjournal.springeropen.com/">Carbon Balance and Management</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Agriculture causes even higher methane emissions than reported

Although methane does not linger in the atmosphere as long...

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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



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.

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



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.

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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.

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://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



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.

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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.

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



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.

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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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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

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