Under the unforgiving Arctic sun, the wintry landscape swarms with shivers and whispers that tell tales of an unrelenting rise in temperatures. This icy expanse, our last bastion of frost, is experiencing a warming spree that outpaces the global average by three to four times. 



But here's a twist: new research suggests that the slow-down of a crucial ocean current could ironically, cool the rising heat in the Arctic.&nbsp;Could this be the solution we’ve been waiting for?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slowing-ocean-current-in-the-arctic">Slowing ocean current in the Arctic</h2>



For decades, scientists have sounded alarms on the consequences of unchecked Arctic warming. They warn of severe implications for wildlife, massive shifts in weather patterns, and more frequent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-industrialization-how-will-it-impact-delicate-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">extreme events</a>.&nbsp;



Is there any respite? According to a study spearheaded by UC Riverside, there just might be.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-changes-in-atlantic-circulation">Changes in Atlantic circulation </h2>



The study explores the effects of the slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) on the Arctic climate. 



Think of AMOC as our planet’s heat distributor, transferring warmth from the tropics to higher latitudes.



According to projections, Arctic temperatures could shoot up by a whopping 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) by the century's end.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-component-of-the-climate-system">Critical component of the climate system</h2>



When factoring in the slowing AMOC, however, there’s a ray of hope. The study suggests that Arctic temperatures would only rise by 8 degrees Celsius (14.4 degrees Fahrenheit).



“The AMOC is a critical component of our <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-permafrost-melt-devastating-role-accelerating-global-climate-change/">climate system</a> because it moves heat around the globe,” said Yu-Chi Lee, UCR graduate student in Earth and Planetary Sciences and first author of the study. 



“We found that its weakening reduces the amount of heat reaching the Arctic, which slows down the rate of warming.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-ecosystem-and-ocean-currents">Arctic ecosystem and ocean currents</h2>



While this slowdown may marginally lessen Arctic warming, it does not eliminate all of our concerns. The study underlines persistent worries regarding Arctic ecosystems. 



As sea ice takes a hit, polar bears face habitat loss, hindering their hunting activities and survival.



Plus, as the ice gives way, it reveals darker open water which soaks up more sunlight. This accelerates warming through a scenario known as the albedo effect.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-effects-of-the-amoc-slowdown">Effects of the AMOC slowdown</h2>



While the ocean current slowdown could put a damper on Arctic warming, the researchers warn of other possible climate disruptions.



A noteworthy concern is a potential shift in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a tropical rain belt. 



Should this rain belt shift southward, regions relying on its rainfall could encounter more frequent droughts - an outcome that spells trouble for agriculture and water supplies.



Additionally, the research clears up misconceptions linking sea ice melting to rising sea levels. When sea ice melts, it doesn't directly elevate sea levels. This is comparable to how a glass does not overflow when ice cubes in it melt.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-factors-behind-arctic-melting">Factors behind Arctic melting</h2>



The real culprits? Melting land ice, like glaciers, and water expansion as it heats up, contribute to rising sea levels. The AMOC slowdown may not heavily influence sea level rise, but it certainly stirs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/polar-bears-are-suffering-from-painful-ice-balls-stuck-on-their-feet/">significant changes</a> in the climate system.



“The AMOC slowdown may offer some temporary relief in the Arctic, but this is not a simple good-news story,” said study co-author Professor Wei Liu. “The overall impact on ecosystems and weather patterns, both in the Arctic and globally, could still be severe.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-model-simulations">Climate model simulations</h2>



The researchers turned to a coupled climate model, integrating interactions between the ocean, atmosphere, land, and sea ice, to trace the AMOC's influence.&nbsp;



By comparing two simulations - one where the AMOC slows due to rising greenhouse gases, and another where its strength is artificially maintained - they determined how much future Arctic warming is tied to the AMOC slowdown.



“Our simulations allowed us to clearly see how much of the future Arctic warming is tied to the AMOC slowdown,” Lee said. "Even though the slowdown reduces warming by a couple of degrees, the overall effects on Arctic ecosystems and the global climate system remain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-sea-ice-is-headed-toward-a-historic-low/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">severe</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ocean-current-slowdown-and-the-arctic">Ocean current slowdown and the Arctic</h2>



Lee noted that the AMOC slowdown has only recently started, and the scientific community is actively debating its duration and continuity.



"While the AMOC slowdown might provide some short-term benefits, its broader impacts show us that even small shifts in ocean circulation can cause ripple effects across the planet," said Lee.



"Climate change is far from a one-region issue. The future of the Arctic - and the world - depends on how we respond today.”



The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2402322121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



-----



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The Arctic is melting fast, but a slowing ocean current could help

Under the unforgiving Arctic sun, the wintry landscape swarms with shivers and whispers that tell tales of an unrelenting rise in temperatures. This icy expanse, our last bastion of frost, is experiencing a warming spree that outpaces the global average by three to four times. But here's a twist: new research suggests that the slow-down of a crucial ocean current could ironically, cool the rising heat in the Arctic.&nbsp;Could this be the solution we’ve been waiting for? Slowing ocean current in the Arctic For decades, scientists have...

Don’t worry, 2016 hasn’t been all bad. As all of the celebrity deaths, dirty politics, and creepy clowns stole our attention, researchers were working quietly behind the scenes, studying our planet. And it paid off – they’ve discovered 133 new species of plants and animals this year. 

The new species were discovered on five continents and in three oceans, and range from blood-sucking ants, to a new bird virus, to the most beautiful fish one scientist had ever seen. 

“Biodiversity scientists estimate that we have discovered less than 10 percent of the species on our planet,” Dr. Shannon Bennett said in a press release from the <a href="https://www.calacademy.org/">California Academy of Sciences</a>.

The Academy publicized the 133 finds, which were discovered by Academy-associated scientists. Bennett is the Academy’s chief of science.

“Each of these species – known and as-yet-unknown – is a wonder unto itself, but may also hold the key to ground-breaking innovations in science, technology, or society,” Bennett said of the discoveries. “Species live together in rich networks that thrive on complexity whether we can see it or not.”

Among the finds: 

Dracula ants

A stunning 43 new species of ants were discovered this year, including several species of creepy, crawly “Dracula ants,” or Stigmatomma. Many of the new ant species, including Stigmatomma, were discovered in Madagascar.

Dracula ants build tiny colonies underground, where they feed off of their own larvae. They wound the young ants to drink their hemolymph – a blood-like substance in larval insects. They live most of their lives underground or in rotten eggs, and also prey on centipedes and beetles.

Thorny grandfather

Another new species of insect spotted in Madagascar is Thevenetimyia spinosavus, which means “thorny grandfather.” The insect looks like a bee, but it isn’t. It’s a bee fly, which are known for imitating other insects such as bees (like their name indicates), wasps, and even spiders.

What makes this particular bee fly unique, however, is that it is long, slender, and covered in grey bristles. It also has spikes on its thorax. The other bee flies in Madagascar are shorter and chubbier, and the new discovered doesn’t seem to be closely related genetically. In fact, it’s more similar to bee flies in northern Africa, showing the species likely has a wide range.

Bee flies, including the new discovery, do pollinate plants like their true bee doppelgangers. However, their larvae are fierce, and often attack and eat the larvae of other species.

A ‘twilight zone’ fish

The Grammatonotus brianne is the deepest new fish discovery made by human hands, according to the Academy. It’s a stunning pink and yellow species of groppo discovered by deep-diving scientists in a “twilight zone” reef off the coast of the Philippines.

“This groppo is the most beautiful fish I’ve ever seen,” said Dr. Luiz Rocha, who spotted the new species along with <a href="http://www.bishopmuseum.org/">Bishop Museum</a> research associate Brian Greene. The groppo shows how little humans know about the ocean’s deep reefs, he said.

It was one of 24 new fish species described in 2016.

A frightening new avian virus

Bird flu may be what worries humans, but the newly discovered Poecivirus may cause a lot more trouble for birds. The virus has been linked to a disease that has harmed birds and stumped scientists for years – it may even be the cause, or one of them. 

Scientists have studied Avian Keratin Disorder for more than a decade, but learned little about the disease. It causes birds’ beaks to grow out of control, making it difficult for them to eat or preen their feathers. All birds, but especially water birds, use preening to spread waterproof oils on their feathers, which keep the birds warm and dry. Birds with overgrown, deformed beaks from AKD often suffer from cold and hunger, eventually dying.

The new virus was discovered among DNA fragments from bird populations in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. It appears to be from the picornavirus family, which also includes human illnesses like polio and the common cold. The researchers will need to continue studying the disease to determine if it is the cause of AKD. 

Other new discoveries include a species of armored lizard with unique defensive habits from Angola, a new species of coral off the coast of California, seven brightly colored new sea slug species, a new pink flower in Mexico, and 36 new types of ground beetles – most of them from a single national park in Madagascar. Scientists also discovered fossil remains of previously unknown ancient sea urchin and sand dollar species.

California Academy of Sciences reveals 133 new species discovered in 2016

Don’t worry, 2016 hasn’t been all bad. As all of...

The Obama administration has ruffled some feathers with five potential plans that would limit mining projects on federal land to protect the greater sage grouse. 

Greater sage grouse numbers have been in decline in recent years as they lose habitat to development and industrial projects such as mining. Between 200,000 and 500,000 are left in the western U.S. 

The sage grouse is important because rises and falls in its numbers can be a bellwether for the health of sagebrush ecosystems in the West. Much like the canaries once used by miners, when the birds begin dying, other animals tend to follow.

None of the options restrict currently approved mining and energy exploration projects, though future oil and gas drilling projects would need to use directional drilling from a distance to avoid disturbing the grouse.

It would be up to the incoming Trump administration which of the plans – if any – to put into place.

But the plans have drawn skeptics. 

“Federal land grabs are never popular in Nevada and the latest one by the BLM is no different,” Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada <a href="http://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=pressreleases&amp;id=E691B1AB-F2AF-4C45-A7DE-82CC2C2322C2">said in a statement</a>. “A mining ban does little to help sage-grouse and will devastate northern Nevada’s future economic competitiveness.”

He would work with the Trump administration to focus sage grouse protection efforts on preventing wildfires, not private mining projects on federally owned lands, he said.

The <a href="https://www.blm.gov/">Bureau of Land Management</a> has teamed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and ranchers across the western states in the <a href="http://www.sagegrouseinitiative.com/">Sage Grouse Initiative</a>. The project partners private landowners with public lands managers to protect and maintain sage grouse habitat. Efforts include removing invasive plant species from sage land, restoring wet meadows, and wildfire prevention. 

On the other side of the aisle is Randi Spivak, the public lands program director for the <a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/">Center for Biological Diversity</a>. She called on incoming Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, a Montana politician who calls Teddy Roosevelt his inspiration to follow in Roosevelt’s footsteps and conserve sage grouse habitat on public lands.

<a href="https://twitter.com/Spivak14/status/814521001551790080">On Twitter</a>, Spivak thanked President Obama and his administration for moving to designate nearly 2 million acres of public lands as national monuments. The Center for Biological Diversity has also launched a “resistance movement” called Earth2Trump to fight what they view as attacks on the environment and civil rights by the President-elect. 

The administration’s proposed plans are part of a promise it made in September 2015. At that time, it chose not to list the prairie bird for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The administration, along with the BLM, <a href="https://www.fws.gov/">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</a>, and <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/">U.S. Forest Service</a>, believed that the sage grouse could be protected without being placed on the endangered list. 

Protection under the Endangered Species Act would have strictly limited mining, agriculture, drilling, and other activity in sage grouse habitat on both public and privately owned lands.

The greater sage grouse is listed as “near threatened” by the <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22679503/0">Red List</a>, maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to monitor which species are in danger of going extinct. “Near threatened” is the first step away from “least concern.” 

The plans proposed by the Obama administration are <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/projects/nepa/70697/94514/114120/SFA_DEIS_Main_Text_508.pdf">available to review as a PDF</a> from the Bureau of Land Management.

Feds: mining limits on public lands could protect greater sage grouse

The Obama administration has ruffled some feathers with five potential...

For centuries, doctors have recommended the healing powers of the ocean to treat various mental and physical ailments. From soothing skin to easing arthritis and improving circulation, the health benefits of seawater are extensive.

Thalassotherapy is the term for using seawater and shore climate for medical treatment. This type of therapy is believed to be practiced as far back as ancient Rome, Greece, and Egypt.

Dr. Richard Russell, a prominent doctor who practiced in the mid-1700’s, introduced the idea of seawater as a remedy for “diseases of the glands.”

In 1897, French doctor Rene Quinton discovered that our blood plasma and seawater are 98 percent identical. By simply being immersed in ocean water, minerals the body needs can be absorbed through the skin. Sinuses may be cleared out by flushing the nasal cavity with saltwater. Symptoms of other respiratory issues may be reduced with saltwater exposure as well.

The director of clinical services at the medical charity <a href="http://www.allergyuk.org/">Allergy UK</a> claims people who live by, and swim in, the sea tend to have healthier respiratory systems.

Skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema are often significantly improved by the salty water of the ocean and Thalassotherapy. This may be due to the presence of magnesium, which can improve skin’s moisture retention.

The ocean contains high amounts of other potentially healing minerals as well, including sodium chloride and calcium. Iodine is also found in the sea, which helps the body fight infection and boosts thyroid function.

Salt water is considered an antiseptic, and has properties that can heal scrapes, cuts, and skin irritations. Seaweed, which is rich in over 70 vitamins and minerals, nourishes the skin and stimulates cell function.

Ocean water is also believed to relieve stress. Swimming in a natural environment like the ocean is relaxing and soothing.

The weightlessness of water can have a calming and meditative effect on the mind. Water therapy and swimming have been shown to reduce depression and anxiety.

In his 2014 book Blue Mind, marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols brought together evidence for why people find themselves in a meditative and relaxed state when they are in, on or under, water. One reason Thalassotherapy works, Nichols explains, is the breathing patterns used during swimming and diving.

Cold water exposure alone has been linked to improved organ function and the release of hormones such as endorphins, adrenalin, and cortisol by activating skin receptors. Swimming in cold water burns more calories in an effort to preserve body temperature, and is also linked to the release of dopamine and serotonin.

With all of the therapeutic properties and potential healing benefits of the ocean, it is no surprise that seaside spas and wellness centers are thriving.

--

Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

Thalassotherapy: Using the ocean to heal the body and mind

For centuries, doctors have recommended the healing powers of the...

The costs of implementing forest biomass processing plants in rural communities are too high, according to a new study. Economists at <a href="http://www.oregonstate.edu">Oregon State University</a> conducted the study to determine if biomass operations in remote areas are feasible.

The team from the University’s College of Forestry projected the cost of operations including collecting, transporting, and processing forest biomass at 65 existing plants in western Oregon. The analysis, published in the journal Forest Policy and Economics, determined it is unlikely the remote operations will happen any time soon.

Biomass includes excess tree branches and plant material left behind by timber harvesting operations. The biomass can be processed to create fuel.

In studying the economics of forest biomass operation in the potential western Oregon locations, scientists concluded operation and transportation costs are too high, while the market value of biofuel is too low for successful implementation.

Support for the research came from the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance led by Washington State, and was funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While biomass operation could greatly boost the economy of rural areas, the researchers concluded it will not currently be sustainable without government support and grants.

Lead researcher Mindy Crandall is now an assistant professor at the University of Maine. "There's a lot of interest in focusing on the use of biomass to meet multiple objectives, one of which is support for rural communities," Crandall said in a news release.

"We thought this might provide some support for that idea," Crandall stated. "But from a strictly market feasibility perspective, it isn't all that likely that these facilities will be located in remote, struggling rural communities without targeted subsidies or support."

New markets such as aviation fuel may place a higher demand on forest harvest residues. The first flight using biomass aviation fuel was flown by Alaska Airlines last month from Seattle to Washington D.C., according to OSU professor of forestry John Sessions.

Researchers also anticipate technology will improve the efficiency of biomass systems, leaving the possibility for rural biomass operations in the future.

---

Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

Forest biomass processing plants are too expensive for most communities

The costs of implementing forest biomass processing plants in rural...

When an invasive species enters a new ecosystem, all native species must stay weary. Invasive species rapidly reproduce, which changes the dynamic of the entire ecosystem. The new species can directly threaten native species’ way of life by: predation, competing for the same food, preventing natives from reproducing and bringing diseases. In addition, the invasive species can also effect the natives indirectly by fighting for their acoustic space.

Animals have a limited amount of acoustic space that they have to share with other species within their ecosystem. When an invasive species enters the ecosystem they create overlapping sounds when they send mating signals and signals to defend their territory. These invasive sounds block natives from vocally communicating.

According to previous studies, native species have changed their vocals when outside noise, such as traffic or construction, increased. However, researchers question if this same vocal adjustment is made when an invasive species enters the ecosystem.

Jennifer Tennessen et al. from <a href="http://www.vassar.edu">Vassar College </a>tested this theory by conducting a study on an invasive Cuban tree frog, Ostenpilus septentrionalis. She studied the effect that the invasive tree frog’s vocal calls had on the native tree frog calls.

The researchers predicted that tree frogs with similar acoustic sounds, measured by structure and frequency, to the invasive tree frogs would modify their sounds but tree frogs with different calls would not adjust their sounds. To test this theory, they studied a native species that had similar calls, green tree frogs, Hyla cinerea, and a native species that had different calls, pine woods tree frogs, Hyla femoralis.

They concluded that the green tree frogs modified their sounds but the pine woods tree frogs did not. The green tree frogs would shorten their vocal calls and increase the loudness more often when the invasive Cuban tree frog was around.

This study helps prove that when an invasive species enters an ecosystem, some native species adjust their vocal calls to adhere to a new species’ vocal calls entering the limited acoustic space. Adjusting their calls lowers overlapping sounds in the acoustic space and strengthens their vocal signals.

These adjustments can have negative effects on mating success for native species due to their call duration. Future studies need to be conducted to examine the effects of modified calls from invasive species competition for acoustic space.

---

Credit: Earth.com author Hannah Parker

Invasive species compete for acoustic space with the natives

When an invasive species enters a new ecosystem, all native...

Heavy snowfall in the Western mountains and the Upper Colorado River basin over the last few weeks helped compensate for a dry fall season. Snow levels in Oregon, Utah, and eastern Nevada made an impressive comeback, reaching as high as 176 percent of average by Wednesday.

Season openings were delayed for many ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains after unseasonably warm autumn temperatures hit the area. Some of the men’s World Cup ski races were cancelled when Beaver Creek resort pushed back its opening day due to record low levels of snowpack.

The unseasonal weather had also raised some concern for the state of the Colorado River this upcoming spring, which supplies water to over 33 million people in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Mexico. The Upper Colorado River Basin produces around 90 percent of the water in the Colorado River.

After several snowstorms since late November, conditions in the Western mountains have improved dramatically.

"I don't want to wave 'mission accomplished' banners here, but it looks pretty good," said Klaus Wolter, a climate scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences in Boulder, Colorado. "Certainly the near term looks good."

Rachel Woods is a spokeswoman for Vail Resorts, which owns Beaver Creek and 11 other resorts. Woods says Beaver Creek has recorded over 8 feet of snowfall.

The Upper Colorado River Basin also received heavy snowfall, and reached levels of snow that are above average for the region.

Marlon Duke is a spokesman for the <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/">U.S Bureau of Reclamation</a> which manages various reservoirs on the Colorado River. He reported that last week the snowpack was almost 120 percent of average in the Upper Basin.

Rob Katz is the Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts. Katz and other resort industry officials report early indicators of a successful season ahead.

"Lodging bookings for the rest of the season are trending slightly ahead of last year at our U.S. resorts. Based on historical averages, less than 50% of the bookings for the winter season have been made by this time,” said Katz. “While November was a fairly warm month for our U.S. resorts, colder temperatures and snowfall returned during Thanksgiving and all of our destination resorts are now offering a terrific early season experience.”

---

Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

Western mountains in the US are finally seeing heavy snowfall

Heavy snowfall in the Western mountains and the Upper Colorado...

Mild winters and bad summers in the UK have led to the dramatic decline of bumblebees by as much as 85 percent in some areas. This climate change has persisted for almost a decade, according to the 10th <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/the-state-of-nature-report-2016">annual wildlife report from the National Trust</a>.

2016 has proven to be a good year for livestock farmers with a rise in grass growth. It has been a bad year for insects, however, as the number of bumblebees and butterflies have plummeted.

According to the trust, another year of “unsettled weather” is to blame for the disappearance of the insects.

"2016 comes on top of an unsettled decade, with many species struggling in the face of climate change and more intensive farming practices,” said nature and wildlife specialist for the Trust, Matthew Oates.

"During the brightest months, we do seem to be getting more extreme weather events, most of which aren't nice," Oates continued.

The number of bumblebees has fallen by 85 percent from the previous year at Lytes Cary in Somerset, as the wildflowers that attract the bees were outgrown by grass.

Meadow butterflies also saw a dramatic decline, with volunteers at Purbeck in Dorset recording a fall in sightings of marbled white numbers by 73 perecnt, and observed 23 percent fewer common blue butterflies.

The rise in grass growth brought good hay and silage harvests for tenant farmers on Trust sites, while rare birds in Cornwall and Devon called cirl buntings saw a huge rise in numbers.

Marsh fritillary butterflies are also on the rise, with larvae numbers up 560% in 10 years in the Lake District's Ennerdale Valley.

On the north Norfolk coast, the grey seal population went from 100 pups being born in 2004 to 2,342 born by January of this year.

There was also a larger apple crop, especially in the Southwest, due to an extended growing season. This also led to ideal conditions for damsons, acorns and hazelnuts to thrive.

Oates said the effect this decade-long weather trend has on wildlife creates a need for conservationists and farmers to work together when it comes to managing the land.

---

Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

Bumblebees have declined by as much as 85 percent in the UK

Mild winters and bad summers in the UK have led...

Sexually aroused jellyfish are the preferred meal of Adelie penguins in Antarctica, a new study has revealed.

Scientists strapped tiny cameras to Adelie penguins and watched as they hunted for food.

The penguins were previously thought to prefer small shrimp-like crustaceans known as krill, but the video footage proved their meal of choice was jellyfish with protruding genitalia.

The reason for this bizarre craving is most likely due to the extra carbon and protein content of the sex glands.

Conservation charity <a href="http://www.wwf.org">World Wildlife Fund (WWF)</a> backed the research conducted by French and Japanese scientists. The focus of the study was the routines of the Adelie penguins underneath sea ice.

The cameras used in the project weighed between 15 and 22 grams, and were retrieved when the penguins returned to their nest.

According to WWF, footage from the cameras became an internet sensation when it was released last December.

Jean-Baptiste Thiebot, a researcher from the <a href="http://www.nipr.ac.jp/english/">National Institute of Polar Science </a>in Japan, wants to compare the findings of the study to other penguin species in different oceans.

“We were surprised to see the penguins go for jellyfish,” stated Thiebot, “and it raised the question - is this new behavior for Adelie penguins, possibly developed because they had a hard time finding food during this year of very unusual sea-ice conditions, or is it simply newly revealed by using this video approach to study their diet?”

WWF polar program manager Rod Downie hopes that this and other research will help protect species like the Adelie penguins and preserve the “amazing waters” of Anarctica.

“A year on from the release of the penguin cam footage, it's clear that we still have a lot to learn about Adelie penguins and other ice species. The results give us a better understanding of how they might respond to climate change and related shifts in the Antarctic food web,” said Downie.

---

Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

Adelie penguins have bizarre food preference for sexually-aroused jellyfish

Sexually aroused jellyfish are the preferred meal of Adelie penguins...

In President Barack Obama’s most recent move to protect America’s environmentally sensitive areas, his administration designated two national monuments at sites in Utah and Nevada. The sites are the Bear Ears National Monument and the Gold Butte National monument, respectively.

Gold Butte covers 300,000 acres just outside of Las Vegas. The area is ecologically fragile, as well as incredibly scenic. It includes rare fossils, rock art, artifacts, and recently discovered tracks. Retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Harry Reid has been pushing for these protections, but Republican members of the state’s congressional delegation had been vocal opponents.

In Utah, The Bear Ears National Monument will cover 1.35 million acres in the Four Corners region. This is a victory for the local Native American tribes, as the monument contains land that is considered sacred. It also contains an estimated 100,000 archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings. Tribal members visit the Bears Ears area to host ceremonies, collect herbs and wood for medicinal and spiritual purposes, and perform healing rituals.

Russell Begaye, President of the Navajo Nation, said “We have always looked to Bears Ears as a place of refuge, as a place where we can gather herbs and medicinal plants, and a place of prayer and sacredness. The rocks, the winds, the land – they are living, breathing things that deserve timely and lasting protection.”

The Navajo Nation is one of five Native American tribes that will have an elected official on a brand new tribal commission for the Bears Ears Monument. This unprecedented panel will provide federal land managers with their tribal expertise and knowledge of the area.

However, tribal leaders and conservationists are worried that incoming President-elect Donald Trump could reverse or reduce some of the Obama administration’s expansive land protection. A president has never done a reversal of this magnitude, but many leaders are still concerned this is a possibility.

This act is one of many by the Obama administration in an effort to protect vulnerable areas before Trump’s inauguration. Similar to the blocking of new mining claims outside <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm">Yellowstone National Park</a> and prevention of new offshore oil drilling in the Artic, this federal designation by President Obama creates restrictions on further mining and oil/gas development in these areas of Utah and Nevada.

President Obama’s creation and expansion of monuments now covers more area than any other president. In a statement, the president said, “Today’s actions will help protect this cultural legacy and will ensure that future generations are able to enjoy and appreciate these scenic and historic landscapes.”

---

Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

Obama declares national monument sites in Utah and Nevada

In President Barack Obama’s most recent move to protect America’s...

Scientists have come one step closer to deciphering bat language by translating their ‘conversations.’

The study, led by professor Yossi Yovel of the Department of Zoology at <a href="https://english.tau.ac.il/">Tel Aviv University</a>, worked towards translating bat language and vocals to understand the contexts of the animals’ conversations.

"When you enter a bat cave, you hear a lot of 'gibberish,' a cacophony of aggressive bat noise - but is this merely 'shouting' or is there information amid the noise?" Yovel said. "Previous research presumed that most bat communication was based on screaming and shouting. We wanted to know how much information was actually conveyed -- and we wanted to see if we could, in fact, extract that information."

Yovel’s students Mor Taub and Yosef Prat began the research by recording the sounds of 22 Egyptian fruit bats in the university’s “bat cave.” They recorded the sounds for 75 days.

Taub and Prat then gathered the recordings – about 15,000 vocalizations from the bat language – and analyzed them.

The researchers discovered each vocalization revealed information about the bat speaking, as well as the bat to which it was talking.

"Studying how much information is conveyed in animal communication is important if you're interested in the evolution of human language," Yovel said. "Specifically, one big unknown in the world of animal communication is their grasp on semanticity - i.e., when you hear the word 'apple' you immediately imagine a round, red fruit. We found, in our research, that bat calls contain information about the identities of the caller and the addressee, which implies that there is a recognition factor.”

Researchers also concluded the most common cause for a bat interaction was in the form of an argument. The sounds included information on the cause of the argument, such as fighting over food.

The bats were also found to speak with different intonations based on whether the other bat was a friend or not. This helped the scientists determine whether the interaction was a positive or negative one, Yovel said.

Because this type of experiment is so difficult, vocalizations are usually all grouped together under one category. Yovel and his students’ findings, he said, could show the necessity of conducting deeper research within the subject.

"We generated a massive amount of data -- dozens of calls over three months," Yovel said. "We have found that bats fight over sleeping positions, over mating, over food or just for the sake of fighting. To our surprise, we were able to differentiate between all of these contexts in complete darkness, and we are confident bats themselves are able to identify even more information and with greater accuracy -- they are, after all, an extremely social species that live with the same neighbors for dozens of years."

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Credit: Earth.com author Laura Porecco

Scientists make great strides in deciphering bat language

Scientists have come one step closer to deciphering bat language...

High in the rugged Cal Madow Mountains located northeast of Somalia reside sacred trees that are native to this land called Boswellia sacra. These Somaliland mountains are the site of a centuries-old tradition of frankincense harvesting that is becoming overexploited, and threatening what remains of the forest.

The Boswellia trees are harvested for frankincense, and are being over-tapped to meet the high demand for resin. Frankincense is a major source of revenue for Somaliland, especially now that the demand for essential oils has skyrocketed.

Anjanette DeCarlo is an ecologist and director of an environmental group called Conserve Cal Madow. He explains that over the last six years, prices for raw frankincense have jumped from $1 per kilogram to as much as $7 per kilogram.

Frankincense is a fragrant resin that has been traded for over 5000 years. It can be dated back to ancient Egypt when it was used in medicine, perfume, and burned in religious ceremonies.

Frankincense is also referenced in the Old Testament as one of the gifts brought to baby Jesus by the Three Kings. Currently, the resin is referred to as the “King of essential oils,” and is marketed as both a health and beauty product.

The high demand of frankincense has led to the overharvesting of the Boswellia trees. The tree bark is cut, or stripped, to obtain its milky sap. The tapping of the trees was once seasonal but is now happening year-round, resulting in a serious threat to the survival of the wild forest.

"The death rate of the adult trees is alarming," DeCarlo said. "There is potential for regeneration, but it takes about 40 years or so for these trees to become viable for tapping if it's done right."

The tradition of gathering raw frankincense from Boswellia trees in the Cad Mountains has been handed down from father to son for many centuries. There are dangerous challenges for these men including rough terrain, venomous snakes, and jagged cliffs as high as over 8000 feet.

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Credit: Earth.com author Chrissy Sexton

Famous frankincense forest is in serious danger

High in the rugged Cal Madow Mountains located northeast of...

A new study found that reindeer might play an integral part in slowing down climate change. Published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, Dr. Mariska te Beest of <a href="http://www.umu.se/english">Umeå University</a> and her team of researchers found that through grazing, reindeer increase the amount of solar energy reflected by the earth back into space.

In this article, the researchers refer to this reflection of solar energy by the earth as “surface albedo.” When reindeer graze, and thus reduce the height and abundance of shrubs on the Artic tundra, they increase the surface albedo. Dr. te Beest explains: “Our theory was that heavy grazing by reindeer increases summer albedo through a reduction in shrub height, abundance, and leaf area index.”

Their study combined land surface computer modeling with actual measurements of surface albedo and vegetation characteristics taken in the field. The field measurements were done in a region of Norway that contained four topographically-defined vegetation types, which varied in shrub height and abundance.

The team worked during the summer season, estimating reindeer activity by using vegetation-trampling indicators and collecting dung. They made field measurements of the abundance of vegetation, the leaf area index, as well as soil moisture and temperature levels. Researchers also measured surface albedo levels in the studied areas.

Dr. te Beest and her team found that through decreasing shrub abundance, high densities of reindeer can completely change Artic tundra vegetation. These changes in abundance, canopy height, and amount of live vegetation led to a substantial increase in surface albedo throughout the growing season.

By using computer modeling, the researchers were able to determine that this increase in albedo would result in a decrease in net radiation, as well as latent and sensible heat fluxes. This indicates that heavily grazed sites are actually absorbing less radiation.

Dr. te Beest believes their findings can have a significant impact on the climate warming conversation, saying “Our results show that reindeer have a potential cooling effect on climate, by changing the summer albedo. Although the estimated differences might appear small, they are large enough to have consequences for the regional energy balance.”

Given that most of the Artic tundra is grazed by either wild or domesticated reindeer, this finding could be very important.

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Credit: Earth.com author Connor Ertz

Reindeer might play an integral role in slowing down climate change

A new study found that reindeer might play an integral...

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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

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[sendtonews key="Ccjk8KEMzv-2550719-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

Closeup,Of,Fresh,Green,The,Napier,Bush,Grass,As,Animal

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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

Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

[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



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

[sendtonews key="gRpsplpwpe-2251464-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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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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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

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