Complex organisms, thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand, have the power to shape entire ecosystems and influence the Earth's climate. 



A recent study by researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) and the National University of the Peruvian Amazon reveals the existence of an unknown family of microbes thriving in the waterlogged, low-oxygen peatlands of Peru’s northwestern Amazon rainforest.



These tiny organisms play a crucial role in the carbon cycle, with the ability to either stabilize carbon for long-term storage or release it into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide and methane.



The findings highlight the vital function of tropical peatlands as one of the world’s most significant carbon storage systems. The microbes within these ecosystems determine whether the peatlands remain vast carbon reservoirs or become sources of emissions that accelerate climate change. 



With human activity and climate shifts threatening their stability, the need to protect these delicate ecosystems has never been greater.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-peatland-microbes-and-carbon-regulation">Peatland microbes and carbon regulation</h2>



Peatlands act as massive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-warming-is-accelerating-beyond-control-as-co2-levels-rise/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon</a> vaults, storing immense amounts of organic material that has accumulated over thousands of years. This process occurs because the waterlogged conditions slow down decomposition, allowing peat to build up over time. 



In the Amazonian peatlands, newly discovered microbes belonging to the ancient Bathyarchaeia group regulate this process by breaking down carbon compounds. Their metabolic flexibility allows them to survive in extreme environments, including oxygen-poor conditions.



These microbes perform a dual function. Under stable conditions, they help store carbon, keeping it locked away in the peat and reducing the risks associated with climate change. 



However, environmental shifts, such as drought and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-extremes-in-2024-what-have-we-learned/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rising temperatures</a>, can activate these microbes in ways that lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions. If peatlands dry out or are disturbed, these organisms accelerate the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fragile-balance-of-the-amazon-peatlands">Fragile balance of the Amazon peatlands</h2>



The microbes identified in the study are found in the&nbsp;Pastaza-Marañón Foreland Basin, one of the most extensive peatland regions in the northwestern Amazon rainforest of Peru. 



Spanning approximately&nbsp;100,000 square kilometers, this area contains vast stretches of flooded rainforest and swamps underlain by ancient peat. These peatlands store around&nbsp;3.1 billion tons of carbon, roughly double the carbon held in all the world’s forests combined.



Despite their immense importance, these peatlands face increasing threats from climate change and human activity. Shifts in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures can dry out the peat, changing the microbial activity and turning these carbon sinks into carbon sources. 



Deforestation, mining, and land-use changes further disrupt the natural equilibrium, accelerating the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-microbes-in-amazon-peatland">Significance of microbes in Amazon peatland</h2>



"The microbial universe of the Amazon peatlands is vast in space and time, has been hidden by their remote locations, and has been severely under-studied in their local and global contributions," said Hinsby Cadillo Quiroz, corresponding author of the study and researcher at <a href="https://www.asu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ASU</a>’s Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology.



“Our work is finding incredible organisms adapted to this <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-added-41-extra-days-of-dangerous-heat-in-2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environment</a>, and several of them provide unique and important services - from carbon stabilization or recycling to carbon monoxide detoxification and others."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-climate-connection">The climate connection</h2>



For centuries, tropical peatlands have functioned as reliable carbon sinks, absorbing more carbon than they release. However, they are now at risk of becoming net carbon emitters due to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/2024-confirmed-as-earths-hottest-year-in-recorded-history/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rising global temperatures</a> and changes in precipitation. 



When peatlands dry out, microbial activity shifts, leading to&nbsp;an increase in methane and carbon dioxide emissions. This process could drastically alter global carbon cycles and intensify climate change.



According to the study, continued human-caused disruptions could result in the release of 500 million tons of carbon by the end of the century - an amount equivalent to 5% of the world’s annual fossil fuel emissions. Such an outcome would significantly amplify global warming and accelerate environmental changes worldwide.



The researchers emphasize the urgent need for sustainable land management strategies to prevent these carbon-rich ecosystems from turning into major emission sources. Preventing deforestation, reducing drainage projects, and limiting mining activities in peatlands are crucial steps in preserving their role in climate regulation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microbial-contributions-to-climate">Microbial contributions to climate</h2>



The discovery of these highly adaptable microbes provides new insights into how life persists in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/we-are-in-a-race-against-time-to-save-our-food-supply-from-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme environments</a> and how microorganisms influence global climate systems. 



These microbes consume carbon monoxide, a gas toxic to most life forms, and use it for energy, effectively reducing carbon toxicity in their surroundings. 



By breaking down organic carbon, the microbes generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide - which is then used by other microbes to produce methane. This interconnected microbial network plays a pivotal role in regulating the ecosystem’s overall carbon balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-microbes-survive-in-amazon-peatland">How microbes survive in Amazon peatland</h2>



One of the most remarkable aspects of these microbes is their ability to survive in fluctuating oxygen levels. The Amazon rainforest undergoes seasonal shifts in water levels, creating an environment where oxygen availability changes throughout the year. 



These microbes have adapted to thrive under both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor conditions, ensuring their survival in the dynamic Amazonian ecosystem.



However, as climate change alters rainfall patterns and human activities increase disturbances, the balance maintained by these microbes is at risk. 



Tracking shifts in temperature, precipitation, and ecosystem dynamics will be essential for predicting the future impact of microbial activity on climate stability.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-path-forward-for-conservation">Path forward for conservation</h2>



As scientists uncover the microbial universe of Amazonian peatlands, they highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts. Protecting these ecosystems requires&nbsp;a combination of research, sustainable land management, and local engagement&nbsp;to ensure their long-term stability. 



The study demonstrates that the smallest organisms can have an outsized impact on global systems. When it comes to conservation, we must consider not only visible landscapes but also the microscopic life forms that sustain them.



This research, supported by the&nbsp;National Science Foundation, represents a significant step forward in understanding the crucial role of tropical peatlands in the global carbon cycle. As climate change continues to reshape our planet, the hidden ecosystems of the Amazon may hold key lessons for mitigating future environmental challenges.



Cadillo-Quiroz and his team plan to apply their findings to&nbsp;tropical peatland restoration. By deepening our understanding of microbial processes, they hope to develop strategies that enhance carbon sequestration and protect these vulnerable ecosystems from further degradation.



“Working to understand microbes and ecosystems in the lush and magnificent Amazon rainforest is the honor of my life, which I aim to use in the protection of this region in the fight against climate change,” said Cadillo-Quiroz.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00387-24" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microbiology Spectrum</a>.



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Tiny microbes in Amazon peatlands help balance the global climate

Complex organisms, thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand, have the power to shape entire ecosystems and influence the Earth's climate. A recent study by researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) and the National University of the Peruvian Amazon reveals the existence of an unknown family of microbes thriving in the waterlogged, low-oxygen peatlands of Peru’s northwestern Amazon rainforest. These tiny organisms play a crucial role in the carbon cycle, with the ability to either stabilize carbon for long-term storage or release it into the...

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/effective-steps-battle-climate-change/">Climate change</a> is a current and gradually increasing problem for our planet, which is likely not news to you. But some of the consequences of climate change may catch you by surprise. When the air gets warmer, its density decreases. Air with less density (also known as “thin” air) makes it harder for airplanes to generate lift from their wings. Because of this, rising global temperatures due to climate change may actually make it harder for airplanes to take off in the not-to-distant future.

A new study in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10584">Climate Change</a> presents a global analysis that looked at how rising temperatures affect airplanes and airports. Researchers estimate that if our current emissions continue at this rate, fuel capacities and payload weights on airplanes may have to be reduced by as much as 4 percent on particularly hot days. For the average aircraft (roughly 160 seats), a 4 percent weight reduction is equal to about 12 to 13 passengers. Such temperature-related issues could cause major delays and travel headaches for airports and passengers in many countries.

Airplanes with lower temperature tolerances will also be at a greater risk for these problems, and airports located in hotter parts of the world with shorter runways or at high elevations will also see these issues exacerbated. For example, researches estimate that on LaGuardia’s short runways, a Boeing 737-800 may have to offload weight half of the time during New York’s hottest days.

“As the world gets more connected and aviation grows, there may be substantial potential for cascading effects, economic and otherwise,” says study coauthor Radley Horton, a climatologist at Columbia University.

Average global temperatures have risen nearly 1 degree Centigrade since 1980, and may already be having an effect on certain areas of the planet. Just this past June, American Airlines canceled more than 40 flights out of Phoenix when temperatures hit highs of almost 120 degrees. These high temperatures made it dangerous for smaller regional jets to take off.

Besides simple safety issues, this also negatively impacts the airline industry, which generally operates on a razor-thin margin to begin with. Modifications to airplane engines and body designs could help mitigate the heat problem, but they would come at great cost. This study just shows another example of how climate change has consequences that reach far across the planet and touch almost every part of our lives.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/">The Earth Institute at Columbia University</a>

Heat waves caused by climate change could disrupt airplanes

Climate change is a current and gradually increasing problem for...

Stress raises the chances that pregnant women exposed to toxic chemicals will have a low birth weight baby, a new study found.

"It appears that stress may amplify the health effects of toxic chemical exposure, which means that for some people, toxic chemicals become more toxic," said Tracey Woodruff, a <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California - Berkeley</a> professor and lead author of the study.

This is the first study to examine the combined effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/marijuana-low-doses-relieve-stress/">stress</a> and environmental toxic chemical exposures on fetal growth, researchers said.

High-stress pregnant women who smoked were about twice as likely to have a low birth weight baby as low-stress smokers, the study found. Stress was quantified by factors such as socioeconomic status or years of paternal education. 

The effects of air pollution on low birth weight were heightened when combined with stress, the researchers found. Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter, a type of air pollution, increased the risk of African-American women having a low birth weight baby compared to those who were white.

The study, published in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">PLOS ONE</a>, was based on a systematic review of 17 human studies and 22 animal studies examining the links between chemicals, stress and fetal development.

"While the evidence on the combined effects of chemicals and stress is new and emerging, it is clearly suggestive of an important question of social justice," said co-author Rachel Morello-Frosch at UC Berkeley.

Poverty-related stress may make people more susceptible to the negative effects of environmental hazards, she said. 

"That needs to be a consideration for policymakers and regulators," Morello-Frosch said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://berkeley.edu/">University of California - Berkeley</a>

Stress amplifies the effects of toxic chemical exposure

Stress raises the chances that pregnant women exposed to toxic...

A massive iceberg weighing over 1 trillion tons has broken off the Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica, scientists announced Wednesday morning.

The iceberg, which most likely will be named A68, has been described as twice the size of Lake Erie and measures 2,240 square miles in size.

The event was anticipated by researchers from Project MIDAS and <a href="http://www.swansea.ac.uk/">Swansea University,</a> who had been monitoring Antarctica ever since the Larsen A ice shelf collapsed in 1995 and the Larsen B shelf dissolved in 2002.

"We have been anticipating this event for months, and have been surprised how long it took for the rift to break through the final few kilometers of ice," said Adrian Luckman, researcher from <a href="http://www.swansea.ac.uk/">Swansea University</a>. "We will continue to monitor both the impact of this calving event on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, and the fate of this huge iceberg."

The event has completely reshaped the <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/massive-iceberg-larsen-c-ice-shelf/">Larsen C</a> ice shelf, reducing it by 12%, which will require maps to be redrawn.

While the team noted that this was a natural event not caused by human-induced climate change, it still leaves the ice shelf in danger of further dissipation. 

From here, the iceberg is likely to break into smaller chunks, with some pieces remaining in the water for decades, while others will make their way into warm waters and melt.

The new iceberg is about half the size of the largest iceberg ever recorded. B15 broke off Antarctica’s Ross ice shelf in 2000 and measured a whopping 4,250 square miles.

[caption id="attachment_718227" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Larsen_C_breaks.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-718227" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Larsen_C_breaks-300x268.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="268" /></a> Credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2017), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO[/caption]

-

By <a href="mailto:rarnold@earth.com">Rory Arnold</a>, <a href="http://earth.com/staff">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source:<a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/APFN_ICEBERG?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-07-12-09-11-44"> AP</a>

Image Credit: EPA/NASA/John Sonntag

Enormous iceberg breaks off Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica

A massive iceberg weighing over 1 trillion tons has broken...

Nearly 90 percent of American households use <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/summer-air-conditioning-pollution/">air conditioning</a> during the hot summer months. That’s understandable, but the planet pays a price. All of those air conditioners release 100 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere -- and that, of course, contributes to climate change. It can also overload the power grid when everyone is blasting their ACs full power. 

You’re not going to toss your air conditioner (and anyway, that burdens landfills and can leak hydrofluorocarbons). But there are ways you can reduce your reliance on window units or central air and save money -- without significantly increasing your discomfort. Here are a few tips.

Dress for the weather. Sure, you spend your downtime in shorts and flip flops. But how do you dress for work? Is your company old school when it comes to dress code? If the requirements are dress casual or even more formal, you might not be dressed for the weather. Tell your boss that the business could save on energy costs with a more relaxed summer dress code. If you’re the boss, comfortable attire could increase morale and boost productivity while cutting costs. Win win.

Don’t chill out. We’ve all seen (or been) restaurant diners bringing sweaters into the establishment during an August heat wave. Many homes and commercial spaces air condition well beyond the comfort needs of visitors and occupants. Try dropping your home or business thermostat setting a notch or two. Back off if you feel uncomfortable or others complain, but you just might save money and increase comfort with this easy step.

Use the heat cycle. It’s rarely uniformly warm on even the hottest summer days. It’s generally cooler early in the day and after the sun goes down. Can you use that time better? Dial up the AC and step out to do your gardening, walk the dog, cut the grass or run errands during these relatively cool dayparts.   

Hug a tree. Or at least get on a first name basis with a few. Trees strategically placed around your property can keep the radiant sun out of your house and cool your yard. Take a few ticks off of your AC setting at home and bring the kids to the park. Or sit in the shade with a book or a laptop to get some work done. Trees rock during the sweltering summer months.

‘Summerize’ your home. Make sure you have screens in place, then open windows and use or install ceiling fans to stir up whatever breezes can be found. Also, it might sound counterintuitive, but better insulating your home blocks the summer heat as well as it keeps the icy air out in the winter. Add plantings or window shades outside to reduce the sun’s impact.  All of these steps can help reduce the time you need your air conditioner or at least allow you to use it more efficiently. 

Stay temp aware. Is the AC running 24/7 simply because it’s summer and probably hot out? Find out if that’s true. Step outside or get a current temp reading on your phone. If you can adjust the AC setting or even turn it off altogether and open the windows you’ll save money while doing the planet a solid.  

--

Original Feature by <a href="mailto:DSearls@earth.com">David Searls</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

How to keep cool while staying green this summer

Nearly 90 percent of American households use air conditioning during...

Rising temperatures that result from global warming may lead to major losses for the European wine industry. New research is shedding light on the potential impact of warmer weather in <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-western-mediterranean-sea/">Mediterranean</a> countries. The study reveals that labor and productivity could suffer as agricultural workers try to adjust to the heat.

Unlike most other major industries, the production of wine is still largely operated by manual workers. Because of this, experts believe the wine industry is likely to take a direct hit from the effects of global warming. The researchers set out to examine the influence of heat on the productivity and labor output of manual grape-picking workers in Cyprus to test this theory. These laborers work in temperatures that reach over 96 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The researchers used an innovative technique known as time-motion analysis to evaluate labor output and productivity of seven workers. Time-motion analysis is a reliable method of discovery, as it can account for every second spent by each worker during every shift.

The study established that hot summer temperatures coincided with labor loss up to 27 percent. The workers felt they were exerting more energy due to the impact of the heat on their metabolic and cardiovascular systems and labor output suffered as well. The hotter temperatures caused a need for irregular breaks, and the workers engaged in working activities for 15 percent less time. 

The findings of this study, published in the journal <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ktmp20">Temperature</a>, suggest that workplace heat is directly related to labor and productivity losses, particularly in European agricultural workers. The wine industry makes up 0.2% of all the goods and services produced worldwide, which means increased temperatures are a potential source of economic losses on a global scale.

The study is an unprecedented assessment of the impact of workplace heat on European agriculture workers. However, the authors express a need for expansion of this study to accurately predict the scope of global warming’s influence on agricultural laborers in the wine industry. Further research is needed that will include wine production workers in other countries.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ktmp20">Temperature</a>

How global warming could severely hurt the European wine industry

Rising temperatures that result from global warming may lead to...

Billions of gallons of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/oklahoma-earthquake-wastewater-injection/">wastewater</a> result from hydraulic fracturing. While this technique has produced a wealth of energy resources for the United States, researchers are taking a look at the environmental impact of this unconventional process. According to a new report, the release of wastewater in Pennsylvania has contaminated a watershed with radioactive material and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is a method of extracting gas and oil. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, this practice accounted for over half of oil production and two-thirds of gas production in the United States in 2015, and these numbers are expected to grow. Hydraulic fracturing has led to a major shift away from relying on coal, which could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, environmental risks also come along with the process such as ground and surface water contamination. 

Fracking produces large amounts of wastewater containing radioactive material, salts, metals, endocrine-disrupting chemicals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that pose environmental and health risks. A recent report in Pennsylvania estimates that 10,000 oil and gas wells in the Marcellus Shale produced 1.7 billion gallons of wastewater in 2015. The water is collected in facilities to be treated before it is released, but the treatment is limited. 

Bill Burgos led a team of experts from Penn State, Colorado State, and Dartmouth in an effort to determine how effective these water facilities are in treating the wastewater from hydraulic fracturing. They sampled water and sediment from a lake located downstream from two of the treatment facilities. The analysis revealed peak concentrations of radium, alkaline earth metals, salts and organic chemicals present in the same sediment layer.

Two classes of organic chemicals were detected including endocrine-disrupting chemicals known as nonylphenol ethoxylates and carcinogens known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The highest concentrations were detected in sediment layers deposited 5 to 10 years ago, which was a peak period of wastewater disposal. High levels of radium were also present in water as far as 12 miles downstream from the treatment plants.

The researchers say that the threats to human health and the environment associated with this contamination are unknown. They express a need for modified regulations of wastewater disposal. The study is published by the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> in the journal <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag">Environmental Science &amp; Technology</a>.

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a>

Hydraulic fracturing wastewater may pollute radioactive material

Billions of gallons of wastewater result from hydraulic fracturing. While...

Seaside sparrows usually live in tidal marshes and build their nests just above normal high tide where they can stay hidden from predators in the vegetation. Rising sea levels may put these birds in a predicament, as unusually high tides will destroy their nests. However, moving their nests up makes them more vulnerable to predators. A new study  from <a href="http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/loi/cond">The Condor: Ornithological Applications</a> reveals that despite the increasing risk of flooding, the nests of these saltmarsh birds face much more of a threat from predation.

Elizabeth Hunter of the <a href="http://www.uga.edu">University of Georgia</a> developed a model to simulate the nesting behavior and success rates of seaside sparrows on the coast of Georgia. Her model revealed that predation poses a much greater threat to the survival of seaside sparrows.  

The study established that flooding risk did not influence predation rates, but predation risk did impact flooding risk - due to the fact the sparrows move their nests lower for safety. Despite this increased risk of flooding paired with a projected spike in sea levels, predation risk remains almost seven times more menacing to seaside sparrows than flooding.

"Nest predation rates are so high right now that even under extreme sea level rise conditions, more nests are likely to be eaten than flooded," explained Hunter. "However, predation and flooding threats act synergistically, meaning that any estimates of the negative effects of sea level rise on the nesting success of Seaside Sparrow or other species are likely underestimates if they do not also consider the negative effects of predation on flooding risk. The flip side of this is that management actions to reduce nest predation could also reduce the risk of nest failures from flooding." 

If conservation strategies are used to protect seaside sparrows from predators, they can overcome the threats of both flooding and predation. The birds could place their nests higher up to stay clear of extreme high tides if their nesting sites were fenced in, for example.

Chris Elphick of the <a href="http://uconn.edu">University of Connecticut</a> is an expert on tidal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saltmarsh-sparrow-may-go-exctinct/">marsh birds</a> who commented on Hunter’s study. 

"The study nicely illustrates the importance of understanding the behavior of individual birds when trying to devise strategies to mitigate threats such as predation and tidal flooding,” said Elphick. “Regardless of the threat, it is increasingly clear that tidal marsh birds and their habitats are in trouble, and that we need to explore a range of potential solutions to find ways to help them persist in light of the many ways that humans are changing coastal habitats."

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.americanornithologypubs.org/loi/cond">The Condor: Ornithological Applications</a>

Image Credit: E. Hunter

Rising sea levels push Seaside Sparrows closer to predators

Seaside sparrows usually live in tidal marshes and build their...

In teaching people about how to reduce their carbon footprints, governments and schools aren’t highlighting the most effective steps, according to a new study.

The four steps that most substantially decrease carbon footprint are eating a plant-based diet, avoiding air travel, living car-free, and having smaller families, the <a href="http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a> study said.

However, many governments are still promoting strategies like comprehensive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-bottle-threatens-environment/">recycling</a>, which is four times less effective than a plant-based diet, or changing household light bulbs, the study said.

The research analyzed 39 peer-reviewed papers, carbon calculators, and government reports to develop the potential of a range of individual lifestyle choices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The researchers found that government resources from the EU, United States, Canada and Australia don’t highlight these actions, instead focussing on incremental changes with much smaller potential to reduce emissions.

"We recognize these are deeply personal choices,but we can't ignore the climate effect our lifestyle actually has,” study co-author Kimberly Nicholas said. “Personally, I've found it really positive to make many of these changes. It's especially important for young people establishing lifelong patterns to be aware which choices have the biggest impact.”

The authors hope the study “sparks discussion and empowers individuals," she added.

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/erl">Environmental Research Letters</a>.

[caption id="attachment_718178" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/145043.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-718178" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/145043-300x175.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="175" /></a> Credit: Seth Wynes/Kimberly Nicholas, Environmental Research Letters, 2017[/caption]

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a>

Image: Seth Wynes/Kimberly Nicholas, Environmental Research Letters, 2017

The most effective individual steps to battle climate change

In teaching people about how to reduce their carbon footprints,...

Warmer Arctic temperatures have triggered cooler winters and springs in North America, which has weakened vegetation growth and lowered carbon uptake capacity in its ecosystems, according to a new study. 

Researchers analyzed an index of sea surface temperatures from the Bering Sea and found that in years with higher-than-average <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/delay-antarctic-ozone-recovery/">Arctic</a> temperatures, changes in atmospheric circulation affected climate throughout North America. 

In years of intense cold and low precipitation, the team found that the unfavorable conditions adversely affected vegetation growth—including crop yields—which decreased carbon uptake capacity by about 14 percent, the study said.

“If current warming trends continue, it is feasible to conclude that the ecosystems in regions affected by the anomalous climate will suffer greater damages due to the cold and dry spells,” the authors saId.

Further research is needed to obtain a “general conclusion” on the matter, but the research “delivers important implications for climate adaptation,” the authors added.

The study was conducted by Jin-Soo Kim and Jong-Seong Kug at <a href="http://www.postech.ac.kr/">Pohang University of Science and Technology</a> (POSTECH), in collaboration with Su-Jong Jeong from <a href="http://www.sustc.edu.cn/en/">South University of Science and Technology </a>in China. It  is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/ngeo/"> Nature Geoscience.</a>

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.postech.ac.kr/">Pohang University of Science and Technology</a>

Warmer Arctic is weakening vegetation growth in North America

Warmer Arctic temperatures have triggered cooler winters and springs in...

Home batteries used to store power from solar panels in individual houses could become commercially competitive in the 2030s, a new study found.

The findings from <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a> are based on a new analysis tool that predicts how much consumers will have to pay in the future for energy storage technologies.

"Energy storage has been recognized by leading figures such as Barack Obama and Bill Gates as one of the key technologies of a low-carbon 21st century,” said lead author Oliver Schmidt. “With this analysis tool we can quantify when energy storage becomes competitive and identify where to invest to make it happen, thereby minimizing investor and policy uncertainty."

Renewable energy sources like solar or wind only produce power intermittently and if excess amounts are not stored, they are wasted, the researchers said. Currently, most energy storage technologies are still very new and have a high cost, the study said.

As more units are produced, costs usually fall, researchers said, citing renewable power generators, such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tesla-solar-roof-tiles/">solar panels</a>.

With reasonable investment, energy storage technologies could soon become much cheaper, with electric cars leading the way as battery technology costs fall, the new study says.

The Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Great Britain is projected to cost £19.6bn, and produce 3.2 gigawatt (GW) of power on demand when it is completed in 2025, the study said.

If the same amount of money were invested in large-scale lithium-ion batteries, they would be able to deliver 21-41 GW of power when charged, the analysis said. That is more than ten times the UK's current electricity storage capacity, enabling the use of significantly more wind and solar energy.

"This tool allows us to combat one of the biggest uncertainties in the future energy system, and use real data to answer questions such as how electricity storage could revolutionize the electricity generation sector, or when high-capacity home storage batteries linked to personal solar panels might become cost-effective," said study co-author Iain Staffell.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/">Imperial College London</a>

Home solar power storage batteries could be competitive in 2030s

Home batteries used to store power from solar panels in...

Most air and water pollution in Europe is from coal-powered plants, with Great Britain among the worst polluters, the European Union said.

Half of the plants responsible for the largest releases of air and water pollution were in Britain, with a total of 14, <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/">The European Environment Agency</a> reported. Second was Germany with 7, followed by France and Poland, each with 5.

The report was based on 2015 data, the latest available, from 35,000 industrial plants including power stations, petrochemical refineries and metal processing units from the 28 EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Serbia.

The report noted progress by the EU in reaching its climate and energy policy objectives for 2020 and 2030, but said <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/obama-protect-streams-forests-coal-mining/">coal</a> is still the most highly used fuel in large combustion plants despite a tripling in the use of biomass from 2004 to 2015.

Coal is still responsible for the largest releases of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, although some plants have significantly decreased their emissions in recent years, the report said.

Plants with the highest emissions in 2015 were the Belchatow power plant in Poland, the Drax power station in Britain, Jaenschwalde in Germany, and Kozienice in Poland, the agency said.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley, </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/APFN_EU_EUROPE_POLLUTION?SITE=AP&amp;SECTION=HOME&amp;TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&amp;CTIME=2017-07-10-07-30-15"> AP</a>

Coal-powered plants found to be the worst polluters in Europe

Most air and water pollution in Europe is from coal-powered...

For the past decade or more, climate change has been one of the most newsworthy and heavily researched topics across the globe. Everyone from scientists to politicians (there’s often a wide gap in-between) seems to have an opinion on the impacts of climate change and where we currently stand in its progression. But how much does the common person know?

An opinion poll of 10,000 European citizens is the first in-depth study to assess public engagement with marine climate change issues across 10 European countries. While most of the European population is relatively well informed on marine climate change, “a surprising number are poorly informed, and even misinformed revealing a major failure at communicating climate change science to the public,” says Carlos Duarte, co-author on the paper and Director of the <a href="https://rsrc.kaust.edu.sa/Pages/Home.aspx">Red Sea Research Center</a> in Saudi Arabia.

For example, 54 percent of people polled think that humans play only a partial role or no role at all in climate change. On the other hand, about 30 percent of European citizens believe that loss of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-record/">Arctic sea-ice</a> in the summer and sea temperature increases of more than 2°C – impacts that are not expected to occur until at least the year 2100 – have already occurred. “This is hugely disturbing because if these changes have already occurred in their minds, what incentive do these citizens have to demand action to prevent such changes?” worries Duarte.

The study also showed that the public believes that ocean pollution is responsible for the most severe impact to climate change, but they lack understanding of ocean acidification caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Counter-intuitively, researchers found that nations that are currently coping with problems as a result of climate change – such as the Dutch with sea level rise and the Norwegians with sea-ice loss – are the least concerned by the impacts of climate change.

On another disturbing note, many that participated said that they have very little trust in government institutions and their scientists, and instead mostly trust scientists employed by universities. 

“The study shows that we don’t all engage with issues around climate change impacts on the coast and seas in the same way,” explains lead author Paul Buckley from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science in the UK. “We need to tailor our message given the differences in how audiences across Europe engage with these issues. Making issues that seem remote from people's everyday lives relevant is certainly a challenge.”

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Frontiers

Study: Widespread misinformation on the effects of climate change

For the past decade or more, climate change has been...

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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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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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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



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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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NTU...

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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



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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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Aerial,Photo,Of,River,In,Amazon,Rainforest,Jungle,In,Peru

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center</a> describes how scientists are using autonomous sound sensors to monitor deforestation in the Amazon. By recording soundscapes, the experts can determine which animals are present through their distinct sounds.&nbsp;



Using this method, sounds can be used as scientific measurements to analyze the effects of deforestation. The researchers will gain a better understanding of how the acoustics of a forest can be used to measure its health.&nbsp;



"From space, parts of the Amazon rainforest that have previously been logged or burned may look lush and green, like a place buzzing with activity and full of sounds. But inside the rainforest, the animal life may tell a different story, of a harsh environment and a quieter soundscape," says NASA.



Video Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center&nbsp;



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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 deforestation in the Amazon through sounds

[sendtonews key="u0TYxxqfF7-2186404-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA’s...