Floating photovoltaics (FPV), or “floatovoltaics,” are spreading across water bodies worldwide. From California’s vineyards to China’s massive energy projects, these solar systems glide atop irrigation ponds, reservoirs, and wastewater treatment plants. 



They produce clean energy without consuming precious land, a seemingly perfect solution in a space-constrained world.



But the water beneath these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-entire-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">panels</a> isn’t empty. It teems with life. Birds drift, dive, nest, and hunt in these waters. As FPV systems expand, they introduce a new dynamic to these habitats - and nobody knows yet what the consequences might be.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-floating-solar-and-bird-habitats">Floating solar and bird habitats</h2>



A recent study from the <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Davis</a>, published in the journal Nature Water, raises a vital question: Can renewable energy and wildlife coexist without collateral damage? The researchers, part of the UC Davis Wild Energy Center, are among the first to examine how waterbirds respond to FPV systems.



“That’s why it’s so important to understand how waterbirds are going to respond to floating solar and if there is the possibility for conservation concessions at new floating solar facilities,” said Elliott Steele, a postdoctoral scholar with the UC Davis Wild Energy Center within the Energy and Efficiency Institute.



Steele’s words are urgent. Bird populations are plummeting. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and avian influenza have combined into a perfect storm of threats. If floating solar disrupts waterbird behavior, it could exacerbate an already dire situation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bird-responses-to-floating-solar-systems">Bird responses to floating solar systems</h2>



Imagine a black-crowned night heron standing motionless on a solar <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floating-solar-panels-could-power-every-home-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">panel</a> before dawn. Below, cormorants dart through the water, jostling for a place to perch. A black phoebe builds a nest beneath the panels, sheltered but close to human-made structures.



These are not imagined scenes. During their fieldwork, the UC Davis researchers observed all these behaviors. Birds are not just interacting with FPV systems — they are adapting to them, sometimes in unexpected ways.



“Our team has been documenting such a diversity of bird <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/floridas-waterbirds-expert-divers-with-bold-hunting-techniques/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">behavior</a> with floating PV, so we immediately knew this was a very important interaction, especially given the precipitous decline in waterbird numbers globally,” said senior author and UC Davis Professor Rebecca R. Hernandez.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-and-risks-of-floating-solar">Benefits and risks of floating solar</h2>



Renewable energy projects have not always considered <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saving-americas-birds-scientists-declare-a-full-on-emergency-in-the-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildlife</a>. Now, as FPV systems expand, researchers are determined not to repeat past mistakes. The UC Davis team identified five areas demanding urgent study.



First, the researchers are exploring how waterbirds interact with FPV structures, questioning whether these birds use the solar panels as nesting sites, hunting perches, or safe resting places.



In addition, they are investigating the direct and indirect effects of FPV systems on waterbirds. While a panel may provide shelter to one species, it may simultaneously deter another.



The team is considering how conservation strategies can be tailored to specific sites, regions, and seasons, recognizing that bird populations vary significantly in their behaviors and needs.



Furthermore, they are examining how best to design monitoring systems at FPV sites. Should they rely on cameras, sensors, or traditional bird counts to collect data effectively?



The researchers are also assessing the potential for pollutants to be released from FPV systems. If such contamination occurs, they aim to determine what can be done to mitigate the risks to aquatic and avian life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rethinking-renewable-energy-design">Rethinking renewable energy design</h2>



Study co-author Emma Forester is a Ph.D. candidate with the UC Davis Land, Air and Water Resources department and the Wild Energy Center.



“There are some things we wished we’d known before other kinds of renewable energy were developed,” said Forester.



“While we’re at this critical threshold of renewable energy <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-panels-are-1000-times-more-powerful-with-new-tech-breakthrough/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">development</a>, we want to put more thought into the design that can benefit birds and other wildlife as we go forward.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-balancing-act-energy-vs-ecology">The balancing act: Energy vs. ecology</h2>



Floating solar systems present a compelling case for water conservation. They can reduce evaporation by shading the water surface, an added benefit in drought-prone areas. But there’s a catch.



While some birds, like the black-crowned night heron, seem to thrive on the panels, others might not. Researchers observed birds using FPV systems in various ways - nesting, perching, feeding - but the long-term impacts remain unclear.



And then there’s pollution. Solar panels are not inert objects. As they age, they can degrade, releasing chemicals into the water. What happens to the fish, algae or the birds? These questions linger, unanswered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-designing-for-wildlife">Designing for wildlife</h2>



To ensure that FPV systems are truly green, wildlife considerations must be integrated from the start. 



Hernandez and her team emphasize that waterbirds are ideal subjects for these studies. They occupy both the water and the air, making them sensitive indicators of environmental change.



But there’s a deeper challenge. Conservation strategies that work in California may fail in Florida. Solutions for herons may not suit cormorants. Customization is key.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-at-stake">What’s at stake</h2>



Floating solar may be new, but the questions it raises are not. When energy projects collide with nature, unintended consequences often follow. As renewable energy scales up, researchers must consider not just the panels but the ecosystems they disrupt.



Floating solar has enormous potential. But without rigorous, long-term studies, that potential could come at a steep ecological cost. For now, the researchers at UC Davis are watching the waterbirds - and hoping the world will pay attention.



The study, funded by the <a href="https://uckeepresearching.org/california-climate-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California Climate Action Seed Grant</a>, <a href="https://www.enelgreenpower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enel Green Power</a>, and several U.S. government agencies, is a starting point. 



The research team includes scientists from UC Davis, the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Geological Survey</a>, the <a href="https://www.ucf.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Central Florida</a>, <a href="https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lancaster University</a>, and <a href="https://www.enelgreenpower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Enel Green Power</a> in Italy.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-025-00429-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Water.</a>



Image Credit: Rebecca R. Hernandez, UC Davis.



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Floating solar panels affect bird habitats in unexpected ways

Floating photovoltaics (FPV), or “floatovoltaics,” are spreading across water bodies worldwide. From California’s vineyards to China’s massive energy projects, these solar systems glide atop irrigation ponds, reservoirs, and wastewater treatment plants. They produce clean energy without consuming precious land, a seemingly perfect solution in a space-constrained world. But the water beneath these panels isn’t empty. It teems with life. Birds drift, dive, nest, and hunt in these waters. As FPV systems expand, they introduce a new dynamic to these habitats - and nobody knows yet what the...

Alert level raised at world’s largest active volcano in Hawaii. This week, the <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/">US Geological Survey</a> raised the alert level for Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano.

Mauna Loa, located in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/hawaiis-macadamia-nut-industry/">Hawaii</a>, last erupted in 1984 and has erupted 33 times since 1843. 

An increase in seismic activity and ground swelling starting in March of this year has led to the volcano’s status changing from a normal alert level to an Advisory. 

Currently, 50 to 75 earthquakes per week have been recorded in the area. 

While an eruption is not imminent, the volatile nature of Hawaii’s volcanoes means that Mauna Loa could start spewing large volumes of lava in a very short amount of time. 

The lava flows during 1984 stopped just short of Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii’s largest city. 

This is not the first time that the alert level has changed for Mauna Loa, and in 2015, a surge in seismic activity caused officials to raise the alarm.  

The US Geological Survey has a two-part alert level system, one to warn people in close proximity to the volcano and one to warn those that are flying near a volcano. For people on the ground, there are four alert levels with Advisory being the second tier up. 

‘Advisory’ means that activity has been recorded and there is unrest in the region, while an alert level ‘Watch’ means that an eruption might happen. If the alert is raised to ‘Warning’, an eruption is imminent. 

The US Geological Survey wants to ensure that people are not panicked at this time but aware of the increased seismic activity. 

Gas emissions are low, and if an eruption were likely to happen, there would 50 or more earthquakes every day, which is why the alert has only been raised to an Advisory. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmaill.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/MNStudio

Alert level raised at world’s largest active volcano in Hawaii

Alert level raised at world’s largest active volcano in Hawaii....

New Deputy Secretary of the Interior has an alarming environmental record. Since the departure of former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, it’s worth asking whether anything has improved in the leadership of the department. 

After Zinke <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/ryan-zinkes-departure-environment/">left the Department of the Interior</a> in disgrace, assistant Secretary David Bernhardt stepped up to fill his place and seemingly carry on his legacy of environmental destruction and indifference. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/16/trumps-new-interior-secretary-is-now-under-investigation.html">CNBC</a> reported that just days after Bernhardt was confirmed in his new office, the Department of the Interior’s inspector general office confirmed they were investigating him for ethics violations. The violations seem to mainly stem from his own time as Deputy Secretary of the Interior. <a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/2390596/david-bernhardt-scandal-tracker">Outside Online</a> reported that Bernhardt has been involved in at least 17 scandals so far. 

Until recently, Bernhardt’s promotion left the position of Deputy Secretary of the Interior open. On June 24, 2019, Susan Combs was confirmed as the new Deputy Secretary of the Interior, under Bernhardt. Before this recent promotion, Combs worked in the Department of the Interior as the temporary assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, a position she was initially nominated for by Ryan Zinke. 

Combs was responsible for overseeing the Endangered Species Act, a responsibility she largely saw to by trying to roll back wildlife protections. Trump’s Department of the Interior even suggested a full revision of the Endangered Species Act, <a href="https://www.hcn.org/issues/51.11/latest-interior-combatant-confirmed-to-department">High Country News</a> reported. There is no surprise about Combs’ distaste for wildlife protections if you look further back in her history. 

Before her time in the Department of the Interior, Combs worked as comptroller of Texas, where she is a native. As Texas Land Commissioner, Combs argued that protections for the Golden-Cheeked Warbler negatively impacted military readiness in central Texas. The argument was that because of the warbler, the military base operated under training restrictions, an opinion that was contradicted by officials at the military base. In fact at that time, there were no training restrictions because of the Golden-Cheeked Warbler. After the contradiction became apparent, Anne Idsal, George W. Bush’s chief aide, reached out to the staff of the three star general operating the base and within hours, their official story changed, claiming the bird was negatively impacting their training. 

Combs has been critical of species protections throughout her career. The <a href="https://m.washingtontimes.com">Washington Times</a> reported in 2013 that as Texas Comptroller, Combs questioned the science behind the US Fish &amp; Wildlife’s decision-making on listing species under the Endangered Species Act. Combs led Texas in setting aside $5 million to fight what she viewed as spurious listings on the Endangered Species Act.

Susan Combs was primarily asking for independent scientific review of the research done by the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">US Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a> to determine eligibility for a species listing. In 2011, the <a href="https://m.washingtontimes.com">Washington Times</a> reported that there was a backlog of 251 species which the Department of the Interior had to decide to list for protection or not, a task that they agreed to complete in six years. Combs and other state politicians argued that the federal government didn’t have the capacity to scientifically make these decisions in that amount of time.

2011 was also an important year in Texas for endangered species. According to the <a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20180409/how-texas-fights-endangered-species-protections-critter-by-critter">Austin American-Statesman</a>, that year the oversight of the Endangered Species Act in Texas was moved from Texas Parks and Wildlife where it had been managed for years. Instead, the Endangered Species Act was henceforth to be managed by the comptroller's office, a move that Combs supported. Texas is the only state in which the top financial official is in charge of overseeing protection of wildlife. 

Despite Comb’s call for more unbiased science used for endangered species protections, her own record shows a clear bias. Her own state’s research on the golden cheeked warbler is controversial, showing larger populations of the bird than previously suspected. The findings are also contradicted by <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">US Fish &amp; Wildlife Service</a> which says the warbler should remain on the Endangered Species Act. The researcher that carried out the study was also on the board (with Combs) of Texas Wildlife Association, a land rights organization that already supported delisting the warbler. 

Susan Combs has consistently been opposed to wildlife protections, even putting conservation and habitat conservation planning for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard in the hands of the oil and gas industry working in the Permian Basin where the lizard lives, the <a href="https://www.texasobserver.org/trump-taps-texan-susan-combs-fierce-critic-of-endangered-species-act/">Texas Observer</a> reported. Combs is also a former visiting fellow of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an organization funded by Koch Industries and oil companies, <a href="https://westernvaluesproject.org/senate-votes-to-confirm-conflicted-susan-combs-to-top-interior-position/">Western Values Project</a> reports. Combs also has investments in oil and gas that have earned her recently as much as $2.1 million.  

Obviously, Susan Combs has a track record that worries many environmentalists and those who care about the future of the Department of the Interior. Much like her boss and Ryan Zinke before him, Combs has ties to ranching and oil, interests she’s supposed to be working to manage against the weight of environmental and biological conservation. Still, Combs was confirmed, with a <a href="https://www.staugustine.com/news/20190608/congressional-votes-for-week-of-may-31-june-6-2019">congressional vote</a> of 57 yeas to 36 nays. It took almost two years of waiting, but Combs is officially the Deputy Secretary of the Interior.

It seems unlikely that Combs alone is more of a threat than others in the department or those who came before her, but there seems to be a shared vision of dismantling any protection for public lands or endangered species afforded under federal law. This is just part of the Trump administration’s continued <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/trump-record-environment-2020/">history</a> pushing environmental regulations out of the way of profit. In the end, it won’t be the rich that suffer from this short-sighted strategy, it will be the poor and those non-humans with no power to protect themselves.                              

--

By <a href="mailto:zachfitzner@yahoo.com">Zach Fitzner</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Contributing Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>                       

Image Credit: Steve Maslowski/U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

New Deputy Secretary of the Interior has an alarming environmental record

New Deputy Secretary of the Interior has an alarming environmental...

A new study has revealed that it took just three years to eliminate more than three decades of sea ice gains in <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/west-antarctic-ice-unstable/">Antarctica</a>. The ice shrank so quickly that it exceeded rates of retreat recorded in the Arctic, which is undergoing a transition that is unprecedented in human history. 

“It’s very surprising. We just haven’t seen decreases like that in either hemisphere,” said study author Claire Parkinson, who is a climatologist at the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a>.

Parkinson analyzed satellite observations of Antarctic sea ice levels from 1979-2017. She discovered a rapid decline in ice which was so extreme that it completely transformed the ice from its highest extent in 2014 to its lowest extent by 2017.

"There’s a lot of interannual variability in both Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, but Arctic sea ice has been decreasing in extent since the late 1970s, which is consistent with what we’d expect,” said Parkinson. “What was happening in Antarctica could not be so easily explained."

Before the sea ice began steadily accumulating around 1979, there had been a substantial decrease in ice cover during the mid-1970s. This suggests that the current trend will also reverse, and that it is not necessarily tied to climate change.

"To argue that this recent dip is evidence of the start of a longer term decline driven by greenhouse warming is premature," Mark Serreze, director of the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, told <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a>. He added that the decline may just be natural variability, driven by changing wind patterns.

Andrew Shepherd is the director of the <a href="https://cpom.org.uk/">Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling</a> at the University of Leeds.

"Growth of Antarctic sea ice over the past few decades had been a relief, because it offset some of the rapid losses in the Arctic," Shepard told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/">CNN</a>. "Now that sea ice is retreating in both hemispheres we should be concerned about our planet's temperature because it means less of the sun's heat is reflected back into space."

The study is published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/">Proceedings of the Natural 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

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Armin Rose

Antarctic sea ice drastically shrinks after more than 3 decades of growth

A new study has revealed that it took just three...

June 2019 was the hottest June ever recorded on Earth, according to the <a href="https://climate.copernicus.eu/record-breaking-temperatures-june">Copernicus Climate Change Service</a>. 

Average temperatures were higher than two degrees Celsius above normal and as a whole in Europe, the month of June had temperatures that were one degree Celsius above the previous hottest June in 1999. 

Europe experienced a five-day heat wave due to a mass of hot air from the Saharan Desert. 

At the end of the month during the heatwave, temperatures were 6 to 10 degrees above average in France, Germany, and the Czech Republic. All three countries had the highest temperatures for June and France saw the highest temperatures in the country’s history. 

The unseasonably warm weather cannot be directly linked to climate change, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, but the increased atmospheric greenhouse gas levels have made <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/a-tropical-storm-in-june-record-heat-in-the-atlantic-could-make-it-happen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extreme weather events</a> like heat waves more common. 

In addition, climate change made Europe’s most recent heat wave five times more likely to happen. 

“We knew June was hot in Europe, but this study shows that temperature records haven’t just been broken. They have been obliterated,” Professor Hannah Cloke, natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading, told <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/june-hottest-month-ever-earth-2019-weather-heatwave-hot-a8984691.html">The Independent</a>. “This is the hottest June on record in Europe by a country mile, and the warmest June we have ever seen globally.”

<a href="https://www.earth.com/image/hot-and-dry-conditions-in-pakistan-and-india/">India</a> recently suffered one of the longest and hottest heatwaves in recent history. As of June 19th, the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/14/india/india-heat-wave-deaths-intl/index.html">death toll had reached at least 36</a>, and hundreds more were admitted to hospitals due to heatstroke as the region faced more than 30 days of consecutive scorching temperatures. 

The heat was so oppressive that people were advised to avoid going outside after 11 am. 

Unfortunately, as climate change worsens, predictions about heat waves and weather extremes will continue to come to fruition, and people will have to deal with hotter and hotter record-breaking temperatures becoming the norm.

--

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: Jo Bouroch/Shutterstock

Last month was the hottest June ever recorded on Earth

June 2019 was the hottest June ever recorded on Earth,...

Hundreds of schools were closed last week in the southern Malaysian state of Johor after dozens of students became severely ill from pollution. In the industrial area of Pasir Gudang, an unknown source of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/visiting-city-air-pollution-breathing-issues/">air pollution</a> caused vomiting and difficulty breathing among dozens of students. 

According to the state news agency <a href="http://www.bernama.com/">Bernama</a>, at least 100 primary and secondary schools as well as 300 private kindergartens were affected. More than 100 children fell suddenly ill from the toxic air, and some of them reportedly collapsed after exposure.

Johor Chief Minister Dr. Sahruddin Jamal said at the time that all of the children had been taken to the hospital. He told reporters it was not clear what had caused the students to become ill. 

Just a few months ago, a massive chemical pollution spill in the nearby Kim Kim river shut down 111 schools for two weeks. After inhaling toxic fumes, thousands of people experienced issues such as eye irritation, chest pain, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Dr. Sahruddin said that the latest incident has not been linked to the same source. 

State Health, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar said that the Department of Environment and other agencies are working to identify the cause of the pollution. 

"The schools were closed to prevent more people from becoming victims of the suspected air pollution here," Khuzzan said at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium last week. “Most of the victims are schoolchildren, who were on the third and fourth floors of their schools. 

"This incident occurred randomly and it changed based on the direction of the wind, making it difficult to identify its source. Nevertheless, the Technical and Scientific Committee has narrowed down the number of possible sources in its investigation."

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad pledged that "stern action" will be taken once the parties responsible are identified.

--

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/umarazak

Hundreds of Malaysian schools closed after students sickened from pollution

Hundreds of schools were closed last week in the southern...

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> have discovered that irrigated farms in the Central Sands region are having a significant impact on the local climate. <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/midwestern-farmers-irrigation-rainfall/">Irrigated farms</a> were found to experience a lower daily temperature range of three to seven degrees compared to nearby forests or farms that rely on rainfall. 

"Irrigation is a land use with effects on climate in the Midwest, and we need to account for this in our climate models," said study lead author Mallika Nocco. "We're finding that weather forecasts can be wrong if they don't take these land uses into account. That will affect both farmers and plants."

The research team set out to determine if the naturally humid Wisconsin climate would have a strong response to irrigation like what has been observed in drier climates. In collaboration with private landowners, the researchers installed 28 temperature and humidity sensors in a 37-mile line across the Central Sands. The network included pine plantations, irrigated farms, and forests. 

The researchers collected data from the sensors from 2014 to 2016. This information was combined with irrigation levels obtained through a regional well withdrawal database.

According to the study, irrigation dropped maximum temperatures by an average of one to three degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, minimum temperatures were increased by up to four degrees. A smaller difference between daily maximum and minimum temperatures can significantly affect plant growth and the life cycles of insect pests."If you're adjusting the range of temperatures, you're changing who or what can live in an area," said Nocco.

The temperature differences between irrigated fields and nearby forests and fields were most pronounced when the fields were being irrigated during the growing season, but persisted throughout the year. 

Even though the cooling effect of irrigation offsets global warming on a regional scale, warming on a global scale is soon expected to outweigh this type of climate mitigation. In this scenario, farmers may face sudden stress.

"Farmers in irrigated regions may experience more abrupt temperature increases that will cause them to have to adapt more quickly than other groups who are already coping with a warming climate," said study co-author Christopher Kucharik. "It's that timeframe in which people have time to adapt that concerns me."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652486">Global Change Biology</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Christine Pedretti

Irrigated farms are cooling local temperatures in Wisconsin

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered that irrigated...

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena. 

For thousands of years people have looked up at the dancing spectacle that is the Northern Lights, and they continue to fascinate us today. 

Only appearing in the Northern Hemisphere, the streaks of green, blue, pink, and violet are caused by solar particles reacting with Earth’s magnetic field. 

The Sun is 93 million miles away, but the volatile star frequently sends charged particles speeding towards Earth. 

When the charged particles collide into Earth’s atmosphere and the magnetic field, it releases light particles. The particles spiral and move along with the magnetic current. 

[caption id="attachment_1874722" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/northern-lights.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1874722" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/northern-lights.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="432" /></a> Image Credit: Shutterstock/Sylvie Corriveau[/caption]

It’s thought that the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are responsible for the different vivid colors, with oxygen producing a green hue and nitrogen causing a blue or red color.

These bright displays are visible from space, and the northern lights are not the only aurora on Earth. In the Southern hemisphere, the Southern Lights are called Aurora Australis and are only visible in Tasmania. 

The <a href="https://www.northernlightscentre.ca/">Northern Lights</a> have held different meanings throughout the years with some seeing the bright dancing colors as an omen or sign of prosperity. 

[caption id="attachment_1874723" align="aligncenter" width="650"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/iceland.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1874723" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/iceland.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="430" /></a> Image Credit: Shutterstock[/caption]

Norse mythology saw the lights as a bridge to the gods, and in France they were thought to foretell strife. Scandinavians felt the lights were a good sign promising bounty and painless childbirth.

Speaking of Iceland, the country is one of the most popular destinations for Northern Lights vacations and tours. If you’ve always wanted to witness the Northern Lights for yourself in vivid technicolor, Iceland, Norway, <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/northern-lights-in-sweden/">Sweden</a>, Alaska, and Canada are some of the best places to it. 

Just make sure when planning your trip you know the best time of year to see the lights. 

Many summer vacationers to Alaska or Iceland are disappointed by the lack of lights because the closer you get to the Arctic Circle, the longer the summer days are, and in some areas the Sun never sets through the season. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Jamen Percy

The Northern Lights have captivated humans for thousands of years

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are one...

In the summer of 2015, the waters off the coast of Santa Barbara turned a strange bright blue-green, and now the cause has finally been determined.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.ucsb.edu/">University of California, Santa Barbara</a>, discovered the culprit behind the tropical hues were aggressive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/toxic-blue-tears-blooms-china/">blooms of algae</a>.

A study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, describes both the algae behind the transformation and the circumstances that allowed the algae to thrive.

The color was caused by blooms of coccolithophores called Emiliania huxleyi (E. hux), which unlike diatom algae, are not coated in silica but calcium carbonate. As the algae shed these plates, the calcium carbonate scatters light which gives the water a tropical lagoon appearance.

“When the water off the coast of California starts to look like you’re in the Caribbean, that’s really weird,” said Paul Matson, the lead author of the study.

E. hux are found everywhere, but for mid-latitude regions like Santa Barbara, large blooms are rare.

To find out what triggered such a massive bloom, the researchers first collected samples of the water when the blooms appeared to test chemistry, plankton density in the water, and determine the age of the algae.

The researchers also tracked the size of the bloom by analyzing satellite imagery taken once per day. Hourly maps of surface currents were combined with the satellite data to simulate algae blooms and track changes.  

A long period of warm water likely triggered the blooms, and the satellite data helped show where densities were not yet high enough to merit a bloom.

“That’s going to be where the new bloom comes from,” said Matson. “so we can look back and try to figure out what was going on in those areas that could have contributed to the bloom occurring.”

In the autumn of 2013, a large area of warm water moved into the northeast Pacific and stayed well into 2016, helped along by 2015 El Niño event.

“We had this extended period of time when we had extremely warm waters. We had low nutrient availability, and just strange things were happening,” said Matson.

E. hux can live off the nutrients released from decaying diatoms which surged during this period.

The research could help track other algae blooms to pinpoint pre-blooms and the source of the blooms. 

 “Our hope is that this approach can be used for studying other types of phytoplankton, like Pseudo-nitzschia, an important species of harmful algal blooms,” said Matson.

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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.copm">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: David Valentine

Why Santa Barbara’s coastal waters turned turquoise

In the summer of 2015, the waters off the coast...

Deforestation is a significant contributor to climate change as declines in forest cover reduces the amount of carbon stored in key terrestrial carbon sinks. 

But a new study has found that wood products like paper, lumber, and furniture help offset 1 percent of carbon emissions by locking carbon away.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> found that carbon sequestered in wood products has been overlooked in national stored carbon estimates. 

A country’s wood products could then help offset emissions according to the researchers, and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/timber-innovation-offers-hope-industry/">timber industry</a> already offsets one percent of total carbon emissions. 

The researchers published their findings in a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

“Countries are looking for net-negative emissions strategies. So it's not just about lowering our emissions but pursuing strategies that might have storage potential, and harvested wood products are one of those options," said Craig Johnston, an author of the study. “The question is, can we continue to consume wood products and have climate change benefits associated with that consumption?”

Johnston and colleagues analyzed data on global lumber harvests and wood production from 1961 to 2015.  Next, the researchers used five models of economic and population growth to calculate future carbon storage in wood products.  

Across 180 countries, wood production offset 335 million tons of CO2 in 2015, 71 million tons of which had been previously unaccounted for because current guidelines don’t allow countries to count carbon stored in wood products made from local timber that are then exported. 

By 2065, this gap could leave another 50 million tons of CO2 unaccounted for. 

The models showed that dependent on economic growth, wood product carbon storage could rise more than 100 million tons by 2030. 

For most countries, wood products only offset a small fraction of emission in 2015, and future manufacturing will not drastically increase carbon storage. However, for countries like Sweden, wood products offset nine percent of emissions in 2015. 

Economic growth is key to any future offset emissions. 

“As wood products are produced, you're adding to this carbon pool in the country, but these products do eventually decay,” said Johnston. “There's carbon emissions today from furniture or lumber that was produced 50 or 75 years ago. So if we're not producing at a rate that at least offsets those emissions, then we'll actually see that carbon pool become a net source of emissions.” 

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By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette,</a><a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Foryoui3

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Wood products help offset a small fraction of carbon emissions

Deforestation is a significant contributor to climate change as declines...

DCIM100MEDIA

How can we protect coral reefs from climate change? A team of experts has determined that the best way to protect <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/coral-bleaching-altering-fish-communities/">corals</a> from the damaging effects of climate change is to conserve a wide range of their habitats. This strategy could be applied to the conversation of many other species as well, both in the ocean and on land.

Study co-author Malin Pinsky is an associate professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at <a href="https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu/">Rutgers University-New Brunswick</a>.

"Rather than conserving just the cold places with corals, we found that the best strategies will conserve a wide diversity of sites," said Professor Pinsky. "Hot reefs are important sources of heat-tolerant corals, while cold sites and those in between are important future refuges and stepping stones for corals as the water heats up."

According to the <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a>, coral reefs boost economies by billions of dollars a year from fishing, recreation and tourism, and other benefits. Worldwide, approximately 500 million people rely on coral reefs for food and income.

Corals are threatened by global warming, bleaching events, reef destruction, ocean acidification, and nutrient pollution. The study authors noted that while predictions about the future of corals are generally grim, there is growing recognition that they can adapt rapidly to a changing climate.

Professor Pinsky collaborated with scientists at the University of Washington, Utah State University, Coral Reef Alliance, Stanford University, and the University of Queensland to investigate how different conservation strategies may help coral reefs survive climate change. 

The researchers modeled a range of potential strategies, including efforts to protect sites where existing coral populations appeared to be "preadapted" to future conditions and efforts to conserve sites that will be suitable for corals in the future. The researchers determined that a strategy to conserve many different kinds of reefs would work best.

"Corals are facing a gauntlet over the coming years and decades from warming oceans, but we found that reef conservation in general can really boost corals' ability to evolve and cope with these changes," said Professor Pinsky. 

"There is strength in diversity, even when it comes to corals. We need to think not only about saving the cooler places, where corals can best survive in the future, but also the hot places that already have heat-resistant corals. It's about protecting a diversity of habitats, which scientists hadn't fully appreciated before."

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/">Nature Climate Change</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: Michelle Stuart/Rutgers University-New Brunswick

How can we protect coral reefs from climate change?

How can we protect coral reefs from climate change? A...

A study led by the <a href="https://uci.edu/">University of California, Irvine</a> has found that nations will fail to meet their commitments to stabilize the global mean temperature by 2050 unless fossil fuel-burning power plants and vehicles are retired before the end of their typical lifespans. 

"We need to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by midcentury to achieve stabilization of global temperatures as called for in international agreements such as the Paris accords," said lead author Dan Tong, a postdoctoral scholar in Earth System Science. "But that won't happen unless we get rid of the long-lasting power plants, boilers, furnaces and vehicles before the end of their useful life and replace them with non-emitting energy technologies."

Rapid economic and industrial development in places like China and India has drastically increased the amount of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/co2-emissions-dropping-fossil-fuel/">fossil fuel-burning</a> infrastructure over the past decade. At the same time, the average age of infrastructure in developed countries has decreased. In the United States, for example, new natural gas power plants have replaced old coal-fired plants.

Based on the assumption that power plants will operate for about 40 years and that light-duty vehicles will be on the road for 15 years, the researchers used detailed data sets of existing fossil fuel-burning infrastructure to estimate "committed" carbon dioxide emissions.

According to the study, the total emissions from existing energy infrastructure take up the entire carbon budget to limit average global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. These emissions also use up close to two-thirds of the budget to keep warming to under 2 degrees Celsius by 2050.

The researchers investigated how early CO2-emitting infrastructure may need to be retired to meet international climate goals. They found that if current power plants were retired after 25 years of operation, rather than 40, global warming could still potentially be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

The use of existing infrastructure, however, will result in 658 gigatons of CO2 during its operational lifetime. Furthermore, the power plants that are currently being planned, permitted, or under construction will emit an additional 188 gigatons of CO2 if they become operational.

"Our results show that there's basically no room for new CO2-emitting infrastructure under the international climate goals," said study co-author Professor Steven Davis. "Rather, existing fossil fuel-burning power plants and industrial equipment will need to be retired early unless they can be feasibly retrofitted with carbon capture and storage technologies or their emissions are offset by negative emissions. Without such radical changes, we fear the aspirations of the Paris agreement are already at risk."

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/Rudmer Zwerver

Fossil fuel-burning infrastructure may be retired early to limit global warming

A study led by the University of California, Irvine has...

According to new research led by the <a href="https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/">University of Plymouth</a>, the ocean experienced a global shift around 170 million years ago when predator-prey relationships took control of the fate of the food web. Until that point, the success of marine organisms had been strongly controlled by non-biological factors, such as climate and ocean chemistry.

The study authors explained that this transformation coincided with the burgeoning of calcium carbonate-secreting plankton and the deposits they distributed across the seabed. The <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/marine-plankton-glow-predators/">plankton</a> likely stabilized the chemical composition of the ocean, which provided the right conditions for marine life to diversify on a massive scale. 

"Today, huge areas of the ocean floor are covered with the equivalent of chalk, made up of microscopic organisms that rose to dominance in the middle of the Jurassic period," explained study lead author Kilian Eichenseer. "The chalky mass helps to balance out the acidity of the ocean and, with that balance in place, organisms are less at the mercy of short-term perturbations of ocean chemistry than they might have been previously. It is easier to secrete a shell, regardless of its mineralogy, if the ocean chemistry is stable."

In the 540 million years since multicellular life first appeared, the influence of both the biological and non-biological environment has driven its evolution. How and when the balance between these factors changed, however, has been a mystery.

The researchers set out to test the theory that the evolutionary importance of the non-biological environment declined over time. They based their analysis on the minerals that make up calcified seashells, aragonite and calcite, which also form non-biologically in the ocean.

The study revealed that up until the middle of the Jurassic period, around 170 million years ago, the ecological success of shell-secreting marine organisms was strongly tied to their shell composition. In other words, organisms that secreted the mineral that was environmentally favored had an evolutionary advantage.

The rise of calcifying plankton, however, expanded the production of calcium carbonate across the entire ocean and revolutionized the Earth-Life system.

"During the Earth's history there have been several major events that shaped the evolution of life on our planet, such as the five big mass extinctions or the radiation of complex animals during the 'Cambrian Explosion,'" explained study co-author Dr. Uwe Balthasar.

"Our research identifies a previously overlooked event of this magnitude around 170 million years ago when the emergence of calcium carbonate-secreting plankton lifted constraints on the evolution of other marine organisms that we did not know existed. As a result, life in the ocean has diversified to levels far beyond what existed before."

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ngeo/">Nature Geoscience</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/amooo

The Earth-Life system was revolutionized 170 million years ago in the ocean

According to new research led by the University of Plymouth,...

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 



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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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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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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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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



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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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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