Recent PhD research conducted at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean has revealed new insights into the potential impacts of deep-sea mining on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/underwater-upheaval-the-ecological-impact-of-deep-sea-mining/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine life</a>. 



Marine geologist Sabine Haalboom's findings illustrate that while much of the debris from mining activities -- referred to as 'dust clouds' -- settles relatively close to its source, a notable portion spreads far into the water. 



This research, carried out in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, provides a crucial understanding of how mining operations could affect these pristine environments. Haalboom defended her dissertation on this topic at <a href="https://www.uu.nl/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utrecht University</a>, highlighting significant concerns for deep-sea ecosystems.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Deep-sea mining and marine life</h2>



The depths of the ocean harbor unique ecosystems, with conditions and life forms that remain largely mysterious to scientists. These ecosystems are often fragile and sensitive to changes in their environment. 



Deep-sea mining, particularly the extraction of valuable metals like manganese nodules, disturbs the ocean floor's silt. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dangers-of-deep-sea-mining-could-soon-be-realized/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This process</a> can create extensive dust clouds, clouding the water over vast areas and potentially impacting these pristine habitats.



Given our limited understanding of deep-sea life, these disturbances could have unforeseen effects on the delicate underwater communities. The organisms living in these depths rely on specific environmental conditions for survival. Any alteration, even minor, could disrupt their way of life, leading to unknown consequences.



The potential impact of deep-sea mining on biodiversity and marine ecosystem functions remains a significant concern. Therefore, deep-sea mining's environmental footprint needs careful consideration. 



Researchers stress the importance of thorough studies to understand the full implications before engaging in large-scale mining operations in these unexplored and vulnerable areas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deep-sea-mining-s-environmental-footprint">Deep-sea mining's environmental footprint</h2>



Haalboom utilized various instruments to measure the quantity and size of suspended particles in the ocean water. Her experiments took place in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, an area rich in manganese nodules. 



She dragged a 500-kilogram grid of steel chains across a 500-meter stretch of the seabed. This action stirred up a significant amount of sediment, resulting in immediate murkiness in the water.



Initially, most of this stirred-up material settled quickly, within a few hundred meters of the disturbance site. This quick settling suggested that the immediate impact of mining activities might be localized. However, further observations revealed a different aspect. 



A small fraction of the sediment did not settle quickly and remained suspended in the water. This suspended sediment was visible even hundreds of meters away from the initial disturbance.



These findings highlight the potential for deep-sea mining activities to affect broader areas of the marine environment, emphasizing the need for thorough research before large-scale mining operations proceed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-persistent-clouds">Persistent clouds</h2>



Further studies have shown that these "dust clouds" can travel up to five kilometers from the original mining site. This persistence poses a potential threat to the clarity of the water, which is typically crystal clear and vital for the survival of local <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-has-deadly-consequences-for-marine-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine life</a>. 



The scarce food available in these clear waters is crucial for the organisms that inhabit the deep sea, making even small changes to their environment potentially impactful.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-additional-consequences">Additional consequences</h2>



Deep-sea mining poses additional risks. It can disrupt habitats, leading to the loss of biodiversity. The noise and vibrations from mining equipment can affect marine life, particularly species reliant on echolocation. 



Deep-sea mining activities can release toxic substances trapped in seabed sediments, contaminating the water and harming marine organisms. The physical removal of substrate can destroy slow-growing deep-sea corals and sponges, critical for ecosystem health. 



Additionally, the increased human activity could introduce invasive species, further threatening native marine life. These potential impacts underscore the need for cautious, well-informed approaches to deep-sea mining.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-research-in-deep-sea-mining">Need for research in deep-sea mining</h2>



Haalboom's co-promoter, NIOZ oceanographer Henko de Stigter, has expressed concern over the rapid commercial interest in deep-sea mining. He argues that the initial findings of quick sediment settling do not capture the full potential impact of these mining activities on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-damage-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deep-sea ecosystems</a>. 



The long-term effects of even minimal sediment dispersal are still unknown, prompting both Haalboom and De Stigter to advocate for more extensive research before proceeding with large-scale mining operations.



In conclusion, while deep-sea mining presents a tempting opportunity to extract valuable resources, the potential risks to unknown marine ecosystems and the broader environmental impacts demand careful consideration. 



The call for further study is clear: we must fully understand the consequences of our actions in these remote, unexplored parts of our planet before making irreversible decisions.



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Deep-sea mining forms 'dust clouds' that devastate marine life

Recent PhD research conducted at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean has revealed new insights into the potential impacts of deep-sea mining on marine life. Marine geologist Sabine Haalboom's findings illustrate that while much of the debris from mining activities -- referred to as 'dust clouds' -- settles relatively close to its source, a notable portion spreads far into the water. This research, carried out in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, provides a crucial understanding of how mining operations could affect these pristine environments. Haalboom defended her dissertation...

The Amazon rainforest faces a much higher risk of extreme drought than previously expected, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/">University of Leeds</a>. Without urgent action to curb greenhouse gas <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/emissions-from-food-production-have-been-underestimated/">emissions</a>, the eastern portion of the rainforest is set to experience severe drying by the end of this century.

The extreme drought will release massive amounts of carbon dioxide, and further exacerbate warming and drying in a vicious reinforcing feedback loop that will affect large portions of the rainforest.

"Understanding how the Amazon water cycle may change under future warming scenarios is crucial for predicting how the forest, and its store of terrestrial carbon, may respond," explained the study authors.

"The Amazon hydrological cycle has become increasingly seasonal since the 1990s, and floods and droughts have become more extreme. Although vegetation models simulated a relatively stable carbon sink over the Amazon since 1990, strong precipitation anomalies disrupt carbon sequestration, and ground-based measurements suggest the rate of forest carbon uptake is in decline." 

Existing climate models disagree on whether the Amazon, the world's largest tropical rainforest, will become wetter or drier in the coming decades. 

The researchers analyzed the results of 38 Amazon climate models. They found that only a third of the 38 models correctly represented the factors that regulate evapotranspiration, which is the process by which forests transfer water from the soil to the atmosphere.

When they focused on the smaller number of climate models, the team was able to reduce the uncertainty in projected rainfall changes over the Amazon by 50 percent. This group of models predicted severe drying in the eastern Amazon over the next 80 years. By contrast, the models showed rainfall increases in the western Amazon basin.

The researchers predict rainfall reductions in the east that are comparable to those linked to the major droughts of 2005 and 2010. These events caused widespread tree mortality and had major impacts on Amazon communities.

"People in Brazil and across the globe are rightly concerned about what the future holds for the Amazon, and its valuable store of carbon and biodiversity," said study lead author Dr. Jessica Baker. "The Amazon is at risk from the twin threats of deforestation and climate change."

"This new study sheds light on how the Amazon climate is likely to change under an extreme warming scenario. It should ring alarm bells for governments around the world that this vital global resource must not be taken for granted."

"Protecting and expanding existing forests - which absorb and store carbon - is of paramount importance to combatting climate change."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Extreme drought will impact large parts of the Amazon

The Amazon rainforest faces a much higher risk of extreme...

For anyone who’s ever visited a coral reef, you know that they serve as a haven for an abundance of life. Florida’s coral reefs are a rare example of coral in North America and are home to spiny <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/american-lobsters-face-an-uncertain-fate/">lobster</a>, snapper and grouper.

According to NOAA, the reefs generate an estimated $4.4 billion in local sales and provide more than 70,000 related jobs.

In many places, plants and animals are migrating to escape the heat of climate change. How organisms migrate depends on a lot of things. Mid-elevation montane species tend to migrate upwards, while others migrate northward or southward, or into more suitable environmental conditions. Many of those without the ability or space to migrate may simply die off. 

Unfortunately, researchers predict that there will be no northern escape route for Florida’s coral reefs. Study lead author Lauren Toth is a research scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey's St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"It's just not as simple as predicting the corals will move north," said Toth. "Thousands of years ago, corals and coral reefs moved north along Florida's east coast when the climate warmed, but things are different now. Rapid climate change looks to be increasing the number of cold fronts from the polar vortex that are dipping down into Florida."

The state's main species of reef-building corals, which are already listed under the Endangered Species Act, will decline even more drastically with no northern refuge.

The researchers report that Florida's coral reefs will become trapped between warmer tropical waters and cold polar vortexes that are projected to sporadically hit waters to the north. 

"All of us on the Eastern Seaboard know the jet stream is wobbling more and dipping southward more frequently, bringing us bad winter storms and bitterly cold weather," said study co-author Richard Aronson, a marine scientist at Florida Tech.

"The corals along Florida's east coast will be hammered from the north by freezes on the anvil of rising temperatures in the south. They won't be able to shift locations from the Florida Keys to the east coast."

According to study co-author William Precht, beyond their essential ecological role, coral reefs' economic contribution to Florida's economy means their loss could have a wide-ranging impact. 

"That is a very obvious reason why Floridians - and everyone else for that matter - should be concerned about the impacts of climate change on corals."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep/">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

No way out for Florida's coral reefs

For anyone who’s ever visited a coral reef, you know...

In the mid-2030s, the frequency of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overtopping-threatens-the-future-of-coastal-habitats/">coastal</a> flooding will drastically increase across multiple regions in the United States, according to a new study from <a href="https://manoa.hawaii.edu/">UH Mānoa</a>. The projections show rapid increases in the number of high-tide flooding (HTF) days, as well as extreme months.

Study lead author Phil Thompson is the director of the UH Sea Level Center and assistant professor of Oceanography in the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).

"We expect the most rapid increases to be along U.S. Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coastlines, which includes Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. This is important, because this is the point at which high-tide flooding transitions from being primarily a local or regional issue and becomes a national issue affecting a majority of our nation's coastlines," said Professor Thompson. 

The researchers analyzed tide gauge data from 89 coastal locations around the United States, including 10 locations from Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. To project future occurrences of high-tide flooding, the team developed a new statistical technique that combines changes in tidal range with NOAA sea level rise scenarios for the 21st century.

The study shows that in the coming decades, sea-level rise will exacerbate the issue where it is already a recurring problem, while many more locations will begin to experience recurrent high-tide flooding.

The researchers found that annual cycles in tides can coincide with oceanographic anomalies to produce many high-tide flooding episodes over a short amount of time, leading to extreme months with clustered events.

"Scientists, engineers and decision-makers are accustomed to thinking about rare high-impact events, for example, a 100-year storm, but we demonstrate that it is important to plan for extreme months or seasons during which the number of flooding episodes, rather than the magnitude, is exceptional," said Professor Thompson.

The experts also determined that natural fluctuations in tidal range, which occur from one decade to the next, are responsible for alternately reducing and exacerbating the impacts of sea level rise.

"Understanding and communicating this phenomenon reduces the possibility of complacency and inaction during periods of reduced impacts and helps us be more prepared for periods when impacts will be heightened," said Professor Thompson. 

"As an island state with much of its infrastructure and economy vulnerable to sea level rise, these results are crucial to understanding how impacts from sea level rise will evolve in coming decades in Hawaii."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

High-tide flooding will rapidly increase along the U.S. coastline

In the mid-2030s, the frequency of coastal flooding will drastically...

Migratory birds in North America have been getting smaller with longer wings. After making this discovery, a team of experts at the <a href="https://umich.edu/">University of Michigan</a> set out to investigate whether the physical changes in migratory birds are tied to earlier spring migrations.

The researchers theorized that the pressure to migrate faster and arrive at breeding grounds earlier may have driven the morphological changes.

"We know that bird morphology has a major effect on the efficiency and speed of flight, so we became curious whether the environmental pressure to advance spring migration would lead to natural selection for longer wings," said study lead author Marketa Zimova.

The study revealed that the phenological change to earlier spring migration had occurred parallel to the physical changes in birds, but appeared to be unrelated or "decoupled."

"We found that birds are changing in size and shape independently of changes in their migration timing, which was surprising," said Zimova.

The investigation was based on the analysis of 70,000 bird specimens from 52 species at the Field Museum. The birds were collected after colliding with Chicago buildings during spring and fall migrations between 1978 and 2016.

The experts determined that spring migrants are now arriving nearly five days sooner than they did four decades ago, while the earliest fall migrants are heading south about 10 days earlier.

In addition, the last of the fall migrants are now departing about a week later, which means that the duration of the fall migration season has been stretched considerably.

"It is unusual to have a dataset that can provide insights into multiple aspects of global change - such as phenology and morphology - at the same time," said study senior author Ben Winger.

"I was impressed that the collision data so clearly showed evidence of advancing spring migration. The collision monitors in Chicago have been collecting these data on bird building collisions for 40 years and, meanwhile, the birds have been changing the timing of their migratory patterns in ways that were imperceptible until the dataset as a whole was examined."

Last year, the U-M-led team reported that nearly all of the 52 bird species they examined had experienced declines in body size and increases in wing length over a period of four decades. 

In the current study, the team analyzed whether the changes in body size and wing length were driven by climate-related shifts in migration timing.  They did this by testing for associations between species-specific rates of phenological and morphological change.

The researchers found no evidence that the rates of migratory changes are predictive of rates of concurrent changes in morphological traits.

"Scientifically, this is really the most interesting and novel finding," said study senior author Professor Brian Weeks.

The depth of the Field Museum dataset enabled the U-M-led team to examine multiple responses to climate warming simultaneously and to test for connections between them.

"It is often assumed that morphological changes driven by climate and changes in the timing of migration must interact to either facilitate or constrain adaptive responses to climate change," said Professor Weeks. "But this has never to my knowledge been tested empirically at a significant scale, until now, due to lack of data."

Previous studies suggest that the earlier arrival of migratory birds in Chicago each spring is linked to shorter, less frequent stopovers during the northbound trek may be a factor.

"And there might be other adjustments that allow birds to migrate faster that we haven't thought about--maybe some physiological adaptation that might allow faster flight without causing the birds to overheat and lose too much water," said Zimova.

The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652656">Journal of Animal Ecology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Physical changes in birds evolved separately from earlier migrations

Migratory birds in North America have been getting smaller with...

When it comes to environmental threats to human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/declining-reproductive-success-in-seabirds-is-a-red-flag-for-ocean-health/">health</a>, the impact of marine plastic pollution is a top concern, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>.

The researchers surveyed more than 15,000 people across 14 European countries and Australia as part of the Seas, Oceans and Public Health in Europe (SOPHIE) Project.

The project was designed to investigate public perceptions toward various marine topics. The research comes as plastic pollution is widely recognized as a major cause for international attention. 

The survey revealed that both Europeans and Australians are highly concerned about the consequences of marine plastic pollution for human health. 

Plastic pollution was ranked at the top of 16 marine-related threats in terms of cause for concern, including chemical or oil spills, marine biodiversity loss, and complications of climate change such as sea-level rise.

Microplastics have been found in a wide range of fish that are consumed by humans, and the potential impacts are not yet known. The survey respondents strongly support more research to understand the impact of marine plastic pollution on our health.

"Plastic pollution is one of the fastest-growing environmental challenges on our planet. Yet, while the damage to marine life is well understood, the impact on human health remains unclear," said study lead author Sophie Davison.

"Our study indicates that this is of grave concern to the public, and that there's widespread support for more research in this area."

Study co-author Mathew White said the primary goal of the research is to inform decision-making around policy on plastic pollution and to prioritize funding for studies into the potential impacts on human health.

"Given that marine plastic pollution is a global challenge and all of society contributes to some degree to the plastic consumption cycle, we urgently need to find ways of connecting the high level of concern with ways of curbing the leakage of plastic into the environment," said White.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/global-environmental-change">Global Environmental Change</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Health impacts of plastic pollution are a top concern

When it comes to environmental threats to human health, the...

More than half of butterfly species in Switzerland are potentially threatened by excess nitrogen from vehicle emissions, industry, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-pollinators-are-70-percent-less-abundant-in-high-intensity-croplands/">agriculture</a>. 

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.unibas.ch/en.html">University of Basel</a> have discovered a link between the unintentional fertilization of soils through nitrogen emissions and low diversity of butterflies. 

Professor Valentin Amrhein, who led the team, says that the impact of nitrogen enrichment on butterflies has been underestimated. When it comes to butterfly diversity, the experts believe that nitrogen appears to play a similarly extensive role as climate change. 

Previous studies have shown that excessive nitrogen levels lead to denser vegetation with fewer plant species. 

"We wanted to find out whether a nitrogen surplus also indirectly affects the diversity of butterflies via this change in vegetation," explained study lead author Dr. Tobias Roth.

The researchers investigated the diversity of plants and butterflies at nearly 400 sites throughout Switzerland by analyzing data from Biodiversity Monitoring Switzerland. The results clearly showed that plots with more nitrogen had lower plant and butterfly diversity. 

"As caterpillars, some butterfly species need certain plant species as food, or are dependent on a certain microclimate," said Dr. Roth. 

With excessive fertilization, warm and dry places become cooler and damper as they are shaded by denser plant growth. The nitrogen surplus limits the prevalence of a large number of butterfly species in Switzerland that prefer open and dry sites, particularly those that are endangered. 

"Nitrogen from the air is likely to be an important factor in the reason why these species are endangered," noted Dr. Roth.

While the researchers do not see a simple approach for improving the situation, there may be some potential in technical advances.

"In the past, slurry was sprayed on farmland, for example, and some of this was transferred to other areas of land by the wind," said Dr. Roth. Today, he says, drag hoses are used increasingly to apply the slurry directly to the soil, which reduces nitrogen input in areas where it is not intended. 

According to the researchers, there is ultimately no way around environmentally friendly consumer behavior when it comes to reducing unwanted nitrogen input. This could be achieved, for example, through the reduction of vehicle emissions and livestock farming. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15231739">Conservation Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Vanishing butterflies linked to nitrogen surplus

More than half of butterfly species in Switzerland are potentially...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.ird.fr/">IRD</a>, researchers have found that coastal overtopping and subsequent <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-development-is-worsening-nuisance-flooding/">flooding</a> will become much more frequent in the coming decades. 

Hurricane Katrina served as a vivid example of coastal overtopping, where waves breach a natural or human-made barrier, usually resulting in massive damage. 

More recently, Typhoon Haiyan in Asia was the largest typhoon ever recorded and a reminder that the threat from overtopping - and from storms in general - is likely to increase, especially in the tropics. 

Global warming is set to make these events more frequent and stronger over time. Flooding is likely to increase as well. Almost a full 10 percent of the world’s human population lives in low lying coastal regions, which are the highest risk areas for overtopping. 

Human development on the coastline not only causes further damage to natural environments that are already threatened, but also raises risks to people and infrastructure.

The IRD team investigated the impact of wave overtopping on future flooding. The experts combined a digital Earth model with estimates of sea level rises. 

The researchers looked at the recent extreme weather events as well as long term patterns of wind driven waves and other phenomena to look at potential problems in the future and identify high risk areas. 

Some of the places most at risk of coastal overtopping are the Gulf of Mexico, the southern Meditteranean, west Africa, Madagascar and the Baltic. 

The scientists concluded that overtopping may also increase faster than the predicted rise in sea levels and that this risk is set to accelerate rather than increase at a steady rate. 

“The frequency of overtopping is accelerating exponentially and will be clearly perceptible as early as 2050, regardless of the climate scenario," said study co-author Rafaël Almar.

"By the end of the century, the intensity of the acceleration will depend on the future trajectories of greenhouse gas emissions and therefore the rise in sea-level. In the case of a high emissions scenario, the number of overtopping hours globally could increase fifty-fold compared with current levels.”

This is bad news, especially for the poorer regions directly threatened, such as Madagascar, where neither people nor government are prepared for the dangers ahead.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

“Overtopping” threatens the future of coastal habitats

In a new study from IRD, researchers have found that...

Climate change is beyond the realm of theoretical predictions. It’s happening now. Any plans we undertake are unlikely to stop, much less reverse the damage. This means it is necessary to look at how we can mitigate the impacts of climate change, including human relocation.

Climate change has the potential to displace up to a billion people over the next several decades. With this stark reality clearly in mind, a team of experts led by <a href="https://www.princeton.edu/">Princeton</a>'s Richard Moss has published a policy perspective paper in the journal Science. 

"Relocation involves moving people away from risk and into totally new settings," explained the researchers. They noted that current approaches for planning the relocation of millions of people affected are "woefully inadequate" and risk worsening societal inequities.

Brad Wible, the senior commentary editor of Science, pointed out that "we must consider not only what science can do, but how science is done, and by whom." He hinted that science has not always been a champion of social justice. 

Other researchers charted a plan for a climate change "retreat" that attempts to stabilize vital social institutions while upholding fairness and limiting losses. The authors point out that historically, such planning has been low on priority lists and fraught with political tension. If instead this type of planning was made priority number one, the process could go much smoother. 

The experts noted that in addition to diversifying knowledge, government agencies and decision makers need to collaborate with scientists to execute strategies under uncertainty. 

Furthermore, the team said it's important for the research community to not only identify good practices in engineering, financial risk, and other technical analyses, but also to support social transformation and capacity building that enables relocating communities to get back on their feet.

It’s unclear whether policy makers will hear these calls and act on them.

---

By <a href="http://zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Millions of people could be displaced by climate change

Climate change is beyond the realm of theoretical predictions. It’s...

Young Weddell seals learn how to swim and navigate before they learn to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-harms-bees-ability-to-forage-for-food/">forage</a>. A new study from <a href="https://www.calpoly.edu/">California Polytechnic State University</a> suggests that Weddell seal pups may be one of the only types of seals that learn how to swim from their mothers.

Weddell seals are the southernmost born mammal. At just two weeks old, the pups begin diving into freezing Antarctic waters. The researchers say that this extreme environment may explain why Weddell seal pups spend an unusually long time with their mothers.

According to the Seal Conservation Society, female Weddell seals grow to be nearly 11 feet long, which is slightly longer than males. The adult females typically weigh between 800 to 1,300 pounds. Their pups are born about four feet in length and weigh 50 to 65 pounds.

In other species, pups are nursed by their mothers on land for up to four weeks. After they are weaned, they enter the water and teach themselves how to swim and forage. On the other hand, Weddell seal pups stick with their mothers for six to seven weeks.

"Most seals don't get to learn anything from mom, so we wanted to know what are the important lessons that they need in this extremely cold environment," said study co-author Professor Heather Liwanag. 

"We were also interested in understanding how adults become such incredible divers. Where do they start?"

The researchers used tracking devices to measure how deep Weddell seal pups dove and what time of day they were in the water. They compared this information to what was known about the mothers' diving behaviors.

The study revealed that pups were in the water at the same time as their mothers, likely learning style important survival skills. Since the pups were not diving to depths that would be necessary to find prey, the experts determined they were not learning how to forage. 

The findings suggest that Weddell seal pups learn how to swim from their mothers. One of the most important lessons may be how to find a breathing hole while swimming beneath an ice sheet. 

"One of the common causes of death in young Weddell seals is drowning," said Professor Liwanag. "It's important that they learn how to find breathing holes in the ice that allow them to take frequent breaths, until they develop the ability to hold their breath for longer durations like the adults."

By studying the behavior of Weddell seals, experts hope to gain a better understanding of how climate change will affect ice-dependent seals worldwide.

The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jmammal">Journal of Mammalogy</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

Young Weddell seals learn how to survive from their mothers

Young Weddell seals learn how to swim and navigate before...

Air pollution associated with burning fossil fuels was responsible for over one million premature deaths in 2017 alone, according to an international team of researchers led by <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University</a>. The experts found that more than half of those deaths were attributable to coal.

Fine particle pollution (PM2.5) has become a global health crisis. The researchers note that PM2.5 has not only climbed to dangerous levels in the atmosphere, but can also be a hazard indoors from simply cooking on a stove.

"PM2.5 is the world's leading environmental risk factor for mortality. Our key objective is to understand its sources," said Professor Randall Martin.

Working in Professor Martin's lab, research associate Erin McDuffie used various computational tools to analyze a wealth of relevant data. The study has produced the most comprehensive dataset of air pollution emissions of its kind. 

The team was able to distinguish between various sources of air pollution, ranging from dust storms to energy production.

Overall, more than 20 distinct pollution sources were linked to human health issues based on the analysis of exposure to PM2.5 levels and health outcomes from the Global Burden of Disease.

The study shows that severe pollution is tied to different sources depending on the region of the world. McDuffie explained that while cookstoves and home-heating are still responsible for the release of particulate matter in many regions throughout Asia, energy generation remains a large polluter on the global scale.

"Previous studies end up having to use different emissions data sets or models all together," said McDuffie. "We can more directly compare results between countries." 

"We can even look at pollution sources in places that have implemented some mitigation measures, versus others that haven't to get a more complete picture of what may or may not be working."

In West sub-Saharan Africa, windblown dust accounted for nearly three quarters of the particulate matter in the atmosphere in 2017 compared to a global rate of just 16 percent. 

"Ultimately, it will be important to consider sources at the subnational scale when developing mitigation strategies for reducing air pollution," said McDuffie.

Even though the study confirms that air pollution is killing people prematurely worldwide, Professor Martin and McDuffie said their findings also have positive results for pollution monitoring.

"The good news is that we may be providing some of the first information that these places have about their major sources of pollution," said McDuffie. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</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

One million premature deaths linked to air pollution in 2017

Air pollution associated with burning fossil fuels was responsible for...

More than half of the world's rivers run dry each year In a new study led by <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a>, researchers have determined that more than half of the world's rivers and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/californias-streamside-forests-are-threatened-by-water-management/">streams</a> stop flowing for at least one day per year. The experts found that between 51 and 60 percent of the 64 million kilometers of Earth's rushing waters run dry periodically.

The research highlights the need to change the general assumption that water flows in rivers and streams year-round. The study has also produced a map of non-perennial rivers that provides crucial baseline information for the assessment of future changes in river flow intermittence. North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be described as the northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. Because it is on the North American Tectonic Plate, Greenland is included as part of North America geographically. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 16.5% of the Earth's land area and about 4.8% of its total surface. North America is the third-largest continent by area, following Asia and Africa,

"Non-perennial rivers and streams are very valuable ecosystems as they are home to many distinct species that are adapted to cycles of water presence and absence," said study first author Mathis Messager.

"These rivers can provide critical water and food sources for people and they play an important role in controlling water quality. But more often than not they are mismanaged or altogether excluded from management actions and conservation laws as they are simply overlooked."

Study co-senior author Professor Bernhard Lehner noted that given continued global climate and land use change, an increasingly large proportion of the global river network is expected to cease to flow seasonally over the coming decades.

"In fact, many formerly perennial rivers and streams, including sections of iconic rivers such as the Nile, the Indus and the Colorado River have become intermittent in the past 50 years due to climate change, land use transitions, or the temporary or permanent withdrawal of water for human use and agriculture."

The researchers analyzed long-term records of water flow in 5,615 locations around the world. The data included information on the hydrology, climate, and surrounding land cover at these locations. 

The experts determined that non-perennial rivers are most common in places where there is much more evaporation than rainfall. They also found that smaller streams have more variable flow, which makes them more likely to dry up periodically. 

Surprisingly, the study showed that non-perennial rivers occur in tropical climates - and even in the Arctic - where rivers freeze up for parts of the year.

The researchers estimate that more than half of the world's population lives in locations where the closest river or stream around them is non-perennial. 

"By mapping non-perennial rivers and streams, our study pushes for a recognition of their prevalence and ecological significance by the scientific community," said co-senior author Thibault Datry. 

"We hope that our study will trigger efforts to adequately manage these river ecosystems and halt attempts to exclude them from protective legislation."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</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

More than half of the world's rivers run dry each year

More than half of the world's rivers run dry each...

Ocean circulation is key to climate change  In a new study from the <a href="https://www.ku.dk/english/">University of Copenhagen</a>, researchers have found that atmospheric changes are not the biggest contributor to the uncertainty that arises in global climate change projections. The experts report that such uncertainties are primarily associated with changes to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lakes-are-losing-oxygen-much-faster-than-oceans/">ocean</a> circulation in the North Atlantic.

There are 30 state-of-the-art IPCC climate models that predict dramatically different climates for the <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north%20america&amp;qs=n&amp;form=QBRE&amp;sp=-1&amp;pq=&amp;sc=0-0&amp;sk=&amp;cvid=2A486C7EEB7F4DC9A48B1971A274D39A">Northern</a> Hemisphere, especially Europe. Variables such as atmospheric pressure, cloud cover, and ocean surface temperatures interact differently in each model. 

An international team of researchers set out to understand what is driving the major differences in climate projections from the IPCC models.  Ocean circulation is key to climate change. 

"We want to understand the differences among these models. Why does one model project an overall global temperature change of two degrees while another one of four degrees? Our objective is to narrow down this inter-model uncertainty," explained study lead author Dr. Katinka Bellomo. "We also want to understand the differences in these models in terms of regional climate change."

Among the climate models, the researchers found disagreement on the rate of the decline in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). This is a large network of ocean currents in the North Atlantic that plays a crucial role in the distribution of heat from the tropics to the Northern Hemisphere.

"To see how this difference was reflected in projections of the future climate, we grouped together the top ten models (from a total of thirty) in which the AMOC decline is smaller. We then compared the group with the average of the 10 models that have the largest decline," said Bellomo.

Two distinct climate patterns emerged from the study. In models where the AMOC decline is large, Europe is predicted to warm only slightly, but wind patterns in Europe and precipitation patterns in the tropics are predicted to change dramatically. 

On the other hand, in models where the AMOC decline is smaller, the Northern hemisphere heats up considerably. This leads to a well-known pattern in which wet regions get wetter and dry regions get dryer.

Ultimately, the research suggests that future climate predictions should be largely focused on how models account for changes in ocean circulation in the North Atlantic. 

"This is important because it points to the AMOC as one of the largest sources of uncertainties in climate prediction," said Dr. Bellomo. "I am excited about this research, because there is so much more that can be done in addition to this." 

"We need to investigate the processes leading to the inter-model differences in the ocean circulation response, the link between the ocean circulation response and precipitation change, and we also need to compare this with near-future projections of climate change."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</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

Ocean circulation is key to climate change

Ocean circulation is key to climate change  In a new...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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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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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"] Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[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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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

[sendtonews key="u0TYxxqfF7-2186404-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA’s...