A cutting-edge satellite no larger than a five-liter water bottle, HYPSO-2, is moving around Earth at an astonishing speed of 7.5 kilometers per second.&nbsp;



This innovative satellite, equipped with two advanced cameras, is providing researchers with unparalleled data on ocean phenomena, particularly algae blooms. These blooms can wreak havoc on aquatic ecosystems, poison drinking water, and cause mass fish deaths.



“The new satellite means about a 10-fold increase in the capacity to monitor water quality, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-have-caused-toxic-algae-blooms-since-the-bronze-age/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">algae blooms</a>, and other important ocean phenomena,” said Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, professor and director of <a href="https://www.ntnu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian University of Science and Technology</a> (NTNU)’s Ocean and Coast strategic research area.&nbsp;



Additionally, the satellite reduces the need for emissions-heavy research vessels, offering a more sustainable approach to marine monitoring.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advanced-imaging-in-a-small-satellite">Advanced imaging in a small satellite</h2>



One of HYPSO-2’s cameras is hyperspectral, capable of detecting 120 shades of visible light - far beyond the red, green, and blue seen by human eyes or standard cameras. This technology enables the satellite to capture detailed images spanning up to 25,000 square kilometers of Earth’s surface in a single shot.



Geir Johnsen, professor at NTNU’s Department of Biology, highlighted the practical advantages of this amazing feature.



“The fact that we can now determine exactly where they can make observations is completely new, and worth their weight in gold,” said Johnsen.&nbsp;



“Since the satellites can pass over the same fjord up to three times in the same day, we can plan our surveys much more thoroughly. If we are in the Arctic, for example, we have information about whether there is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-what-record-lows-tell-us-about-the-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice</a> in the fjord or not.”



Johnsen has also been involved in NTNU AMOS’s observation pyramid, an initiative integrating data from satellites, drones, and unmanned vessels to provide a comprehensive environmental overview.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-small-satellites-monitoring-ocean-conditions">Small satellites monitoring ocean conditions</h2>



HYPSO-2 delivers sharper images than its predecessor, HYPSO-1, launched in January 2022. Together, the two satellites allow researchers to gather up to 10 times more data than before.&nbsp;



“Better quality of the images also means that we can discover several new things of interest, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plankton-at-risk-global-warming-threatens-the-oceans-lifeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plankton</a> algae, organic material, and turbid water from river runoff,” Johnsen explained.



These satellites have been instrumental in monitoring sea ice conditions, providing critical insights for planning Arctic operations, including determining suitable vehicles and vessels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-successful-launch-and-seamless-operation">Successful launch and seamless operation</h2>



On August 16, 2024, HYPSO-2 was launched into space alongside over 100 other small satellites aboard Elon Musk’s Falcon 9 rocket. Researchers at NTNU were thrilled when they established contact with the satellite less than half an hour after deployment.&nbsp;



“We got a great hyperspectral image already in the test. And the quality of the images continues to be great,” said operations manager and PhD student Simen Berg.



Currently orbiting Earth at an altitude of approximately 580 kilometers, HYPSO-2 passes over the North Pole 14 times a day, transmitting high-quality data to NTNU’s ground crew. The team monitors its telemetry regularly, ensuring the satellite's health and performance remain optimal.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advanced-instruments-of-hypso-3">Advanced instruments of HYPSO-3</h2>



Following the success of HYPSO-1 and HYPSO-2, NTNU researchers are already working on HYPSO-3, which will feature advanced instruments, a more powerful computer, and additional cameras.&nbsp;



HYPSO-3 is expected to provide even more detailed observations, focusing on lakes, rivers, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-impacts-on-waterways-contribute-to-the-climate-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">waterways</a>. A prototype for its instruments could be ready by spring 2025, though its launch timeline depends on funding.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-era-for-norway-s-space-industry">New era for Norway’s space industry</h2>



Norway has ambitious plans for small satellite technology, and NTNU is playing a pivotal role in advancing the nation’s position in the burgeoning space industry.&nbsp;



According to satellite expert Roger Birkeland, Norwegian companies have traditionally served as subcontractors for large international projects, but there is a growing trend toward independent initiatives.&nbsp;



“We at NTNU are trying to figure out how we fit in with these players,” he said. “The most obvious thing is that our students can go into jobs in this industry. But we are also trying to find out how we can collaborate more with the industry on research that drives technology forward.”



Through the HYPSO series of satellites, NTNU is not only contributing to vital environmental research but also fostering innovation and collaboration that may shape the future of the global space industry.



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Small satellites are monitoring ocean conditions from space

A cutting-edge satellite no larger than a five-liter water bottle, HYPSO-2, is moving around Earth at an astonishing speed of 7.5 kilometers per second.&nbsp; This innovative satellite, equipped with two advanced cameras, is providing researchers with unparalleled data on ocean phenomena, particularly algae blooms. These blooms can wreak havoc on aquatic ecosystems, poison drinking water, and cause mass fish deaths. “The new satellite means about a 10-fold increase in the capacity to monitor water quality, algae blooms, and other important ocean phenomena,” said Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, professor...

Extreme weather events attributed to climate change have cost the United States federal government over $350 billion over the past decade to provide disaster relief and insurance, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/687465.pdf">U.S Government Accountability Office</a> (GAO). 

The report comes at the same time that Congress is working to approve funding for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/americans-climate-change-hurricanes/">hurricane relief</a> after the string of historic hurricanes that hit Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean. 

"Climate change impacts are already costing the federal government money, and these costs will likely increase over time as the climate continues to change," the report said.

Senators Susan Collins from Maine and Maria Cantwell from Washington asked the GAO to conduct a full report on the cost of climate change. 

The report proves that not only will unmitigated changing climate have disastrous effects on our towns cities, but will also be extremely costly to taxpayers as well. 

The GAO was asked specifically to look at the economic impact of climate change and how it would affect the federal government. The report outlines the methods used to estimate the costs of climate change and recommendations for reducing these costs. 

The report includes reviews of 30 studies on climate change and interviews with 26 experts including researchers, agency officials, and consultants selected specifically by the GAO.

Two of the studies had “national-scale information about the economic effects of climate change across multiple sectors and regions in the United States,” according to the report. 

Those two studies in particular show that the costs of climate change will differ from region to region, with some coastal areas facing damages between 4 and 6 billion dollars per year due to storm surges and potential sea level rise. 

"We cannot ignore the impact of climate change," Senator Collins said in a statement. "This nonpartisan GAO report Senator Cantwell and I requested contains astonishing numbers about the consequences of climate change for our economy and for the federal budget in particular."

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Climate change costing the U.S. billions, says new report

Extreme weather events attributed to climate change have cost the...

A recent study has discovered an increase in herbicide levels found in the urine of older adults. 

The study, conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://ucsd.edu">University of California</a>,<a href="https://ucsd.edu"> San Diego</a> found a jump in detectable urine levels of the herbicide glyphosate and its metabolite in Southern California adults between the years 1993 and 2016. 

Used in herbicides for genetically modified crops (GMO), glyphosate’s increased presence in humans further adds the body of the evidence that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-device-will-hunt-gmos-that-escape-into-the-environment/">GMOs</a> may have unforeseen negative repercussions. 

The study used data from the<a href="https://knit.ucsd.edu/ranchobernardostudy/"> Rancho Bernardo Study of Healthy Aging</a>, which had 112 of its participants take a urine sample every clinic visit from 1993 to 2016. 

Of these, 100 were randomly selected for the new study looking at herbicide levels in the urine samples. 

University of California Researchers took the data from the Rancho Bernardo Study and measured levels of glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) from the urine samples that were collected over the years. 

Glyphosate levels increased from .24 micrograms per liter from 1993 through 1996 to .314 micrograms per liter in 2014 through 2016. For 70 of the participants with levels above the limit of detection, the researchers found glyphosate numbers at .449 micrograms per liter from 2014 through 2016. 

AMPA levels also increased from .008 micrograms per liter in 1993 through 1996 to .285 micrograms in 2014 through 2016. Levels above the limit of detection reached .401 micrograms per liter in 70 of the study participants. 

These numbers are worrying, especially since levels above the limit of detection were so pronounced and increased over time in a large number of the samples. 

Glyphosate was listed as a probable carcinogen in 2017 by the State of California, and the researchers note that herbicides using glyphosate may cause adverse health effects. 

More research will need to be done to find out of the extent of harm herbicides like those using glyphosate will have on health and wellbeing of humans in the future.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Increased levels of herbicides found in older adults

A recent study has discovered an increase in herbicide levels...

Scientists have now found a direct link between volcanic activity and melting ice sheets. Researchers from <a href="http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/">The Earth Institute at Columbia University</a> examined the environmental impact of ancient eruption events and found that they caused significant melting of the ice sheet which covered Northern Europe during the last ice age. 

"Over a time span of 1,000 years, we found that volcanic eruptions generally correspond with enhanced ice sheet melting within a year or so," said lead author Francesco Muschitiello.

The researchers analyzed ice cores and meltwater deposits from times that coincided with volcano explosions. Despite the fact these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellites-predict-volcanic-eruptions-2/">eruptions</a> were occurring as far as a thousand miles away, the ice sheets were still impacted by ash falling from from the sky. The ash turned the ice a darker color on contact, which caused the ice to absorb more solar heat than usual.

"We know that if you have darker ice, you decrease the reflectance and it melts more quickly. It's basic science," said Muschitiello. "But no one so far has been able to demonstrate this direct link between volcanism and ice melting when it comes to ancient climates."

Muschitiello’s team investigated a time period ranging from 13,200 to 12,000 years ago, when the last ice age transitioned into today's climate. They focused on eruption events similar to the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano. While the eruption itself was relatively minor, its massive ash cloud was severe enough to shut down air traffic across Europe for almost a week.

Glaciologist and study co-author James Lea said it is difficult to calculate exactly how much melting a volcanic eruption of that magnitude could cause. "It depends on many factors,” he said.

Thousands of model simulations produced by the team revealed that the amount of glacier melting depends on the individual eruption, which season it occurs in, the snowpack conditions at the time, and the elevation of the ice sheet. 

"Change any one of these and you would get different amounts of melt," said Lea. 

The worst scenarios predicted that ash accumulation would melt between 20 centimeters and nearly a meter of ice from surface portions of the ice sheet. Muschitiello said that these preliminary findings indicate that "present day ice sheets are potentially very vulnerable to volcanic eruptions.”

Previous research has suggested that melting glacier sheets could actually increase the frequency of volcanic eruptions by lightening the weight on Earth’s crust and allowing magma to rise. If this link between volcanic activity and melting ice is confirmed, there may be a positive feedback loop between the two, by which eruption events trigger melting ice and the melting ice causes more eruptions.

The study is published today in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Volcanic eruptions can cause ice sheets to suddenly melt

Scientists have now found a direct link between volcanic activity...

Salt lakes can be found all over the world and are important to their local communities for both environmental and economic reasons. 

These lakes provide habitats for animals and protect humans from dust storms as long as they’re full. Otherwise, salt from dry lake beds kicks up into the air and can cause a variety of respiratory diseases.

Famous salt lakes like the Great Salt Lake in Utah and the Dead Sea in Jordan and Israel are even considered substantial tourist attractions, and also provide minerals for cosmetic industries. 

Despite the important roles that salt lakes play, recent research has found that they are currently shrinking at drastic rates. A new study revealed that the Great Salt Lake in Utah has lost almost fifty percent of its area. 

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/officials-worry-historically-low-level-great-salt-lake/">Great Salt Lake</a> is worth $1.32 billion a year, which puts more pressure on researchers to understand exactly what is happening to these lakes. 

The new study, conducted by several researchers from Utah and Montana, examined how the Great Salt Lake and other saline lakes are impacted by climate change and an increasing demand for water usage. 

The results were published in the journal Nature Geoscience and show that over the past 160 years, water development and agriculture has caused the Great Salt Lake to gradually lose 50 percent of its area and drop eleven feet.

This decline has created more dust storms and degraded natural habitats for the populations of migrating birds that feed and nest in the area. 

“Although the lake has risen and fallen with droughts and floods in recent decades, the persistence of water diversions has decreased the lake's level about 11 feet and exposed a lot of lake bed. The state's plans to continue developing water in the basin will only worsen the problem,” said Wayne Wurtsbaugh, the study’s lead author.

The researchers note that significant conservation efforts and water reductions will be necessary to restore saline lakes across the globe.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Salt lakes across the world are drying up and causing concern

Salt lakes can be found all over the world and...

Sugar cane harvest

Brazil’s sugarcane crop gets larger every year, and that could be good for the planet.

Sugarcane has become one of the South American country’s top crops – not to use for sugar to be used in food, but to convert into ethanol. That crop has the potential to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by more than 5 percent, according to an analysis led by Dr. Stephen P. Long of the <a href="http://illinois.edu/">University of Illinois</a>.

Maximizing that potential would take work, said the research team, which included scientists from Brazil’s <a href="http://www5.usp.br/english/?lang=en">University of Sao Paolo</a>. Land use would need to make room for more cane, first of all, they said – fields totaling the size of Texas and California together.

But the sugarcane crop could be expanded without encroaching on environmentally sensitive areas or cutting into crops of human, the researchers said. 

"We've kept the proposed sugarcane production within the area that can be legally converted," Long said in a press release.

The team came to their conclusions by developing a new model to study Brazil’s sugarcane and other agricultural production. They took into account how sugarcane crops behave in various types of soil, with varying amounts of rain, and in other environmental conditions found around the country.

"Most models used to predict future crop production are statistical models that really don't take full account of the way changes in water, carbon dioxide and temperature interact to aect sugarcane production," Long said. "We've used a mechanistic model here that grows the plant, so it's driven by the factors that the plant is responding to on an hourly basis."

They also took into account that Brazil uses every part of the sugarcane crop – even the stem residue is used to power the mill that extracts the ethanol – and the higher efficiency of sugarcane versus corn in producing ethanol.

Converting more of Brazil’s agricultural land to ethanol production could go a long way toward helping the world reach the goals set by the <a href="http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php">Paris agreement</a> in 2015, which includes working to keep global temperatures no more than 2 degrees Celsius higher than in pre-industrial times. 

Expanding Brazil’s sugarcane crop – and returning fallow sugarcane fields to production in places like Hawaii, the Caribbean and other regions – could put a large dent in that goal, the researchers said.

"The only way we're going to get there is to have a massive reduction in net CO2 emissions," Long said. "No single solution will get us there. We'll need to implement a whole series of incremental steps. We're trying to point out that this could be a very important increment, and one that could be realized in a timely manner.”

The analysis has been published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: <a href="https://depositphotos.com/">Depositphotos</a> photo by Jaykayl

Brazil's sugarcane crop could help reduce carbon emissions

Brazil’s sugarcane crop gets larger every year, and that could...

Cool roofs are light-colored surfaces that reflect heat instead of absorbing it into your home. As a result, they keep your home cool and help reduce energy costs. But now, a new study has found that cool roofs can also help save water as well.

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.lbl.gov/">Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a> found that cool roofs reduce the amount of water needed for outdoor lang irrigation. 

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, used climate simulations of 18 California counties over 15 years and included geographical and meteorological data to see how much of an impact widespread cool roof adoption would have. 

“You might not do cool roofs just to save water, but it's another previously unrecognized benefit of having cool roofs. And from a water management standpoint, it's an entirely different way of thinking - to manipulate the local climate to manipulate water demand,” said Pouya Vahmani, one of the study’s researchers. 

The results showed that cool roofs installed on all buildings in Los Angeles County alone could save up to 83 million gallons of water per day. Other counties also showed reductions of four to nine percent in water used for irrigation. 

Cool roofs reduce the ambient air temperatures, and as a result, lawns and yards need less water, reducing the amount needed for irrigation.

The study also found that water conservation measures in areas with drought might save water, but they also can raise temperatures in urban areas. 

In one of the simulations run by the researchers, stopping all irrigation in the San Francisco Bay Area caused a mean daytime warming of one degree Celsius. 

Cool roofs, according to the study, would be an efficient way to help mitigate rising temperatures and reduce the urban <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-heat-islands-climate-change/">heat island effect</a>, where heat gets trapped in cities.

“These results show that the warming signal from strategies that focus only on outdoor water-use reductions can meaningfully offset the cooling effects of a major heat mitigation strategy, such as citywide cool roof deployment,” the researchers added. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Cool roofs save water as well as energy

Cool roofs are light-colored surfaces that reflect heat instead of...

All-natural, non-GMO, fair trade, gluten-free, lactose-free, low-calorie, cage-free, organic. Food labels are meant to help consumers make healthier choices, but do they?

Not always, according to researchers led by the <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>. Some of the foods sporting such labels are no healthier than other snacks or treats. Other foods are healthy, but overlooked because they lack a label.

The problem is that too many labels have loose regulations or little science behind them, the economists found. But because they sound good, they can make customers feel like they’re buying healthy food and ignoring unhealthy choices when that’s not actually the case.

"That has me worried about the poor and those who are food insecure, because now you're trying to make everything a high-end food choice,” said Dr. Kent Messer, the study’s lead author and an expert on environmental and agricultural economics. “And frankly, we just want to have healthy food choices, we don't need to have extra labels that scare away people."

Messer was joined by Dr. Marco Costanigro of <a href="https://www.colostate.edu/">Colorado State University</a> and Dr. Harry M. Kaiser of <a href="https://www.cornell.edu/">Cornell University</a>. The three economists reviewed 90 studies about how food labels affect customers’ perception of products. 

Food labels like “organic” and “fair trade” describe the process of how the food is produced, not the overall outcome for diners’ health, the researchers said. However, shoppers who haven’t learned all of the meanings behind these so-called process labels may not realize that a gluten-free cookie can be just as unhealthy as one that uses wheat-based ingredients – or even more.

Which doesn’t mean the labels are all bad.

“The good part is that process labels can help bridge the trust between the producer and the consumer because it gives the consumer more insight into the market," Messer said in a press release. "New products can be introduced this way, niche markets can be created, and consumers, in many cases, are willing to pay more for these products.”

The downside, though, is that customers in a rush for time and with too much information may grab a food item labeled “natural,” thinking that means it’s organic or free of genetically modified organisms. But that’s not what the label means.

And sometimes, labels ride a trend that people think is good, but may not be. The locavore movement is an example. While is some cases, eating locally raised food is good for the environment – it cuts down on transport-produced greenhouse gases, for example – it’s situational.

Messer offered the example of tomatoes. Creating an artificial environment that would allow them to grow in Canada actually uses more energy and creates more waste than shipping them from Florida, he said.

Backlashes against genetically engineered food has led to fewer investments in agricultural science and fewer options for a growing global population in need of food, he added. Similarly, if people have access to what they believe is “safe” food, clearly labeled, they stop pushing for standards and regulations that make all foods safe, the researchers wrote.

The researchers don’t expect food companies to stop using process labels anytime soon. They’ve divided their study into three portions – the good, the bad and the ugly – to highlight ways in which labels are useful, and ways they are not. For example, labeling water “gluten-free” is not only not useful, because water doesn’t contain gluten normally, but it makes some shoppers suspicious of unlabeled water.

Instead, the researchers had three recommendations for making labels more useful and less damaging to the food industry: First, have mandatory labeling only when a product has been shown to harm human health. Second, governments should not ban process-based food labels, because when used correctly, they can help shoppers learn more about their food. Third, food companies should provide information to help shoppers decipher labels, perhaps through something like a smartphone app. 

The study has been published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/aepp/ppx028">Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy</a>. 

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Image credit: <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">The University of Delaware</a>

Study: food labels can make healthy choices harder

All-natural, non-GMO, fair trade, gluten-free, lactose-free, low-calorie, cage-free, organic. Food...

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, ranking only below tea as the most consumed beverage in the world. 

It’s a 20 billion dollar industry, and it’s everywhere. You can find coffee at your local grocery store, in your local cafe, and ready to be served at your favorite restaurant, even though the beans were most likely grown halfway around the world. 

Coffee’s popularity is no surprise, but what is surprising is how fragile and susceptible coffee trees are. 

According to Hanna Neuschwander of <a href="https://worldcoffeeresearch.org/">World Coffee Research</a> in an interview with <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/business/the-race-to-save-coffee/?undefined=&amp;utm_term=.34e01c9d1d15&amp;wpisrc=nl_headlines&amp;wpmm=1">Washington Post</a>, the demand for coffee will double by 2050, but climate change, disease, and pests will reduce the amount of land suitable for growing coffee by half. 

The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coffee-consumption-lower-death/">coffee</a> industry will be in serious jeopardy if more is not done to help make the coffee bean hardier in the face of a changing climate. 

The coffee plant needs particular conditions to thrive and dry after being harvested. Too much rain or a dry heat wave could wipe out entire crops or give rise to disease and pests like nematodes and coffee rust. 

Coffee comes from either arabica beans or robusta beans, and because of this exclusivity, farmers have been “inbreeding” plants for generations. This is yet another reason why the coffee tree is so delicate. 

While other crops like corn and soybeans are constantly being improved upon, coffee farmers often lack the means to invest in technology that could help protect their livelihood. 

World Coffee Research was formed as a response to these concerns about the future of coffee and are currently at the head of some exciting scientific advancements that could help save coffee. 

A new plant called an F1 hybrid was described by the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/">Washington Post</a> as a kind of “super plant” that could offer high yields, would be more resilient, and wouldn’t lose any of the rich flavors we have come to know and love with coffee. 

Centroamericano is one of the few F1 hybrids that are currently on the market, but again, lack of resources make distribution and planting the hybrids difficult for local coffee farmers. 

World Coffee Research is aware of these problems and will continue to work to find coffee solutions before it’s too late.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Climate change could devastate the coffee industry

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the...

A global analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has revealed that CO2 levels have stalled for the third consecutive year. While <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-co2-emissions-mean-protein-deficiency-millions/">CO2 emissions</a> are still the most predominant, these emissions slowed down in 2012 and stalled over the three years that followed.

The assessment, which is conducted by the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en">European Commission Joint Research Centre</a> (JRC) and the <a href="http://www.pbl.nl/en/">Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency</a> (PBL), is based on the continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) across the globe.

The study showed that Russia, China, Japan, and the United States continued to lower CO2 emissions. Emissions in the European Union (EU) remained the same as the previous year, and India's emissions continued to increase.

While the main source of CO2 emissions is industry, the primary source of CH4 and N2O emissions is agriculture. Because data on energy-related activities is updated more often than data on agricultural activities, levels of methane and nitrous oxide are only available up until 2012 in the report. 

In addition to not being released as frequently, measurements of CH4 and N2O emissions are also not as precise as estimates of fossil carbon dioxide emissions. Data through 2012 shows a steady increase in overall global GHG emissions, with an increase of 91 percent from 1970 to 2012.

In the EU, six countries account for 60 percent of the CH4 and N2O emissions - Germany, UK, France, Poland, Italy and Spain. The rise in methane and nitrous oxide emissions is also apparent in the United States, China, Japan and India.

On the other hand, the EU has steadily decreased its CO2 emissions over the last two decades, which represent two-thirds of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions.

The evaluation is based on the JRC's Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), which is exceptional in its space and time coverage and also in its completeness and consistency of data on emissions of greenhouse gases, air pollutants, and aerosols. The report contains fact sheets for 216 countries that cover various emissions from 1970 to 2016.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Global CO2 emissions stalled for the third straight year

A global analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has revealed...

Flying insect populations have decreased by more than 75 percent in some parts of the world. 

A new study, conducted by ecologists from <a href="http://www.ru.nl/english/">Radboud University</a> in the Netherlands along with German and English researchers, found that insect biomass has drastically reduced at a rate far worse than previously predicted. 

The study was published in the journal PLoS ONE. 

Researchers collected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fragile-insects-heat-reproduction/">insect</a> data over 27 years in 63 different locations in nature reserves in Germany. The researchers analyzed the data to calculate the biomass or number of insects living in those areas. 

The results of the study show that there is a 76 percent decline in insect numbers, even in protected reserves where population decline is supposed to be mitigated. 

“All these areas are protected, and most of them are managed nature reserves. Yet, this dramatic decline has occurred,” said Caspar Hallmann, one of the project researchers who performed the statistical analyses. 

The researchers are not sure what has caused this drastic decline, but the drop in numbers is cause for serious concern. 

Researchers tried to pinpoint what could have been the catalyst for the population decline, but changes in weather and landscape did not seem to have any impact on the results. 

The results are not independent of German nature reserves, as the researchers suspect that the agriculture makeup used to keep nature reserves enclosed might have something to do with the decline.

“The research areas are mostly small and enclosed by agricultural areas. These surrounding areas inflict flying insects, and they cannot survive there. It is possible that these areas act as an 'ecological trap' and jeopardize the populations in the nature reserves,” said Hallmann. 

Insects are an important part of the ecosystem, and any drastic drops in population could have an adverse affect on the health and survival of other species in surrounding areas. 

Although the cause of the decline is unknown, the researchers say conservation is extremely important. 

“The only thing we can do right now is to maintain the utmost caution. We need to do less of the things that we know have a negative impact, such as the use of pesticides and prevent the disappearance of farmland borders full of flowers. But we also have to work hard at extending our nature reserves and decreasing the ratio of reserves that border agricultural areas,” said Hans de Kroon, the leader of the project. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

75 percent of insects lost in protected nature reserves

Flying insect populations have decreased by more than 75 percent...

Research from the <a href="https://www.stir.ac.uk/">University of Stirling</a> indicates that hydropower generation in the Amazon impacts the environment more than previously estimated. The experts say that past calculations were inaccurate because they failed to take into account forest fragmentation. 

The study focused on lianas, long-stemmed woody vines, within the Balbina hydroelectric dam in Brazil. Lianas inhibit tree growth as they compete with trees for water and light. 

In some areas, lianas outnumber the trees and stunt the growth of the forest. Food sources for animals disappear and the ability of the forest to store <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-forests-excess-carbon/">carbon</a> is reduced.

When tropical forests are disturbed for agriculture and land use purposes, they become fragmented. This fragmentation gives the number of lianas a chance to overtake the number of trees because they are well-suited for surviving these conditions. 

Hydropower generation in the Amazon is another cause of forest fragmentation. This research provides the first evidence that a dam-induced landscape can result in lianas dominating the tree population.

The study was led by Dr. Isabel Jones from the University's Biological and Environmental Sciences.

"If lianas are being favored in this dam-induced landscape, then the biodiversity and carbon losses associated with tropical hydropower could be greater than expected,” said Dr. Jones. “This is due to the potential increased loss of tree biomass, due to liana-tree competition, as lianas have lower biomass relative to trees.”

To examine the balance of lianas and trees, the research team conducted field surveys of 89 forest plots across 36 islands of different sizes and in continuous forests surrounding the reservoir. The study found a greater number of lianas than trees on the most disturbed islands.

The team also noted that liana communities remained unimpaired regardless of whether they are in the forest or on an island.

"At present, islands are not included in environmental impact assessments, which causes a significant underestimation of the negative impacts of tropical dams," said Dr. Jones."Given that Brazil alone has plans for several new mega-dams, which will flood vast areas of highly diverse tropical forests, it is important that the total area of islands should be included in calculations considering the habitat impacted by dam creation."

Dr. Jones said that the research “highlights yet another way that tropical dams can result in long-term carbon emissions and damage to globally important ecosystems.” The study is published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>.

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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Hydropower in the Amazon could have huge environmental impact

Research from the University of Stirling indicates that hydropower generation...

Scientists have discovered that marine ecosystems were essentially unchanged by one of the largest mass extinctions to ever take place. The researchers established that the extinction event that took place in the Late Triassic period, which wiped out a vast amount of species, did not alter the function of marine networks.

The international research team was led by Dr. Alex Dunhill from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a>.

"While the Late Triassic mass extinction had a big impact on the overall number of marine species, there was still enough diversity among the remaining species that the marine ecosystem was able to function in the same way it had before,” said Dr. Dunhill.

Co-author Dr. William Foster explained that while the species were immensely affected, the oceans managed to preserve their fundamental functions. He explained that “global oceans in the extinction's aftermath were a bit like a ship manned by a skeleton crew - all stations were operational, but manned by relatively few species."

201 million years ago, the Late Triassic mass extinction wiped out almost half of life on Earth as a result of massive volcanic eruptions.

The volcanic activity released high levels of harmful gases in the atmosphere which triggered rapid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-event-volcanic/">global warming</a>. These eruptions are also linked to the break-up of the supercontinent Pangaea and the opening of the Atlantic Ocean.

The team analyzed fossils which represented a 70 million-year span, from the Middle Triassic to Middle Jurassic, in order to compare marine ecosystems across the Late Triassic. They classified marine animals by how they moved, where they lived, and how they fed. They found that none of these lifestyles ended as a result of the extinction event, which meant that marine ecosystems were preserved.

The findings of the study showed that although the extinction did not cause a global marine ecological shift, it had profound environmental effects and had a major impact on some ocean ecosystems, particularly coral reefs.

"One of the great marine casualties of the Late Triassic were stationary reef-dwelling animals, such as corals,” said Dr. Dunhill. “When we examined the fossil record we saw that while the marine ecosystem continued to function as a whole, it took over 20 million years for tropical reef ecosystems to recover from this environmental cataclysm.”

Co-author Richard Twitchett concluded, "Understanding the extent of reef collapse during past extinctions may help us predict what is in store for our modern marine ecosystems.”

The research is published in the journal <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1475-4983">Palaeontology</a>, 

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Marine ecosystems survive after dramatic mass extinctions

Scientists have discovered that marine ecosystems were essentially unchanged by...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

[sendtonews key="gRpsplpwpe-2251464-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) describes a dust storm on Mars that was nearly twice the size of the United States. As the storm covered the southern hemisphere of the planet, some of NASA’s explorers had to delay their normal activities.



NASA’s Insight lander put itself in a "safe mode" for 11 days to conserve battery power because solar power was disrupted by the dust. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter postponed flights until conditions improved.



"A fleet of NASA orbiters monitor Martian dust storms like this one and serve as lifelines to Earth by relaying data from the rovers and lander on the ground back to the team. This includes the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and Odyssey," reports JPL.



"Dust storms like this recent one start close to the ground and are spread by wind as they rise – warming the cold Martian atmosphere."



The images in the video were captured by NASA’s Curiosity as the dust rolled in. A fleet of orbiters monitored the dust storm from above, relaying data from Mars’ explorers back to scientists on Earth.



Video &amp; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.



Qeshm is separated from the Iranian coast by the Clarence Strait, also known as Khuran.&nbsp;The Hara Forest Protected Area is a network of shallow waterways and forest located between the island and the mainland. This protected region is home to sea turtles, snakes, and more than 150 species of migrating birds.



Qeshm is famous for its wide range of&nbsp;ecotourist&nbsp;attractions, such as the&nbsp;Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5 percent of the world birds and 25 percent of Iran's native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-hummingbirds-avoid-sexual-harassment-by-looking-like-males/">birds</a> annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran.



Tourists are also drawn to the island to see an age-old Portuguese&nbsp;fort, historic mosques, the&nbsp;Seyyed Mozaffar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bibi Maryam&nbsp;shrines, and the "Valley of Stars."



The average temperature on the island is 81 degress and the region is often hot and humid. From June to August, the island is described as being oppressively hot. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season. 



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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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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