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...

Over 1000 meters deep beneath the ocean off the coast of New Zealand lies an entire continent that’s barely been explored. Zealandia, named for its approximation to New Zealand, was an entire continental block first discovered in the 1970s.

Earlier this year, Zealandia was officially named the seventh of Earth’s continents, and researchers from the <a href="https://www.iodp.org/">International Ocean Discovery Program</a> (IODP) began a voyage to learn more. 

Zealandia as a treasure trove of data ranging back millions of years, but due to its extreme depth and remoteness, it’s been difficult to learn all that much about it. For researchers to collect any samples from Zealandia would require drilling beneath the seabed. 

The nine-week expedition aimed to fully explore Zealandia and acquire core samples of sediment from the continent. 

The expedition was comprised of 32 scientists from 12 countries who boarded the research vessel JOIDES Resolution, with funding from the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/">National Science Foundation</a> (NSF).

To get samples, the research team drilled in six sites at depths over 4,000 feet and collected 8,202 feet of sediment cores. 

Zealandia is rich with climate information spanning millions of years, and the samples can help scientists understand tectonic plate formation, how the Earth’s continents formed, the migration of animals across the globe, and much more. 

“This expedition offered insights into Earth's history, ranging from mountain-building in New Zealand to the shifting movements of Earth's tectonic plates to changes in ocean circulation and global climate,” said Jamie Allan, the program director in the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OCE">U.S. National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences</a>. 

The researchers also found several hundred fossils of species showing that the continent was not always so deep below the Earth’s surface. 

The samples reveal much about Zealandia and early Earth, but the researchers also note that studying the submerged continent can help predict future <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-volcanic-eruptions/">climate change</a> as well. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

A closer look at the sunken lost continent of Zealandia

Over 1000 meters deep beneath the ocean off the coast...

When we think about the potential environmental impact of the mind-boggling amount of plastic waste that litters our oceans, we often think of it as useless trash. However, a new study published in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/journals">Science</a> reports that plastic marine debris has a previously unmentioned role: transportation for non-native marine species.

Between 2012 and 2017, researchers found nearly 300 species of marine animals landing alive on shore in North America and Hawaii. These species clung to everything from ships to buoys and crates. They believe many of these objects were released into the ocean by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami back in March of 2011.

The scientists were surprised that coastal species from Japan could survive for years on this trip through the hostile open North Pacific Ocean. In fact, many of these species survived for at least four years longer than any previous observations found living on these “ocean rafts.”

Researchers believe that a major part of this increased survival rate has to do with the fact that these species were attached to non-biodegradable debris, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-tap-water-contains-plastics/">plastic</a>, fiberglass, and styrofoam. This study also suggests that factors such as expanded coastal urbanization and storm activity – particularly an increase in recent hurricanes as a result of climate change – could further increase the role of marine debris as a transport for these invasive species.

“Given that more than 10 million tons of plastic waste from nearly 200 countries can enter the ocean every year - an amount predicted to increase by an order of magnitude by 2025 - and given that hurricanes and typhoons that could sweep large amounts of debris into the oceans are predicted to increase due to global climate change, there is huge potential for the amount of marine debris in the oceans to increase significantly,” says James Carlton, lead author of the study and an internationally known invasive species expert at the Maritime Studies Program of <a href="https://www.williams.edu/">Williams College</a> and <a href="https://www.mysticseaport.org/">Mystic Seaport</a>.

Luckily, so far scientists have not found that any of these Japanese species have become established in the ecosystems on the West Coast, but they acknowledge that it can take years for species to drop anchor – so to speak – and be detected by scientists.

“One thing this event has taught us is that some of these organisms can be extraordinarily resilient,” says John Chapman, co-author of the study and a marine scientist at <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a>. “When we first saw species from Japan arriving in Oregon, we were shocked. We never thought they could live that long, under such harsh conditions. It would not surprise me if there were species from Japan that are out there living along the Oregon coast. In fact, it would surprise me if there weren’t.”

It may be just a matter of time before these invasive species are found in ecosystems along the West Coast. This study, which Chapman describes as “one of the biggest, unplanned, natural experiments in marine biology, perhaps in history,” shows not only how resilient marine species can be, but how unrelenting our plastic waste is as well.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plastic in the ocean helps transport invasive marine species

When we think about the potential environmental impact of the...

One of the many, many benefits that forests bring to our existence on earth is their ability – or more specifically, the trees’ ability – to capture carbon. This action delays the effects of climate change and enhances the air we breathe.

However, a new approach to measuring changes in aboveground forest carbon density has led researchers to discover that widespread deforestation, degradation, and disturbance has caused tropical forests to now emit more carbon than they capture. This completely counters the role they have played as a net carbon “sink.”

For the first time, scientists are able to account for changes from subtle natural and human caused activities – such as degradation and disturbance – rather than just deforestation. These more subtle impacts include small-scale tree removal and mortality, as well as measuring for gains from forest growth.

Researchers from the <a href="http://whrc.org/">Woods Hole Research Center</a> (WHRC) and <a href="http://www.bu.edu/">Boston University</a> teamed up to analyze 12 years (2003-2014) of satellite imagery, laser remote sensing technology, and field measurements. They captured losses in forest carbon from wholesale deforestation, as well as from small-scale degradation and disturbance.

“It can be a challenge to map the forests that have been completely lost,” explains <a href="http://whrc.org/">WHRC</a> scientist Wayne Walker, one of the study’s authors. “However, it’s even more difficult to measure small and more subtle losses of forest. In many cases throughout the tropics you have selective logging, or smallholder farmers removing individual trees for fuel wood. These losses can be relatively small in any one place, but added up across large areas they become considerable.”

With these new, cutting-edge measurements, the results showed that tropical forest regions are actually a net source of carbon to the atmosphere, emitting more carbon than all of the cars and trucks in the United States combined. The smaller-scale activities – degradation and disturbance – were responsible for the majority of the forest loss in all continents, except for Asia. 

Besides being major <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/survey-americans-support-carbon-tax/">carbon</a> stores, these tropical forests are areas of great biodiversity, containing essential ecosystems that produce food and fuel for millions of people around the world. The study’s authors believe that their findings add a new urgency to the need for significant global and national efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“These findings provide the world with a wakeup call on forests,” says <a href="http://whrc.org/">WHRC</a> scientist Alessandro Baccini, the study’s lead author. “If we’re to keep global temperatures from rising to dangerous levels, we need to drastically reduce emissions and greatly increase forests’ ability to absorb and store carbon.”

With governments around the world attempting to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, this new research shows that tropical forests are a significant factor in climate change mitigation. By halting deforestation and degradation on tropical forests, the authors suggest we could reduce annual carbon emissions by at least 8% of the annual total.

“With this study, countries are now able not only to identify where degradation is taking place, but also, given the potential to now measure gains from growth, they can demonstrate their contribution to returning tropical forests to their more beneficial role as a carbon sink,” Baccini says. “We envision this tool improving the way countries across the tropics tackle the challenges of deforestation and degradation.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Tropical forests can no longer absorb excess carbon dioxide

One of the many, many benefits that forests bring to...

A massive iceberg has broken off from Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier. The detached chunk of ice measures 103 square miles, which is over four times the size of Manhattan. There are concerns that this calving event could accelerate the loss of more ice from the glacier, and ultimately break down the barrier that prevents land-based ice from floating off into the ocean.

Pine Island Glacier is one of the largest ice streams on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. It is melting faster than any other glacier in Antarctica and its rate of ice loss has been speeding up for 40 years. This event marks the second time in two years that a huge iceberg has retreated from Pine Island Glacier. This incident also closely follows one of the largest calving events ever recorded when an iceberg the size of Delaware broke off from Larsen C. 

Although the iceberg will not directly contribute to sea level rise, it will have an indirect impact. These floating ice shelves create barriers that prevent land ice from floating off into the ocean. These barriers are broken down as the ice shelf splits, allowing land ice to glide away and expand the ocean. If Pine Island Glacier completely melted, sea levels would rise by as much as 1.7 feet.

Scientists believe that warming ocean waters are melting the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/iceberg-larsen-c-antarctica/">icebergs</a> from below, triggering them to detach and float away. There is also evidence that the warming sea is weakening the base of Pine Island Glacier and changing the patterns of ice loss. While icebergs usually break away from the sides, the rift that led to the latest calving formed in the center.

Dr. Stef Lhermitte is a satellite observation specialist from <a href="https://www.tudelft.nl/en/">Delft University of Technology</a> in the Netherlands. He was the first to report the news of the iceberg on Twitter. 

“It’s the fifth large calving event since 2000,” said Dr. Lhermitte. “This one and 2015, they were much further inland than the previous ones. So there has been a retreat of the calving front, specifically between 2011 and 2015.”

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey

Iceberg four times the size of Manhattan breaks off Antarctica

A massive iceberg has broken off from Antarctica's Pine Island...

Some parts of the world experience a rainy season, like in southeast Asia, while other parts of the world see consistent rain year-round, like in the Pacific northwest. But some places experience more rain than anywhere else in the world. <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> presents: the Top 10 wettest places on Earth.

Emei Shan, China

Mount Emei is the tallest of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism as located in the Sichuan Province of China. The “Cloud Sea” there, which is named for the clouds visible above and below from the top of the mountain, is responsible for the heavy rainfall, which averages 8,169 mm annually––the most rainfall in China.

Kukui, Hawaii

Pu’u Kukui is the highest peak of Mauna Kahalawa (the West Maui Mountains) and came to be when a crater formed by a volcanic collapse created the I’ao Valley below. With 9,239 mm of rainfall a year, it is the third wettest place in Hawaii. 

Mount Waialeale, Hawaii

This extremely slippery, rain forested mountain is the second highest point on the island of Kaua’i and the second wettest place in Hawaii with 9,763 mm of rainfall a year. Its name can be translated to “overflowing water.” 

Big Bog, Hawaii

The wettest place in Hawaii is on the island of Maui and is a popular tourist destination even though access to the island requires either a helicopter ride or two days of hiking. Annual rainfall averages 10,272 mm.

Debundscha, Africa

This village in the south-western region of the Republic of Cameroon lies at the foot of Mount Cameroon––the highest peak in Africa, and faces the south Atlantic Ocean. The weather there is in stark contrast to the dry weather affecting of most of the continent and rainfall averages 10,299 mm a year. 

San Antonio de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea

This region on Bioko Island is the wettest place on the African continent. During the brief dry season from November to March, tourists flock to see turtles come ashore and lay eggs. Annual rainfall averages 10,450 mm.

Cropp River, New Zealand

This river flows east for 9 km before it joins with the Whitcombe River. Rainfall over the body of water averages 11,516 mm a year.

Tutendo, Comombia

This city in the north western region of Colombia, South America has a population of less than 1,000 people and is the third wettest place on earth with an average rainfall of 11,770 mm a year.

Cherrapunji, India

The town Cherrapunji, also known as Sohra, can be found in the East Khasi Hills district in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Despite being the second wettest place in the world averaging 11,777 mm of rainfall a year, the region faces acute annual water shortages during the dry months of winter. 

Mawsynram, India

This village, found in the same East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya (15 km from Cherrapunji), is the wettest place on earth. Villagers reportedly use grass to soundproof their domiciles from the deafening sound of pelting rain during the wet seasons. Their annual rainfall averages 11,871 mm.

--

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Darryl Joseph</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Top 10 wettest places in the world

Some parts of the world experience a rainy season, like...

Nitrogen can be a tricky element to deal with for farmers. While it’s a popular and important ingredient in many fertilizers, it can also run off into nearby streams and seep into the groundwater as nitrates, which creates dead zones and algae blooms that kill fish. 

Now, new research has identified nitrate removal hotspots where nitrates from fertilizers are filtered out of the water, usually by a buffer zone with local plant species. 

Molly Welsh, a graduate student from the <a href="http://www.esf.edu/">State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry</a>, led a study that found and analyzed these hotspots. 

"Understanding where nitrate removal is highest can inform management of agricultural streams. This information can help us improve water quality more effectively,” said Welsh. 

The researchers collected data and water samples from four streams in Northwestern Carolina, exhibiting a wide range of nitrate removal close to agricultural activity. 

Welsh then analyzed the water samples and found that the buffer zones next to the streams had the highest success rate of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contaminants-found-in-california-public-drinking-water-2/">nitrate</a> removal. Sediments in the waterways, which were also analyzed, were not nearly as efficient at removing nitrates.

Buffer zones are abundant with organic matter, high levels of moisture, and fine-textured soils, which makes them perfect at filtering out harmful contaminants. Nitrate removal appears to highest where there is a lot of native plants and fine sediments. 

Welsh also examined pools created during stream restoration using rocks that spanned across the waterway, which was also not very effective at removing nitrates. 

Welsh suggests that using woody debris would be a better method than rocks to filter nitrates given the success of the buffer zones. 

“Our results show that it may be possible to develop simple models to guide nitrogen management,” said Welsh. 

The new research shows the importance of natural buffer zones to protect ecosystems from harmful nitrate runoff.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Natural buffer zones can filter nitrates from groundwater

Nitrogen can be a tricky element to deal with for...

It has been theorized that millions of years ago, the Mediterranean Sea experienced a massive drying out after the Strait of Gibraltar closed temporarily, and the Mediterranean Sea was cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. Now, new research may have proven that this drying out also increased seismic activity in the area at the time. This means that shifts in surface temperatures and geological landscape from climate change could cause an uptick in volcanic activity. 

Geologists from the<a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/university/"> University of Geneva</a>, <a href="https://www.univ-orleans.fr/en/international/come-study-university-orleans">University of Orleans,</a> <a href="http://www.upmc.fr/en/">University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris</a>, and the <a href="http://www.ictja.csic.es/">ICTJA-CSIC Institute in Barcelona</a> studied volcanic data from the time the Strait of Gibraltar was closed, otherwise known as the Messinian salinity crisis.

The presence of crystallized minerals, which form as magma cools on the earth’s surface, indicated that the salinity crisis had triggered more than a 200% increase in volcanic activity.  

Researchers believe that a total of 13 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-bali-volcano-eruption/">eruptions</a> were caused by the drying out of the Mediterranean. The drastic changes in pressure and depth caused by the salinity crisis had a major impact on magma production and increased volcanic activity. 

“The single logical explanation is the hypothesis that the sea dried out, since this is the only event powerful enough to alter the Earth's pressure and magmatic production over the entire Mediterranean,” said Pietro Sternai a researcher from the University of Geneva’s Science Department. 

As climate change continues to impact the Earth, this research reveals that changing temperatures can even increase seismic activity deep below the Earth’s surface, a possible warning sign of more volcanic eruptions in the future. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change could trigger an increase in volcanic eruptions

It has been theorized that millions of years ago, the...

Many studies have been done analyzing the effect of noise – specifically human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noise-pollution-protected-areas/">noise pollution</a> – on the physiology and behavior of animals in the wild. This noise pollution comes from things such as transportation, construction, and just general proximity to areas with human activity.

Recently, a study has revealed that this same noise pollution can have negative effects on the schooling behavior of fish. Schooling is a collective behavior for some fish species that is integral to helping them avoid predators and exchange information between individuals. 

For the study, 450 individual seabass were tested in shoals of four individuals each at the aquarium in the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>. Recorded sounds of pile-driving, which is used in the construction of marine infrastructure like piers and windfarms, were played to small schools of seabass.

Researchers noticed that the fish became less coordinated and cohesive when these sounds were played. These changes in their behavior suggest that exposure to human noise pollution may make them more susceptible to predators, and affects individual fish on a group level.

“This is one of the few studies to explore how pollution from human activity impacts schooling behavior in fish,” says Christos Ioannou from the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>. “By using state-of-the-art computer tracking software, we were able to measure and analyze the movement of individual fish and the shoal as a whole in great detail.”

With these results found in the lab, the next step in this research is to determine if the fish experience similar effects under natural conditions. If the findings end up translating to fish in nature, it may be time to rethink how we conduct particularly noisy human activities around marine life.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Human noise pollution endangering the lives of fish

Many studies have been done analyzing the effect of noise...

Researchers from <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a> have conducted a groundbreaking study to explore the concept of evaporation as a renewable energy source. Their analysis reveals that lakes and reservoirs in the United States could generate 325 gigawatts of power, which is almost 70 percent of what the country currently produces.

While the testing has been limited to the lab, the studies suggest that evaporation-harvested power could be made on demand, 24 hours a day. This means that it could be much more feasible than utilizing solar or wind energy.

Ozgur Sahin is a biophysicist at Columbia University and the study’s senior author.

"We have the technology to harness energy from wind, water and the sun, but evaporation is just as powerful,” said Sahin. "We can now put a number on its potential."

Sahin and his colleagues have previously shown how energy behind the cycling of water and air can be harnessed. The team developed a machine called Evaporation Engine, which controls humidity with a shutter that opens and closes. This causes bacterial spore contractions which are transferred to a generator that makes electricity. The current study was created to determine just how much power this process could hypothetically produce.

"Evaporation comes with a natural battery," said lead author Ahmet-Hamdi Cavusoglu. "You can make it your main source of power and draw on solar and wind when they're available." 

This type of evaporation technology can also save water. The research team estimates that half of the water lost from lakes and reservoirs to evaporation could be saved during the energy-harvesting process. In their study, the water savings totaled 25 trillion gallons a year, which is around 20 percent of the amount of water Americans consume.

Energy from evaporation could be most advantageous to states with growing populations and hotter, dryer weather.

States which are prone to <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/world-recover-drought/">drought</a> such as California, Nevada and Arizona could benefit the most, where evaporation could pump out more energy while reducing water waste.

The study, which is published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>, is being continued as the 
researchers work to improve the energy efficiency of their spore-studded materials. They hope to eventually experiment outside of the lab to more accurately test their technology’s ability to generate power and limit water loss at the same time.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Image Credit: Central Arizona Project

Energy from evaporation could power 70 percent of the U.S.

Researchers from Columbia University have conducted a groundbreaking study to...

Researchers took a closer look into the cause of a deadly landslide that devastated Saint-Jude, Quebec, in May 2010. The study, which was based on investigations that directly followed the event, revealed that the landslide was triggered by a disturbance of highly sensitive clay sediment that is 10,000 years old.

The experts found that the solidity of the underlying clay was compromised by natural causes of the Salvail River, which cuts through the base of the landslide site. Both sediment erosion caused by the river and high groundwater pressure beneath the river contributed to the decreased stability of the clay sediment.

The landslide was determined to have happened in two phases, with two major shifts at two different elevations causing the event. 

Dr. Ariane Locat is the lead author of the report and a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Water Engineering at <a href="https://www.ulaval.ca/">Université Laval</a>. She explained that, "Such features have never been clearly identified before in spreads in sensitive clays.”

The research team reconstructed the landslide through field and laboratory tests using what they had learned about the properties of the soil and the shape and positions of the clay debris. They classified it a "large" and "complex spread," a typical landslide type occurring in sensitive clays. The landslide had a width of 275 meters and a volume of debris of ~520,000 m3, which is the equivalent of the volume of more than 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. 

"Scientific knowledge on spreads in sensitive clays is limited,” said Dr. Locat.  “Investigations of case studies, like the one presented in this study of the Saint-Jude landslide, give us new information and insights on characteristics of spreads and on conditions in which they occur.” 

90 percent of Quebec's population resides among these “quick clays,” which are leftovers from the Champlain Sea. Quebec is more vulnerable to landslides brought on by the disturbance of this sensitive clay sediment than any other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-risk-natural-disasters-doubled/">natural disaster</a>.

"These studies are essential to the development of tools allowing for better identification of zones potentially exposed to spreads and to protect the population from this natural hazard,” added Dr. Locat.

The study is published today in the <a href="http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/journal/cgj">Canadian Geotechnical Journal</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth com</a> Staff Writer

Analysis of Quebec landslide may help identify dangerous zones

Researchers took a closer look into the cause of a...

Tens of thousands of Indonesians have been evacuated as fears grow that Bali’s Mount Agung is on the verge of eruption. Due to increased seismic activity, a 7.5-mile exclusion zone has been set up around the volcano as 50,000 residents are being moved to temporary shelters.

The <a href="http://www.wovo.org/1601_1607.html">Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation</a> (PVMBG) has raised the volcano alert to its highest level. The latest analysis from the PVMBG indicates that the seismic energy of Mount Agung “continues to increase and has the power to erupt.” The report also urges communities to continue to raise awareness and get prepared.

Hundreds of tremors are now being recorded from within Mount Agung daily, indicating that the magma is rising closer to the surface of the volcano. According to Australia's <a href="http://www.news.com.au/">news.com.au</a>, a total of 198 tremors were recorded between Friday at midnight and noon on Saturday. The news outlet reports that the rumblings began to slack off Saturday morning but picked up speed again by Saturday afternoon.

The head of the PVMBG said that very small tremors have been occurring ever since the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963, which destroyed villages and killed over 1100 people. According to the <a href="http://www.bmkg.go.id/?lang=EN">Department of Meteorology, Climate and Geophysics</a>, there has been a “tremendous increase” in seismic activity in the area.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mount-sinabung-indonesia-erupts-months-activity/">Indonesia</a> is made up of over 17,000 volcanic islands that straddle the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the world's largest earthquake belt with fault lines stretching 25,000 miles. The Ring of Fire is also home to more than half of the world's volcanoes, both dormant and active. Indonesia itself  has over 120 active volcanoes, more than any other country. 

The <a href="http://balitourismboard.or.id/page/crisis-center/no-volcanic-ash-detected.html">Bali Tourism Board</a> is urging residents to plan on staying indoors in the event of ashfall or to prepare by stocking up on face masks. Ferry services and flights into Bali have not been cancelled at this point, but travel warnings have been issued.

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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

Thousands evacuated amid fear over Bali volcano eruption

Tens of thousands of Indonesians have been evacuated as fears...

Although current President of the United States Donald Trump has denied the existence of climate change, many of his predecessors enacted much more environmentally friendly policies. Here’s a list of the Top 10 most environmentally friendly U.S. Presidents.

Theodore Roosevelt

When Theodore Roosevelt entered the White House in 1901, he made environmental affairs a top priority. He signed into law the Antiquities Act, giving presidents the authority to proclaim federal lands as national monuments. During his time in office, Teddy Roosevelt created 50 wildlife refuges and 5 national parks. He also set aside 150 million acres of timberland and helped develop the the U.S. Forest Service.

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon was responsible for the National Environmental Policy Act, the first law that provided a legislative structure for protecting the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was also developed under his administration to enforce such laws. Nixon's Clean Air Act required the EPA to create and enforce air pollution regulations. 

Jimmy Carter

In his first year as president, Jimmy Carter launched the Department of Energy, with a mission “to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.” Carter also established the Soil and Water Conservation Act and the Endangered American Wilderness Act. 

Barack Obama

President Obama stood by his belief that “no challenge poses a greater threat to our children, our planet and future generations than climate change, and that no other country on Earth is better equipped to lead the world towards a solution." Obama introduced the Clean Power Plan, which paved the way for the Paris climate agreement of 2015. Obama also used the Antiquities Act more than any other president, creating over 20 national monuments.

Lyndon B. Johnson

During his second term in office, President Johnson was focused on his “Great Society” plan, which led to the creation of  the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965. Johnson's administration was also responsible for the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and the National Trails System Act of 1968.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The work of FDR resulted in countless nature beautification programs. FDR created the Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided jobs for millions of unemployed men. Their work produced billions of trees and constructed over 800 parks across the country, many of which became state parks. 

Bill Clinton

While some of the events of his years may suggest otherwise, Clinton managed to make a lot of progress in the direction of a healthier planet. He oversaw the creation of 17 national monuments and expanded four existing monuments, preserving over 4.6 million acres - the most of any administration. He also increased clean energy research and development funding by 50 percent, to more than $3 billion.

Woodrow Wilson

President Wilson may not have had as many green accomplishments as other presidents that make this list, but the creation of the National Park Service in 1916 was one of the greatest. It provided the funding and manpower to help reinforce the efforts of Teddy Roosevelt. 

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln established the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide support for American farmers in 1862. He passed the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act the same year to provide funding for agricultural colleges. His Yosemite Grant protected what is known today as Yosemite National Park.

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was well ahead of the time in his vision to protect the environment. He wrote in 1806, "We must use a good deal of economy in our wood, never cutting down new, where we can make the old do."

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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

Top 10 most environmentally friendly U.S. Presidents

Although current President of the United States Donald Trump has...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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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



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

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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

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



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



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



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



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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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