The Arctic, known for its icy landscapes and frozen permafrost, is rapidly transforming due to the intensifying effects of climate change. As temperatures rise, a silent but potent threat emerges: methane emissions. Unlike carbon dioxide, methane is not as widely discussed, yet its impact on global warming is profound. 



A new study published in the journal Nature highlights the growing concern over methane emissions in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-climate-will-permanently-change-by-2050-scientists-warn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic</a> and their role in creating a feedback loop that could accelerate climate change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-methane-traps-more-heat">Why methane traps more heat </h2>



Methane isn’t as abundant as carbon dioxide, but it’s far more potent. Over a century, it traps 30 times more heat. 



Xin (Lindsay) Lan, a climate scientist at <a href="https://www.colorado.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CU Boulder</a>’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), sees the urgency.



“Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas that we need to address urgently,” Lan said. “Our study suggests that a significant portion of the recent rise in atmospheric methane originates from natural <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-may-fuel-the-spread-of-diseases-by-unleashing-frozen-viruses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sources</a> driven by climate change. Our emission reduction efforts need to be more aggressive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-methane-levels-climb-steadily">Arctic methane levels climb steadily</h2>



For years, Lan has tracked methane levels at NOAA’s <a href="https://gml.noaa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Monitoring Laboratory</a> in Boulder. Methane emissions have steadily climbed since 2007. 



Scientists had pointed fingers at fossil fuels, responsible for 30% of emissions. Yet, Lan’s research points elsewhere - to tiny, ancient microbes thriving in new, warmer habitats.



Archaea - microbes that have lived for millennia in wetlands, landfills, and the guts of livestock - produce methane. They may be small, but they’re mighty emitters. Microbial emissions now make up nearly half of all global methane output. Yet, pinpointing specific sources remains tricky.



Lan isn’t just watching long-term trends. Seasonal fluctuations in methane also reveal what’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-meltdown-is-accelerating-global-warming-already-changing-earth-in-unimaginable-ways/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">changing</a> underground.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-permafrost-fuels-methane-emissions">Permafrost fuels methane emissions</h2>



Lan’s team dove into decades of data. Methane’s seasonal amplitude - the swing from highest to lowest levels in a year - is shrinking in northern latitudes. 



Why? Wetlands in the Arctic are expanding. Thawing permafrost is unlocking ancient carbon stores, creating perfect conditions for archaea.



Computer models show the Arctic’s wetlands have grown by 25% in the warmer months, feeding the microbes with more decomposing organic matter. The result: more methane.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-feedback-loop-accelerates">The feedback loop accelerates</h2>



When permafrost melts, more carbon enters the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/drastic-warming-will-transform-the-arctic-beyond-recognition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">atmosphere</a>. As temperatures rise, more permafrost melts. A cycle begins. Lan’s research shows that since 2007, this loop has intensified. What was once a trickle of methane is becoming a flood.



“This study, along with a few previous studies, has provided indirect evidence on potential climate feedback on methane emissions, which would be beyond our ability to control directly,” Lan said.



In previous work, Lan's team analyzed connections between today’s methane surge and dramatic warming events that ended past ice ages.



As Arctic ice sheets melted, vast stores of methane escaped, causing rapid temperature increases. That was thousands of years ago. Now, it’s happening again - but faster.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underestimated-methane-removal">Underestimated methane removal</h2>



Methane doesn’t linger forever. Hydroxyl (OH) radicals act like atmospheric scrubbers, breaking down methane. Lan’s team discovered that since 1984, these radicals have increased by 10%.



Unfortunately, OH levels are hard to measure - they disappear within seconds - scientists had assumed they remained constant. But Lan’s study suggests that the atmosphere has been removing more methane than previously thought.



“Our result showed that we’ve been underestimating how much methane the atmosphere has been removing, which means that there’s actually more methane being emitted than we previously estimated,” Lan said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-methane-feedback-loop">Arctic methane feedback loop</h2>



If the atmosphere is cleaning itself more efficiently, then methane emissions are higher than we realized. 



That’s a big problem. Emission reduction plans rely on accurate data. If those numbers are off, efforts to control methane may miss the mark.



Lan stresses that understanding methane’s sources is critical. Microbial emissions are surging, but fossil fuels still account for a major chunk of global output. 



And the Arctic’s permafrost holds double the carbon currently in the atmosphere. If warming continues, thawing permafrost could unleash catastrophic carbon releases.



“We need to aggressively cut all greenhouse gas emissions from the sources we can control,” Lan said. “We need to address the feedback loop before reaching that tipping point.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgency-amid-uncertainty">Urgency amid uncertainty</h2>



Time is not on our side. Methane’s rise mirrors past warming events, but this time, human activities amplify the effect. 



Lan’s work highlights a critical truth: the Arctic is changing faster than expected, and methane is slipping through the cracks.



Now, the question is - how much longer before the feedback loop spirals beyond control?



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08900-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



-----



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Arctic warming fuels dangerous methane feedback loop

The Arctic, known for its icy landscapes and frozen permafrost, is rapidly transforming due to the intensifying effects of climate change. As temperatures rise, a silent but potent threat emerges: methane emissions. Unlike carbon dioxide, methane is not as widely discussed, yet its impact on global warming is profound. A new study published in the journal Nature highlights the growing concern over methane emissions in the Arctic and their role in creating a feedback loop that could accelerate climate change. Why methane traps more heat Methane isn’t...

New research from a team from Sweden’s <a href="https://liu.se/en">Linköping University</a> shows that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/san-diego-greenest-cities/">large cities</a> rely on their hinterlands to sustain urban growth. Therefore, the urban-rural divide regarding both economic prosperity and chance for personal opportunities is widened. This study, published in <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/">Science Advances</a>, provides further insight into the growing levels of inequality between rural and urban areas in many countries.

“Our research shows that people who leave rural areas for cities are, on average, better educated and have higher cognitive abilities,” said lead author Dr. Marc Keuschnigg, from <a href="https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/iei/ias">Linköping University's Institute for Analytical Sociology</a>. “This selective migration fuels the higher than expected outputs of big cities and, at the same time, adds to the cumulative decline of less populated regions.”

Selective migration of individuals from rural areas to big cities is a huge part of urban growth, which bucks a previous popular theory that urban growth is self-reinforcing due to the +15% phenomenon.

Urban scaling analyzes the benefits and detriments of city life and shows the link between a city’s wealth, innovation, crime, and disease spread, and population size. Urban scaling shows that population size is the most important factor in city growth. For example, when a city’s population is doubled, total city income, number of patents, romantic breakups, and residential moves increase by 115%, proving that individuals’ productivity and pace increase as the city grows.

The extra 15% is “superlinear scaling,” which urban researchers believe is a direct response to the influx of ideas being exchanged between people in a dense urban environment. They believe that the +15% phenomenon is self-reinforcing because urban growth benefits all aspects of society.

However, this recent study has found that the “self-reinforcing” +15% phenomenon explains only half of the increased social interconnectivity in cities. More so, the phenomenon is bolstered by the differences in population characteristics within metropolitan areas.

"Our results are of considerable policy relevance, because they identify the migration of talented people from smaller areas to larger cities as an important force behind observed agglomeration effects," Dr. Marc Keuschnigg concluded.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Urban-rural divide is escalated by big city reliance on hinterlands

New research from a team from Sweden’s Linköping University shows...

Between 2013 and 2015, the sunflower starfish, a predator within the waters of the North Pacific, experienced a massive population drop. Citizen science diving surveys show that the sunflower starfish could not grapple with a serious disease that took hold of the North Pacific during these two years. 

Now, the authors of a new study, put forth by the <a href="https://www.aaas.org/">American Association for the Advancement of Science</a>, have reported a link between the decline of sunflower star population within shallow waters and warmer sea surface temperatures.

The sea star wasting disease (SSWD) killed off a large amount of starfish along the west coast of North America, from Alaska to Mexico, between 2013 and 2015. The disease was carried by a sea star-associated densovirus and wreaked havoc in the intertidal zone. However, the effects of the North Pacific SSWD in the subtidal zone was unclear, except for the fact that scientists knew the sunflower starfish had dramatically declined in abundance.

Drew Harvell and his colleagues recruited divers between California and British Columbia to help report sunflower star population change. 10,956 diver surveys of shallow waters completed between 2006 and 2017 have shown a decrease in sunflower star abundance. Between 2006 and 2014, divers reported seeing an average of 100 sunflower stars during their dives. However, after 2014, 60-100% of diver surveys between California and Oregon reported zero to one sunflower star sightings per shallow water dive.

Authors further predict, based on 8,968 bottom trawls from California to Washington from 2004 to 2016, that the sunflower star’s biomass in deep offshore water has decreased 100% between 2013 and 2015 within this region. This decline matched up with the timeline of abnormally <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/warming-waters-increase-extreme-storms/">warm sea surface temperatures</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:oliviagharvey24@gmail.com">Olivia Harvey</a>, <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Ed Gullekson

Warm waters, disease responsible for predator sea star decline

Between 2013 and 2015, the sunflower starfish, a predator within...

A new study led by researchers at the <a href="https://www.rochester.edu/">University of Rochester</a> has found that the Earth's magnetic field was “on the verge of collapse” around 565 million years ago. This would have allowed solar wind to diminish the atmosphere and expose the planet to harmful radiation. 

The researchers discovered that the planet's core solidified just in time to recharge the <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/earths-magnetic-field-shifting/">Earth's magnetic field</a>. The study sheds new light on the formation of the inner core and confirms the theory that it is relatively young. 

“An enduring mystery about Earth has been the age of its solid inner core,” wrote the study authors. Scientists have speculated that it solidified anywhere from 500 million to 2.5 billion years ago.

The research team, which was led by palaeomagnetism researcher Richard Bono, analyzed individual crystals of plagioclase and clinopyroxene that formed 565 million years ago in what is now Quebec. 

When the experts reconstructed the timeline of the Earth's solidification, they discovered that there was a large amount of magnetic reversals occurring at the same time, leading to record low geomagnetic field intensities.

In an article for <a href="https://www.nature.com/nature/articles?type=news-and-views">News &amp; Views</a>, Peter Driscoll explained that “the nucleation of the inner core may have occurred right in the nick of time to recharge the geodynamo and save Earth's magnetic shield.”

Driscoll said the weak magnetic field 565 million years ago was previously misinterpreted as being the result of “rapid tectonic motion, hyper-frequent polarity reversals, and even an equatorial dipole.”

“A young inner core is consistent with thermal history models of the Earth that predict a large transfer of heat from the core to the mantle due, indirectly, to upward revisions to the thermal conductivity of the core.”

The study findings may improve the search for alien life by giving astronomers a new glimpse into how planets form that can sustain life.


The research is published in the journal in <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

Earth’s magnetic field nearly collapsed 565 million years ago

A new study led by researchers at the University of...

Australia is extremely protective of its bees, and for a good reason. It’s the only country that doesn’t have to deal with the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/varroa-mites-honey-bees/">Varroa mite</a>, a parasitic mite that feeds off of honey bees and has been linked to the transmission of the deadly Deformed Wing Virus. 

No bee products that could contain or spread the virus are allowed into Australia and beekeepers work hard with legislatures to protect their bee colonies from the virus.

But a new study conducted by researchers from the <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/">University of Sydney</a> has found that the mite and virus relationship has been largely misunderstood and Deformed Wing Virus doesn’t pose as much of a threat as previously thought.

It was believed that the Varroa mite transmitted extremely virulent strains of the Deformed Wing Virus, but it turns out this is not the case.

Instead, the researchers found that the mite is far more dangerous and efforts to protect Australia’s bees should incorporate new ways to ready bees for potential infestations as it’s only a matter of time before the mite invades Australia’s. 

“The prevailing wisdom is that the mite selects for very virulent strains of the virus,” said Madeleine Beekman, a member of the research team. “For that reason, the virus is now known as a very dangerous virus, and the Australian beekeepers are adamant this virus should not get into the country. But our work shows that the virus is more likely to be an innocent bystander.”

The researchers published their new findings in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

For the study, the team injected honey bee pupae with large quantities of the virus and tracked the transmission of the virus as it spread throughout the colony, looking specifically for any changes in the severity or virulence of the virus that could be explained by this transmission.

Typically, the mite will go from bee to bee and spread the virus. However, the researchers found that contrary to popular belief, the mite chooses a transmission route that selects against more dangerous and virulent viruses.

The virus that remains, the Deformed Wing Virus, is also not deadly.

“Our work therefore changes our understanding of the effect Varroa has on Deformed Wing Virus and the health of honey bee colonies,” said Beekman. “It means we don't have to be scared of the virus. Instead, we need to focus on eliminating the mite and reducing its numbers.”

The researchers say that more must be done to protect the bees against the mite as this is not the biggest threat to Australia’s bee populations.

“If we want to protect the bees, it now no longer seems to make sense to try to combat the virus," said  Beekman. “Instead, there needs to be a renewed focus on ensuring the number of mites in honey bee colonies remain low.”

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Pixabay

Bee virus is not as dangerous as the mite that carries it

Australia is extremely protective of its bees, and for a...

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are some of the most common <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/air-pollution-birth-defects/">birth defects</a> in the United States, and around 40,000 babies are born with CHD each year in the US, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">Centers for Disease Control</a>.

Climate change could pose a major risk for pregnant mothers, as a new study has found that maternal exposure to extreme heat waves increases the chances that an infant will be born with CHD.

Researchers from the <a href="https://www.albany.edu/sph/">School of Public Health at the University of Albany</a> conducted the study and found that rising temperatures due to climate change could increase the number of infants born with CHD by 7,000 over an eleven-year period in the US. 

The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. 

“Our findings underscore the alarming impact of climate change on human health and highlight the need for improved preparedness to deal the anticipated rise in a complex condition that often requires lifelong care and follow-up,” said Shao Lin, the senior author of the study. 

While animal studies have shown that exposure to extreme heat can disrupt fetal development, the connection between exposure to heat for pregnant women and heart defect risk for their infants had not been well understood. 

As climate change is expected to increase temperatures, droughts, and heat waves, understanding the links between heart defects and heat exposure is critical for healthy fetal development. 

CHD can be managed, but an increase in infants born with CHD will put a strain on the medical community required to care for them. 

The researchers estimated the number of projected births between 2025 and 2035 across different regions in the US and compared these numbers with climate change forecasts from the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/">National Aeronautics and Space Administration</a> (NASA) as well as the <a href="https://www.giss.nasa.gov/">Goddard Institute for Space Studies</a>. 

The researchers projected average maternal heat exposure for each region studied for both spring and summer and examined the impacts of different exposure indicators. 

A previous study conducted by Lin was then used to gauge the maternal heart exposure and infant CHD association between 2025 and 2035. 

Under the projected forecasts, the researchers found that the midwestern US will experience the largest increase in newborns with CHD. 

The results of the study indicate a definite link between extreme heat exposure due to climate change and increased risk of CHD for infants. 

“Although this study is preliminary, it would be prudent for women in the early weeks of pregnancy to avoid heat extremes similar to the advice given to persons with cardiovascular and pulmonary disease during heart spells,” said Lin. 

--

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>

A warming climate may increase the risk of congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are some of the most common...

As the midwestern United States braces for record-breaking freezing temperatures and wind chill over the next few days, climate experts say that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unstable-polar-vortex-brutal-winter/">unstable polar vortexes</a> are becoming more and more common. 

First coined by meteorologists on social media in 2014, the term polar vortex was used to describe a severe cold snap that blanketed the city of Chicago in temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

This new bout of frigid temperatures is predicted to be even worse than the cold snap five years ago.

While some people mistake severe cold bouts like those that come from a polar vortex as <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/01/29/trump-always-dismisses-climate-change-when-its-cold-not-so-fast-experts-say/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.d2a79d9f25f8">proof positive that global warming isn't real</a>, it’s important to look at precisely what is happening with a polar vortex and why air temperatures drop the way they do.

A polar vortex is the result of a blast of warm air in the Arctic. It may seem counterintuitive, but as temperatures rise in the Arctic, sudden stratospheric warming airflow over the Arctic is disrupted and broken up. 

Pieces of the polar vortex then are free to wander, and as that air makes its way over North America, temperatures plummet.

The current polar vortex across the midwest was caused by displaced Moroccan heat, according to the <a href="https://www.ap.org/en-us/">Associated Press</a>. Over the North Pole, temperatures rapidly rose by about 125 degrees.

Wednesday morning, one of the wandering pieces of the polar vortex will cover the US, and in parts of the Midwest, temperatures could drop to 21 degrees below zero and minus 65-degree windchill, according to the <a href="https://www.weather.gov/">National Weather Service</a>.

What’s more, the wandering vortex isn’t going anywhere soon.

“The impacts from this split, we have a ways to go. It’s not the end of the movie yet,” Judah Cohen, a winter storm expert told the Associated Press. “I think at a minimum, we’re looking at mid-February, possibly through mid-March.”

The weakening of the polar vortex is also occurring more often in recent years than in previous decades. A weaker vortex means a higher likelihood of extreme bouts of cold weather.

Whether or not the current weakening vortex is related to climate change is a complicated question to answer, but one thing for sure is that that extreme weather events like icy cold snaps and severe heat waves have become more frequent as of late.

“This symptom of global warming is counterintuitive for those in the cross-hairs of these extreme cold spells,” Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist at the <a href="https://whrc.org/">Woods Hole Research Center</a> said in an email. “But these events provide an excellent opportunity to help the public understand some of the ‘interesting’ ways that climate change will unfold.”

--

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>

The polar vortex isn’t going away soon and is becoming more common

As the midwestern United States braces for record-breaking freezing temperatures...

A growing collection of studies has documented methane emissions from <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/new-cattle-feed-methane-emissions/">cattle</a> and other grazing animals, but these animals actually emit other greenhouse gases as well.

Researchers at the <a href="https://ciat.cgiar.org/">International Center for Tropical Agriculture</a> (CIAT) investigated nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, which are released from cattle urine, and found that these emissions can be significantly limited by keeping cattle pastures healthy.

The team collected urine from cattle at research sites in five countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. They distributed the urine samples on pairs of cattle fields that were classified as degraded or healthy based on vegetation coverage. The study revealed that degraded pastures emitted up to three times as much nitrous oxide, which has an even greater influence on global warming than carbon dioxide.

“Degraded pastures are bad in so many ways,” said study lead author Ngonidzashe Chirinda. “This study adds to the case for land restoration. Degraded pastures not only affect food security and the livelihood of farmers today, but affects the livelihood of future farmers because they emit more gases that cause global warming.”

The findings highlight the urgency of global land restoration agreements like Initiative 20x20, which aims to restore 20 million hectares of land in Latin America by 2020, among other targets. 


Degraded livestock land is characterized by overgrazing, soil compaction, loss of organic material, and low levels of nutrients and soil carbon. Chirinda estimates that there are 150 million hectares of degraded land in Latin America, with 80 million hectares of degraded pasture in Brazil alone.

Large-scale projects that restore grazing land with improved forage grasses and add new shrubs and trees could significantly mitigate the negative climate effects produced by degradation. In addition to reducing N2O emissions, restored landscapes can store more carbon, have healthier soils, and promote the growth of more productive livestock.

“This study highlights the importance of avoiding land degradation in the first place,” said study co-author Todd Rosenstock. “Maintaining healthy pastures appears to reinforce goals of both the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification simultaneously.”


The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/scientificreports">Scientific Reports</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Paid for by <a href="http://earth.com">Earth.com</a>

Image Credit: Neil Palmer/CIAT

Healthy cattle pastures can limit harmful greenhouse gas emissions

A growing collection of studies has documented methane emissions from...

China emits the most carbon dioxide of any nation, and a new study from <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> has found that the country is still releasing large amounts of <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/melting-ice-sheets-release-methane/">methane</a> as well. These methane levels continue to rise despite strict new regulations on emissions from China’s coal mines. 

 “Our study indicates that, at least in terms of methane emissions, China's government is ‘talking the talk,’ but has not been able to ‘walk the walk,’” said study first author Scot Miller, an assistant professor of Environmental Health and Engineering.


Coal accounts for nearly 72 percent of China's electricity generation. While an increase in coal production has been well documented, it has been unclear how much methane gas (CH4) emissions may have risen in China.  

To investigate trends in China's methane emissions, the team analyzed data from the Greenhouse Gases Observing (GOSAT) satellite, which was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in 2009. GOSAT is one of the first satellites to measure methane and carbon dioxide with enough precision to provide scientists with an accurate view of greenhouse gas emissions at the Earth's surface. This study represents the first time that GOSAT observations have been used to focus specifically on China's methane emissions. 

The researchers found that methane emissions rose by approximately 1.1 teragrams each year from 2010 to 2015. By 2015, annual CH4 emissions in China were about 50 percent higher compared to 2010. The study also revealed that the rise in CH4 emissions from China accounts for 11 to 24 percent of the world's total increase. 

In 2010, China imposed stricter rules for CH4 to be converted to CO2 for heat and electricity generation during the coal mining process. The findings of the new study, however, suggest that the regulations have not been effective. 

“China has received a lot of press coverage over the past few years for its efforts to enact greenhouse gas regulations and its efforts to become a leader on climate change, but the numbers show that China's methane regulations, in particular, have not had any detectable impact on their emissions,” said Professor Miller.

The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>.

--

&nbsp;

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

&nbsp;

Image Credit: Public domain

Despite regulations, China’s methane emissions continue to rise

China emits the most carbon dioxide of any nation, and...

The decision by the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) to extend its approval of the weed killer Dicamba is having major consequences for <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/that-stings-insecticide-hurts-queen-bees039-egg-laying-abilities/">honeybees</a> and the plants that are pollinated by them.

Despite warnings from experts that Dicamba could drift and kill weeds that are essential to honeybees, the EPA approved its use on genetically modified soybeans and cotton for an additional two years last October. 

According to a report from <a href="https://www.revealnews.org/">Reveal</a> and the <a href="https://thefern.org/">Food &amp; Environment Reporting Network</a>, Dicamba has already destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of non-genetically modified soybeans, tomatoes, wine grapes, and other specialty crops. The weed killer is also contributing to substantial losses of honey as well as the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that depend on honeybees for pollination.

Bret Adee and his family run the largest beekeeping operation in the country, Adee Honey Farms, which is located in South Dakota. “It seems like everybody’s been affected,” Adee told Reveal. He also said that 2018 may be “the smallest crop in the history of the United States for honey production.”

In 2011, scientists at the EPA cited the work of agricultural ecologist David Mortensen, who warned that the increased use of Dicamba would negatively affect pollinators and the wild plants that they support. Five years later, however, the EPA approved the use of Dicamba for two years, which has now been extended through 2020.

According to Mortensen, no one factor can be blamed for the disappearance of honeybees, but the evidence is “pretty damning” that Dicamba is making a contribution. 

Over the last two years, Dicamba has damaged nearly five million acres of soybeans in the Midwest. “You know that all the field edges anywhere near the damaged crops were hammered by the herbicide, which would mean the broadleaf plants the bees go to were hammered,” said Mortenson.

Many beekeepers near soybean fields have reported losing half of their hives. Adee told Reveal: “We can’t breed bees fast enough to keep up with the losses and maintain healthy colonies.”
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

The weed killer Dicamba is destroying honeybee habitats

The decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend...

Earlier this month, more than 4,000 climate scientists, educators, and experts attended the 98th annual meeting of the <a href="https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/">American Meteorological Society</a>. Now, in a new piece in <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/">Politico Magazine</a>, Bryan Bender describes why this group of professionals is embracing a new approach to address <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/humans-driving-climate-change/">climate change</a>, which begins with avoiding the phrase itself.

The strategy will focus less on who or what is causing the issues associated with emerging climate patterns, while focusing on obvious everyday changes that people are witnessing firsthand such as earlier springs and hotter, drier summers.

By shifting away from a language that blames human activities for changing weather patterns, the hope is that more people will take notice of how climate change may affect them personally and will gain a sense of urgency to help prevent its dangerous effects.

According to Bender, many of the conference attendees expressed the need to take politics out of the conversation altogether. The new strategy aims to get the attention of appointed officials, as well as the people who vote for them, by making them aware that their own health and livelihoods are seriously threatened. 

Bernadette Woods Placky is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist who directs the <a href="http://medialibrary.climatecentral.org/about-us">Climate Matters</a> program at Climate Central. 

Placky told Bender: “Is it humans or is it not? We really need to get beyond that. We are still not getting enough people to talk about it in the ways that matter to human beings in their homes, in their communities, for their family.”

“So it is making those connections in ways that really matter to people. It’s a jobs story. It’s an agriculture story. Connect it to the farm bill; boom!”

In his report, Bender pointed out that local TV meteorologists were among the last scientists to accept that human activities are driving climate change.


Keith Seitter, the executive director of the American Meteorological Society, told Bender: “I think a lot of the broadcasters were concerned that there was such a political divide within the population and if they were very vocal of any aspect of climate change some subset of their audience would not view them with a level of trust.”

But now, hundreds of broadcast meteorologists are working with Climate Matters to develop new ways of informing their viewers about climate change, and this approach is encouraged by the American Meteorological Society.

“There has also been some very specific programs that have worked with target audiences - even in some deeply red states - about how do we message some of the science in ways that depoliticize it,” said Seitter. 

“If you start talking about, ‘We are getting more rainfall than we used to; our climate is different than it used to be,’ that is different than saying humans are causing it. They’re not saying a whole lot of why on why it is changing but they are at least getting people to understand those changes are there.”
--
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Discussing climate change in new ways can inspire a sense of urgency

Earlier this month, more than 4,000 climate scientists, educators, and...

Researchers have identified 226 food production shocks across 134 nations in the last five decades, with an increasing frequency of shocks occurring in all sectors. Study lead author Richard Cottrell noted that <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-weather-worse/">extreme weather</a> was a major cause of shocks to both crops and livestock, which highlights the vulnerability of food production to weather volatility.

“In recent decades we have become increasingly familiar with images in the media of disasters such as drought and famine around the world,” said Cottrell. “Our study confirms that food production shocks have become more frequent, posing a growing danger to global food production.”

"We looked at the full range of global food production systems, covering crops, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture. We found that crops and livestock are slightly more shock-prone than fisheries and aquaculture, and some regions, such as South Asia, are more frequently affected than others.”

"While the number of food shocks fluctuates from year to year, the long-term trend shows they are happening more often."

According to Cottrell, the increasing frequency of food shocks allows for less recovery time between events and negatively affects the resilience of communities. “Reduced recovery time hinders coping strategies such as accumulating food or assets for use during times of hardship,” he explained.

Since 2010, conflict-related shocks to food production across sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East have combined with poor weather conditions to cause a rise in global hunger. 

“Land-based crop and livestock production are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as drought, which are expected to become more frequent and intense with climate change,” said Cottrell. “However, marine-based food production is not immune from shocks.”

“Overfishing was responsible for 45 percent of shocks detected in landing data, while disruptions to aquaculture production have risen faster and to a higher level than any other sector since the 1980s.”

"Globalized trade and the dependence of many countries on food imports mean that food shocks are a global problem, and the international community faces a significant challenge to build resilience.”

Cottrell said resilience can be achieved by investing in climate-smart food systems and and by establishing food reserves in import-dependent nations.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/natsustain">Nature Sustainability</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

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Climate change, conflict are major causes of increasing food shocks

Researchers have identified 226 food production shocks across 134 nations...

You’d never know it simply by judging from accounts of dramatic winter weather, but the western United States actually had a record low snowpack last year, according to <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dry-warm-winter-leaves-western-u-s-snowpack-at-record-low-levels/">Scientific American</a>.  Even more unfortunate, this doesn’t seem to be a fluke but part of an overall downward trend in winter snow for the western US.  

Of course, there are nuances and despite the trend the short term weather remains unpredictable.  A ski resort near my hometown in western Colorado was recently sold and the new owners experienced an unexpected large amount of snow this winter, bucking the trend.  Nevertheless, reduced snow appears to be the new norm for western states despite such brief reprieves. 

<a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180302124830.htm">Science Daily</a> reported last March on a study from Oregon State University that found 90% of sites sampled in the western US showed declines in snowpack, a third of those were determined to have significant declines.  Since 1915, overall the snowpack in western states has declined by 15 to 30% on average. The most obvious impact on the loss of snow is to the tourism industry. 

It’s obvious that places like Colorado, Wyoming and Utah draw tourists to their ski resorts along with other western states like California and Oregon.  In an article from 2012, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/02/no-business-like-snow-business-the-economics-of-big-ski-resorts/252180/">The Atlantic</a> reported that the ski resorts in the US have an accumulated 60 million ski and snowboard days.  All of that skiing spread across the United States equated to $3 billion in business. At the time of the report in The Atlantic, the winter was the driest so far on record with snowfall down 80% at Vail Ski Resorts.  Despite less visits to the resort properties, profits didn’t drop. The same is true of last year, another record low snowfall year, according to <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/business/2018/03/08/vail-ski-resorts-keep-making-money-even-with-pitiful-snowfall-in-utah-and-across-the-west/">The Salt Lake Tribune</a>.  

Part of the secret is offering ski passes at a relatively low price, making the sport accessible to more and creating more demand.  The bottom line is a profit increase of 6.6% through January 2018. Other sources of income such as lodging, food and retail at the resorts did decline despite profits in lift tickets and ski lessons.  Overall, the ski industry seems to be hanging on and making a profit for now, but it serves to highlight the delusional attitude towards water (whether it’s snow or a river) prominent in the western US.  How long can a ski resort be a viable business as snowfall continues to decline? Reality seems to be catching up to ski resorts. An article in <a href="https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2018/01/26/weather-and-climate-we-fearhow-climate-change-alter-skiing-colorado/1038318001/">The Coloradan</a> reports that many resorts expect profit declines this year.                                     

The drop in western snowpack is the equivalent water loss of <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/educate/edpack3.html">Lake Mead</a>, the west’s largest reservoir holding approximately 29 million acre feet of water.  Besides ski resorts, mountain snowpack ends up feeding western rivers and agriculture as it melts in the spring.  Snow is melting earlier in the spring, making the runoff feeding habitats, farms and cities less predictable. 

<a href="http://www.earth.com/news/water-shortages-reservoir-levels/">Lake Mead</a> is fed by snowmelt that runs into the Colorado River; 90% of the water used in Las Vegas comes from the famed reservoir.  An article from 2014 in <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2014/03/las_vegas_water_conservation_it_s_a_mirage.html">The Slate</a> reports on water conservation efforts in Las Vegas, pointing out that water usage goals in Nevada are unimpressive.  

The Slate reported that at that time, Las Vegas was still using more water per capita than almost any US city.  Front lawns are illegal in Las Vegas but golf courses still remain, as they do in other desert cities such as Tucson, Arizona. The Water Authority of Las Vegas has a goal of reducing water consumption to 199 gallons per person per day by 2035 which is twice the water usage of California in 2014.  Ironically, newer houses in Las Vegas consume less water than older houses, promoting more building to reach a goal of less consumption per household in Sin City. 

Of course, more houses may mean overall more water consumption, no matter how much the water usage is reduced on average per person.  The water that Las Vegas doesn’t use is pumped back into the Colorado River, meaning that how much water the city consumes has real consequences for people and wildlife downstream.  One of the unfortunate realities of the situation is farmers and fish miss out on water for what amounts to a desert mirage.

The mantra, ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ creates the idea of a place where actions have no long term consequences.  You can get married by an Elvis impersonator and divorced the same day and it doesn’t matter. Fortunes are thrown away and won with the roll of a dice or the spin of a wheel.  Water is tossed into the Nevada desert with the same disregard of wealth and morality. <a href="https://www.bellagio.com/en/entertainment/fountains-of-bellagio.html">The Bellagio</a> hotel and casino advertises their fountains saying:

“There is nothing like seeing them in person. The Fountains of Bellagio were destined to romance your senses. Take in a spectacular show of thoughtfully interwoven water, music and light designed to mesmerize its admirers. It is the most ambitious, choreographically complex water feature ever conceived and it’s absolutely free for any visitor to enjoy… Fall in love with this unprecedented aquatic accomplishment”            

The Bellagio isn’t alone in creating this fantasy either.  There are hotels in Las Vegas fashioned after castles with moats of water evaporating slowly into the desert air.  There are pirate ships on the famed Las Vegas strip which battle several times a day and sink into illusory oceans made of real water.  So much water is used for pure entertainment and luxury and it doesn’t matter so much if it’s recycled grey water or not because that water could be passed down stream to those who need it.  As the west continues to dry out and we use up aquifers and water levels at reservoirs drop to record low levels, it’s time we stop thinking of places like Las Vegas or the Colorado Mountains as places to party.  Instead, we need to look at these places as homes, for us and for wildlife. What happens to the snow will affect an entire interconnected region, even the hot desert cities. 

--

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>

The consequences of declining snowpack in the western United States

You’d never know it simply by judging from accounts of...

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

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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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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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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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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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