From coastlines to capital cities, healthcare workers are warning about the immediate need for a treaty to end plastic pollution.



The danger of a global health disaster is at its highest level as United Nations-led negotiations to form a plastic treaty continue to remain dead-locked due to ongoing disputes.



Plastic pollution not only endangers human health, but threatens to harm our planet itself. Without decisive action, the consequences could be irreversible.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-treaty-negotiations">Plastic treaty negotiations</h2>



At the forefront of this urgent plea for action are researchers from the Revolution Plastics Institute at the <a href="https://www.port.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Portsmouth</a>.



The experts recently spotlighted the matter in an article published by the British Medical Journal, following their participation in the plastic treaty negotiations in Busan last December.



The negotiations concluded without any agreement being reached, and this pushed further discussions into 2025.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skyrocketing-plastic-production">Skyrocketing plastic production</h2>



With global annual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-production-increases-create-identical-plastic-pollution-increase/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic production</a> currently at an alarming 400 million tonnes and expected to double by 2040, the scientists see health care professionals playing an increasingly crucial role.



The need of the hour, they say, is for more robust scientific evidence showing the impact of plastic pollution on human health. 



Such data will fortify the treaty process and guide the creation of targeted policies to reduce human exposure to plastic pollution.



"The treaty to end plastic pollution represents a historic opportunity to protect human health. If the treaty is to meet this challenge, its text must include specific measures to mitigate the health effects of plastic pollution, human health targets and metrics to measure progress towards improved health outcomes," noted Professor Steve Fletcher, the director of the Revolution Plastics Institute.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-health-versus-plastic-pollution">Human health versus plastic pollution</h2>



The article focuses on two critical health concerns linked to plastic pollution. 



First, there are the omnipresent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-are-infiltrating-the-human-body-even-the-brain/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">microplastics</a> - tiny particles found in the air we breathe, waterways, polar ice, soil, and in our food.



Humans are constantly ingesting, inhaling, and absorbing these particles. They have been detected in numerous organs and tissues, from the brain and blood to the placenta and liver. Microplastics have even been found in breast milk and semen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-open-burning-of-plastic-waste">Open burning of plastic waste</h2>



The other critical issue is the harmful health effects of inhaled <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-can-make-other-pollutants-more-toxic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">toxic pollutants</a> that are released from the open burning of plastic waste. This danger is particularly acute in areas with deficient waste management systems.



The emissions from such open burns, which are loaded with toxic chemicals, particulate matter, and microplastics, are associated with serious health conditions. These include respiratory infections, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/steep-rise-in-cardiovascular-disease-expected-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular diseases</a>, and chronic conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).



Dr. Cressida Bowyer, the Deputy Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute, has extensively studied the perils of open burning of plastic waste. 



"With 16% of global municipal waste burned openly, rising to 40–65% in low-and middle-income countries, vulnerable populations bear the brunt of this crisis. The toxic fumes from burning plastic are a silent but deadly contributor to global health burdens. Urgent action is needed to eliminate this dangerous practice and protect public health," she warned.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vulnerable-populations-are-affected-the-most">Vulnerable populations are affected the most</h2>



The longer the world waits to finalize a binding plastic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-plastics-treaty-countries-with-nothing-to-lose-delayed-progress/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">treaty</a>, the more devastating the health impacts of plastic pollution will become.



Studies show that vulnerable populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, are disproportionately exposed to the harmful effects of plastics. 



This disparity is most apparent in regions with inadequate waste management systems, where open burning of plastic waste is rampant and environmental contamination intensifies daily.



Beyond its environmental toll, plastic pollution worsens global health inequalities. Microplastics and toxic chemicals from mismanaged plastic waste seep into the food chain, water sources, and also into the air.



Toxic emissions, especially in urban areas, have been linked to respiratory diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-treaty-needed-to-end-plastic-pollution">Treaty needed to end plastic pollution</h2>



Health experts warn that without the necessary steps of action, these health crises will intensify and spread aggressively, straining health systems and threatening the health of future generations.



But dealing with plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue; it is an important step to ensuring the global public's health.



The message is clear. As responsible stewards of the planet and protectors of human health, it's time for all health professionals to take a determined stand against the harms of plastic pollution.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/388/bmj.q2890" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Medical Journal</a>.



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Plastic treaty is a 'historic opportunity' to stop a human health crisis

From coastlines to capital cities, healthcare workers are warning about the immediate need for a treaty to end plastic pollution. The danger of a global health disaster is at its highest level as United Nations-led negotiations to form a plastic treaty continue to remain dead-locked due to ongoing disputes. Plastic pollution not only endangers human health, but threatens to harm our planet itself. Without decisive action, the consequences could be irreversible. Plastic treaty negotiations At the forefront of this urgent plea for action are researchers from the...

The fight against <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-heat-islands-climate-change/">climate change</a> and its devastating effects is one of the most challenging issues facing the United States, as well as the rest of the world. At this point, there is a legitimate question as to whether the country can make the switch to a reliable and affordable energy system that relies almost exclusively on wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. A recent study published in <a href="http://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> (PNAS) by 21 of the country’s leading energy experts finds that getting to the point of net-zero carbon emissions would require a much broader strategy of energy sources and approaches than most people think.

Previous research stated that the United States could be relying on just solar, wind, and hydroelectric power in as few as 35 to 40 years. The researchers in this most recent study are very critical of that analysis – essentially saying that these projections are not supported by proper data and do not accurately predict the complexities of this process.

“Wind, solar and hydroelectric power can, and will, be important parts of any moves to decarbonize our energy system and therefore combat climate change, but given today’s technical challenges and infrastructure realities, renewables won’t be the only solution,” says David Victor, an energy expert at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a> School of Global Policy and Strategy.

The researchers believe the United States will require a broader portfolio of clean energy technologies in order for the transition to a low-carbon-emission energy system to be a reality. Their analysis points to data that indicates this path will be much more feasible and less costly.

“A policy prescription that overpromises on the benefits of relying on a narrower portfolio of technologies options could be counterproductive, seriously impeding the move to a cost effective decarbonized energy system,” the authors write in their analysis.

The type of energy portfolio the researchers envision likely includes bionergy, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear energy, and carbon capture. They point out many challenges involved in moving towards a system relying purely on wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. 

“We are focused on helping governments, communities, companies and societies cut emissions of warming gases given the very real technological, economic and political constraints that exist,” says George Tynan, associate dean of the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a> Jacobs School of Engineering. “It’s important for policy makers and the public to understand we still have significant progress to make before we are have a realistic chance of achieving the required emissions reductions reliably and cost effectively.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">UC San Diego</a>

Why fighting global warming requires a full spectrum strategy

The fight against climate change and its devastating effects is...

If carbon gas emissions continue to rise at current rates, 74 percent of the world's population will be exposed to deadly heatwaves by 2100, according to a new study.

Even if <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-emissions-income-gap/">emissions</a> are reduced aggressively, 48 percent of the world's human population will be affected, the study said.

"We are running out of choices for the future," said the study’s lead author, Camilo Mora, associate professor at the<a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/"> University of Hawaii at Manoa</a>. “For heatwaves, our options are now between bad or terrible.”

The researchers conducted an extensive review and found more than 1,900 locations worldwide where high ambient temperatures have killed people since 1980. By analyzing the climatic conditions of 783 lethal heat episodes, researchers identified a threshold beyond which temperatures and humidities become deadly. 

The area of the planet where such a threshold is crossed for 20 or more days per year has been increasing and is projected to grow even with dramatic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. 

As of now, about 30 percent of the world's population is exposed to such deadly conditions each year.

The 2003 European heatwave that killed approximately 70,000 people, the 2010 Moscow heatwave that killed 10,000 people, and the 1995 Chicago heatwave that killed 700 people are staggering examples of the risk to life posed by heatwaves, the authors said.

Other cities that have experienced deadly heatwaves included New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, London, Beijing, Tokyo, Sydney and Sao Paulo.

"Finding a threshold beyond which climatic conditions turn deadly is scientifically important yet frightening," said Farrah Powell, a UH Manoa graduate student and one of the study’s co-authors. "This threshold now allows us to identify conditions that are harmful to people. And because it is based on documented cases of real people across the globe, it makes it that more credible and relevant. The scary thing is how common those deadly conditions are already."

A web-application accompanying the paper allows counting, for any place on Earth, the number of days in a year when temperature and humidity exceed such a deadly threshold. For example, by 2100 New York is projected to have around 50 days with temperatures and humidities exceeding the threshold in which people have previously died. That same year, the number of deadly days for Sydney will be 20, 30 for Los Angeles, and the entire summer for Orlando and Houston.

"Climate change has put humanity on a path that will become increasingly dangerous and difficult to reverse if greenhouse gas emissions are not taken much more seriously," Mora said. "Actions like the withdrawal from the Paris agreement is a step in the wrong direction that will inevitably delay fixing a problem for which there is simply no time to waste."

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source : <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawaii at Manoa</a>

Study: Deadly heatwaves will rise even with emission cuts

If carbon gas emissions continue to rise at current rates,...

Every conservative political party in the world recognizes the existence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/calculating-cost-climate-change-2/">climate change</a> with the exception of the United States Republican Party. Why is this? More importantly, how did one of the most powerful political groups in the world become blatantly against what most scientists are calling man’s greatest threat of our time?  

It seems this rift can be attributed to the polarization of American politics and the fundamentalist view on economic regulation from the party. Last one standing on climate change denial is not a characteristic Republicans should be proud of, and understanding the path the party took to this conclusion may help all Americans get up to speed with the latest and greatest happenings of environmental protection.  

Though politics tend to work more smoothly when politicians reach across the aisle, the most recent political era has featured heated political opposition that has led to deeper disparities between Democrats and Republicans. Unfortunately, this did a disservice for environmentalism which was spearheaded by progressive liberals. Many of the day-to-day solutions to climate change revolve around curbing consumption which contradicts a very Republican ideal of valuing all personal freedoms. This has resulted in the outright rejection of environmental science and its ideas simply out of opposition of more democratic methodology. 

Furthermore, the Republican party platform focuses on smaller government - vehemently opposing most regulation. Naturally, this lends to support for business of all kinds which can include exploitive industries like big oil which brings in trillions of dollars in revenue for some of America’s most wealthy. This, amongst many other industries, is an obvious interest into why the GOP would want to deny the reality of environmental consequences caused by such corporations. They seek to protect commerce from crippling regulations at the cost of damaging our environment. 

Though some Republican legislators may personally accept the science, few have taken a stance against party ideals and their corporate priorities. Many of these sentiments are fueled (no pun intended) by international economic competition like China. If China is not going to curb their environmental footprint why should we? How can America remain as productive with environmental restrictions? This ideology may result in America missing the ball on technological advances and new alternatives to more environmentally costly industries – hurting our role in the future economy. 

While the evidence behind climate change becomes more and more undeniable, the Republican Party has continuously and dangerously ignored the science. In GOP versus record setting temperatures, rising sea levels, extreme weather, and dying populations, who will win? Certainly not the health of our country nor the global environment. 

--

By <a href="mailto:bianca@earth.com">Bianca Vierra</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Why is the Republican Party in such denial about climate change?

Every conservative political party in the world recognizes the existence...

Extraction of shale oil has affected the landscape in Texas – but the benefits could help mitigate the damage, according to a new report by The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST).

The report was based on extensive research conducted and compiled by TAMEST’s <a href="http://tamest.org/shale-task-force/members/">Shale Task Force</a>, which includes experts in the study of earthquakes, land resources, air and water quality, and other environmental fields.

The task force aimed to show which parts of the shale oil extraction process were working in Texas, and which aspects still need improvement.

"In life, we learn by doing. This report shows what we've learned in Texas about the impacts from shale oil and gas development, and I hope others can benefit from our experience," task force chairwoman Christine Ehlig-Economides said.

They shared several findings with the public:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Earthquakes have increased a small amount in Texas, from about two per year to 12 to 15 each year. They are not directly associated with hydraulic fracturing itself; however, there is an established link between earthquakes and the injection method most fracking sites use to dispose of wastewater from the fracking process.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">About 5 percent of polluters account for about 50 percent of air pollution in the state. New federal regulations have helped to reduce the amount of overall pollution.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Fracking uses only about 1 percent of water in the state, but because the industry is focused in a few counties, water use can be unbalanced. Fracking uses anywhere from 1 to 5 million gallons of water per well.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Road damage connecting to the shale oil and gas industries costs the state $1.5 to $2 billion per year.</li>
</ul>
They recommended that:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Texas increase the number of seismic monitoring stations.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">The state adopt an act that would provide for the protection of surface lands.</li>
</ul>
They also noted that communities near shale oil and gas sites see improvements in the local economy, schools and health care. However, they raised concerns about noise, pollution, traffic and public safety, the researchers said.

The report was released by the Shale Task Force. Funding for the study was provided by <a href="http://tamest.org/">TAMEST</a> and the <a href="http://www.cgmf.org/">Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation</a>. No funding was accepted from oil or gas industry interests, although a very small percentage of the task force membership have backgrounds in the industry.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Task force reviews impacts of Texas shale oil extraction

Extraction of shale oil has affected the landscape in Texas...

A breakthrough by researchers at the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a> will make buses and service trucks more environmentally friendly. This development could reduce annual fuel costs by millions of dollars and significantly reduce harmful emissions.

As service <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/epa-proposes-tougher-emissions-rules-for-trucks/">trucks</a> slow down and sit idle, they do not need the majority of the fuel that is being used. The research team developed a method to intercept this waste energy. They also found a way to channel the excess energy for use by secondary systems, such as refrigeration units found in delivery trucks.

"An idling vehicle essentially operates at five percent efficiency, meaning the vast majority of the fuel a bus or delivery truck uses when it is stopped is being wasted," said Amir Khajepour, the lead author of the study.  

"By harnessing the energy a vehicle wastes as it is slowing down and redirecting it to a secondary battery system, these vehicles can be turned off without shutting off systems such as refrigeration and air conditioning units,” said Khajepour.

The researchers analyzed the various functions of the vehicles such as driving, idling, and braking. With engines hooked up to secondary battery systems, the team used computer models to simulate the daily routes of the service vehicles. This allowed them to determine how to capture and change the course of fuel-produced energy. 

Service vehicles were used for the study because they have more extensive auxiliary power needs than passenger cars. These secondary systems consume a large portion of the vehicle's fuel. 

"Given that most companies or governments cannot afford to transition their entire fleets over to cleaner vehicles all at once, this system could represent a cost-effective way to make current vehicles more fuel efficient in the short term," said Khajepour. 

The study is published in the journal Energy.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a>

New way to reduce emissions from idling buses and trucks

A breakthrough by researchers at the University of Waterloo will...

Staving off irreversible damage to the environment will require less meat consumption and more efficient farming methods globally, according to a new study.

"If we want to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, but still provide a secure food supply for a growing global population, it is essential to understand how these things are linked," said lead author Michael Clark of the <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota</a>.

The study analyzed the input, output, and environmental impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-agriculture-tropical-forest-loss/">food production</a> systems. 

Although high agricultural efficiency consistently correlated with lower environmental impacts, the detailed picture was “extremely mixed,” Clark said. Organic systems used less energy, but required more land use, did not lower greenhouse gas emissions, and tended to have higher eutrophication (nutrient runoff) and acidification potential per unit of food produced. 

Grass-fed beef, meanwhile, tended to require more land and emit more greenhouse grasses than grain-fed beef.

Combining the benefits of different production systems, such as organic's reduced reliance on chemicals, with the high yields of conventional systems would result in a more sustainable agricultural system, the study concluded. 

"Interestingly, we also found that a shift away from ruminant meats like beef - which have impacts three to 10 times greater than other animal-based foods - towards nutritionally similar foods like pork, poultry or fish would have significant benefits, both for the environment and for human health,” Clark said. "Larger dietary shifts, such as global adoption of low-meat or vegetarian diets, would offer even larger benefits to environmental sustainability and human health."

A lack of action will lead to massive increase in agriculture’s environmental impact, including the clearing of 200 to 1000 hectares of land, tripling the use of fertilizer and pesticide applications, and and 80 percent jump in greenhouse gas emissions from farming, said coauthor David Tilman. 

"The steps we have outlined, if adopted individually, offer large environmental benefits,” he said. 

The study was published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://ioppublishing.org/"> IOP Publishing</a>

Diet and farming changes that the environment needs us to make

Staving off irreversible damage to the environment will require less...

Summer water levels for the Great Lakes could be higher than normal and above last year's mark through early fall due to a wet spring season, experts predict.

The <a href="http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/">Great Lakes Hydraulics and Hydrology Office </a>at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District announced Monday in its six-month water level forecast that summer water levels on lakes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/map-phczs-great-lakes/">Superior</a>, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair and Erie will be at their highest since 1996-1998, the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">AP</a> reported.

"Above average precipitation on the Great Lakes and very wet conditions in the months of April and May pushed levels higher than originally forecasted," said Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of Watershed Hydrology at the Army Corps Detroit District.

The group's forecast data also show that as of Sunday, Lake Ontario is up nearly 3 feet from the level it was at this time last year. The lake exceeded its highest elevation ever for June, which was set in 1952.

Army Corps officials said that the water levels on Ontario are expected to continue this month before they begin their seasonal decline.

"It would be great for us if water levels stayed stable, but that never seems to happen," said Larry Taunt, commodore for the Muskegon Yacht Club, which may soon need to raise its fixed docks to keep them above the water. "We're not there yet, but we are looking at that," 

The Army Corps works with Environment and Climate Change Canada to release the official six-month forecast.

Year-round recording of Great Lakes water levels has occurred since 1918.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">AP</a>

Prediction: Great Lakes water levels up this summer

Summer water levels for the Great Lakes could be higher...

Researchers may have been rediscovered the 8th Wonder of the World, 131 years after it was buried by a volcanic eruption in New Zealand, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/">Guardian</a> reported.

In the mid-1800s, the pink and white terraces of Lake Rotomahana in the North Island attracted tourists from around the globe, the story said. When Mount Arawera erupted in 1886, the dramatic cascading pools descending into the lake’s temperate waters were lost.

Two researchers think they have pinpointed the location where the terraces may lie, preserved 10 to 15 meters below the surface under layers of mud and ash. A full archaeological survey is needed to excavate the site, the researchers said.

“They [the terraces] became the greatest tourist attraction in the southern hemisphere and the British empire, and shiploads of tourists made the dangerous visit down from the UK, Europe and America to see them,” said researcher Rex Bunn. “But they were never surveyed by the government of the time, so there was no record of their latitude or longitude.”

Bunn and Dr Sascha Nolden believe the terraces were not destroyed or pushed to the bottom of the lake, as earlier research suggested. Instead, the 8th Wonder of the World was likely buried on the foreshore of the lake.

To determine the location, the researchers used the field diaries of geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter, which contain a detailed description of the terraces prior to the 1886 eruption.

“Our research relied on the only survey ever made of that part of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geothermal-motherlode-new-zealand/">New Zealand</a> and therefore we are confident the cartography is sound,” Bunn said. “Hochstetter was a very competent cartographer.”

Since the pair’s research paper was published this month in the <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tnzr20/current">Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand</a>, Bunn said he had received daily offers of help to conduct a survey and was in the process of assembling a “team of the willing” to begin exploring the site.

“We want to undertake this work in the public interest. And I have been closely liaising with the ancestral owners of the land, the Tuhourangi Tribal Authority, and they are supportive and delighted with the work,” he said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/">Guardian</a>

Image Credit: Pink and White Terraces (1886) by Charles Blomfield

Photograph: Alamy

Has the 8th Wonder of the World been rediscovered?

Researchers may have been rediscovered the 8th Wonder of the...

In areas that are in close proximity to <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/sulfur-dioxide-emissions-volcanoes/">volcanoes</a>, you’d imagine that there is a premium on any information that may be indicative of impending eruptions. Unfortunately, scientists don’t have a great understanding of what events to look out for that lead up to volcanic eruptions. One significant limitation in this area has been the lack of knowledge around the temperature history of magma.

A new study has analyzed the crystals of the mineral zircon (zirconium silicate) in the magma of an eruption that occurred in New Zealand roughly 700 years ago, in order to determine the magma’s history. This analysis indicated that the magma experienced a “cool” period for thousands of years before it heated up. Once the magma temperature hit 750 degrees Celsius, it likely took no more than a few decades before the volcano erupted.

The researchers believe this analysis is applicable to many of the volcanoes currently active today, including those in the Cascade Range in the United States, which contains the famous Mt. Hood. In a previous study, the researchers found that Mt. Hood also existed in a colder state for a long period of time before rapidly shifting into its eruptive phase. Understanding the pattern of long-term crystal storage in near-solid magma could help scientists recognize when other volcanoes on our planet are about to erupt as well.

“Mobility in magma is a function of temperature and most of the time when it’s sitting there in the Earth’s crust under the volcano it’s cool," says Adam Kent, a geologist at <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a> and co-author on the study. “Of course, cool is a relative description since it’s still some 650 degrees (Celsius). I wouldn’t put my finger on it.” Kent explains that in order to result in an eruption, the Earth’s surface magma must heat up so it can be liquid enough to squeeze through the cracks in the Earth and reach the surface. When magma is at lower temperatures, it’s too thick and rich in crystals to be this mobile.

The researchers believe that by using zircon crystals, they can analyze what is going on below the surface of a volcano before it potentially erupts. These crystals appear in the magma of many volcanoes along the “ring of fire” in the Pacific Ocean, as well as in other places on the planet. 

Besides the crystal analysis, their findings also indicate that if a lot of volcanoes store their magma in this colder state, finding a volcano that contains warm and mobile magma might help scientists be wary of a potential eruption. 

Overall, this study is helping to improve our understanding of these eruption events, paving the way to making volcanic locations safer. More information can be found on this paper in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://oregonstate.edu/">Oregon State University</a>

Crystals in magma may help scientists forecast volcanic eruptions

In areas that are in close proximity to volcanoes, you’d...

An area on the seafloor of the Japanese coast where two tectonic plates meet is the subject of study for an international team of researchers interested in the mechanics of earthquakes and tsunamis. This is the location of a subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate slides underneath the Eurasian Plate, and is part of the “ring of fire” that goes around the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/typhoon-songda-moves-in-the-open-pacific-ocean/">Pacific Ocean</a>. 

Researchers are attempting to understand slow-slip earthquakes in these subduction zones, recording data from instruments placed on the seafloor and in boreholes at this location. “This area is the shallowest part of the plate boundary system,” explains Demian Saffer, professor of geosciences at <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Penn State University</a>. “If this region near the ocean trench slips in an earthquake, it has the potential to generate a large tsunami.”

The focus of the study was slow earthquakes, which occur from slip events that happen over days or weeks. Previous research has found that slow earthquakes play an important part in earthquake occurrence at tectonic plate boundaries, and may be able to show where some of the energy that gets built up in a fault or subduction zone goes.

“These valuable results are important for understanding the risk of a tsunami,” says James Allan, program director in the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OCE">National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences</a> “Such tidal waves can affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and result in billions of dollars in damages, as happened in Southeast Asia in 2004.”

The data that was gathered for this study showed that roughly 50 percent of the energy in the shallow subduction zone was released during a slow earthquake. The other 50 percent may be stuck in the permanent shortening of the upper plate, or may be stored for a century or more until another earthquake occurs. The research team believes that a slow slip could reduce the risk of tsunamis through periodically relieving this built up energy – but it is probably more complicated than that.

A series of slow slip events around this plate interface was also shown to occur about every 12 to 18 months, and could be days or weeks long. “The area where these slow earthquakes take place is uncompacted, which is why it has been thought that these shallow areas near the trench act like a shock absorber, stopping deeper earthquakes from reaching the surface,” says Saffer. “Instead we have discovered slow earthquakes of magnitude 5 or 6 in the region that last from days to weeks.”

Because earthquakes that occur away from the subduction zone can sometimes trigger these slow earthquakes, the researchers now know this area is more sensitive than previously thought. 

Much is left to be discovered about the mechanics of these earthquakes and how they may trigger future earthquakes or tsunamis. The data being gathered from the seafloor is imperative if we want to one day figure out how to reduce the damage that these events cause.

[caption id="attachment_454825" align="aligncenter" width="255"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/143040.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-454825" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/143040-255x300.jpg" alt="" width="255" height="300" /></a> Credit: Demian Saffer, Penn State[/caption]

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Penn State</a>

Image Credit: Demian Saffer, Penn State

Slow earthquakes near Japan provide insight into tsunami generation

An area on the seafloor of the Japanese coast where...

Earthquakes are a constant problem in the U.S. state of California, causing significant damage and posing a threat to the wellbeing of the state’s residents. Efforts by scientists to understand the multitude of factors that cause these quakes are ongoing, and have the potential to save lives as well as preserve infrastructure. 

Recently, a new study from the <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California, Berkeley</a> revealed that the winter rain and snow in California actually has a physical effect on the geology responsible for earthquakes. During the winter, rain and snow push down the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/gobi-desert-dust-sierra-nevadas/">Sierra Nevada</a> and Coast Ranges. In the summer, these mountains “rebound” by about a centimeter, which affects the stress on earthquake faults and results in a seasonal increase in minor earthquakes.

Furthermore, the weight of ground and stream water depresses the Sierra Nevada mountains by about half a centimeter, causing the same effect. The rising and falling of this land causes the earth’s crust to flex, creating a pushing and pulling action on the natural fault lines.

Researchers were able to measure these tiny rises and falls using the regional global positioning system, and could calculate the stress on the earth due to these water loads. They analyzed 3,600 earthquakes from 2006-2015, correlating each earthquake’s occurrence with the calculated peak stress on the fault from which it occurred. Their data revealed that California’s faults experienced more small earthquakes when these seasonal changes were most significant.

The state’s largest fault – the San Andreas fault – experienced an increase in small earthquakes (those less than magnitude 2) in late summer and early fall, when the water load has diminished the most on the mountains. However, it’s unlikely residents would have noticed, as most people can’t feel quakes below a magnitude 2.5.

“It’s not that all earthquakes happen in September. There is no earthquake season,” clarifies Roland Bürgmann, senior author of the paper and <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/">UC Berkeley</a> professor of earth and planetary science. “It all depends on details of the loading, the location of the fault and the geometry of the fault.”

The researchers stress that the impact of these water-related factors are tiny –increasing the chance of earthquakes by no more than a few percentage points. Previous studies have shown that massive earthquakes – known as megaquakes – can trigger other large quakes from thousands of miles away due to seismic waves. The data presented in this study indicates a similar amount of stress is caused by the seasonal water loading in California. 

“We don’t see an increase in large-magnitude earthquakes from these low-amplitude stresses caused by seasonal water storage,” says Johnson. “What these results are showing, however, is that we do see a correlation with small earthquakes from low-amplitude stresses.”

Overall, this study can provide seismologists with much needed information on how faults rupture and what factors lead to an earthquake occurring. These findings won’t be used as indicators for times when large earthquakes should be expected; rather, they will better serve scientists’ understanding of the mechanics of earthquakes. 

More information on this paper can be found in the journal <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.berkeley.edu/">University of California – Berkeley</a>

Some California earthquakes caused by seasonal rain and snowfall

Earthquakes are a constant problem in the U.S. state of...

Warm winds from an especially strong El Nino have caused an area of west Antarctica more than twice the size of California to partially melt, according to a new study.

The warm spell persisted for more than two weeks in January 2016, according to the study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>. 

Satellite data revealed a mix of melted snow and <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/thinning-ice-sheets-greenland/">ice</a> over most of the Ross Ice Shelf, a thick platform of floating ice that channels about a third of the ice flowing from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet into the ocean, the study said.

Researchers have been gathering evidence for years that warm ocean water is melting west Antarctic ice shelves from beneath, but this is one of the first times they've been able to document how warm air could also cause widespread melting from above.

A few weeks before the warm spell, researchers had installed the necessary instruments to investigate these processes in West Antarctica as part of a study to better understand how clouds affect the amount of energy that reaches the snow surface and influence its temperature.

"We were extraordinarily fortunate to be able to deploy state-of-the art equipment to West Antarctica just before this large melt event occurred," said study coauthor Dan Lubin, principal investigator of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_Radiation_Measurement_Climate_Research_Facility">Atmospheric Radiation Measurement </a>(ARM) <a href="https://www.arm.gov/publications/programdocs/doe-sc-arm-15-040.pdf">West Antarctic Radiation Experiment</a> (AWARE). Lubin is a research physicist at the <a href="https://scripps.ucsd.edu/">Scripps Institution of Oceanography</a>. 

When Julien Nicolas, lead author of the paper, got a January 2016 alert from the AWARE expedition that the weather at their campsite atop of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet had turned unseasonably warm, he checked to see in the satellite data what was happening to the rest of west Antarctica.

The presence of water in the snow is often hard to detect from visible satellite imagery, especially if clouds block the view. Instead, Nicolas analyzed satellite measurements of the microwave radiation emitted by the snowpack, since dry and wet snows have very different microwave signatures.

What he saw during the melting event was an area of roughly 300,000 square miles, including most of the Ross Ice Shelf, that likely contained a mix of snow and water.

"What probably happened is that the surface snowpack was able to contain the meltwater, acting as a buffer and preventing the formation of melt ponds and streams that can be common on some Antarctic ice shelves," said Nicolas, research associate at <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">The Ohio State University</a>’s <a href="https://bpcrc.osu.edu/">Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center</a>. "But we cannot rule out the presence of standing water in many locations."

The melting was particularly interesting to scientists because it took place during one of the strongest El Nino events on record.

"This conjunction of events was no coincidence," Nicholas said.  "It's a pattern that is emerging. And because we expect stronger, more frequent El Ninos in the future with a warming climate, we can expect more major surface melt events in West Antarctica."

More frequent melting would accelerate the general deterioration of the ice sheet, he said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.osu.edu/">The Ohio State University</a>

El Nino winds cause widespread ice melt in west Antarctica

Warm winds from an especially strong El Nino have caused...

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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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

[sendtonews key="sFFhiK9OOn-1720418-12187" 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> 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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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...