Bursts of convection sweeping eastward across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific keep time with sub-seasonal spikes in wildfires. From California to Korea, these bursts create dry, windy windows in which flames can race unchecked. 



A recent study led by Professor Young-Min Yang of <a href="https://www.jbnu.ac.kr/web/index.do" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeonbuk National University</a> is the first to quantify how the <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/what-mjo-and-why-do-we-care" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Madden–Julian Oscillation</a> (MJO) - an immense 20- to 100-day tropical wave - modulates <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wildfire-seasons-are-now-overlapping-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfire</a> activity on a planetary scale.



The international team combined 21 years of satellite fire-emission records, fire-weather indices, and re-analysis data. The study revealed that up to one-fifth of all mid-latitude wildfire events emerge during particular MJO phases.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-storms-and-santa-ana-winds">Tropical storms and Santa Ana winds</h2>



When the oscillation’s stormy core clusters over the eastern Indian Ocean, its upper-tropospheric divergence launches a train of <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/rossby-wave.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rossby waves</a> that reaches North America and East Asia within a week. 



The ocean waves carve high-pressure ridges, lower humidity and quicken surface <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-method-developed-to-measure-the-wind/%C3%B9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">winds</a> - textbook conditions for fast-moving wildfires.



“Our findings show that strong MJO activity in the eastern Indian Ocean can trigger atmospheric <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/teleconnections-climate-events-are-deeply-connected-across-the-globe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">teleconnections</a>, leading to dry and windy weather in wildfire-prone areas like Los Angeles within days to a week,” Yang said. “This provides a crucial prediction window that could improve wildfire forecasting and risk management.”



The same mechanism reverses when deep convection slides into the western Pacific. It flips moisture and wind patterns, altering fire potential. 



California, the southeastern United States, East Asia, and eastern Australia all showed alternating pulses. These pulses of enhanced and suppressed fire emissions that marched in step with the eight-phase MJO life cycle.



On average, MJO-linked fire events contributed ten to twenty percent of seasonal burn totals in these regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-record-breaking-fires-in-los-angeles">Record-breaking fires in Los Angeles </h2>



The study also implicates the <a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/ao/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic Oscillation</a> (AO). A strongly positive AO phase can funnel cold, desiccating air into mid-latitude corridors, tightening the vise that the MJO sets in motion.



The interplay may help explain why Los Angeles experienced record-breaking winter wildfires in January 2025 despite less severe long-term <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fertilizer-reduces-plant-damage-caused-by-droughts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drought</a>. It may also expound on why South Korea suffered its deadliest blaze on record earlier the same month.



Yang watched the flames claim twenty-eight lives in his home country. He stresses the stakes: large-scale climate modes are now colliding with a warmer, more combustible world, boosting boreal spring and summer fire activities in many tropical and mid-latitude regions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-oceans-can-impact-wildfires-globally">Oceans can impact wildfires globally</h2>



To probe the mechanics, the researchers filtered daily fire-emission data with a 20- to 100-day band-pass. Researchers then compared it to the <a href="https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/background/summary/fwi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canadian Fire Weather Index</a> (FWI). 



In the southern United States, East Asia and eastern Europe, correlations between MJO-day FWI anomalies and fire output soared above 0.6. During non-MJO days they barely topped 0.3.



One notable case study traced the August 2020 Complex Fire in northern California - at the time the state’s largest - to a surge in FWI that arrived as Rossby waves arced in from an active Indian Ocean MJO phase. Another study linked the deadly 2010 Russian wildfires to a similar chain of events from the Indian Ocean.



Small-scale tests confirmed the physical underpinnings. In situ atmospheric soundings showed relative-humidity drops of up to 40 percentage points and wind-speed jumps of three to five meters per second during the high-risk phases. 



According to the experts, extreme meteorological conditions, with a potential influence from the MJO through atmospheric teleconnections, drove the 2025 Los Angeles <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/santa-ana-winds-the-hidden-spark-behind-californias-fire-surge/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fires</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfire-and-ocean-ai-prediction-models">Wildfire and ocean AI prediction models</h2>



Existing numerical models already predict the Madden-Julian Oscillation two to four weeks in advance. Yang’s group is weaving those forecasts into machine-learning fire models - alongside signals from the warming tropical Indian Ocean and from Siberian heat anomalies - to flag fire-weather windows up to a month ahead.



“Our ultimate goal is to develop more reliable wildfire prediction models by incorporating MJO and AO influences,” Yang said. Because people and fuel conditions still matter, the authors note that MJO teleconnections are triggers rather than sole causes. 



Yet the added lead time could let utilities pre-position crews, help agencies schedule prescribed burns, and guide communities in high-risk corridors to tighten defensible space before Santa Ana winds or East Asian föhn events ignite embers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-changing-baseline-for-the-climate">A changing baseline for the climate</h2>



Climate projections suggest the warm-pool oceans that energize the MJO will continue to expand. If, as some modeling ocean studies indicate, that expansion strengthens the oscillation’s teleconnections, the share of wildfires paced by the MJO could rise.



The study therefore urges wildfire managers to incorporate global climate dynamics into regional plans, warning that local fire weather cannot be fully understood without its tropical heartbeat.



Wildfires may ignite on the ground, but their timing is often written in the sky. By decoding the rhythm linking equatorial thunderstorms to distant dry winds, Yang and colleagues have provided a new key for living with fires on a warming planet.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00376-025-4447-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advances in Atmospheric Sciences</a>.



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Wildfires in California linked to storms in the Indian Ocean

Bursts of convection sweeping eastward across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific keep time with sub-seasonal spikes in wildfires. From California to Korea, these bursts create dry, windy windows in which flames can race unchecked. A recent study led by Professor Young-Min Yang of Jeonbuk National University is the first to quantify how the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) - an immense 20- to 100-day tropical wave - modulates wildfire activity on a planetary scale. The international team combined 21 years of satellite fire-emission records, fire-weather indices, and re-analysis...

Kelp forms vast seaweed forests along temperate coastlines, sequestering large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. However, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.uwa.edu.au/">University of Western Australia</a>, warming oceans will likely reduce <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/kelp-forest/">kelp forests</a>’ capacity to trap atmospheric carbon for extended periods of time in deep ocean stores, thus exacerbating the effects of climate change.



Carbon sequestered by kelp forests can feed other organisms during decomposition, or it can remain trapped in the deep ocean for hundreds or even thousands of years. To better understand how the capacity of kelp forests to build long-term carbon stores will change as oceans warm, the scientists examined kelp decomposition rates at 35 different locations across the Northern Hemisphere.&nbsp;



By collecting fragments of fresh kelp and placing them inside a mesh bag within a plastic cage tethered to the sea floor for four to 18 weeks, they found that sea temperature has a strong influence on the rate of decomposition, with kelp fragments in cooler waters degrading more slowly.&nbsp;



On the other hand, sea temperature rises caused by climate change could accelerate decomposition, reducing the amount of stored carbon. The researchers estimate that projected increases in sea temperature of 0.4 degrees Celsius by 2050 could reduce the carbon sequestration potential of decomposing kelp by nine percent.



Fortunately, kelp forests are predicted to expand in higher latitudes as the climate warms. There, slower decompositions rates will likely make these new forests major contributors to long-term ocean carbon sequestration.&nbsp;



“Our experiment measured kelp carbon turnover across twelve regions throughout the northern hemisphere and found that carbon breakdown was strongly linked to ocean temperature. This suggests that kelp carbon storage could be reduced as the ocean warms and that kelp forests in cool polar environments have potential to be important blue carbon ecosystems,” concluded study lead author Karen Filbee-Dexter, a marine ecologist at the University of Western Australia.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001702">PLoS Biology</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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kelp forests are losing their capacity to trap carbon

Kelp forms vast seaweed forests along temperate coastlines, sequestering large...

According to a new book called Earth for All: A Survival Guide for Humanity, rising <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-economic-inequality/">inequality</a> in the next 50 years may lead to increasingly dysfunctional societies, making the cooperation needed to deal with threats such as climate change much more difficult. However, the experts identify five “extraordinary turnarounds” needed to end global poverty and maintain temperatures below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and argue that following these guidelines, humanity has a chance to survive the climatic and economic catastrophes it is currently facing.



“We are standing on a cliff edge,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;book co-author Jørgen Randers, a professor emeritus of Climate Strategy at the <a href="https://www.bi.edu/">BI Norwegian Business School</a>.&nbsp;“In the next 50 years, the current economic system will drive up social tensions and drive down well-being. We can already see how inequality is destabilizing people and the planet.”



“Unless there is truly extraordinary action to redistribute wealth, things will get significantly worse.&nbsp;We are already sowing the seeds for regional collapse. Societies are creating vicious cycles where rising social tensions that are exacerbated by climate breakdown will continue to lead to a decline in trust. This risks an explosive combination of extreme political destabilization and economic stagnation at a time when we must do everything we can to avoid climate catastrophes.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



The book explores two possible scenarios beginning in the 1980s and ending at the end of the 21st century. In the first one – entitled “Too Little, Too Late” – humanity will continue with the same economic policies from the last four decades. Such a pathway will likely create extreme inequalities, increase social tensions within and between countries, exacerbate political division and lack of trust, and push global temperatures above the 2.5°C threshold.



“In this scenario, the model indicates that regional societal collapse, driven by rising social tensions, food insecurity, and environmental degradation, is more likely than today. Regional and global crises are often not caused by a single event like one crop failure, but cascading failures made worse by climate change, chronically dysfunctional governments, and system failures,” explained co-author Espen Stokes, the director of the <a href="https://www.bi.edu/research/centres-groups-and-other-initiatives/centre-for-sustainability-and-energy/">Center for Sustainability and Energy</a> at the BI Norwegian Business School.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



However, in a second scenario - called “the Giant Leap” – the scientists argue that it is in fact possible to stabilize global temperatures below the 2°C threshold and the world population below nine billion, as well as to end extreme global poverty by 2050, thus relaxing social tensions and increasing well-being. To achieve this, societies would need to urgently act across five interconnected turnarounds:



<ol><li>Ending global poverty&nbsp;through reforms of the international financial system</li><li>Addressing inequality&nbsp;by ensuring that the wealthiest 10 percent take less than 40 percent of national incomes</li><li>Achieving full gender equity by 2050 through continuous empowerment of women</li><li>Transforming the food system&nbsp;to provide healthy diets&nbsp;</li><li>Transitioning to clean energy&nbsp;in order to reach net zero emissions by mid-century</li></ol>



“Citizens across the globe recognize we need a new paradigm. And we estimate the investment needed for this shift is small, just two-four percent of GDP annually. That’s less than our current annual subsidies to fossil fuel industries.&nbsp;This is easily affordable, and it will create millions of jobs. What is missing is coalitions of politicians willing to make it happen,” concluded co-author Sandrine Dixson-Declève, an expert in Climate Science at the <a href="https://www.clubofrome.org/">Club of Rome</a>.&nbsp;



More details about these initiatives can be found on <a href="https://www.earth4all.life/">Earth4All</a>, a website launched as a companion to the book. In addition, the book’s 15 policy recommendations with the greatest potential to accelerate the five turnarounds can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BIMP6iUt7h_l8ob17997CvcuCsxnI2rRk56ArWOmhhg/edit?usp=sharing">here</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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Survival pathways in the face of climate catastrophe

According to a new book called Earth for All: A...

Boreal forests in the far north make up the largest forested region in the world. These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-can-earths-ecosystems-adapt-to-climate-change/">ecosystems</a> are extremely important for capturing carbon. Unfortunately, research shows that climate change is already impacting northern forests in both positive and negative ways.&nbsp;



Boreal forests are composed mainly of conifer species such as spruce, fir, and pine. There are also a few much less common broadleaf hardwood trees such as oak and maple. Experts have determined that global warming is likely causing a decrease in growth in the conifers, along with an increase in growth in the hardwoods.&nbsp;



These observational studies were recently confirmed and enhanced by a rare experimental study on the impact of climate change on northern forests.



Nine species of native boreal trees were planted and grown under different conditions. Some of the trees were left alone as controls. Others were grown with temperatures raised by two hypothetical amounts: 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.9 degrees Fahrenheit) and 3.1 C (5.6 F) above natural temperatures. Some of the trees were covered by tarps prior to storms to mimic a reduction in rainfall.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The results of the analysis showed that even a moderate change in climate is likely to have negative impacts on boreal forest composition.&nbsp;



Study lead author Paul Reich is the director of the Institute for Global Change Biology at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability and a forest ecologist at the <a href="https://twin-cities.umn.edu/">University of Minnesota</a>.



"Our results spell problems for the health and diversity of future regional forests," said Reich. "Present-day southern boreal forest may reach a tipping point with even modest climate warming, resulting in a major compositional shift with potential adverse impacts on the health and diversity of regional forests."



"Those impacts could reduce the capacity of our forests to produce timber, to host other plant, microbial and animal diversity, to dampen flooding, and - perhaps most important of all - to scrub carbon out of the air and hold it in wood and soil."&nbsp;



The researchers found that elevated temperatures increased the death rate of all nine of the tree species and the growth rate of seven of the trees. This suggests that there will be a shift in boreal forests in the future and the potential incursion of invasive species already in temperate forests.&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05076-3">Nature</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:nire518@gmail.com">Erin Moody </a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Northern forests are being transformed by global warming

Boreal forests in the far north make up the largest...

The Greenland ice sheet is set to lose more than three percent of its mass, which will cause nearly a foot of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rural-areas-of-the-us-will-be-hardest-hit-by-sea-level-rise/">sea-level</a> rise, according to a study published today in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.&nbsp;The experts report that 3.3 percent of the ice sheet - the equivalent 110 trillion tons of ice - is now doomed.&nbsp;



Study co-author William Colgan is a glaciologist at the <a href="https://eng.geus.dk/">Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland</a>. He explained that the culprit is "zombie ice," which is no longer being fed by larger glaciers.



"It's dead ice. It's just going to melt and disappear from the ice sheet," Colgan said in an interview. "This ice has been consigned to the ocean, regardless of what climate (emissions) scenario we take now."



For the investigation, study lead author Professor Jason Box collaborated with scientists in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. The experts set out to predict the minimum volume of ice that will be lost from the Greenland ice sheet as human-driven climate change continues.



The team estimated an inevitable loss of ten inches, or 27 centimeters, from zombie ice alone. This is more than double the amount of sea level rise that has been previously predicted from the melting of the Greenland ice sheet.&nbsp;Furthermore, Professor Box emphasized that the latest estimate is actually quite conservative.&nbsp;



"It is a very conservative rock-bottom minimum. Realistically, we will see this figure more than double within this century," said Professor Box. “In the foreseeable scenario that global warming will only continue, the contribution of the Greenland Ice Sheet to sea level rise will only continue increasing.&nbsp;



"When we take the extreme melt year 2012 and take it as a hypothetical average constant climate later this century, the committed mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet more than doubles to 78 cm.”



The research is unique in that it has produced a minimum figure for Greenland ice loss based on two decades worth of actual measurements, rather than depending on highly uncertain computer models.



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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

Greenland will contribute almost a foot to sea level rise

The Greenland ice sheet is set to lose more than...

Beautiful,Green,Forest,Scenery:,The,Sun,And,Green,Branches,Framing

For centuries, scientists have noticed that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-find-new-way-to-measure-stress-in-plants/">plants</a> lengthen and bend to secure access to sunlight. However, the precise mechanisms behind this phenomenon are not yet clearly understood.&nbsp;



Now, a research team led by the <a href="http://archive">Salk Institute for Biological Research</a> in San Diego, California has discovered that two plant factors – the protein PIF7 and the growth hormone auxin – are the main triggers which accelerate growth when plants are shaded by canopy and exposed to warm temperatures simultaneously. These findings may help scientists predict how plants will respond to climate change, and possibly increase crop productivity despite the detrimental effects of global warming.



“Right now, we grow crops in certain densities, but our findings indicate that we will need to lower these densities to optimize growth as our climate changes,” said study senior author Joanne Chory, an expert in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology at the Salk Institute. “Understanding the molecular basis of how plants respond to light and temperature will allow us to fine-tune crop density in a specific way that leads to the best yields.”



During sprouting, seedlings quickly elongate their stems to break through the soil and get access to sunlight as soon as possible. While the stem usually slows down its growth after being exposed to sunlight, it can lengthen rapidly again if the plant is competing with surrounding plants for light, or in response to warming temperature in order to increase the distance between the leaves and the hot ground. Although both canopy shade and warm temperatures induce stem growth, they reduce yield.



By using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato plants, and a close relative to tobacco, the researchers investigated the factors leading to plant growth under canopy shade and in warm temperatures – a condition mimicking high crop density during climate change. They found that across all three species, the plants grew taller when trying to avoid the canopy shade created by neighboring plants, while being exposed to high temperatures.



Molecular analyses revealed that the transcription factor PIF7 – a protein playing a fundamental role in activating and deactivating certain genes – was the dominant factor driving the increased growth. Moreover, when crops detected neighboring plants, the growth hormone auxin also increased, fostering rapid growth in response to simultaneous warmer temperatures. Thus, the synergistic PIF7-auxin pathway is what allows plants to respond to environmental stressors and adapt to search for the best growing conditions.



“Global temperatures are increasing, so we need food crops that can thrive in these new conditions.&nbsp;We’ve identified key factors that regulate plant growth during warm temperatures, which will help us to develop better-performing crops to feed future generations,” Professor Chory concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32585-6">Nature Communications</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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Light and temperature collaborate to boost plant growth

For centuries, scientists have noticed that plants lengthen and bend...

On Thursday, August 25, 2022, by using NASA’s groundbreaking <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/webb-will-completely-change-how-we-view-the-universe/">James Webb Space Telescope</a>, a team of astrophysicists reported that they have detected <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trees-carbon-dioxide/">carbon dioxide</a> for the first time in the atmosphere of a planet located outside our solar system. The exoplanet, called WASP-39b, is a hot gas giant with a mass similar to Saturn’s, orbiting a Sun-like star 700 light-years away.&nbsp;



Besides providing important insights into this planet’s composition and formation, the discovery of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere also offers hope that the Webb telescope may be able to detect and measure carbon dioxide in the thinner atmosphere of smaller rocky planets.&nbsp;



WASP-39b was first discovered in 2011 by an international consortium called <a href="https://wasp-planets.net/">Wide Angle Search for Planets</a>, with the help of a network of robotic telescopes. Unlike the cooler, more compact gas giants from our solar system, this planet orbits very close to its star, completing one circuit in a just over four Earth-days.&nbsp;



While scientists have already detected the presence of water vapor, sodium, and potassium in its atmosphere, Webb telescope’s unmatched infrared sensitivity has now also confirmed the presence of carbon dioxide, providing the first clear, detailed evidence for carbon dioxide ever detected on an exoplanet.



“As soon as the data appeared on my screen, the whopping carbon dioxide feature grabbed me,” said Zafar Rustamkulov, a graduate student at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> and member of the <a href="https://ers-transit.github.io/">James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science</a> team, which conducted this investigation. “It was a special moment, crossing an important threshold in exoplanet sciences.”



“Detecting such a clear signal of carbon dioxide on WASP-39b bodes well for the detection of atmospheres on smaller, terrestrial-size planets,” added team leader Natalie Batalha, a professor of Astrophysics at the <a href="https://www.ucsc.edu/">University of California, Santa Cruz</a>.



Understanding the composition of a planet’s atmosphere is crucial for clarifying the planet’s origins and evolution. “Carbon dioxide molecules are sensitive tracers of the story of planet formation,” explained team member Mike Line, an associate professor of Planetary Science at the <a href="https://www.asu.edu/">Arizona State University</a>.&nbsp;



“By measuring this carbon dioxide feature, we can determine how much solid versus how much gaseous material was used to form this gas giant planet. In the coming decade, JWST will make this measurement for a variety of planets, providing insight into the details of how planets form and the uniqueness of our own solar system.”



A detailed description of the composition of WASP-39b’s atmosphere and of what can be inferred about this planet’s formation and evolution will be published soon in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Carbon dioxide detected for the first time on an exoplanet

On Thursday, August 25, 2022, by using NASA’s groundbreaking James...

A new study published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211912422000359?via%3Dihub">Global Food Security</a> has found that agricultural diversity can be an important driver of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-food-security/">food security</a>, although the magnitude of its contribution depends on the broader biophysical and socio-economical features of the local farming system. The researchers conducted an extensive literature review of the relationship between agricultural diversity and food security in low- and middle-income countries. They discovered that, in almost two-thirds of all cases, agricultural diversity had a positive effect on food security, while in one third of the cases there was no correlation, or the results were mixed.



According to experts, food security exists when all people, at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food supplies which meet their dietary needs and help them live a healthy and active life. Agricultural diversity includes the variety of crops, livestock breeds, fish species, and wildlife resources, as well as how they are processed and consumed. In the current study, the researchers took into account 40 indices measuring the relationships between the two.



“We looked at all the combinations you could think of and how to quantitatively measure between the food security and diversity indicators,” said study lead author Katharina Waha, a senior research scientist at the <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/">Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization </a>&nbsp;(CSIRO) in Australia. “In terms of negative health outcomes for individuals, all the literature on nutritional and health outcomes would say that not having that diversity or quality is the final outcome.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



However, the analysis revealed that, although agricultural diversity can be highly beneficial for food security, it is not the only available strategy to increase the latter. Nonetheless, when diversification is also the cheapest strategy in terms of monetary and labor costs, it can be a highly effective option for improving agricultural practices and profits. According to the researchers, one way to conserve on-farm diversity is through daily use.&nbsp;



“If you have a diverse system, you can deal with biotic and abiotic stresses, for example, like the impacts of climate change,” added study co-author Elisabetta Gotor, an agricultural economist at the <a href="https://alliancebioversityciat.org/">Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT</a>.



Holistic study designs taking into account the natural, social, and economic aspects of agricultural and food systems are necessary to clarify the complex interactions between the two, and better understand the effects of diversification.



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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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Agricultural diversity has a positive impact on food security

A new study published in the journal Global Food Security...

As global temperatures have risen, so has the prevalence of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-worldwide-are-shockingly-vulnerable-to-climate-change/">fish</a> mass die-offs, according to a new study led by the <a href="https://www.uark.edu/">University of Arkansas</a>. Such catastrophic events can have severe impacts on the function of a variety of ecosystems, endangering fish populations and reducing the global food supply. The experts argue that the frequency of these events is steadily increasing, with potentially dire consequences for the whole world if greenhouse emissions are left unchecked.&nbsp;



The scientists compiled 526 documented cases of fish die-offs which occurred across the Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes between 2003 and 2013, and discovered that the main causes of these events were infectious diseases, summerkills, and winterkills. By narrowing their focus to summerkills – fish mass mortality linked to rising temperatures – they found a strong correlation between local air and water temperatures and the occurrence of such events. Their models that used either air or water temperature led to similar results – an important aspect, since air temperature data is more widely available globally than water temperature data.



After establishing a historical baseline, the researchers used air and water temperature-based models to estimate the frequencies of future summerkills. Local water temperature projection models estimated an approximate six-fold increase in the frequency of fish die-offs by 2100, while local air temperature projections predicted a staggering 34-fold increase.



“If there are eight summerkills per year now, the models suggest we could have about 41 per year based on water temperature estimates or about 182 per year based on air temperature estimates,” explained study lead author Simon Tye, a doctoral student in Evolutionary Ecology at the University of Arkansas.



“We think predictions from the water temperature model are more realistic, whereas predictions from the air temperature model indicate&nbsp;we need to better understand how and why regional air and water temperature estimates differ over time to predict how many mortality events may occur.”



Overall, the analysis revealed a strong correlation between rising temperatures and the frequency of ecological disasters. While the study only used data related to temperate northern lakes, the results could also apply to lakes in Arkansas. “One of the findings of the paper is that similar deviations in temperature affect all types of fish, such that a regional heatwave could lead to mortalities of both cold- and warm-water fish,” Tye said.



“Specifically, climate change is more than gradually increasing temperatures because it also increases temperature variation, such as we experienced much of this summer. In turn, our findings suggest these rapid changes in temperature affect a wide range of fish regardless of their thermal tolerance,” he concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10274">Limnology and Oceanography Letters</a>.&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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fish die-offs are intensifying with climate change

As global temperatures have risen, so has the prevalence of...

As city populations grow, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/benefits-urban-agriculture/">urban agriculture</a> is increasingly considered to be an important local food source and a way to fight inequitable food access. However, little is known about how productive urban agriculture is compared to conventional food farming. According to a new study led by <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a>, urban gardeners and hydroponics can meet and sometimes even exceed the crop yields of rural farms.



The scientists compiled studies on urban agriculture from 53 countries to clarify which crops grow well in cities, what growing methods are more effective, and what type of urban spaces can be used for growing. The analysis revealed that urban yields for some crops - such as cucumbers, lettuce, or tubers – are two to four times higher then in the case of conventional farming.



While most studies on urban agriculture have focused on green spaces, such as private and community gardens, parks, or field growing operations, this study also took into consideration the so-called “gray” spaces - including rooftops or building facades - while examining a variety of crops grown in soils versus hydroponics, horizontal versus vertical farming, and natural versus controlled conditions.



“Surprisingly, there were few differences between overall yields in indoor spaces and outdoor green spaces, but there were clear differences in the suitability of crop types to different gray spaces,” reported study lead author Florian Payen, an environmental scientist at Lancaster.&nbsp;



While crops such as lettuce, broccoli, or kale are more naturally suited to be grown vertically in indoor spaces, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; other crops, like watery vegetables and leafy greens performed best in hydroponic environments. Since crops grown in fully controlled environments allow harvests to happen more times per year than those grown outside, such methods can lead to higher annual yields.



Current estimates suggest that between five and ten percent of legumes, vegetables, and tubers are grown in urban settings, and between 15 and 20 percent of global food is produced in cities. Once more data is collected, in-depth studies estimating cities’ potential to meet future food demands will be possible.



“As we engaged and talked with different stakeholders, such as government agencies and local councils, we realized that the absence of robust, comprehensive data on urban agricultural yields was preventing them from going ahead and supporting the development and implementation of urban food growing,” Payen explained. “We need to understand realistically how much this form of growing could contribute to food security to help make the business case for it.”&nbsp;



Further research is also needed to assess how food grown in cities might be impacted by pollution and to better understand whether growing food in cities has a smaller or larger carbon footprint than conventional agriculture.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2022EF002748">Earth’s Future</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&nbsp;&nbsp;

Some crops have higher yields in an urban environment

As city populations grow, urban agriculture is increasingly considered to...

A new study has identified connections between cold <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-will-climate-change-affect-extreme-weather-events/">weather</a> and deaths from heart disease, particularly in poor neighborhoods. Hot weather was also linked with excess deaths from heart disease and stroke in patients with heart conditions.



“Climate change is leading to a rise in the average global temperature but also extreme cold in some regions. More than 70,000 excess deaths occurred across Europe during the summer of 2003 due to intense heatwaves," said Professor Stefan Agewall of the University of Oslo, Norway.



"Cold weather also accounts for excess deaths and hospital admissions. Previously studies on the cardiovascular effects of heat and cold mainly used aggregated data, such as daily deaths in a city. The EXHAUSTION project used individual data, enabling us to identify vulnerable subgroups for protective interventions, thereby increasing resilience for future weather events.”



The analysis included 2.28 million adults from five cohort studies conducted in Italy, Germany, the UK, Norway, and Sweden between 1994 and 2010. Participants with and without cardiovascular disease were included.&nbsp;



The relationships between temperature and cardiovascular conditions and death were analyzed for all participants.&nbsp;



The researchers compared the temperature on the day of the week an adverse event occurred (e.g. Monday) with the temperature on the same day without an adverse event (e.g. all remaining Mondays) within the same month.



In particular, the experts found increased risks of death from cardiovascular disease and heart disease associated with cold weather.&nbsp;



With a temperature drop of 10°C, from 5°C to -5°C, there was a 19 percent greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 22 percent elevated likelihood of death from heart disease.&nbsp;



The relationship between cold temperature and death was pronounced in men and people living in poor neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the relationship between cold and new-onset heart disease was stronger among women and those older than 65.



Interestingly, heat was not related to detrimental effects in the overall study population. However, temperature rises from 15°C to 24°C were associated with 25 to 30 percent elevated risks of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke in people with heart disease.



“Clinicians can use this information to provide tailored advice to those most at risk of adverse health outcomes during hot and cold days," said Professor Agewall.



"Patients with heart conditions should stay hydrated in hot weather and adhere to advice from their cardiologist on medication use. We can all check the news for extreme heat and cold alerts and follow safety tips from local authorities.”



The research will be presented at the annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.escardio.org/">European Society of Cardiology</a>, ESC Congress 2022.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Extreme weather heightens risk of death from heart disease

A new study has identified connections between cold weather and...

Planting vegetation between roads and playgrounds can reduce the air pollution that reaches school <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/breakfast-lowers-the-risk-of-behavioral-problems-in-children/">children</a>. Roadside vegetation can be designed and maintained to achieve rapid, significant and cost-effective improvement of air quality.



Exposure to traffic-related air pollution has been linked to health risks including cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological health. These risks are likely to be exacerbated in young children attending primary schools next to busy roads.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Exposure to fine particulate matter in air pollution is reportedly the largest environmental risk factor contributing to cardiovascular deaths and disease globally, and is linked to six to nine million premature deaths each year.



A team of researchers led by <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/">Lancaster University</a> installed "tredges" (trees managed as a head-high hedge) at three Manchester primary schools during the summer school holidays of 2019.



One school had an ivy screen installed, another had western red cedar and the third school had a mixture of western red cedar, Swedish birch and an inner juniper hedge. A fourth school, with no planting, was used as a control.



The school with the ivy screen saw a reduction in playground particulate matter concentrations, but an increase in black carbon.&nbsp;



The school with western red cedar saw the biggest overall reductions. Almost half (49%) of black carbon and around 46% and 26% of the fine particulates emitted by passing traffic were captured by the western red cedar tredges.



The tredges also significantly reduced the magnitude and frequency of acute ‘spikes’ in air pollution reaching the playgrounds.



“Our findings show that we can protect school playgrounds, with carefully chosen and managed tredges, which capture air pollution particulates on their leaves. This helps to prevent at least some of the health hazards imposed on young children at schools next to busy roads where the localised air quality is damagingly poor, and it can be done quickly and cost-effectively,” said study co-author Professor Barbara Maher.



The western red cedar performed best because its leaves act as a filter, capturing particulate pollution. “This takes them out of the local atmosphere and therefore reduces the exposure to these traffic-sourced air pollution particulates of the children and staff in the playground.” said Professor Maher.



The researchers believe ivy was not as effective because of the smooth, waxy surface of its leaves, making it less effective at capturing and removing pollution from the air.&nbsp;



These benefits are not just limited to schools, carefully selected and managed tredges could be used in urban areas to reduce the damaging health impacts of exposure to traffic pollution.&nbsp;



The study was supported with funding from Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester, and Groundwork Greater Manchester which installed the tredges and ran ‘citizen science’ workshops.&nbsp;



"We were keen to be part of this study as Manchester seeks to embrace innovation in our efforts to become a greener city with cleaner air and tackle climate change," said Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment for Manchester City Council.



"We note these positive findings with interest and will consider how we can use the lessons from this project to make further targeted use of green infrastructure in the city."



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18509-w">Scientific Reports</a>



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plants on playgrounds help protect children from air pollution

Planting vegetation between roads and playgrounds can reduce the air...

New Zealand’s Māui dolphin is the world’s most endangered marine dolphin. New research shows that the species changed its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dogs-can-adjust-to-new-diets-very-quickly/">diet</a> during the past 30 years.&nbsp;



For the study, scientists checked tiny skin samples collected between 1993 and 2020 to analyze microchemical markers that are associated with diet.



The results showed the dolphins’ meals became less diverse from 2008. During this time, a marine sanctuary restricted fishing in their habitat, which stretches along 40 kilometres of Tamaki Makaurau’s west coast.



The Marine Mammal Sanctuary was established on the west coast of the North Island in 2008, and expanded in 2020.



“We think that the sanctuary increased the amount of food available to the dolphins,” said study lead author Courtney Ogilvy, a PhD student at Waipapa Taumata Rau, <a href="https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en.html">University of Auckland</a>. “That meant they were able to get more of their preferred prey, and not work so hard to get many different types of food.”



Māui dolphins typically eat fish smaller than 10 centimetres in length, dining on species such as ahuru, red cod and sprats. A temporary change in diet also occurred during the El Niño weather event in 2015 and 2016.



“Dramatic climate events like El Niño can change water temperatures and currents, meaning that fish from different regions can move into the dolphins’ habitat,” explained study co-author Professor Rochelle Constantine. “As you really are what you eat, this change is reflected in the microchemical markers in the dolphin’s skin.”



The researchers consider these findings good news for the Māui dolphin as they adapt to changing conditions and are able to find preferred prey. In the future, the researchers plan to investigate how climate change will alter the dolphins’ habitat.



“We know they are likely to be at their maximum thermal limit, so increasing ocean temperatures may eventually shift the distribution of the dolphins and their preferred prey,” said Professor Constantine.&nbsp;



Located only in Aotearoa, the number of Māui dolphins aged a year or older may be as few as 54, according to the latest estimate.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsos">Royal Society Open Science</a>.



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By <a href="mailto:katherinebucko@gmail.com">Katherine Bucko</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Marine sanctuary helps Māui dolphins access food

New Zealand’s Māui dolphin is the world’s most endangered marine...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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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

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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



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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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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



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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