New research indicates that federal reservoirs across the United States have the potential to significantly contribute to the country’s solar energy demands.&nbsp;



Experts from the <a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Renewable Energy Laboratory</a> (NREL) have conducted an in-depth evaluation of how much energy floating solar panels could generate when installed on these reservoirs, presenting a promising frontier for renewable energy development.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-energy-potential">Surprising energy potential</h2>



The study, led by geospatial scientists Evan Rosenlieb and Marie Rivers along with legal and regulatory analyst Aaron Levine, is the first to quantify precisely how much energy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-entire-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">could be harvested </a>by deploying floating photovoltaic (PV) systems on federally owned or regulated reservoirs. 



The findings reveal a surprisingly large technical potential: reservoirs could host enough floating solar panels to produce up to 1,476 terawatt hours of electricity annually. To put this into perspective, that amount of energy is enough to power approximately 100 million homes each year.



“That’s a technical potential,” noted Rosenlieb. “We know we’re not going to be able to develop all of this. But even if you could develop 10% of what we identified, that would go a long way.”



This “technical potential” refers to the maximum energy output achievable if reservoirs were fully covered with floating solar arrays.



While it is acknowledged that full-scale development across all reservoirs is unlikely due to practical and environmental constraints, even a 10% development scenario would mark a significant leap forward in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tapping-into-the-natural-power-of-plants-for-renewable-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">renewable energy</a> capacity.&nbsp;



The study serves as a foundational resource by providing reservoir-specific details accessible through the AquaPV website, where developers can examine data relevant to individual sites and make informed decisions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-of-floating-solar-power">Advantages of floating solar power</h2>



Floating solar arrays, or floating PV systems, offer several distinct advantages over land-based solar installations.&nbsp;



Firstly, they generate electricity without using valuable land resources, a crucial benefit in regions where land is scarce or expensive. By situating solar panels on water surfaces, developers can avoid conflicts over land use and preserve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/silent-invasion-how-microplastics-are-disrupting-land-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">terrestrial ecosystems</a>.



Additionally, the panels provide environmental benefits beyond electricity generation. When floating on reservoirs, the solar arrays shade the water, reducing evaporation rates - a critical factor in water conservation.&nbsp;



This effect can be particularly beneficial in arid regions or during drought conditions, where every drop of water saved is valuable. The cooling effect of the panels can also improve the efficiency of the PV cells, potentially increasing electricity production.



Despite these advantages, large-scale floating solar projects remain rare in the United States. “But we haven’t seen any large-scale installations, like at a large reservoir,” Levine said. “In the United States, we don't have a single project over 10 megawatts.”



The absence of large projects underscores the nascent stage of this technology in the country, highlighting both the opportunity for growth and the challenges that must be overcome to scale up installations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identifying-suitable-reservoirs">Identifying suitable reservoirs</h2>



A key contribution of this research is not just the estimation of energy potential but also the detailed analysis of which reservoirs are most suitable for floating solar installations.&nbsp;



Prior studies often speculated on potential energy gains without considering specific site conditions. Levine and Rosenlieb's work breaks new ground by examining a variety of factors that affect the feasibility of floating solar projects.



Factors such as water depth, temperature, and shoreline slope are critical because they influence the installation and maintenance of floating solar systems.&nbsp;



Shipping traffic is another consideration; frequent boat movement can create waves that may damage mooring lines and destabilize the floating infrastructure. Some reservoirs may experience issues with extreme cold or unsuitable bottom conditions that make it difficult to anchor the panels.



However, many hydropower reservoirs could serve as ideal sites for floating solar due to their controlled water levels and existing infrastructure. Hybrid energy systems combining solar and hydropower can offer enhanced reliability and resilience.&nbsp;



For instance, during periods of drought when hydropower output falls, floating solar panels can provide an alternative energy source.&nbsp;



For instance, if a drought depletes a hydropower facility’s reservoir, solar panels would be capable of&nbsp; generating energy while the facility pauses to allow the water to replenish.



This integrated approach not only maximizes energy generation but also optimizes the use of existing resources, making the overall energy system more robust against disruptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-and-regulatory-considerations">Environmental and regulatory considerations</h2>



Floating solar projects must also contend with environmental and regulatory considerations. While the study primarily quantifies energy potential, the team recognizes that human activities and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/un-report-disturbing-details-about-the-state-of-earths-wildlife/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a> interactions could influence project viability at specific locations.&nbsp;



For example, protecting fish habitats and preserving recreational uses of reservoirs are important factors in planning.



The researchers plan to address these considerations in future work, which will involve assessing environmental impacts, regulatory requirements, and community responses.&nbsp;



Factors such as proximity to transmission lines, cost of development, and regulatory hurdles will be examined to provide a clearer roadmap for potential projects.



The researchers emphasized that this study offers significantly more precise data on the potential of floating solar power in the United States.&nbsp;



This improved accuracy can aid developers in planning projects on U.S. reservoirs more effectively and enable researchers to better evaluate how these technologies align with the nation’s overarching energy objectives.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward-further-research-and-development">The path forward: Further research and development</h2>



The study marks a significant step forward, but it also opens up many avenues for further research. Future investigations by the team will delve into more detailed site-specific analyses, including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Evaluating proximity to grid infrastructure and electricity demand centers.</li>



<li>Determining development costs and economic feasibility at specific reservoirs.</li>



<li>Assessing environmental impacts and identifying sites to avoid to protect local ecosystems.</li>



<li>Understanding regulatory challenges at both state and federal levels.</li>
</ul>



Additionally, the researchers are interested in expanding their analysis beyond large reservoirs. They plan to assess smaller reservoirs, estuaries, and even offshore ocean sites to identify additional opportunities for floating solar installations.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-renewable-energy-revolution">A renewable energy revolution?</h2>



As floating solar technology continues to mature, its potential to transform the energy landscape becomes increasingly clear.&nbsp;



By leveraging federal reservoirs for large-scale energy production, the United States could make significant strides toward its renewable energy goals.&nbsp;



Floating solar panels not only provide sustainable electricity but also contribute to water conservation and efficient land use.&nbsp;



With continued research, development, and investment, floating solar could emerge as a cornerstone of America’s renewable energy future, powering millions of homes and supporting a cleaner, more resilient grid.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.113177" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar Energy</a>.



-----



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Floating solar panels could power every home in the U.S.

New research indicates that federal reservoirs across the United States have the potential to significantly contribute to the country’s solar energy demands.&nbsp; Experts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have conducted an in-depth evaluation of how much energy floating solar panels could generate when installed on these reservoirs, presenting a promising frontier for renewable energy development. Surprising energy potential The study, led by geospatial scientists Evan Rosenlieb and Marie Rivers along with legal and regulatory analyst Aaron Levine, is the first to quantify precisely how much...

Scientists find a way to reuse our water waste AND make thermal <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/waste-to-energy-plants/">energy</a>. We waste gallons of water each day, every time we run the sink, do laundry, wash dishes, or take a bath or shower. That water, known as greywater, could potentially be reused, but most homes and buildings don’t have the capability of recycling it.

This is even more of a concern in places where water is a precious commodity. Recycling greywater would mean that fresh, clean water could be used for drinking and cooking, rather than lost after being used for washing.

Architect Maria Paz Gutierrez (a mentor at the<a href="http://www.berkeley.edu"> University of California, Berkeley</a>) hopes to change all of that. Working with Slav Hermanowicz, an environmental engineer, and bioengineer Luke Lee, she’s found a way to put greywater to work. It’s job? Making thermal energy.

While greywater can’t be recycled as drinking water – it’s not clean enough for that – it can be reused for things like flushing toilets and washing laundry. The system created by Gutierrez would send that greywater cycling back through the system to be used a second time, but it would also be used to make thermal energy that would lower electricity bills.

"This is the future of sustainable building systems--synergistic optimization processes that are win-win from the local to the global scales," said Gutierrez. "The end user benefits because they're using less water and paying less for electricity or gas; the community benefits because it has less water to treat; the environment benefits because we're not going to be contaminating aquifers. That's the fundamental difference between this design and other building systems.”

The team’s research was supported by the<a href="https://www.nsf.gov"> National Science Foundation</a>. While the technology is currently in its infancy, Gutierrez says it could be available for commercial purposes within 10 years. Her goal is to bring the price point down to one that would be realistic in areas where water is scarce. We are looking forward to a future where our water waste is converted into something useful.

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

&nbsp;

Amazing scientists turn our water waste into energy

Scientists find a way to reuse our water waste AND make...

Imagine: you’re deep within the Brazilian <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/gibbon-new-species-found/">rainforest</a> when you discover huge, geometric trenches. Some of the huge shapes – squares and circles – measure as large as a city block. The trenches themselves are up to 13 feet deep and as much as 12 yards wide. These earthworks are a reality, and archaeologists believe they were built by ancient people around 2,000 years ago. They also found broken ceramics near the entrance to the shapes, but are unsure why the materials were left there. 

The discovery of the ancient geometric earthworks has unearthed a stunning realization: rainforest areas that were previously thought to be undisturbed by humans until 15th century explorers arrived from Europe were actually subject to manipulation by the ancient people who built these glyphs – as well as those who came before them. 

“A lot of people have the idea that the Amazon forests are pristine forests, never touched by humans, and that’s obviously not the case,” said Jennifer Watling, an archaeologist the <a href="http://www5.usp.br/english/?lang=en">University of São Paulo</a>, Brazil, told the<a href="http://www.nytimes.com"> New York Times</a>. 

Researchers have found evidence of sustainable farming practices carried out thousands of years before the trenches were constructed.

They did this by carefully examining the environmental history of two of the areas in the Amazon rain forest in which glyphs are located. By analyzing soil samples, scientists were able to put together a story of ancient vegetation, as well as burnings that took place to make openings in the forest. Researchers believe that ancient forest dwellers may have planted maize or squash. 

Somewhat like methods now known as agroforestry, the ancient people of the Amazon took care not to burn or clear-cut large swaths of land. Instead, they used sustainable farming at its best. Watling says that the biodiversity that exists in the Amazon today is due to the practices that were started all those many years ago and continued by indigenous groups even today.

--
By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How ancient people changed the face of the rainforest

Imagine: you’re deep within the Brazilian rainforest when you discover...

Climatologists and conservationists have sounded the alarm about the potential impact of rising sea levels. Now, they’re adding another item to the list of things we stand to lose if the sea moves in and overtakes areas along the coast: our salt marshes. 

Salt marshes are areas along the coast that are frequently flooded as the tide ebbs and flows, leaving saltwater that’s home to a diversity of marine life. Shellfish, crustaceans, and many different species of seabirds depend on salt marshes for safety and survival. 

As <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ancient-sea-level-shift/">sea levels</a> rise, those salt marshes could be completely submerged. This is according to scientists working with the federal government. They say that of the eight of the coastal salt marshes in the U.S., four will disappear in 350 years if the current rate of sea level rise continues. 

When the marshes disappear, so will the species that depend on them for their food and habitat. Among these species is the Ridgeway’s rail, a rare bird that lives in the salt marshes south of the Los Angeles area.  

Neil Ganju, the lead author of the salt marsh study, said that the loss of this bird species is a concrete indication of what we stand to lose if conditions don’t change. 

“That’s something that's happening right in front of our eyes — an endangered bird that doesn't have anywhere to nest anymore,” he said. 

The research group, whose findings were published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>, used remote sensing techniques and aerial photography to record the nation’s marshes to get an idea of current conditions. They looked at how much of each marsh was covered in plants versus how much was submerged by water.

In addition to loss of marine species, coastal communities will be affected when they lose the erosion protection afforded by the salt marshes. Researchers hope that the study can be used by land managers and conservationists to create a strategy to save the salt marshes from rising sea levels. 

--

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Rising sea levels will kill off salt marshes, scientists warn

Climatologists and conservationists have sounded the alarm about the potential...

When protesters try to prevent a construction project from moving forward, they employ all sorts of creative methods. They gather in huge crowds to chant, sing, and shout down developers. They unfurl huge banners to get their message out. Sometimes they even chain or handcuff themselves to construction equipment to bring operations to a screeching halt. Now, critics of a high-pressure Ohio gas pipeline slated to be constructed across the northern half of the state are receiving some unexpected help from the animal world. It may be that giant bulldozers and big money are no match for a tiny, furry bat that dwells in the area. 

The northern long-eared bat lives in caves and trees throughout the route that has been proposed for the NEXUS pipeline. The developers of the NEXUS – Spectra Energy and DTE Energy – were successfully able to argue against pipeline opponents’ suggestions that the project should be rerouted through less populated areas that don’t bring it near homes and businesses. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shot those arguments down, saying that the current proposed pipeline route doesn’t pose any environmental problems.

The <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/wild-boars-vampire-bats-rabies-oh/">bats</a>, however, create a new problem for developers, as these tiny creatures are classified as a threatened species. Their status prevents construction crews from chopping down trees in the bats’ habitat area between April 1 and September 30. 

This could create a huge delay for the NEXUS project, as it’s scheduled to be completed and begin delivering gas later this year. 

John Medina, a resident of Medina County, is on the forefront of the fight to keep the pipeline from being constructed along the current route. He and other property owners worry about the potential danger of having a pipeline with explosive natural gas running so close to their backyards and businesses. 

They hope that the bats will throw a serious wrench in the planned Ohio gas pipeline. 

"Time is our friend and their foe,” Medina told the<a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/"> Associated Press</a>. 

--

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image: AP/<a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/62bd407ff5144afb85a219dece58b5b2">Tony Dejak</a>

Ohio gas pipeline may be halted by a tiny bat species

When protesters try to prevent a construction project from moving...

APTOPIX Damaged Dam

Evacuations ordered as officials fear Oroville Dam collapse. Twelve years ago, officials were warned that the Oroville Dam wasn’t in good shape. They rejected those concerns. Now, nearly 200,000 people have been evacuated from Butte, Sutter, and Yuba counties amid growing fears that the dam could collapse, putting neighborhoods under 100 feet of water. 

The <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/relentless-rain-california-nevada-west/">California National Guard</a> is on standby, waiting to be deployed as residents lined up to leave the area on Sunday. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper, and people were frightened and furious.

Gas station manager Raj Gill was told by his manager to evacuate, but chose to stay put and help evacuating residents gas up. 

“You can't even move,” he told the<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html"> Daily Mail</a>. “I'm trying to get out of here too. I'm worried about the flooding. I've seen the pictures - that's a lot of water.”

It would indeed be a lot of water. Although officials have activated an emergency spillway not put into use for almost 50 years, that may not be enough. A 170 x 250-foot hole on the concrete lip of the dam’s secondary spillway has been exacerbated by flooding from recent storms. Engineers dropped rocks into the hole in order to temporarily plug the water flow.

However, with more bad weather on the way, officials worry that the weakened area of the dam could fail entirely.

Although water is no longer pouring over the damaged area, the evacuation orders are still in place while law enforcement and engineers work to figure out the best course of action. 

At a news conference, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea updated residents on the situation. 

“There is [sic] still a lot of unknowns,” he said. “We need to continue to lower the lake levels and we need to give the Department of Water Resources time to fully evaluate the situation so we can make the decision to whether or not it is safe to repopulate the area.”

–

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image credit: <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a>

&nbsp;

Oroville Dam about to cause Californian catastrophe

Evacuations ordered as officials fear Oroville Dam collapse. Twelve years ago,...

Relentless rain and snow has already done what experts said could take years in much of Northern California: ended more than five years of drought, or at least come very close. But the rain didn’t stop there.

Now, thousands of people across the northern part of California and in northeastern Nevada slowly flooding. Parts of Idaho, Oregon, and Utah have also seen extreme weather this week.

But California and Nevada have borne the brunt of the relentless rain that has streamed into the U.S. from the Pacific since the beginning of January.

Sacramento has received just over 15 inches of rain since January 1, according to the private monitoring website <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/">Weather Underground</a>. That’s three times higher than the average rainfall from January 1 to February 10.

San Francisco has gotten 12.71 inches, more than twice its year to date average. Eureka has received more than 15 inches, not quite double its average.

The story is the same all over California, but it’s the precipitation in the mountains that is causing the most problems.

Storms since November of last year have dropped dozens of feel of snow in the high Sierra. The same storms saturated the ground at lower elevations until it could no longer absorb any more moisture, and filled the rivers.

Rain and snowfall have been anywhere from 150 to 300 percent of normal for much of Northern California, according to private forecasting firm <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/warmth-to-precede-new-train-of-storms-in-western-us-next-week/70000816">AccuWeather</a>. In that time, reservoirs across the state have gone from near empty to overflowing.

The storm that brought even more rain to Northern California last week also brought warm temperatures. In the lower elevations, at least, all that snow is melting – and it has nowhere to go.
<h3>A look at the damage</h3>
It’s causing chaos throughout the state. On Friday, <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/">Gov. Jerry Brown</a> expanded his state of emergency from 49 counties – already swamped by storms in January – to 52, and formally requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration.

“This series of powerful winter storms brought relentless heavy precipitation and high winds that caused flash flooding, debris and mud flows, erosion, power outages, and damage to critical infrastructure,” the governor said in his <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/docs/2.10.17_Letter.pdf">request</a> [PDF].

Mudslides closed two major routes into the Sierra on Friday, Interstate 80 and Highway 50. I-80 was reopened Saturday, but Highway 50 would be closed until at least Sunday night, the <a href="http://www.dot.ca.gov/">California Department of Transportation</a> announced.

Flooding also restricted traffic on some major roadways, including Highway 99 through the Central Valley and Highway 37 in Sonoma and Marin counties.

The ground in many places simply cannot handle any more moisture.

A mudslide slammed into a house in Orinda, in Contra Costa County. Mudslides in Marin County forced a <a href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/02/09/mother-toddler-escape-massive-fairfax-mudslide/">woman and her 4-year-old son</a> to escape through a bathroom window as their house was destroyed. They were two of a handful of homes destroyed as ground gave way after weeks of relentless rain.

And a freight train carrying food derailed on Friday, sending 22 cars into the swollen Cosumnes River in Sacramento County. Flooding was a likely factor, Union Pacific told the <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/article132227414.html">Sacramento Bee</a> on Saturday. The derailment caused no injuries.

“With all that water that was there, it’s not typical,” <a href="http://www.up.com/">Union Pacific</a> spokesman Justin Jacobs told the newspaper. “That whole area around (the tracks) is near a river that was overflowing.”

Levees throughout the San Joaquin Valley have broken, along the Cosumnes River south of Sacramento, Paso Creek near Bakersfield, Pacheco Creek near Hollister, and beyond, swamping homes and farmland. A dam break in Nevada’s Elko County led to flash flood warnings.

But the disaster waiting to happen that has the state transfixed is the massive hole in the Oroville Dam’s spillway. The hole, estimated at about 250 feet long and 45 feet deep, opened up on Tuesday.

For the very first time in its history, the dam’s emergency spillway was put into use. Officials had no choice: Lake Oroville was completely full and had begun overflowing at the emergency spillway anyway.
<h3>Could more relentless rain be on the horizon?</h3>
The rainy weather is taking a short break in Northern California, for the early part of this week.

But the dry weather is not expected to last, according to private forecasting firm AccuWeather. Rain is likely to move back in by Thursday – another Pacific storm bringing heavy snow and relentless rain.

There should be some warm, dry weather in the days before the rain picks back up, AccuWeather said. That could allow homeowners and public employees to begin cleaning up from recent flooding and landslides.

Or it could cause new problems.

“The rise in temperatures will continue to cause localized flooding due to melting snow and ice jams in the Intermountain West,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said. “Low-lying and poor drainage areas, as well as locations along streams and rivers are most at risk for the flooding.”

In California, that could mean more mudslides and more flooding as snow in the Sierra melts.

It’s too early to tell with any certainty what the weather might do beyond next week’s storms, but the rest of February could be wet, too, AccuWeather said.

People are already drawing comparisons to the New Year’s flood of 1997, but it’s another flood that has some people nervous.

The conditions – relentless rain and snow, plus unseasonably warm temperatures – could potentially lead to flooding like the state hasn’t seen in more than 150 years.

During the Great Flood of 1862, atmospheric rivers from the Pacific Ocean brought more than 40 days of unceasing rain and snow. They also brought intermittent warm spells that melted much of that snow.

Hyper-saturated ground unable to absorb water and snowmelt pouring out of the Sierra Nevada mountains turned the Central Valley into a massive inland lake.

That series of storms also brought relentless rain and floods to Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and throughout the western U.S. and northwestern Mexico.

In 2011, the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">U.S. Geological Survey</a> released a report, <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1312/">ARkStorm</a>, that found similar flooding events happen about every 100 to 200 years on the West Coast. <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/extreme-rainfall-new-norm-california/">Studies</a> released by the <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a> and the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">University of California, Davis</a> in the fall warned that a major flood could be coming.

Hopefully, the West will dry out a bit this week before the wet weather returns, and we'll avoid a 100-year flood.

In the meantime, keep an eye on the <a href="http://www.weather.gov/">National Weather Service</a> for extreme weather alerts.

—

By Kyla Cathey / Earth.com staff writer

Relentless rain floods California, Nevada and the West

Relentless rain and snow has already done what experts said...

A three-foot shift in sea level might not sound like that much to most of us. To those who actually live within three feet of sea level, however, it sounds like a lot.

That’s why news of a sea level change that occurred in Southeast Asia 6,000 years ago is attracting major attention. Adding to the concern is the discovery that this fluctuation happened without humans influencing a change in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/pre-industrial-climate-baseline/">climate</a>. 

A group of oceans scientists and statisticians reported that starting 6,850 years ago, the relative sea level around Belitung Island in Indonesia rose approximately two feet in 350 years. This shift happened without any human-assisted climate change, which suggests that any future sea level rises could be a significant: a combination of a natural rise in sea level plus that caused by climate change that’s been set in motion by humans. 

"This research is a very important piece of work that illustrates the potential rates of sea-level rise that can happen from natural variability alone," says Benjamin Horton of<a href="http://www.rutgers.edu"> Rutgers University</a>. "If a similar oscillation were to occur in East and Southeast Asia in the next two centuries, it could impact tens of millions of people and associated ecosystems.”

Lead author Aron Meltzner from<a href="http://www.apple.com"> Nanyang Technological University</a> and the rest of the team studied coral microatolls to learn about the rise and fall of sea levels in the area around Belitung. A microatoll is a coral colony with dead layers on top and living layers beneath. Scientists can study the layers of coral much the way archaeologists study layers of rock. The microatolls helped the team determine general dates when sea levels rose and fell.  

The findings, published in<a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/"> Nature Communications</a>, are of particular concern to those who live extremely close to the sea. Researcher hope that by understanding what happened in the past, they will be better able to predict what kind of changes to expect in the future. 

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Source: Benjamin Horton, <a href="http://www.rutgers.edu">Rutgers University</a>

Aron Meltzner, <a href="http://www.ntu.edu.sg/Pages/home.aspx">Nanyang Technological University</a>

What does an ancient 3-foot sea level shift mean for us?

A three-foot shift in sea level might not sound like...

Scientists have recently discovered four hidden lakes beneath the Thwaites glacier in <a href="http://www.earth.com/image/warming-antarctic-bottom-waters/">Antarctica</a>. Hooray, right? 

No hooray. What sounds like an exciting scientific discovery could be somewhat speeding up the demise of the glacier, sending it slip-sliding into the ocean. 

Once the Thwaites glacier is lost, it is expected to destabilize the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and cause the seas to rise approximately two feet across the globe. 

The team of researchers from the<a href="https://www.washington.edu"> University of Washington</a> and the<a href="http://www.ed.ac.uk"> University of Edinburgh</a> found four lakes – all interconnected – lurking beneath the glacier. The glaciers emptied themselves between June 2013 and January 2014. 

Scientists were able to use data from CryoSat-2, a European Space Agency satellite, to monitor the drainage of the lakes.

Benjamin Smith, a professor at University of Washington and a glaciologist at their Applied Physics Laboratory, explained, “This was a big event, and it confirms that the long-term speed-up that we’re observing for this glacier is probably driven by other factors, most likely in the ocean. The water flow at the bed is probably not controlling the speed.”

The team’s findings were published in the journal<a href="http://www.the-cryosphere.net"> The Cryosphere</a>. 

The researchers used a new method to discover that there are drops in the glacier’s surface where each lake is located. The lakes are large, with the biggest one measuring 8,500 cubic feet – roughly the size of Lake Washington. As for their drainage rate, the water flowing out moved at around half the flow rate of the Hudson River. 

During the years in which the lake drainage data was measured, the glacier’s slipping speed increased by 10%. However, scientists aren’t sure that the drainage of the lakes was the cause for the increase in glacier movement. They feel that another possible cause is warm seawater moving around underneath the glacier.

“This lake drainage is the biggest water movement that you would expect to see in this area, and it didn’t change the glacier’s speed by that much,” Smith said.

<a href="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Screen-Shot-2017-02-09-at-10.48.30-AM.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-130915" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Screen-Shot-2017-02-09-at-10.48.30-AM-300x223.png" alt="" width="300" height="223" /></a>

--

By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Images: Jim Yungel, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>

Source: Benjamin Smith,<a href="https://www.washington.edu"> University of Washington </a>

Four underground lakes discovered beneath Thwaites glacier

Scientists have recently discovered four hidden lakes beneath the Thwaites...

One of the engineering wonders of the world, the Panama Canal is a 48-mile waterway that cuts across the Isthmus of Panama to connect the Atlantic and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/noaa-federal-waters-fish-farming/">Pacific Oceans</a>. First opened in 1914, the canal has seen big changes in the world over the past century. 

One of those changes – an increasing size in cargo ships, was the reason behind a canal expansion that began last year. 

Lately, though, the expansion has hit some snags. Specifically, large cargo vessels traveling through the canal are hitting snags. They’re scraping up against the walls and experiencing nail-biting near-misses when steel lock doors installed throughout the systems fail to open all the way. 

That’s what happened to the cargo ship Ever Living when it traveled through the canal while carrying more than 6,000 cargo containers. Although the ship made it through, they passed extremely close to the side of the locks as they made their way through the last of the steel doors.

It was too close, according to Mauricio Perez, a tugboat captain. 

These are things that shouldn't happen," he said to the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a>. "Sometimes the only thing we can do is pray."

The AP took its own journey through the updated canal and noted areas where the black rubber bumpers meant to keep ships from colliding with metal locks were worn or missing entirely. Because maneuvering large ships through the canal is incredibly difficult, sometimes captains must purposefully send a ship into a bumper in order to realign the vessel as it moves forward. This results in a huge amount of wear and tear on the protective cushions. 

Only 15 incidents occurred between June 2016 and January of this year, the Panama Canal Authority says. They say that the door lock incident was caused by debris collecting on a water-level sensor and that the problem has been resolved.

The authority isn’t ruling out future changes. Currently, though, the deputy administrator of the canal, Manuel Benitez, feels positive about the way personnel are navigating vessels through the treacherous canal. “The ships have not run aground; they continue their routes,” he said.

Hey! – at least there’s that. 

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By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Large ships having close calls inside expanded Panama Canal

One of the engineering wonders of the world, the Panama...

Twenty-four family <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/lost-topsoil-farmers-switchgrass/">farmers</a> have something to crow about: they were just awarded grants from<a href="https://foodanimalconcernstrust.org"> Food Animal Concerns Trust</a> (FACT) via the organization’s<a href="http://www.fundafarmer.org"> Fund-a-Farmer Project</a>. 

FACT was founded in 1982 in order to promote humane farming practices. It advocates for the safe production of meat and dairy products and works to help consumers make good choices in the products they purchase. 

On their website, FACT says that they believe “that all farm animals should be granted adequate space, access to the outdoors, clean water and air, the opportunity to express their natural behaviors, and safe feed.”

The Fund-a-Farmer Project grew out of that mission. It awards grants and provides the opportunity for peer-to-peer farmer education around humane animal farming practices. 

FACT realizes that oftentimes, farmers want to make positive changes in the way they raise their animals, but these changes often chest money. By providing financial assistance, FACT hopes to make those changes a reality.

This year, farms in 15 different states received Fund-a-Farmer grants. Nine farms won Animal Welfare Certification grants, while 15 farms won grants for pasture improvement projects. 

This year’s grants bring FACT’s total awards to 91 grants across 27 states since the Fund-a-Farmer Project began in 2012. In that time, FACT has awarded over $57,000 in grants. 

Larissa McKenna, FACT’s Humane Farming Program Director, explained that they hope these grants will help individual farmers, as well as food consumers, in general.

“Today, an increasing number of people want to know where their food comes from, who produces it, and how it was grown," McKenna said. "Small and mid-sized sustainable farms are essential to meeting consumer demand for humanely-raised food, but often face financial challenges due to high costs associated with economies of scale. Our organization supports these farms by funding projects that improve animal welfare and also help farmers increase their profit margins.”

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By Dawn Henderson,<a href="http://earth.com"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

It’s a FACT: 24 family farmers win Fund-a-Farmer grants

Twenty-four family farmers have something to crow about: they were...

The Dakota Access pipeline is moving forward. In a statement on Tuesday, the United States <a href="http://www.usace.army.mil/">Army Corps of Engineers</a> said that it will grant the easement needed for the project to be completed. 

The Corps has also terminated plans to issue an Environmental Impact Statement on the project – a process that President Donald Trump had asked to be expedited. 

The announcement comes as a blow to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/womens-march-speak-trump/">protesters</a> who have been camped out near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, for months. Those opposed to the Dakota Access pipeline say that it poses a danger because it will run underneath a lake that’s a source of drinking water for Native American tribes in the area. 

Protesters briefly celebrated when the project was halted for some time in December – a decision made by the Obama administration. Even then, Energy Transfer Partners, the company responsible for building the pipeline, said that it was determined to complete construction without rerouting the pipeline. 

This new development will set off a wave of litigation, with the Sioux tribe of Standing Rock promising to sue if the Corps doesn’t follow through with the promised environmental review. 

"We stand ready to fight this battle against corporate interest superseding government procedure and the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans,” they said in a statement. 

“This action will serve facilitate completion of the last mile and a half of the 1,172 mile pipeline, connecting the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to an existing crude oil terminal near Pakota, Illinois," Robert Speer, the acting secretary of the Army, said in a statement. 

Speer indicated that there was enough available data to support granting the necessary easement; or in other words, there is no longer any need for an Environmental Impact Statement. 

Protesters are gearing up for the latest chapter in the battle as veterans groups make plans to return to Standing Rock and support them. 

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By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Army Corp of Engineers gives thumbs up to Dakota Access easement

The Dakota Access pipeline is moving forward. In a statement...

A storm system that included as many as six tornadoes churned through southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday, injuring about 40 people. 

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/gulf-waters-eating-away-at-small-towns-outside-of-new-orleans-levees-2/">New Orleans</a> East was hit particularly hard by the storms – quite a blow to an area that was previously devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. About 20 people were hurt there when an EF2-strength tornado touched down, tearing roofs off of houses and sending the New Orleans Police Department scrambling to assist with emergency response efforts.

The storm damaged <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>’s Michoud Assembly Facility and the <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">USDA</a>’s National Finance Center’s Primary Business Center. There were only minor injuries among the people in those buildings. 

Brittany Ross lived in a trailer park in eastern New Orleans. When the storm hit, her trailer “started shaking, kind of twisting,” she told the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a>. The wind lifted her home up before slamming it back down again. She and two others were able to crawl from the remains of the trailer and escape to safety. 

The six tornadoes prompted Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards to take an aerial tour of the damage. He also declared a state of disaster in order to provide relief to those affected. 

The storms also swept through Baton Rouge, damaging structures and causing minor injuries. Several homes were destroyed in Killian, a town just east of Baton Rouge. There, an elderly couple were injured, with one suffering a broken arm and the other one a broken leg. The town’s mayor, Craig McGehee, was amazed the couple survived.

“How you manage to get blown completely across the street with cinderblocks flying and no worse than a couple broken limbs — apparently the good Lord was looking after them,” he said. 

Quarter-sized hail fell in Little Rock Arkansas and high winds and waterspouts plagued the coast of northwest Florida as the storm moved eastward. Wind gusts up to 62 miles per hour were reported in Henning, Tennessee.

--

By Dawn Henderson, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image: Max Becherer/<a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/01abe9849ed7468797cedd17ae1b3a7f">AP</a>

Six tornadoes tear through southeast Louisiana

A storm system that included as many as six tornadoes...

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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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

[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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[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

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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...