Reservoirs,With,Hydrogen.,Eco,Fuel,Storage,Tanks.,H2,Gas,For

Folschviller, a quiet town in France’s Moselle region, just handed the energy world a surprise it didn’t see coming. Beneath land once dotted with coal pits lies an estimated 46 million tons of natural hydrogen, a cache large enough to stir fresh conversations about how the planet powers itself. 



The figure tops half of today’s yearly gray hydrogen output, yet it carries none of the pollution burden that shadows the industry’s status quo.



The discovery lands at a moment when clean fuels are in high demand, but often too pricey or too dirty to use at scale. Here, nature has done the hard work. 



Instead of relying on factories or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/more-warnings-fossil-fuels-are-causing-climate-health-and-biodiversity-crises/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fossil fuels</a>, this hydrogen has sat untouched until recent drilling exposed it - and the timing could not be more convenient for a world bent on cutting emissions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-the-natural-hydrogen-motherlode">Finding the natural hydrogen motherlode</h2>



A research team hunting for methane struck a different kind of treasure at a depth of 4,101 feet. The drill core showed pockets of colorless gas, soon confirmed as hydrogen. 



Only after that eureka moment did word spread that the deposit belonged to the GeoRessources laboratory and France’s National Center for Scientific Research, or <a href="https://www.cnrs.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNRS</a>.



The scientists were looking for clues to ancient hydrocarbons when the readings changed. They realized the reservoir might reshape regional energy plans, prompting fresh tests and economic modeling. 



Early estimates calculate the value of the find at roughly $184 billion, based on a conservative $4.00 per kilogram, or $4,000 per ton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-natural-white-hydrogen-matters">Why natural white hydrogen matters</h2>



Industry labels hydrogen by color to signal how it is produced. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/green-hydrogen-energy-production-just-got-a-lot-easier/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Green hydrogen</a> splits water with renewable electricity, a clean method but one that still costs more than most companies can swallow. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shape-shifting-membrane-could-be-the-key-to-cleaner-energy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gray hydrogen</a> strips the element from natural gas, leaving behind carbon dioxide. White hydrogen skips both paths; it forms naturally underground and carries no direct carbon penalty.



That built‑in advantage tackles two headaches at once. It avoids the power‑hungry electrolysis required for green hydrogen and sidesteps the emissions from gray hydrogen’s fossil‑fuel origin. 



If engineers can lift the gas to the surface without leaks, factories could switch to a cleaner feedstock overnight.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-simple-chemistry-at-work">Simple chemistry at work</h2>



White hydrogen begins when water seeps into iron‑rich rocks deep below ground. A chemical reaction splits the water molecules, releasing hydrogen gas that drifts into cracks and traps. 



Over thousands of years, those pockets grow. In some parts of the world - Mali, Russia, and isolated U.S. basins - gas even seeps to the surface, lighting small bush fires or fueling village stoves.



The French deposit likely formed the same way. Because it already sits in a pure state, producers can bypass the energy‑intensive clean‑up steps that plague other hydrogen sources. The gas emerges ready for pipelines, fuel cells, or industrial burners.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-counting-dollars-and-emissions">Counting dollars and emissions</h2>



Hydrogen priced at $4.00 per kilogram could make low‑carbon steel, ammonia, and long‑haul trucking far cheaper than current green hydrogen models allow. 



With a price tag of $184 billion, the Moselle reserve reads like an open invitation to investors. Unlike oil or coal, its combustion releases only water vapor, trimming the environmental tab to nearly zero.



Yet money alone does not sway climate math. 



Replacing gray hydrogen with natural hydrogen at this scale would cancel about 130 million tons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-co2-emissions-rise-as-nations-tackle-fossil-fuel-dependence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon dioxide</a> each year - the amount those gray plants now emit. That single swap could equal the annual emissions of a midsize European country.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-local-benefits-for-france">Local benefits for France</h2>



Lorraine’s history is steeped in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/u-s-coal-ash-holds-tons-of-rare-earth-elements-worth-8-4-billion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coal</a> and steel. Many mines closed decades ago, leaving empty shafts and economic scars. 



Tapping white hydrogen offers a chance to revive the region with new jobs in drilling, pipeline work, and gas processing. Local officials already talk about training programs to shift miners to cleaner tasks.



Energy security matters, too. France imports much of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/natural-gas-isnt-as-clean-as-we-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">natural gas</a> that feeds its industries. A domestic supply of hydrogen would shield buyers from price swings and geopolitical shocks, giving planners a dependable baseline fuel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-abundance-of-natural-hydrogen">Abundance of natural hydrogen</h2>



About midway through the project, lead scientist Dr. Jacques Pironon put the discovery into plain terms for Interesting Engineering.



“Our research suggests that natural hydrogen could be far more abundant than previously thought. If we can find efficient ways to extract and use it, we may have a powerful new tool in the fight against climate change," Dr. Pironon enthused.



“We need to understand the full potential of these hydrogen reservoirs and develop safe, efficient methods to extract them.” 



His caution reflects the field’s youth; few commercial wells exist, and regulators still draft rules to prevent leaks or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nearly-100-million-americans-exposed-to-contaminated-drinking-water/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">groundwater problems</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-race-for-natural-hydrogen-begins">Global race for natural hydrogen begins</h2>



Other countries have noticed. Australia’s government earmarked funds to map its iron‑rich crust, while U.S. explorers study gas seeps in Kansas and Nebraska. 



Some researchers even ask whether white hydrogen replenishes continuously, like an underground fountain. If future tests show steady recharge, the fuel could edge closer to the definition of renewable.



Tech startups are also watching. Companies that design hydrogen turbines, storage tanks, and refueling stations see a chance to leapfrog the cost barriers that hold back wider adoption. 



Lower feedstock prices could make hydrogen trucks and ships more attractive than their diesel rivals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-next">What happens next?</h2>



France has a long way to go with this jackpot, and the next move is a big one. Pilot wells will test flow rates, pressure behavior, and safety gear. 



Should those numbers hold, commercial extraction could start within a few years, turning Folschviller into a living laboratory for natural hydrogen. 



Success might prompt copycat surveys worldwide, nudging the energy mix toward a gas that arrives carbon‑free straight from the ground.



Learn more about natural hydrogen extraction in this full study by the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55773-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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World’s largest natural hydrogen deposit discovery is worth a staggering $184 billion

Folschviller, a quiet town in France’s Moselle region, just handed the energy world a surprise it didn’t see coming. Beneath land once dotted with coal pits lies an estimated 46 million tons of natural hydrogen, a cache large enough to stir fresh conversations about how the planet powers itself. The figure tops half of today’s yearly gray hydrogen output, yet it carries none of the pollution burden that shadows the industry’s status quo. The discovery lands at a moment when clean fuels are in high demand, but often too...

A new study led by <a href="https://www.swansea.ac.uk/">Swansea University</a> highlights the destructive impacts of human development on tropical rainforests. In recent decades, human disturbance across Indonesian forests has made increasingly large parts of the region more vulnerable to fires. 

The researchers found that on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, less than 10 percent of the remaining forest is still fire-resistant as a result of deforestation. 

"Undisturbed tropical rainforests are naturally resistant to fire due to the humid and cool micro-climate they maintain, effectively acting as a fire barrier," explained study lead author Dr. Tadas Nikonovas.

"Contrary to the widely-held perception that worsening droughts are threatening the remaining rainforests, tropical forests in Indonesia become susceptible to fire only after human disturbance."

According to the researchers, protecting what is left of the undisturbed forest is crucial for preventing catastrophic fire. In this region, deforestation increases the risk of recurring peatland fires that produce toxic haze events across South East Asia and release globally significant greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenpeace reports that the area of tropical forest and peatland that has burned in Indonesia over the past five years is larger than the size of the Netherlands. 

The new research shows that there are still some contiguous areas of undisturbed forests that are not susceptible to burning - even under current drought conditions. These areas, however, make up less than ten percent of the tropical forest cover.

The study reveals that more than 90 percent of Indonesia's forest cover has been severely fragmented or degraded, and is no longer able to maintain a fire-resistant microclimate. Only three percent of the region's peatlands, which store massive amounts of carbon, are now protected by fire-resistant forest cover. 

The researchers emphasize that the preventative role of tropical forests against fire is yet another important reason for the preservation and regeneration of the few remaining contiguous tracts of forests.

"Protecting tropical forest is critical not only for biodiversity and carbon storage but also for preventing future catastrophic fire episodes," said project leader Dr. Allan Spessa. "This is true for Indonesia, as well as for tropical forest in Africa and South America."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/commsenv">Communications Earth and Environment</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Disturbed Indonesian forests are highly flammable

A new study led by Swansea University highlights the destructive...

In the near future, climate change is expected to make many grape-growing regions <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/east-asia-may-be-permanently-locked-into-hotter-and-drier-climate/">hotter</a> and drier. Wine grapes are very sensitive to climate, which means it could become difficult to produce high-quality wine from traditional varieties. 

But now, a new study from <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/">UC Davis</a> reveals that wine grapes from regions that are most susceptible to climate change have built-in defenses that may save them from rising temperatures. 

The researchers discovered that grape varieties grown in warmer, drier regions have traits that conserve water. This strategy evolved so that the vines have the water they need throughout the growing season.

Study lead author Megan Bartlett is an assistant professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. 

"The relationships between grape varieties and regions have historically been based on wine, without considering traits that affect drought or heat tolerance," said Professor Bartlett. "These findings show these varieties could be more resilient to climate change than expected."

The experts investigated how grapevines regulate their stomata­, tiny pores found on the surface of leaves. The functioning of these pores determines how much carbon dioxide is taken in for photosynthesis and how much water evaporates from the leaves. 

Grapevines must strike a balance between opening their stomata to take in CO2 for growth and ripening and closing the stomata to reduce evaporation and water stress.

Some of the desired fruit characteristics, such as the flavor of the grapes, are enhanced when the vines experience a small degree of water stress. However, too much water loss can prevent the grapes from achieving their desired flavors. 

The researchers examined traits for 34 grape varieties, and established the associations between grape varieties and regions. The study was focused on European regions, where irrigation is widely restricted, to gain a better understanding of the direct effects of changes in local climate.

The experts found that grape varieties grown in regions that experience more hot and dry conditions, such as the Sangiovese and Montepulciano varieties of Italy, kept their stomata closed more than varieties like Sauvignon Blanc from cooler, more humid regions. "This strategy would help these varieties save water," said study co-author Gabriela Sinclair.

Professor Bartlett warned that these traits may have unintended consequences as heatwaves become more extreme. By restricting evaporation too much, the grapevines could allow their leaves to reach damaging temperatures, reducing their ability to photosynthesize and limiting the sugars available for ripening.

"We have more work to do to understand how these traits will affect grapevines as the climate reaches new extremes," said Professor Bartlett. "These findings show that traits will be important to consider when we predict what will happen to different wine regions."

The study is published in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jxb">Journal of Experimental Botany</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Wine grapes in dry regions have a strategy to conserve water

In the near future, climate change is expected to make...

Scientists have discovered that a deadly skin disease affecting dolphins is linked to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-are-losing-their-ability-to-help-mitigate-climate-change/">climate</a> change, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/">The Marine Mammal Center</a>. This is the first time since the mysterious dolphin disease first appeared in 2005 that the cause of the condition has been identified.

The researchers have determined that the disease, which has affected dolphins worldwide, is caused by decreased water salinity associated with climate change. The infected dolphins develop patchy and raised skin lesions that cover up to 70 percent of their bodies.

The international study follows significant outbreaks in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Australia. The common factor in all of these outbreaks was a sudden and drastic decrease in water salinity.

Increasingly severe storms and hurricanes are dumping unusual volumes of rain in coastal waters, and the resulting freshwater conditions can persist for months. The drop in seawater salinity is particularly extreme after intense storms like hurricanes Harvey and Katrina. As these storms become more frequent, so will the skin disease outbreaks among dolphins.

"This devastating skin disease has been killing dolphins since Hurricane Katrina, and we're pleased to finally define the problem," said study co-author Dr. Pádraig Duignan, Chief Pathologist at The Marine Mammal Center. "With a record hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico this year and more intense storm systems worldwide due to climate change, we can absolutely expect to see more of these devastating outbreaks killing dolphins."

A current outbreak of the disease is impacting the rare and threatened Burrunan dolphin in southeast Australia. The findings may provide professionals with the information they need to diagnose and treat affected animals. 

Currently, the chances of survival for infected dolphins are poor, especially for animals that experience prolonged exposure to freshwater. The disease was first noticed on approximately 40 bottlenose dolphins near New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

"As warming ocean temperatures impact marine mammals globally, the findings in this paper will allow better mitigation of the factors that lead disease outbreaks for coastal dolphin communities that are already under threat from habitat loss and degradation," said Dr. Duignan. "This study helps shed light on an ever-growing concern, and we hope it is the first step in mitigating the deadly disease and marshalling the ocean community to further fight climate change."

The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/srep">Scientific Reports</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Mysterious and deadly dolphin disease has been linked to climate change

Scientists have discovered that a deadly skin disease affecting dolphins...

Terrestrial ecosystems are gradually losing their ability to help mitigate the impacts of climate change, according to a study from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a>. The experts found that 86 percent of land ecosystems are becoming less efficient in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) as it increases in the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/earths-atmosphere-beyond-moon/">atmosphere</a>.

Trees and plants absorb CO2 as they photosynthesize, which helps to remove the heat-trapping greenhouse gas from the atmosphere, where it accelerates global warming. 

In a phenomenon that is referred to as the carbon fertilization effect (CFE), elevated levels of CO2 cause an increase in photosynthesis and plant growth. CFE has been considered an important mechanism to help reduce levels of atmospheric CO2. 

As the fertilizing capacity of CO2 decreases, there will be major impacts on the carbon cycle and the climate. To investigate, the NASA team analyzed field studies, model-based datasets, and satellite observations. 

"In this study, by analyzing the best available long-term data from remote sensing and state-of-the-art land-surface models, we have found that since 1982, the global average CFE has decreased steadily from 21 percent to 12 percent per 100 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere," said study co-author Ben Poulter. "In other words, terrestrial ecosystems are becoming less reliable as a temporary climate change mitigator."

The findings have important implications for the role that plants will play in offsetting climate change in the future. Poulter said that without the feedback between photosynthesis and elevated atmospheric CO2, we would have already seen climate change occurring at a much more rapid rate. 

It was known that the fertilizing effects of CO2 could not last forever due to other limitations. To pinpoint why CFE has been decreasing, the study authors took into account the availability of water, sunlight, and nutrients, which all have an influence on how much plants can grow. 

"According to our data, what appears to be happening is that there's both a moisture limitation as well as a nutrient limitation coming into play," said Poulter. "In the tropics, there's often just not enough nitrogen or phosphorus, to sustain photosynthesis, and in the high-latitude temperate and boreal regions, soil moisture is now more limiting than air temperature because of recent warming."

This means that climate change is weakening the ability of plants to mitigate further warming over large areas of the planet.

Remote-sensing observations revealed that the decline in CFE is much more substantial than current land-surface models have shown. Poulter said this is because modelers have struggled to account for nutrient feedbacks and soil moisture limitations.

"By combining decades of remote sensing data like we have done here, we're able to see these limitations on plant growth. As such, the study shows a clear way forward for model development, especially with new remote sensing observations of vegetation traits expected in coming years." 

"These observations will help advance models to incorporate ecosystem processes, climate and CO2 feedbacks more realistically."

According to Poulter, the decreasing carbon-uptake efficiency of land ecosystems means we may see the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere start to increase, shrinking the remaining carbon budget.

"What this means is that to avoid 1.5 or 2°C warming and the associated climate impacts, we need to adjust the remaining carbon budget to account for the weakening of the plant CO2 fertilization effect. And because of this weakening, land ecosystems will not be as reliable for climate mitigation in the coming decades."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plants are losing their ability to help mitigate climate change

Terrestrial ecosystems are gradually losing their ability to help mitigate...

In a new study from <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">NC State</a>, researchers are describing the cascading effects of fertilizer pollution throughout the food webs of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arctic-rivers-heat-up-the-ocean-and-shrink-sea-ice/">rivers</a> and streams. The experts also identified some methods of detecting fertilizer runoff that may not be effective in certain types of streams.

The team analyzed data from 184 studies which involved 885 individual experiments conducted all over the world to investigate the effects of fertilizer runoff in rivers and streams. 

The research was specifically focused on elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, the main two components of fertilizer, which can kill fish and cause harmful algal blooms.

"Overall, we found that high levels of nutrients affect streams and rivers everywhere," said study lead author Professor Marcelo Ardón.

"Wherever we looked, we saw increases in the abundance and biomass of organisms that live in streams, and also the speeding up of processes that happen in streams - how fast algae grow, how fast leaves decompose, and how fast organisms grow that feed on them."

The studies revealed that nitrogen and phosphorus led to increased growth in algae, the insects that eat the algae, and the fish that eat the insects. In shady streams where there were no algae, nitrogen and phosphorus accelerated the decomposition of leaves and boosted the growth of the organisms that feed on them.

"We saw an average 48 percent increase overall in biomass abundance and activity in all levels of the food web,"said Professor Ardón. "We also found that the food webs responded most strongly when both nitrogen and phosphorus were added together."

Experts look for the presence of a specific type of chlorophyll in water to detect algae growth. According to the researchers, this method could miss pollution in waterways where algae do not grow, and where the decomposition of leaves or other plant matter is a primary food source.

"The food webs in those streams don't depend on algae - the trees shade out the algae," explained Professor Ardón. "The streams there depend on leaves that fall in and decompose, which is what the insects, such as caddisflies and stoneflies, are eating. In those detrital-based streams, we found similar responses to increases in nitrogen and phosphorus as has been found in algae."

The analysis also pinpointed certain factors that influenced the food web's response to fertilizer pollution. These factors include light, temperature, and baseline concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. 

"All of those things will determine how much of a response you get to increased nitrogen and phosphorus," said study co-author Ryan Utz of Chatham University.

"The EPA has been asking states to come up with ways to reduce runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus into streams, because we know they can cause these really big problems," concluded Professor Ardón. 

"We know that at a big scale, and we don't really know the details. A lot of states that are coming up with criteria to reduce the amount of nutrients in the water focus only on algal responses. Our study suggests regulators should expand their view."

The study was published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1469185x">Biological Reviews</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Study identifies the cascading effects of fertilizer pollution

In a new study from NC State, researchers are describing...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.idiv.de/en/index.html">German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research</a> have conducted the most comprehensive assessment of plants in Germany that has ever been carried out. 

The survey revealed that the country's plant <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-and-animals-evolve-faster-in-coldspots-than-in-biodiversity-hotspots/">diversity</a> has decreased by over 15 percent in more than 70 percent of the 2,000 species examined, and the losses were not limited to rare or endangered plants.

"This clearly shows, once again, that we have to rethink our approach to nature and landscape; after all, the population declines proven by the study extend over the whole of Germany," said Dr. Beate Jessel, president of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.

"This leaves no doubt; we need a broad-based approach to agriculture and forestry, which together occupy 80 percent of the area of Germany. This demonstrates that there's an urgent need for more nature-compatible forms of land use."

The average rate of decline for any given species was found to be about two percent per decade. Some of the most vulnerable plants are archaeophytes, which are non-native plant species that were introduced before 1492. The corn marigold, Venus's looking glass, and the perennial goosefoot are also especially threatened.

For the investigation, researchers analyzed distribution data on 2,136 of the over 4,300 plant species established in Germany. The study also included information on the presence of plants from private individuals and datasets from universities other scientific institutions. 

The study authors expect that the observed decline in plant diversity has a major impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Due to the complex relationships that exist within ecosystems, plant losses can have very serious consequences. For example, lower plant diversity will lead to declines in both insect diversity and abundance.

"The degree of clarity in these results really surprised us. They paint a very dismal picture of the state of plant diversity in Germany," said study first author Dr. David Eichenberg. "This study has confirmed that the declines are not limited to already rare or particularly endangered species, but that a gradual reduction of biodiversity in the majority of plant species in Germany has obviously been happening for a long time."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652486?af=R">Global Change Biology</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plant diversity is declining at a steady rate across Germany

Researchers at the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research have...

Researchers at <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">UC Santa Barbara</a> have investigated the dynamics of ecosystems in parts of the ocean that have no dissolved oxygen to sustain animals or plants, which are known as ocean anoxic zones. In these areas, only microbes that are adapted to the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/the-local-environment-plays-a-role-in-how-species-acclimate/">environment</a> can survive. 

"You don't get big fish," said study co-author Morgan Raven. "You don't even get charismatic zooplankton." Even though anoxic oceans may seem alien to organisms like ourselves that breathe oxygen, they are full of life, she added.

As a result of climate change, ocean anoxic zones are now expanding. Raven is interested in learning how this will affect the ocean as a carbon sink. "What happens to our carbon cycle as we get these large areas of the ocean that are oxygen-free?" 

In seawater that is rich in oxygen, carbon is moved around through the food web after being captured by phytoplankton that photosynthesize at the water's surface.

"Most of the time they just get eaten by zooplankton," said Raven. But if they are not eaten, the phytoplankton respire carbon dioxide and excrete organic carbon in the depths of the water. "It's like a spinning wheel - CO2 goes to plankton, goes to CO2."

In the absence of zooplankton and fish, more of the sinking organic carbon can survive and be deposited at depth, explained Raven. Sediments underneath anoxic zones generally have more organic carbon deposits, but experts do not know why this is the case.

To investigate, the team turned to a theory formed about a decade ago by geologist Don Canfield and colleagues at the University of Southern Denmark.

"They put out this idea that maybe inside of these zones, microbes are still eating organic carbon, but respiring sulfate." This process is referred to as cryptic sulfur cycling.

The researchers tested large, fast-sinking organic particles collected from the Eastern Tropical North Pacific oxygen-deficient zone located off the northwestern coast of Mexico.

Raven said the aggregations of mostly dead phytoplankton, fecal matter, other small organisms, and bits of sand and clay get glued together in a sticky matrix. These particles were sent to the Stanford Synchotron Radiation Lightsource for analysis.

The results of the analysis, including evidence of the production of organic sulfur within the samples, demonstrate what Raven called "pickling" of the dead phytoplankton as they sink through the anoxic area.

"Phytoplankton grow in the surface ocean, but due to gravity, they sink." As they fall through the anoxic region and undergo sulfurization, they create a shield that protects the carbon at their core. 

"Even when it gets to the sediment, bacteria there can't eat these organic particles." Raven explained that, just like the pickles we know and love, the preservation process makes the particles resistant to bacteria, which could explain why more organic carbon is found in the sediments below anoxic ocean zones.

According to the researchers, the sulfurization of organic carbon particles in anoxic ocean zones is actually an ancient process, despite the fact that it has just been confirmed in modern oceans. "It's the same process that can also make petroleum," said Raven. 

It is not yet clear how anoxic zones will interact with climate change. "Potentially as these zones expand, there could be a negative feedback - more CO2 in the atmosphere makes higher temperatures, which makes these zones bigger. These bigger zones then trap more CO2 and put it in the sediment and rocks." 

Raven said that this feedback could help the Earth balance its carbon cycle over time, "but we need to know how this connects to everything else."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

---

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How will ocean anoxic zones interact with climate change?

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have investigated the dynamics of...

Many <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-and-animals-evolve-faster-in-coldspots-than-in-biodiversity-hotspots/">animals</a> could successfully adapt to changing environmental conditions, especially those that are flexible in their behavior. Other species, however, will not be as fortunate. 

In a new study from the <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a>, researchers describe how some animals fall into an "ecological trap" in the ways they respond to climate change. In particular, the experts found that chestnut-crowned babbler birds react to rising temperatures by changing their behavior in ways that could actually reduce successful breeding.

"We hope that animals that are more responsive to changes in their environment can cope better with climate change, but unfortunately they can make mistakes that make their situation even worse," said study co-author Alex Cones.

The babblers reacted to unusually warm temperatures in early spring by breeding sooner. However, the average temperatures at this time are still colder than later in spring, which can interfere with egg incubation.

In the cold weather, the females spent less time incubating. While this may improve their own chances of survival, exposure to low temperatures is harmful to their developing eggs.

"Many animals breed as early as they can in spring, and climate change is causing this to happen earlier and earlier," explained study co-author Professor Andy Russell.

"Paradoxically, our study shows that earlier breeding in response to warming means babbler eggs and offspring are more exposed to the cold. Babblers should respond by incubating their eggs more, but they don't."

Professor Russell notes that incubating eggs is more costly for the mother in terms of energy in low temperatures, so they focus on their own survival and reduce incubation.

"Parental care is adaptable, not fixed, but in this case the birds adapt in the wrong direction for their chicks' survival - falling into an ecological 'trap'."

Chestnut-crowned babblers live in desert habitats across southeast Australia. Their eggs must be kept at more than 77 degrees Fahrenheit to survive, and the optimal temperature for development is about 100°F.

According to the researchers, more studies are needed to investigate whether species can successfully adapt to environmental change. However, they concluded that their findings on babbler birds are "not encouraging."

The study is published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/loi/14209101">Journal of Evolutionary Biology</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

Babbler birds are shifting their behavior in the wrong direction

Many animals could successfully adapt to changing environmental conditions, especially...

People value nature more during COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/the-covid-19-pandemic-has-caused-severe-sleep-disruptions/">pandemic</a> has changed the relationship that many Americans have with nature, according to a new study from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/">University of Vermont</a>. The researchers found that more than 25 percent of people who visited parks during the early months of the pandemic had rarely, and in some cases had never, gotten out and explored nature in the previous year.

"Like many people, we noticed a large increase in the number of visitors to urban forests and parks in the early days of the pandemic," said study senior author Brendan Fisher. "We wanted to understand how people are using local nature to cope with the physical and mental challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic." People value nature more during COVID-19 pandemic

For the investigation, the researchers surveyed visitors to 25 parks and natural areas around Burlington, Vermont. This region is home to 214,000 residents, which is about one third of the state's population. The UVM team surveyed over 400 people around the time that businesses and schools closed and travel restrictions were issued.  

More than 81 percent of the survey respondents reported that having access to parks and nature areas had become more important to them after COVID-19 health protocols were introduced. Many people said that these natural areas provided them with safe spaces to socialize during COVID-19.

The most common reasons for visiting parks were getting outside, exercising, connecting with nature, finding peace and quiet, birding, dog walking, and spending time with children. The survey revealed that 66 percent of park visitors used natural areas to find peace and quiet, while 32 percent reported using outdoor areas as spaces for contemplation.

"Access to urban natural areas may be delivering mental health benefits during a time when they are most needed," said Fisher. "People need more space for peace and contemplation and safe spaces to be social when so many other outlets are closed to them."

The researchers noted that demand for green space is increasing at a time when many urban communities are losing natural areas.

"Infectious disease experts predict that viruses, like those causing COVID-19, will increase in frequency in the future," said study lead author Nelson Grima. "Natural areas and their budgets should be safeguarded and, if possible, enhanced to maintain and improve human wellbeing especially in times of crises, even during a declining economy."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://plos.org/">PLOS ONE</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

People value nature more during COVID-19 pandemic

People value nature more during COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic...

The environmental benefits of renewable energy vary significantly from place to place, according to researchers at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_State_University">North Carolina State University</a>. The gains associated with renewable energy depend on the types of conventional <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/powerhouse-plants-support-insects-and-the-entire-food-chain/">power</a> generation that are being offset, and the benefits are not always confined to one particular region.

The experts hope their research will help to pinpoint the areas where investment in renewable energy will be the most beneficial.

"For years, researchers have taken different approaches to try to assess the environmental benefits of renewable energy," said study co-author Professor Harrison Fell. "The Energy Information Administration started releasing detailed data on renewable power generation in 2018, and we realized that we finally had an opportunity to address this issue using real-world data.

"Our study is the first to quantify emissions reductions from solar and wind generation relying on renewable generation data across a broad array of regions, while also accounting for electricity trade between regions."

For the investigation, the researchers analyzed data from regions across the contiguous 48 states that was collected between July 2018 and March 2020.

The most important finding is that the environmental value of renewable energy is significantly different across the country. More specifically, one megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable power varies depending on where that power was generated.

"For example, one MWh of solar power produced in Florida reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about twice as much as one MWh of solar power produced in California," said study co-author Professor Jeremiah Johnson. 

"That's because California already has a cleaner grid when compared to other regions. So offsetting an hour of conventional power generation in California reduces CO2 emissions less than offsetting an hour of conventional power generation in Florida."

Professor Johnson said that in the near term, the findings provide insight into where we should target investments in renewable power in order to maximize the environmental benefits.

The study also revealed that the environmental benefits of renewable energy often crossed regional lines. For example, renewable power generated in one state might be used to offset power generation in a neighboring state.

"Right now, renewable energy is largely driven by policies that vary from state to state," said Professor Fell. "Our work here highlights one reason that this is not a very efficient approach to energy policy. A federal approach to renewable energy policy would be better able to account for the interstate nature of energy production, energy consumption and environmental benefits."

"It will be interesting to see how the distribution of benefits changes as regions expand their sustainable energy infrastructure."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/natsustain">Nature Sustainability</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

The value of renewable energy depends on the location

The environmental benefits of renewable energy vary significantly from place...

Forests were expanding and thriving during the disappearance of dinosaurs about 66 million years ago, according to a new study from <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/">McGill University</a>. The researchers believe that an increase in terrestrial plants coincided with the loss of large plant-eating dinosaurs.

"We hypothesize the extinction of all large herbivores at the boundary may have facilitated this transition to a terrestrial angiosperm dominated flora immediately after the boundary," explained the researchers.

While it is widely accepted that a catastrophic asteroid impact was the initial cause of the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous Period, the cascading effects of the impact that may have killed the dinosaurs are not entirely clear. 

Drastic climate changes are expected to have played a major role, yet the new study suggests that the climate may not have actually shifted too dramatically. For example, the experts found evidence that changes in precipitation were very short-lived.

"Changes in terrestrial environments across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, including plant ecology and carbon and water-cycling, remain poorly defined," said the study authors. 

To investigate how specific ecosystems were affected, the team analyzed the microscopic remains of plants from this time period. The samples were collected from Canadian river sediments.

"Fluvial sediments spanning the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary of southern Saskatchewan, Canada contain well preserved plant wax n-alkanes that provide a means of reconstructing changes to plant ecology and carbon and water cycling during this mass extinction event," wrote the researchers.

"We measured n-alkane carbon and hydrogen isotope ratios in two sedimentary sections and applied established fractionation factors to estimate the isotopic compositions of precipitation and bulk sedimentary organic matter sources. We also analyzed the distribution of n-alkanes as an indicator of the relative abundance of aquatic and terrestrial plants." 

The analysis revealed that in this particular region, local plant communities and ecosystems experienced a long-term shift toward fewer aquatic plants and more terrestrial plants, including a notable increase in birch and elm trees. 

The researchers were surprised to find that changes in rainfall patterns during the extinction event were relatively minor and short-lived.

"This could be important as we look to the future of global warming, where many scientists have predicted that changes in precipitation could have big impacts on humans and ecosystems," said study senior author Peter Douglas. 

"At other times of major climate change in Earth's history we typically do see evidence for such changes. The absence of such a signal during the most recent mass extinction event is intriguing."

"Surprisingly, scientists know more about what happened in the oceans at the end-Cretaceous extinction than on land. By clarifying the environmental changes occurring during this period, we narrowed down the factors that are likely to have caused the disappearance of dinosaurs."

"The research also provides an important analogue for environmental changes humans are causing to the planet, and the potential for future mass extinction."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/palaeogeography-palaeoclimatology-palaeoecology">Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology</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

When the dinosaurs vanished, forests expanded and thrived

Forests were expanding and thriving during the disappearance of dinosaurs...

A new study from <a href="https://uit.no/startsida">UIT</a> suggests that the moon controls the release of large amounts of methane from the Arctic Ocean. Scientists are working to understand the mysterious process that influences these methane emissions, which may be accelerated by warmer temperatures. 

Over the past few decades, atmospheric concentrations of methane have increased tremendously. While some of the methane is tied to human activities, other sources of emissions are not yet clear.

"Although ocean methane emissions are considered to be widespread, their dynamics and the physical processes behind their evolution are little understood," wrote the study authors. "Given the impact of methane as a greenhouse gas, the dynamic of oceanic methane emissions, which could potentially reach the atmosphere, introduces a non-negligible doubt on the global budget of atmospheric methane."

The researchers explained that natural gas emissions are usually caused by active geological processes including the expression of seabed features, such as faults, fractures, mud volcanoes, and hydrothermal vents. 

"In this study, we analyze an element of this phenomenon by hypothesizing that even small changes in sea-level may have a global impact on the intensity of deep-sea gas emissions. We suggest that tides can be used as a proxy to predict and quantify variability in the amount of gas released on a daily basis."

The experts found evidence that tides, which are controlled by the moon, significantly affect the intensity of methane emissions from the Arctic Ocean seafloor.

"We noticed that gas accumulations, which are in the sediments within a meter from the seafloor, are vulnerable to even slight pressure changes in the water column. Low tide means less of such hydrostatic pressure and higher intensity of methane release. High tide equals high pressure and lower intensity of the release," said study co-author Andreia Plaza Faverola.

"It is the first time that this observation has been made in the Arctic Ocean," noted study co-author Jochen Knies. "It means that slight pressure changes can release significant amounts of methane. This is a game-changer and the highest impact of the study."

For the investigation, a tool called a piezometer was placed in sediments for four days. The piezometer measured the pressure and temperature of the water inside the pores of the sediment. 

Hourly changes in the pressure and temperature revealed that the presence of gas close to the seafloor rises and falls as the tides change. The measurements were captured in a part of the Arctic Ocean where no methane release has been previously documented, but where massive gas hydrate concentrations have been sampled.

"This tells us that gas release from the seafloor is more widespread than we can see using traditional sonar surveys," said Plaza Faverola. "We saw no bubbles or columns of gas in the water. Gas burps that have a periodicity of several hours won't be identified unless there is a permanent monitoring tool in place, such as the piezometer."

The findings indicate that current estimates of gas emissions in the Arctic are underestimated. On the other hand, high tides seem to reduce the height and volume of gas emissions.

"What we found was unexpected and the implications are big. This is a deep-water site. Small changes in pressure can increase the gas emissions but the methane will still stay in the ocean due to the water depth. But what happens in shallower sites? This approach needs to be done in shallow Arctic waters as well, over a longer period. In shallow water, the possibility that methane will reach the atmosphere is greater," explained Knies.

Since higher sea levels seem to reduce gas emissions from the ocean floor, it is possible that sea-level rise could partially mitigate the effect of temperature on submarine methane emissions.

"Earth systems are interconnected in ways that we are still deciphering, and our study reveals one of such interconnections in the Arctic," said Plaza Faverola. "The moon causes tidal forces, the tides generate pressure changes, and bottom currents that in turn shape the seafloor and impact submarine methane emissions. Fascinating!"

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">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

The moon controls methane emissions from the Arctic Ocean

A new study from UIT suggests that the moon controls...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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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



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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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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" 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.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes how Earth is unique in our solar system for its ability to sustain liquid water on its surface. But now, the water cycle is shifting as the climate warms, and scientists must find ways to predict how these changes will affect water availability.



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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