Coral,Ocean,Conservation,-,Growing,Corals,On,Shallow,Reef,Nursery

The ocean is in trouble. Two-thirds of our coastal regions have already been altered or damaged. Fishing methods that drag gear across the ocean floor, known as bottom-contact fisheries, disturb nearly 5 million square kilometers of marine habitat every year requiring eventual restoration. 



And that's just one piece of the puzzle. Marine litter and chemical pollutants are adding more pressure. These intrusions interfere with natural processes that sustain life in the ocean, and biodiversity is paying the price.



Oil and gas drilling is typically limited in space, but when something goes wrong - like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ghosts-of-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-still-haunt-the-ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deepwater Horizon spill</a> in 2010 - the consequences ripple across the deep sea for years. Now, seabed mining is poised to enter the scene. The Pacific’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone is one of many deep-sea regions that could be affected as this industry grows.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-protection-isn-t-enough">Ocean protection isn’t enough</h2>



The UN Agenda 2030 sets a bold goal: protect 30% of the ocean by the end of the decade. Scientists from the University of Naples and the <a href="https://www.univpm.it/Entra/Universita_Politecnica_delle_Marche_Home/L/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Polytechnic University of Marche</a>, working through EU-funded projects like CLIMAREST and REDRESS, are developing strategies to support this goal. 



However, the researchers noted that protection alone won’t be enough. “This target may be insufficient to reverse current declines in specific habitats and overall ecosystem functionality,” said Roberto Danovaro, project coordinator of REDRESS.



To truly help <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/overfishing-and-habitat-degradation-have-devastated-marine-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marine ecosystems</a> recover, we need more than just protected zones. Restoration must be part of the solution. That means actively reintroducing the very organisms that build marine habitats - such as seagrasses, mangroves, kelp, corals, and cold-water animal forests.



“Several coastal habitats need to be restored for their crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and sustaining ecosystem processes in the ocean,” said Professor Simonetta Fraschetti. Letting nature recover on its own - called passive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/restoration-of-underwater-seaweed-forests-offers-hope-for-the-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">restoration</a> - can work, but it’s a slow road. In some cases, full recovery could take up to 200 years.



That’s especially true for habitats where the key species take decades to establish themselves. “Active restoration measures, such as stabilizing the seafloor and planting organisms, can significantly accelerate recovery,” said Cristina Gambi, project manager for REDRESS.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-restoration-works">Ocean restoration works </h2>



The idea of marine restoration might seem new, but it’s already been tested many times. In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers reviewed 764 marine restoration projects around the world.



The results? A 64% average success rate. Restoration efforts have succeeded across many environments, from shallow coastal areas to the deep sea, with especially strong results for coral reefs and habitats built by foundation species like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salt-marshes-are-enormously-valuable-for-coastal-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saltmarshes</a>.



“In this work, we show that the development of new approaches to marine ecosystem restoration enables expansion of efforts over larger spatial scales and even within impacted areas, as demonstrated by an increasing number of success stories showing the effective recovery of diverse habitat types,” said Fraschetti.



These stories matter. They prove that ocean floor restoration isn’t just possible - ecosystems and the vast marine life can thrive again. 



“Success stories from marine ecosystem restoration are crucial to motivate society and private enterprises to invest. We need to show that these efforts can meet the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration targets,” noted Danovaro.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-ocean-restoration">Rethinking ocean restoration </h2>



Another major takeaway from the research: you don’t have to wait for perfect conditions to begin restoration. In fact, restoring even the most degraded sites can still produce meaningful results.



According to Danovaro, this changes how we should think about restoration. Rather than postponing action until threats are reduced, we should begin work immediately. Early ocean floor restoration can give us faster returns and buy time for long-term solutions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-a-project-succeed">What makes a project succeed?</h2>



To figure out what drives restoration success, the researchers studied 618 case studies. They identified four main factors that made the biggest difference.



First, the specific methods used for restoration had the strongest impact on whether a project succeeded. How the restoration was carried out mattered more than any other single factor.



Second, ongoing maintenance after the restoration began played a crucial role. Continued care and support for the restored <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/top-marine-predators-may-suffer-massive-habitat-loss-by-2100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">habitat</a> - often in partnership with local fishers and dive centers - significantly improved outcomes.



Third, careful selection of the restoration site was essential. Projects fared better when located in areas with strong ecological connectivity, natural protection from physical disturbances like storms and wave action, and environments that offered refuge to species sensitive to climate change.



Finally, the creation of buffer zones around the restored area helped reduce human pressure. Establishing marine protected areas or fishery-restricted zones near the project sites often contributed to higher success rates.



But restoration doesn’t always go to plan. When conditions were unsuitable, extreme weather struck, or the wrong methods or species were used, some projects failed entirely.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-restoration-three-types-of-support">Ocean restoration: Three types of support </h2>



Success in the water depends on strong support on land. According to the team, every restoration project relies on three essential types of support.



First, policy support is critical. This includes the creation and enforcement of laws and regulations that prioritize the restoration of damaged habitats. International efforts like the UN's ecosystem restoration targets and regional initiatives such as the EU’s Nature Restoration Law play a central role in setting the direction.



Second, economic support is necessary to fund restoration efforts. While governments currently provide the bulk of this funding, private companies are beginning to recognize the value of investing in ecosystem repair. These investments not only benefit the environment but also create new job opportunities and encourage eco-friendly innovation.



Third, technology support is vital. Advances in tools and scalable restoration methods are making it more practical to restore a wider range of marine habitats across different regions of the world.



“All these types of support are crucial for successful marine ecosystem restoration and really needed considering present degradation state of our marine ecosystems,” concluded Fraschetti.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57254-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Ocean floor restoration could make or break 2030 goals

The ocean is in trouble. Two-thirds of our coastal regions have already been altered or damaged. Fishing methods that drag gear across the ocean floor, known as bottom-contact fisheries, disturb nearly 5 million square kilometers of marine habitat every year requiring eventual restoration. And that's just one piece of the puzzle. Marine litter and chemical pollutants are adding more pressure. These intrusions interfere with natural processes that sustain life in the ocean, and biodiversity is paying the price. Oil and gas drilling is typically limited in space,...

A team of biologists at the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/">University of Utah</a> has found that during prolonged periods of heat with low rainfall, some plants and trees waste valuable soil moisture in an effort to cool themselves off. According to the researchers, this behavior can actually intensify <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/drought-ozone-pollution-levels/">drought</a> conditions. 

"We show that the actual physiology of the plant matters," said study co-author Professor William Anderegg. "How trees take up, transport and evaporate water can influence societally important extreme events, like severe droughts, that can affect people and cities."

Through his research, Professor Anderegg previously discovered that some plants are built to slow down the movement of water to help minimize water loss when it is hot and dry. Other plants, however, have a system that is much more conducive to the movement of water, including large openings on their leaves. 

In past studies, Professor Anderegg examined how these traits may impact the ability of trees and forests to endure drought conditions. For the current study, the researchers set out to investigate how these traits may affect the drought itself.

"We've known for a long time that plants can affect the atmosphere and can affect weather," said Professor Anderegg. The water that is drawn out of the soil by plants and trees is released into the atmosphere as water vapor. In the Amazon rainforest, for example, an excess of water vapor can jumpstart precipitation. 

At 40 sites around the world, the team used instruments to collect data on the flow of heat, water, and carbon in and out of the air. The researchers also noted which tree species were most prevalent around the instruments. By comparing this information with a database of tree traits, the experts were able to determine which traits corresponded with droughts becoming more intense.

The first trait that was identified was the maximum leaf gas exchange rate, or the rate at which leaves can pump water vapor into the air. The second trait that most often correlated with more intense droughts was water transport, or how much water the tree can move to the leaves. 

The study revealed that in cooler regions, trees slowed down their water usage in response to declining soil moisture. In hotter climates, however, some plants and trees with high water transport and leaf gas exchange rates worked harder to keep cool when the soil got dry. As a result, they lost more and more water while depleting the remaining soil moisture.

"You end up getting to these conditions that are hotter and drier much faster with those plants than with other plants," said Professor Anderegg. 

Although hotter climates have more plants with these water-intensive traits, some plant species can intensify drought conditions regardless of the climate. "Failing to account for this key physiology of plants would give us less accurate predictions for what climate change is going to mean for drought in a lot of regions."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plants and trees can intensify droughts by drawing up large amounts of water

A team of biologists at the University of Utah has...

Sometimes we can make certain numbers appear either more or less significant than they actually are — often in an effort to make ourselves feel better or impress the outside world (40 is the new 30!). A good example of this is the fact that 160 companies around the world have committed to using “100 percent renewable energy.” The key disclaimer here is that 100 percent <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/renewable-energy-carbon-capture/">renewable energy</a> does not mean 100 percent carbon-free energy — not to mention the fact that 160 companies worldwide is a drop in the bucket.

A new study from <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a> has found that the difference between renewable energy and carbon-free energy will only grow as power grids become less reliant on fossil power. Published in <a href="https://www.cell.com/joule/home">Joule</a>, the paper details how current methods of estimating greenhouse gas emissions use yearly averages, even though the carbon content of electricity on the grid can vary drastically over the course of a day in numerous locations.

“To guarantee 100 percent emissions reductions from renewable energy, power consumption needs to be matched with renewable generation on an hourly basis,” explains Sally Benson, co-director of the Precourt Institute for Energy and a co-author on the paper. “Just purchasing more solar energy in a grid that already has lots of solar generation will not result in zero emissions.”

Many companies that claim to be 100 percent renewable actually do not use only renewable power. Instead, corporations often purchase or generate enough renewable energy to match 100 percent or more of their electricity use over the year. For solar power, an entity may generate more electricity than it uses during an afternoon and sell the excess. But at night, it purchases power from the grid, which is certainly not carbon-free if it is generated through the burning of fossil fuels.

The study finds that using annual averages of the carbon content of grid power is only valid when the fluctuations in renewable generation are small, or when all excess renewable energy can be stored. Places like California have large fluctuations in carbon content due to existing renewables, and do not have the storage capacity to capture all excess electricity. The researchers found that by 2025, using yearly averages in California could overstate carbon reductions associated with solar power by over 50 percent when compared to hourly averages.

“Both the carbon footprint of a large consumer and the environmental value of renewable energy assets depend on the grid they interact with,” says <a href="https://profiles.stanford.edu/jacques-de-chalendar">Jacques de Chalendar</a>, an energy resources engineering PhD student and lead author of the study. “Using hourly data is the best way to measure the environmental benefit of renewables, and this will become increasingly true wherever renewable generation is growing.”

Using hourly carbon accounting methods may convince large consumers to increase their use of low-carbon power from the grid. Additionally, by having more accurate information, consumers could move flexible consumption to times of the day when grid power is cleanest. Energy storage allows for electricity to be drawn from the grid during low-carbon periods and then stored for later use.

“Transparent, precise and meaningful carbon accounting is necessary,” says Benson. “And if it’s done properly, we can make the right investments in renewable power and create a more sustainable grid.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

‘Renewable’ does not mean ‘carbon-free’ despite what companies may imply

Sometimes we can make certain numbers appear either more or...

Your efforts to keep your home clean and put a meal on the table is adding to indoor pollution, according to a new study.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/">University of Colorado, Boulder</a> discovered that daily chores can leave indoor pollution levels on par with a major city – and not a nice, clean one. One a large collection of <a href="https://www.earth.com/gallery/10-best-plants-for-indoor-air-quality/">clean-air houseplants</a> can’t put much of a dent in.

"We wanted to know: How do basic activities like cooking and cleaning change the chemistry of a house?" Dr. Marina Vance said in a press release. 

Even more disturbing, that pollution doesn’t stay indoors. Chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, found in products like shampoo, perfume and cleaning chemicals, escape into the outdoors where they contribute more to atmospheric air pollution than cars and trucks, the researchers said.

"Homes have never been considered an important source of outdoor air pollution and the moment is right to start exploring that," Vance said.

Vance and her colleagues used sensors and monitors to track the amounts of indoor pollution in a home on the <a href="https://www.utexas.edu/">University of Texas, Austin</a> campus. There, the team spent a month participating in basic household chores such as cooking and cleaning – including cooking a full <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thanksgiving-dinners-carbon-footprint/">Thanksgiving dinner</a>. 

"Even the simple act of making toast raised particle levels far higher than expected," Vance said. "We had to go adjust many of the instruments."

The study shows that homes need to be well-ventilated when cooking and cleaning to prevent harmful levels of indoor pollution, she said. 

The study shows that experts have been operating with an incomplete picture of the causes of air pollution. 

"Many traditional sources like fossil fuel-burning vehicles have become much cleaner than they used to be," said Dr. Joost de Gouw, who has previously studied indoor pollution caused by household activities. "Ozone and fine particulates are monitored by the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">EPA</a>, but data for airborne toxins like formaldehyde and benzene and compounds like alcohols and ketones that originate from the home are very sparse."

The research was presented during a panel discussion at the <a href="https://meetings.aaas.org/">2019 American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting</a> in Washington, D.C. Funding was provided by the <a href="https://sloan.org/">Alfred P. Sloan Foundation</a>.

—

By Kyla Cathey, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Cooking, cleaning are sources of indoor pollution

Your efforts to keep your home clean and put a...

Changes in meltwater lakes can cause ice shelves to bend. An international research team led by the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> has analyzed the response of the McMurdo ice shelf in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-increase-ice-mass-loss/">Antarctica</a> to the filing and draining of meltwater lakes on its surface. The team found that this activity causes the floating ice shelf to flex, which threatens its stability.

While scientists have speculated about this type of flexing and have even simulated it using computer models, this is the first time the phenomenon has been directly measured in the field.

The findings demonstrate a link between surface melting and the weakening of Antarctic ice shelves. The research also supports the theory that recent ice shelf breakup around the Antarctic Peninsula may have been at least partially triggered by large amounts of surface meltwater.

Study co-author Dr. Ian Willis explained, “Surface water on ice shelves has been known about for a long time. Over 100 years ago, members of both Shackleton's Nimrod team and the Northern Party team of Scott's British Antarctic Expedition mapped and recorded water on the Nansen Ice Shelf, around 300 kilometers from where we did our study on the McMurdo Ice Shelf.”

“For the last few decades, it has also been possible to see widespread surface meltwater forming on many ice shelves each summer from satellite imagery.”

The extent to which surface water might destabilize an ice shelf, especially when warmer temperatures result in larger amounts of meltwater, is not yet fully understood. The danger comes when water pools up in surface depressions on the ice shelf and forms large lakes. The extra weight will cause the floating ice to sink a bit further into the sea. Meanwhile, the ice around the edge of the lake will flex upwards to compensate. 

“If the lake then drains, the ice shelf will now flex back, rising up where the lake used to be, sinking down around the edge,” said study lead author Dr. Alison Banwell. “It is this filling and draining of lakes that causes the ice shelf to flex, and if the stresses are large enough, fractures might also develop.”

The team hope that their work will inspire further research to explore whether flex and fracture is taking place on other ice shelves in Antarctica. The work will also help to inform ice sheet scale models that could be used to predict the stability of ice shelves in the future.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Alison Banwell

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Changes in meltwater lakes can cause ice shelves to bend

Changes in meltwater lakes can cause ice shelves to bend....

Air pollution can increase the risk of early death due to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, according to one of the largest international studies on air pollution and mortality to date. 

The study, led by Dr. Haidong Kan from <a href="http://www.fudan.edu.cn/en/">Fudan University</a> in China, is not the first to link air pollution to early death, but this research focused on short-term health impacts. 

According to the <a href="https://www.who.int/airpollution/ambient/health-impacts/en/">World Health Organization</a>, around 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide are due to air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable, and 93 percent of the world’s children are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/children-breathe-toxic-air/">breathing in toxic air</a>. 

Air pollution is a wide-reaching problem with devastating health impacts, and researchers are finding links between air pollution and a range of health problems beyond respiratory and cardiovascular disease. 

For this research, Dr. Kan, along with an international team, analyzed air pollution and mortality data from 652 cities across 24 countries and regions over a 30-year period. 

In all areas studied, the researchers were able to link exposure to particulate matter, both PM10, and PM2.5, to increases in premature deaths. 

Even low levels of exposure were found to increase the risk of death. 

“The adverse health effects of short-term exposure to air pollution have been well documented, and known to raise public health concerns of its toxicity and widespread exposure,” said Yuming Guo, an Associate Professor at <a href="https://www.monash.edu.my/">Monash University</a> who was part of the research team. “The smaller the airborne particles, the more easily they can penetrate deep into the lungs and absorb more toxic components causing death.”

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that there may be no such thing as a safe level of air pollution and that even air quality that meets the recommended standards could pose a threat to public health. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a> <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Blackday

Even low levels of air pollution can increase the risk of early death

Air pollution can increase the risk of early death due...

Research shows link between antimicrobial resistance and climate change. A collaborative study from the Institute of <a href="https://www.idsociety.org/policy--advocacy/infection-prevention-and-control/">Infection Control and Infectious Diseases</a>, <a href="https://www.umg.eu/">University Medical Center Göttingen</a> (UMG), and the <a href="https://www.mh-hannover.de/">Hannover Medical School</a> (MHH), has shown an association between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change. 

AMR was first linked to <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-allergy-season-longer/">climate change</a> when researchers noticed that resistance increased as temperatures warmed in the U.S. The study set out to determine if explanatory strength of climate factors can predict an increase of AMR, even in regions with diverse healthcare systems and communities. The researchers used Europe as a case region.

The team studied 30 countries across Europe and found via data published by the <a href="https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/home">European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control</a> (ECDC) a widespread, six-year-long presence of carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), multiresistant Escherichia coli (MREC), and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The then looked at the correlation between AMR and seasonal temperatures in each region, paying close attention to potential healthcare and socioeconomic factors that could be at play. Researchers were able to link CRKP, MREC and MRSA to warm-season mean temperature. CRPA was linked to warm-season change in temperature.

"Our study identified a novel association between AMR and climatic factors in Europe,” Professor Simone Scheithauer of UMG and her colleagues explain. “These results reveal two aspects: climatic factors significantly contribute to the prediction of AMR in different types of healthcare systems and societies, while climate change might increase AMR transmission, in particular carbapenem resistance."

The authors continue, "While these results remain hypothetical as it is unknown if any causal association exists, future analysis of AMR and climatic developments is necessary to determine whether potential climate change effects on AMR become stronger."

The findings will be presented at the April 13th <a href="https://www.escmid.org/">European Congress of Clinical Microbiology &amp; Infectious Diseases</a> (ECCMID).

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Research shows link between antimicrobial resistance and climate change

Research shows link between antimicrobial resistance and climate change. A...

Why lightning really can strike twice. While experts have noted that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/most-lightning-strikes-2018/">lightning</a> really can strike twice in the same place, the reason that a lightning channel is “reused” has remained unclear. But now, an international research team led by the <a href="https://www.rug.nl/?lang=e">University of Groningen</a> may have finally solved this mystery. 

By using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), a Dutch radio telescope consisting of thousands of antennas spread out over Northern Europe, the researchers were able to view the development of lightning flashes in unprecedented detail. 

The study revealed that the negative charges inside of a thundercloud are not all discharged in a single flash. Instead, some are stored inside structures that the experts refer to as needles. The researchers determined that a negative charge through these needles may cause a repeated discharge to the ground.

“This finding is in sharp contrast to the present picture, in which the charge flows along plasma channels directly from one part of the cloud to another, or to the ground,” said Professor Olaf Scholten.

Study first author Dr. Brian Hare explained that the reason why the needles have never been seen before lies in the “supreme capabilities” of LOFAR.

“These needles can have a length of 100 meters and a diameter of less than five meters, and are too small and too short-lived for other lightning detections systems.”

For their observations, the scientists used only the Dutch LOFAR stations, which cover an area of 3,200 square kilometers. They analyzed the raw time-traces as measured in the 30-80 MHz band. 

“These data allow us to detect lightning propagation at a scale where, for the first time, we can distinguish the primary processes. Furthermore, the use of radio waves allows us to look inside the thundercloud, where most of the lightning resides,” said Dr. Hare.

High-resolution 3D images of the lightning clearly showed a break in the discharge channel at a location where needles are formed. These appear to discharge negative charges from the main channel, which then re-enter the cloud. As a result, the reduction of charges in the channel causes the break. 

But then, once the charge in the cloud is built up again, the flow through the channel is restored and there is a second discharge of lightning. Based on this finding, lightning can strike in the same area repeatedly.

“The VHF emissions along the positive channel are due to rather regularly repeated discharges along previously formed side channels, the needles,” explained Professor Scholten. “These needles appear to drain the charges in a pulsed manner.”

“From these observations, we see that a part of the cloud is re-charged, and we can understand why a lightning discharge to the ground may repeat itself a few times,” said Dr. Hare.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Danielle Futselaar, Artsource.nl

Why lightning really can strike twice

Why lightning really can strike twice. While experts have noted...

New research from <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a> (UCL) has revealed that abrupt <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-climate-change-road-outages/">climate change</a> drastically reduced early South American populations. The study is the first to demonstrate the magnitude of these population declines, which took place between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago. 

“Archaeologists working in South America have broadly known that some 8,200 years ago, inhabited sites in various places across the continent were suddenly abandoned. In our study we wanted to connect the dots between disparate records that span the Northern Andes, through the Amazon, to the southern tip of Patagonia and all areas in between,” said study lead author Dr. Philip Riris of the UCL Institute of Archaeology.

“Unpredictable levels of rainfall, particularly in the tropics, appear to have had a negative impact on pre-Columbian populations until 6,000 years ago, after which recovery is evident. This recovery appears to correlate with cultural practices surrounding tropical plant management and early crop cultivation, possibly acting as buffers when wild resources were less predictable.”

The researchers focused on the climate during the transition to the Middle Holocene, which began 8,200 ago. The Middle Holocene was characterized by major cultural changes. For example, hunter-gatherers started experimenting with different domestic plants at this time.

Despite the widespread population declines that were identified in the study, the researchers found that indigenous people of South America were thriving before and after the middle Holocene.

“In the years leading up to population decline, we can see that population sizes were unharmed. This would suggest that early Holocene populations, probably with a social memory of abrupt climate change during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, developed successful strategies to deal with climate change,” said study co-author Dr. Manuel Arroyo-Kalin.

“Abandonment of certain regions and the need to adapt quickly to new circumstances may have promoted the exploration of alternative strategies and new forms of subsistence, including the early adoption of low scale cultivation of domestic plants. Viewed in the context of at least 14,000 years of human presence in South America, the events of the Middle Holocene are a key part of indigenous South Americans' cultural resilience to abrupt and unexpected change.”

The team compared thousands of radiocarbon dates from 1,400 sites to investigate how the populations changed over time, and then compared this information with climate data.

“We studied ancient records of rainfall such as marine sediments for evidence of exceptional climate events,” said Dr. Riris. “Within windows of 100 years, we compared the Middle Holocene to the prevalent patterns before and after 8,200 years ago. Normal patterns of rainfall suggest on average an unusually dry or wet year every 16-20 years, while under highly variable conditions this increases to every 5 years or so. This puts in perspective the challenge that indigenous communities would have faced.”

The researchers believe that the findings provide an important historical context for understanding how ancient indigenous South American populations handled climate change.

“Our study brings a demographic dimension to bear on understandings of the effects of past climate change, and the challenges that were faced by indigenous South Americans in different places,” said Dr. Arroyo-Kalin. “This understanding gauges the resilience of past small-scale productive systems and can potentially help shape future strategies for communities in the present.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/scientificreports">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

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Climate change caused major declines in early South American populations

New research from University College London (UCL) has revealed that...

As sea levels rise, the ocean water kills salt-sensitive trees in coastal forests, leaving behind “ghost forests” of bare snags. Researchers at <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/">North Carolina State University</a> have investigated how such changes in vegetation will affect various bird species.

When saltwater kills standing trees, <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/neotropical-cloud-forests-lose-clouds/">forests</a> are replaced by shrubs and grasses that are more tolerant of salt. This moves vegetation closer to the ground, creating an ideal habitat for birds that prefer the understory rather than the forest canopy.

The current study was focused on changes in coastal forests on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula and the potential consequences for 56 bird species. The peninsula is exceptionally sensitive to sea-level rise, with thousands of square miles below two meters in elevation.

To measure habitat gains and losses, the researchers compared two sets of data collected with sonar-like Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) in 2001 and 2014.

“We modeled the birds' relationships to the vegetation structure - forests, ghost forests and marshes - and then extrapolated to find out how much habitat was lost or gained for a given species,” said study lead author Paul Taillie. “Some birds responded positively to the formation of ghost forests, including some species of high conservation value.”

For example, the northern bobwhite quail, which has been doing poorly across most of its range, is well-suited for life in a ghost forest. Birds like woodpeckers that nest in tree cavities also responded positively to changes in vegetation.

Other species, such as the hooded warbler, lost habitat when ghost forests developed. Overall, ghost forests supported a different variety of bird species than the forests they replaced.

“The larger story of our recent research is that this transition from forest to marshes is a kind of artifact of climate change that could actually benefit some bird species of concern for conservation, including birds associated with marshes,” said Taillie. “Understanding this relationship between climate-change induced vegetation changes and birds is important because it allows us to make more informed decisions, given that these changes are going to happen within our lifetime.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/">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

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Paul Taillie

Sea level rise will transform coastal forests into ghost forests

As sea levels rise, the ocean water kills salt-sensitive trees...

Climate change will affect fertility differently in wealthy and poor countries. An international team of researchers has determined that the economic effects of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-cost-trillions/">climate change</a> will have a substantial impact on fertility. The experts predict that many people will re-evaluate how much time and money they should dedicate to raising children as resources become more limited. 

The study examined the economic channels through which climate change could affect fertility, including the gender wage gap, longevity, and mortality. 

The team used a quantitative model that combined standard economic-demographic theory with projections of how climate change will impact the economy. The model, which focused on Colombia and Switzerland, was designed to analyze how these impacts may vary between wealthy and poor countries.

In the model, parents must decide how to divide limited resources between supporting current family needs, having children, and paying for each child's education. 

“Increases in global temperature affect agricultural and non-agricultural sectors differently. Near the equator, where many poorer countries are, climate change has a larger negative effect on agriculture,” said study lead author Dr. Gregory Casey of <a href="https://www.williams.edu/">Williams College</a>.

“This leads to scarcity of agricultural goods, higher agricultural prices and wages and ultimately, a labour reallocation. Because agriculture makes less use of skilled labor, our model showed that climate change decreases the return on acquiring skills, leading parents to invest fewer resources in the education of each child, and to increase fertility.”

On the other hand, these patterns were found to be reversed at higher latitudes.

“Our model suggests climate change may worsen inequalities by reducing fertility and increasing education in richer northern countries, while increasing fertility and reducing education in tropical countries,” said study co-author Dr. Soheil Shayegh. “This is particularly poignant, because those richer countries have disproportionately benefited from the natural resource use that has driven climate change.”

“Our model only deals with a single economic channel, so it is not intended to give a complete quantitative account of the impact of climate change on demographic outcomes,” concluded Dr. Casey. “Further work is needed on other economic channels, especially those related to health.”

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</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

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Climate change will affect fertility differently in wealthy and poor countries

Climate change will affect fertility differently in wealthy and poor...

A new study has found that in response to sea-level rise, some coastal wetlands, like marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses, have begun to store more carbon in their soil. Therefore, these natural environments are rising to the challenge and protecting themselves, and perhaps other life forms, from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-shrunk-global-fisheries/">climate change</a>.

"Scientists know a fair amount about the carbon stored in our local tidal wetlands, but we didn't have enough data to see global patterns," said co-author Pat Megonigal, a soil scientist at the <a href="https://serc.si.edu/">Smithsonian Environmental Research Center</a>.

Researchers from China, Australia, South Africa, and the United States pooled together data from 345 wetland areas across the six continents. They looked specifically at how these wetlands reacted to sea-level change throughout a span of 6,000 years. 

The team found that wetlands up against rising sea levels stored double, and sometimes quadruple, their normal amount of carbon within the top 20 centimeters of soil. Deeper soil stored five to nine times more carbon than pre-sea-level-rise soil.

The rapid collection of carbon occurs when excess carbon is created during plant growth and then buried under sediment as wetlands become wetter over time. The higher the waters rise, the more space is created for carbon storage underwater.

If the wetlands in southern Africa, Australia, China, and South America respond to sea-level rise the same way those in Europe and North America, which have taken the brunt of sea-level rise over the past 6,000 years, then scientists predict about 5 million tons of atmospheric carbon could be stored underground. That’s equal to taking more than one million cars off the road.

"Preservation of coastal wetlands is critical if they are to play a role in sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change," said lead author Kerrylee Rogers of the <a href="https://www.uow.edu.au/index.html">University of Wollongong in Australia</a>. And that, as scientists have said, will rely on wetlands being able to migrate inland.

The research was published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/">Nature</a>.

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By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

As sea level rises, wetlands store more carbon within their soil

A new study has found that in response to sea-level rise,...

Greenland is <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-ice-loss-2003/">losing ice</a> at an alarming rate due to climate change, and it’s been estimated that the Greenland ice sheet is losing around 270 billion tons of ice each year.

Now, a new study has found that rain is behind much of the ice sheet’s meltwater runoff, which is responsible for further ice loss than calved icebergs. 

The study was conducted by researchers from the <a href="http://www.earth.columbia.edu/">Earth Institute at Columbia University</a>, the <a href="https://www.geomar.de/en/centre/">GEOMAR Centre for Ocean Research</a> in Germany, and the <a href="https://scripps.ucsd.edu/">Scripps Institution of Oceanography</a>.

The results show that rain is responsible for 70 percent of ice loss in Greenland, Rain in the winter, a rare occurrence that’s becoming less rare, only makes the ice sheet more vulnerable to melting during the warmer months. 

The study was published in the journal The Cryosphere. 

The researchers collected and analyzed data from 20 automated weather stations placed across the ice sheet and satellite imagery dating between 1979 and 2012 to target the cause of melting in specific areas. 

The researchers were able to identify 300 events where rain triggered melting.

Melting from rain doubled in the summer and tripled over the winter study period and the rain creates a dangerous feedback loop where rain soaks into the snow and releases more heat and energy.  

Some meltwater runs off into the ocean, but the researches also saw a pattern where meltwater would re-freeze and turn the surface into a dark, absorbent mass of ice that doesn’t reflect the sun’s heat as efficiently as snow. 

The constant re-freezing cycle makes the ice easier to melt again, and more water and melting is produced the second time around. 

“If it rains in the winter, that preconditions the ice to be more vulnerable in the summer,” said Marco Tedesco, a co-author of the study. “We are starting to realize, you have to look at all the seasons.”

As climate shifts and temperatures rise, the researchers say that winter rainfall will become more and more common and continue to degrade Greenland’s ice sheet. 

“The ice should be gaining mass in winter when it snows, but an increasing part of the mass gain from precipitation is lost by melt,” said Marilena Oltmanns, the lead author of the study. 

Having a clearer picture of the driving factors behind Greenland’s ice loss is crucial for accurately projecting future sea level rise, and this study could help aid future climate models and inform climate mitigation policies. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

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Image Credit: Kevin Krajick/Earth Institute

Winter rain in Greenland is driving rapid ice loss

Greenland is losing ice at an alarming rate due to...

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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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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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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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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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

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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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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