Recent research has revealed a startling connection between plastic production and pollution, with every 1% increase in plastic production leading to a corresponding 1% rise in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/can-we-win-the-battle-of-planet-vs-plastic-drastic-changes-are-needed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic environmental pollution</a>. The study, published in Science Advances, marks the first robust quantification of this global relationship.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-corporate-culprits-in-plastic-production">Corporate culprits in plastic production</h2>



The investigation was conducted by an international team from the United States, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Estonia, Chile, Sweden, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 



The findings point to 56 global companies, mainly in the food, beverage, and tobacco sectors, as being responsible for more than half of all branded <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-plastics-treaty-tackles-the-pollution-problem-directly-at-the-source/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">plastic</a> pollution. 



Notably, The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coca-cola-pepsi-among-top-contributors-to-plastic-waste/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coca-Cola Company</a> emerges as the top polluter, responsible for 11% of branded waste, followed by PepsiCo at 5%, and both Nestlé and Danone at 3%.



This significant and disturbing study utilized data from over 1,576 brand audits spanning 84 countries, gathered over five years by more than 200,000 volunteers through initiatives like Break Free From Plastic and 5 Gyres’ TrashBlitz app. 



These brand audits involve volunteers conducting waste clean-ups and documenting the brands on the collected pollution, providing a ground-level view of the impact of plastic production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-plastic-production">Reducing plastic production</h2>



The pervasive nature of plastic pollution across diverse geographical locations and waste management systems indicates that a reduction in plastic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-production-must-be-phased-out-to-stop-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">production</a>, especially within the fast-moving consumer goods sector, could dramatically lessen global plastic pollution. 



As discussions unfold at the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/nations-agree-end-plastic-pollution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Plastics Treaty</a> negotiations this month in Ottawa, Canada, this research could greatly influence the adoption of high-ambition, legally binding provisions focusing on corporate accountability and the promotion of sustainable practices like reuse and refill systems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-community-explains-the-study-s-significance">Scientific community explains the study's significance</h2>



“When I first saw the relationship between production and pollution, I was shocked… But it gives me hope that reducing plastic production and shifting towards more durable and reusable products would have a strong positive impact on the environment,” stated Win Cowger, researcher at the <a href="https://mooreplasticresearch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research</a>.



“I urge world leaders at INC-4 to listen to the science, and to consider the clear link between plastic production and pollution during negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty,” added Dr. Lisa Erdle of The 5 Gyres.



Sybil Bullock from <a href="https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Break Free From Plastic</a> calls attention to the persistent shortcomings of major corporations in reducing their plastic impact, advocating for, “a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty that mandates significant cuts in plastic production and stops corporations from flooding the planet with single-use plastic.”



Dr. Jorge Emmanuel critiques the often-misguided blame placed on poorer countries for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-plastic-pollution-has-become-a-global-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global plastic pollution</a>. He reflects on the role of global companies since the 1960s in introducing single-use plastics that displaced traditional, sustainable practices.



Dr. Kathy Willis highlights the major role that single-use packaging plays in branded plastic pollution, stressing the importance of, “data [that] can help inform ways to address plastic production and reduce plastic waste ending up in the environment.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-need-for-systematic-reform-and-policy-change">Urgent need for systematic reform and policy change</h2>



The comprehensive results of this study distinctly illustrate the direct correlation between plastic production and environmental pollution, while emphasizing the pressing necessity for systemic reforms. 



These changes are crucial not only for improving current conditions but also for ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.



Promoting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/markets-punish-corporations-that-ignore-climate-environmental-pollution-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">corporate accountability</a> and supporting sustainable methods can lead to substantial ecological advantages. By adopting responsible production practices and reducing plastic waste, companies can make a meaningful impact on global pollution levels.



Furthermore, as international discussions progress, the findings of this study are invaluable in pushing for effective and binding <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-interlinked-crisis-of-plastic-pollution-and-global-warming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmental policies</a>. 



This research equips policymakers and advocates with the evidence needed to implement stringent regulations that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/big-chemical-companies-hide-pollution-behind-subsidiaries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hold corporations accountable</a> and foster a shift towards more sustainable industrial practices.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strategies-to-reduce-plastic-production">Strategies to reduce plastic production</h2>



Reducing plastic production involves a multifaceted approach that incorporates regulatory, corporate, and community actions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each strategy:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implement-regulations">Implement regulations</h3>



<ul>
<li>Ban single-use plastics: Some governments have started banning or restricting the use of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-biggest-environmental-impacts-of-single-use-plastics-are-largely-overlooked/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">single-use plastic</a> items like straws, bags, and food containers.</li>



<li>Quotas and tariffs: Implementing quotas on the amount of plastic that can be produced and imposing tariffs on plastic imports can reduce the availability and affordability of plastics.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-promote-sustainable-alternatives">Promote sustainable alternatives</h3>



<ul>
<li>Research and development: Investing in the development of alternative materials such as plant-based <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-plastic-straws-degrade-faster-than-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bioplastics</a> that degrade more quickly and have a lower environmental impact.</li>



<li>Support for alternatives: Providing subsidies or tax breaks for companies producing and using alternative, sustainable materials.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhance-recycling-programs">Enhance recycling programs</h3>



<ul>
<li>Improve recycling infrastructure: Upgrading facilities and technologies to handle a broader range of plastic products and improve the efficiency of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-recycling-day-creating-a-healthier-planet-for-all/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recycling processes</a>.</li>



<li>Standardize recycling practices: Creating uniform guidelines for recycling across regions to maximize participation and effectiveness.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-corporate-responsibility">Corporate responsibility</h3>



<ul>
<li>Product redesign: Companies can redesign products to use less plastic or replace plastic with other materials. For example, using glass or metal which are more easily recyclable and often more sustainable.</li>



<li>Extended producer responsibility: Implementing policies where manufacturers are responsible for the entire <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/biodegradable-breakthrough-plastics-that-wont-make-us-sick/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifecycle of their products</a>, including disposal and recycling.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consumer-awareness-on-plastic-production">Consumer awareness on plastic production</h3>



<ul>
<li>Educational Campaigns: Conducting campaigns to educate the public about the impacts of plastic pollution and how to reduce plastic use.</li>



<li>Promoting Reuse: Encouraging consumers to use reusable items, like shopping bags, water bottles, and containers.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-economic-incentives">Economic incentives</h3>



<ul>
<li>Grants and Loans: Offering financial support to start-ups and businesses that are developing plastic alternatives or improving recycling technologies.</li>



<li>Penalties for High Plastic Use: Imposing fines on companies that exceed a certain level of plastic use or waste, incentivizing them to find greener solutions.</li>
</ul>



By integrating these strategies, communities, nations, and businesses can significantly cut down on plastic production, leading to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plastic-pollution-and-the-path-towards-sustainability">Plastic, pollution, and the path towards sustainability</h2>



In summary, this important study has exposed the undeniable link between plastic production and pollution, pinpointing the fast-moving consumer goods sector as the key contributor to this global crisis. 



As world leaders convene to negotiate a Global Plastics Treaty, this research serves as a crucial plea for decisive action. We must demand corporate accountability, prioritize plastic production reduction measures, and promote reuse and refill systems. 



The path forward is clear: by holding corporations responsible for their role in the plastic pollution predicament and focusing on reducing production, we can work towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for our planet. The time for action is now.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj8275" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a>



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Every increase in plastic production results in identical increase in plastic pollution

Recent research has revealed a startling connection between plastic production and pollution, with every 1% increase in plastic production leading to a corresponding 1% rise in plastic environmental pollution. The study, published in Science Advances, marks the first robust quantification of this global relationship. Corporate culprits in plastic production The investigation was conducted by an international team from the United States, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Estonia, Chile, Sweden, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The findings point to 56 global companies, mainly in the food, beverage, and...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microplastics-linger-in-riverbeds-for-years/">Microplastics</a> in the marine environment absorb pollutants and increase their toxicity by a factor of 10, according to a new study from <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/">Tel Aviv University</a>. This increased toxicity could be a threat to human health, potentially causing severe damage to the digestive system.



The research was conducted by Dr. Ines Zucker of the TAU Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, in collaboration with Ph.D. student Andrey Eitan Rubin.&nbsp;



Dr. Zucker said the study shows that even very low concentrations of environmental pollutants, which are non-toxic to humans, significantly increase in toxicity once they have been absorbed by microplastic. "This is because microplastics are a kind of 'magnet' for environmental pollutants, concentrating them on its surfaces, 'ferrying' them through our digestive tract, and releasing them in a concentrated form in certain areas – thus causing increased toxicity."



The study authors explained that since plastic is not a natural material, it decomposes very slowly in nature, in a process that sometimes endures for thousands of years and, as part of this process, the same microplastics are formed.



The researchers examined the entire life cycle of microplastic, including the interactions that plastic particles have with environmental pollutants, as well as the release of these pollutants. The results suggest that by the time the pollutants are released, they are much more toxic, and pose a threat to humans who consume contaminated food or drinks.



"For the first time we are presenting a complete 'life cycle' of microplastics: from the moment of their release into the environment, through the adsorption of environmental pollutants and up to their joint toxicity in humans," said Rubin.



"The amount of waste dumped into the ocean every year is enormous - the best known example is the plastic island in the Pacific Ocean, which has an area 80 times larger than the State of Israel. But this is not just a remote problem - from our preliminary monitoring data show that Israel's shores are among the most polluted with microplastic waste."&nbsp;



"Each of the microplastic particles secreted in these areas has tremendous potential for harm as they serve as an effective and stable platform for any pollutant that they may encounter on their way to the human body."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



“We have found that the adsorption capacity of an oxidized microplastic particle (the configuration of the microplastic after undergoing environmental weathering) is significantly higher than a non-oxidized particle," said Dr. Zucker.



"After the environmental pollutants adsorb to the microplastic, the pre-loaded particle may reach the digestive tract through the ingestion of contaminated food and water where it releases the toxins in close proximity to the cells of the digestive tract, thus increasing the toxicity of these substances. This is another painful reminder of the dire consequences of polluting the marine and terrestrial environment with hazardous industrial waste, which has unfortunately been saturated with plastic in recent decades."



"The dangers are not theoretical but are more tangible than ever. Although there is a great deal of awareness of this problem, the preventive measures in the field are still far from imprinting a significant mark."



The study is published in the prestigious journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/chemosphere">Chemosphere</a>.



---



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

Microplastics strengthen the toxicity of pollutants

Microplastics in the marine environment absorb pollutants and increase their...

Human activities are putting an enormous amount of strain on marine ecosystems. The major stressors like pollution, climate change, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-is-a-major-threat-to-coral-reef-fish/">overfishing</a> are only getting worse, along with the negative impacts to marine species.&nbsp;



An international team of experts has now developed a framework for identifying the most vulnerable marine species. The goal of the research project is to boost global conservation and policy efforts against human-induced climate change.



By reviewing existing literature, the team has categorized a wide range of threats that are faced by more than 45,000 species. While developing the list, the researchers considered five trait groups that influence the susceptibility of marine species to anthropogenic stressors, including movement, reproduction, specialization, spatial scale metrics, and biophysical traits.



According to study lead author Dr. Nathalie Butt of the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a>, the research has revealed the marine species which are the most endangered from all anthropogenic threats.



“Molluscs, corals, and echinoderms – hard or spiny creatures such sea urchins – are truly feeling the impacts in our oceans, facing a diverse range of threats,” said Dr. Butt. “They’re affected by fishing and bycatch, pollution and climate change."



“Flowerpot corals – an incredibly fragile but stunning form of coral found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Persian Sea – is one group of species that is especially affected by climate change-related stressors, such as ocean acidification."



“We also discovered that starfish, sea snails and flying fish are increasingly vulnerable to climate change-related stressors, all of which can be found in oceans around the world."



“Roughy fishes are quite vulnerable to the effects of pollution, including organic, inorganic, and nutrient pollution, which was quite a surprise, as they live at a range of depths, including deep sea, which demonstrates how far the effects of pollution are spreading.”



Dr. Butt said the accelerating rate of environmental change was a motivating factor for the development of the framework.



“The environment is changing so quickly because of human actions, and we need to use all information available to help us assess which animals are at risk and why, and to help develop the most appropriate ways to protect and manage them - that’s where this framework comes in."



“This framework is unique as it uses biological characteristics or traits of marine species to assess their vulnerability to specific stressors or threats with the greatest potential impact, such as pollution, fishing, and of course, climate change.”



Professor Carissa Klein noted that the framework will allow users to make more informed decisions about how to allocate and prioritise their resources to protect the world’s most vulnerable species.



“Conservationists can use the framework to prioritize resources for their protection and determine which management actions would best protect particular species or groups of species and where,” said Dr. Klein. “We assessed all species and all threats that we know about now across the planet."



“The exciting thing is that we built the framework so that we could accommodate new information, whether that be about new species or information about threatening processes."



“This means that the work can also be applied in particular places to protect the ocean, using more detailed information about the species, and their threats, in that place.”



The project was jointly researched with the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). The study is published in the journal <a href="https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21508925">Ecosphere</a>.



---



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

More than 45,000 marine species are endangered by human impacts

Human activities are putting an enormous amount of strain on...

Although in the past few decades the Arctic has warmed much faster than the rest of the world, with Iceland’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-worlds-glaciers-contain-less-ice-than-previously-thought/">glaciers</a> losing an average of 11 gigatons of ice per year from 1995 to 2010, starting from 2010 the speed of Iceland’s melting has significantly slowed, resulting in about half as much annual ice loss. This trend has not been seen in nearby, larger glaciers across Greenland or Svalbard.



According to a new study led by <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en">Utrecht University</a> in the Netherlands, a region of cooling water in the North Atlantic Ocean near Iceland, colloquially called the “Blue Blob,” has likely slowed the melting of this island’s glaciers since 2011. Cooler waters are linked to lower air temperatures over Iceland’s glaciers and coincide with the significant slowdown of glacial melting observed after 2011.&nbsp;



This cold patch was most prominent during the winter of 2014-2015, when the sea surface temperature was approximately 1.4 degrees Celsius colder than normal, even as the ocean temperatures around this region increased due to climate change. While the origin and cause of the Blue Blob are still being investigated, some scientists argue that it is part of the normal sea surface temperature variability in the Arctic&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; caused by the complex circulation of deep currents in the ocean.



The scientists predict that this chilly seawater patch may persist in the North Atlantic, sparing Iceland’s glaciers until about 2050. However, between 2050 and 2100, ocean and air temperatures are predicted to increase substantially, leading to accelerated melting that will probably cause the loss of a third of this region’s glacial ice by the end of the century. By 2300, Iceland’s 3,400 cubic kilometers of ice will likely melt completely.



“It's crucial to have an idea of the possible feedbacks in the Arctic because it's a region that is changing so fast. It's important to know what we can expect in a future warmer climate,” said study lead author Brice Noël, a climate modeler specializing in polar ice sheets and glaciers at Utrecht University.



“In the end, the message is still clear. The Arctic is warming fast. If we wish to see glaciers in Iceland, then we have to curb the warming,” he concluded.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021GL095697">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.



&nbsp;---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

“Blue Blob” near Iceland is slowing down glacial melting

Although in the past few decades the Arctic has warmed...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/record-breaking-wildfire-years-are-just-getting-started/">Wildfires</a> have often been a significant environmental problem, particularly in areas with drier and hotter climates such as the western United States. However, four decades ago, cool, moist nights regularly provided relief for firefighters, and so-called “flammable nights” were an extremely rare event. 



Now, due to climate change, the nights are warming even faster than days. According to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado Boulder</a> (CU Boulder), there are 11 more flammable nights in the U.S. West every year – a 45 percent increase since 1979.



“People tend to pay more attention to conditions during the daytime: when fires are most active,” said study co-author Adam Mahood, a postdoctoral associate in CU Boulder’s <a href="https://earthlab.colorado.edu/">Earth Lab</a>. “But there’s not enough attention put on nighttime: when cooler conditions tend to slow fires down or even extinguish them completely.”&nbsp;



“Night is the critical time for slowing a speeding fire - and wildfire’s night brakes are failing,”&nbsp;added study lead author Jennifer Balch, the director of the Earth Lab.



The scientists analyzed satellite observations and hourly climate data for 81,000 global wildfires, and identified variations in the Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) – a key measurement of the “thirst of the atmosphere,” signaling the level of atmospheric heat and dryness – in order to determine the VPD tipping points when the air became hot and dry enough to allow wildfires to burn unabated during nighttime too. The results revealed a seven-days increase in flammable nights per year in a fifth of burnable lands around the globe, and an 11-days rise in the U.S. West over the past four decades (1979-2020).



By using a novel remote sensing and modeling technique to evaluate fire progression hourly for a large number of wildfires, the researchers also found that, globally, the night fires have become 7.2 percent more intense from 2003 to 2020, with a staggering 28 percent increase in intensity in the U.S. West. Moreover, the results shown a 36 percent increase of flammable nighttime hours during this period, compared to a 27 percent increase of daytime flammable hours. The most affected ecosystems were evergreen and broadleaf forests, shrublands, and grasslands.



“With continued nighttime warming, we expect to see more runaway wildfires that are more intense, faster, and larger. That means firefighters don’t get the breaks at night they used to get - they have to battle flames 24/7,” concluded Professor Balch.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04325-1">Nature</a>.&nbsp;



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Fires are intensifying with an increase in "flammable nights"

Wildfires have often been a significant environmental problem, particularly in...

Wells,,Maine,,February,1,,2021-winter,Storm,Waves,Crash,Over,The

At the current rate of global warming, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-levels-are-rising-at-an-alarming-rate/">sea levels</a> along the coastal United States will likely rise by a foot (approximately 30 centimeters) or even more by 2050, according to a new <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html">technical report</a> released on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 by the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> (NOAA). By the end of the century, this value could reach a disastrous two feet, if no urgent measures are taken to mitigate climate change.



“What we’re reporting out is historic,” said Richard Spinrad, the NOAA administrator. “The United States is expected to experience as much sea level rise in the next 30 years as we saw over the span of the last century.” According to Dr. Spinrad, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions to curb global warming is crucial for the longer-term future, the projected sea level rise by 2050 “will happen no matter what we do about emissions.”



This substantial rise will create a massive increase in the frequency of coastal flooding, even in the absence of storms or heavy rainfall, putting over 140,000 houses at risk of “chronic inundation” every month or so. The report predicts that by mid-century, minor high-tide flooding events in coastal areas could happen over ten times per year, while more destructive events (which currently have a four percent chance to occur in any given year) could occur twice a decade.



In order to cope with such events, storm and wastewater systems will need to be upgraded, and many homes and important infrastructure located close to the sea might have to relocate. Moreover, saltwater could infiltrate coastal aquifers, affecting water quality and poisoning farmlands, and septic systems may not be able to safely handle waste. Ports could face severe damage, disrupting supply chains and causing rises in costs that could affect even people who live far away from the coastlines.



“We need to make people understand this isn’t just a bunch of scientists talking and arm-waving. This is really happening, and it’s happening on time scales that matter to the individual,” said Reide Corbett, Dean of Integrated Coastal Programs at <a href="https://www.ecu.edu/">East Carolina University</a> and executive director at <a href="https://www.coastalstudiesinstitute.org/">Coastal Studies Institute</a>. “If we’re talking about 2050 - for someone buying a house today, that’s within the range of their mortgage.”



Regardless of the rather pessimistic tone of the report and the certainty that whatever we do at this moment, the predicted rises over the next three decades cannot be stopped, we should still take urgent measures to mitigate climate change, in order to save our planet from even more catastrophic future outcomes.



“The fact that there’s this locked-in sea level rise is not a reason to throw up our hands and say there’s nothing we can do about this, because there absolutely is,” said Kristina Dahl, a principal climate scientist at the nonprofit organization the<a href="https://www.ucsusa.org/"> Union of Concerned Scientists</a>. “This decade we’re in right now is one of the most consequential decades for our climate future. It’s really critical that we start bringing our emissions down quickly and steeply.”



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Sea levels on the U.S. coastline will rise one foot by mid-century

At the current rate of global warming, sea levels along...

An international team of researchers from Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom has performed a series of experiments to investigate the role of flexibility and inhibition in problem solving and how they relate to each other in the great-tailed grackle - a behaviorally flexible urban bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/species-suffer-a-second-extinction-when-society-forgets-about-them/">species</a>. By assessing the cognitive abilities of these birds using multiple tests, the researchers found that self-control (a form of inhibition) was linked to flexibility, or the ability to change preferences when circumstances change.



The scientists discovered that grackles who were faster to reverse a color preference were also faster to inhibit their behavior in a “go no-go” test, where they needed to touch one shape but not another on a touchscreen computer to get a reward. This behavior suggests that inhibition is involved in learning how to change preferences.



“The grackles are likely inhibiting themselves from choosing the previously rewarded option so they can instead choose the other option, which is now the only option that has food in it,” explained study lead author Corina Logan, a senior researcher at the <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/index/">Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology</a>.



However, another measure of flexibility – the time it takes to switch to trying to solve a new option on a puzzlebox after previously succeeding on a different option – correlated negatively with the capacity for inhibition in a “go no-go” test: grackles who were faster to switch to a new option were slower in inhibiting their behavior.&nbsp;



The scientists believe that different birds might use different inhibitory strategies, with those less inclined to inhibit being more open to explore a variety of options. This would help them solve the puzzlebox, but would be less useful in situations when they need to stick to one option, such as those assessed through the “go no-go” test.



Strangely, grackles who did better on a different inhibition test previously thought to measure self-control too, the “detour” test (where the birds needed to walk around to the side of a clear plastic tube to get food from the tube’s opening rather than trying to get it immediately through the plastic), did not necessarily perform better at the “go no-go” test. According to the researchers, while the latter measures self-control (the ability to withhold a response towards something present and wait for something that comes later), the former measures a different, simpler trait: motor inhibition, or the ability to stop a movement that is not useful.&nbsp;



“Our results show that different tests, which are widely referred to as tests of self-control actually assess different cognitive abilities,” says co-author Claudia Wascher, an associate professor of Behavioral Ecology at <a href="https://aru.ac.uk/">Anglia Ruskin University</a>.



Further research is needed to assess to what degree can grackles use causal cognition in order to change their behavior in relation to changing circumstances. Better understanding how flexible species react to a changing environment can help inform conservation management plans and facilitate learning how to promote flexibility in animal species that are struggling to adapt to our rapidly changing world.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.animalbehaviorandcognition.org/article.php?id=1301">Animal Behavior and Cognition</a>.



---



By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Great-tailed grackles adapt quickly to changing circumstances

An international team of researchers from Germany, the United States,...

The Snow Moon is the second <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/longest-full-moon-of-the-year-will-peak-saturday/">full moon</a> of the year. It will light up the nocturnal skies around the world for three days, from Tuesday, February 15 to Thursday, February 17, reaching its peak on Wednesday night. During the same night, Mercury will be located at the greatest distance west of the Sun, making it a bright yet challenging to observe “morning star” in mid-northern latitudes.



According to the <a href="https://www.farmersalmanac.com/">Maine Farmers’ Almanac</a>, the native tribes of what is now the northeastern United States called this the Snow Moon (or the Storm Moon) because it was often accompanied by heavy snowfall. Moreover, since bad weather and snowstorms often made hunting difficult, this moon was also referred to as the Hunger Moon.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In other parts of the world, the February full moon has different names, and is associated with various local religious and secular traditions. In the Purnimanta Hindu tradition, for instance, dating back to the Vedic era (1500 to 500 BCE), which ends each month on the full moon day, this full moon (“Purnima” in Hindi) is called Magha Purnima, since it occurs on the last day of the month of Magha, which is associated with austerity, performing acts of charity, and bathing in a sacred river.



For Buddhists, this moon corresponds with Māgha Pūjā, the second-most important festival of the year, celebrating the historical gathering of the Buddha with 1,250 of his first disciples. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. On this day, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community through large, crowded celebrations, such as the Gangaramaya Navam, a procession of over 5,000 people and many elephants in Sri Lanka.



Although the Snow Moon will peak on Wednesday night, it will be almost as bright on Tuesday and Thursday too, offering additional chances to enjoy it.&nbsp;



“Seeing the Moon yourself shouldn’t be too difficult, as long as clouds aren’t in the way,” said Dr. Greg Brown, an astronomer at the <a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory">Royal Observatory Greenwich</a>.&nbsp; “It will be easily the brightest object in the night sky and fully visible to the unaided eye; however, a pair of binoculars or a small telescope will enable you to see some of the smaller features on its surface.”



Although this year’s Snow Moon will not be as bright as the 2020 one - which was considered to be a “supermoon” that appeared significantly larger and brighter than normal due to the fact that its peak almost coincided with its perigee (the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the Earth) - it will nevertheless offer viewers all around the world a dazzling visual spectacle.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The Snow Moon will peak all over the world on Wednesday

The Snow Moon is the second full moon of the...

Fusarium is an important and dangerous fungal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-plants-develop-resistance-to-potentially-deadly-pathogens/">pathogen</a> for a broad range of crops. A soil borne disease, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC), infects the roots of banana plants. From the roots, the disease spreads into the plant’s vascular system, causing gradual deterioration and death. What makes the disease especially tenacious is that spores linger for up to twenty years after the infected plant is removed.



The banana industry has been severely impacted by FOC, particularly the Cavendish group. The impact of the disease has spread across the world for over 100 years and is predicted to spread further into Asia. Important banana producers such as China, the Philippines, Pakistan and Vietnam are likely to be impacted.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Predictions are especially dire for Vietnam. Within the next five years, FOC is predicted to cause a loss of 8 percent of the banana production area of Vietnam. This number rises substantially to as much as 71 percent in the next 25 years.&nbsp;



Most bananas are traded locally in Vietnam, as well as in many other banana growing regions throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. This means that the consequences of FOC have a direct effect on local economies and nutrition. Because of the high stakes involved, it’s become increasingly important to learn which species are causing Fusarium wilt in Vietnamese bananas.&nbsp;&nbsp;



In an effort to learn more about the Fusarium wilt (and hopefully understand how to control it), an international team from research institutions in Vietnam set out to investigate. The team included experts from the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Meise Botanic Garden, KU Leuven, and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.



The scientists used DNA analysis as well as traditional morphological research to identify the fungal species. Interestingly, ¾ of the fungal infections in northern Vietnam were caused by F. tardichlamydosporum. Other species account for only a small percentage of infections. Tragically, infections are also now found in wild bananas as well. This means that wild bananas could possibly act as a reservoir for reinfecting cultivated bananas in the future.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://mycokeys.pensoft.net/">MycoKeys</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Vietnam's banana industry is threatened by disease

Fusarium is an important and dangerous fungal pathogen for a...

A new study from the <a href="https://www.ubc.ca/">University of British Columbia</a> is investigating the cause of the "skunky" <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-odors-repellent-crops/">odor</a> that is emitted by cannabis production facilities. The experts want to understand how cannabis emissions may affect air quality, workers, and the general public.



Davi de Ferreyro Monticelli, a doctoral student in UBC’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences is leading the study. According to Monticelli, knowledge gaps concerning cannabis emissions should be addressed while the industry is still developing.



In a recent interview, Monticelli explained what’s missing in our knowledge about cannabis production emissions, and how their smell compares to other odors.



"One way scientists measure odors is through ‘dynamic olfactometry’ analyses, where people capture a sample of air near a known odorous source and bring it back to the lab so it can be sniffed by trained assessors," said Monticelli.



"The sample is first diluted with clean air and then concentrated further and further until half of the assessment panel can smell it. When this happens, the level of dilution is converted into an odor concentration. This has been performed for many industries and operations, including cannabis facilities, waste and wastewater treatment, and livestock operations."



"We found in the literature that a facility that grows about 1,700 cannabis plants can emit the same odor concentration as a livestock operation with about 30 pigs or about 1,600 chickens. So, although their smells are not the same, one cannabis plant might be equivalent to about one chicken with respect to the intensity of the odors it produces."



Monticelli said that so far, the skunky cannabis smell has been linked to two classes of chemicals that are terpenes and volatile sulphurous compounds, which are volatile organic compounds. "However, we do not really know which type contributes more to the odors, and a better understanding would help the industry and policy makers control odorous emissions more effectively."



The UBC team conducted a review which identified 16 major gaps that need to be addressed, including the monitoring of air quality in and around cannabis facilities. 



"Most of the chemicals that are emitted react quickly in the atmosphere. Some of these can influence the formation of ultrafine particles and ozone at ground level, which are harmful to people and the environment," said Monticelli.



"Because of the fast-changing nature of the chemicals released when cannabis is grown, we need to use real-time sampling instruments that can capture changes in the composition of the air within short periods to properly understand the impact of cannabis facilities on overall air quality."



Monticelli explained that creating and maintaining a database of different cannabis strains and their emissions will improve the accuracy of cannabis cultivation emission inventories over time. "Such inventories provide the basic information needed at the beginning of any air quality assessment."



"This is a relatively new industry which is growing with the rise in cannabis legalization worldwide. Effective emission control practices and environmental policies are needed before new industrial practices become entrenched, and addressing the gaps identified in our review is a first step."



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.



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

How do "skunky" cannabis emissions affect air quality?

A new study from the University of British Columbia is...

Research from the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> has highlighted the phenomenon of societal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lowland-tapirs-in-the-atlantic-forest-are-at-risk-of-extinction/">extinction</a> and its potential impact on efforts to conserve biodiversity. When species disappear from society’s collective memory, they cease to be important or to receive attention from the public. Species can disappear from our societies, cultures and discourses at the same time as, or even before, they become biologically extinct. 



According to a quote attributed to both Banksy and Irvin Yalom, “Species go extinct twice – one time when the last individual stops breathing, and a second time when the collective memory about the species disappears.”



The international and interdisciplinary group of scientists found that whether a species will become societally extinct depends on many factors. These can include its charisma, its symbolic or cultural value, whether and how long ago it went extinct, and how distant and isolated its range is from humans.&nbsp;



For example, not many people have heard of the splendid poison frog (Oophaga speciosa) that was declared extinct from its home range in Panama in 2020. Although there is a remote chance that some specimens may be in captive collections, there are none in zoos or in recognized breeding programs. And because this is not a charismatic or culturally important species, it is unlikely that public funds or interest will be generated to attempt breeding and reintroduction projects. Society does not recognize this species as important.



By contrast, when Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), a parrot endemic to Brazil’s Amazon forest, was declared extinct in the wild in 2019, captive breeding programs were well underway. “Blu”, a Spix’s macaw who achieved worldwide fame as a character in the 2011 animated movie Rio, helped to bring an understanding of this species’ plight to the world. As a result of greater public awareness and empathy, the Brazilian federal government’s Institute for the Conservation of Biodiversity, together with several partner organizations, established an Action Plan to increase the captive population of the Spix's macaw and begin reintroducing them to the wild.&nbsp;



The fact that children from local communities in the former range of Spix’s macaws incorrectly believed that the species is found in Rio de Janeiro, because of its appearance in the animated movie&nbsp;Rio, is an example of how societal extinction works. As time passes, the knowledge and appreciation of a species is transformed and becomes inaccurate and dislocated from reality.&nbsp;



As more and more species go extinct, they also become isolated from people. This leads to the extinction of experience – the progressive loss of our daily interactions with nature. As time passes such species may fully fade from people’s memories and, as a result, suffer societal extinction as well.



One example presented by the researchers is the replacement of traditional herbal medicine by modern medicine in Europe. This is believed to have degraded general knowledge of many medicinal plants, causing them to become societally extinct. Another example arises from studies conducted among communities in southwestern China and Indigenous people in Bolivia, where people have shown loss of local knowledge and memory of bird species that have become extinct.



Thus, public attention and interest in the fate of endangered species is a crucial prerequisite for effective conservation programs. Societies tend to conserve species they recognize as important. But these factors can only have an impact if people were aware of the species in the first place.&nbsp;



“It is important to note that the majority of species actually cannot become societally extinct, simply because they never had a societal presence to begin with,” said Dr Ivan Jarić, lead author of the study and researcher at the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences.



“This is common in uncharismatic, small, cryptic, or inaccessible species, especially among invertebrates, plants, fungi and microorganisms – many of which are not yet formally described by scientists or known by humankind. Their declines and extinctions remain silent and unseen by the people and societies."



“Societal extinctions can affect conservation efforts aimed at protecting biodiversity because they can diminish our expectations of the environment and our perceptions of its natural state, such as what is the standard or relatively healthy," said study co-author Dr. Josh Firth.



“Societal extinction can reduce our will to pursue ambitious conservation goals. For example, it could reduce public support for rewilding efforts, especially if such species are no longer present in our memory as natural parts of the ecosystem,” added Dr Jarić.&nbsp;



Further research will now assess how societal extinctions can produce false perceptions of the severity of threats to biodiversity and true extinction rates, and diminish public support for conservation and restoration efforts, such as reintroductions of Eurasian beaver to the UK.



The results of the study are published today in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/home">Trends in Ecology &amp; Evolution</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:bosman@truewan.co.za">Alison Bosman</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Species suffer a second extinction when society forgets about them

Research from the University of Oxford has highlighted the phenomenon...

Megadroughts are defined as periods of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/europe-will-face-more-frequent-and-extreme-droughts/">drought</a> that exceed two decades. According to a team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.ucla.edu/">University of California, Los Angeles</a> (UCLA), the drought that has enveloped the southwestern part of North America (from southern Montana to northern Mexico, and from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains) in the past 22 years is the region’s driest megadrought since at least the year 800. 



The high temperatures and low precipitation levels this area faced in 2020 and 2021 has caused the current drought to exceed in severity a late-1500s megadrought which had previously been identified as the driest in the past 1,200 years.



The scientists calculated the intensity of droughts by analyzing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-rings-reveal-the-carbon-storage-capacity-of-a-forest/">tree ring</a> patterns, which can provide accurate information about annual soil moisture levels during extended time periods. They found that, since 2000, the average soil moisture deficit (a metric describing how little moisture the soil contains compared to normal levels of saturation), was twice as severe as during any other drought of the 20th century, and higher than it was over even the driest periods of the past 12 centuries.



Although the current megadrought would have been quite severe even without global warming, researchers argue that anthropogenic climate change may be responsible for approximately 42 percent of the soil moisture deficit since 2000. Over the past two decades, temperatures in the region were 0.91 degrees Celsius higher than the average from the second half of the 20th century, significantly increasing evaporation, a process that dries out soil and vegetation.



“Without climate change, the past 22 years would have probably still been the driest period in 300 years,” said study lead author Park Williams, an associate professor of Geography and Bioclimatology at UCLA. “But it wouldn’t be holding a candle to the megadroughts of the 1500s, 1200s, or 1100s.”



According to Professor Williams and his colleagues, this megadrought is causing significant water shortages in the area, with two of the largest water reservoirs in North America (Lake Mead and Lake Powell), reaching their lowest recorded levels. 



The water conservation measures implemented by local regulators in response to low water levels were helpful in the short term. However, the scientists argue that water conservation efforts extending beyond times of drought are necessary to ensure that people have sufficient water as climate change continues to cause increasingly more frequent and severe droughts.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01290-z">Nature Climate Change</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

American Southwest megadrought is the worst in 12 centuries

Megadroughts are defined as periods of drought that exceed two...

Lichens are composite organisms consisting of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salamanders-have-an-intriguing-partnership-with-algae/" data-type="news" data-id="1897737">algae</a> living among the filaments of various species of fungi in symbiotic relationships. While the fungi are providing the physical structure, the algae use photosynthesis to supply the necessary nutrients. 



Lichens grow everywhere, from the Arctic tundra to the bark of trees in common backyards, and play a large variety of important ecologic roles, from creating oxygen to serving as food for reindeer and other animals.



A new study led by the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a> in Chicago has characterized these algae’s preferred climates and found that their ability to change climatic preferences happens very slowly, during millions of years. This means that they will likely be severely impacted by the rapid climate change the Earth is currently experiencing, and face – together with the lichens they are a part of – an increased risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-sixth-mass-extinction-is-currently-in-progress/">extinction</a>.



In order to determine how much time it took algae to change under evolutionary pressures in the past, the scientists created family trees showing how different algae are related to each other, and calibrated it by using age estimates from previous work. Moreover, by comparing the DNA-based relationships of different species of modern algae to one another and looking at the environments in which they lived, they identified the climatic preferences of various species of algae.



By performing a series of statistical analyses on the data they collected, the researchers found that it could take hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years, for these algae to adapt to the temperature changes that we will witness over the course of this century.



“I was shocked,” said study lead author Matthew Nelsen, a research scientist at the Field Museum. “I should have known better from the other papers I’ve read, but I was disturbed to see it. It's so close to home, on a group of organisms near and dear to my heart.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



According to Nelsen, losing lichens could have profound effects on their ecosystems. &nbsp;“Lichens are the dominant vegetation on 7 percent of the Earth’s surface. They play roles in ecosystem hydrology by retaining moisture. They also play roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling, and some of them are used by animals for food or nesting materials.”



The research results are an important step forward in predicting climate change’s effects, and an incentive to take this phenomenon seriously and work toward systemic changes to mitigate its worse effects.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.791546/full">Frontiers in Microbiology</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lichens cannot adapt as fast as Earth's temperature is changing

Lichens are composite organisms consisting of algae living among the...

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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



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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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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



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Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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

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



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



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



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



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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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