Carbon storage in Earth’s deep seas continues to reveal surprising complexities, as scientists uncover more about the intricate processes of our oceans. 



These vast underwater ecosystems play a pivotal role in regulating our planet's climate, with microscopic organisms often driving major biogeochemical cycles. 



One such discovery comes from a recent study led by the <a href="https://noc.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK's National Oceanography Centre</a> (NOC).



The research team offers a fresh perspective on the role that a unique group of microscopic algae play in carbon sequestration - the natural storage of carbon in the ocean.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-storage-in-the-southern-ocean">Carbon storage in the Southern Ocean</h2>



Microscopic algae known as diatoms play a significant role in pulling carbon down into the deep ocean, particularly in the Southern Ocean, which holds about a third of the organic carbon stored in the world's oceans.



Diatoms carry distinct dense, silica-based structures that resemble petite glass houses. 



Scientists have long believed these structures provide enough weight - or ballast - for the diatoms to sink into deeper waters, dragging carbon along with them into the deep blue depths.



"The ocean plays a key role in the global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marine-plankton-are-key-players-in-carbon-cycle-regulation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon cycle</a>, with tiny, microscopic plants taking up billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere every year," said Dr. Sari Giering, Research Lead at NOC. 



"For years, it has been believed that this group of plankton - diatoms - play a crucial role in efficiently transporting carbon to the deep ocean, where it is held out of contact with the atmosphere."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconsidering-the-biological-carbon-pump">Reconsidering the biological carbon pump</h2>



Diatoms and other types of phytoplankton absorb carbon near the sea surface. This process is part of what's known as the biological carbon pump - a series of processes that funnel this carbon to the deep ocean.



But according to recent findings from the NOC study, the diatom skeletons don't quite make the long descent. Instead, they linger near the surface, while carbon journeys to the deep ocean through other, yet unidentified means.



"We now understand that diatoms are not always contributing as heavily to the Southern Ocean’s carbon pump as we once thought," said Dr. Giering. "This means there are unknown or poorly measured processes happening in the deep ocean that we need to learn more about.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-of-ocean-carbon-storage">The future of ocean carbon storage</h2>



Scientists have been increasingly worried that ocean warming could impact diatom productivity and thus, reduce the effectiveness of the biological carbon pump in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/southern-ocean-absorbs-more-co2-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Southern Ocean</a>. 



However, this recent study suggests that these changes might not greatly impact the carbon storage capacity of the Southern Ocean.



“The Southern Ocean is vulnerable to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-will-likely-continue-for-centuries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean warming</a>, which may alter the availability of nutrients and reduce diatom numbers in the future,” said Jack Williams, a post-graduate researcher at the University of Southampton. “But our results suggest these changes may not impact the strength of Southern Ocean carbon storage as much as previously thought."



Carbon continues to descend to the ocean's depth, which suggests that there are yet undiscovered processes occurring in the "twilight zone" of the ocean.



Unveiling these processes is crucial for accurately predicting how the oceans may store carbon in the future. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-twilight-zone-a-frontier-of-discovery">The twilight zone: A frontier of discovery</h2>



The twilight zone, a mid-ocean layer spanning depths of 100 to 1,000 meters, has emerged as a critical area of interest for scientists studying carbon storage. Despite its name, this zone is far from a lifeless void.



It hosts a dynamic ecosystem of organisms and complex processes that are only beginning to be understood. 



Recent findings suggest that much of the carbon transported into the deep ocean originates in this layer, bypassing the mechanisms traditionally associated with surface plankton like diatoms.



In this dimly lit zone, carbon is carried by sinking particles known as marine snow - aggregates of organic material, dead plankton, and other detritus. However, the exact processes enabling this descent remain elusive.



The twilight zone acts as a gatekeeper, determining how much carbon reaches the ocean depths. Understanding these pathways is vital for improving climate models and predicting how oceanic carbon storage will respond to global warming.



Ongoing research into the twilight zone could hold the key to unlocking the ocean's full carbon sequestration potential, providing insights that may redefine conservation strategies and our approach to mitigating climate change.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01602-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Carbon storage mystery emerges in the Southern Ocean

Carbon storage in Earth’s deep seas continues to reveal surprising complexities, as scientists uncover more about the intricate processes of our oceans. These vast underwater ecosystems play a pivotal role in regulating our planet's climate, with microscopic organisms often driving major biogeochemical cycles. One such discovery comes from a recent study led by the UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC). The research team offers a fresh perspective on the role that a unique group of microscopic algae play in carbon sequestration - the natural storage of carbon in...

Prehistoric Mosasaur fossil was once an enormous menace roaming the warm Antarctic seas 66 million years ago hunting giant prey.

Scientists discovered the four-foot-long skull of a <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667116303123">new mosasaur species</a> on Seymour Island off the coast of Antarctica in 2010. The fossil remains of the prehistoric sea monster indicates it is the largest species of mosasaur to have lived in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mosasaurs were gargantuan sea lizards that hunted the reptilian ancestors of whales and other large sea creatures. Fossil specimens have been found <a href="http://oceansofkansas.com/about-mo.html">throughout the world</a>, from the United States and Canada to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond. Several partial sets of juvenile remains have been discovered off the coast of Antarctica since 1998.

But the mosasaur that once owned the skull discovered in 2010, dubbed Kaikaifilu hervei after Mapuche legends of a sea monster named Kai-Kai Filu that battled a giant land-based reptile, is about twice the size of other fossilized skulls found in the region. K. hervei is believed to have been 33 feet long.

While the leviathan was alive, the Antarctic seas would have been much warmer. It likely hunted marine reptiles similar to modern whales. The whale-like reptiles, known as pleisosaurs, were abundant in the Antarctic waters. 

Like modern whales, mosasaurs like K. hervei appear to have been descendants of land-based creatures that returned to the ocean and evolved to live there.

The mosasaurs disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous Period, around the time of a suspected asteroid impact in Mexico that triggered a mass extinction. 

This prehistoric mosasaur fossil helps paleontologists gain a better understanding of biological diversity in the Southern Hemisphere prior to that extinction event, and how it developed differently from similar creatures in the Northern Hemisphere.

The newly discovered species was described by researchers in the journal <a href="http://www.journals.elsevier.com/cretaceous-research">Cretaceous Research</a>.

---

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Prehistoric Mosasaur fossil found, tells story of gigantic sea menace

Prehistoric Mosasaur fossil was once an enormous menace roaming the...

MEOW! Meet an ancient sabertooth cat the size of a polar bear.

Discovery of an ancient skull in northwestern China has offered new information about a prehistoric sabertooth cat that was roughly the size of a polar bear, according to scientists.

Machairodus horribilis lived during the Late Miocene, about 5.3 to 11.6 million years ago, said the researchers from the <a href="http://english.cas.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>, who rediscovered the fossil that was originally found in the Longjiagou Basin but left in storage for decades.

The skull is about 15.7 inches long, indicating the ancient sabertooth cat was a little over 10 feet long and weighed about 892 pounds, according to <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309409331_A_skull_of_Machairodus_horribilis_and_new_evidence_for_gigantism_as_a_mode_of_mosaic_evolution_in_machairodonts_Felidae_Carnivora" target="_blank" rel="noopener">researchers’ findings</a>. 

[caption id="attachment_119344" align="alignleft"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-119344" src="http://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/cat-150x150.jpg" alt="An ancient sabertooth cat fossil from the Late Miocene was rediscovered in northwestern China that was as big as a polar bear." width="150" height="150" /> An ancient sabertooth cat fossil[/caption]

However, despite its enormous size, M. horribilis most likely hunted smaller prey than later prehistoric sabertooths like Smilodon, a younger Ice Age cousin. Though M. horribilis had long, serrated fangs, it was unable to open its mouth as widely. 
M. horribilis, which lived about 8.3 million years ago, would only have opened its mouth to about a 70 degree angle, similar to modern lions. The skull also showed some cranial characteristics that in some ways are more similar to pantherine species than later sabertooths, researchers said.
Preservation of the skull allowed the scientists to determine where muscles would have attached and reconstruct the large cat’s bite.

Despite its large bite, the scientists believe M. horribilis was still a successful hunter, able to overpower its prey with its enormous size.

The research team asserts that the rediscovery offers scientific support for the theory of mosaic evolution: the idea that some body parts or systems evolve independently of others and at different rates across related species. 

M. horribilis appears to have grown larger in size than other, related machairodont (sabertooth) cats which evolved a wider bite that allowed them to hunt larger prey, according to the study published in the journal <a href="http://english.ivpp.cas.cn/sp/PalAsiatica/vp_intr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vertebrata PalAsiatica</a>.

Ancient sabertooth cat found in northwestern China big as a polar bear

MEOW! Meet an ancient sabertooth cat the size of a...

Root biomass estimations can help us combat some of climate changes’ effects on plant ecosystems.

Most people don’t typically think about the root systems of plants until they’re causing some sort of inconvenience – like a disrupted sidewalk or plumbing. But as climate change continues to alter the earth’s landscape and droughts continue to worsen, the study of root systems has become increasingly important to plant sustainability and carbon absorption. 

In particular, the measure of root biomass can be important to plant breeding programs – unfortunately it’s an incredibly laborious process. One must wash, filter, dry, and weigh tiny root particles to varying accuracy. Recently, scientists have begun using the ability of an object to store an electrical current, otherwise known as electrical capacitance, to determine root biomass. However, this method had only been effective in hydroponically grown plants, as opposed to soil-grown.

According to Craig Carlson of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, "A majority of electroconductivity studies have focused on annual grasses and hydroponic systems. We wanted to develop a cheap, quick method of measuring root biomass in soils."

Carlson, along with Larry Smart, ever so slightly altered the root electrical capacitance (REC) method to work in soil by using a stem clamp, soil probe, and capacitance meter. This method allowed the team to make quick predictions of dry root biomass in a variety of shrub willow species without having to dig through soil and measure tiny roots. Their findings were published in the most recent issue of Applications in Plant Sciences.

Shrub willows serve as an ideal renewable biofuel crop because they grow quickly, need little care, and quickly deposit carbon. A more thorough understanding of the shrub willow root biomass serves as an indicator of plants’ ability to grow in drought conditions. Dr. Smart’s breeding program has made great progress in breeding new hybrids that grow quickly and are resistant to disease. 

"Craig's method allows us to select new cultivars that could be more drought tolerant or be able to occupy marginal sites, such as reclaimed mine sites in West Virginia," said Smart. “This method could be directly applied to breeding programs for crops that generally require grafting to rootstocks to maintain scion varieties,” (apples, for example). “Additionally, it will be helpful for other agricultural species. Our next step is to take this method into the field and see if these correlations hold up.”

Root biomass estimations can help us combat climate change

Root biomass estimations can help us combat some of climate...

Electric car manufacturer Tesla setting up a manufacturing base in the UK is in planning, announced Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors. 

“We have a lot of respect for the British automotive engineering talent. Just look at Formula 1, it amazes me how much British talent there is in that,” said Musk. “We are likely to establish a Tesla engineering group in Britain at some point in the future.”

The news comes hot on the heels of Tesla’s acquisition of German engineering business Gohmann. The electric car manufacturer is also about to introduce its Model 3, the most affordable Tesla yet. Musk aims to power the world with renewable energy, but first, the company must increase its manufacturing efficiency. 

Acquiring Grohmann will allow Tesla to do just that: predictions show an increase of  500% in car production. By 2018, the company expects to have 500,000 cars made.

“We want to change the world with a lot of electric cars for a lot of people. That is what buying Grohmann is about,” said Musk. “This is about building the machine that builds the machine, which is more important than the [cars] themselves as volume increases.”

“The only way to make a large factory work is to have significant automation,” Mr. Musk added. “We will still have a large headcount but lots of automation and robotics. Automation is the way to make cars more affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. Economies of scale are the way to take the cost to something that people can afford to buy.”

Tesla setting up manufacturing at its factory in Fremont, California was done years ago. But according to Musk, the company is keen on growth in the European market – establishing a European manufacturing base would significantly reduce shipping costs.

“Tesla is going to make some very significant investments in Europe – and the US of course,” he said. “There is no question of at least one, maybe two or three gigafactory locations in Europe in the future.

“Currently Europe is a market for Tesla but we think the right thing to do is to start producing cars there as soon as we can reasonably do.”

Tesla setting up manufacturing base in the UK for cheaper shipping

Electric car manufacturer Tesla setting up a manufacturing base in...

During the past 200 years, the human population exploded – a new animation from the <a href="http://www.amnh.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Museum of Natural History</a> aims to show just what that looks like.

The animation, posted on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUwmA3Q0_OE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a>, follows humanity from Africa as it spreads around the world. Then, beginning in 1 A.D., the video shows the rises (and very rare falls) in human population across the globe.

The population in 1 A.D. was 170 million; today, it’s 7.2 billion, according to the museum, which worked with <a href="http://www.populationconnection.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Population Connection</a>, the <a href="https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.N.’s World Population Prospects</a>, <a href="http://www.worldometers.info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Worldometers</a> and <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASA</a> on the project. 

As it follows the population explosion, the American Museum of Natural History points out specific events that encouraged population growth, such as the advent of farming, travel and trade on the Silk Road, and the development of modern medicine. It also highlights occurrences that reduced the global population, such as the bubonic plague epidemic known as the Black Death.

Cities and areas with more than 1 million residents appear and, less often, disappear from the map as the animation travels along the timeline from 1 A.D. to the present day.

As late as 1700 A.D., global population was just 590 million, but the Industrial Revolution, which brought advances in medicine, agriculture and technology, spurred growth. In just 316 years, humanity has reached more than 7 billion people worldwide.

Scientists believe that number will begin to level off by 2100. Fertility rates are already falling in many countries, the museum reports.

However, the Earth’s ecosystems are already showing the strain of supporting 7.2 billion people. 

Construction of cities, expansion of industry, and even clearing land for agricultural use have reduced the number of habitats available for other animals and plants around the world, leading to species becoming endangered or extinct. Pollution has contributed to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/evolution/humansrev2.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illness and death among wildlife</a> and even other humans, and <a href="https://www.epa.gov/air-research/air-quality-and-climate-change-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">air pollution may contribute to climate change</a>.  

As scientists study how human population exploded, they can help humanity make better choices about family planning, consumption, habitat protection and other issues, to better preserve the Earth for future generations, the museum said.

Human population has exploded since 1 A.D., animation reveals

During the past 200 years, the human population exploded – a...

Scientists have discovered a new lake under the Cerro Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia, but it's not safe to swim in.

The body of water is more than 9 miles beneath the dormant Cerro Uturuncu volcano, and has dissolved into partially melted rock at a temperature of about 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.

The volcano is located on the Bolivian Altiplano, which has been the site of volcanic activity for millions of years. There are no currently active volcanoes on the Altiplano. 

The scientists from England, Canada, Germany, France and Wales believe <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X16305805" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their findings</a> may offer some answers as to how and why volcanoes erupt.

Volcanoes with molten silicate rock can only dissolve water under high pressure, said Dr. Jon Blundy, a professor in the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Bristol</a>'s School of Earth Sciences who participated in the research. When pressure lowers, the water escapes as bubbles, which could spur an eruption.

The scientists now wonder whether other volcanoes could hide similar bodies of water that may be triggering eruption activity.

The Bolivian Altiplano is unique in that it has a "geological anomaly": about 360,000 cubic miles of partially molten rock located about 9.3 miles underground. 

The research team measured and analyzed the electrical conductivity of the rock, finding that water was dissolved into the silicate melt.

The large amount of water dissolved into the molten rock is about the same amount as found in one of the Great Lakes, and is the only way to explain the high conductivity of the molten rock, the scientists concluded.

The findings could explain similar electric conductivity readings for <a href="https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/cvo/cascade_volcanoes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">volcanoes in the Cascades</a> along the Pacific Coast and New Zealand's <a href="https://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcanoes/Taupo-Volcano" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taupo Volcanic Zone</a>, the study postulated.

The team's research has been published in the journal <a href="http://www.journals.elsevier.com/earth-and-planetary-science-letters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earth and Planetary Science Letters</a>.

Massive "lake" discovered under Cerro Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia

Scientists have discovered a new lake under the Cerro Uturuncu...

Leftovers from insect meals in South America are offering up new information about the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs. 

The leaf fossils discovered in Patagonia, Argentina are helping scientists learn about how ecosystems recovered after an asteroid struck Earth approximately 66 million years ago, ending the Cretaceous Period. 

The fossils offer a unique perspective into the disaster because most of what scientists know about the disaster is from fossils close to the impact site in Chicxulub, Mexico, according to doctoral student Michael Donovan of <a href="http://www.psu.edu/">Pennsylvania State University</a>, who authored the study published Monday in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>. 

The leaf-mining insects that munched on leaves in Patagonia were wiped out after the asteroid hit, much like the leaf-mining insects close to the impact site in the western United States. In the area that is now the U.S., however, it took 9 million years for insect populations to recover. In Patagonia, farther from the impact site, it took only 4 million years for insect diversity to bounce back from the die-off.

The scientists' conclusion is based on analysis of 3,646 different leaf fossils from Patagonia. The researchers searched for signs of leaf-mining insects, whose larvae burrow through leaves as they eat, leaving unique patterns and droppings as they go. 

While they found no evidence that any leaf-miners survived the initial impact, nixing the team's original hypothesis that the region south of the asteroid impact had offered some protection from the extinction event, they found signs that new leaf-mining insect species emerged in that regional much sooner than in the U.S. 

The quicker recovery could indicate that South America didn't feel the ground zero effects of the asteroid for as long as North America did. When the asteroid struck, it likely sent up a <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36377679">massive cloud of debris</a>, blocking the sun and causing global temperatures to drop. 

As plant life rebounded, insect species began to diversify again to fill the niches left behind by the bugs that died out, like the leaf-miners.

The study offers new insight into modern biodiversity; mammal species began expanding and diversifying in the wake of the Chicxulub asteroid impact. The impact is believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs and many other species.

Fossils provide clues about mass extinction event

Leftovers from insect meals in South America are offering up...

Diamonds reveal secrets about the Earth: a recent analysis proves that these coveted gems really are forever.

Researchers at the <a href="http://www.dmns.org/" target="_blank">Denver Museum of Nature &amp; Science</a> and <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/" target="_blank">University of British Columbia</a> learned about the formation of Africa from an unusual source – diamonds.

To produce the precious stone, it takes a whole lot of pressure and heat. When glittering gems were formed, they trapped microscopic minerals inside. These minerals contain secrets which led the scientists to understand how the Earth’s crust was formed.

Diamonds found in the Congo craton (a large, stable block of the earth's crust forming the nucleus of a continent) in central southern Africa illustrate a dramatic 3-billion-year journey surviving tectonic collisions and volcanic eruptions.

The team, led by author Charles W. Kosman, used an electron microprobe, an infrared spectrometer, and a secondary ion mass spectrometer to analyze these prize jewels. Don’t try this at home!

"These diamonds are special," Kosman said. "They're the ultimate time capsules from deep Earth."

The researchers determined that the diamonds reveal secrets that began their journey beneath the continental crust of central Africa. This part of Africa repeatedly rammed into smaller and thinner fragments over 2.8 billion years. These fragments slid back toward the Earth's core, became dehydrated due to extreme heat and pressure, and became the diamonds the scientists are studying today. The fragments were then ejected in volatile eruptions, which pierced the hide of the ancient African continent and deposited the diamonds on the surface. Museum collections can often be overlooked, but the researchers point out what a wealth of information they can hold.

"The circumstances that led to the formation of these diamonds trapping invaluable information inside are incredible," said James Hagadorn, the Museum's curator of geology. "Grueling conditions – temperatures five times hotter than your oven, and pressure 10 times that found below Mount Everest – are what it takes to freeze clues to Earth's evolution for studies such as this one."

Now we know how and where these precious gems were formed, we can better predict where we may find deposits like it in future. 

"Diamonds are a key part of our culture and industry. Not all diamonds end up on a ring or a saw-blade's edge. The ugly ones often have the coolest scientific stories to tell," said Hagadorn.

—

The original study was published in the journal <a href="http://www.dmns.org/media/26928/2016_Kosman_etal.pdf" target="_blank">Lithos</a>.

Diamonds reveal secrets about the Earth – gems really are forever

Diamonds reveal secrets about the Earth: a recent analysis proves...

Britain’s first wave farm has been unveiled for launch in 2018.

In 2018, Britain will be getting a new source of clean energy in the form of the country’s first-ever underwater wave farm. The new technology comes in the form of a device called <a href="http://carnegiewave.com/projects/ceto-6/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ceto 6</a>, named after the sea goddess of Greek mythology. Ceto 6 is manufactured by Carnegie Wave Energy, an Australian-based company that has received just under $12,000,000 from the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/EN/funding/erdf/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Regional Development Fund</a>.

The first wave farm will be built offshore in Cornwall. Unlike other wave energy systems, Ceto 6 operates completely underwater. Not only does this mean the device is safe from stormy weather, but it also keeps it hidden from view. The most common criticism of wind farms is that the turbines are an eyesore for miles. 

Not only do wave farms offer a more aesthetically pleasing form of eco-friendly energy, they are also a more predictable source of power than wind turbines. While turbines slow down in the winter when energy demand is at its highest, wave farms increase productivity in colder water.

If the first device is successful, fourteen more installations will be added by 2020. Each device will contribute 1 megawatt to the grid, to reach 15 MW by 2020, enough to provide electricity for 6,000 homes. According to the UK government, wave farms could ultimately contribute 20% of the UK’s total electricity needs.

The Ceto 6 functions by floating beneath the water and bobbing up and down based on wave motion. This generates power that drives a pump and generator which then send power back to shore through underwater cables.

The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK government</a> has been actively working to to back wave power for some time. But lack of funding has slowed progress in clean energy developments. 

George Eustice, Minister of State at the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs</a> (DEFRA) sounded thrilled that the project is finally underway. “'I am delighted that Carnegie secured the £9.55m of ERDF funding and chose to deliver its CETO wave energy project at Wave Hub,” Eustice said.

First wave farm in Britain unveiled for 2018 in Cornwall

Britain’s first wave farm has been unveiled for launch in...

Eco-friendly electric bike creates a new option for city commuters. 

Commuters in large cities may soon have a new, eco-friendly transportation option: an electric moped with a fun name: the Motochimp. The bike is only a few feet long but can travel up to 20 miles per hour. The Motochimp is also emission-free and charges in any standard household outlet.

In recent years, traffic congestion in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and San Francisco continues to get worse and worse. Los Angeles, in particular, has invested in mass transit to ease traffic and air pollution, but many Angelenos don’t seem ready to give up their personal space and commuting autonomy.

The Motochimp electric bike has a range of 40 miles per charge, making it ideal for daily urban commutes where traffic can be so bad that it takes hours to travel mere miles. The Motochimp, designed by Vanda Electrics of Singapore, will launch first in Asia, being officially introduced this week at the Shenzhen International Industrial Design Fair in China. Vanda expects to launch the bike subsequently in Europe and the United States. The Motochimp retails for $1,600.

According to Larissa Tan, CEO of Vanda Electrics, “Motochimp is also all about accessibility . . . . With a range of up to 60 km from a 60-minute charge, and all from a standard plug socket, it won't cost the earth to buy or run.”

The eco-friendly electric bike is powered by a lithium-ion battery and a power plug is stored right under the driver’s seat. The Motochimp comes in fashionable, basic red, blue, and yellow and sports a small kickstand.

Eco-friendly electric bike creates new option for city commuters

Eco-friendly electric bike creates a new option for city commuters....

Yellowstone National Park could be in danger, says new report.

A massive eruption isn’t the only potential danger posed by the supervolcano under Yellowstone <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Park</a>.

The magma deep under the Earth’s surface also heats the extensive underground water network connected to each of the park’s geysers, hot springs and other hydrothermal attractions. But the water network that supplies Old Faithful has also been the cause of a number of major geothermal explosions at Yellowstone. Normally, boiling water underground is under pressure, but when that pressure drops, steam forms rapidly and explodes.

One – or maybe several – such explosions nearly 14,000 years ago led to a crater at the bottom of Yellowstone Lake. 

However, such large hydrothermal explosions are very rare, and there hasn’t been one in at least a few thousand years; small explosions occur every few years, and are rarely dangerous, according to the <a href="http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/yellowstone_sub_page_69.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Geological Survey</a>. 

Now scientists led by Carol Finn of the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USGS</a> are working to map the extent and the temperature of Yellowstone’s underground water system. Using a helicopter and an electromagnetic system, the team will fly over the park as the electromagnetic device measures the water’s flow and temperature underground.

This research may offer insights into the park’s past hydrothermal explosions, as well as uncover potential dangers posed by the Yellowstone supervolcano. Similar studies at other sites in the U.S. have uncovered potential threats, the scientists said. 

A map of the water under Yellowstone could also help park staff better keep tourists away from any potentially dangerous areas. 

The electromagnetic system, developed in Denmark, can detect water to a depth of about 1,500 feet below the Earth’s surface. 

Yellowstone is an active supervolcano, <a href="http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/yellowstone/faqs_misconceptions.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USGS scientists</a> who have been monitoring the park’s volcanic and hydrothermal activity since the 1970s said. A major eruption of the magma under the park does not seem to be imminent.

Yellowstone National Park could be in danger, says new report

Yellowstone National Park could be in danger, says new report....

The concept of Hollywood smiles was created by our reptilian ancestors, says a new report published in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plos One</a>.

Scientists have come to believe the attractiveness of a nice smile may go back to a time before mammals – along with other features of mammal dentition. For example, types of teeth: mammals have incisors, canines and molars. That goes all the way back to mammals’ reptilian ancestors, the therapsids or “mammal-like reptiles” living more than 205 million years ago.

Paleontologists thought the therapsids’ long canines could be for hunting or fighting, but even herbivores had canine teeth. They could be for defense, scientists speculated – or they could be to attract a mate.

The researchers from <a href="https://www.wits.ac.za/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of the Witwatersrand</a> (Evolutionary Studies Institute and <a href="https://www.wits.ac.za/anatomicalsciences/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">School of Anatomical Sciences</a>) in South Africa and the <a href="http://www.esrf.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Synchrotron Radiation Facility</a> in France point to modern tusked mammals who mainly use their canines as a “display apparatus” to attract mates, such as walruses and muntjac. In those species, sexual selection is an important part of how and why they continue to have large canine teeth despite a diet that makes them unnecessary. 

The scientists used X-ray and CT scanning on fossils of Choerosaurus dejageri, a therapsid that lived 259 million years ago. The species has two “cranial bosses,” or horn-like growths on its upper and lower jaws. The researchers hoped to determine if the bosses were used in combat or if they had been developed to attract mates.

When compared to cranial bosses of another therapsid species known to have engaged in combat, they found key differences: the scans showed that the cranial bosses and C. dejageri’s skull were not strong enough for combat, and the collection of facial nerves would make fighting too painful to be practical. 

The scientists concluded that C. dejageri’s cranial bosses had likely been selected for by generations of mating. The conclusion? Sexual selection for physical traits that have no practical purpose existed before mammals, and could play a larger role in how mammals evolved, and continue to evolve, than scientists previously thought.

Reptilian ancestors may be behind our Hollywood smiles

The concept of Hollywood smiles was created by our reptilian...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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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



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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



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Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique.&nbsp;



"Inhambane Bay is a deep inlet into which the small Mutamba River flows," says ESA. "On one side of the bay lies the historical city of Inhambane, capital of the Inhambane Province, while the sister city of Maxixe, the economic capital of Inhambane, sits across from it. The province is the second largest grower of cashews, after Nampula, and it also produces coconut and citrus fruits."



The beaches of Barra and Tofo are popular with tourists. There are also coral reefs along the long coastline of Inhambane, making it an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.



"Mozambique’s extensive coastline heightens the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian Ocean as well as storm surge flooding," says ESA.



"More than half of the population lives in low lying coastal areas, putting communities at risk. Inhambane Bay was dangerously close to where Cyclone Idai made landfall in 2019 causing widespread destruction to the country."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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

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



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



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



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



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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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