Forests have always been symbols of resilience and endurance. Towering trees stand tall for centuries, forming ecosystems that nurture countless species. They inspire awe, acting as natural archives of Earth’s long history. Yet, today’s rapidly shifting climate is testing this strength like never before.



Scientists now warn that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/traditional-forest-farming-is-an-overlooked-climate-solution/">forests</a> might struggle to keep pace with the speed of current climate change. This concern isn’t new, but recent research puts into perspective just how slow forest responses can be.



Long before industrial activities fueled modern warming, forests adapted gradually to changes. Over thousands of years, tree populations shifted according to cooling and warming periods. 



During glacial advances, they migrated southward, following milder climates. When the Earth warmed again, they moved north. This dance of migration was a slow process, unfolding over centuries.



But today, the world faces climate shifts at an alarming rate. Forests are locked in place, unable to shift swiftly enough.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-struggle-with-climate-change">Forests struggle with climate change</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/creating-forests-cant-realistically-cancel-out-fossil-fuel-emissions/">Trees</a> cannot migrate quickly. They grow slowly, and their seeds disperse over limited distances, despite help from wind and animals. Mature trees may live for hundreds of years, meaning populations shift at a glacial pace.



Current climate change, driven by human activities, is happening faster than many forests can adapt. This creates a worrying gap between the pace of warming and the ability of forests to respond.



A recent study published in the journal Science has brought this issue into sharper focus. Led by David Fastovich, a postdoctoral researcher at <a href="https://www.syracuse.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Syracuse University</a>, the study provides concrete evidence of how slowly forests react to climate changes.



Fastovich works in the Paleoclimate Dynamics Lab under Tripti Bhattacharya, the Thonis Family Professor of Paleoclimate Dynamics. Their team examined pollen records from lake sediments, revealing tree population shifts over hundreds of thousands of years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-adjusting-to-climate-shifts">Forests adjusting to climate shifts</h2>



The study focused on mapping the time required for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protecting-forests-helps-birds-and-humans-in-many-ways/">forests</a> to adjust to climate shifts. Some of the sediment cores analyzed date back up to 600,000 years, capturing long-term changes in forest composition.



“We’ve known these time lags have existed, but no one could put a firm number on them,” said Fastovich. 



“We can intuit how long a tree lives. We can count the rings on a tree and estimate from there. But now we know that after one to two centuries, very close to how long a tree lives on average, entire forest ecosystems begin to turnover as trees die and are replaced in response to climate.”



The results emphasize the deep disconnect between the rapid pace of modern climate change and the natural rhythms of forest migration and replacement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revealing-forest-patterns">Revealing forest patterns</h2>



To study these long-term changes, the researchers turned to spectral analysis. This statistical method is common in physics and engineering. It allowed the team to compare the relationship between tree populations and climate shifts across varying time scales, from decades to millennia.



The analysis focused on three key aspects: migration patterns, tree mortality, and disturbances like forest fires. By observing these factors together, the team uncovered how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forest-carbon-credits-are-failing-so-what-needs-to-change/">forests</a> change over both short and long timescales.



Spectral analysis provided a way to create a unified view of forest dynamics. This approach helped bridge the gap between different disciplines that study forests.



“This gives us a common language for people who observe forest change, ecologists, paleoecologists and paleobiologists, to talk to one another about those changes no matter if we study forests on annual or millennial timescales,” said Fastovich.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forests-shift-but-bigger-changes-emerge">Forests shift but bigger changes emerge</h2>



The research showed that, over the span of a few years or decades, forests change slowly. Small adjustments occur gradually, often unnoticed in the short term. However, significant changes begin to emerge over longer periods.



After about eight centuries, the study found that forest shifts tend to grow more dramatic. These larger changes often align with natural fluctuations in the planet’s climate.



“With this new technique, we can think about ecological processes on any timescale and how they are connected,” said Fastovich. “We can understand how dispersal and population changes interact and cause a forest to change from decades to centuries, and even longer timescales. That hasn’t been done before.”



This insight shows that while forests may appear stable, they are slowly shifting in response to deeper climate rhythms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-need-for-human-help">Urgent need for human help</h2>



One of the study’s most important findings points to the need for human intervention. Forests are unlikely to adjust fast enough on their own to survive the rapid pace of modern warming.



One promising approach is assisted migration. This method involves deliberately planting tree species from warmer climates into cooler regions. The goal is to help forests adapt by jumpstarting their natural migration processes.



Fastovich emphasized that this kind of intervention is far from simple. Forest adaptation is a slow, complicated process that demands careful, long-term planning.



“There’s a mismatch between the timescales at which forests naturally change to what’s happening today with climate change,” said Fastovich. 



“Population-level changes aren’t going to be fast enough to keep the forests that we care about around. Assisted migration is one tool of many to keep cherished forests around for longer.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reminder-of-the-challenges-ahead">Reminder of the challenges ahead</h2>



The research serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. Forests are not static. They are ancient, slow-moving communities shaped by time and climate. While their changes might seem imperceptible over a human lifespan, they remain in constant motion.



Now, humanity must make tough choices. Without careful action, many forests may not survive the speed of climate change. 



The tools we choose, whether assisted migration, conservation efforts, or other interventions, will shape the forests of the future. Their survival depends not only on nature’s resilience but also on human responsibility.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr6700" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science</a>.



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Forests are lagging centuries behind in climate adaptation

Forests have always been symbols of resilience and endurance. Towering trees stand tall for centuries, forming ecosystems that nurture countless species. They inspire awe, acting as natural archives of Earth’s long history. Yet, today’s rapidly shifting climate is testing this strength like never before. Scientists now warn that forests might struggle to keep pace with the speed of current climate change. This concern isn’t new, but recent research puts into perspective just how slow forest responses can be. Long before industrial activities fueled modern warming, forests adapted...

A team of researchers from the <a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/">Bangor University</a> School of Natural Sciences has investigated the potential for fermenting alcohol with starch from peas instead of wheat. The study revealed that producing gin with pea starch could have a substantially positive impact on the environment.

"Allocation of system burdens across gin and animal feed co-products indicated that gin produced from peas had a smaller environmental footprint than gin produced from wheat across 12 of 14 environmental impact categories considered, including 12%, 48% and 68% smaller global warming, acidification and eutrophication burdens, respectively," wrote the study authors. 

Growing wheat requires the use of nitrogen fertilizers, but legumes such as peas can take nitrogen directly from the atmosphere. The widespread use of legumes in alcoholic beverages has the potential to reduce global <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/meat-dairy-production-emissions/">greenhouse gas emissions</a> by 439 million metric tons.

The environmental impact of gin production could be even further reduced through the use of byproducts as animal feed. This would lower the demand for imported soybeans, which largely contributes to deforestation in Latin America.

"Boundary expansion in life cycle assessment to account for animal feed substitution by co-products further increased the environmental advantage of pea gin overall, owing to larger amounts of protein contained in co-products from pea fermentation," explained the researchers.  

"The potential for enhanced soybean meal substitution from use of peas in alcohol production could reduce Europe's protein deficit whilst potentially avoiding deforestation in Latin America."

The research team collaborated with Scotland’s Arbikie Distillery, where experimentation has already begun to make gin from pea starch and to collect byproducts for animal feed. According to study co-author David Styles, the gin is expected to taste exactly the same as the more familiar type made with wheat. 

The researchers also pointed out that if the new gin production is successful, pea starch may ultimately be used to make other alcoholic beverages such as vodka and beer.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international">Environmental International</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: Shutterstock/Javier Somoza

Making gin from pea starch could have some major environmental benefits

A team of researchers from the Bangor University School of...

Symbiotic relationships take many forms that can serve the whole ecosystem. Life on Earth is made up of a complex network of relationships between different species. These relationships come in many forms, from predators hunting prey to plants providing habitat. The most deeply intertwined of these relationships are referred to as symbiosis. 

Symbiosis is a long-term, close relationship between two or more species. These relationships can <a href="https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/course/ent525/close/goodbuddies.html">take many forms</a>. Though many classic examples benefit all species involved, this is not a requirement. Some forms of symbiosis are “unequal.” Parasitic relationships that threaten the wellbeing of the host can even be considered symbiotic.

Symbiotic relationships create many complex ecological interactions. These relationships hint at the ways in which the members of ecosystems can <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13752-014-0194-7">interact like the organs of an organism</a>. These relationships are essential to many biological processes in humans and our world. 

You encounter symbiosis more often in your day to day life than you might imagine. One well-known example is your <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/what-is-microbiomics/">microbiome</a>. These organisms live in your gut and many other parts of your body. They provide essential services like digesting complex sugars, protecting against infections, and training your immune system. These creatures are your own symbionts.
<h2>Mutualism</h2>
Mutualism is the friendliest of these symbiotic relationships. In mutualistic symbiosis, both (or all) species involved benefit from the relationship. These relationships allow species to show off their skills. Organisms that are very skilled at one task will provide this service to another species in exchange for something they need.
<h3>Examples</h3>
There are many examples of mutualism in the natural world. One of the most commonly used examples is how plants collect nitrogen. All living things need nitrogen to build <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/what-is-proteomics/">protein</a>. Though diatomic nitrogen gas is abundant in the atmosphere, plants cannot use this form. Instead, they rely on bacteria and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fungi-everywhere/">fungi</a> to “fix” nitrogen. Legumes (which include most beans) owe their high protein content to these relationships. Other <a href="https://www.caseyhofford.com/2018/10/16/fungi-are-friends-not-foes/">plants actually interact with fungi to indirectly “eat” bugs</a> to gain their protein.
<h2>Commensalism</h2>
Commensalism is a form of symbiosis that only benefits one of the partners. In commensalism, the host is not harmed by the relationship but does not benefit either. The commensal organism may get protection, transportation, shelter or even the scraps of the host's last meal. The term comes from the Latin “Commensalis,” meaning “sharing a table.”
<h3>Examples</h3>
Hermit crabs are a great example of this behavior. In this relationship, the crabs use the discarded shells of snails as their homes. The hermit crab gains protection from what is essentially a waste product of another species. 

Cattle egrets are another great example of commensalism. These bug-eating birds hang out around cattle, waiting to feast on the bugs that are inevitably stirred up. 
<h2>Parasitism</h2>
Parasitism is possibly the most common form of symbiosis. In parasitism, one species benefits at the expense of another species. The parasite benefits by stealing food, energy or other resources. Unlike predation, parasitism is long-term and ongoing. Many organisms have parasitic stages in their lives.
<h3>Examples</h3>
The number of parasitic relationships in the natural world is huge. Parasitic relationships can be seen in every ecosystem and taxon. Here are a few well known and interesting examples.

<a href="https://necsi.edu/parasitic-relationships">Aphids are plant parasites</a> that use the plant as a long-term source of food. They continually parasitize the plant, decreasing its growth and reproductive success.

<a href="https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/parasitoid-wasps-hymenoptera">Parasitic wasps</a> are a large group of obligate parasites (they can only survive by eating eggs.) These species sound horrifying but are actually quite helpful. These wasps primarily eat the eggs of garden pests. This makes them a great biological control measure.

[caption id="attachment_1875807" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/parasitic-wasp.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1875807" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/parasitic-wasp.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="334" /></a> Parasitic wasp, Image Credit: Suede Chen/Shutterstock[/caption]
<h2>Amensalism</h2>
A far more uncommon form of symbiosis is called amensalism. In this relationship, one species <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/amensalism">harms the other, without receiving a direct benefit</a>. Some organisms will actually secrete toxins to harm or kill their neighbors. This differs from predation or parasitism because the attacker is not feeding on its victim. It also differs from competition, which occurs in all ecosystems. Instead, amensalism reduces competition to gain an indirect benefit.
<h3>Examples</h3>
Though amensalism is less common than other forms of symbiosis, it has some amazing results. The first antibiotic, penicillin, was derived from the penicillium fungus. The mold produced<a href="https://study.com/academy/lesson/amensalism-examples-definition-quiz.html"> penicillin in order to kill bacteria</a> growing nearby. The discovery of this relationship led to one of the biggest leaps in modern medicine. Due to overuse, <a href="http://v">antibiotics are becoming less effective</a>. This poses a huge threat to humanity. 

Symbiotic relationships exist throughout the natural world. Now that you know the core categories of symbiotic relationships, you will likely notice these throughout the natural world. Comment with some examples of symbiosis that you’ve seen or heard of.

--

By: <a href="mailto:writing@caseyhofford.com">Casey Hofford</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image Credit: Colin Trainor/Wikimedia Commons

Symbiotic relationships take many forms that can serve the whole ecosystem

Symbiotic relationships take many forms that can serve the whole...

A new study published by the <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a> is one of the first of its kind to investigate how altered soils may impact plant water uptake over the long term. The researchers found that plants in soil leached by acid rain take up a significantly larger amount of water. 

The findings suggest that acid rain has a persistent impact on large-scale forest water cycles, which is important to understand for predicting future water availability. According to the study authors, the research may also help explain some of the uncertainty scientists have encountered in terrestrial biosphere models.

A team led by Matthew Lanning investigated changes in soil water available to plants in the Fernow Experimental Forest of West Virginia. This forest is the site of a decades-long watershed acidification experiment. 

The scientists used 23 years of lysimeter data to estimate the transfer of water from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/sea-level-rises-wetlands-store-carbon/">soil</a> to the atmosphere. They also used  traditional estimates of the differences between precipitation and water discharge from plants. 

The analysis showed that the acidified watershed had much higher soil-to-atmosphere water transfer compared to the water transfer amount in a "control" watershed. The lysimeter data confirmed this by demonstrating that the average volume of the treated watershed was significantly lower than the control. 

The researchers believe that soil acidification causes calcium to leach from the soil. Since calcium plays an important role in signaling plant stomata to close, the absence of calcium would cause the pores to remain open instead of closing to prevent water loss. As a result, evapotranspiration would continue, causing greater water uptake by the plants.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Plants take up more water in soils that have been affected by acid rain

A new study published by the American Association for the...

New research has revealed that smoke from fires in Africa is actually fertilizing the Amazon rainforest.

Researchers from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> discovered that phosphorus from smoke carried by winds across the ocean to the Amazon Basin is the most important fertilizer for both the rainforest and marine phytoplankton. 

Without these nutrients deposited on land and into the ocean, plants and marine life would struggle. 

“It had been assumed that Saharan dust was the main fertilizer to the Amazon Basin and Tropical Atlantic Ocean by supplying phosphorus to both of these ecosystems,” said Cassandra Gaston, the senior author of the study. “Our findings reveal that biomass burning emissions transported from Africa are potentially a more important source of phosphorus to these ecosystems than dust.”

For the study, the researchers collected and analyzed aerosol particles that were trapped by filters placed on a hilltop at the northern edge of the Amazon basin. 

The team calculated how much dust and phosphorus was caught by the filters and used satellite tools to track smoke moving through the atmosphere. 

By tracking smoke patterns, the researchers were able to model the path of smoke containing high levels of phosphorus transported from Africa and calculate how much of that phosphorous made its way to the Amazon and ocean. 

The team found that brush fires and land clearing fires in Africa are a critical source of phosphorus for the Amazon and are potentially even more important than <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/satellite-tracks-saharan-dust-to-amazon-in-3-d/">dust from the Sahara</a>. 

“To our surprise, we discovered that phosphorus associated with smoke from southern Africa can be blown all the way to the Amazon and, potentially, out over the Southern Ocean where it can impact primary productivity and the drawdown of carbon dioxide in both ecosystems,” said Anne Barkley, the lead author of the study.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the important role that aerosols play in climate and other key processes. 

“Aerosols play a major role in Earth's climate, however, there is a lot that we don't understand regarding how they affect radiation, clouds, and biogeochemical cycles, which impedes our ability to accurately predict future increases in global temperature,” said Gaston. “These new findings have implications for how this process might look in the future as combustion and fire emissions in Africa and dust transport patterns and amounts change with a changing climate and an increasing human population.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Al'fred

Smoke from fires in Africa help fertilize the Amazon basin

New research has revealed that smoke from fires in Africa...

The timing and magnitude of flood events are impacted by climate change. Experts at the <a href="https://www.gfz-potsdam.de/en/home/">GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences</a> have determined that climate change is directly affecting the magnitude of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/low-income-areas-heat-flooding/">flood events</a>. Climate scientists have suspected this correlation for many years, but did not have the evidence they needed to test their theory.

"Two years ago, we were able to show that temporal patterns are changing. Now, together with international colleagues, we have demonstrated that the severity of events is also influenced by climate change," said Bruno Merz. 

The study authors emphasized that it is now "clearly visible" that climate change is influencing both the extent and timing of flood events across Europe. 

"It has long been suspected that climate change has an impact on the extent of flooding, as a warmer atmosphere can store more water," explained Günter Blöschl. "But that is not the only effect, flood changes are more complicated."

The international study, which involved 35 European research groups, was focused on data from more than 3,700 flood monitoring stations over a period of 50 years from 1960 to 2010. 

The scientists found that floods are increasing in northwestern Europe as precipitation increases and soils become more humid. In southeastern Europe, however, floods are decreasing due to a lack of precipitation and higher temperatures. Floods are also decreasing in eastern Europe as a result of less snowfall. 

"There are clear flood risk patterns across Europe that match the projected impacts of climate change," said study lead author Günter Blöschl. 

The extent of the changes in floods across Europe is remarkable, ranging from a decline in expected flood levels of 23 percent per decade to an increase of 11 percent per decade. If these trends continue, many regions of Europe will experience major changes in flood risk.

"Regardless of the necessary efforts of climate change mitigation, we will see the effects of these changes in the next decades. Flood management must adapt to these new realities," said Blöschl. 

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://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

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Astrid Krahn/GFZ

The timing and magnitude of flood events are impacted by climate change

The timing and magnitude of flood events are impacted by...

DCIM101GOPRO

Nearshore coral growth rates are slowing down due to rising ocean temperatures, a new study has found. 

Coral reefs are a crucial resource for coastal communities. Corals offer storm protection and buffer against flooding as well as provide an important source of food and income through both fishing and tourism.  

Mass coral bleaching events, pollution, and rising sea levels have contributed to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/protect-coral-reefs-climate-change/">reef declines worldwide.</a>

Over the past decade, nearshore coral growth rates have been slowing down for some coral species, and researchers from the <a href="https://www.unc.edu/">University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</a> wanted to know why. 

Historically, offshore coral growth rates are slower than nearshore corals, but in recent years offshore coral growth rates have remained the same while nearshore coral growth declined.  

The warm, nutrient-rich coastal waters that nearshore corals thrive in were thought to provide an advantage over offshore corals. Researchers have also theorized that because nearshore corals grow in warm waters, they may be better suited to adapt to climate change-driven warming. 

Unfortunately, this does not appear to be that case. 

For the study, the researchers collected 124 coral core samples from 19 sites along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. The researchers compared core samples from corals that were within ten kilometers of the coast and 30 to 60 kilometers offshore

Corals, like trees, have bands that document its age. CT scans of the cores helped determine the age and vertical growth rate of the corals. 

The researchers compared offshore and nearshore corals to help determine what stressors may be hindering growth. The declines in growth rates for nearshore corals are linked to development and climate change-driven ocean warming. 

“This research leaves us with troubling questions, like whether or not corals will be able to adapt to future conditions, and, if not, how that will impact the health and well-being of the millions of people around the world who rely on reefs for their food, income, and protection from storms,” said Justin Baumann, a lead author of the study.

Corals with lower growth rates can not provide the same robust protections and habitat that healthy, fast-growing corals can, but how exactly growth rate declines will impact coastal communities remains to be seen.  

“Local action to mitigate stress from coastal development and global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will both be necessary to ensure a sustainable future for both nearshore and offshore coral reefs,” said Baumann. 

The study findings were published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.14784">Global Change Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Justin Baumann

Nearshore coral growth hindered by climate change and human activities

Nearshore coral growth rates are slowing down due to rising...

The <a href="https://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) is reporting that microplastics in drinking water do not appear to pose a threat to human health at the current levels. However, the organization is also emphasizing that this finding is based on limited data, and further research is needed.

"We urgently need to know more about the health impact of microplastics because they are everywhere - including in our drinking water," said Dr. Maria Neira.

Recent studies have raised concerns about the abundance of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/microplastic-contamination-groundwater-sources/">plastic particles</a> in drinking water, and the potential health risks associated with ingestion have been largely unknown. 

According to the WHO, microplastics infiltrate drinking water sources primarily through run-off and wastewater. Bottled water may be contaminated during the bottling process or from the plastic packaging itself.

On Thursday, the WHO delivered the results of its first investigation into the potential health hazards linked to microplastic contamination in drinking water. The researchers analyzed the physical particles, chemicals, and microorganisms that may attach themselves to microplastics.

Based on the available evidence, the experts determined that these chemicals and microbial pathogens pose a low threat to human health.

Microplastics that are larger than 150 micrometers cannot likely be absorbed by the body. Health concerns have centered around the uptake of smaller particles, explained Jennifer De France. 

"For these smallest size particles, where there is really limited evidence, we need to know more about what is being absorbed, the distribution and their impacts."

"To date there are no data available to show that microplastics pose a hazard to human health, however this does not necessarily mean that they are harmless," said Alice Horton of the National Oceanography Centre.

“It is important to put concerns about exposure to microplastics from drinking water into context: we are widely exposed to microplastics in our daily lives via a wide number of sources, of which drinking water is just one."

The WHO report said the biggest overall health threat in water is from microbial pathogens that cause deadly diarrheal disease, especially in poor countries lacking water treatment systems.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Antonio Guillem

Microplastics in water do not appear to pose a threat to human health… for now

The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting that microplastics in...

Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another tactic. When it comes to sources of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-early-death/">air pollution</a>, we often tend to think in terms of big factories or power plants. It’s true that industry creates a large amount of air pollution, but so do individuals and families. In most of the US, besides consumption of electricity that may be produced by coal, the most common individual contribution to air pollution is by driving a car.

The <a href="https://www.lung.org/local-content/_content-items/about-us/media/press-releases/sota-2019-alaska.html">American Lung Association</a> reports that in the northern reaches of the US, this changes. According to air quality reports from earlier this year, Alaska has some of the worst air quality in the US. Much of the particulate matter found in the air in some parts of Alaska come mainly from wood burning stoves. With this detail from the US in mind, we can reframe how we think about air pollution in the rest of the world, especially air pollution that harms lungs. 

Alaska is an odd example of a place with high air pollution, due to it’s small human population density. According to an Air Visual <a href="https://www.airvisual.com/world-most-polluted-cities">report</a>, 22 of the 30 cities with the most air pollution are located in India. India is a subcontinent nation with a population of over <a href="http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/india-population/">1.3 billion</a>, meaning that one of every six people on Earth lives in India. 

Similarly to the air pollution of Alaska, much of India’s poor air quality comes from cooking, heating, and even kerosene lamps for lighting. <a href="http://www.businessworld.in/article/1-3-Million-Deaths-Every-Year-In-India-Due-To-Indoor-Air-Pollution/09-09-2017-125739/">Business World</a> reported that on average, over 1 million people die annually in India from indoor air pollution alone. But India is part of a much broader growth in poor air quality due to pollution in Asia as a whole.

According to the <a href="https://www.ccacoalition.org/en/content/air-pollution-measures-asia-and-pacific">Climate and Clean Air Coalition</a>, 92% of people living in Asia and the Pacific region are exposed to levels of air pollution levels that represent a significant risk to health. This equates to 4 billion people, more than half of the global population living with unsafe levels of air pollution. China is one of the Asian countries long known for its air pollution, especially in large urban areas. 

China has made moves to improve air quality in their cities, but as <a href="https://grist.org/article/chinas-plan-to-reduce-smog-basically-just-moved-it-to-other-areas/">Grist</a> reports, efforts have highlighted the complicated nature of quickly reducing air pollution. Particulate air pollution in Beijing was reduced by 25%, but research showed that reducing air pollution in China’s large cities meant outsourcing coal power plants to more poor, rural areas. The end result was a reduction of air pollution in some areas but overall pollution for China as a whole. 

But China and India aren’t the only countries with air pollution problems. Mongolia’s air pollution problem is on the rise and it’s worth hoping that the country can learn from China, India and others before it reaches the pollution levels of these more populated nations.

<a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/mongolia/population-density-people-per-sq-km-wb-data.html">Trading Economics</a> reports that Mongolia’s population density in 2016 was only 1.9487 people per square kilometer. Mongolia is a large country of wide plateaus that have traditionally been the home of primarily nomadic people. Due to a shift in lifestyle and economic realities, 46% of Mongolia’s population is centered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. 

Along with the move to the capital, Mongolia’s human population is on the rise, yet realities for those in the city are very different from those in rural areas. 95.81% of urban Mongolians have access to electricity but only 44.17% of rural populations have that same access. Along with the realities of heating and cooking with flame as well as industrial pollution, the air quality of Mongolia continues to decline creating an environmental as well as health travesty. 

The <a href="https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/97/2/19-020219.pdf">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) reported that in 2016, of an estimated population of 3 million people, 1,800 Mongolians died of diseases from household air pollution and 1,500 died of diseases from outdoor air pollution. The main cause of this disease causing pollution is similar to the air pollution in Alaska and India: cooking and heating stoves using coal as fuel. Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another tactic

Coal seems like an obvious solution to an immediate problem, as Mongolia is a cold place. Temperatures at night in Ulaanbaatar can drop to 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. With not a lot of infrastructure to provide for clean ways to stay warm, the reality is that many people burn raw coal just to survive. Those living in the Ger (a ger is a traditional nomadic tent many Mongolians live in) district of Ulaanbaatar, where 80% of air pollution comes from are especially dependent on coal. Unsurprisingly, air quality is at its worst in winter months. Ulaanbaatar is also situated in a valley, where cold weather inversions trap not just household coal emissions but those of cars and power plants as well. But <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/727688757/mongolias-capital-banned-coal-to-fix-its-pollution-problem-will-it-work">NPR</a> reports that now, the government of Mongolia has come up with a solution.      

The government of Mongolia announced a <a href="https://montsame.mn/en/read/133813">ban on raw coal</a> in Ulaanbaatar, issuing fines to households and businesses that continue to burn the substance. In the place of coal, the government is offering a more expensive but more efficient briquette made from semicoke, a coal byproduct. Besides being more efficient, the briquettes burn cleaner as well. The government plans to distribute 600,000 tons of briquettes at selling points throughout the city. Some doubt whether many will actually purchase this alternative fuel source with its added financial cost. It takes a certain leap of faith that in the long run burning the briquettes will lead to better air. Another solution the government is working on is extending infrastructure to the Ger district of Ulaanbaatar which has little access to electricity. 

&nbsp;

Mongolia has traditionally been known as the ‘land of the blue sky’ and home of <a href="https://sites.psu.edu/ktrabblog/2014/09/10/tengriism-the-eternal-blue-sky/">Tengriism</a>, an ancient religion promoting harmony between humans and nature. Tengri, the main god of the religion, is personified by the blue sky. It remains to be seen whether the government of Ulaanbaatar can maintain enough of a balance to offer their people not only clean air to breathe but a place to live beneath a sacred blue sky.         

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Ganzorig Miimaa

Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another tactic

Amid doubt over China’s air pollution solutions, Mongolia tries another...

While <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/flood-events-climate-change/">climate change</a> threatens the global food supply of the future, many experts are reporting on the potential for insects to be eaten as a renewable and eco-friendly protein source. New research from the <a href="https://www.bva.co.uk/">British Veterinary Association</a> (BVA) suggests that pets could also be fed insects as an alternative to meat-based foods.

According to the researchers, many pet owners will be opposed to the idea at first, but the study findings suggest that insect protein may offer better health benefits for animals compared to traditional pet food that is made from beef or chicken.

"There’s a really exciting future for the use of insect protein for companion animals," BVA President Simon Doherty told <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news">BBC News</a>. "It’s a fantastic opportunity - looking at insects to provide alternative sources of some of the nutrient ingredients we use in pet food diets."

Doherty emphasized that it is essential to find food sources that will not put any further strain on Earth's limited resources, including soil and water. In addition, he added that it is better for meat to be fed to people than to pets.

Insect-based pet food is currently more expensive than the budget meal options by as much as four times. The researchers hope that the environmental benefits will help make unconventional pet foods more appealing.

Doherty pointed out that insect protein may be especially attractive to vegetarian cat owners due to the fact that cats need an essential amino acid called taurine that is found in fish, meat, and insects.

"You’d still be killing insects but some vegetarians might find that more palatable than killing cows or chickens,” Doherty told the BBC.

Protix is a Dutch manufacturer and supplier of insect ingredients for animal feed and human consumption. The 0rganization, which has one of the world’s biggest insect farms, estimates that insect-based foods use only two percent of the land and four percent of the water that is used in the production of meat-based products. 

According to BBC News, Protix reported that one ton of insects can be grown on 20 square miles of land in just two weeks. The insects do not require fertilizers or pesticides and generate a very small carbon footprint.

"Round the world we are heating up the atmosphere and using up the land," Protix founder Kees Aarts told the BBC. "But we also have to feed a growing population in need of protein. We have to do something differently - and insects are part of the solution."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images

Insect-based pet foods have many health and environmental benefits

While climate change threatens the global food supply of the...

A new study has revealed how a neonicotinoid pesticide may pose a risk to wild songbird populations.

Neonicotinoids are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticide-exposure-impairs-flight-bees/">harmful to bees</a> and can disrupt how bees fly, collect pollen, and behave in the hive. 

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.usask.ca/">University of Saskatchewan</a> and <a href="https://www.yorku.ca/">York Universit</a>y linked a neonicotinoid pesticide called imidacloprid to songbird population declines in North America. 

Neonicotinoids are widely used to protect crops worldwide. While there has been a recent push to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/european-union-ban-pesticides/">ban neonicotinoid pesticides</a> because of the harmful impact the pesticides have on bee populations, birds may also be at risk.

“Our study shows that this is bigger than the bees--birds can also be harmed by modern neonicotinoid pesticides which should worry us all,” said Bridget Stutchbury, a member of the research team. 

Since 1966, three-quarters of bird species that depend on agricultural habitats have declined, and the researchers found that even minimal exposure to a pesticide can hinder reproduction and delay migrations. 

The study, published in the journal Science, is the first of its kind to examine how imidacloprid impacts wild songbirds. 

“We saw these effects using doses well within the range of what a bird could realistically consume in the wild--equivalent to eating just a few treated seeds,” said Margaret Eng, the lead author of the study.

The researchers attached lightweight radio transmitters to wild white-crowned sparrows in southern Ontario and tracked the birds’ movements. 

Individual sparrows were exposed to small doses of imidacloprid, and the researchers measured each bird’s weight and mass before and after being exposed to the pesticide. 

Within six hours, sparrows that received a higher dose of the pesticide lost six percent of their body mass. The same birds also stayed longer at the stopover site before continuing on with their annual migration. 

Delaying migration poses a risk to reproductive success for the sparrows, and the birds that were not exposed resumed their migration earlier. 

“Migration is a critical period for birds and timing matters,” said Christy Morrissey, a senior author of the study. “Any delays can seriously hinder their success in finding mates and nesting, so this may help explain, in part, why migrant and farmland bird species are declining so dramatically worldwide.” 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Tim Zurowski

Songbird population declines may be linked to a widely used pesticide

A new study has revealed how a neonicotinoid pesticide may...

A pairing of two new studies reveal why mountains — tropical mountains, specifically — are so biologically diverse compared to other regions on Earth. While in the process of conducting these studies, scientists realized the high levels of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plants-vanishing-biodiversity-hotspots/">biodiversity</a> on mountains is far greater than what they expected.

"The challenge is that, although it is evident that much of the global variation in biodiversity is so clearly driven by the extraordinary richness of tropical mountain regions, it is this very richness that current biodiversity models, based on contemporary climate, cannot explain: mountains are simply too rich in species, and we are falling short of explaining global hotspots of biodiversity," said lead author of both studies Professor Carsten Rahbek.

Scientists from the <a href="https://macroecology.ku.dk/">Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate</a> (CMEC) and the <a href="https://globe.ku.dk/">GLOBE Institute of the University of Copenhagen</a> synthesized data from several different fields including macroecology, evolutionary biology, earth sciences, and geology to gain a firmer grasp on why mountains are so rich in biodiversity.

They found that the climate of rugged tropical mountain regions is different than that of lowland regions in terms of complexity and diversity.

"People often think of mountain climates as bleak and harsh," said study co-leader Michael K. Borregaard. "But the most species-rich mountain region in the world, the Northern Andes, captures, for example, roughly half of the world's climate types in a relatively small region — much more than is captured in nearby Amazon, a region that is more than 12 times larger.”

"Tropical mountains, based in fertile and wet equatorial lowlands and extending into climatic conditions superficially similar to those found in the Arctic, span a gradient of annual mean temperatures over just a few km as large as that found over 10,000 km from the tropical lowlands at Equator to the arctic regions at the poles,” Borregaard added. “It's pretty amazing if you think about it.”

Furthermore, the team found that high biodiversity is also connected to the geological dynaimcis, which interact with complex climate changes over time, of mountain building. These geological dynamics allow for evolutionary processes to take place. 

"The global pattern of biodiversity shows that mountain biodiversity exhibits a visible signature of past evolutionary processes,” said Rahbek. “Mountains, with their uniquely complex environments and geology, have allowed the continued persistence of ancient species deeply rooted in the tree of life, as well as being cradles where new species have arisen at a much higher rate than in lowland areas, even in areas as amazingly biodiverse as the Amazonian rainforest.”

The interaction between geology and biology may also contribute to mountain biodiversity richness. The researchers found that high diversity in most tropical mountains is tightly linked to bedrock geology — especially those mountains containing ancient oceanic crust. Therefore, the researchers hypothesize that tropical mountains, with soil originating from oceanic bedrock, provide exceptional environmental conditions that help plants to adapt and change more easily than locations elsewhere.

And these plant adaptations may, in turn, drive speciation cascades, in which the speciation of one group leads to the speciation of another group, therefore affecting animal life and overall biodiversity.

These two papers are published in <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/">Science</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Jesper Sonne/CMEC

Why mountains are biodiversity hotspots

A pairing of two new studies reveal why mountains —...

Addressing short-term climate change threats will benefit future generations. While most climate mitigation strategies are focused on the remainder of this century, a new study led by <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> suggests that such strategies should be focused on the next couple of decades. The researchers found that addressing the short-term threats of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/studying-past-climate-change/">climate change</a> will leave less of a burden for future generations.

Climate mitigation projects may include the deployment of renewable technologies, atmospheric carbon removal through planting trees and other methods, or new legislation to reach energy efficiency targets.

The logic behind the Imperial research is that climate plans which are designed to limit warming by 2100 leave too much time for complacency or harmful emissions earlier in the century. A long-term goal may ultimately rely on removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in later decades, for example.

According to the researchers, climate strategies should account for when maximum warming will occur, what that level of warming should be, and whether warming is stabilized afterward.

The experts propose a sensible approach that is aimed at limiting global warming before 2050, which would depend less on unproven technologies and investment by future generations.

"When climate-change strategies were first proposed, more than 20 years ago, the planet had only warmed about 0.5°C, so there was time for a long, smooth transition to energy systems and economies that kept warming below 2°C by 2100," said study lead author Dr. Joeri Rogelj.

"Now, however, we are at around 1°C warming and science of the last decade has shown that 2°C cannot be considered a safe limit. The need to stabilize warming more quickly is paramount, and therefore we suggest a focus on reaching net zero carbon emissions as a key milestone of any climate strategy.

"Turning the focus from the far future to the next decades, where push will come to shove in terms of adequate climate action, will help us reach the Paris Agreement goals without placing undue burden on future generations."

In order to limit warming in the next couple of decades until it is stabilized, the research team suggests that net zero carbon emissions should be the focus of climate change efforts in the short term. Beyond net zero emissions, countries could develop a plan based on how much they need to reduce their contribution to global warming through additional carbon removal.

"Shifting the focus to more short-term warming will underpin the next assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and we hope it will also help policymakers formulate realistic strategies," said Dr. Rogelj. "Policymakers want to know how and when we can reach net zero carbon, and our new logic for strategies could make these questions answerable."

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

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Phil McDonald

Addressing short-term climate change threats will benefit future generations

Addressing short-term climate change threats will benefit future generations. While...

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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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



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



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



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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

Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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



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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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



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



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



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



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



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



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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