Submarine canyons are giant valleys carved into the ocean floor, and they play a big role in how the ocean functions. A new study is finally shedding light on some of the least explored ones - those hidden beneath Earth’s icy edges.



Scientists have created the most detailed catalog yet of submarine canyons in Antarctica, identifying 332 canyon networks, some plunging deeper than 4,000 meters (2.48 miles).



The work comes from researchers at the <a href="https://web.ub.edu/en/">University of Barcelona</a> and <a href="https://www.ucc.ie/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College Cork</a>.



The study reveals how these deep canyons may affect ocean circulation, melting of ice shelves, and global sea levels. It also uncovers how different East and West Antarctica really are beneath the surface.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-canyons-shape-ocean-ecosystems">Canyons shape ocean ecosystems</h2>



Submarine canyons aren’t just geological curiosities. They transport sediments and nutrients from the coast into deeper waters, link shallow and deep ocean layers, and host ecosystems teeming with life.



Roughly 10,000 canyons are known across the globe, but only about 27 percent of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/only-001-percent-of-earths-deep-seafloor-has-ever-been-directly-observed/">seafloor</a> has been mapped in high resolution. That leaves a lot of room for surprises.



David Amblàs of the Consolidated Research Group on Marine Geosciences at the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the University of Barcelona is the study's lead author. 



“Like those in the Arctic, Antarctic submarine canyons resemble canyons in other parts of the world,” he said. “But they tend to be larger and deeper because of the prolonged action of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-polar-ice-sheets-cant-withstand-1-5c-warming-target/">polar ice</a> and the immense volumes of sediment transported by glaciers to the continental shelf.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peering-beneath-antarctic-ice">Peering beneath Antarctic ice</h2>



The study used Version 2 of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO v2), the most detailed map yet of Antarctica's seafloor. 



By combining new high-resolution bathymetric data with a semi-automated analysis method, the researchers were able to classify 15 canyon characteristics across the continent.



“Some of the submarine canyons we analyzed reach depths of over 4,000 meters (2.48 miles),” said Amblàs. “The most spectacular of these are in East Antarctica, which is characterized by complex, branching canyon systems."



"The systems often begin with multiple canyon heads near the edge of the continental shelf and converge into a single main channel that descends into the deep ocean, crossing the sharp, steep gradients of the continental slope.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-antarctic-worlds-below">Two Antarctic worlds below</h2>



One of the key findings of the study was how different the canyons are between East and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-loss-increases-snowfall-over-west-antarctica/">West Antarctica</a>.



“It was particularly interesting to see the differences between canyons in the two major Antarctic regions, as this hadn’t been described before,” said Riccardo Arosio of the Marine Geosciences Research Group at University College Cork.



East Antarctic canyons formed slowly beneath glaciers, shaped by erosion and deposition, while West Antarctic canyons are steeper and more V-shaped. According to Amblàs, this isn’t just a curiosity - it points to a deeper climate history.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025322725001331#f0020" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/antarctica_submarine-canyons_first-maps-ever_credit-Marine-Geology_1s.webp" alt="A new high-resolution catalogue identifies 332 submarine canyon networks on the seafloor of the Antarctic continent. Credit: Marine Geology" class="wp-image-1979060"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A new high-resolution catalogue identifies 332 submarine canyon networks on the seafloor of the Antarctic continent. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Marine Geology</figcaption></figure>



“This morphological difference supports the idea that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet originated earlier and has undergone a more prolonged development,” he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-analyzing-canyons-more-effectively">Analyzing canyons more effectively </h2>



The resolution of the new seafloor map gave researchers the precision they needed to analyze the canyons more effectively.



This high-resolution map enabled more reliable, semi-automated analysis of submarine canyons than earlier, lower-resolution versions.



“We also developed a GIS software script that allows us to calculate a wide range of canyon-specific morphometric parameters in just a few clicks,” said Arosio.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-canyons-drive-deep-currents">Canyons drive deep currents</h2>



The underwater canyons do more than carve up the seafloor. They play a quiet but powerful role in the climate. Canyons help move cold, dense water formed near Antarctica’s ice shelves into the deep ocean.



This process creates Antarctic Bottom Water, which helps drive global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/collapse-of-main-atlantic-ocean-circulaton-current-amoc-is-already-happening/">ocean circulation</a>. At the same time, the canyons also allow warmer water from the open ocean to reach the coast.



This warm water, called Circumpolar Deep Water, can slip under floating ice shelves, melting them from below and weakening their structure.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-models-struggle-with-canyons">Models struggle with canyons</h2>



When ice shelves collapse, they no longer hold glaciers in place - and those glaciers can surge into the sea, directly contributing to sea level rise.



The researchers note that today’s ocean models don’t do a good job of simulating what happens in places like this. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/antarctica_submarine-canyons_coastline_study-area-map_credit-Marine-Geology_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/antarctica_submarine-canyons_coastline_study-area-map_credit-Marine-Geology_1s.webp" alt="Overview of the study area, with zone subdivision and extent of the MBES cover (https://ibcso.org/current_version/). The Coastline of Antarctica and different ice occupation areas were obtained from Gerrish et al. (2023)." class="wp-image-1979058"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Overview of the study area, with zone subdivision and extent of the MBES cover. The Coastline of Antarctica and different ice occupation areas were obtained from Gerrish et al. (2023). Click image to enlarge. Credit: Marine Geology</figcaption></figure>



Climate models struggle to capture how water moves through complex seafloor features like canyons at local scales.



These missing pieces include current channeling, deep mixing, and other dynamics critical to forming and transforming cold, dense water. Without factoring in these local canyon effects, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-underestimate-sea-ice-melt-and-global-warming/">climate models</a> risk being off the mark.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-canyons-still-hidden-in-antarctica">Canyons still hidden in Antarctica </h2>



According to the researchers, gathering high-resolution bathymetric data in unmapped areas will surely reveal new canyons.



The team also pointed out the need for more direct and remote data to improve climate models and make projections about climate change impacts more accurate.



Antarctica still hides many of its secrets beneath the ice and sea. But studies like this are giving us better tools to understand what's really going on - and what it means for the planet.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025322725001331?via%3Dihub">Marine Geology</a>.



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Antarctica is hiding hundreds of massive underwater canyons

Submarine canyons are giant valleys carved into the ocean floor, and they play a big role in how the ocean functions. A new study is finally shedding light on some of the least explored ones - those hidden beneath Earth’s icy edges. Scientists have created the most detailed catalog yet of submarine canyons in Antarctica, identifying 332 canyon networks, some plunging deeper than 4,000 meters (2.48 miles). The work comes from researchers at the University of Barcelona and University College Cork. The study reveals how these deep...

Wildfires serve as a stark reminder of the world’s profound interconnectedness, where an event in one region can ripple across borders and manifest tangible repercussions elsewhere. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-wildfires-have-doubled-in-the-last-20-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Climate-driven wildfires</a> in Canada are transferring toxic chemicals through the air, reaching as far as the Northeastern U.S., thereby affecting air quality and raising significant health concerns. This alarming phenomenon was Investigated by researchers at <a href="https://sph.rutgers.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rutgers School of Public Health</a>.



The experts assessed the physical and chemical characteristics of wildfire-related particulate matter, marking the first such characterization from a climate-driven wildfire event in the densely populated Northeast region.



“Particulate matter is a leading environmental factor in the global burden of disease, with climate-driven wildfires being a major source,” said Professor Jose Guillermo "Memo" Cedeño Laurent. “In the U.S., climate change-driven wildfires are reversing decade-long improvements in ambient <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/twenty-years-of-air-quality-improvement-erased-by-wildfires/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">air quality</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfires-unleash-toxic-chemicals">Wildfires unleash toxic chemicals </h2>



The findings of the study are momentous, to say the least. The researchers used advanced physicochemical analysis to discover that the particulate matter transferred by these wildfires is packed with high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) -<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-may-trigger-lung-cancer-in-non-smokers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cancer-causing</a> organic compounds.



These toxic substances, especially during the peak of the incident on June 7, were found in concentrations nearly ten times larger than the national air quality standards.



“We found very large concentrations of ultrafine and fine particulate matter during the peak of this wildfire, surpassing almost 10 times the national air quality standards and any previous record in more than five decades of air quality monitoring in the U.S. Northeast,” said Cedeño Laurent.



Study senior author Professor Philip Demokritou emphasized the gravity of these findings: “Such small particles have the ability to penetrate deep in the lung and can cause adverse health effects, as recently reported in the New York City area by epidemiological studies.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threats-of-wildfires">Invisible threats of wildfires</h2>



Particulate matter is no ordinary pollution. The researchers confirmed that these particles have the capability to infiltrate deep into the lungs, causing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-smoke-is-an-underestimated-threat-to-public-health/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adverse health effects</a>.



In fact, the study showed that a 72-hour exposure to particulate matter (PM10) resulted in more than 9 micrograms of particles being deposited in the lungs.



This high concentration of ultrafine particles and their substantial PAH content are now guiding several ongoing mechanistic studies.



“Our findings on the extremely high concentrations of ultrafine particles and their significant PAH content are proving to be invaluable in guiding several ongoing mechanistic studies at NAMC,” noted Cedeño Laurent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unraveling-the-effects-of-particulate-matter">Unraveling the effects of particulate matter</h2>



The experts are not stopping at identifying the presence of these particles; they are delving into their impact on various organs. Ongoing studies are investigating the effects on the lungs, heart, brain, and reproductive system.



Reynold Panettieri and Joseph Jude at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Bruce Levy and Yohannes Tesfaigzi at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston are investigating the effects of particulate matter on the lungs.



Studies on the heart impacts are being led by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s cardiovascular program, while the brain impacts are being analyzed by David Leong at the National University of Singapore.



Furthermore, Shuo Xiao and Andrew Gow at the Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy are studying the effects of these pollutants on the reproductive system.



“Findings will advance our understanding of the physical and chemical characteristics of wildfire smoke and its impact on human health,” noted Cedeño Laurent.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-need-for-new-air-quality-strategies">Urgent need for new air quality strategies</h2>



The researchers believe that their data highlights the need for further investigation into the physical and chemical processes of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-from-farming-and-wildfires-is-more-likely-to-cause-dementia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfire-related air pollution</a> compared to non-wildfire pollution.



This will enable public health assessors to evaluate risks better and develop strategies to mitigate these risks for communities, especially those already compromised by air pollution.



“Results from our study can be used by public health assessors to evaluate risk and develop strategies to help our communities, especially those in areas already compromised by air pollution to adapt to the increasing wildfire phenomena," said Demokritou.



Additionally, the researchers noted that their results offer novel insights into the evolving composition of particulate matter.



The analysis of the particulate matter’s optical properties will be featured in a companion study led by Georgios Kelesidis, a Rutgers School of Public Health affiliate. The research will examine the effect that particulate matter from wildfires has on the Earth’s temperature and its further influence on climate change in densely populated cities.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c02016" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.



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Climate-driven wildfires worsen U.S. air quality and health

Wildfires serve as a stark reminder of the world’s profound...

As we stagger under a blazing sun, racing towards unbeaten high temperatures, not everyone is aware of or understands the symptoms of heat-related illnesses or knows where to find a cooling center for relief.



With the increasing connection between scorching heat and climate change, it is crucial to arm ourselves with knowledge and resources. 



The Annenberg Public Policy Center (<a href="https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">APPC</a>) from the <a href="https://www.upenn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Pennsylvania</a> has been working tirelessly to fill this knowledge gap.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperatures-continue-to-rise">Temperatures continue to rise</h2>



Powered by NASA data, the APPC reveals that a record-shattering day took place on July 22, 2024, that could potentially mark July as the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-earths-hottest-day-ever-was-recorded-on-july-22-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hottest month ever witnessed</a>.



The mid-July survey sheds light on startling insights about public awareness, or the lack thereof, regarding heat-related illness and cooling center locations.



A major chunk of people, precisely 67%, reported not knowing the whereabouts of their nearest cooling center. The need for improved public awareness, especially among the most vulnerable, cannot be overstated. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-closer-look-at-cooling-centers">Closer look at cooling centers</h2>



Cooling centers, such as libraries, community and senior centers, and schools, serve as a haven of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/feeling-the-heat-rising-temperatures-push-the-limits-of-the-human-body/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relief during extremely hot days</a>. 



Despite city governments' efforts to publicize these locations, the APPC's survey reveals a significant knowledge gap.



Interestingly, the survey also shows a sharp rise in public awareness linking climate change to an increased risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory diseases, and insect-borne diseases. 



From November 2023 to the present, there has been a significant uptick in this awareness, with 67% of respondents now holding this view, compared to 58% previously.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signs-of-heat-related-illness">Signs of heat-related illness</h2>



Although public awareness about cooling centers is lacking, most people are aware of three <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/billions-of-people-endured-an-extra-month-of-extreme-heat-in-the-past-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">telling signs</a> of heat-related illnesses. They include dizziness (89%), nausea (83%), and hot, red, dry, or damp skin (72%).



Looking at the bigger picture, 58% of the survey's respondents believe people in their community are more prone to heat stroke caused by extreme heat waves in the coming decade. 



This is a significant increase from the November 2023 survey, which recorded just over half (52%) holding this view.



In contrast, only a meager 30% recognize that a pregnant person in the U.S. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scorching-reality-extreme-heat-worsens-cognitive-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exposed to extreme heat</a> is more likely to deliver their baby prematurely. This is a crucial piece of information that needs broader dissemination.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cooling-centers-and-heat-related-illness">Cooling centers and heat-related illness</h2>



The APPC's study also indicates a broad awareness among respondents that heat-related deaths are most common among older adults, aged 65 or older. 



Nearly all respondents (92%) also know that drinking water is better for preventing heat-related illnesses than drinking sugary drinks.



This treasure trove of information comes from the 20th wave of a nationally representative panel of 1,496 U.S. adults, first empaneled in April 2021 and conducted for the APPC by SSRS, an independent market research company. 



The APPC's team, now three years into tracking American public's knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warmer-temperatures-directly-linked-to-severe-vision-impairment-in-older-adults/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">critical health issues</a>, continues its tireless work on this knowledge survey panel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-awareness">Importance of awareness</h2>



Education plays a pivotal role in enhancing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-people-attribute-extreme-heat-and-wildfires-to-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">public awareness</a> about heat-related illnesses and the associated risks. 



Schools, community organizations, and local governments can implement educational campaigns to inform individuals about the symptoms of heat-induced health issues and the importance of staying hydrated. 



Workshops, flyers, and social media campaigns can serve as effective tools in this initiative, ensuring that vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and outdoor workers, receive critical information about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/what-temperature-threshold-can-the-human-body-handle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heat safety</a>.



Establishing clear communication channels for sharing updates about heat advisories and cooling centers will also foster a more informed community.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-engagement-initiatives">Community engagement initiatives</h2>



To bridge the awareness gap highlighted by the APPC survey, communities can launch engagement initiatives that encourage action and collaboration. 



“Communities must do a better job of making the public, especially the most vulnerable, aware of these centers,” said Ken Winneg, managing director of survey research at APPC.



Partnering with local businesses and healthcare providers, community leaders can organize outreach programs that provide resources and support during heat waves. 



Events such as "Cooling Center Days," where community members are invited to visit cooling centers and learn about heat safety, can foster a proactive approach to combating heat-related illnesses. 



Additionally, trainings for staff at local institutions can equip them to assist individuals in distress, ensuring that communities are prepared to face extreme heat together.



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Recognizing symptoms of heat-related illness as temperatures rise

As we stagger under a blazing sun, racing towards unbeaten...

AI is driving a transformation in climate-conscious farming, particularly in the livestock sector, where reducing emissions is critical.&nbsp;



In 2020, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reducing-carbon-footprint-urban-farms-and-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agricultural activities</a> were responsible for releasing 16 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, with cattle-related meat and milk production contributing around 3.8 billion tons.



Increasing the efficiency and output of cattle grazing without enlarging its environmental footprint has become an essential goal in emission reduction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-innovative-ai-approaches-in-farming">Innovative AI approaches in farming</h2>



In a comprehensive research paper titled "Pixels to pasture: Using machine learning and multispectral remote sensing to predict biomass and nutrient quality in tropical grasslands," a team of dedicated researchers from the <a href="https://www.gla.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Glasgow</a> and the <a href="https://alliancebioversityciat.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT</a> offers a unique approach. 



This involves the use of information from satellites and predictive modeling to assess grazing pastures both in terms of quantity (biomass) and quality (protein, digestibility, and ash content).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-and-satellites-for-farming">AI and satellites for farming</h2>



According to plant eco-physiologist Juan Andrés Cardoso Arango, evaluating all the factors determining pasture quantity and quality has been traditionally challenging.&nbsp;



He explains that the use of a small drone could only cover nine hectares at best, and handheld tools would cover even less.&nbsp;



This is where the research team's "scale-neutral" system shines. It is capable of <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/satellite-data-helps-prevent-excessive-irrigation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">gathering data via satellite</a> over multiple square kilometers at a time, yet suitable for a farmer with just one-hectare of land.



The system leverages freely available satellite imagery databases and technological advances in AI processing - considerably accelerating the analysis speed. 



"When I started in 2018, nobody knew about machine learning, now you can have this information faster than before," noted Arango.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-at-the-helm">AI at the helm</h2>



Diana María Gutiérrez Zapata, a senior research associate and data analysis specialist, points out that predicting pasture productivity and quality using remote sensing has always been difficult due to numerous influencing factors and data restrictions.&nbsp;



However, by better characterizing productive systems and capturing more accurate data, there is significant potential to develop high-performance predictive models.



These models, as Zapata explains, can lead to digital tools for strategic decision-making, enabling farmers to optimize pasture management and better manage risks within their production systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-future-is-bright">The future is bright</h2>



The team envisions a future where a farmer can easily locate their farm on a platform (similar to Google Maps) and check the quantity and quality of their forage.&nbsp;



Moreover, this system stands to be an invaluable tool in a changing climate, where timely information about expected pasture production or quality is crucial for risk management.



Accelerating the data acquisition process for farmers would not only improve resource utilization but also positively impact the environment by reducing emissions and waste - a step directly aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.



According to Brian Barrett, an associate professor from the University of Glasgow, the ultimate goal is to develop better strategies for estimating available forage resources and how pastures would react under different management and climate scenarios. 



With&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-technology-can-detect-plant-diseases-from-above/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">advanced technology</a>&nbsp;like AI and satellite data, the potential to achieve more efficient and profitable farming, as well as enhanced food system sustainability, is very much within reach.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-considerations">Challenges and considerations</h2>



While the integration of AI and satellite technology in farming presents exciting opportunities, it also comes with a unique set of challenges.



One major hurdle is the accessibility and cost of technology for small-scale farmers who may lack the resources to adopt these innovations. Additionally, there is a need for training and education to help farmers effectively utilize AI tools and interpret data accurately. 



Moreover, concerns around data privacy and ownership in agricultural practices must be addressed to foster trust among farmers. 



As the industry evolves, collaboration among stakeholders will be essential to ensure that the benefits of AI-driven solutions are broadly shared and that challenges are collectively tackled.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaborating-for-sustainable-farming">Collaborating for sustainable farming</h2>



Successful integration of AI and satellite technologies in climate-conscious farming requires collaboration among researchers, tech companies, farmers, and policymakers. By working together, these stakeholders can create a supportive ecosystem for adopting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unleashing-the-potential-of-nanotechnology-in-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">innovative tools in agriculture</a>.



Engaging farmers and communities is essential. Educational programs and workshops can demystify AI, helping farmers see how these technologies can optimize their operations.



Policy support is also key. By offering incentives like subsidies or grants, policymakers can encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices, making it easier for them to embrace new technologies.



Through collaboration, we can build a sustainable agricultural landscape that meets the challenges of climate change while ensuring food security for the future.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2352938524001460" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Remote Sensing Applications Society and Environment</a>.



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AI paves the way for climate-conscious farming

AI is driving a transformation in climate-conscious farming, particularly in...

Antarctica, the land of ice and snow, holds more life than you might imagine. A recent study that mapped plant life across the continent for the first time unveils surprising insights.



Covering mosses, lichens, and algae, the research uncovers a wealth of greenery expanding even in areas previously believed to be barren. These findings are set to steer conservation initiatives in the region, taking them to new frontiers.



The high-tech survey of Antarctica's plant life involved the use of a satellite belonging to the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>).



Together with data from several summer seasons' worth of field measurements, the survey discovered almost 45 square <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-is-experiencing-rapid-plant-growth-concerning-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kilometers of vegetation</a>.



That's approximately equivalent to triple the size of Lake Windermere in the UK's Lake District.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-life-of-antarctica">Plant life of Antarctica</h2>



A group of international researchers discovered that over 80% of the vegetation discovered thrives in the Antarctic Peninsula and neighboring islands.



Despite the extensive exploration, the team found that the vegetation accounts for a minuscule 0.12 percent of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-glaciers-unleash-invasive-species-into-unexpected-areas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctica’s non-icy area</a>. 



This highlights the need for focused monitoring of areas abundant in vegetation, as these are inadequately shielded by the existing Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) system, according to experts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-silent-warriors-of-antarctica">Silent warriors of Antarctica</h2>



Plant life in Antarctica, mainly mosses and lichens, has developed remarkable adaptations to withstand the region's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-low-antarctic-sea-ice-and-rapid-melting-pace-stuns-climate-scientists/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harsh polar conditions</a>. 



Each plant serves a critical function in the recycling of carbon and nutrients at a local level. Before this study, the extent and distribution of these resilient greens across the continent were largely uncharted.



The exceptional environmental sensitivity of Antarctica’s flora can serve as a reliable measure of regional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-fish-are-increasingly-threatened-by-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>. 



Monitoring these plants within the untouched landscapes of Antarctica might offer insights on the response of similar vegetation in other fragile regions around the world, like some areas of the Arctic.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-mosses-and-lichens">Understanding mosses and lichens</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/plant-encyclopedia/bryophytes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mosses</a> and lichens are tough, tiny organisms that make a big difference in the world. Mosses are small and soft. They usually grow in thick, green patches in damp or shady spots. 



Without roots, they soak up water and nutrients directly through their leaves. Mosses help keep the soil in place, hold moisture, and create homes for small creatures.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-plant-and-lichen-species-are-overlooked-victims-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lichens</a> are a bit different. They are a team made up of a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium. The fungus offers support and shelter, while the algae or cyanobacteria make food through photosynthesis. 



This teamwork lets lichens survive in some of the harshest places on Earth, like icy tundras or bare rock surfaces. Lichens also help turn rocks into soil and provide food for various animals.



Both mosses and lichens are vital for the health of ecosystems, especially in tough environments where few other plants can live.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-influence-of-antarctica-s-plant-diversity">Influence of Antarctica's plant diversity </h2>



"Our continent-wide map reveals crucial details about vegetation in remote, seldom-visited areas," said Charlotte Walshaw, a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh's <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of GeoSciences</a>. 



"This will significantly enhance our understanding of vegetation distribution across the continent and the factors that shape it," she concluded.



"Lichens and mosses in Antarctica face the planet's harshest conditions every day. Only the toughest organisms survive there," said Dr. Claudia Colesie, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences. "With this knowledge, we can now focus on targeted conservation efforts to protect their future."



“Remote sensing approaches such as this are low impact methods to study Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem as well as monitor changes to its vegetation in the future,” noted Dr Andrew Gray from the <a href="https://www.nina.no/english/Home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian Institute for Nature Research</a>, who jointly led the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-technology-in-ecological-research">Role of technology in ecological research</h2>



As our understanding of ecosystems deepens, the integration of advanced technology in ecological research has become increasingly vital. 



The recent aerial survey of Antarctica's plant life exemplifies how innovative tools can enhance our ability to gather data in remote and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-has-lost-3000-billion-tons-of-ice-in-25-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harsh environments</a>.



Technologies such as satellite imagery and remote sensing not only allow researchers to map vegetation efficiently but also provide a broader perspective on ecological changes over time. 



These methods enable scientists to monitor shifts in plant distributions, assess the health of ecosystems, and identify areas at risk from climate change or human activity.



The use of drones with imaging technology is also transforming ecological studies by navigating challenging terrains and capturing detailed imagery. This allows rapid data collection and timely conservation strategies adaptable to a changing climate.



Combining satellite data, field measurements, and drone technology expands our understanding of remote regions. These tools help unveil hidden ecosystems and enhance biodiversity protection. 



Embracing technology in ecological research is vital for effective future conservation and management.



-----



The majority of the research team hailed from the <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Edinburgh</a>, along with the <a href="https://www.nina.no/english/Home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian Institute for Nature Research</a>, <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">British Antarctic Survey</a>, and <a href="https://www.sams.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scottish Association for Marine Science</a>.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01492-4">Nature Geoscience</a>.



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Antarctica hosts more plant life than scientists expected to find

Antarctica, the land of ice and snow, holds more life...

Tipuana trees are emerging as a beacon of hope amidst the serious threat of climate change, which is altering weather patterns and leading to extreme conditions like heatwaves and droughts. 



In São Paulo, Brazil, scientists have discovered that these remarkable trees not only survive but thrive in challenging environments, continuing to provide invaluable contributions to the ecosystem.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drought-in-sao-paulo-s-green-spaces">Drought in São Paulo's green spaces</h2>



In a study focusing on the 2013-14 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drought-kills-trees-faster-than-previously-thought/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a>, scientists observed how this extreme weather event affected urban trees. The researchers studied seasonal changes, noting that usually, a rainy summer should encourage vigorous tree growth.



Surprisingly, Tipuana trees seemed to thrive despite these challenging conditions, exhibiting accelerated photosynthesis and higher growth rates, even under severe weather conditions.



Study co-author Giuliano Locosselli noted: "We need cities to be increasingly resilient in the context of global warming."



Advocating for intentional decisions in tree planting, the argument leans towards species capable of withstanding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-can-flip-forests-from-carbon-sinks-to-carbon-sources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme weather</a>, thereby guaranteeing the provision of indispensable ecosystem services, like carbon capture and temperature regulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-research">Focus of the research </h2>



"Cities are vulnerable to droughts and heatwaves due to the decline in permeable green spaces and the emergence of heat islands," wrote the study authors. 



"To tackle these environmental challenges, many cities adopted ambitious tree-planting initiatives. However, tree tolerance to climate extremes is overlooked even though physiological and growth limitations jeopardize ecosystem services provision."



Notably, the researchers responsible for this vital discovery hail from the <a href="https://www5.usp.br/english/institutional/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of São Paulo</a>’s Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA-USP). Their important work was supported by FAPESP through two separate projects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-areas-the-epicenter-of-climate-change">Urban areas: The epicenter of climate change </h2>



As urbanization progresses, it is estimated that 68% of the global population will be residing in cities by 2050. This rapid expansion, coupled with the growing number of heat islands, increases vulnerability to droughts and other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-will-climate-change-affect-extreme-weather-events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme events</a>.



In an urban environment, the health of plants is often compromised by concrete structures, air pollution, and shifts in microclimates due to rising greenhouse gas emissions. 



Consequently, the urgency for incorporating <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-diversity-makes-forests-more-resilient-against-storms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resilient species</a> such as the Tipuana tree into urban landscapes becomes even more critical. The trees play a pivotal role in enhancing ecosystem services and fostering a healthy, sustainable urban environment in the face of climate change.



In response to this threat, the Brazilian government launched the Resilient Green Cities program on World Environment Day.



This forward-thinking program focuses on fostering sustainable practices and integrating policies to enhance the value of ecosystem services provided by urban green spaces, ultimately aiming to create a more resilient and thriving urban ecosystem for generations to come.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tipuana-trees-a-model-for-resilience">Tipuana trees: A model for resilience</h2>



The study emphasizes the need for city planning to include resilient species in the urban plant cover, ensuring that these plants can adapt and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-in-dry-landscapes-have-surprising-diversity/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thrive</a> under challenging environmental conditions.



The research adds significant value to urban biodiversity, with the resilient Tipuana tree standing as a prime model of adaptability and robustness.



Furthermore, the team is actively exploring other resilient native species to further diversify and enrich the city's ecological framework.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-the-resilient-tipuana-tree">The power of the resilient Tipuana tree</h2>



Originally from Bolivia and northern Argentina, the Tipuana tree has become a common sight in São Paulo and other parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. 



The tree's resilience, which has been present for over a century, is now being recognized as a significant asset in building climate resilience.



In their research, the scientists analyzed growth rings in street and park trees, focusing on stable carbon isotopes that reflect processes relating to the carbon cycle. Their findings showed an increase in these isotopes during the drought, boosting the growth of the Tipuana trees.



"Having Tipuana trees in the city is a significant advantage," said Locosselli. However, he said it remains to be seen whether the species will be able to maintain its tolerance of water stress if a sequence of extreme events occurs.



The study opens new possibilities in our global fight against climate change, offering a promising look into nature-based solutions. 



Through intentional and strategic urban planning, our cities can become resilient sanctuaries in the face of increasing weather extremities.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2212095524001603" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Urban Climate</a>.



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Resilient trees can help protect cities from climate change

Tipuana trees are emerging as a beacon of hope amidst...

Plants are the survivors of nature, equipped with a remarkable ability to cope with diverse climatic conditions. Their resilience against weather extremes and grazing pressure offers rich insights about biodiversity and the future of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restoration-of-drylands-essential-for-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dryland ecosystems</a>.



Even more intriguing is the fact that such resilient traits, which help plants thrive in dry landscapes, are not as uncommon as one might presume.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-puzzling-phenomenon-of-plant-traits">Puzzling phenomenon of plant traits</h2>



An international team of scientists led by Fernando Maestre of the <a href="https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King Abdullah University of Science and Technology</a> (KAUST) delved into the fascinating world of plant traits and their response to changes in aridness and grazing pressure across global drylands.



Surprisingly, the researchers found that as aridity and grazing pressure increased, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-diversity-may-never-fully-recover-from-agriculture/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant diversity</a> did not decrease as expected.



Instead, the diversity of traits, particularly those linked to nutrient cycling, rose notably above an aridity threshold of 0.7, which marks the transition between semi-arid and arid zones. This increase in diversity was consistent with elevated grazing pressure.



Maestre, who was at the helm of this revolutionary study termed BIODESERT, noted that global initiatives aiming to describe plant trait diversity have focused on plant morphology and leaf carbon economy, but neglected the diversity of chemical elements that sustain plant survival and growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-survival-strategies-in-dry-landscapes">Plant survival strategies in dry landscapes </h2>



The research team conducted a thorough field survey to analyze the implications of aridity and grazing pressure on plant traits. They selected 98 sites from 25 countries, representing a global aridity gradient. Their selection included several plots spanning local gradients of grazing pressure.



The findings of the study were eye-opening. Variations in functional traits highlighted shifts in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-how-plants-adapt-to-changing-climates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plant adaptation</a> strategies under changing environmental conditions.



Similarly, the researchers noticed that aridity and grazing triggered a plethora of strategies to endure water shortage and grazing.



The team measured traits associated with the concentration of 14 chemical elements in leaves, leaf and plant size, and the leaf carbon economy.



This invaluable data sheds light on how aridity and grazing shape the co-variations and trade-offs observed among multiple morphological and chemical plant traits across dry landscapes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-defying-nature-s-rule-book">Defying nature’s rule book</h2>



With rising levels of aridity, plants exhibited contrasting strategies. Some were tall species with fast-growing leaves following stress-avoidance strategies, and others were small conservative species following stress-tolerance strategies. The experts also noticed variations in Mg-Ca and Zn-Na concentrations in the leaves.



“These elemental strategies can reflect the contrasting role of chemical elements in plants, either as a way to tolerate high aridity levels or as base elements for defensive compounds against grazers," noted Maestre.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-redefining-plant-phenotypic-diversity">Redefining plant phenotypic diversity</h2>



The study provides novel insights into how vascular plants react to biotic stressors and environmental extremes.



More than half of the trait diversity was observed in the most arid and grazed drylands, highlighting the unique nature of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-change-their-roots-to-survive-harsh-conditions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harsh environments</a>. Contrary to popular belief, harsh environmental conditions did not reduce plant trait diversity. 



“Our results also highlight the importance of considering a plant’s chemical composition (the elementone) to understand dryland biodiversity responses to ongoing climate change,” said Maestre. 



“Plants could have many alternative strategies to cope with increases in environmental stress induced by climate change and land-use intensification.”



Maestre plans to expand the BIODESERT survey into the arid and hyper-arid ecosystems of Saudi Arabia. His research offers valuable insights into how Saudi plant diversity can respond to ongoing climate change and also aids the selection of species suitable for ongoing and future greening programs.



The research confirms that plants are far from fragile, devising astounding strategies to survive and thrive in the harshest of conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-conservation-in-arid-ecosystems">The role of conservation in arid ecosystems</h2>



Understanding plant diversity in arid terrains highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these unique ecosystems. Climate change poses significant threats, making proactive measures essential to preserve <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/algae-genetics-could-help-engineer-more-resilient-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">resilient plant species</a>.



Conservation should focus on safeguarding habitats from land degradation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agriculture, while also restoring degraded landscapes to enhance biodiversity. 



Involving local communities and incorporating Indigenous knowledge can create a collaborative approach to land management.



Promoting research and monitoring programs will ensure ongoing understanding of plant adaptation, enabling targeted conservation strategies. 



By recognizing the importance of these efforts, we can help sustain the resilient plant species that thrive in the harshest climates.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07731-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Plants in dry landscapes have surprising diversity

Plants are the survivors of nature, equipped with a remarkable...

Permafrost, an ever-prominent issue due to climate change, is causing the frozen lands of Alaska to wear away faster than they can restore themselves. 



The effects are not only detrimental to the physical landscape but also to the balance of Earth's atmosphere. As the land erodes, it releases trapped carbon, bolstering the warming of our environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-crucial-role-of-permafrost">The crucial role of permafrost</h2>



A sizable part of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-reveals-a-widespread-decline-of-snow-cover-in-the-northern-hemisphere/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northern Hemisphere</a>'s surface is dominated by permafrost - permanently frozen ground that is primarily found in Arctic regions. This chilly natural resource is more than just frozen soil; it's an integral part of our global environment.



The imbalance of its destruction and renewal rate could lead to significant infrastructure damage and amplify the warming of the atmosphere. If <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/time-traveling-pathogens-exposing-the-dangers-of-melting-permafrost/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">permafrost melts</a> faster than it can reform, we risk disrupting a delicate ecological balance.



"In the Northern Hemisphere, much of the ground is permafrost, meaning it is frozen year-round. Permafrost is a delicate natural resource. If it is lost faster than it is regenerated, we endanger infrastructure and release carbon, which can warm the atmosphere," said Nathan D. Brown, assistant professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences at <a href="https://www.uta.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UT Arlington</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-and-river-dynamics-in-alaska">Permafrost and river dynamics in Alaska</h2>



Rivers are dynamic entities, steadily altering their course over time. Influenced by floods, earthquakes, vegetation growth, and wildlife, they harmoniously flow and carve their way through the landscape. However, in Alaska, there’s an added element to this natural process.



The riverbanks, enshrined in permafrost, are consistently eroding, releasing organic carbon as they melt. When this carbon combines with oxygen, it morphs into carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas responsible for atmospheric warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lingering-uncertainty-of-permafrost">The lingering uncertainty of permafrost</h2>



Dr. Brown, supported by academic peers from several notable institutions, set out to unravel the elusive nature of permafrost in a climate-challenged world.



The study was focused on the Koyukuk River in Alaska. This 425-mile tributary of the Yukon River is a vital component of the Alaskan ecosystem and plays a considerable role in the region's permafrost.



The research, published by the <a href="https://www.agu.org/user-profile/research?cstkey=C0D323FE-9886-4216-8D59-91B9B7B8D051&amp;researchType=publication" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Geophysical Union</a>, reveals a concerning trend. While new permafrost is developing along the floodplain, it’s not keeping pace with the amount melting due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-is-losing-its-cooling-power-making-the-earth-even-warmer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rising temperatures</a>.



"By dating these permafrost deposits, we found that permafrost formation in this region can take thousands of years. Under a warming climate, permafrost formation is expected to take longer, while thawing permafrost riverbanks will become more susceptible to erosion," explained Dr. Brown. 



"The net result will be a loss of permafrost and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/abrupt-permafrost-thaw-releases-more-co2-than-expected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contribution of carbon</a> to the atmosphere."



In the fight against climate change, every small alteration in the environment can have a cascading impact on the global stage. 



With the rapid melting of Alaska's permafrost, the future may hold even more challenges. Our Earth is a complex and delicately balanced system. Maintaining that balance is essential as we move forward into an uncertain climate future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-impact-of-thawing-ice-on-wildlife">The impact of thawing ice on wildlife</h2>



As the climate warms and the ice melts, the implications extend beyond just the landscape; they significantly affect local wildlife. 



Many species, particularly those adapted to cold environments, are facing increasing challenges. For instance, polar bears, which rely on sea ice for hunting seals, are struggling to find adequate food sources as their habitat diminishes.



Moreover, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-sea-ice-has-a-direct-impact-on-adelie-penguin-survival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melting ice</a> alters the natural cycles of rivers and lakes, affecting fish populations and other aquatic life. Fish spawn in specific conditions that are becoming more unpredictable due to temperature fluctuations and changes in water levels. This disruption can lead to declines in fish stocks, which not only impacts the ecosystem but also local communities that depend on fishing for their livelihoods.



Further, as ice retreats, it exposes new areas of land that were previously frozen, leading to potential habitat shifts for various species. Some animals may adapt to these changes, while others could face extinction. 



The ripple effects of these changes can disrupt the intricate web of life in Alaska and beyond, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate climate change and protect vulnerable ecosystems.



Understanding and addressing these challenges is vital for the preservation of biodiversity as we strive for a sustainable future in a warming world.



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Rapid permafrost thaw in Alaska threatens global climate balance

Permafrost, an ever-prominent issue due to climate change, is causing...

Have you ever wondered why the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-temperatures-increase-scientists-plan-slow-down-rising-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth is warming</a> at an alarming rate? The answer lies right under our noses - climate change, a phenomenon that scientists worldwide have been battling against. A recent study from <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH Zurich</a> presents insights into our planet's climatic past, offering a unique perspective on the effects of warming today.



The research was led by Earth scientists at ETH Zurich. The team collaborated with eminent institutions, including the <a href="https://www.arizona.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Arizona</a>, <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a>, CNRS Toulouse, and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-past-and-climate-change">Earth's past and climate change</h2>



Earth's geological history is complex, with major events like volcanic eruptions that changed landscapes and released ash and gas into the atmosphere.



These eruptions often led to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-earths-hottest-day-ever-was-recorded-on-july-22-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quick climate warming</a>, affecting ecosystems and life. Mass extinctions, like the one that killed the dinosaurs, were key moments that changed evolution and allowed new species to develop.



These periods of enhanced volcanic activity altered the carbon-climate regulation systems for millions of years. As if Earth's fiery turmoil wasn't enough, the changing vegetation further shifted the planet's climatic equilibrium, leaving an indelible mark on Earth's geological narrative.



"The Siberian Traps event released some 40,000 gigatons of carbon over 200,000 years. The resulting increase in global average temperatures between 5 - 10°C caused Earth’s most severe extinction event in the geologic record,” noted Professor Taras Gerya from ETH Zurich, a seasoned veteran in the field.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surviving-thriving-or-dying">Surviving, thriving, or dying</h2>



Unsurprisingly, nature has had to adapt to these climatic changes. However, some species simply didn't have the luxury of time to adapt to the steadily increasing temperatures.&nbsp;



“The recovery of vegetation from the Siberian Traps event took several millions of years and during this time Earth’s carbon-climate regulation system would have been weak and inefficient resulting in long-term climate warming,” explained study lead author Julian Rogger of ETH Zurich.



According to the study, the severity of such climatic turmoil relies on the rapid sequestration of emitted carbon back into Earth's interior, either through silicate mineral weathering or organic carbon production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-lessons-from-earths-past">Climate lessons from Earths past </h2>



The historical data from Earth's climate reveals that resilience and adaptation are not merely choices but necessities for survival.&nbsp;



The drastic shifts during previous warming periods serve as a warning, portraying the potential consequences of inaction in the face of current climate crises. Learning from the past enables us to develop robust strategies for resilience not just in plant life but across ecosystems.&nbsp;



As communities and nations grapple with climate challenges, integrating historical climate insights into modern policymaking will be essential.&nbsp;



Understanding how previous species thrived or perished can guide contemporary efforts in conservation and environmental management, ensuring that we take informed steps towards a sustainable future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-era-of-earth-s-climate-crisis">New era of Earth's climate crisis</h2>



So, what does the past have to say about our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-make-your-hometown-feel-like-somewhere-else/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">current climate crisis</a>? Essentially, the disruption of vegetation contributes significantly to the duration and severity of climate warming. The study reveals that an impaired ability of vegetation to regulate Earth's carbon cycle may take millions of years to reach a new stable climatic equilibrium.



“Today, we find ourselves in a major global bioclimatic crisis,” said Professor Loïc Pellissier of ETH Zurich and <a href="https://www.wsl.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WSL</a>. 



“Our study demonstrates the role of a functioning of vegetation to recover from abrupt climatic changes. We are currently releasing greenhouse gases at a faster rate than any previous volcanic event. We are also the primary cause of global deforestation, which strongly reduces the ability of natural ecosystems to regulate the climate. This study, in my perspective, serves as ‘wake-up call’ for the global community.”



This is indeed a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-still-prevent-critical-climate-tipping-points/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wake-up call for humanity</a>. Now, the question is, how will we respond? Will we continue on our current path, risking the destruction of our planet, or will we rise to the occasion, making changes to ensure a livable world for future generations?



The clock is ticking, and unlike plant species millions of years ago, we might not have the luxury of time to adapt.



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn3450" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Plants needed millions of years to recover from past climate warming

Have you ever wondered why the Earth is warming at...

In what can only be described as a herculean accomplishment, a team of scientists has succeeded in bringing to the surface a long, 1,268-meter section of rocks from the Earth's Mantle. This layer, hidden beneath the crust, forms the largest chunk of our planet.



The insights gained from this discovery open doors to a profound understanding of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-inner-core-rotation-has-begun-moving-backwards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planet's inner workings</a>, offering a peek into life's origins, the causes behind volcanic activities, and the global cycles of elements vital to our existence such as carbon and hydrogen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-earth-s-interior">Understanding Earth's interior</h2>



The Earth is composed of four <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ringwoodite-mineral-confirms-vast-ocean-exists-400-miles-under-earths-crust/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primary layers</a>: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. At the surface, we find the crust, which is thin and solid, primarily made of rock, representing the layer where we reside.



Below the crust lies the mantle, a substantial layer of semi-solid rock that flows gradually over time. This dynamic layer is crucial, as it drives the movement of tectonic plates, resulting in earthquakes and volcanic activity.



Delving deeper, the outer core consists of liquid metal, predominantly iron and nickel, and is responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field through its movements.



At the very center, we encounter <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-inner-core-rotation-is-slowing-down-making/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the inner core</a> -- a dense, solid sphere of iron and nickel. Despite enduring extreme heat, the extraordinary pressure keeps this inner core solid.



Each layer not only contributes to the structure of our planet but also plays a vital role in processes that shape our environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unprecedented-achievement">Unprecedented achievement</h2>



At the forefront of this remarkable feat is Professor Johan Lissenberg from Cardiff University’s <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/earth-environmental-sciences" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School of Earth and Environmental Sciences</a>.



The mantle rocks were procured from a tectonic window on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during Expedition 399 of the JOIDES Resolution, appropriately titled “Building Blocks of Life, Atlantis Massif,” in spring of 2023.



This accomplishment marks an epoch in Earth sciences. The international team, operating under the International Ocean Discovery Program (<a href="https://www.iodp.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IODP</a>), has secured these ancient rocks for detailed analysis. They will now serve as keys to our understanding of Earth's geological and biological history.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deciphering-the-many-layers-of-earth-s-mantle">Deciphering the many layers of Earth's mantle</h2>



The rock samples are far from ordinary. Their unique makeup reveals secrets of processes that took place as these rocks ascended from the deep recesses of the Earth to the surface.



Professor Lissenberg notes, "Our study begins to look at the composition of the mantle by documenting the mineralogy of the recovered rocks, as well as their chemical makeup."



Interestingly, they contain less of the mineral pyroxene and more magnesium than anticipated. This points to the mantle undergoing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mantle-heat-shaped-earths-crust-3-billion-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">considerably more melting</a> than previously believed, which in turn, helps explain how magma forms and eventually leads to volcanic eruptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-earth-s-mantle-to-volcanic-eruptions">From Earth's mantle to volcanic eruptions</h2>



Pathways discovered within these rock samples indicate the routes magma took towards the Earth's surface. 



These revelations underscore a better understanding of how magma originates in the mantle, moves upwards, and eventually powers volcanic eruptions.



"This is important because it tells us how the mantle melts and feeds volcanoes, particularly those on the ocean floor that account for the majority of volcanism on Earth," explains Professor Lissenberg.



Understanding this interplay between mantle melting and volcanic activity is a critical piece in Earth's <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/theia-ancient-planet-buried-inside-of-earth-may-be-the-origin-of-our-moon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geological puzzle</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foothold-on-the-origins-of-life">Foothold on the origins of life</h2>



The mantle rocks offer key insights not just into geological processes, but also into how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/luca-universal-ancestor-to-all-life-on-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">life on Earth might have originated</a>.



The mineral olivine, abundant in mantle rocks, reacts with seawater to produce hydrogen and other molecules – a process potentially fundamental to the creation of early life conditions.



Dr. Susan Q. Lang from the <a href="https://www.whoi.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> underscores the importance of this breakthrough.



"The rocks that were present on early Earth bear a closer resemblance to those we retrieved during this expedition than the more common rocks that make up our continents today," she shares.



This discovery offers a glimpse into conditions billions of years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-exploration-of-earth-s-mantle-layer">Further exploration of Earth's mantle layer</h2>



The journey of the Expedition 399 team is far from complete. The international group, comprised of more than 30 scientists, will continue to examine the mantle samples to unravel a myriad of scientific mysteries.



Dr. Andrew McCaig, the co-chief scientist of the expedition from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Leeds</a>, sheds light on the extensive implications of this research.



"Our new deep hole will be a type section for decades to come in disciplines as diverse as melting processes in the mantle, chemical exchange between rocks and the ocean, organic geochemistry, and microbiology," McCaig concluded.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-window-into-the-past-present-and-future">Window into the past, present, and future</h2>



The recovery of mantle rocks from the ocean's depths is not just a landmark scientific achievement; it's a giant leap towards untangling the intricate <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/who-is-drilling-a-hole-more-than-30000-feet-deep-in-the-earths-crust-and-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mysteries of our planet</a>.



As scientists like Professor Lissenberg, Dr. Lang, Dr. McCaig, and their colleagues continue to delve into the data, they're not just increasing our understanding of Earth; they're also reshaping our perception of our planet and our place within it.



It is awe-inspiring to realize that somewhere, deep beneath our feet, the answers to some of life's grandest questions lay shrouded in mystery.



The team's relentless pursuit of knowledge, their spirit of collaboration, and their unending curiosity serves as a reminder of scientific exploration's endless potential.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adp1058" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Record-breaking hole drilled into the Earth’s mantle is a scientific goldmine

In what can only be described as a herculean accomplishment,...

Growing up, we all learned about Earth's seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. These geographical boundaries have been taught as an integral part of our education system for ages.



However, new research suggests that this long-held belief may not be correct. According to Dr. Jordan Phethean and his dedicated team, we actually have only six continents.



This bold claim comes from a detailed study that looks into the geological processes behind the breakup of the European and North American continents, exploring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-u-s-just-expanded-its-territory-by-a-million-square-kilometers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how these landmasses have evolved</a> over millions of years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-perspective-on-continental-shift">New perspective on continental shift</h2>



Dr. Jordan Phethean, the lead author of the study from the <a href="https://www.derby.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Derby</a>, highlights a significant shift in our understanding of tectonic plates.



"The discovery indicates that the North America and Eurasian tectonic plates have not yet actually broken apart, as is traditionally thought to have happened 52 million years ago," explains Dr. Phethean.



Instead, these plates are still stretching and in the process of breaking apart. This ongoing process changes how we perceive the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-lost-mega-plate-pontus-resurfaces-after-160-million-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">formation and separation</a> of Earth's continents.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-iceland-s-connection-to-earth-s-continents">Iceland's connection to Earth's continents</h2>



The study focuses on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/icelands-volcanic-eruptions-may-continue-for-decades/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iceland, a volcanic island</a> nestled between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Traditionally, it has been believed that Iceland emerged around 60 million years ago as a result of the mid-Atlantic ridge.



This tectonic boundary, formed by the North American and Eurasian plates, is thought to have facilitated the rise of a hot mantle plume that ultimately created the island.



However, recent findings challenge this long-standing theory. Researchers, through an extensive analysis of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/major-volcanic-events-linked-to-the-slowing-of-tectonic-plates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tectonic movements</a> across the African continent, have proposed a captivating idea.



They claim that Iceland, along with the Greenland Iceland Faroes Ridge (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0012825218305476" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GIFR</a>), contains geological fragments from both European and North American tectonic plates.



This discovery suggests that these regions are not merely isolated landforms; they are interconnected components of a larger continental structure. To describe this newly identified geological feature, the team has coined the term 'Rifted Oceanic Magmatic Plateau' (ROMP).



This term emphasizes the unique composition of the area and highlights the significant implications for our understanding of plate tectonics and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-building-triggered-a-mass-extinction-event/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geological history</a> of the North Atlantic region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-romp-earth-s-hidden-treasure">The ROMP: Earth’s hidden treasure</h2>



Dr. Phethean draws an intriguing parallel, describing the ROMP as the Earth Science equivalent of finding the Lost City of Atlantis.



"Fragments of lost continent submerged beneath the sea and kilometers of thin lava flows," he explains. By studying the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-rift-massive-crack-could-split-the-continent-in-half/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">volcanic Afra region in Africa</a> and comparing it to Iceland, the team found striking similarities in their evolution.



If Dr. Phethean's team is correct, the European and North American continents are still in the process of breaking apart. This means that, scientifically speaking, North America and Europe might be considered a single continent of Earth rather than two distinct continents.



While this idea is controversial, it is grounded in meticulous research.



"It is controversial to suggest that the GIFR contains a large amount of continental crust within it, and that the European and North American tectonic plates have perhaps not yet officially broken up," admits Dr. Phethean. Yet, their findings support this bold hypothesis.



The research is still in its conceptual phase. The team plans to explore volcanic rocks in Iceland for more concrete evidence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/supercontinents-101-pannotia-gondwana-and-pangea/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ancient continental crust</a>. 



They are also undertaking plate tectonic modeling and computer simulations to better understand the ROMP formation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-of-earth-s-proto-microcontinent">Discovery of Earth's proto-microcontinent</h2>



This research follows Dr. Phethean's earlier discovery of a new 'proto-microcontinent' between Canada and Greenland. 



Believed to have formed 60 million years ago, this proto-microcontinent is about the size of England, sitting below the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/additional-heat-is-being-transferred-to-the-arctic-ocean-as-the-climate-warms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Davis Strait</a>.



"Rifting and microcontinent formation are ongoing phenomena," says Dr. Phethean.



Understanding these processes helps scientists learn more about how plate tectonics operate. This knowledge can predict where useful resources might be found and how Earth might look millions of years into the future.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-earth-science">Implications for Earth Science</h2>



Dr. Phethean's work offers new insights into the dynamic nature of our planet. The discovery of the proto-microcontinent and the ROMP has significant implications.



It helps us understand the past, present, and future of Earth's geological activity. It also sheds light on how plate tectonics might have influenced the development of life.



The next steps for Dr. Phethean and his team involve more in-depth studies and advanced modeling techniques. By continuing their research, they aim to provide more evidence and refine our understanding of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/argoland-unraveling-the-mysteries-of-a-lost-continent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's geological history</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earth-s-continents-are-forever-changing">Earth's continents are forever changing</h2>



In summary, Dr. Phethean's research offers a transformative perspective on our understanding of Earth's continents. 



By revealing ongoing tectonic shifts and the presence of hidden continental fragments, his findings challenge longstanding assumptions and pave the way for new explorations.



This study emphasizes the dynamic nature of our planet and the constant evolution of its geological framework. 



As we explore these revelations further, we not only revise our scientific literature but also broaden our comprehension of the Earth we inhabit.



Dr. Phethean and his team's work serves as a reminder of the countless hidden mysteries our world holds, waiting to be discovered. 



Their continued efforts are set to illuminate both Earth's history and its future, deepening our appreciation for its ever-evolving character.



How might these insights influence our approach to understanding geological processes and their implications for our environment? Stay tuned.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1342937X24001023?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gondwana Research</a>.



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Earth may now have only six continents instead of seven

Growing up, we all learned about Earth's seven continents: Africa,...

Due to warming sea temperatures and mass coral bleaching events, the Great Barrier Reef is currently facing critical threats that endanger its remarkable ecology, biodiversity and beauty, according to a new study published in journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07672-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>. 



Study lead author Benjamin Henley is an Honorary Fellow at the <a href="https://www.uow.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Wollongong</a> (UOW). Along with his team, Henley has reconstructed 400 years of summer sea surface temperatures in Coral Sea. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bleaching-on-the-great-barrier-reef">Bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef</h2>



The investigations revealed that extreme recent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-ocean-heating-signals-alarm-for-a-3c-warmer-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ocean heat</a> has caused significant coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. This research provides new evidence of ongoing and future impact of rising sea surface temperatures on this ecological jewel of Australia.



Recently, <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/committee/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee</a> decided not to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger. However, Henley and his team argue that - based on their new evidence - the Reef is indeed in peril. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study">Focus of the study</h2>



The team combined sea surface temperature reconstructions using geochemical data from coral cores previously collected from the region.&nbsp;



The researchers also analyzed climate model simulations of sea surface temperatures, both with and without the influence of climate change, concluding that anthropogenic climate change is responsible for the rising temperatures.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-heat-and-great-barrier-reef-bleaching">Record heat and Great Barrier Reef bleaching</h2>



According to the experts, recent mass bleaching events coincide with five of six hottest years in the new 400-year-long record. Specifically, years 2024, 2017, and 2020 saw Coral Sea reaching 400-year highs. The warmest on record, by a large margin, was 2024. 



Additional significant heat events occurred in 2016, 2004 and 2022. The repeated sequences of mass <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-worlds-largest-coral-bleaching-event-is-now-underway/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coral bleaching</a> have had devastating effects, severely impacting Great Barrier Reef's unparalleled ecology and biodiversity.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-death-of-a-natural-wonder">The death of a natural wonder</h2>



“When I plotted the 2024 data point, I had to triple check my calculations – it was off the charts – far above the previous record high in 2017. I could almost not believe it. Tragically, mass coral bleaching has occurred yet again this year,” Henley said.&nbsp;



“In the absence of rapid, coordinated and ambitious global action to combat climate change, we will likely witness the demise of one of Earth’s most spectacular natural wonders.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-great-barrier-reef-faces-catastrophe-nbsp">Great Barrier Reef faces catastrophe&nbsp;</h2>



Professor Helen McGregor, from UOW’s Environmental Futures, and the second author of the study, stressed the need for urgent action to prevent the devastation of one of the world’s most important ecosystems.&nbsp;



“There is no ‘if, but or maybe’ - the ocean temperatures during these bleaching events are unprecedented in the past four centuries,” she reported.&nbsp;



“The Great Barrier Reef is facing catastrophe if anthropogenic climate change is not immediately addressed. The very corals that have lived for hundreds of years and that gave us the data for our study are themselves under serious threat.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-influence-on-the-reef">Human influence on the Reef</h2>



According to Henley, the climate model analysis confirms that human influence on the climate system is responsible for the rapid warming in recent decades.



“Without urgent intervention, our iconic Great Barrier Reef is at risk of near-annual bleaching from high ocean temperatures. The Reef’s fundamental ecological integrity and outstanding universal value are at stake,” said Henley.&nbsp;



According to Henley, immediate action to transition to net zero emissions is necessary. “We have many of the key solutions to stop <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-evidence-that-climate-change-is-caused-by-human-activities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>; what we need is a step change in the level of coordinated national and international action to transition to net zero.



“We can never lose hope. Every fraction of a degree of warming we avoid will lead to a better future for the human and natural systems of our planet. We hope that our study equips policymakers with more evidence to pursue deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions internationally.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bleaching-on-a-mass-scale-nbsp">Bleaching on a mass scale&nbsp;</h2>



Coral bleaching occurs when stress causes corals to expel the algae that live in their tissue, which provide the corals with their vibrant colors. Without the algae, the coral’s white skeleton is exposed.&nbsp;



Environmental disturbances and declining water quality can lead to bleaching, but recent sea temperature warming has caused bleaching on a mass scale.&nbsp;



Although corals can recover if the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/killing-crown-of-thorns-starfish-cots-could-save-great-barrier-reef/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress trigger</a> is reduced, the Great Barrier Reef has experienced five major mass coral bleaching events since 2016.



The research has broader implications for coral reef systems worldwide, highlighting the link between the long-term trajectory of extreme ocean temperatures and the ecological health and biodiversity of these critical ecosystems.



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Great Barrier Reef is on the brink of extinction

Due to warming sea temperatures and mass coral bleaching events,...

A disturbing new study has provided direct evidence that the center of Greenland's ice sheet, not just its edges, melted away in the recent geological past. The melt, and resulting sea-level rise, revealed a once-green <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-climate-turns-tundra-from-carbon-sink-to-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tundra</a> landscape across Greenland.



This discovery is particularly concerning, as it suggests the ice sheet is more vulnerable to melting than previously thought.



Scientists uncovered this evidence by re-examining a small section of sediment from a two-mile-deep ice core, known as GISP2, which was extracted from the center of Greenland in 1993 and stored in a Colorado facility for 30 years. The sediment contained pristine soil with willow wood, insect parts, fungi, and a poppy seed.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greenland-s-ice-melted-recently">Greenland’s ice melted recently</h2>



“These fossils are beautiful,” said Paul Bierman, a scientist at the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a> (UVM), who co-led the study with UVM graduate student Halley Mastro and nine other researchers. 



“But, yes, we go from bad to worse,” he added, referring to the implications of human-caused climate change on the melting of Greenland's ice sheet.



The study, published in the <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2407465121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>, confirms that Greenland’s ice melted during a warm period likely within the last million years. This suggests that the ice sheet is not as stable as once thought.&nbsp;



If the ice at the center of Greenland melted, then the majority of the island's ice must have also melted, possibly for thousands of years - long enough for soil formation and the development of an ecosystem.&nbsp;



“This new study confirms and extends that a lot of sea-level rise occurred at a time when causes of warming were not especially extreme,” said Richard Alley, a climate scientist at <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> who reviewed the research, emphasizing the study's warning about the potential damages from continued climate warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-greenland-and-sea-level-rise-nbsp">Greenland and sea-level rise&nbsp;</h2>



Currently, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-sea-levels-spiked-dramatically-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea levels</a> are rising more than an inch per decade, with the pace accelerating. Bierman warned that if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced, the near-total melting of Greenland’s ice sheet over the next few centuries could result in approximately 23 feet of sea level rise. 



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/greenland_tundra-fossils_ancient-ice-melt-revealed_UVermont_1m.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/greenland_tundra-fossils_ancient-ice-melt-revealed_UVermont_1s.webp" alt="Willow bud scale, arctic poppy seed, fungal bodies, and rock spikemoss megaspores found in the GISP2 soil sample viewed under a microscope at the University of Vermont." class="wp-image-1940905"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Willow bud scale, arctic poppy seed, fungal bodies, and rock spikemoss megaspores found in the GISP2 soil sample viewed under a microscope at the University of Vermont.</figcaption></figure>



“Look at Boston, New York, Miami, Mumbai or pick your coastal city around the world, and add twenty plus feet of sea level,” Bierman cautioned. “It goes underwater. Don't buy a beach house.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evidence-of-ice-sheet-instability-nbsp">Evidence of ice sheet instability&nbsp;</h2>



In 2016, Joerg Schaefer and colleagues from <a href="https://www.columbia.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Columbia University</a> analyzed rock from the bottom of the GISP2 core, proposing that Greenland's ice sheet could be less than 1.1 million years old and that significant ice-free periods occurred during the Pleistocene epoch.&nbsp;



The controversial study suggested that if the ice had melted at the GISP2 site, 90% of Greenland’s ice would have also melted. This challenged the long-held belief that Greenland's ice sheet has been a stable “fortress of ice” for millions of years.



Further supporting this, in 2019, Bierman and an international team re-examined another ice core extracted from Camp Century near Greenland's coast in the 1960s.&nbsp;



They found twigs, seeds, and insect parts, indicating that the ice had melted within the last 416,000 years, demonstrating that the ice sheet's stability had failed more recently than previously thought.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-ice-free-greenland">An ice-free Greenland</h2>



These findings prompted Bierman and his colleagues to investigate the bottom of the GISP2 core further. With the support of the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. National Science Foundation</a>, they obtained a sample from the National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility in Lakewood, Colorado.&nbsp;



The new study confirms that during a warm period, Greenland was not only <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-ice-sheet-is-approaching-a-critical-tipping-point/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice-free</a> but also supported a tundra ecosystem, potentially with stunted trees. 



“We now have direct evidence that not only was the ice gone, but that plants and insects were living there,” Bierman said. “And that's unassailable. You don't have to rely on calculations or models.”



The discovery of intact biological material, such as the bud scale of a young willow and the compound eye of an insect, was made by geoscientist Andrew Christ, who worked on the project during his PhD at UVM.&nbsp;



Halley Mastro continued the research, identifying various macrofossils, including spores from spikemoss and a seed from an Arctic poppy. “It was amazing,” Mastro said. “It lets us know that Greenland's ice melted and there was soil, because poppies don't grow on top of miles of ice.”



This research underscores the fragility of Greenland's ice sheet and the significant implications of climate change, highlighting the urgency of addressing global warming to prevent catastrophic sea level rise and the loss of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overtopping-threatens-the-future-of-coastal-habitats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coastal habitats</a>.



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Increased risk of sea-level catastrophe confirmed by Greenland fossils

A disturbing new study has provided direct evidence that the...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. 



Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. 



Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. 



Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. 



The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.



Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.



Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.



This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. 



The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.



The full study was published in the <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a>.



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Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

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.



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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

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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