Every April 22, Earth Day calls us to reflect on our planet’s well-being. But this year, there’s a different tone in the United States - one of Earth-focused success. Over the past twelve months, the country has taken meaningful steps toward environmental sustainability.



These weren’t just small shifts or symbolic gestures. They were measurable gains that affect ecosystems, the climate, and public health. As the world grapples with the dual pressures of climate change and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-wildlife-day-2025-a-global-call-to-protect-nature/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biodiversity</a> loss, the U.S. now offers several stories of hope.



Whether through energy innovation, wildlife protection, or global atmospheric recovery, 2024 gave us many reasons to believe in action.



That belief matters. Because Earth Day isn’t just about celebration - it’s about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earth-day-2024-the-tide-may-finally-be-turning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">commitment</a> and action. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solar-success-powers-a-cleaner-earth">Solar success powers a cleaner Earth</h2>



Clean energy continued to surge across the United States in 2024. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar energy</a> led the charge, expanding at a pace that had never been seen before.



By the end of the year, 37 gigawatts of solar power had been added to the national grid. That figure nearly doubled what was installed the year before. It signals a decisive move away from fossil fuels and toward energy systems that don’t damage the planet.



Government data backs this growth. The Energy Information Administration (<a href="https://www.eia.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EIA</a>) now expects solar to account for the majority of new electricity generation through 2026. 



Solar panels aren’t just being added to rooftops - they’re shaping the country’s energy future. And unlike fossil fuel plants, they do it quietly, without smoke or pollution.



This shift also reflects the public’s changing attitude. People want cleaner choices. Companies see renewable energy as practical, not just ethical. And local governments are learning that the sun offers not only power, but independence.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-investment-sparks-manufacturing-boom">Investment sparks manufacturing boom</h2>



Policy has played a huge role in this energy transition. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/inflation-reduction-act-of-2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inflation Reduction Act</a>, passed in 2022, triggered a wave of clean energy investment across the country. 



Since then, over $500 billion has been committed to clean energy-related projects. These include solar panel factories, battery plants, and infrastructure for electric vehicles.



So far, around $75 billion has already been spent. That money has helped launch at least 160 new clean energy manufacturing sites. These aren’t just job titles on paper. Together, the projects have created nearly 100,000 new positions, many in areas long dependent on fossil fuels.



The clean energy boom has moved beyond the coasts. States in the Midwest and South are building advanced manufacturing facilities. The result is a reworked energy economy that supports both climate goals and community livelihoods. 



Earth Day 2025 arrives in the middle of this shift. It reminds us that environmental gains and economic health can grow together.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-success-through-science">Conservation success through science</h2>



Earth's environmental success wasn’t limited to energy. In 2024, wildlife conservation took a leap forward through science and strategy. 



One standout story came from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. There, a cloned black-footed ferret named Antonia gave birth to three healthy kits. This marked the first time a cloned animal of this species had reproduced successfully.



The black-footed ferret is one of North America’s most endangered mammals. For years, conservationists feared the species might vanish completely. 



Antonia’s kits now offer new genetic diversity and a path forward for recovery. The cloning effort, once experimental, has become a real solution for saving <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-movement-predictions-matter-more-than-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">species</a> with limited populations.



This kind of conservation success blends technology with patience. It involves scientists, wildlife experts, and public support. Together, they show that extinction is not inevitable - not if humans act with care and urgency.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-success-for-earth-s-ecosystems">Success for Earth’s ecosystems</h2>



Another major breakthrough came in California’s Klamath River. For the first time in more than a hundred years, Chinook salmon returned to spawn in the river’s upper reaches. Their return came after the removal of four dams that had long blocked access to spawning grounds.



The decision to remove the dams was not quick or easy. It followed years of advocacy by Native tribes, environmental groups, and local communities. 



The result now speaks for itself: salmon are swimming freely again. This means restored food chains, improved water quality, and cultural renewal for tribal communities.



The Klamath River case offers more than just a local win. It shows what happens when people prioritize river health over short-term economic gain. Dams once symbolized progress. 



Now, their removal can be a sign of renewal. The return of salmon in 2024 reminds us that ecosystems, when given the chance, can recover.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-success-in-healing-earth-s-ozone">Global success in healing Earth’s ozone</h2>



Above us, far from city lights and farmland, the Earth’s atmosphere continues its slow recovery. 



The Antarctic ozone hole in 2024 measured as the seventh smallest since tracking began in 1992. This shrinking hole is a clear signal that decades of global cooperation are paying off.



The ozone layer shields life from harmful ultraviolet rays. Its damage in the late 20th century sparked one of the first major global environmental agreements: the Montreal Protocol. Nations agreed to cut the use of ozone-depleting substances. Since then, many of those chemicals have been phased out.



Recovery has not been fast, but it has been steady. Scientists now project that the ozone layer will return to pre-1980 conditions by 2066. That timeline may feel long, but it’s grounded in progress. 



Each year of improvement brings better protection for humans, animals, and plants. And it proves that when nations act together, change is possible - even in the upper atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead-clear-goals">The road ahead: Clear goals</h2>



As Earth Day 2025 approaches, the United States has more than good intentions to show. It has results. Solar power is climbing, Manufacturing is shifting, Rivers are rebounding and rare animals are getting a second chance. These stories aren’t fiction - they happened in one year.



Yet the work isn’t done. Climate pressures continue, species remain at risk, and policy must stay aligned with science. But this past year shows that even in a vast, complex country, real environmental change can take root.



Earth Day exists to remind us of responsibility and environmental success. But this year, it also reminds us of possibility.



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Earth Day honors success in clean energy and wildlife recovery

Every April 22, Earth Day calls us to reflect on our planet’s well-being. But this year, there’s a different tone in the United States - one of Earth-focused success. Over the past twelve months, the country has taken meaningful steps toward environmental sustainability. These weren’t just small shifts or symbolic gestures. They were measurable gains that affect ecosystems, the climate, and public health. As the world grapples with the dual pressures of climate change and biodiversity loss, the U.S. now offers several stories of hope. Whether through...

<div>

Study examines health benefits of contact with nature. A team of Cochrane authors based in the UK and led by an academic from <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=plymouth+university&amp;form=EDGTCT&amp;qs=PF&amp;cvid=015da8ed2acd4dbd9cc1d3781aacdb23&amp;refig=4ac677f8b0554fa6ab8e5518a1fe78ad&amp;cc=US&amp;setlang=en-US&amp;elv=AY3%21uAY7tbNNZGZ2yiGNjfOY30fClOq9osfcI6T5oj*hYtX103gCRY9mI3%21WvWeyUM0RXKLBQgbiXo8mkbx*VPkEVA1K53LWp7mQAgAw0nGR&amp;plvar=0&amp;PC=HCTS">Plymouth University</a> Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, has carried out a review investigating the health benefit of contact with nature.

The team found that, while the majority of quantitative studies reported no effect on health and well-being, there was limited evidence to suggest positive effects on self-reported health, quality of life and physical activity levels. Small numbers of participants reported increased mental fatigue and greater feelings of anxiety.Study examines health benefits of contact with nature

The review comes at a time when there is growing research and policy interest in the potential for using the natural environment to enhance human health and well-being. It is thought that contact with the natural environment has a positive impact on health and well-being.

Outdoor <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/bird-wing-shape-is-driven-by-environment-and-behavior/">environmental</a> enhancement and conservation activities include unpaid litter picking, tree planting or path maintenance. It is thought that these offer opportunities for physical activity alongside greater connection with local environments, enhanced social connections within communities, and improved self-esteem, which may, in turn, further improve well-being for the individual.

The team worked with Cochrane Public Health to assess the health and well-being impacts on adults following participation in environmental enhancement and conservation activities. Participants were adult volunteers or were referred by a healthcare professional.

The nineteen studies reviewed included numerical data (quantitative) and text from interviews (qualitative), together with data from 3,603 participants who came from the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

The qualitative studies illustrate the experiences of people taking part, and their perceptions of the benefits. People reported feeling better. They liked the opportunity for increased social contact, especially if they had been socially isolated through, for example, mental ill-health. They also valued a sense of achievement, being in nature and provision of a daily structure.

"Research into this area is not very robust and quality of the design and reporting is low, therefore we cannot draw any definite conclusions about any positive or negative effects. However, participants perceived that there was a benefit," said Dr Kerryn Husk, research fellow from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and the lead author of the Cochrane Review.

He added: "We were able to develop a conceptual framework that illustrates the range of interlinked mechanism through which people believe they potentially achieved health and well-bring benefits. We hope this will help future research on this this topic."
###
Dr Husk is a research fellow supported by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula (NIHR PenCLAHRC).

</div>

Study examines health benefits of contact with nature

Study examines health benefits of contact with nature. A team...

COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) begins next week. NASA's new COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) field campaign kicks off its data-gathering phase with an operational readiness test on Oahu, Hawaii, starting the week of June 6. Over the next year, CORAL will conduct airborne and in-water surveys of representative coral reefs from Hawaii to Australia. By focusing on entire reef ecosystems, CORAL scientists will get state-of-the-art insights into how biological, physical and chemical processes shape and affect the ecosystems. These data will help them answer fundamental questions about how reefs are changing globally due to the effects of climate change and human activities.

1. How does CORAL work? It uses a new NASA airborne instrument designed specifically to observe coastal environments. The Portable Remote Imaging SpectroMeter (PRISM) can see objects about five feet by five feet square (less than two meters by two meters square) from its airborne perch five miles (eight kilometers) overhead. PRISM will fly in a Gulfstream IV airplane, collecting large swaths of data that will allow scientists to distinguish among coral, algae and sand -- important information for assessing reef condition -- without having to go underwater in each location. This uniform dataset will be an advance over the current data, collected by multiple groups all using different techniques.

2. Reefs are mostly unknown territory. Search online for "coral reef images" and you'll get a million spectacular photos, but they all show just the small fraction of the world's reef area that scuba divers have visited. The fraction that has been scientifically surveyed is even smaller. We simply don't have enough data to understand which impacts to reefs are the most damaging and how resilient reefs are likely to be. COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) begins next week

3. Scuba diving for science. For decades, scuba diving has been the gold standard for conducting reef research, allowing scientists to study everything from coral reproduction to the complex relationships between coral and other organisms. However, scuba diving as a method of understanding entire ecosystems leaves a lot to be desired: it is time consuming, labor intensive and costly. CORAL's use of remote sensing technology to survey entire reef ecosystems represents a huge step forward in research capacity.

4. More than just a pretty face. Hard corals have outlived dinosaurs, existing on Earth since the mid-Triassic period, 200-250 million years ago. During this time, they’ve evolved and diversified to exist across the world’s ocean. Reef building corals typically occupy shallow tropical and subtropical waters; however, deep-water corals can be found at depths up to 20,000 feet (6,000 meters), and coral reefs were recently discovered at the mouth of the<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=amazon+river&amp;cvid=2d73fa1a6f7747759baea30431073c58&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> Amazon River</a> in turbid, muddy water.

Coral reef ecosystems play a vital role in maintaining Earth’s marine biodiversity and are also valuable to humans as a source of food, medical advances and tourism revenue, with total global ecosystem goods and services estimated at $400 billion each year. This number is especially impressive if you consider that the U.N. Environment Programme estimates that all the world's reefs would fit into an area smaller than the state of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arizona-rock-will-help-solve-mysteries-of-the-triassic/">Arizona.</a>

5. Coral or reef? A single coral polyp -- consisting of the coral animal, its symbiotic algae and calcium carbonate skeleton -- is usually less than half an inch (one centimeter) across. Unlike many animals, corals are colonial, which means that many polyps grow together and form a larger structure. Most corals that you see in aquaria are, in fact, colonies. A coral reef, on the other hand, is an entire ecosystem that includes the individual polyps and their colonies, plus other living (e.g., fish, worms, invertebrates, algae) and nonliving (e.g., sunlight, sand, water) components. Scientists have a pretty good understanding of how individual coral polyps and colonies function, but much less understanding of how the various parts of a reef act individually and collectively to form an ecosystem. CORAL is the first opportunity to study reefs at the ecosystem scale, rather than relying on patchy, inconsistent surveys.

NASA uses the vantage point of space to increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records. The agency freely shares this unique knowledge and works with institutions around the world to gain new insights into how our planet is changing.

For more information about NASA's Earth science activities, visit:

<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">http://www.nasa.gov/earth</a>

COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) begins next week

COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) begins next week. NASA's new...

NASA sees a redeveloped Tropical Depression Bonnie over North Carolina. On the morning of June 2, the National Hurricane Center reported that post-tropical cyclone Bonnie has redeveloped into Tropical Depression Bonnie and was moving over the North Carolina Outer Banks. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP Satellite and NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured imagery and an animation that showed the movement of the storm.
<div>

Bonnie continues to pose a threat of heavy rain that is expected to continue today, June 2, in eastern North Carolina. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch and flood advisory for a small portion of the North Carolina <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/feds-want-wind-farm-off-north-carolinas-outer-banks/">Outer Banks</a>.

A visible image of Bonnie was taken from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA-DOD's Suomi NPP satellite on June 1, 2016. The image showed Bonnie when it was a post-tropical cyclone, moving over southeastern North Carolina. The strongest thunderstorms were northwest of the center of circulation over land and southeast of the center, over the Atlantic Ocean.Bonnie strengthened back to a depression early on June 2. NASA sees a redeveloped Tropical Depression Bonnie over North Carolina

An animation NOAA's GOES-East satellite imagery from May 31 to June 2 was created at NASA's GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland. The animation shows the slow northerly movement of Bonnie from South Carolina to North Carolina as it strengthened from a post-tropical cyclone back into a depression. NOAA manages the GOES-East satellite and the NASA GOES Project uses the satellite data to create images and animations.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) the center of Tropical Depression Bonnie was located near latitude 35.1 degrees north and longitude 75.1 degrees west. That puts the center of the redeveloped depression about 25 miles (40 km) east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. NHC said that Bonnie is moving toward the northeast near 7 mph (11 kph). A turn toward the east-northeast and an increase in forward speed are expected later today. On the forecast track, the center of Bonnie should/pre&gt; move away from the coast of North Carolina this afternoon and tonight. Maximum sustained winds are near 30 mph (45 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours. After that time, Bonnie is expected to again become a post-tropical low.

For updates from the NHC, visit: <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">http://www. nhc. noaa. gov</a>


</div>
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NASA sees a redeveloped Tropical Depression Bonnie over North Carolina

NASA sees a redeveloped Tropical Depression Bonnie over North Carolina....

<div>

New statistical technique could help climate models. A team of physicists and mathematicians has come up with a statistical technique that puts the fine details back into computer simulations of large-scale phenomena like air circulation in the atmosphere and currents in the ocean.

Computer models are generally good at capturing the big picture, but they are often forced to ignore things that happen at small scales. For example, models of a planet's <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=atmosphere&amp;cvid=7e60805f4c68482a8b5045c73d03b320&amp;pglt=43&amp;FORM=ANNTA1&amp;PC=HCTS">atmosphere</a> capture the large-scale dynamics of jets and airflows, but they don't include small-scale dynamics created by things like clouds and localized turbulence, despite the fact that those dynamics can often influence the larger scales.

"There are simply too many numbers for the computer to simulate it at a reasonable speed," said Brad Marston, a Brown University physicist. "It might take years to simulate a day of the atmosphere, which wouldn't be good." New statistical technique could help climate models

The traditional approach to dealing with the problem is to simply lop the small scales off of the simulation. A few ad hoc ways of putting some of that information back in exist, but they tend not to be mathematically rigorous.

"These schemes have always suffered from the criticism that they lack predictive power," Marston said. "You have to make a lot of decisions that you really shouldn't have to make but you're forced to make."

In a paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, Marston and his colleagues show a method of averaging out those small-scale dynamics in a way that is computationally tractable, which allows those dynamics to be simulated and their effects to be captured in a rigorous way.

"We're retaining the degrees of freedom at the small scale, but treating them in a different way," Marston said. "We don't have to simulate all the little swirls, so to speak. We treat them by using their averages and the sizes of their fluctuations. It allows us to capture the contributions of these small-scale dynamics that would normally not be included."

In their paper, the researchers used the technique to model air jets forming on a round surface. They showed that the method produces results similar to brute-force numerical simulations of the same jets.

There have been prior attempts to treat small-scale disturbances statistically, Marston said, but those haven't fared very well. Prior attempts have treated disturbances as being homogeneous and assumed they were not traveling in any one particular direction.

"But that almost never happens in nature," Marston said. "Turbulence almost always has some directionality to it. That directionality is what makes these kinds of approximations work. It makes these approximations tenable."

The researchers hope that the method might make for more accurate simulations of a wide variety of natural phenomena, from how the churning interiors of planets create magnetic fields to how air flows across the surfaces of cars or airplanes.

The method could be particularly useful in modeling Earth's changing climate because the technique can more rigorously capture the influence of cloud formation. A team of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/physicians-suffer-burnout/">physicists</a> and mathematicians has come up with a statistical technique that puts the fine details back into computer simulations of large-scale phenomena like air circulation in the atmosphere and currents in the ocean.

"Cloud formation is seen as the largest source of uncertainty in climate models right now," Marston said. "There are famous examples where different climate models that have different ways of dealing with the clouds give you qualitatively different results. In a warming world, one model might produce more clouds and another might produce fewer."

By averaging those cloud dynamics and then simulating them in the models, it might be possible to reduce some of that uncertainty, Marston said.

The team has already started working to incorporate the method in climate simulations, as well as simulations of ocean currents and problems in astrophysics dealing with the behavior of plasmas.

"There are a whole bunch of problems out there where we feel this could be helpful," Marston said.


</div>
<div></div>

New statistical technique could help climate models

New statistical technique could help climate models. A team of...

Cleaning up decades of phosphorus pollution in lakes. Phosphorus is the biggest cause of water quality degradation worldwide, causing 'dead zones', toxic algal blooms, a loss of biodiversity and increased health risks for the plants, animals and humans that come in contact with polluted waters. This threatens the loss of economic and social benefits from freshwaters upon which society relies. In a series of studies published in a special issue of Water Research, leading scientists assess how geo-engineering in lakes can control phosphorus pollution. Cleaning up decades of phosphorus pollution in lakes
<div>

After decades of run-off from agriculture, human sewage and industrial practices, phosphorus lake pollution has been stock piled at an alarming rate in our lake bed sediments. The scale of the problem is daunting, and humans are still pumping about 10 million tonnes of extra phosphorus into our freshwaters every year. Long-term monitoring activities following the control of phosphorus sources to lakes show that plants and animals don't recover for many years. This is because phosphorus stored in bed sediments is released back to the water column. Society then has to make a decision - either speed up recovery using geo-engineering to cap sediment phosphorus stores, or do nothing, and accept poor quality freshwaters for decades to come. Geo-engineering is contentious, costly, and the side effects are not well known. This special issue brings together 60 authors from 12 countries to present evidence on this approach.

Geo-engineering applications of a modified zeolite product called "Aqual-P" at Lake ?karo, New Zealand. Image courtesy of Andy Bruere, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, New Zealand. Cleaning up decades of phosphorus pollution in lakes

Miquel Lürling, lead author and guest editor, Freshwater Ecologist, University of Wageningen, the <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=netherlands&amp;cvid=09b823821723409d90d143baf70c2f72&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Netherlands</a>, explains that "The scale of this problem has driven the development of a vibrant green e sector. Our special issue uncovered an alarming number of emerging materials being proposed conomyfor use in lakes. The potential for unintended side effects when using novel untested materials is high. A common conclusion of a number of papers was that it is essential to conduct comprehensive assessments of candidate lakes prior to any treatments. We reviewed these considerations in our editorial paper and stress the need to ensure the safe and effective use of this approach." After decades of run-off from agriculture, human sewage and industrial practices, phosphorus lake pollution has been stock piled at an alarming rate in our lake bed sediments.

With the recent introduction of water quality targets and deadlines for standing waters including the EU Water Framework Directive and the Clean Water Act in the USA, the need for approaches like geo-engineering is growing. About 40% of lakes in Europe are failing current water quality targets and combined economic losses in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/current-food-production-methods-threaten-thousands-of-species/">USA</a> associated with high phosphorus levels in freshwaters is estimated at $2.2 billion annually. There is a need to develop approaches that effectively control phosphorus pollution in freshwaters. This special issue draws on a wide range of laboratory and field scale experiments to produce the most comprehensive analysis of this approach for phosphorus management to date.

Bryan Spears, lead author and guest editor, Freshwater Ecologist, Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology, UK, commented: "Our papers assessed the ecological and chemical responses across over 100 lake treatments from around the world. It's safe to say the approach is widespread and global. Most case studies used either aluminum salts or lanthanum modified bentonite additions to control phosphorus. The responses were highly variable across the lakes. In some cases dramatic and sudden improvements were reported in chemical and ecological quality, in others nothing really happened, or the responses were short lived. To improve confidence in the use of the approach a series of papers presented models to predict responses in candidate lakes. One key conclusion is that although this mitigation approach is promising when used correctly and in combination with catchment management, it should not simply be used to off-set the effects of poor environmental behavior."

Geo-engineering in lakes is also being targeted at other environmental problems. Emerging approaches include the control of greenhouse gas emissions from lakes and the control of toxic cyanobacteria for human health. For example, geo-engineering approaches were utilized in the 2012 London Olympic Games, the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and have been proposed for use in the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympic Games to ensure acceptable levels of health risk to athletes during open water events.
###
The special issue was led by the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands), The Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology (UK), and the University of Southern Denmark (Denmark).

Read more about geo-engineering in lakes and watch the authors present their work.

Notes for editors

The featured articles are:
<ul>
 	<li>"Editorial - A critical perspective on geo-engineering for eutrophication management in lakes," by M. Lurling, E. Mackay, K. Reitzel, B.M. Spears (doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.03.035). It appears in Water Research, volume 97C (2016), published by Elsevier.</li>
 	<li>"A meta-analysis of water quality and aquatic macrophyte responses in 18 lakes treated with lanthanum modified bentonite (Phoslock®)", by B.M. Spears, E.B. Mackay, S. Yasseri, I.D.M. Gunn, K.E. Waters, C. Andrews, S. Cole, M. De Ville, A. Kelly, S. Meis, A.L. Moore, G.K. Nürnberg, F. van Oosterhout, J.A. Pitt, G. Madgwick, H.J. Woods, M. Lürling, (doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.08.020). It appears in Water Research, volume 97C (2016), published by Elsevier.</li>
 	<li>"Longevity and effectiveness of aluminum addition to reduce sediment phosphorus release and restore water quality," by B.J. Huser, S. Egemose, H. Harper, M. Hupfer, H. Jensen, K.M. Pilgrim, K. Reitzel, E. Rydin, M.N. Futter (doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.06.051). It appears in Water Research, volume 97C, published by Elsevier.</li>
</ul>
About Water Research

Water Research is a joint publication of Elsevier and the International Water Association (IWA). It is the top scientific journal in the field of science and technology of water quality, water technology and water management worldwide.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions -- among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey -- and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 35,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. <a href="http://www.elsevier.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www. elsevier. com</a>

Media contact

Melanie Thomson
Elsevier
+44 186 584 3827
<a href="mailto:m.thomson@elsevier.com">m.thomson@elsevier.com</a>

</div>

Cleaning up decades of phosphorus pollution in lakes

Cleaning up decades of phosphorus pollution in lakes. Phosphorus is...

Zero-emission air conditioning system that doesn’t pollute. The ingenuity of four space engineers has created a zero-emission air conditioning system that doesn’t pollute our atmosphere when we turn it on.

Air conditioning for offices, factories, shopping centres and homes has long been recognised as a large contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, and boosting its efficiency would help to combat climate change.

Zero-carbon buildings are now a step closer thanks to the four pooling their expertise gained from building complex telecom and<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-temperature-has-been-steadily-rising-since-the-1850s/"> Earth</a> observation satellites, and using it to create an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional temperature-control systems.

Using sunshine instead of electricity to power air conditioning and central heating, their system can also cool fridges and heat water.

Space expertise to cut carbon dioxide

Marie Nghiem, Yannick Godillot, Yann Vitupier and Charles Daniel worked at Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, France,on sophisticated satellites such as ESA’s Goce gravity-mapper and and Europe’s Jason ocean-monitors.

Determined to reduce energy consumption, the team drew on their skills in thermal engineering for satellites and their experience of rigorous testing.

“Building a spacecraft is unusually complex,” comments Marie. “It must function perfectly for 15 years, so our standards have to be extremely high.

“We leave nothing to chance and we test every component meticulously to make sure it will stand the test of time, even in the harshest conditions.”

They were looking for an idea and explored how they could use their space skills to develop alternative ways of running power-hungry cooling and heating systems in buildings.

Cooling with sunshine

The system uses curved solar mirror-troughs spread across a building’s roof to concentrate the sun’s power on to tubes to heat water to 200°C.

This pressurised water enters another unit to provide both hot and cold water – and how it does that remains confidential. The emerging water can be set at anywhere between –60°C and +65°C, which is then circulated to create the required temperatures for the different parts of the building. Below zero, a water–ammonia mixture is used as the refrigerant.

It can connect with the building’s existing chilled and hot water systems and functions even on a cloudy day thanks to stored energy, or power from other sustainable sources like biomass.

“It’s important to understand that we are not generating electricity from solar panels to power traditional air conditioning machines,” stresses Marie.

“Instead, we are using the Sun’s thermal energy to heat water inside the units and reach the required temperatures.”

Although a small number of other companies are also designing solar thermal systems, what makes the Helioclim version unique is that it can provide cooling down to –60°C and heating up to +200°C.

This means the company can tailor their machines to the requirements of almost any building with sufficient roof space, from offices, factories and commercial centres, where the temperature can vary from room to room, to hospitals and supermarkets, where refrigeration is a must.

The small amount of electricity needed to operate the pump and point the collectors towards the Sun is generated by solar panels.

The team hope not only to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to near zero, but also to enable buildings like hospitals to run autonomously inremote parts of the world where power is sparse.

“This kind of innovation could have a big effect in helping us to reduce our power consumption thanks to the rigorous methodology the Helioclim founders have brought from building satellites,” comments Claude-Emmanuel Serre from Tech2market, the French wing of ESA Technology Transfer Programme’s network of brokers who help businesses to use space technologies for enhancing their products and revenues.

The team is already designing thermal units for several customers in Africa and France for installation in 2017.

“If we can make quiet, reliable and durable heating and cooling systems that don’t pollute the atmosphere, then we can feel proud of ourselves,” ponders Marie.

“And if we can make a successful business at the same time, then we can feel doubly pleased.”

---

<a href="http://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Space Agency</a>

Zero-emission air conditioning system that doesn’t pollute

Zero-emission air conditioning system that doesn’t pollute. The ingenuity of...

Ohio has new plan to slow down toxic algae on Lake Erie. Ohio's attempt at slowing down the toxic algae turning Lake Erie green hinges on a plan that some environmental groups say relies too much on voluntary programs and lacks the sense of urgency needed to thwart the growing threat to the region's drinking water.
The state's strategy outlined recently by Ohio's Environmental Protection Agency is centered on new regulations and programs put in place within the past year.
Now the question is will it be enough to thwart the algae blooms.
How well those changes - stopping farmers from spreading manure on frozen fields and encouraging them to use the right amount of fertilizer - work won't be known for a couple more years.
The moves are part of the state blueprint for a 40 percent reduction in the amount of phosphorus runoff that fuels the algae in the lake's western end. Ohio, along with <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-could-help-asian-carp-invade-lake-michigan/">Michigan</a> and the Canadian province of Ontario, all have pledged to reach that goal within the next 10 years.
"It's possible but it's going to be difficult," said Mike Shriberg, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=great+lakes&amp;cvid=5774719f749f459cb7e480d49a3c68e8&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Great Lakes</a> office.
Last year's algae bloom was the biggest on record, and another in 2014 left more than 400,000 people in Toledo and southeastern Michigan unable to drink tap water for two days.
Ohio's plan deserves credit, Shriberg said, for including a strong focus on coordination and monitoring efforts to fight the algae. But he doesn't see the sense of urgency that's needed.
"This plan makes the assumption that doing more of the same will get us there," Shriberg said.
More than anything, the state should be requiring and verifying that all farmers are taking steps to reduce field runoff, he said.
Scientists say fertilizers and livestock manure from the region's farms are the main sources of the phosphorus feeding the harmful algae. Sewage from treatment plants and leaking septic tanks play a role, too.
Farm organizations say they are doing their part by promoting voluntary efforts aimed at cutting runoff and by contributing to ongoing research projects.
A report released earlier this year by the University of Michigan Water Center said not enough farmers in Ohio and Michigan are taking part in the voluntary practices and say sweeping changes are needed to cut enough phosphorus to stop the algae blooms. Agriculture groups criticized the study for focusing only on farms.
Karl Gebhardt, deputy director for water resources at the Ohio EPA, said the state's plan will be evolving over the next decade and if what's being done now isn't working, changes will be made.
He said what's most important is "are we seeing an improvement in water quality?"
© 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Ohio has new plan to slow down toxic algae on Lake Erie

Ohio has new plan to slow down toxic algae on...

New US energy bill in serious jeopardy. Congressional efforts to approve the first major energy bill in nearly a decade are in jeopardy amid a partisan dispute over oil drilling, water for drought-stricken California and potential rollback of protections for the gray wolf and other wildlife.
A bipartisan bill approved by the Senate in April would boost oil and natural gas production while encouraging renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and increased energy efficiency.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, called the overwhelming 85-12 Senate vote "a significant victory that brings us much closer to our goal of modernizing our nation's energy policies," while Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the panel's senior Democrat, said the measure was "urgently needed."
But the bill's prospects dimmed after the House approved a series of election-year amendments last month that promote Republican priorities, such as increased drilling for oil and gas and overriding protections for the gray wolf and other species under the Endangered Species Act. The House bill also would promote hunting and fishing on federal lands, shift more water to California farmers and cut the flow for threatened fish.
The House proposal includes at least seven measures that the White House strongly opposes or has threatened to veto.
House leaders have named 40 lawmakers to serve on a joint House-Senate committee to negotiate a final agreement, but Democrats are threatening to use a procedural motion to scuttle Senate action unless the GOP amendments are withdrawn.
"I wish they could do something besides legislation that has been already circled for veto pen action by the president," Cantwell said after the House vote. A House-Senate "conference that starts with that as the baseline is not going to be a productive effort."
Senators from both parties are expected to discuss the bill at closed-door luncheons on Tuesday.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the House-approved bill was nothing more than "a partisan, special interest package that fails to invest in infrastructure, leads to more energy consumption and carbon pollution, stacks the deck against the environment and ... undermines protections for our public lands and wildlife."
Republicans defended the measure.
"This bill is about jobs. It's about keeping energy affordable. It's about boosting our energy security, here and across the globe," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Eight Democrats joined 233 Republicans to support the bill, while 178 lawmakers- including six Republicans - opposed it.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said the GOP bill "modernizes our energy infrastructure so we can address urgent priorities for the country, from tackling California's drought crisis to healing our forests in order to prevent wildfires."
The next steps are unclear.
"It's really hard to see how this thing moves forward," said Marc Boom, associate director of government affairs for the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. "I don't see why senators who worked very hard on a bipartisan process would want to get into the (negotiating) room with a partisan product" like the House bill.
Even so, Murkowski professed optimism, especially given the overwhelming vote in the Senate. "There's just so much good in this, let's figure out how we can get going," she said.
Cantwell did not rule out participation by Senate Democrats in a House-Senate conference, but said, "A 21st-century energy policy has nothing to do with rolling back environmental laws. It should be about smart investments in American infrastructure, innovation and new technologies."
Heritage Action for America, the lobbying arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation, strongly opposed the Senate bill, especially proposals to support renewable energy and extend authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which protects parks and other public lands.
While Heritage is confident that House Republicans will hold the line on the bill, Democratic efforts to scuttle the measure may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, spokesman Dan Holler said. "If the result of Democrat obstructionism is that they snuff out awful policy, that's fine with us," he said.
Phil Sharp, a former Democratic congressman who now serves as president of Resources for the Future, a nonpartisan think tank, said the energy bill poses "a real test" for Congress, especially Ryan and other House GOP leaders.
"Do they think they are there to legislate and make progress, or do they want to make a statement about themselves?" Sharp said. "Speaker Ryan suggests this is an important priority for him. We'll see if that suggests action."
---
Reach Matthew Daly: <a href="http://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC</a>
© 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

New US energy bill in serious jeopardy

New US energy bill in serious jeopardy. Congressional efforts to...

Operation IceBridge completes 2016 Arctic spring campaign. Operation IceBridge, NASA's airborne survey of polar ice, ended its eighth spring Arctic campaign on May 21. During their five weeks of operations, mission scientists carried out six research flights over sea ice and ten over land ice.
<div>

"We collected data over key portions of the Greenland Ice Sheet, like the fast-changing Zachariae Isstrom Glacier, and we got the broad geographic coverage of Arctic sea ice we needed," said Nathan Kurtz, IceBridge's project scientist and a sea ice researcher at <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=nasa&amp;cvid=5389b833084446988710430256cdccd4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">NASA's</a> Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "This is an important continuation of the time series for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-rate-of-melting-ice-in-antarctica-is-not-consistent/">Arctic</a> ice, particularly with the very warm Arctic winter noticeably impacting sea ice retreat and ice sheet melt onset this year." Operation IceBridge completes 2016 Arctic spring campaign

The 2016 Arctic campaign's inaugural research flight took place April 19 aboard one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Hunter planes, a P-3 Orion. This year's deployment was shorter than normal due to aircraft maintenance issues and persistent bad weather in the north of Greenland. The first part of the campaign --based out of Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland and also out of Fairbanks, Alaska-- focused on sea ice.

"The good news is that we covered the entire western Arctic basin," said Jackie Richter-Menge, IceBridge science team co-lead and sea ice researcher with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, New Hampshire.

In the coming weeks, IceBridge scientists will be releasing a dataset of sea ice measurements that were collected during this deployment. Modelers will use the data --together with other measurements, such as those of the European Space Agency's (ESA) CryoSat-2 satellite-- to try to forecast how the upcoming melt season will evolve.

"This year we're looking at the potential of an extremely low sea ice extent, so IceBridge's measurements of sea ice will be particularly relevant," Richter-Menge said.

During this campaign the IceBridge aircraft flew under the path of Sentinel-3A, a recently launched ESA satellite that carries a radar altimeter that gauges sea ice thickness. Scientists will compare the Sentinel-3A measurements to the data IceBridge collected over the same spots with its radar and laser altimeters. This comparison will help validate and refine Sentinel-3A's data gathering.

The last leg of this year's springtime Arctic deployment was based out of Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, and focused on measuring changes in the elevation of the ice sheet.

"Unlike with the sea ice portion of the campaign, we had a streak of good weather in Kangerlussuaq and the science flights picked up -- we flew 10 out of 11 possible flight days," said John Sonntag, IceBridge mission scientist. "It was a very positive way to end our deployment."

This summer, IceBridge will conduct two additional campaigns to measure the impact of the melt season on Arctic sea and land ice. The first one will take place in late July and will be based out of Barrow, Alaska, focusing on the sea ice cover in the Beaufort Sea. The second one, planned for late August to early September, will be based in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, and repeat land ice missions that IceBridge completed in May, to measure how fast ice thins during the upcoming melt season. The Barrow campaign will last about two weeks, while the Kangerlussuaq deployment will go on for three weeks.

While in Kangerlussuaq, Operation IceBridge hosted several visitors: a TV crew from Spain working on a documentary about climate change in the Arctic; a freelance photographer; four IceBridge-affiliated scientists; and Kelly McCarthy, a science and math teacher from Coal Township, Pennsylvania, who visited IceBridge through the National Science Foundation's PolarTREC educational program.

Also new to the flights was Joe MacGregor, the recently-appointed IceBridge deputy project scientist and a land ice researcher with Goddard.

"It was a fantastic experience," MacGregor said. "It was nice to experience the raw challenges of collecting data and the decision-making process involved in moving forward with the campaign."

The mission of Operation IceBridge is to collect data on changing polar land and sea ice and maintain continuity of measurements between ICESat missions. The original ICESat mission ended in 2009, and its successor, ICESat-2, is scheduled for launch in 2018. Operation IceBridge is currently funded until 2019. The planned overlap with ICESat-2 will help scientists validate the satellite's measurements.

During its eight years of operations in the Arctic, IceBridge has gathered large volumes of data on changes in the elevation of the ice sheet and its internal structure. Measurements from IceBridge have revealed a 460-mile-long (740 kilometers) canyon hiding under a mile of ice and mapped the extent of a vast liquid water aquifer beneath the snow in southern Greenland. IceBridge's readings of the thickness of sea ice and its snow cover have helped scientists improve forecasts for the summer melt season and have enhanced the understanding of variations in ice thickness distribution from year to year.
###
NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia provided the laser altimeter and one of the infrared cameras that were used during IceBridge's 2016 Arctic spring campaign. IceBridge's three radar instruments came from the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets at the University of Kansas, while NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, provided the Digital Mapping System, and the University of Colorado loaned the second infrared camera.

For more about Operation IceBridge, visit: <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/icebridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www. nasa. gov/ icebridge</a>

</div>

Operation IceBridge completes 2016 Arctic spring campaign

Operation IceBridge completes 2016 Arctic spring campaign. Operation IceBridge, NASA's...

What satellites show us about rapid warming in the Arctic. It is not news that Earth has been warming rapidly over the last 100 years as greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere. But not all warming has been happening equally rapidly everywhere. Temperatures in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-penguins-need-protection-from-human-activities/">Arctic</a>, for example, are rising much faster than the rest of the planet.
Patrick Taylor, an atmospheric scientist at <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=nasa&amp;cvid=e429107cef504b978254e8f52e44c791&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">NASA's</a> Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, says that one of the main factors for the rapid warming in the Arctic is how clouds interact with frozen seawater, known as sea ice.
These interactions influence the Arctic’s albedo feedback, which is a term scientists use to describe changes in the amount of solar energy absorbed by the Earth due to changes in the Earth's albedo caused by increased greenhouse gases. What satellites show us about rapid warming in the Arctic

The Earth's albedo is basically the fraction of sunlight that it reflects. Understanding what influences the Arctic’s albedo is particularly important, as its bright snow and ice make it one of the regions with the highest capacity to reflect solar energy.

Taylor's observations were possible thanks in part to new technology like NASA’s CALIPSO and CloudSat missions and an enhanced data product fusing together these unique instruments, which have been orbiting the planet since 2006 to provide more accurate measurements of clouds.

"The unique ability of CALIPSO and CloudSat instruments to provide very accurate knowledge of the vertical distribution of clouds was critical to this study," Taylor said.
Previous ideas about the Arctic were that its warming would likely be buffered -- or slowed down -- during summer by clouds, and Taylor explained why it’s reasonable to think that would happen in the summer. Arctic summers mean more sunlight to melt sea ice, which historically has covered huge areas of the ocean. Less sea ice results in the ocean absorbing more solar energy, causing it to warm, but then also allows for more water to evaporate into the atmosphere.
And since water droplets and tiny ice particles make up clouds, increased water vapor could result in cloudier skies that could then reflect sunlight.
"If the clouds were to increase in summer, that would then slow down the rate of melting," Taylor said. "That has been the thinking for a lot of years."
However, Taylor has been finding that the role of clouds and sea ice for Arctic climate change may be more complex than previously hypothesized. Using CALIPSO-CloudSAT satellite observations spanning from 2006 to 2010, he showed that cloud concentrations differed between ocean and sea ice much less than previously thought in summer.
His findings, which also showed an increase in clouds during fall season, were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.
"There's no cloud response in summer to melting sea ice, which means it is likely that clouds are not slowing down the Arctic climate change that is happening—clouds aren't really providing the expected stabilizing feedback," Taylor said. "The fact that you are melting sea ice and uncovering more ocean and the fact that clouds don't increase during summer means that they are not buffering or reducing the rate of the warming, which implies the Arctic could warm faster than climate models suggest."
Clouds are a two-edged sword when it comes to climate change. They have both cooling and warming effects not just in the Arctic but across the entire planet. During the day, white and bright clouds reflect part of the sunlight hitting the planet back into space. At night, however, they act as a blanket that doesn't completely allow day-accumulated heat to escape into space.
This "blanket" mechanism is evident in just about any place on Earth.
"If you think about cold winter nights, normally the coldest ones we get have clear skies," Taylor said. "But if you have winter nights that actually have clouds, those tend to be a little warmer."
In the Arctic, this warming effect of clouds could influence sea ice during fall and winter, when the sun disappears for months and darker skies overlie oceans and land that spent an entire summer absorbing sunlight.
Although further research needs to be conducted, Taylor said the increased clouds he observed in the fall seasons could slow down the process of refreezing sea ice through the winter. Slow refreezing could translate into summers with less and thinner sea ice -- <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/2016-arctic-sea-ice-wintertime-extent-hits-another-record-low">something NASA satellites have already detected</a>.
It's a feedback loop.
"That's what my results imply," Taylor said. "More clouds in the fall may delay or slow down the refreezing of sea ice, and that can lead to a thinner or more susceptible ice pack that will melt more quickly when spring and summer come around."

Taylor also said one thing that is becoming more evident, thanks in part to his research, is that sea ice isn't controlling cloud behavior in the Arctic as much as previously thought. His study shows that different meteorological conditions like temperature, humidity and winds may be influencing Arctic clouds almost 10 times more than sea ice. What satellites show us about rapid warming in the Arctic

These conditions, which contribute to what is known as atmospheric stability, influence whether clouds form and remain close to the sea ice or ocean surface. Taylor said high atmospheric stability restricts a lot of energy exchanges between the surface and the atmosphere.

"That seems to be the reason we found more of a cloud response in fall but not in summer," he said. "We knew going in that meteorology was likely going to be important, but we were surprised it was so important."

Previous research on sea ice and cloud dynamics in the Arctic studied relationships between monthly averaged sea ice and clouds. Looking at the same months over several years, for example, they analyzed whether an area showed increases or decreases in clouds given its sea ice concentrations.

Taylor's study involved a more detailed approach gathering satellite imagery within shorter time spans and sorted them out by what he called atmospheric state regimes. In other words, he classified images of clouds and sea ice over the Arctic depending on whether conditions included certain amounts of humidity, temperature, or wind patterns.

Taylor said the study's design is very much like a preschool sorting activity, where teachers ask children to sort colored blocks into their respective color bins.

"It's really just a fancy way of sorting," he said. "The difference is that we are using atmospheric states and sea ice concentrations—not colors—and saying, 'this cloud is in this environment, so which bin should it go to?'"

Taylor is now trying to find out what's the implication of his results to Arctic energy budget and surface temperature, which are important factors to consider when simulating the future of Arctic sea ice.

"We found some cloud changes in the fall and some responses of clouds to sea ice, so the next question is: How important are they?" he said.

"These measurements have been invaluable to the study of Arctic clouds because for the first time we know for sure how much cloud cover is there and how high clouds are located," Taylor said. "We've been kind of flying in the dark for a long time when it comes to observing Arctic clouds."

--

<a href="http://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NASA</a>

What satellites show us about rapid warming in the Arctic

What satellites show us about rapid warming in the Arctic....

Arctic Sky

Environmental groups push for a stronger Polar Code. When the Polar Code takes effect in January 2017, it will strengthen the rules for many of the vessels sailing through Arctic waters. It will help protect the Arctic environment, but experts say gaps remain.

THE FIRST-EVER GLOBAL framework governing commercial shipping in polar zones isn’t even in effect, yet activists and scientists are already pushing for stronger environmental protections.

The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters, known as the “Polar Code,” was adopted in a series of votes by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2014 and 2015. The agreement, much of which enters force in January 2017, establishes standards for ships operating in the icy waters of the Arctic and Antarctic.

“We’re calling it a first phase. Not everyone does,” said Andrew Dumbrille, WWF-Canada’s oceans and Arctic manager.

Environmental groups have praised the IMO and industry stakeholders for negotiating a binding framework where previously there was none, but they continue to push for a broader regime that covers more maritime activity and adds further environmental protections, said Dumbrille.

<img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2394111" src="http://cff1.greenatom.net/uploads/2016/06/07094244/arctic-polar-map_1big_IMO-150x150.jpg" alt="arctic-polar-map_1big_IMO" width="150" height="150" />The Polar Code amends the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and its corresponding pollution conventions. But SOLAS applies only to large vessels of 500 gross tons and more. That distinction means tankers, bulk carriers and cruise ships fall under the Polar Code regulations, while fishing boats, yachts and smaller adventure vessels do not, which left environmental groups dissatisfied.

“Right now the conversation around the Polar Code is whether to include non-SOLAS vessels. People are scratching their heads as to how you would actually apply it to fishing vessels. I think there is a broad understanding that it needs to happen,” said Dumbrille.

The challenge with fishing boats, Dumbrille said, is that home nations generally try to keep a firm grasp on regulation of their own fleets, making international agreements more difficult.

The environmental protocols ban discharges of oil, oily mixtures, plastics and noxious chemicals from ships traveling north of a boundary that ranges between 58 degrees N and 73 degrees N. In North America, the rules are in effect above 60 degrees N. Most sewage and food wastes cannot be dumped overboard within 12 nautical miles of an ice shelf – a thick, floating ice sheet attached to the coast.

Dumbrille said there should be a complete ban on discharging untreated sewage. The code also lacks curbs on the release of “gray water,” or non-sewage waste water from sinks, showers and clothes washing. Some vessels can store sewage and gray water on board for long periods, but others would need to install larger tanks or treatment systems.

<img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2394110" src="http://cff1.greenatom.net/uploads/2016/06/07094240/arctic-polar-code-graphic-150x150.jpg" alt="arctic-polar-code-graphic" width="150" height="150" />Ecologists were disappointed that the Polar Code did not ban ships from using heavy fuel oil (bunker fuel) in the Arctic or carrying it as cargo. Burning heavy fuel oil (HFO) creates black carbon (fine soot) that speeds up melting when it falls on snow and ice. Unlike other fuels, HFO does not evaporate, but sticks to feathers and fur and can smother organisms. Dumbrille said Russia, in particular, blocked the measures because its northernmost communities tend to use heavy oil to generate electricity. Communities in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia are more likely to use cleaner diesel fuel.

Even so, a spill could be costly. “I still believe that the first thing that’s going to happen is a diesel release from a tourist vessel that wants to get just a little bit closer and closer to see the spectacular flora and fauna, and runs aground in a shallow area,” said Christopher Reddy, a marine chemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. “A spill like that in the wrong place at the wrong time can be pretty devastating.”

Policymakers should rely on science to identify sensitive areas and do what’s necessary to minimize the likelihood of a spill there, Reddy said.

It is a complex process to pinpoint the most vulnerable feeding, calving, migration and bird zones in polar regions, where the climate evolves rapidly. “I don’t think we have a good baseline in understanding these habitats and habitat sensitivities for the Arctic,” he added. “A place that is a very good breeding ground today might be very different five years from now.”

The Polar Code’s vessel safety standards include the need for ice-strengthened hulls, properly trained ice navigators, mandatory cold-weather gear and customized safe-voyage plans. Even if certain pollutants are not banned, these shipbuilding and operational requirements reduce the risk of an oil spill, said Lawson Brigham, a former U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker commander who is now a professor of geography and Arctic policy at the University of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=alaska&amp;form=EDGEAR&amp;qs=HS&amp;cvid=a134a638d28e4692afb8344c37bf4332&amp;cc=US&amp;setlang=en-US&amp;elv=AXK1c4IvZoNqPoPnS%21QRLOMAjS%21RFp6jzZWJ7AkCsIYKx2EAi9ADDTYaDaGGScuQCXDhsh3HWQYAqguf2pE2ITzBfF5KiMcWF8zwJZtAwUcF&amp;plvar=0&amp;PC=HCTS">Alaska</a> Fairbanks.

“The Polar Code is a historic and seminal marine safety and protection regime for the polar waters,” Brigham said. “The No.1 thing that is needed to be done is to create a framework to move forward. It’s not as comprehensive as some might like (but) it deals with the prevention side and preventing (spills) from happening.”Environmental groups push for a stronger Polar Code

Reddy and <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-find-a-supernova-that-is-so-bright-it-only-existed-in-theory/">Brigham</a> noted that an immediate concern is the lack of emergency assets in the vast seas. Very little equipment is available for spill containment, search and rescue, salvage or ship repair.

“There is a huge infrastructure gap,” Brigham said.

At IMO sessions later this year, the WWF and other participants intend to hold side meetings to discuss strengthening ecological safeguards and offering indigenous peoples a greater voice. Dumbrille said native villages need better protection from spills and more clean-up equipment.

“We need to empower and train and put resources in local communities,” he said. “Ultimately they are the first responders. It’s going to wash up on their shores and impact what they eat.”

---

Credit: UPI

<a href="https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arctic Deeply</a>

Environmental groups push for a stronger Polar Code

Environmental groups push for a stronger Polar Code. When the...

Study: Global warming stunts flower fragrances. New research shows flower fragrances are stunted when ambient temperatures are higher.

Few things in the natural world come cheaply. Giving off perfume requires a significant energy investment from plants. According to scientists at the Hebrew University of <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Jerusalem&amp;cvid=ab9396ad6bdc47bca09943429aa5444c&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS">Jerusalem</a>, it's an investment plants often can't afford as rising temperatures suppress growth.

Scent isn't a luxury. Like color, shape and other aesthetic flourishes, it's an important strategy for attracting pollinators. Study: Global warming stunts flower fragrances

"Increases in temperature associated with the changing global climate are interfering with plant-pollinator mutualism, an interaction facilitated mainly by floral color and scent," researcher Alon Can'ani recently explained.

Can'ani found two hybrid petunia varieties grown at higher temperatures produce fewer phenylpropanoids, the volatile compounds that give flowers their unique scents. The diminished production was linked to a reduced activity of proteins that synthesize these compounds.

The research was published in the journal Plant, Cell &amp; Environment.

Can'ani's research focuses on the process of scent production in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-parasitic-plants-survive-with-no-body/">plants</a>.

Each flower fragrance can consist of hundreds of volatile compounds from a variety of biochemical groups. The genetic mechanisms underlying the production of these compounds are not well understood.

In a separate study, Can'ani showed that phenylpropanoid production could be maintained or increased regardless of ambient temperature by augmenting the Arabidopsis thaliana PAP1 gene.

The second study was published in the journal New Phytologist.

---

Credit: UPI

<a href="http://new.huji.ac.il/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hebrew University of Jerusalem</a>

Study: Global warming stunts flower fragrances

Study: Global warming stunts flower fragrances. New research shows flower...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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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

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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



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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

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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



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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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