Tropical trees are dying at faster rates than ever before. While deforestation continues to be a major issue, even untouched forests are seeing increased rates of tree death. 



Scientists have long pointed to drought, extreme heat, and wildfires as key contributing factors to tropical tree mortality. But now, they are highlighting another powerful and often-overlooked force: thunderstorms.



Unlike the more familiar hurricanes and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/are-bomb-cyclones-increasing-due-to-climate-change/">cyclones</a>, these storms are short but intense. Their high winds and lightning can be devastating to trees.



According to a recent study from researchers at the <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies</a>, these storms are becoming more frequent due to climate change - and they’re causing serious harm to tropical forests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-climate-cost-of-tropical-tree-death">The climate cost of tropical tree death</h2>



“<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tropical-forests-are-struggling-to-keep-pace-with-climate-change/">Tropical forests</a> have massive effects on global climate. They're like the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-amazon-rainforest-and-the-looming-threat-of-drought/">lungs of the Earth</a>, and we're seeing trees in them dying at higher rates than in the past, and the composition of forests is changing, too,” said Evan Gora, a forest ecologist at&nbsp;Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. 



“That could be really problematic for the future of not just tropical forests, but for the planet.”



While storms might seem like fleeting events, their impact on tropical forests can be lasting. These powerful bursts of wind and lightning can injure or topple even the largest trees, disrupting forest structure and biodiversity in seconds.



“Being in the forest during a tropical storm is unforgettable,” said study co-author Vanessa Rubio. “As the storm quickly builds, the sky darkens, humidity changes drastically, and strong winds shake the trees. 



"Then, thunder and lightning come. Leaves and branches fall to the ground, rain pours down, and your instinct is to get back to the field station as quickly as possible.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-silent-driver-of-tree-death">A silent driver of tree death</h2>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/thunderstorms-are-becoming-more-intense-due-to-climate-change/">Thunderstorms</a> haven’t been given the same attention as other climate-related threats. But that’s starting to change. The team re-examined data from earlier studies on tropical tree death and forest carbon levels. They found that storms are just as significant - if not more so - than <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-drought-crisis-un-warns-of-unprecedented-emergency/">drought</a> or heat.



“We were surprised to find that storms may be the largest single factor causing tree death in these forests, and they’re largely overlooked by research into carbon storage in the tropics,” said Gora. 



“Our estimates suggest that storms are responsible for 30 to 60% of tree mortality in the past, and that number must be increasing as storm activity increases by 5 to 25% each decade.”



When the researchers added storms to the largest plot-based study on tropical forest carbon, the picture changed dramatically. The previous data showed a sharp drop in carbon when temperatures rose above a certain point. But adding storms made that link disappear.



“But when you add storms, that relationship goes away,” Gora said. “It basically shows that you have to include storms, or you might not get the answers right.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-double-trouble-for-tropical-trees">Double trouble for tropical trees</h2>



The team found that storms and drought often hit the same forests. The southern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tree-rings-show-amazon-rainfall-is-getting-more-extreme/">Amazon</a>, for instance, experiences both frequent storms and severe water stress. These combined threats are reshaping the region’s ecology.



“During my studies on threats to tropical forests, my professors, our textbooks, and even overall climate policy never mentioned small, convective storms as a potential source of forest mortality,” said study co-author Ian McGregor.



“I don't remember seeing them in global climate models used to inform climate policy. Given our findings, however, it's clear we need a more thorough understanding of these storms to have more accurate climate models, and thus more effective policy,” he added.



So why have storms flown under the radar until now? Part of the reason is that heat and drought are easier to measure. Tools like weather stations and long-term satellite tracking make it simpler to monitor those threats. 



But storms are different. They strike quickly and cause scattered damage. Satellites often miss the evidence of tropical tree deaths, and it’s nearly impossible for researchers to check vast forests manually after every storm.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-trees-from-sky-to-soil">Tracking trees from sky to soil</h2>



To address these challenges, the team launched the Gigante project, co-led by the University of Birmingham. It uses a combination of lightning-tracking systems, drones, and field experts to monitor large areas of tropical forest. 



This enables scientists to pinpoint the location and extent of tree death, when the damage occurs, and which species are most at risk.



“If we make decisions about which species to plant or conserve based on an incorrect understanding of what's actually killing these trees and which species are most vulnerable, those forests won’t reach their full potential,” said Gora. 



Mature trees are especially vulnerable to storm damage. Without clearer insight, we might not realize our reforestation choices were flawed until decades later.



“However, if we can build a more holistic picture of what’s driving forest change, we can be a lot more confident in guiding forest management practices for long-term sustainability," noted Gora.



Understanding why tropical trees are dying isn’t just a scientific concern - it’s a climate priority with global consequences.



The study is to be <a href="https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/press-release/thunderstorms-are-major-driver-tree-death-tropical-forests">published</a> in a perspective article in the journal Ecology Letters.



-----



Like what you read? <a href="https://www.earth.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to our newsletter</a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.&nbsp;



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



-----

Tropical tree deaths are increasing, even in untouched forests

Tropical trees are dying at faster rates than ever before. While deforestation continues to be a major issue, even untouched forests are seeing increased rates of tree death. Scientists have long pointed to drought, extreme heat, and wildfires as key contributing factors to tropical tree mortality. But now, they are highlighting another powerful and often-overlooked force: thunderstorms. Unlike the more familiar hurricanes and cyclones, these storms are short but intense. Their high winds and lightning can be devastating to trees. According to a recent study from researchers...

Nitrogen can be a tricky element to deal with for farmers. While it’s a popular and important ingredient in many fertilizers, it can also run off into nearby streams and seep into the groundwater as nitrates, which creates dead zones and algae blooms that kill fish. 

Now, new research has identified nitrate removal hotspots where nitrates from fertilizers are filtered out of the water, usually by a buffer zone with local plant species. 

Molly Welsh, a graduate student from the <a href="http://www.esf.edu/">State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry</a>, led a study that found and analyzed these hotspots. 

"Understanding where nitrate removal is highest can inform management of agricultural streams. This information can help us improve water quality more effectively,” said Welsh. 

The researchers collected data and water samples from four streams in Northwestern Carolina, exhibiting a wide range of nitrate removal close to agricultural activity. 

Welsh then analyzed the water samples and found that the buffer zones next to the streams had the highest success rate of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/contaminants-found-in-california-public-drinking-water-2/">nitrate</a> removal. Sediments in the waterways, which were also analyzed, were not nearly as efficient at removing nitrates.

Buffer zones are abundant with organic matter, high levels of moisture, and fine-textured soils, which makes them perfect at filtering out harmful contaminants. Nitrate removal appears to highest where there is a lot of native plants and fine sediments. 

Welsh also examined pools created during stream restoration using rocks that spanned across the waterway, which was also not very effective at removing nitrates. 

Welsh suggests that using woody debris would be a better method than rocks to filter nitrates given the success of the buffer zones. 

“Our results show that it may be possible to develop simple models to guide nitrogen management,” said Welsh. 

The new research shows the importance of natural buffer zones to protect ecosystems from harmful nitrate runoff.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com </a>Staff Writer

Natural buffer zones can filter nitrates from groundwater

Nitrogen can be a tricky element to deal with for...

It has been theorized that millions of years ago, the Mediterranean Sea experienced a massive drying out after the Strait of Gibraltar closed temporarily, and the Mediterranean Sea was cut off from the Atlantic Ocean. Now, new research may have proven that this drying out also increased seismic activity in the area at the time. This means that shifts in surface temperatures and geological landscape from climate change could cause an uptick in volcanic activity. 

Geologists from the<a href="https://www.unige.ch/en/university/"> University of Geneva</a>, <a href="https://www.univ-orleans.fr/en/international/come-study-university-orleans">University of Orleans,</a> <a href="http://www.upmc.fr/en/">University Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris</a>, and the <a href="http://www.ictja.csic.es/">ICTJA-CSIC Institute in Barcelona</a> studied volcanic data from the time the Strait of Gibraltar was closed, otherwise known as the Messinian salinity crisis.

The presence of crystallized minerals, which form as magma cools on the earth’s surface, indicated that the salinity crisis had triggered more than a 200% increase in volcanic activity.  

Researchers believe that a total of 13 <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fear-bali-volcano-eruption/">eruptions</a> were caused by the drying out of the Mediterranean. The drastic changes in pressure and depth caused by the salinity crisis had a major impact on magma production and increased volcanic activity. 

“The single logical explanation is the hypothesis that the sea dried out, since this is the only event powerful enough to alter the Earth's pressure and magmatic production over the entire Mediterranean,” said Pietro Sternai a researcher from the University of Geneva’s Science Department. 

As climate change continues to impact the Earth, this research reveals that changing temperatures can even increase seismic activity deep below the Earth’s surface, a possible warning sign of more volcanic eruptions in the future. 

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Climate change could trigger an increase in volcanic eruptions

It has been theorized that millions of years ago, the...

Many studies have been done analyzing the effect of noise – specifically human <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/noise-pollution-protected-areas/">noise pollution</a> – on the physiology and behavior of animals in the wild. This noise pollution comes from things such as transportation, construction, and just general proximity to areas with human activity.

Recently, a study has revealed that this same noise pollution can have negative effects on the schooling behavior of fish. Schooling is a collective behavior for some fish species that is integral to helping them avoid predators and exchange information between individuals. 

For the study, 450 individual seabass were tested in shoals of four individuals each at the aquarium in the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>. Recorded sounds of pile-driving, which is used in the construction of marine infrastructure like piers and windfarms, were played to small schools of seabass.

Researchers noticed that the fish became less coordinated and cohesive when these sounds were played. These changes in their behavior suggest that exposure to human noise pollution may make them more susceptible to predators, and affects individual fish on a group level.

“This is one of the few studies to explore how pollution from human activity impacts schooling behavior in fish,” says Christos Ioannou from the <a href="http://www.bristol.ac.uk/">University of Bristol</a>. “By using state-of-the-art computer tracking software, we were able to measure and analyze the movement of individual fish and the shoal as a whole in great detail.”

With these results found in the lab, the next step in this research is to determine if the fish experience similar effects under natural conditions. If the findings end up translating to fish in nature, it may be time to rethink how we conduct particularly noisy human activities around marine life.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Human noise pollution endangering the lives of fish

Many studies have been done analyzing the effect of noise...

Researchers from <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/">Columbia University</a> have conducted a groundbreaking study to explore the concept of evaporation as a renewable energy source. Their analysis reveals that lakes and reservoirs in the United States could generate 325 gigawatts of power, which is almost 70 percent of what the country currently produces.

While the testing has been limited to the lab, the studies suggest that evaporation-harvested power could be made on demand, 24 hours a day. This means that it could be much more feasible than utilizing solar or wind energy.

Ozgur Sahin is a biophysicist at Columbia University and the study’s senior author.

"We have the technology to harness energy from wind, water and the sun, but evaporation is just as powerful,” said Sahin. "We can now put a number on its potential."

Sahin and his colleagues have previously shown how energy behind the cycling of water and air can be harnessed. The team developed a machine called Evaporation Engine, which controls humidity with a shutter that opens and closes. This causes bacterial spore contractions which are transferred to a generator that makes electricity. The current study was created to determine just how much power this process could hypothetically produce.

"Evaporation comes with a natural battery," said lead author Ahmet-Hamdi Cavusoglu. "You can make it your main source of power and draw on solar and wind when they're available." 

This type of evaporation technology can also save water. The research team estimates that half of the water lost from lakes and reservoirs to evaporation could be saved during the energy-harvesting process. In their study, the water savings totaled 25 trillion gallons a year, which is around 20 percent of the amount of water Americans consume.

Energy from evaporation could be most advantageous to states with growing populations and hotter, dryer weather.

States which are prone to <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/world-recover-drought/">drought</a> such as California, Nevada and Arizona could benefit the most, where evaporation could pump out more energy while reducing water waste.

The study, which is published in <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/">Nature Communications</a>, is being continued as the 
researchers work to improve the energy efficiency of their spore-studded materials. They hope to eventually experiment outside of the lab to more accurately test their technology’s ability to generate power and limit water loss at the same time.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Image Credit: Central Arizona Project

Energy from evaporation could power 70 percent of the U.S.

Researchers from Columbia University have conducted a groundbreaking study to...

Researchers took a closer look into the cause of a deadly landslide that devastated Saint-Jude, Quebec, in May 2010. The study, which was based on investigations that directly followed the event, revealed that the landslide was triggered by a disturbance of highly sensitive clay sediment that is 10,000 years old.

The experts found that the solidity of the underlying clay was compromised by natural causes of the Salvail River, which cuts through the base of the landslide site. Both sediment erosion caused by the river and high groundwater pressure beneath the river contributed to the decreased stability of the clay sediment.

The landslide was determined to have happened in two phases, with two major shifts at two different elevations causing the event. 

Dr. Ariane Locat is the lead author of the report and a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Water Engineering at <a href="https://www.ulaval.ca/">Université Laval</a>. She explained that, "Such features have never been clearly identified before in spreads in sensitive clays.”

The research team reconstructed the landslide through field and laboratory tests using what they had learned about the properties of the soil and the shape and positions of the clay debris. They classified it a "large" and "complex spread," a typical landslide type occurring in sensitive clays. The landslide had a width of 275 meters and a volume of debris of ~520,000 m3, which is the equivalent of the volume of more than 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. 

"Scientific knowledge on spreads in sensitive clays is limited,” said Dr. Locat.  “Investigations of case studies, like the one presented in this study of the Saint-Jude landslide, give us new information and insights on characteristics of spreads and on conditions in which they occur.” 

90 percent of Quebec's population resides among these “quick clays,” which are leftovers from the Champlain Sea. Quebec is more vulnerable to landslides brought on by the disturbance of this sensitive clay sediment than any other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-risk-natural-disasters-doubled/">natural disaster</a>.

"These studies are essential to the development of tools allowing for better identification of zones potentially exposed to spreads and to protect the population from this natural hazard,” added Dr. Locat.

The study is published today in the <a href="http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/journal/cgj">Canadian Geotechnical Journal</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth com</a> Staff Writer

Analysis of Quebec landslide may help identify dangerous zones

Researchers took a closer look into the cause of a...

Tens of thousands of Indonesians have been evacuated as fears grow that Bali’s Mount Agung is on the verge of eruption. Due to increased seismic activity, a 7.5-mile exclusion zone has been set up around the volcano as 50,000 residents are being moved to temporary shelters.

The <a href="http://www.wovo.org/1601_1607.html">Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation</a> (PVMBG) has raised the volcano alert to its highest level. The latest analysis from the PVMBG indicates that the seismic energy of Mount Agung “continues to increase and has the power to erupt.” The report also urges communities to continue to raise awareness and get prepared.

Hundreds of tremors are now being recorded from within Mount Agung daily, indicating that the magma is rising closer to the surface of the volcano. According to Australia's <a href="http://www.news.com.au/">news.com.au</a>, a total of 198 tremors were recorded between Friday at midnight and noon on Saturday. The news outlet reports that the rumblings began to slack off Saturday morning but picked up speed again by Saturday afternoon.

The head of the PVMBG said that very small tremors have been occurring ever since the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963, which destroyed villages and killed over 1100 people. According to the <a href="http://www.bmkg.go.id/?lang=EN">Department of Meteorology, Climate and Geophysics</a>, there has been a “tremendous increase” in seismic activity in the area.

<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mount-sinabung-indonesia-erupts-months-activity/">Indonesia</a> is made up of over 17,000 volcanic islands that straddle the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the world's largest earthquake belt with fault lines stretching 25,000 miles. The Ring of Fire is also home to more than half of the world's volcanoes, both dormant and active. Indonesia itself  has over 120 active volcanoes, more than any other country. 

The <a href="http://balitourismboard.or.id/page/crisis-center/no-volcanic-ash-detected.html">Bali Tourism Board</a> is urging residents to plan on staying indoors in the event of ashfall or to prepare by stocking up on face masks. Ferry services and flights into Bali have not been cancelled at this point, but travel warnings have been issued.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Thousands evacuated amid fear over Bali volcano eruption

Tens of thousands of Indonesians have been evacuated as fears...

Although current President of the United States Donald Trump has denied the existence of climate change, many of his predecessors enacted much more environmentally friendly policies. Here’s a list of the Top 10 most environmentally friendly U.S. Presidents.

Theodore Roosevelt

When Theodore Roosevelt entered the White House in 1901, he made environmental affairs a top priority. He signed into law the Antiquities Act, giving presidents the authority to proclaim federal lands as national monuments. During his time in office, Teddy Roosevelt created 50 wildlife refuges and 5 national parks. He also set aside 150 million acres of timberland and helped develop the the U.S. Forest Service.

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon was responsible for the National Environmental Policy Act, the first law that provided a legislative structure for protecting the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was also developed under his administration to enforce such laws. Nixon's Clean Air Act required the EPA to create and enforce air pollution regulations. 

Jimmy Carter

In his first year as president, Jimmy Carter launched the Department of Energy, with a mission “to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.” Carter also established the Soil and Water Conservation Act and the Endangered American Wilderness Act. 

Barack Obama

President Obama stood by his belief that “no challenge poses a greater threat to our children, our planet and future generations than climate change, and that no other country on Earth is better equipped to lead the world towards a solution." Obama introduced the Clean Power Plan, which paved the way for the Paris climate agreement of 2015. Obama also used the Antiquities Act more than any other president, creating over 20 national monuments.

Lyndon B. Johnson

During his second term in office, President Johnson was focused on his “Great Society” plan, which led to the creation of  the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965. Johnson's administration was also responsible for the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and the National Trails System Act of 1968.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The work of FDR resulted in countless nature beautification programs. FDR created the Civilian Conservation Corps, which provided jobs for millions of unemployed men. Their work produced billions of trees and constructed over 800 parks across the country, many of which became state parks. 

Bill Clinton

While some of the events of his years may suggest otherwise, Clinton managed to make a lot of progress in the direction of a healthier planet. He oversaw the creation of 17 national monuments and expanded four existing monuments, preserving over 4.6 million acres - the most of any administration. He also increased clean energy research and development funding by 50 percent, to more than $3 billion.

Woodrow Wilson

President Wilson may not have had as many green accomplishments as other presidents that make this list, but the creation of the National Park Service in 1916 was one of the greatest. It provided the funding and manpower to help reinforce the efforts of Teddy Roosevelt. 

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln established the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide support for American farmers in 1862. He passed the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act the same year to provide funding for agricultural colleges. His Yosemite Grant protected what is known today as Yosemite National Park.

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was well ahead of the time in his vision to protect the environment. He wrote in 1806, "We must use a good deal of economy in our wood, never cutting down new, where we can make the old do."

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Top 10 most environmentally friendly U.S. Presidents

Although current President of the United States Donald Trump has...

Low soil fertility can cause all kinds of trouble, not least of which is protein malnutrition, which can in turn, reduce crop yields. But researchers have now found that legumes can help boost soil fertility, especially for smaller farms.

Next month, a meeting hosted by the <a href="https://www.agronomy.org/">American Society of Agronomy</a>, the <a href="https://www.crops.org/">Crop Science Society of America</a>, and the <a href="https://www.soils.org/">Soil Science Society of America</a> will address this issue and present alternatives to improving legume farming from seed to soil to yield. 

“Building strength in legume-based agricultural systems can help address both of these dire problems," said Kerry Clark, a researcher at the <a href="http://missouri.edu/">University of Missouri</a>. 

Improving soil fertility will create a ripple effect, notes Clark, and small farms will have better access to “economic and nutritional alternatives" to the crops used now. 

The key is educating farmers about legumes, working with the public to increase awareness about the issues with soil depletion and infertility, and providing hands-on training to legume breeders. 

Clark will be one of the speakers at the symposium, presenting work done by the Soybean Innovation Lab, which is working to research breeding in tropical legumes among many other projects. 

The meeting will also include speakers Mark Westgate from <a href="https://uiowa.edu/">Iowa University</a>, Sieglinde Snapp from <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a>, and Stephen Boahen from the <a href="http://www.iita.org/">International Institute of Tropical Agriculture</a> in Mozambique. 

Westgate will discuss Iowa State’s Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Program in Uganda which works with students, grade school through college, to educate them on the value of tropical legumes. 

Protein malnutrition is a serious concern, but raised awareness, education, and opportunities in legume farming can help improve soil fertility and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-examines-how-climate-change-will-impact-global-crop-yields/">crop yields</a> in the parts of the world that need it most.

--

By <a href="mailto:kayvandette@gmail.com">Kay Vandette</a>,<a href="https://www.earth.com/"> Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Legumes can help boost soil fertility

Low soil fertility can cause all kinds of trouble, not...

Lake

An unprecedented study of plants conserved outside of their natural habitats has found that 30 percent of all identified plant species are contained in botanic gardens across the globe. 41 percent of all plant species classified as “threatened” are included in the gardens.

The study by researchers from the <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/">University of Cambridge</a> also revealed that almost two-thirds of plant “genera" are housed in the world's network of botanic gardens, and over 90 percent of plant families are represented.

On the other hand, the researchers found a notable imbalance between gardens in temperate and tropical regions. They discovered that a great majority of all plants species grown “ex-situ,” or outside of their natural environments, are located in the Northern Hemisphere.

Because of this, 60 percent of temperate plant species were represented in the botanic gardens compared to only 25 percent of tropical species. Most plant species are tropical, so they would be expected to be conserved in higher numbers.

The research team analyzed datasets compiled by <a href="https://www.bgci.org/">Botanic Gardens Conservation International</a> (BGCI). They compared the 350,699 known plant species with the species records of 1,116 botanic gardens. Despite housing almost half of all threatened species, the botanic gardens had only around 10 percent of overall storage capacity dedicated to these imperiled plants. 

The researchers say that botanic gardens are of "critical importance to plant conservation,” and global efforts are needed to protect more species of plants that are at risk of extinction, especially those from tropical climates.

Dr. Samuel Brockington, the study's senior author, is a researcher of Plant Sciences and a curator of the botanic garden at the University of Cambridge. 

"The global network of botanic gardens is our best hope for saving some of the world's most endangered plants," said Dr. Brockington. "Currently, an estimated one fifth of plant diversity is under threat, yet there is no technical reason why any plant species should become extinct. Botanic gardens protect an astonishing amount of plant diversity in cultivation, but we need to respond directly to the extinction crisis.”

The study is published today in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nplants/">Nature Plants</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Image Credit: Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Botanic gardens help protect plant diversity across the globe

An unprecedented study of plants conserved outside of their natural...

Nearly three decades of conservation efforts to protect giant pandas has led to recent increases in their populations. A study by Chinese and U.S. scientists, however, has found that giant panda habitats cover less area and are more fragmented than when pandas were first listed as an endangered species.

"The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently changed the status of the giant panda from 'endangered' to the less threatened 'vulnerable,' " said researcher Stuart L. Pimm of <a href="https://www.duke.edu/">Duke University</a>. "This was based on the increasing numbers, which are a very encouraging sign, of course."

"But what my colleagues and I wanted to know was how the panda's habitat has changed over the last four decades, because the extent and connectivity of a species' habitat is also a major factor in determining its risk of extinction," said Pimm.

The researchers used geospatial technologies and remote sensing data to map changes such as new roads that divide <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/panda-bears-fur-communication-camouflage/">panda</a> habitats across the panda’s entire range. The scientists focused on geographical changes that occurred from 1976 to 2013.

The team was led by Zhuyan Ouyang and Weihua Xu of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the <a href="http://english.cas.cn/">Chinese Academy of Sciences</a>.

"We found complex changes," Xu said. "Habitat decreased nearly 5 percent from 1976 to 2001, but has increased since. However, the average size of the habitat patches decreased by 23 percent from 1976 to 2001. It has increased only slightly since."

Study co-author Jianguo Liu of <a href="https://msu.edu/">Michigan State University</a> pointed out that some of the changes revealed in the study are encouraging.

"Banning commercial logging in natural forests, establishing nature reserves and helping residents in the reserve change behaviors that damaged habitat has been beneficial," said Liu. "But conservation is a dynamic process with humans and nature in a constant push and pull to survive and thrive, so new solutions always are in demand."

Other changes observed by the researchers are advantageous to humans yet hinder progress in conservation efforts.

"The most obvious changes in this region since Professor Liu and his colleague Professor Zhiyun Ouyang first visited it together in 2001 have been the increase and improvement in roads and other infrastructure," said Pimm. "These have been the major factor in fragmenting the habitat. There was nearly three times the density of roads in 2013 than in 1976."

"We suggest several solutions," said Ouyang. "One of the most important will be to establish protected corridors through which pandas can move to prevent their isolation into small and unsustainable populations."

The study is published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/natecolevol/">Nature Ecology and Evolution</a>.

--

By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Image Credit: Binbin Li

Panda habitats are shrinking and becoming more splintered

Nearly three decades of conservation efforts to protect giant pandas...

It sounds like a plot for the next sequel to “Finding Nemo” – scientists stressing out tropical fish to better analyze their inner lives.

It’s not the next Pixar project, though. Scientists from the <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/">University of Exeter</a> have been studying guppies, and found that individual fish seem to have unique and complex personalities.

The finding wasn’t actually the initial goal of the study. Instead, they only wanted to see how risk-averse or risk-prone individual guppies were.

"The idea of a simple spectrum is often put forward to explain the behavior of individuals in species such as the Trinidadian guppy," Dr. Tom Houslay said. "But our research shows that the reality is much more complex.”

For example, the researchers tried putting guppies in an unfamiliar environment to see which would hide and which would not. But instead of cooperating, the guppies showed a range of coping skills to deal with the stress. Some hid, some looked for a way to escape, some explored their new environment – their reactions to the new tank were varied.

Moreover, these personality traits of individual fish appeared to be consistent over time and in different situations. A fish that seemed more nervous than its fellows would always behave more nervously than its fellows in new situations, the researchers found.

"So, while the behavior of all the guppies changed depending on the situation – for example, all becoming more cautious in more stressful situations – the relative differences between individuals remained intact," Houslay said.

In addition to moving the fish to a new tank initially, the scientists continued the experiment using models of birds or predatory fish to introduce stressful situations to the fish. 

The researchers hope to continue learning about the guppies’ inner lives. 

"We want to know how personality relates to other facets of life, and to what extent this is driven by genetic – rather than environmental – influences,” Dr. Alistair Wilson said. "The goal is really gaining insight into evolutionary processes, how different behavioral strategies might persist as species evolve."

The study will be published in the journal <a href="http://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2435/">Functional Ecology</a>.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Study peeks into the inner lives of Trinidad guppies

It sounds like a plot for the next sequel to...

Scientists are looking to expand the options when it comes to clean energy. With wind and solar power sources already being developed, Japanese researchers are looking at another possibility: sea energy.

Dr. Tsumoru Shintake, a professor at the <a href="https://www.oist.jp/">Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology’s</a> Graduate University, began looking into new ways to harness the ocean’s power in 2012. 

He and the university’s Quantum Wave Microscopy Unit anchored turbines to the ocean floor in the Kuroshio current, a north-flowing ocean current off the coast of Japan. The turbines were anchored with mooring cables that turned the current’s energy into electrical power. 

The experiment, titled “Sea Horse,” was a success, and the team is now looking for industry sponsors who will help them move onto the next phase of the project. 

"Particularly in Japan, if you go around the beach you'll find many tetrapods," Shintake said in a press release. "Surprisingly, 30 percent of the seashore in mainland Japan is covered with tetrapods and wave breakers." 

Tetrapods – concrete, pyramid-shaped structures that help soften the force of waves along the shore – and the beach walls dubbed wave breakers could be altered to serve a dual purpose, Shintake and his team said. “Intelligent” tetrapods and wavebreakers with nearby turbines could both protect Japan’s shoreline and turn sea energy into electricity for nearby communities.

"Using just 1 percent of the seashore of mainland Japan can [generate] about 10 gigawatts, which is equivalent to 10 nuclear power plants," Shintake said. "That's huge."

To test the theory, the team has already placed some turbines near tetrapods and coral reefs, dubbed the Wave Energy Converter. 

The turbines have been designed with Japan’s environment in mind. They’re built strong enough to withstand typhoons, and flexible so the currents and waves don’t destroy them, the scientists said. They’ve also been designed so that sea creatures can avoid their blades.

They plan to install half-scale models of the new turbines soon. If successful, the project could be copied in other places where strong ocean currents might provide clean sea energy.

Shintake and his team presented their project at the 3rd Asian Wave and Tidal Energy Conference.

—

By <a href="mailto:kcathey@earth.com">Kyla Cathey</a>, <a href="http://www.earth.com">Earth.com</a> staff writer

Could sea energy help power the future?

Scientists are looking to expand the options when it comes...

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. 



The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. 



Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.



Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. 



They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).



Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.



Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.



This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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.

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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.

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

[sendtonews key="uV9Lh2fQbV-1760058-12187" type="single"] Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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



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

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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.

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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.

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JbW4VsY53O-1632195-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



---



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



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

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

Saturn,-,High,Resolution,3d,Images,Presents,Planets,Of,The

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="Ccjk8KEMzv-2550719-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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



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

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

[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

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="6SdlLLbt0t-1988946-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="gRpsplpwpe-2251464-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="eAVLRk51oJ-1826888-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="eAVLRk51oJ-1826888-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="sFFhiK9OOn-1720418-12187" type="single"]</div>



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;



---



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

[sendtonews key="sFFhiK9OOn-1720418-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="yPSXGZek1I-2312529-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="yPSXGZek1I-2312529-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="EPdZexVR30-1731237-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="EPdZexVR30-1731237-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="uwirCufwYv-2012371-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="uwirCufwYv-2012371-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="JrMLDXHmjl-1911953-12187" type="single"]</div>



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



---



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

[sendtonews key="JrMLDXHmjl-1911953-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

News coming your way