Historical,House,With,Wind,Towers,In,Abarkuh,,Iran

Our buildings usually remain comfortable during warm days because of constant air conditioning, sealed windows, and an assumption that power never fails. But as large parts of the country have learned, blackouts can hit at the worst possible moment. 



When that happens, glass towers and sealed-off homes can quickly become stiflingly hot, showing why passive cooling methods are essential.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-builders-had-better-cooling-methods">Ancient builders had better cooling methods</h2>



Ancient builders had no electricity, yet they made structures that protected people from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2024-confirmed-as-earths-hottest-year-in-recorded-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">worst heat</a>. Some devised thick walls that absorbed heat by day and released it at night.&nbsp;



Others planned entire neighborhoods to maximize shade. These time-tested ideas remain relevant for anyone who wants to stay cooler without cranking up the air conditioner.



This view is shared by Dr. Pablo La Roche, an architecture professor at <a href="https://www.cpp.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California State Polytechnic University, Pomona</a>, and sustainable design director at <a href="https://www.arcadis.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arcadis</a>.&nbsp;



With decades of research on passive cooling systems and low-energy architecture, his work highlights how historical construction techniques effectively addressed the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2024-shatters-heat-records-earths-hottest-year-is-here/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">challenges of harsh climates</a> with intense summer heat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-ancient-iraq-managed-scorching-heat">How ancient Iraq managed scorching heat</h2>



Archaeologists have <a href="https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=xpTkEAAAQBAJ&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PA3#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">documented</a> the Sumerians’ buildings in what is now southern Iraq. Walls made of mud brick or adobe were thick and had only small windows. This design helped reduce heat inside during the sun’s intense hours. 



In some places, homes were built side by side, so fewer walls were directly hit by sunlight. The neighborhoods also included narrow streets that created cooling shade as people walked through the city.



That compact arrangement worked when indoor temperatures had to stay tolerable. Families gathered in inner courtyards where light and breezes could get in but the scorching rays had trouble reaching the seating areas.



Some of these principles might still be practical in hot, urban environments today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-cities-can-learn-from-passive-cooling">Modern cities can learn from passive cooling</h2>



Major power failures can be disastrous during a heat wave. In <a href="https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2024/07/22/784992.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 2024</a>, the Houston area lost electricity for several days. When air conditioning shut off, many high-rises became uncomfortable in a hurry.&nbsp;



Some designers suggest that reintroducing features like operable windows, thicker walls, or rooftop shade structures might help with indoor temperature control and lower energy consumption at the same time.



Studies indicate that extremely hot summers are occurring more <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2822854" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">frequently</a>. Placing more emphasis on passive cooling could reduce the stress on power grids and keep people safer when the grid goes down.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-egypt-s-simple-but-clever-wind-catchers">Egypt’s simple but clever wind catchers</h2>



In ancient Egypt, builders knew that porous materials such as mud brick would block intense sunlight and slow the movement of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mapping-2024s-record-heat-unveiling-earths-climate-danger-zones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat</a> indoors. Residents also slept outdoors on rooftops at night, taking advantage of the cooler air.&nbsp;



One striking invention was the <a href="https://www.egyptianarch.com/post/mulqaf-origin-language-design-and-development" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mulqaf</a>, which used a tall opening to catch breezes and push them downward into a building. 



That airflow let hot indoor air escape through other vents. This system is still used in parts of the Middle East, where tall <a href="https://www.archdaily.com/971216/what-is-a-traditional-windcatcher" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wind catchers</a> provide fresh air without the need for electricity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secrets-from-the-ancient-puebloans">Secrets from the ancient Puebloans</h2>



In the U.S. Southwest, the ancestral <a href="https://blog.nativehope.org/pueblo-native-americans-their-history-culture-and-traditions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Puebloans</a> built with mud brick and stone for many centuries. They placed dwellings close together and used smaller windows to limit excessive heat. Cliffs provided natural shade in places like <a href="https://greenpassivesolar.com/2010/04/mesa-verde-cliff-dwellings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mesa Verde</a>.&nbsp;



The layout took advantage of the sun’s angle to block the harsh summer rays and let in lower winter sunlight that warmed the interior.



These older methods still guide some modern builders who adopt adobe for its ability to moderate indoor temperatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preserving-water-for-passive-cooling">Preserving water for passive cooling</h2>



Many cities today send rainwater away as quickly as possible through storm drains. Old societies in arid regions did the opposite. 



During the eighth century, the Muslim caliphates in northern Africa and southern Spain put a high value on every drop of rain. Their structures often had <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38028-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">systems</a> that channeled water from rooftops and courtyards into underground cisterns. That water cooled patios and irrigated gardens during scorching months.



In other parts of the world, societies like the Mayans in Mexico built huge <a href="https://link.springer.com/book/9783031577307" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reservoirs</a> to store the wet-season rainfall. Modern <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301479721002851?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers</a> are exploring ways to adopt or improve rainwater harvesting, especially in places threatened by droughts or limited water supplies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adapting-passive-cooling-ideas-today">Adapting passive cooling ideas today</h2>



Some architects believe that new designs should rely more on passive cooling and water collection. Orienting buildings in the northern hemisphere to take advantage of south-facing windows can help regulate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scorching-summer-of-2024-could-make-it-the-hottest-year-on-record/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat</a> gain and loss (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors). 



Rainwater captured onsite can be <a href="https://www.energy.gov/femp/rainwater-harvesting-systems-technology-review" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reused</a> for landscape needs, thus reducing the burden on public water supplies.



Larger cities that hope to reduce their energy usage and keep people safe during emergencies could integrate these techniques into upcoming developments. Some methods might look old-fashioned compared to modern high-rises.&nbsp;



Yet people who live in the world’s driest and hottest places have been testing these approaches for a long time, and their successes can offer strong guidance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moving-forward-with-less-power-dependence">Moving forward with less power dependence</h2>



There is a growing call to learn from strategies that rely on local resources. Converting entire cities will take effort, but these ideas do not belong in the distant past.&nbsp;



There is a need to reconsider glassy towers and single-purpose rooftops, especially as blackouts become an increasing risk in regions experiencing more frequent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-added-41-extra-days-of-dangerous-heat-in-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat waves</a>. 



Historical knowledge of staying cool in extreme heat could provide valuable solutions for maintaining comfort when air conditioning is not an option.



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Ancient buildings used passive cooling methods to reduce heat with out air conditioning

Our buildings usually remain comfortable during warm days because of constant air conditioning, sealed windows, and an assumption that power never fails. But as large parts of the country have learned, blackouts can hit at the worst possible moment. When that happens, glass towers and sealed-off homes can quickly become stiflingly hot, showing why passive cooling methods are essential. Ancient builders had better cooling methods Ancient builders had no electricity, yet they made structures that protected people from the worst heat. Some devised thick walls that absorbed...

Air pollution is more harmful the closer you are to the equator, a new report revealed today.

It turns out the location where air pollution is emitted can be more significant than the actual amount of pollution released. Air pollution has been on the rise since the 1980s, but at a much faster rate in areas closer to the equator. 

According to a study by a team of scientists from the <a href="http://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University Of North Carolina</a> at Chapel Hill led by Jason West, higher emissions in equatorial regions cause a increased production of ozone. The study appears in the Nov 7th issue of <a href="http://www.nature.com/ngeo/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature Geoscience</a>.

"Emissions are growing in places where there is a much greater effect on the formation of ozone," said Dr. West. "A ton of emissions in a region close to the equator, where there is a lot of sunlight and intense heat, produces more ozone than a ton of emissions in a region farther from it."

Of course, ozone can be harmful or beneficial. Ozone present in the lower atmosphere can cause respiratory and/or heart problems – but ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us against ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Ozone is formed when UV rays come into contact with nitrogen oxides (a common air pollutant) in areas of intense sunlight and heat. Hotter, equatorial regions feature more vertical motion in the air, which sends pollutants further up into the atmosphere to create ozone.

West uses Asia as a prime example of this phenomenon: in the past thirty years, China’s air pollution emissions have been substantially larger than those of India and Southeast Asia. But because India and Southeast Asia are closer to the equator, their emissions have contributed more than China’s to the total ozone increase on the planet. 

"The findings were surprising," said West. "We thought that location was going to be important, but we didn't suspect it would be the most important factor contributing to total ozone levels worldwide. Our findings suggest that where the world emits is more important than how much it emits."

But as Dr. Owen Cooper from the University of Colorado points out, even if we are able to reduce global air pollution emissions on the whole, ozone levels still may not decrease if emissions simply shift to the equator.

Air pollution does more harm the closer you are to the equator

Air pollution is more harmful the closer you are to...

Fossil evolution study evidence suggests that organisms may have populated land much earlier than we thought.

When did living organisms first leave the water for land? Just 20 years ago, scientists believed microscopic life first emerged onto land 1.2 billion years ago. However, fossil evidence has been steadily pushing that estimate earlier over the past two decades, with a recent theory showing the earliest evidence of life on land 2.9 billion years ago.

Now, it’s taking another leap backwards. 

A team of scientists led by Sami Nabhan of the <a href="http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freie Universität Berlin</a> has discovered signs that microbes lived on land as early as 3.2 billion years ago. The team has been studying ancient rock formations in the Barberton greenstone belt of South Africa.

Though the formations they were studying range to 3.5 billion years old, the layer that showed signs of microbial life was dated to 3.22 billion years ago. 

Elements in the layer, including grains of iron pyrite, showed evidence of microbe activity. Instrumentation showed that a number of crystals had signs of “biogenic fractionation” – when microbes process sulfur from the exterior of the grains. 

The fossil evolution study was conducted by Michael Wiedenbeck at the <a href="http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences</a>’ secondary ion mass spectrometry lab.

The rock formations where the fossil evidence was found appear once to have been the floodplain of an ancient river. Scientists believe the microbes may have been carried onto land in sediment carried by the river, then adapted to living out of water due to the cycling between flooding and dry conditions.

In 1999, NASA scientist Dr. Hiroshi Ohmoto discovered evidence of rock formations – “laterites” that indicate microbe activity – dated to 2.3 billion years old. In 2002, <a href="http://www.astrobio.net/news-exclusive/the-oldest-life-on-land/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an international team of scientists</a> discovered fossilized microbial mats that were approximately 2.6 billion years old. A <a href="https://ecologicalprocesses.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2192-1709-2-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2013 paper by Hugo Beraldi-Campesi</a> pointed to the abundance of microbial life in water 3.5 billion years ago and suggested that the microbes could have adapted to terrestrial life in coastal areas between 3.4 and 3.5 billion years ago.

Determining when and why microbes first adapted to dryland conditions may help scientists better understand why species evolve and adapt to previously hostile conditions, as well as the impact these adaptations have on other species and environments.

Fossil evolution study sheds new light on life's transition from water to land

Fossil evolution study evidence suggests that organisms may have populated...

Australian climate change extreme weather risks were identified in a new issue of the journal Climatic Change.

Drought, wildfires, heat waves, fewer but stronger storms, increased flooding in coastal areas: these are just a few of the weather extremes Australia could face in the near future due to climate change, according to a special issue of the journal <a href="http://on-climate.com/journal" target="_blank">Climatic Change</a>. The issue highlights the research efforts of more than 45 scientists at 11 universities to uncover the details of Australian climate change, and what effects it may continue to cause in the future.

The picture of the future is not encouraging, according to editor Seth Westra, an associate professor at the <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Adelaide</a> and head of the school’s Intelligent Water Decisions group. 

Dr. Westra pointed to one paper that found Australian heatwaves and bushfires have increased in frequency over the past decades, and that the trend seems likely to continue. Another paper found that major storms such as cyclones were decreasing in frequency, but could become more intense and cause more damage when they do occur. A third study found that floods have become more damaging even as they’ve decreased in size because of land management practices and rising population.

Much of the research found underlying connections between changes in Australia’s climate and extreme weather patterns on the continent. 

The goal of the special issue was to map out the effects, such as deforestation and more urbanization, of Australia’s growing and changing population. It also sought to get a clearer picture of what consequences future changes in Australia’s climate could bring, so that better planning can be put into place.

Studies have shown that global climate change is causing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/26/climate-change-will-hit-australia-harder-than-rest-of-world-study-shows" target="_blank">major environmental changes in Australia</a>, and the continent could be hardest hit by rising temperatures during the next century.

—

The special issue was organized by the <a href="http://www.ozewex.org/" target="_blank">Australian Water and Energy Exchange Research Initiative</a>, a nonprofit community volunteer organization that promotes collaboration and sharing of data. It includes research from scientists with the <a href="https://www.climatescience.org.au/about" target="_blank">Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science</a>, the CSIRO, <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/" target="_blank">Bureau of Meteorology</a>, <a href="http://www.anu.edu.au/" target="_blank">Australian National University</a>, <a href="http://www.curtin.edu.au/" target="_blank">Curtin University</a>, <a href="http://www.monash.edu/" target="_blank">Monash University</a>, <a href="http://www.unimelb.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Melbourne</a>, <a href="http://www.uwa.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Western Australia</a>, University of Adelaide, <a href="http://www.newcastle.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Newcastle</a>, <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of New South Wales</a>, <a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Tasmania</a>, <a href="http://www.uwa.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Western Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.uow.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Wollongong</a>.

Australian climate change extreme weather risks identified

Australian climate change extreme weather risks were identified in a...

The Paris Agreement is now in effect, but what does it mean for the world?

On November 4th, 2016, the long-awaited Paris Agreement came into effect. Many hope this legally binding international agreement will set the world in motion towards a greener future.

The agreement was the result of extended and complex negotiations, but the hot question is: what exactly does this legal ruling on climate change mean for us? 

The key messages as laid out in the “<a href="http://climateaction2020.unfccc.int/">UN Climate Action Now Summary for Policymakers</a>” give us an idea of the agreement’s aims. What is unclear is how these policies will be put into practice. The world will be watching the UN’s next meeting in Marrakech, which starts tomorrow, for signs of how we will reach the agreement’s goals by the year 2020.
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">The 2015 Paris Agreement is a historic crossroads for worldwide governments. The level of cooperation to achieve the ultimate goal of limiting warming to well below 2° C or 1.5° C is unprecedented and is meant to help future generations in their climate change planning.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Prevention is better than cure; any actions conducted to reduce climate change should be paired with sustainable development practices. In the long term, these initiatives will have the highest levels of success if we can adopt more sustainable practices for food, water and energy production.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Each country will be introducing national policies and guidelines relating to keeping emissions low and encouraging sustainable development.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Financial and technological development support is planned to be available to developing countries to assure they can reach their goals.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Stakeholder groups and institutions may need bolstering so they are adequately able to plan and implement their climate change activities.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process will assist countries to work collaboratively and their platform will provide resources to assist every step of the way.</li>
</ol>
Government-funded scientists believe that our nations have a very short time – around 15 years – to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions before dangerous climate effects result. The guidelines set by the UN suggest that we will not be doing this alone, describing the success of the agreement as based on creating relationships of synergy with our neighbours, and of course leaning on the UN’s guidelines for support.

With The World Meteorological Organization recently confirming that the atmospheric average global concentration of carbon dioxide hit an all time high in 2016, we can safely assume that, as a planet, we are not nearly on track meet these targets.

Only time will reveal the success of this landmark agreement, but for the time being governments of the world say that we are committed to putting our best foot forward towards a sustainable future.

The Paris Agreement is now in effect – but results unknown

The Paris Agreement is now in effect, but what does...

Arctic sea ice is being decimated by our activities, according to a new study that calculated the exact damage we have caused.

In a new study published in the journal Science, experts have now theorized an exact link between carbon pollution and the volume of Arctic sea ice melting.

The researchers claim that for every ton of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, 29 square feet less sea ice is present during September; it is in September that the Arctic sea is at its least frozen levels.

A team of climate scientists led by Dirk Notz from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Germany have come up with a mathematical formula that illustrates how heat-trapping gases cause the melting of sea ice. 

“It’s very simple. Those emissions from our tailpipes and our coal-fired power plants are all going into the atmosphere,” said co-author Julienne Stroeve from the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. “It just increases the warming at the surface. So the ice is going to respond to that. The only way it can do that is to move further north.”

Rutgers University marine scientists Jennifer Francis added, “we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Arctic sea ice is disappearing because of increased carbon dioxide.”

The study suggests that each year, the average American is responsible for carbon emissions that melt approximately 538 square feet of September sea ice. Each year in September, there is roughly 33,670 square miles less of Arctic sea than existed the previous year.

According to the team, it would only take 1,000 billion more metric tons of carbon dioxide to completely melt all Arctic Sea ice during September. If current conditions continue, the Arctic will be be ice-free in September in about 30 years.

Study calculates exact human impact on Arctic sea ice

Arctic sea ice is being decimated by our activities, according...

As renewable energy prices drop, Africa may embrace a cleaner energy future.

This February a $660-million (USD) solar energy facility opened at the mouth of the Sahara desert; Morocco has promised to generate 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020; and many African nations are moving quickly to increase their solar and wind capacity. Experts hope the continent can bypass the destructive practices that have plagued the United States, Europe and China and accelerate into a cleanly sustainable energy future.

Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations, said, “African nations do not have to lock into developing high-carbon old technologies; we can expand our power generation and achieve universal access to energy by leapfrogging into new technologies that are transforming energy systems across the world.”

As demand for electricity increases, so do the environmental concerns caused by coal, oil and natural gas. However, as African nations are committing efforts to cleaner energy production, our fears may be misplaced.

More than a third of Africa’s nations get the bulk of their power from hydroelectric plants, but recent droughts have made supplies unreliable. Fossil fuel prices are volatile and have been thwarted by regulations. It seems like a no-brainer for African nations to move towards a more renewable energy recourse as there is much more untapped potential for solar and wind power on the continent than was previously thought.

There is huge interest in green power on the continent, with much research, planning, and investment going into the technology, while governments and development agencies are priming areas to attract private firms.

But there are challenges, too: planners need more data on the best locations for renewable-energy projects, and developers are worried about putting money into countries with a history of corruption and government problems, with each nation needing tens of billions (USD) to build their green infrastructure.

Renewable energy may fuel Africa's clean power future

As renewable energy prices drop, Africa may embrace a cleaner...

A new Caribbean coral reef study reveals the symbiotic relationship between coral and microscopic algae.

An endangered species of Caribbean coral and microscopic symbiotic algae may go together like peanut butter and jelly, but not because of typical host-symbiont genetics, said researchers from the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Exeter</a>.

The researchers found that the reef-building coral Orbicella annularis and the single-celled algae Symbiodinium get along so well because of geographical and environmental factors, according to their research published in the <a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Proceedings of the Royal Society B</a>.

The algae colonize tropical corals – not just in the Caribbean but around the world – and produces nutrients for hosts through photosynthesis, the typical biological process that converts light to chemical energy. Orbicella annularis and other corals rely on those nutrients to survive. The symbiotic relationship is necessary for the coral to survive, the scientists discovered.

The research also uncovered one reason why rising ocean temperatures are so devastating for coral reefs: long-lasting increases in temperature can lead to coral bleaching, which separates the microscopic algae from its hosts. This can lead to coral death. 

Coral is vital for a number of reasons. Coral reefs contain some of the <a href="http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/microsites/biodiscovery/05human-impact/importance-of-coral-reefs.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most diverse ecosystems on Earth</a>. They also protect shorelines from the brunt of damage from waves and tropical storms, support the fishing industry by providing habitat in which fish breed and live, and provide and help to recycle nutrients for marine life.

While the two organisms need each other, they aren’t drawn together by any genetic factors, the scientists said. Instead, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship based on geography and environment, they found. Symbiodinium is found on several types of coral, and coral species can host a variety of different algae types.

If scientists can determine how and why the symbiotic relationship between Caribbean coral reef and algae formed, they might be able to better protect and restore threatened coral reefs, said Exeter’s <a href="http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/staff/index.php?web_id=jamie_stevens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Jamie Stevens</a>, who oversaw the research.

For the report, the research team collected coral and algae by hand from 33 sites across the Caribbean and in the Bahamas.

Caribbean coral reef study reveals symbiotic relationship

A new Caribbean coral reef study reveals the symbiotic relationship...

California drought is changing the state's landscape, new satellite images show.

Over the past 10 years, California has battled a series of droughts that have drastically changed its landscape. The US Geological Survey (<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/" target="_blank">USGS</a>) has just released a set of satellite images taken of California regions over the course of the past decade. The images highlight just how severe an effect the California drought has had on the state’s precious water reserves.

Satellite images of Lake San Antonio in Monterey County taken in September 2001 and then again in 2016 show an alarming decrease in size. As of January 2016, the lake sat at just 3% water capacity.

Trinity Lake in the Central Valley, Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara, New Melones Lake in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Lake Perris in Moreno Valley, and Lake Piru in Ventura County are all seen in the side-by-side images shrinking to tiny versions of their former selves. The Santa Margarita Lake just south of San Luis Obispo County looks to be barely hanging on as a thin sliver.

With temperatures continuing to rise, experts predict a 70 to 90% chance of megadroughts over the next century, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances by a team from Cornell University led by Dr. Toby Ault. While droughts in the southwest are somewhat cyclical, it is the level of severity that has scientists concerned. 

“Megadroughts are comparable in severity to the worst droughts of the 20th century but are much longer in duration,” said the Cornell team. “A megadrought in the Southwest would impose unprecedented stress on the limited water resources in the area, making it critical to evaluate future risks not only under different climate change mitigation scenarios but also for different aspects of regional hydroclimate.”

However, if countries continue to follow through with the terms of the Paris climate agreement to reduce emissions from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas, the risks of megadrought cut by 50%, the researchers estimate.

Last year, the state of California imposed statewide cuts on water usage that took an aesthetic toll on street medians and front lawns. But many Californians have adapted by replacing green grass with more desert-friendly vegetation.

California drought is changing the state's landscape

California drought is changing the state's landscape, new satellite images...

Herbivorous mammals have tubbier tummies, new research claims today.

Herbivorous mammals outdo their carnivorous cousins in at least one way: they have bigger guts. So say researchers in a new study published in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1469-7580">Journal of Anatomy</a>.

It’s also a trait that may be unique to mammals, they found.

The team of researchers, working with the <a href="http://www.uzh.ch/en.html">University of Zurich</a> and the <a href="http://www.tu-berlin.de/">Technical University Berlin</a>, studied skeletal remains of 126 different species of land-based tetrapods – four-legged vertebrates, which can include anything from mice to horses to frogs – to measure the size of their body cavity. They included prehistoric species such as dinosaurs and mammoths as well.

Some of the species studied were herbivores, some carnivores, and some ate both meat and plant-based foods.

The scientists used 3D computer modeling and <a href="http://www.photogrammetry.com/">photogrammetry</a> to create a database of each species, then used this database to determine what the volume of each species’ body cavity would be based on its skeletal structure.

They found that among mammals, vegetarian tetrapods have body cavities that are about twice the size of carnivores’ – indicating they may need the room for larger digestive systems. This was what the researchers expected, but they were surprised by the next set of findings: tetrapods from non-mammal species didn’t show any difference in the size of their body cavities compared to their meat-eating cousins, the scientists said.

The study authors suggested the change among mammals might be due to differences in respiratory systems. Mammals are the only vertebrates to have a thoracic diaphragm, a muscular structure in the abdomen that contracts to draw air into the lungs and expands to push it back out. 

The study shows that when it comes to morphology, or the form and structure of biological organisms, mammals show some fundamental differences compared to other species of vertebrates. 

So if you are worrying about your growing gut, perhaps it’s time to think about adopting a zero-carb diet.

Herbivorous mammals have tubbier tummies, new research claims

Herbivorous mammals have tubbier tummies, new research claims today. Herbivorous mammals...

The world is unprepared for the Paris Agreement, a new report suggests.

In December 2015, nearly 200 countries around the world gathered in Paris to decide the best way to deal with climate change. 

The end result was an agreement to keep global temperatures no more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.0 degrees Celsius) higher than they were in pre-industrial times; limit greenhouse gases produced by human activity to what plants, soil and sea can absorb from the atmosphere; and create partnerships to help developing nations adopt greener technology.

Of the 197 countries that participated in the Paris Agreement, 94 ratified the <a href="http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pact</a>, which will enter into force on Nov. 4, 2016.

The world is not even close to being on track to uphold the agreement, according to the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/environment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Environment Program</a>.

Since the industrial revolution, temperatures have already risen about 1.8º F worldwide, halfway to the cutoff goal. Unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut by about 12 to 14 billion metric tons by 2030, the world has no hope of limiting the rise of temperatures globally to less than 3.6 degrees, the U.N. claimed.

The 3.6-degree target would prevent the worst effects of climate change predicted by scientists. Meeting that target would require major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the world's worst polluters, especially China and the United States, which hold the first and second place slots respectively.

With the Paris Agreement coming into effect tomorrow and the upcoming <a href="http://unfccc.int/meetings/marrakech_nov_2016/meeting/9567.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change</a> in Marrakesh, Morocco next week, now is the time for governments to begin stepping up their efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the U.N. stipulated.

Global warming, which is thought to be linked to greenhouse gas emissions, has already had <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">massive consequences worldwide</a>. Scientists have linked climate change to global sea levels rising more than 6 inches in the past century, droughts (and potentially <a href="http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=4270" target="_blank" rel="noopener">megadroughts</a>) in the western United States, stronger hurricanes, and the unpredictable Polar Vortex bringing colder winters to parts of the Northern Hemisphere. 

Last year's average global temperatures were the highest on record, and 2016 looks to be even warmer, researchers said.

UN Report: World unprepared for Paris Agreement

The world is unprepared for the Paris Agreement, a new...

Your carbon footprint might be melting the Arctic. New data predicts how your next road trip could affect the environment.

Climate change researchers from the <a href="http://www.mpimet.mpg.de/en/mpimet-homepage/">Max Planck Institute for Meteorology</a> and the <a href="http://nsidc.org/">National Snow &amp; Ice Data Center</a> used their observations, data and around 30 different computer models to create a formula that translates driving time and distance to the amount of Arctic sea ice that will melt as a result, in a new study published in Science on Nov. 3.

According to the scientists, there's a direct connection between fossil fuel emissions and melting sea ice in the Arctic.

A drive of about 90 miles – for example, from New York City to Philadelphia – melts about a square foot of ice in the month of September. September is an important month for Arctic ice studies because it is often when sea ice at the North Pole is at its lowest.

For every ton of carbon dioxide produced by coal plants, cars and other use of fossil fuels, 29 square feet of ice melt. The average American leaves a carbon footprint that is responsible for the loss of about 538 square feet of sea ice each year. 

Although sea ice builds up again each winter, scientists found that it was at a record low in the month of October, and September's amount of sea ice was the second lowest ever recorded.

If the Arctic continues to see ice melt at the current rate, ice could be gone from that region entirely in the month of September by 2045, researchers calculated. 

As sea ice in the Arctic melts, it's also likely to have long-ranging consequences far beyond the extreme loss of habitat for animals such as polar bears. Studies have linked melting sea ice and rising water temperatures to weather changes such as the southward spread of the Polar Vortex, which caused millions of dollars in damage in 2014.

The warming of the North Atlantic could also lead to <a href="http://research.noaa.gov/News/NewsArchive/LatestNews/TabId/684/ArtMID/1768/ArticleID/11764/QA-What-do-Arctic-ice-and-Atlantic-hurricanes-have-in-common.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more hurricanes farther north</a>.

Carbon personal footprint might be melting the Arctic, eggheads theorize

Your carbon footprint might be melting the Arctic. New data...

What female fish want was revealed in a new study from scientists at the <a href="https://le.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Leicester</a>.

What do female fish want in a mate? Sticklebacks look for males who can design and build the nests that fit the environment they live in, researchers wrote in a new study.

The scientists studied how varying oxygen levels in water affect how male three-spined stickleback fish build their nests, finding it can also affect how females of the species choose their mates.

They found that when oxygen levels in their environment change, the male sticklebacks – which do all of the parenting for the species' eggs and young fish – build nests that are looser or tighter. Females prefer to spawn in tighter nests when oxygen levels are high, or looser ones when the water has low levels of oxygen.

Since the males fan water through the nests with their fins, this means eggs in looser nests get more oxygen when water levels are low, the study authors said. This lets the eggs develop normally when oxygen is low, but could also expose them to more predators, they said. 

The study is an interesting look into how low oxygen in the water – which can be caused by modern environmental issues like rising water temperatures due to climate change and massive algae blooms – affects fish, and how fish are adapting to their changing environment. 

The most interesting finding, according to the scientists, was that changes in water oxygen levels didn't just affect how male sticklebacks built their nests, but which males the female sticklebacks preferred.

Stickleback fish have been an excellent population for studying evolution. They were originally ocean fish – but because they are found in, and have evolved to succeed in, a wide range of saltwater and freshwater environments, scientists can study their adaptability to environmental changes as well as breed different varieties together to see which genes carry certain environmental adaptations. 

Sticklebacks’ adaptability may be what makes the fish better survivors when their conditions change, the authors concluded.

What female fish want revealed in stickleback study

What female fish want was revealed in a new study...

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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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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

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



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



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



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



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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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