Just a few months ago, Ritacuba Blanco stood majestically in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/springtime-in-the-central-andes-mountains/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colombian Andes</a>, cloaked in a pristine layer of ice and snow. Today, massive cracks scar its surface, revealing bare rock beneath, and signaling an alarming change. 



The glacier, located in <a href="https://old.parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/en/ecotourism/andean-region/el-cocuy-national-natural-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sierra Nevada del Cocuy National Park</a>, faces a rapid demise, melting at an unprecedented pace due to the compounded effects of climate change and the El Niño phenomenon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disappearing-glaciers-of-colombia">Disappearing glaciers of Colombia</h2>



Colombia was once a land of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/doomsday-glacier-seems-to-have-lost-its-ability-to-recover/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a>. In the early 20th century, 14 of its peaks boasted these icy giants, covering the mountains with a perpetual layer of ice and snow. 



Over time, however, relentless warming took its toll on these glaciers. Today, after decades of climate change and rising temperatures, only six remain. Even these survivors are rapidly retreating, and Ritacuba Blanco is the most vulnerable of them all.



The Ritacuba Blanco Glacier, located in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy National Park about 250 kilometers northeast of Bogotá, is melting at an unprecedented rate. 



In 2022, it had only 12.8 square kilometers of ice and snow remaining -- the lowest coverage ever recorded by the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies (<a href="https://www.un-spider.org/colombia-institute-hydrology-meteorology-and-environmental-studies-ideam" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ideam</a>). 



This year, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-glaciers-unleash-invasive-species-into-unexpected-areas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glacier</a>’s condition has worsened due to the compounded effects of climate change and El Niño. Massive cracks now scar its surface, revealing the bare rock beneath.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-this-matter">Why does this matter?</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/image/corbassiere-glacier-earths-natural-climate-archives-are-melting-away/">Gla</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/image/corbassiere-glacier-earths-natural-climate-archives-are-melting-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">c</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/image/corbassiere-glacier-earths-natural-climate-archives-are-melting-away/">iers</a> are more than just picturesque landscapes. They act as natural reservoirs, storing water in frozen form during colder months and releasing it slowly when they melt during warmer periods. 



This gradual melting provides essential water to the surrounding ecosystems and communities, particularly during the dry season. With glaciers shrinking, less ice is available to melt, disrupting the delicate balance and throwing local water supplies into chaos.



The loss of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-arctic-glaciers-are-releasing-a-new-source-of-potent-methane-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glaciers</a> like Ritacuba Blanco has significant consequences for both people and nature. Communities that rely on glacial meltwater for drinking, irrigation, and hydropower are at risk of water shortages.



In Bogotá, unprecedented water rationing has already been implemented due to record low reservoir levels. Ecosystems dependent on consistent water flow from glaciers also face severe stress, threatening biodiversity in the region.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-causing-the-ritacuba-blanco-s-rapid-melt">What's causing the Ritacuba Blanco's rapid melt?</h2>



The culprits behind Ritacuba Blanco’s rapid melting are a double whammy: a natural weather pattern called El Niño, combined with the long-term warming caused by human activities.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">El Niño</h3>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-mountains-impact-el-nino-winters-and-snowfall-amounts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Niño</a> is a warming of ocean waters in the eastern Pacific that occurs every two to seven years, lasting about nine to twelve months. It's a natural climate cycle, but its effects have been amplified by rising global temperatures. 



As the world's baseline temperature continues to rise due to climate change, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/el-nino-event-may-push-earth-towards-its-hottest-year-ever/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El Niño events</a> are becoming more intense and damaging.



During an El Niño event, warm ocean waters disrupt normal weather patterns across the globe. In South America, including Colombia, El Niño brings extreme heat and dry conditions. This results in decreased precipitation and more intense solar radiation on glacier surfaces, accelerating their melting.



In Colombia, El Niño has caused major fires, with more than 17,000 hectares of forest going up in flames. Lakes have dried up, and the capital, Bogotá, has implemented unprecedented water rationing due to record low reservoir levels. For glaciers like Ritacuba Blanco, El Niño spells disaster.



"The El Niño phenomenon is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to our snowy peaks or glaciers," said Jorge Luis Ceballos, a glaciologist at the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam).



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Greenhouse gases</h3>



The UN's World Meteorological Organization (<a href="https://wmo.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WMO</a>) is unequivocal in its assessment of the main culprit behind global warming: Heat-trapping greenhouse gases are unequivocally the main culprit. 



These gases, primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, come mainly from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.



When released into the atmosphere, these gases act like a giant blanket around the Earth, trapping heat that would otherwise escape into space. This greenhouse effect raises global temperatures, leading to widespread climate changes, including glacier melting.



Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has resulted in a steady rise in global temperatures, with 2023 being one of the hottest years on record.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ritacuba-blanco-is-melting-before-our-eyes">Ritacuba Blanco is melting before our eyes</h2>



"At the end of last year, the walls here were about six meters (20 feet) high... today, they are one meter," <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hidden-glacier-melt-found-in-himalaya-has-critical-implications/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">glacier</a> guide Edwin Prada told AFP on a recent ascent of the peak.



The speed of the change is what's shocking. Just a few months ago, Ritacuba Blanco's glacier looked eternal. Now, cracks run deep in the ice, revealing bare rock, and the meltwater flows in rivers instead of being locked away safely for future use.



"Never has the thaw been as noticeable as it is now... Every time you go up it is worse," expressed Humberto Estepa, a local resident.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-consequences-of-ritacuba-blanco-melting">Global consequences of Ritacuba Blanco melting</h2>



Ritacuba Blanco isn't an isolated case. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/petermann-glacier-melting-has-tripled-due-to-warm-ocean-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glaciers</a> worldwide are vanishing. The Himalayas, the "water towers of Asia," are losing their ice, threatening crucial water sources for millions of people. This melting ice has a more direct impact too - rising sea levels.



"Ocean warming and rapidly melting glaciers and ice sheets drove the sea level last year to its highest point since satellite records began in 1993," reports the World Meteorological Organization (<a href="https://wmo.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WMO</a>). Think of glaciers like giant, slow-moving rivers of ice. When they melt into the ocean, the water level goes up.



The devastation of the glaciers isn't just about water and sea levels. It's a wake-up call from the planet that the climate crisis is real, and it's accelerating. El Niño made things worse this time around, but the real problem is the relentless warming we're causing.



El Niño has also contributed to devastating wildfires in Colombia and water shortages so extreme that they've led to rationing in the capital city.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-can-we-do-to-save-glaciers-like-ritacuba-blanco">What can we do to save glaciers like Ritacuba Blanco?</h2>



The story of Ritacuba Blanco is a somber one, but it's not hopeless. There's still time to act and help preserve this and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cadman-glacier-is-losing-2-1-billion-tons-of-ice-melting-into-the-ocean-each-year/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other glaciers</a>:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Reduce greenhouse gas emissions</h3>



One of the most effective ways to tackle climate change is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower can significantly reduce emissions.



Simple measures like using energy-efficient appliances, LED bulbs, and proper insulation can lower our carbon footprint. Walking, cycling, and using public transport instead of driving can reduce emissions. For longer distances, consider carpooling or driving electric vehicles.



By reducing, reusing, and recycling, we can minimize waste and lower emissions associated with the production of goods.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Support climate policies</h3>



Individual actions are essential, but systemic change requires collective political will. Let your elected officials know you care about climate issues. Call, write, or email them, urging them to support strong environmental policies.



Advocate for laws and regulations that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture while reducing emissions from fossil fuels.



Support candidates and political leaders who prioritize climate action and have concrete plans to tackle the crisis. Partner with local and global organizations that are working towards environmental sustainability.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Spread the word</h3>



Raising awareness about the climate crisis can inspire others to act. Have conversations about climate change, its impacts, and the actions we can take with friends and family.



Organize workshops, film screenings, or discussion groups on climate topics. Share informative articles, videos, and personal stories about climate action on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 



Glaciers like Ritacuba Blanco are the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to climate change. Their plight is a warning we can't afford to ignore. It's time to listen and act before we lose more of these icy treasures.



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Ritacuba Blanco glacier is vanishing rapidly due to climate change

Just a few months ago, Ritacuba Blanco stood majestically in the Colombian Andes, cloaked in a pristine layer of ice and snow. Today, massive cracks scar its surface, revealing bare rock beneath, and signaling an alarming change. The glacier, located in Sierra Nevada del Cocuy National Park, faces a rapid demise, melting at an unprecedented pace due to the compounded effects of climate change and the El Niño phenomenon. Disappearing glaciers of Colombia Colombia was once a land of glaciers. In the early 20th century, 14 of...

Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are often maligned and feared because they <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-activities-help-scavengers-take-over-the-alpine-habitats-of-arctic-foxes/">scavenge</a> carcasses and are associated with dark nights and eerie, whooping or cackling calls. Some even see them as the embodiment of evil.&nbsp;



But in certain towns in Ethiopia - Mekelle and Harar, for example - hyenas are an accepted part of town life and may even bring benefits to the townsfolk.&nbsp;



In a recent study, a University of Michigan conservation ecologist and two colleagues attempted to quantify the health and economic benefits brought by the population of hyenas that scavenge at the landfill outside the town of Mekelle, the capital of northern Ethiopia's Tigray region.&nbsp;



“This is an important contribution to a growing body of work that highlights the benefits of predators and scavengers, rather than focusing only on their costs to humanity,” said study senior author Neil Carter, an assistant professor at the School for Environment and Sustainability.



Mekelle has a population of 310,000 people and 120,000 livestock. Animals are slaughtered for consumption and their carcasses are mostly disposed of on the town’s landfill or simply on the roadsides. Hyenas visit these sites every night to scavenge and, in so doing, remove the unwanted waste. The researchers investigated whether the hyenas prevent the spread of pathogens to people and livestock by consuming these remains.&nbsp;



The team first estimated the size of the spotted hyena population that visits the town by night. They did this by broadcasting pre-recorded hyena distress calls from the roof of a vehicle at five sites around the town. During each hour-long survey, hyenas that responded to the calls were counted using night-vision binoculars. The researchers estimated that 210 hyenas visit the town at night to scavenge.&nbsp;



Next, the researchers used night-time observations of hyena feeding behavior at the landfill to determine the number and identity of carcasses scavenged. The results showed that each adult hyena consumes around 2,100 lb of carcass waste in a year, and that this mass is made up mostly from horse carcasses.&nbsp;



Chicken carcasses are the most commonly eaten item, but waste from cattle, horses, sheep and goats is also consumed. The total mass of waste consumed by the hyenas is 207 metric tons per year, which represents 4.2 percent of the total animal carcass waste disposed of by the town’s residents and businesses.



The field data were collected and analyzed by study lead author Chinmay Sonawane, a former student of Carter's who is now a doctoral student at Stanford University.



The data were then used in a model of disease transmission to predict the number of anthrax and bovine tuberculosis infections that would arise in humans and livestock due to contact with infected carcass waste. The model predicted that hyena scavenging prevents five infections of anthrax and bovine tuberculosis in Mekelle residents and 140 infections in cattle, sheep and goats, during the course of a year. This disease-control service potentially saves the city $52,000 annually in treatment costs and livestock losses avoided.



“Yes, the effects are modest. Even so, this study totally upends the traditional narrative around hyenas - that they are a nuisance and should be removed,” said Carter.



“In comparison to the large cattle enterprises in the Global North, the benefits that we found are quite small,” said Sonawane. “However, losing even a single cow to anthrax or bovine tuberculosis can cause significant financial stress to cattle owners in Ethiopia, who tend to own much smaller herds of cattle than cattle owners in other parts of the world.”



“In addition, we only estimated the benefits accrued from hyenas within 5 kilometers of the city. It is very, very likely that hyenas from much further than 5 kilometers away are also coming into Mekelle and consuming even more waste.”



The study authors note that the benefits of hyena presence must be weighed against the costs of hyena attacks each year. A 2011 study reported 10 nonfatal hyena attacks on humans annually in Mekelle, along with an estimated economic loss of $2,928 from 33 fatal attacks on cattle and small ruminants annually. It is clear that in order to preserve and extend the health and financial benefits provided by the hyenas of Mekelle, the population of these scavengers must be managed to minimize the inherent risks to the humans with which they coexist.&nbsp;



“By maintaining the hyenas' access to waste, human-hyena conflict can be mitigated in Mekelle, and the sanitation and disease control benefits provided by hyena scavenging can be preserved or even increased,” wrote the researchers.&nbsp;Excluding hyenas from scavenging the animal carcasses may force them to hunt livestock, which would increase the human-hyena conflict.&nbsp;



Currently, the activities of the hyenas of Mekelle help fulfil three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: they ensure good health, help provide clean water and sanitation, and promote terrestrial diversity. Furthermore, waste generation will increase in Mekelle as the population gets larger, and the sanitation situation is unlikely to improve, given the financial constraints in this low-income region.&nbsp;



“Hyena scavenging may, therefore, be even more valuable in the future,” concluded the researchers.



The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652664">Journal of Applied Ecology</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

Hyena scavenging brings health and economic benefits

Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are often maligned and feared because...

Air,Pollution,By,Smoke,Coming,Out,Of,Two,Factory,Chimneys.

Many previous studies have linked various types of ambient air <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/working-from-home-reduces-air-pollution/">pollution</a> with poor pregnancy and birth outcomes all over the world. However, a new study published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/">PLoS Medicine</a> is the first to quantify the effects of indoor air pollution, mostly from cooking stoves, on key indicators of pregnancy.



According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of people live with polluted outdoor air, and half the global population is also exposed to indoor air pollution from the combustion of coal, wood and dung inside homes.&nbsp;



The UC San Francisco and University of Washington global burden of disease study is a meta-analysis that looks at how indoor and outdoor air pollution affects gestational age at birth, reduction in birth weight, incidence of low birth weight and preterm birth.&nbsp;



The study was conducted with researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington and found that air pollution probably contributed to around 6 million premature births and 3 million underweight babies in 2019. Both these factors are major risks for infant mortality throughout the world.



“The air pollution-attributable burden is enormous, yet with sufficient effort, it could be largely mitigated,” said lead author Rakesh Ghosh, PhD, a prevention and public health specialist at the Institute for Global Health Sciences at UCSF.



Preterm birth rates are the highest in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and this is also where indoor air pollution is common. The researchers concluded that the global incidence of preterm birth and low birthweight could be reduced by almost 78 percent if air pollution were minimized these regions.



The study also found that outdoor air pollution poses a significant risk in more developed countries. In the United States, for example, outdoor air pollution is estimated to have contributed to almost 12,000 preterm births in 2019.&nbsp;



Previously, the same research team&nbsp;found that, in 2019, air pollution contributed to the deaths of 500,000 newborns within the first month of life.



“With this new, global and more rigorously generated evidence, air pollution should now be considered a major driver of infant morbidity and mortality, not just of chronic adult diseases,” said Ghosh. “Our study suggests that taking measures to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution levels will have significant health co-benefit for newborns.”&nbsp; &nbsp;



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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

Millions of premature births linked to air pollution

Many previous studies have linked various types of ambient air...

A new longitudinal study led by the <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/">University of Oxford</a> has found that, as a consequence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-threatens-the-base-of-the-polar-food-web/">climate</a> change, great tits (Parus major) in Britain are nesting and laying their eggs two weeks earlier than they did 60 years ago. Scientists believe that these <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/phenology">phenological</a> modifications were connected to changes in the oak trees’ blooming patterns caused by global warming, as well as to the health of the oak trees located nearby the birds’ nesting areas.



In order to examine the impact of global warming on birds, researchers used breeding data gathered over six decades about more than 13,000 great tits living and nesting in a 385-hectare woodland in Oxfordshire.&nbsp;&nbsp;



“When we consider data for the population as a whole between 1961 and 2020, both female laying date and the annual timing of peak abundance of winter moth larvae have advanced by over two weeks,” explained the study authors.



Great tits belong to a comprehensively studied food-web, feeding on caterpillars, which in turn feed on newly-emerging oak leaves. Due to climate change, early onsets of springs are making the oak trees bloom earlier, and are thus changing both caterpillars’ and great tits’ timing of crucial biological events.



"A significant predictor of the variability in laying date was the health of oak trees located within 75 metres of each nest box," explained the researchers. "For example, birds breeding in boxes surrounded by healthy oaks advanced their laying by 0.34 days per year, while those nesting in areas with oaks in poor health advanced by only 0.25 days per year. Great tits breeding in oak-rich territories tend to breed earlier and have higher reproductive success.”



This research has important implications for understanding the capacity of organisms to survive and adapt to climate change. Studying the modifications in the timing of biological events of species such as the great tit can shed new light on how animals can adapt to changing environments.



“Further work should test how phenological change varies at different spatial scales in a range of systems and explore both the underlying mechanisms and the ecological and evolutionary consequences of these processes,” the study authors concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=55199X1584066&amp;isjs=1&amp;jv=15.2.0-stackpath&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle-10033377%2FGreat-tits-Britain-laying-eggs-two-weeks-earlier.html&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41558-021-01140-4&amp;xguid=&amp;xs=1&amp;xtz=-180&amp;xuuid=fe8e4493e515587e777ab8b1cd755010&amp;xjsf=other_click__auxclick%20%5B2%5D">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

Great tits are nesting earlier due to climate change

A new longitudinal study led by the University of Oxford...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03889-2?utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=commission_junction&amp;utm_campaign=3_nsn6445_deeplink_PID100032693&amp;utm_content=deeplink">Nature</a> has found that wild seafood and other aquatic foods (“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/blue-foods-are-healthy-and-environmentally-friendly/">blue foods</a>”) have a much smaller <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/african-mountain-forests-store-huge-amounts-of-carbon/">carbon</a> footprint than red meat or dairy products, and thus present an opportunity for more sustainable diets.&nbsp;



A team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.american.edu/">American University</a> in Washington D.C. analyzed the greenhouse gas emissions associated to 23 marine species that make up nearly three quarters of the animal species humans consume.&nbsp;



The experts discovered that the emissions associated with wild seafood were significantly lower than those connected to beef (one-sixth), lamb and mutton (one-fifth), or even cheese (half). Thus, a single burger basically generates the same amount of CO2 as 9 lbs of wild sardines.



This low environmental impact is caused by the fact that blue foods use little or no land to cultivate, compared to other foods, such as beef, which requires more than five square feet of land in order to produce a single protein.



Among the wild seafood and fish that the scientists analyzed, farmed seaweeds, clams, mussels, and scallops had the smallest environmental impact, with anchovies, herring, mackerel, and other pelagic fish coming not very far behind.&nbsp;



In the case of farmed fish and crustaceans, researchers found that salmon and trout used the least land and water resources. Silver and bighead carp had the lowest associated greenhouse gas, nitrogen, and phosphorus emissions, but the highest water usage.



“The food system occupies half of all ice-free land and is responsible for three-quarters of global consumptive water use,” explained study lead author Jessica Gephart, an environmental scientist at the American University.&nbsp;



“As a critical source of nutrition generating relatively low average environmental pressures, blue foods present an opportunity to improve nutrition with lower environmental burdens. Blue foods already have great potential for reducing food system environmental stressors,” she concluded.



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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

Wild seafood has one-sixth the carbon footprint of red meat

A new study published in the journal Nature has found...

Inside of every <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animal-products-linked-to-double-the-emissions-of-plant-based-foods/">animal</a>, there is an entire community of gut bacteria which contribute to digestion and fighting off disease. Without these “microbiomes,” complex, multicellular organisms would be far worse off. Now, a recent study is shedding light on the variety of compositions these microbiomes might take on within a single animal over the course of a year.&nbsp;



The study examined the migration and biology of Kirtland’s Warbler by sampling a key resource for ecologists - scat. The selected population of Kirtland’s Warbler migrates every year from Michigan (in spring) to the Bahamas (in the winter). Researchers from the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/">Field Museum</a>, the Smithsonian, and Georgetown University sampled the warbler’s poop in both locales.&nbsp;



"This study shows how much we can learn about even foundational aspects of bird biology, such as migration, from the combination of new and old technologies - fieldwork and following birds in their breeding, migrating, and wintering habitats, to newer technologies of radiotelemetry and next-generation DNA sequencing," explained study co-author Shannon Hackett.



By utilizing old and new methodologies, the team discovered that the bird’s gut microbiomes changed as they traveled.&nbsp;



“We’ve seen in other animals that microbiomes can be influenced by the places their hosts live. Lots of birds migrate, and they experience different environments at different points of their migratory cycle. We didn’t know how these different environments affected the birds’ microbiomes,” said study lead author Heather Skeen.



The relative rarity of Kirtland’s Warbler allowed them to track individual birds, and over a much smaller geographic area. Using twelve radio towers in Michigan, they were able to pinpoint the birds’ locations after they were tagged.&nbsp;



“One of the most important parts about this study is that we were able to recapture birds at different portions of the annual cycle in different locations, and we have this one-to-one comparison of the same population and the same individuals and how their microbiomes changed,” said Skeen.



This study’s results are important because birds have a much more flexible microbiome content than mammals. By tracking changes as populations move, due to migration or, potentially, climate change, we can have a better understanding of how changes correspond to changes in geography.&nbsp;



“An animal’s gut microbiome is an additional level of molecular diversity, and as global climate change alters ecosystems, the gut microbiome might be one of the avenues in which animals can adapt to the changing environment," said Skeen. "The gut microbiome has its own unique ecosystem, and it’s ripe for discoveries.”



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1365294x">Molecular Ecology</a>.



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By <a href="http://mailto:rugerpaleo@gmail.com">Alex Ruger</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Birds pick up new gut bacteria as they travel

Inside of every animal, there is an entire community of...

The current geological age, during which human activity has taken over as the dominant influence on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pandas-can-thrive-in-less-than-perfect-environments/">environment</a> and climate, is unofficially known as the Anthropocene. When looking at how humans have reshaped our planet, some of the biggest disturbances can be found among Earth's tropical forests.&nbsp;



In a new series of articles edited by researchers from the <a href="https://www.shh.mpg.de/en">Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History</a> and the Smithsonian Research Institute, a multidisciplinary group of experts describes how deep roots of the human-dominated Anthropocene can be traced in tropical forests.



Patrick Roberts is one of the editors of the special feature. He explained that human alteration of tropical forests is probably not just a recent phenomenon.



“Although tropical forests are often seen as pristine ‘wildernesses’ prior to industrial activities, we now know that hunter-gatherers, food producers, and even city-dwellers have inhabited - and modified - these environments for a long, long time,” said Roberts.&nbsp;



“Given that these habitats are embedded in a variety of Earth systems, this opens up the potential to find very early roots for the Anthropocene.”



Tropical forests provide habitats for more than half of the planet’s biodiversity, generate large amounts of rainfall, and store massive amounts of carbon. The disturbance of these natural ecosystems by human activities can trigger a cascading series of climate changes.&nbsp;



"The papers in this volume investigate a variety of human-forest interactions, including the exploitation of giant bird eggs in New Guinea, the impacts of paddy rice agriculture on ancient, threatened conifers in southeastern China, and a comparison of tropical urban life in the Classic Maya world and Greater Angkor," explained feature co-editor Rebecca Hamilton.



Looking at the origins of the Anthropocene in the tropics is not just important for protecting biodiversity, but also for exposing how Indigenous groups have been marginalized.&nbsp;



“Indigenous populations of tropical regions have often been the most marginalized in recent human history. This collection shows that it is high time to recognize the long-term significance of traditional Indigenous land management in the tropics," said Hamilton.



“The term the ‘Anthropocene’ can suggest that our current sustainability plight was caused equally by all human societies and, in turn, impacts them all equally. However, contributors to this volume show that, particularly over the last 500 years, it has been an unequal and often-imbalanced process,” said Roberts.



Overall, the researchers hope that the papers of this special feature will encourage further engagement of policy makers and ecologists with Indigenous groups and scholars from the palaeo- and social sciences.



“In this way, we have the best chance of developing more fair, sustainable, and resilient futures for human-environment interactions in these critical, often misunderstood, environments,” concluded Roberts.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</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

Roots of the Anthropocene can be traced in tropical forests

The current geological age, during which human activity has taken...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01157-9">Nature Climate Change</a> has found that significantly limiting and delaying global <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-is-the-northeast-coast-a-global-warming-hotspot/">warming</a> is highly important for protecting millions of people from exposure to an increasing number of tropical cyclones.&nbsp;



"If we add population growth to two degree Celsius global warming, in 2050 we could even see an increase of ca. 40 percent more people exposed to cyclones," explained study lead author Tobias Geiger, a researcher at the <a href="https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/home">Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research</a> (PIK) and the <a href="https://www.dwd.de/DE/Home/home_node.html">Deutscher Wetterdienst</a> (DWD).&nbsp;



"As the global population is projected to peak around mid-century, more people will face more intense cyclones, due to climate change – putting that higher population at greater risk."



Through a computer-based analysis, the scientists investigated the joint impact of climate change and demographic development. The results show that if global warming continues at a similar pace, countries with an increased risk of tropical cyclones will undoubtedly face a rise in exposure to such extreme weather phenomena by mid-century.



“Due to the projected population growth, we found exposure changes of nearly 300 percent in some East African countries, up to 100 percent in the United States and also a strong increase for the Arabian Peninsula. For the US, this will most likely result in more cyclone damages, while other strongly affected world regions might also face more poverty and forced migration," reported study co-author Johannes Gütschow, a senior scientist at PIK.&nbsp;



Under less rapid global warming scenarios, the situation can significantly improve: delaying two degrees of warming by 2080 or 2100 would result in a reduction of tropical cyclone exposure by 20 percent, particularly in areas such as East Asia and the Caribbean.&nbsp;



"Emission reductions that would limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius could cumulatively protect over 1.8 billion people from exposure to tropical cyclones until the end of this century compared to the warming under currently proposed emission reductions. It is thus high time to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep as many people safe as possible," concluded study co-author Katja Frieler, a researcher at PIK.



This study should inform decisions at the 2021 UN world climate summit (<a href="https://ukcop26.org/">COP26</a>) and help reframing the currently insufficient Nationally Determined Contributions (<a href="https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs">NDCs</a>) under the Paris Agreement, which would lead to two degrees of warming by mid-21st century and thus risk exposing many people to tropical cyclones.



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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

Global warming will unleash more intense tropical cyclones

A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> have recently discovered that the melting of polar ice from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-in-the-north-pacific-linked-to-unusual-ozone-hole/">Arctic</a>, Antarctica, and Greenland is not only causing sea levels to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-levels-are-rising-at-an-alarming-rate/">rise</a>, but is also warping the Earth’s crust. According to the scientists, the effects of this phenomenon can be felt thousands of miles away.&nbsp;



When ice sheets build up, their weight is causing the crust beneath the ice to sink in order to compensate. As the ice melts, and this weight is removed, the crust rises up again in a process called “isostatic rebound.” The vertical shifting of the crust as the weight of the ice is removed can also further accelerate ice loss through a positive feedback effect.&nbsp;



“Think of a wooden board floating on top of a tub of water. When you push the board down, you would have the water beneath moving down. If you pick it up, you’ll see the water moving vertically to fill that space,” explained lead study author Sophie Coulson, a researcher in the <a href="https://www.lanl.gov/org/ddste/aldsc/theoretical/fluid-dynamics-solid-mechanics/index.php">Fluid Dynamics and Solid Mechanics Group</a> at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.



While this phenomenon of vertical rebound has long been understood by scientists, Dr. Coulson and her research team have recently found that the crust might also shift sideways due to ice melting caused by climate change.



By analyzing satellite data on polar ice loss from 2003 to 2018, the researchers have discovered that melting Arctic and Greenland glaciers caused the ground to shift horizontally in most of the Northern hemisphere. Moreover, in certain places, even far away from the melting ice, the crust was moving more horizontally than it was rebounding vertically.



According to Glenn Antony Milne, an Earth scientist from the <a href="https://www2.uottawa.ca/en">University of Ottawa</a>, this work&nbsp;“is important because it is the first to show that recent mass loss of ice sheets and glaciers causes 3D motion of the Earth’s surface that is greater in magnitude and spatial extent than previously identified.”



Understanding the factors that cause movements of the Earth’s crust is important for solving a wide range of science problems. “For example, to accurately observe tectonic motions and earthquake activity, we need to be able to separate out this motion generated by modern ice-mass loss,” explained Dr. Coulson.



The study was published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095477">Geophysical Research Letters</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

Melting polar ice is warping Earth’s crust

Researchers at Harvard University have recently discovered that the melting...

It is commonly known that carbon emissions must be reduced to end the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-following-a-pattern-similar-to-earths-largest-mass-extinction/">climate</a> crisis, but few are aware of methane - the invisible gas that contributes 80 times more to global warming than carbon.



Researchers at the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC</a> (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) are investigating potential mitigation methods for global warming. "The fastest way that we might mitigate existing climate change in the short term is by reducing methane," explained Dr. Charles Koven, a carbon cycle scientist at Lawrence Berkeley and the lead author of the IPCC's latest report.



According to Dr. Koven, even if carbon dioxide emissions were completely banned, elevated CO2 levels would still remain in the atmosphere for many years. However, methane reduction could show positive changes within the next ten years.&nbsp;



While methane output from volcanoes and decomposing plant matter will be difficult to reduce, mitigation within fossil fuel industries is plausible. This could be achieved through more efficient and carbon friendly natural gases.&nbsp;



However, when it comes to natural gases, there are fears of leakage that still present significant challenges. Natural gases are stored in infrastructure that is susceptible to leakage, such as wells and refineries.



In order to regulated usage, technology systems now use infrared cameras and advanced satellites, facilitating the monitoring of methane usage across the globe.&nbsp;



Climatologists at NASA and the National Oceanic explained that pernicious changes throughout the climate system will get significantly worse unless the world reduces its methane usage.&nbsp;



"For carbon dioxide, we've always known about power plants and smokestacks and things like that; but with methane, until recent years, we didn't understand how much of an influence a small number of large sources have really had," said Robert Jackson, a professor of Environmental Science at Stanford University.



The latest IPCC assessment highlights that scientists now have a better understanding of how much methane is being released by human activity like agriculture and the fossil fuel industry, and how much it contributes to the climate.



Though agriculture is a major source of methane, Professor Jackson said the emissions from farming and food production would be harder to tackle.&nbsp;



"There are only certain things we can do with cattle," said Professor Jackson. "We can either ask people to stop eating beef or we can try and give cattle feed additives to change the microbes in the chemistry of their guts. But that's not easy to do for billions of cattle around the world."



Already, pressure is mounting. The planet is already seeing the impact in the form of extreme weather and natural disasters.



President Joe Biden recently announced that the United States and European Union have launched a global pledge to reduce emissions of methane by nearly 30 percent by the end of the decade.



"This will not only rapidly reduce the rate of global warming, but it will also produce a very valuable side benefit like improving public health and agricultural output," said Biden. "We're mobilizing support to help developing countries that join and pledge to do something significant."



"Rapidly reducing methane emissions may be the single most effective strategy to keep the 1.5-degree limit in reach, in terms of near-term actions one can take," a senior Biden administration official told CNN recently, noting that methane currently accounts for about half a degree of warming.



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By <a href="http://calumvaughan05@gmail.com">Calum Vaughan </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Reducing methane is the fastest way to slow global warming

It is commonly known that carbon emissions must be reduced...

Many experts believe that the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-following-a-pattern-similar-to-earths-largest-mass-extinction/">Earth</a> is quickly approaching various “tipping points” beyond which the effects of climate change could become irreversible. Researchers at the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a> in Canada are currently developing an artificial intelligence algorithm that could assess climate change tipping points to act as an early warning system.



Some tipping points that are often associated with irreversible climate change include: the melting of the Arctic permafrost, leading to the release of huge amounts of methane in the atmosphere and rapid heating; the disintegration of ice sheets, causing sea-level changes; or the breakdown of oceanic current systems, spurring severe fluctuations in weather patterns.



In order to detect in advance the possible emergence of such tipping points, scientists have created a deep-learning algorithm and trained it on what they characterize as a “universe of possible tipping points,” including over half a million of possible models. Additionally, they have also tested it on specific real-world tipping points in different systems, including historical climate-related changes.



“We found that the new algorithm was able to not only predict the tipping points more accurately than existing approaches but also provide information about what type of state lies beyond the tipping point,” explained study co-author Chris Bauch, a professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. “Many of these tipping points are undesirable, and we’d like to prevent them if we can.”&nbsp;



Now that this algorithm has learned how tipping points function, Professor Bauch and his team are feeding it data related to current climate-related trends. According to study co-author Timothy Lenton, director of the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/gsi/">Global Systems Institute</a> at the University of Exeter, the algorithm could warn us when we are close to a dangerous tipping point.&nbsp;



“Providing improved early warning of climate tipping points could help societies adapt and reduce their vulnerability to what is coming, even if they cannot avoid it," said Lenton.



Moreover, this algorithm could be trained in the future to detect tipping points in other areas too, such as ecology, epidemiology, or even stock markets.&nbsp;



“What we’ve learned is that AI is very good at detecting features of tipping points that are common to a wide variety of complex systems,” said study co-author Thomas Bury, a postdoctoral fellow at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a>.&nbsp;



The study in published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/118/39/e2106140118">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</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

Artificial intelligence can reveal climate change tipping points

Many experts believe that the Earth is quickly approaching various...

Ahead of <a href="https://ukcop26.org/">COP 26</a>, the UN <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-following-a-pattern-similar-to-earths-largest-mass-extinction/">climate</a> change conference, a collaborative group of Indigenous leaders, activists and scientists is calling upon world leaders to commit to saving the Amazon. In a <a href="https://www.globallandscapesforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Protect_Amazonia_EN.pdf">statement</a> the group urged great change in global economic systems.



“We, Indigenous peoples and local communities, have a deep spiritual connection to, and knowledge of, our territories and their management. Our knowledge is a treasure offered to enrich a new paradigm of human–nature interaction: Rethinking the economics of our societies, with their overconsumption that is destroying the ability of our generous planet to sustain life. Economic change is essential for preserving the socio-cultural and biological diversity of Amazonia and the future of life on Earth.”



The Amazon, they say, is a place like no other, a place containing not only an incredible diversity of different life forms but also sustaining a diversity of human cultures. Not only indigenous peoples, but also unique Afro-cultures descended from escaped slaves that found a way to live harmoniously in the forest.&nbsp;



The group points to these cultures as sustainable ways to preserve not only the Amazon itself but also to protect against global climate change and as lessons to the world on sustainability.&nbsp;



“Research leaves no doubt that Indigenous and local knowledge systems are strongly linked to reduced deforestation, sustainable management of natural resources and flexible adaptation to climate change," said Solange Bandiaky-Badji, Coordinator of the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI).



"Global leaders must use this momentum around climate to amplify their support to secure rights for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples and local communities - particularly their networks of women - as an essential pathway to preventing climate change as well as supporting local livelihoods.”



The call comes at a time when Brazil, which contains the majority of the Amazon ecosystem, is under the presidential leadership of Jair Bolsonaro - a president so dangerous that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/14/amazon-rainforest-will-collapse-if-bolsonaro-remains-president">some claim</a> the Amazon itself will collapse if he remains in power. This makes international pressure to protect the forest and its people all the more important.&nbsp;



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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

Indigenous leaders call on the world to save the Amazon

Ahead of COP 26, the UN climate change conference, a...

Many scientists and environmental activists worry about the possible extinction of various species of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/animals-use-tools/">primates</a>. A new study led by <a href="https://duke.edu/">Duke University</a> argues that the demise of threatened primates could also trigger the extinction of many species of parasites that live in and on them.&nbsp;



Due to human activities such as deforestation, hunting, or trapping, a large number of primates are at risk of extinction. Currently, 108 of the 213 primate species from the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a>’s dataset are considered endangered. However, scientists rarely think about the even larger number of parasite species that will disappear together with these primates.



"If all the primates that are threatened with extinction really do die out, they won't be the only species that go extinct," said study first author James Herrera, a researcher at the <a href="https://lemur.duke.edu/">Duke Lemur Center</a>. "It could also be twice that many parasites. That's a whole realm of biodiversity that could be going extinct without us even noticing.”&nbsp;



As Herrera acknowledges, it might seem weird to worry about these parasites, considering all our efforts to deworm and delouse our pets. However, many parasites are not dangerous for their hosts, and can even have surprising benefits, such as protecting against other infections or keeping autoimmune disorders in check.&nbsp;



“There's so little that we know about what they do in the body, that we don't even know what we're losing," he said. As previous studies show, 85 to 95 percent of the parasitic worms of animals are not even known to science yet. Thus, their potential benefits are far from being understood.&nbsp;



To estimate the potential loss of biodiversity primate extinctions could cause, Herrera and his colleagues used network analysis to measure the potential ripple effects on the parasites camping in or on primates.



They discovered that the 213 primates they studied were connected in complex webs of interaction with 763 species of worms, mites, protists, and other parasites. When a primate host dies, the parasites need to find another host in order to survive. However, if an entire primate species goes extinct, the parasites connected to it might have no other suitable hosts and disappear too.&nbsp;



Herrera and his team have found that if the 108 endangered primate species go extinct, 250 species of parasites could be doomed as well. Further research is needed to fully understand these complex inter-species connections and the ecosystemic risks their extinction might give rise to.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2020.0355">Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B</a>.&nbsp;&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

If primates go extinct, so will their parasites

Many scientists and environmental activists worry about the possible extinction...

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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



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

[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



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



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.

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



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.

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



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.

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



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

[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



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

[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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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

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



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



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



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



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

Monitoring deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

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