For decades, oceanographers assumed the surface waters circling Antarctica were becoming progressively fresher - a shift that helped lock deep heat away and nurture expansive winter sea ice.



However, new observations show the opposite is now happening. An international team led by the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/">University of Southampton</a> reported a sudden rise in surface <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/salinity-is-rising-in-coastal-areas-and-hurting-farmlands/">salinity</a> south of 50° latitude. This shift coincided with the steepest drop in Antarctic sea-ice extent ever recorded.



The analysis combines European satellite data with readings from autonomous floats that profile the water column. The result reveals an unanticipated pivot in the Southern Ocean’s salt balance sometime after 2015.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-excessive-salt-melts-sea-ice">Excessive salt melts sea ice</h2>



Cold, fresh surface water normally overlies warmer, saltier layers at depth, creating strong density “stratification” that traps heat below. When the surface grows saltier, that barrier weakens. Heat then mixes upward, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarcticas-melting-ice-shelves-threaten-global-sea-levels/">melting sea ice</a> from beneath and preventing extensive winter growth.



“Saltier surface water allows deep ocean heat to rise more easily, melting sea ice from below," said lead author Alessandro Silvano, an oceanographer at the University of Southampton. "It's a dangerous feedback loop: less ice leads to more heat, which leads to even less ice.” 



Since 2015, the continent has shed sea ice equivalent to the area of Greenland. Researchers call it the largest environmental shift detected anywhere on Earth in recent decades.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-ice-hole-returns-after-decades">Sea ice hole returns after decades</h2>



One striking symptom is the re-opening of the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-hole-polynya-the-size-of-switzerland-appeared-in-the-antarctica-sea-ice/">Maud Rise polynya</a> - a yawning hole in the Weddell Sea ice cover. It spans nearly four times the size of Wales and last appeared in the late 1970s.



“The return of the Maud Rise polynya signals just how unusual the current conditions are,” Silvano said. “If this salty, low-ice state continues, it could permanently reshape the Southern Ocean - and with it, the planet.”



Reduced Antarctic ice darkens the ocean, absorbing more sunlight and already feeding back into the global climate system. This, as Silvano put it, will give rise to “stronger <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-antarctic-sea-ice-loss-is-causing-severe-storms-around-the-world/">storms</a>, warmer oceans, and shrinking habitats for Antarctic wildlife.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-predictions-fall-short">Old predictions fall short</h2>



Climate models had projected eventual Antarctic sea-ice loss under greenhouse forcing. However, many scientists believed that enhanced snowfall and increased melt from continental ice sheets would keep surface waters fresh for decades, delaying large declines. The new evidence challenges that assumption.



“While scientists expected that human-driven climate change would eventually lead to Antarctic sea ice decline, the timing and nature of this shift remained uncertain,” said co-author Aditya Narayanan, a physical oceanographer at the University of Southampton.



“Previous projections emphasized enhanced surface freshening and stronger ocean stratification, which could have supported sustained sea ice cover. Instead, a rapid reduction in sea ice - an important reflector of solar radiation - has occurred, potentially accelerating global warming.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eyes-on-the-southern-ocean">Eyes on the Southern Ocean</h2>



Because this turnaround was detected only after <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellites-reveal-a-sudden-drop-in-global-freshwater-levels/">satellites</a> began tracking sea-surface salinity in detail, researchers worry that other rapid transitions might be missed without constant observation.



“The new findings suggest that our current understanding may be insufficient to accurately predict future changes,” said senior author Alberto Naveira Garabato, a professor of physical oceanography at the University of Southampton.



“It makes the need for continuous satellite and in-situ monitoring all the more pressing, so we can better understand the drivers of recent and future shifts in the ice-ocean system.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-ice-loss-changes-the-planet">Sea ice loss changes the planet</h2>



Antarctic sea ice acts as a reflective shield, bouncing sunlight back to space and modulating heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere.



Its precipitous decline could amplify warming worldwide, disturb wind patterns, and alter the formation of the deep water masses that power global ocean circulation.



Saltier surface layers may also influence how much carbon the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/carbon-storage-mystery-emerges-in-the-southern-ocean/">Southern Ocean</a> can absorb, potentially weakening one of Earth’s most important climate buffers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-and-salt-reinforce-sea-ice-loss">Heat and salt reinforce sea ice loss</h2>



The study leaves open questions about what triggered the sudden salinity jump. Possibilities include shifts in wind patterns, changes in precipitation, or increased intrusion of warm Circumpolar Deep Water onto the continental shelf.



Whatever the cause, the new feedback between salt and sea ice could lock the region into a self-reinforcing cycle of warming and ice loss.



Scientists stress that only sustained measurements - combining satellites, autonomous floats, and ship-based surveys - will reveal whether the Southern Ocean snaps back to its former fresher state or continues toward an unfamiliar, saltier future.



For now, the message is clear: Antarctica’s floating fringe, once thought relatively resistant to near-term change, is undergoing a rapid transformation that matters far beyond the frozen continent.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2500440122">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



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Antarctic sea ice collapse linked to a sudden surge in ocean salt

For decades, oceanographers assumed the surface waters circling Antarctica were becoming progressively fresher - a shift that helped lock deep heat away and nurture expansive winter sea ice. However, new observations show the opposite is now happening. An international team led by the University of Southampton reported a sudden rise in surface salinity south of 50° latitude. This shift coincided with the steepest drop in Antarctic sea-ice extent ever recorded. The analysis combines European satellite data with readings from autonomous floats that profile the water column. The...

Ocean acidification refers to the chemical reactions that happen when carbon dioxide is absorbed in seawater. In a new study, the <a href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/">University of Adelaide</a> research team took an unprecedented approach to analyzing the effects of ocean acidification.

Ivan Nagelkerken, a professor from the <a href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/">University of Adelaide</a>'s Environment Institute, led the study. "Our understanding of what's likely to happen has been hampered by an over-reliance on simplified laboratory systems centred on single levels of the food web. In this study, we created a series of three-level food webs and monitored and measured the results over a number of months to provide an understanding of future food webs under climate change," said Nagelkerken.

The researchers simulated marine food webs in 12 large aquariums, adding different species to represent seagrass, sand, and rocky reef habitats. They added currents that imitated tidal motion. The three food webs were based on plants such as algae, small invertebrates like shrimp, and fish that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sharks-hear-preys-heartbeat-important/">prey</a> on small invertebrates. 

The food webs were exposed to the levels of both ocean warming and acidification that are expected at the end of the century. The researchers analyzed the growth of organisms and the rates of feeding over the course of several months.

PhD student Sylvan Goldenberg explained the results. "Elevated carbon dioxide concentrations boosted plant growth; more plant food meant more small invertebrates, and more small invertebrates, in turn, allowed the fish to grow faster. However, ocean warming cancelled this benefit of elevated carbon dioxide by causing stress to the animals, making them less efficient feeders and preventing the extra energy produced by the plants from travelling through the food web to the fish,” said Goldenberg.

The study concluded that warming waters will negate any potential benefits of ocean acidification, and that the increasing temperatures of the water will overpower the balance of marine food webs.

"The consequences for marine ecosystems are likely to be severe," said Nagelkerken. Oceans in the future may provide less fish and shellfish for us to eat, and larger animals that are at the top of the food web, in particular, will suffer. We hope this study will provide predictive understanding which is critical for effective fisheries management."

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/">University of Adelaide</a>

Increasing ocean acidification may devastate future marine food webs

Ocean acidification refers to the chemical reactions that happen when...

Transylvania is a region of central Romania that is known for its gothic charm and rugged beauty. Transylvania is also home to the most-explored ice cave in the world, known as Scarisoara. Radiocarbon dating suggests this cave glacier is around 10,500 years old, making it the oldest cave glacier in the world. A team of scientists examined ice obtained from the Scarisoara Cave and discovered it provided details of weather conditions over the past 10,000 years.

Researchers from the <a href="http://www.iser.ro/en/">Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology</a> in Cluj-Napoca gathered samples from the Scarisoara ice cave. Scientist Bogdan Onac of <a href="http://www.usf.edu/">University of Southern Florida</a>'s School of Geosciences collaborated with scientists from all over the world including representatives of the <a href="https://www.qub.ac.uk/">University of Belfast</a>, <a href="http://www.uni-bremen.de/en.html">University of Bremen</a> and <a href="http://www.su.se/english/">Stockholm University</a>. The team analyzed the ancient ice samples in an effort to reconstruct the weather patterns of the Holocene period, which began around 12,000 years ago and continues today.

Over time, snow and rain had frozen in the underground deposits of the Scarisoara Cave. The cave had collected precipitation from the Atlantic Ocean and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/storm-90m-mediterranean-sea/">Mediterranean Sea</a>, making this an ideal location to track the behavior of storms that moved across Central and Eastern Europe. The frozen layers of ice contained chemical evidence of shifts in the weather over the last 10,000 years. The significance of the study, published this week in Scientific Reports, is that up to this point scientists have mainly relied on summer conditions to chart the changes of Earth’s climate.

Candace Major is a program director in the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Geosciences. Major said, "Most of the paleoclimate records from this region are plant-based, and track only the warm part of the year -- the growing season.That misses half the story. The spectacular ice cave at Scarisoara fills a crucial piece of the puzzle of past climate change in recording what happens during winter."

The researchers charted the winter conditions in Central and Eastern Europe, which are becoming wetter and warmer over time. Temperatures had reached a maximum during the mid-Holocene, when scientists note there was a major shift in the atmospheric dynamics. At this time, winter storms changed paths and produced wetter and colder conditions in northwestern Europe and brought milder winter conditions to southeastern Europe. These warmer winters led to a rapid growth of population. 

"Our data allows us to reconstruct the interplay between Atlantic and Mediterranean sources of moisture," Onac said. "We can also draw conclusions about past atmospheric circulation patterns, with implications for future climate changes. Our research offers a long-term context to better understand these changes."

[caption id="attachment_342366" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/139240_web.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-342366" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/139240_web-300x189.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="189" /></a> Image Credit: C. Ciubotarescu[/caption]

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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

Source: <a href="http://www.usf.edu/">University of South Florida</a>

Ice cave provides 10,000 years of insight into climate change

Transylvania is a region of central Romania that is known...

The equivalent of over 10 billion dollars is lost every year in the wine industry due to weather disasters. From frost to floods to earthquakes, no wine-producing area in the world is immune to the impact of extreme weather events. A study led by Dr. James Daniell of <a href="https://www.kit.edu/english/">Karlsruhe Institute of Technology</a> measured which wine regions are the most vulnerable to various natural disasters. The data was used to create the first-ever global risk index for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/wine-engages-brain/">wine</a> regions.  

Dr. Daniel collaborated with experts from Europe and Australia, including seismologists and meteorologists. The study examined 7500 regions in 131 countries. The goal of the project was to establish which wine regions are affected by various weather events and to what extent. The researchers also set out to analyze the role of climate change in the wine industry. 

The wine-producing areas of Mendoza and San Juan in Argentina proved to be at the highest risk of damage from natural disasters. Wine regions in Georgia, Moldova, Slovenia, Ecuador, and Japan also topped the list. The study established weather events such as heat, drought, floods, frost, hail, fires, and earthquakes are all serious risks to the wine industry. Wine regions are threatened with loss of production, loss of profits, and damaged assets.

The research found that hail and frost have caused the most damage to European wine companies over the past five years, particularly in the French region of Burgundy and in Italy’s Piedmont region. Hail damage in these areas resulted in major losses, with some vineyards losing as much as 90 percent of the value of the crops. Hailstorms also left behind irreparable damage to some of the vines. Dr. Daniell explained that hail nets can be used to help protect the vines.

Earthquakes are also a serious threat to the wine-producing areas, as they can wipe out everything a wine region needs to function. An earthquake in Chile in 2010 hit the wine industry hard when huge stainless steel tanks crashed to the ground. More than 125 million liters of wine were lost. 

"Earthquake-resistant design could have saved many millions of liters," said Dr. Daniell.

The researchers determined the wine industry will be affected both positively and negatively by climate change. Many wine regions will flourish as they modify their harvests to take advantage of changes in weather patterns. The researchers predict areas of America, Canada, and northern China will improve wine profits with new strains of grapes and optimized production techniques.

 "Through detailed natural hazard analysis, research can help winemakers and governments alike to prepare adequately for the natural hazards that they face and to reduce losses," explained Dr. Daniell.

 The global risk index for wine regions that was created from this study was revealed at the 2017 Annual Conference of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in Vienna. The EGU presented Dr. Daniell with the "Early Career Scientist Award in Natural Hazards for 2017." The results of the study can be viewed on the <a href=" http://www.winerisk.com">"WineRisk" website</a>, which also offers solutions for wine regions.

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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

Source: <a href="https://www.kit.edu/english/">Karlsruhe Institute of Technology</a>

&nbsp;

Natural disasters cost the wine industry billions every year

The equivalent of over 10 billion dollars is lost every...

Over 2.5 billion years ago, Earth was mostly covered with oceans and there was very little oxygen in the atmosphere. The ocean water was less acidic and high in iron during this time period, known as the Archean Era. Archean oceans became home to the earliest living organisms on the planet. Scientists have had a very limited area in which to view these early life forms, but a new discovery may expand this field of research in a major way. 

Scientists from the <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a> conducted a study to find bodies of water comparable to those of Archean times. With only four known lakes that are structurally similar to the ancient oceans, insight into microbial life has been restricted. Researchers, however, have made a breakthrough that qualifies potentially millions of Canada’s Boreal Shield lakes as locations for studying microbial communities.

Jackson Tsuji is a doctoral student in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science and a co-author of the study."With so many lakes to study, this discovery changes how we approach this field of research. It's exciting that these lakes, which are basically in our backyard, hold information that could have implications for global climate, past and present, and water management," said Tsuji.

The research team collaborated with microbiologists, geochemists, and freshwater specialists in the study. They compared the water chemistry of two Boreal Shield lakes to the four existing Archean-ocean analogue lakes using microbial community profiles. With specialized isotopic tools, researchers found the lakes of the Boreal Shield contain similar biological processes to the four existing analogue lakes.

“We used to think finding a suitable Archean ocean analogue meant that you had to find a lake that didn't mix. For example, current analogues are hundreds of meters deep and completely stratified," said Josh Neufeld, a professor in the Department of Biology. "An important discovery here was how robust this oxygen-free community is, despite the mixing."

Not only were the two Boreal Lakes found to be low in sulphur and high in iron, but they also developed oxygen-free layers in the summer.  During this season, the lakes can be used as laboratories to gain insights into ancient oceans. Research can extend beyond information about early life forms to learn more about greenhouse gas emissions and harmful algae growth as well.  

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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

Source: <a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/">University of Waterloo</a>

Major breakthrough in the understanding of Earth’s early life forms

Over 2.5 billion years ago, Earth was mostly covered with...

With an average elevation of 16,000 feet, the Tibetan Plateau is the highest in the world. This frigid region has been inhabited by Tibetans for thousands of years. Harsh cold, lack of oxygen, and an extremely limited food supply are just a few of the challenges that Tibetans have managed to overcome. Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uth.edu/">University of Texas, Houston</a>, set out to discover if the Tibetan people’s adaptation to high-altitude living can be attributed to their DNA.

A genome is a complete set of DNA, including all genes. The research team observed the genomes of 27 Tibetans to search for beneficial genes. They identified two genes associated with adaptations to high altitudes, EPAS1 and EGLN1. The Tibetan variant of the EPAS1 gene can be traced back to an extinct human subspecies known as the Denisovans. The Tibetan genomes also contained two genes associated with low <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-oxygen-levels-global/">oxygen</a> levels, PTGIS and KCTD12.

The study, published in PLOS Genetics, documented a Tibetan variant of VDR, a gene affiliated with Vitamin D absorption. The significance of this finding is that Vitamin D deficiency is very common among Tibetan nomads, due in part to their clothing and sun exposure habits. The VDR gene may help to offset the effects of this deficiency. 

The results of this analysis not only give insight into human adaptation to high-altitude living, but also provide a look at Tibetan demographic history. For example, the research team was able to determine that Tibetans and Han Chinese transferred genes among their subpopulations for as many as 49,000 years after they divided. 

Researcher Tatum Simonson summed up the magnitude of the study. "The comprehensive analysis of whole-genome sequence data from Tibetans provides valuable insights into the genetic factors underlying this population's unique history and adaptive physiology at high altitude. This study provides further context for analyses of other permanent high-altitude populations, who exhibit characteristics distinct from Tibetans despite similar chronic stresses, as well as lowland populations, in whom hypoxia-related challenges, such those inherent to cardiopulmonary disease or sleep apnea, elicit a wide-range of unique physiological responses,” said Simonson.

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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

Source: <a href="https://www.uth.edu/">The University of Texas, Houston</a>

Tibetan people have survival in their DNA

With an average elevation of 16,000 feet, the Tibetan Plateau...

Tiny particles from air pollution can travel from the lungs into the bloodstream, possibly explaining the link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease, a new study said.

The <a href="http://www.who.int/">World Health Organization</a> estimates that in 2012, about 72 percent of premature deaths related to outdoor air pollution were due to ischemic heart disease and strokes, with the remaining 28 percent due to infections and lung cancer. 

Many scientists have suspected that fine particles from air pollution travel from the lungs into the bloodstream, but evidence supporting this in humans has been difficult to collect.

In the new study performed by the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a>, Mark Miller and colleagues at the <a href="http://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburgh</a> in the United Kingdom and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_National_Institute_for_Public_Health_and_the_Environment">National Institute for Public Health and the Environment</a> in the Netherlands used a selection of specialized techniques to track inhaled gold <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-snow-toxic/">nanoparticles</a>.

For the research, 14 healthy volunteers, 12 surgical patients and several mouse models inhaled gold nanoparticles, which have been safely used in medical imaging and drug delivery. The nanoparticles were soon detected in blood and urine and accumulated at inflamed vascular sites, including carotid plaques in patients at risk of a stroke.

Accumulation at sites of vascular inflammation “provides a direct mechanism that can explain the link between environmental nanoparticles and cardiovascular disease,” according to the study which appears in the journal <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsnano.6b08551">ACS Nano</a>.

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By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsnano.6b08551">ACS Nano</a>.

Air pollution particles can travel from lungs to bloodstream

Tiny particles from air pollution can travel from the lungs...

In a potential win-win finding, a Florida professor has discovered how to turn greenhouse gases into clean energy.

It could could significantly reduce greenhouse gases linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-activity-climate-change/">climate change</a>, while also creating a clean way to produce energy, said <a href="https://www.ucf.edu/">University of Central Florida</a> assistant professor Fernando Uribe-Romo.

The process involves triggering photosynthesis in a synthetic material called metal-organic frameworks that breaks down carbon dioxide into harmless organic materials, the university said.

"This work is a breakthrough," Uribe-Romo said. "Tailoring materials that will absorb a specific color of light is very difficult from the scientific point of view, but from the societal point of view we are contributing to the development of a technology that can help reduce greenhouse gases."

The findings are published in the<a href="http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2017/ta/c7ta00437k"> Journal of Materials Chemistry</a>.

Uribe-Romo develop an artificial photosynthesis process similar to the way plants convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and sunlight into food, according to the university.  But instead of producing food, Uribe-Romo's method produces solar fuel.

Scientists have been researching this method for years but have had trouble using visible light to trigger the process. Ultraviolet rays have enough energy to allow the reaction in common materials such as titanium dioxide, but UVs make up only about 4 percent of the light Earth receives from the sun, the university said.  The visible range -- the violet to red wavelengths -- represent the majority of the sun's rays, but it has been difficult to find materials that pick up these light colors to create the chemical reaction that transforms CO2 into fuel.

Uribe-Romo used titanium, and added organic molecules that act as “light-harvesting antennae.” The chemical reaction transformed the CO2 into two reduced forms of carbon, formate and formamides which are also solar fuel, and in the process cleaned the air.

"The goal is to continue to fine-tune the approach so we can create greater amounts of reduced carbon so it is more efficient," Uribe-Romo said.

He envisions putting conversion stations near power plants.

"The idea would be to set up stations that capture large amounts of CO2, like next to a power plant,” he said. “The gas would be sucked into the station, go through the process and recycle the greenhouse gases while producing energy that would be put back into the power plant."

Uribe-Romo wants to see if the other wavelengths of visible light may also trigger the reaction with adjustments to the synthetic material. If it works, the process could be a significant way to help reduce greenhouse gases, according to the university.

--

By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.ucf.edu/">University of Central Florida</a>

New process converts greenhouse gases into clean fuel

In a potential win-win finding, a Florida professor has discovered...

While the risks of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/solar-activity-climate-change/">climate change</a> are extensively documented, there are not many benefits associated with Earth’s rising temperatures. The outlook on this phenomenon is generally bleak. A new study takes a very positive approach to warming weather patterns. The study claims that global warming will lead to healthier exercise habits for many Americans, and may even help fight obesity.

Hotter temperatures are normally affiliated with lowering utility bills, but new research shows climate change has the potential to save lives. Researchers from <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a> have found a direct correlation between global warming and increased physical activity. Dr. Nick Obradovich, the lead author on the study, warns that a sedentary lifestyle leads to depression, anxiety, and many serious health risks.    

“At a physiological level, too little exercise can produce costly health outcomes like obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and insufficient physical activity is a leading cause of death in the US,” explains Obradovich.

1.9 million people were surveyed about their exercise habits from 2002 to 2012. This information was compared to weather data from the same timeframe. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, reveals that people engage more in physical activities when the temperatures rise. The results also show that cold or extreme hot temperatures are factors that lead to less exercise.

The researchers used projected temperatures for 2050 and 2099 in NASA climate models and applied their findings from the research to predict the future impact of climate change on exercise habits. They determined that the warming trend will significantly increase exercise rates across the country. This will be especially true of people living in the northern states during colder months. Physical activity is expected to decline in southern regions of the U.S. during summer months. 

“If observed temperature-activity relationships from the recent past persist, further climate change may increase nationwide net participation in recreational physical activity during many months of the year, in turn magnifying many of the physiological and psychological benefits of exercise, said Dr. Obradovich.”

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.harvard.edu/">Harvard University</a>

Could global warming actually help fight American obesity?

While the risks of climate change are extensively documented, there...

Small-scale fishermen in the Gulf of California are spending more time and money to catch fewer fish, according a new study.

The analysis, published April 12 in the journal <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/">Plos One</a> suggests that future investment in the region's fisheries may not be economically or ecologically viable.

Fishing in the Gulf of California, which separates Baja California and mainland Mexico, is already <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tech-solutions-emerge-fight-overfishing/">over capacity</a>, according to the study by scientists at <a href="https://scripps.ucsd.edu/">Scripps Institution of Oceanograph</a>y at the <a href="https://ucsd.edu/">University of California San Diego</a>.

According to the analysis, 17,839 boats were operating in an area that can only sustain 13,277 boats to maximize the benefits of catching more fish per trip.

“The current overcapacity of boats means that fishermen are working harder to catch fewer fish," said Andrew F. Johnson, a postdoctoral scholar in the <a href="http://gulfprogram.ucsd.edu/">Gulf of California Marine Program</a> at Scripps and lead author of the study.

This is taking a heavy toll on a region that supplies nearly 75 percent of Mexico's fish and is a popular spot for recreational sport fishing, diving, and other ocean activities. 

"This long-term overfishing reduces the biological capacity of reefs, mangroves and other important fish habitats," said Octavio Aburto-Oropeza, and senior author of the study. "Ultimately, this means we are reducing the future economic and ecological productivity of the gulf."

Understanding overcapacity  can help fishing communities better gauge their economic status and manage their environmental impact, the researchers said.

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By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://scripps.ucsd.edu/">Scripps Institution of Oceanography</a>

Study reveals rampant overfishing in the Gulf of California

Small-scale fishermen in the Gulf of California are spending more...

Warm winds that likely contribute to the weakening of ice shelves in Antarctica extend further south and are more frequent than previously believed, according to a new study.

The so-called föhn winds likely contribute to the weakening of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/study-melting-of-antarctic-ice-shelves-will-accelerate-quickly/">ice shelves</a> before a collapse, according to research by the <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/bas_research/our_research/current/">British Antarctic Survey</a>. 

Scientists believe ice shelves collapse from water flowing into crevasses on the surface of the shelves. Föhn winds are believed to be supplying the water by melting the ice shelf surface.

"What's new and surprising from this study is that föhn winds occur around 65% of the time during the spring and summer,” said  lead scientist on the study, Jenny Turton.”The combined warming over a number of days leads to much more surface melting than was experienced during days without föhn winds.”

Melting in the summer and re-freezing in the winter weakens the ice surface, Turton said.

The researchers measured Föhn winds from  weather stations near the surface and regional climate model data over a five year period.

Föhn events occur as early as September, three months before the beginning of summer, the researchers found.

“Now that we know how prevalent and spatially extensive these winds are, we can look further into the effect they are having on the ice shelf,” Turton added.

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By: <a href="mailto:dbeasley@earth.com">David Beasley </a><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="https://www.bas.ac.uk/bas_research/our_research/current/">British Antarctic Survey</a>

Warm southern winds are weakening Antarctic ice shelves

Warm winds that likely contribute to the weakening of ice...

Butadiene is a chemical used in making synthetic rubber and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/caterpillar-solve-plastic-problem/">plastics</a>. This versatile material, a byproduct of natural gas and petroleum production, is in extremely high demand. Researchers at<a href="http://www.efrc.udel.edu/"> Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation</a> (CCEI) have made a significant breakthrough in obtaining butadiene. The team has discovered a way to make butadiene from natural resources. This method of creating renewable butadiene will lead to an even bigger advancement - sustainable rubber and plastics.

Butadiene is critical to many fields of industry. It is the key component in making a wide range of products such as tires, medical supplies, video game consoles, and sporting goods. Researchers from three universities teamed up at CCEI to focus on making butadiene from renewable resources such as corn, grass, and trees. 

Dionisios Vlachos, who co-authored the study, is the director of CCEI and a professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>. 

"Our team combined a catalyst we recently discovered with new and exciting chemistry to find the first high-yield, low-cost method of manufacturing butadiene," said Vlachos. "This research could transform the multi-billion-dollar plastics and rubber industries."

Vlachos added that academic research has shifted over the last decade to “focus on renewable chemicals and butadiene, in particular, due to its importance in commercial products.” 

Using technology belonging to the CCEI, the scientists created a three-step process that started with biomass-derived sugars. The sugars were converted to a ring compound known as furfural, which was processed into a second ring compound called tetrahydrofuran. Step three involved the use of a new catalyst called "phosphorous all-silica zeolite," which converted the tetrahydrofuran to butadiene with high yield.

Wei Fan is a contributor to the study and a professor at the <a href="https://www.umass.edu/">University of Massachusetts</a>. Fan said, “We discovered that phosphorus-based catalysts supported by silica and zeolites exhibit high selectivity for manufacturing chemicals like butadiene. When comparing their capability for controlling certain industrial chemistry uses with that of other catalysts, the phosphorous materials appear truly unique and nicely complement the set of catalysts we have been developing at CCEI."

The findings from this study will be published in a leading journal of green chemistry and engineering called ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. CCEI has worked to create technology to produce renewable chemicals since the research center’s formation in 2009. The development of renewable rubber is a main focus of CCEI’s mission. 

--

By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>

Image Credit: <a href="http://www.udel.edu/">University of Delaware</a>/ Jeffrey Chase

Major discovery will lead to sustainable rubber and plastics

Butadiene is a chemical used in making synthetic rubber and...

In the last few decades, scientific studies have uncovered how small variations in solar activity can actually have their effects increased through our climate system. Because of this, astronomical factors such as solar activity are at the basis of many complex questions that could help us better understand climate change. 

Over a five-year study, a multidisciplinary team from China’s <a href="http://www.most.gov.cn/eng/programmes1/200610/t20061009_36223.htm">National Basic Research Program</a> analyzed the effects of astronomy and earth motion factors on climate change. They found that there is a significant relationship between solar wind speed and North Atlantic Oscillation – a weather phenomenon involving changes in atmospheric pressure at sea level. This relationship persists day-to-day and can vary over a period of years, which suggests a much greater impact of solar influence on our atmospheric system compared to ozone destruction.

The research team also found that the solar wind and electric-microphysical effect was the key mechanism behind solar activity influencing the climate. They were able to discover this through analyzing the effects of solar energetic particle flux on cloud charge.

In the course of five years, the researchers enhanced their model simulations and found that the solar signal is more significant and detectable on an interdecadal time scale in certain regions that appear to be more sensitive, especially the tropical Pacific and monsoon regions.

But the research doesn’t stop here. Currently, the team is focusing on two main points of study. The first is the effects of solar radiative forcing and solar energetic particles on climate in middle-high latitudes. The second is evaluating the response of a tropical Pacific air-sea system to interdecadal variation in solar activity, and how this response spreads into middle latitudes through monsoon activity in eastern Asia.

Further research will help scientists understand how energy from the sun influences our changing climate, and could provide clues to slowing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cover-crops-climate-change/">climate change</a> in the future.

--

By <a href="mailto:certz@earth.com">Connor Ertz</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Source: Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

New study reveals that solar activity influences climate change

In the last few decades, scientific studies have uncovered how...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

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

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.



“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. 



The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.



“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;



“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”



The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.



Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. 



"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."



"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.



"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes how record-breaking heat expressed itself around the world in 2022.



Scientists have determined that 2022 was the 5th warmest year since 1880. Furthermore, the last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record.



From devastating floods and wildfires to natural disasters like Hurricane Ian, 2022 showed us yet again how a warming climate affects people across the globe.&nbsp;



"As we look back at 20:22 and years past, we see that each year we better understand the challenges we face and how important it is to meet them," says NASA.



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes why herbicides are not as effective in killing weeds anymore. In the 20th century, chemical companies developed thousands of herbicides. The most commonly used herbicide was glyphosate, which was introduced in 1974.



Over the past few decades, dozens of species of weeds have evolved resistance to glyphosate. Depending on the site of action, the part of the plant that an herbicide interacts with, weeds may even be resistant to herbicides that have not been developed yet.&nbsp;



With increasing resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides, weeds are - once again - becoming a major concern for farmers.&nbsp;



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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



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Weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to herbicides

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) describes a dust storm on Mars that was nearly twice the size of the United States. As the storm covered the southern hemisphere of the planet, some of NASA’s explorers had to delay their normal activities.



NASA’s Insight lander put itself in a "safe mode" for 11 days to conserve battery power because solar power was disrupted by the dust. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter postponed flights until conditions improved.



"A fleet of NASA orbiters monitor Martian dust storms like this one and serve as lifelines to Earth by relaying data from the rovers and lander on the ground back to the team. This includes the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, and Odyssey," reports JPL.



"Dust storms like this recent one start close to the ground and are spread by wind as they rise – warming the cold Martian atmosphere."



The images in the video were captured by NASA’s Curiosity as the dust rolled in. A fleet of orbiters monitored the dust storm from above, relaying data from Mars’ explorers back to scientists on Earth.



Video &amp; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS



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



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

NASA monitors giant dust storms on Mars

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="http://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This strait provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.



Qeshm is separated from the Iranian coast by the Clarence Strait, also known as Khuran.&nbsp;The Hara Forest Protected Area is a network of shallow waterways and forest located between the island and the mainland. This protected region is home to sea turtles, snakes, and more than 150 species of migrating birds.



Qeshm is famous for its wide range of&nbsp;ecotourist&nbsp;attractions, such as the&nbsp;Hara marine forests. According to environmentalists, about 1.5 percent of the world birds and 25 percent of Iran's native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/female-hummingbirds-avoid-sexual-harassment-by-looking-like-males/">birds</a> annually migrate to the forests, which are the first national geo park in Iran.



Tourists are also drawn to the island to see an age-old Portuguese&nbsp;fort, historic mosques, the&nbsp;Seyyed Mozaffar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bibi Maryam&nbsp;shrines, and the "Valley of Stars."



The average temperature on the island is 81 degress and the region is often hot and humid. From June to August, the island is described as being oppressively hot. The ideal time to visit is during the winter season. 



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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

Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique.&nbsp;



"Inhambane Bay is a deep inlet into which the small Mutamba River flows," says ESA. "On one side of the bay lies the historical city of Inhambane, capital of the Inhambane Province, while the sister city of Maxixe, the economic capital of Inhambane, sits across from it. The province is the second largest grower of cashews, after Nampula, and it also produces coconut and citrus fruits."



The beaches of Barra and Tofo are popular with tourists. There are also coral reefs along the long coastline of Inhambane, making it an ideal destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.



"Mozambique’s extensive coastline heightens the country’s vulnerability to tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian Ocean as well as storm surge flooding," says ESA.



"More than half of the population lives in low lying coastal areas, putting communities at risk. Inhambane Bay was dangerously close to where Cyclone Idai made landfall in 2019 causing widespread destruction to the country."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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



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

Inhambane Bay in southeast Mozambique

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. The glacier is located on the east coast of the Greenland ice sheet.



As human-induced climate change continues to drive up temperatures, global ice loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. ESA reports that, over the past decade alone, 3.5 trillion tons of ice have melted from the Greenland ice sheet. This is enough to cover the UK with meltwater 15 meters deep.



Based on satellite imagery, researchers determined that Kangerlussuaq entered a new phase of rapid retreat and acceleration in 2017. In their study, published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2019.00123/full">Frontiers in Earth Science</a>,&nbsp; the experts report that the glacier's ice front is now at its most retreated position since the early 20th century.



"Given Kangerlussuaq’s previous impacts on both the magnitude and pattern of ice sheet wide mass loss, we predict that its new phase of retreat, acceleration and thinning will markedly enhance the south-east region’s contribution to increasing discharge from the ice sheet," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;&nbsp;



"More broadly, accurate forecasting of the ice sheet’s contribution to sea level rise will require a deeper understanding of, and responses to, these non-linear ice dynamic processes."



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Kangerlussuaq Glacier on the Greenland ice sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the complex relationship between ocean and climate. ESA's Climate Change Initiative will help us understand how oceans influence the climate and how climate change is impacting the oceans.&nbsp;



"Earth’s oceans are huge heat stores, soaking up 93% of the excess heat from human activity over the past 70 years. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, from the Equator to the poles. Where this ocean heat goes influences weather patterns and regional climate," explains ESA.



"As well as absorbing heat, oceans are a natural carbon sink, absorbing a quarter of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity. This has led to the acidification of ocean water, threating marine life."



The amount of heat and carbon dioxide soaked up by the ocean depends on specific variables, including phytoplankton, temperatures, waves, salinity, and ice cover. Satellites can be used to measure these variables from space.



"From their unique vantage point, satellites provide key information for understanding the complexities of our planet and monitoring environmental issues," says ESA.



Video Credit: ESA



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



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

Ocean heat influences regional climate

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes the importance of monitoring the shape of the sea surface, which is constantly changing. These observations have many applications, such as ship routing, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-modem-ocean-is-a-tough-place-for-whales-to-survive/">ocean</a> current forecasting, and debris tracking.



"A project supported by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities recently investigated a new technique to measure sea surface topography very precisely," reports ESA.



"The technique involves looking at satellite navigation (GNSS) signals that have been reflected off of the sea surface at very low angles. At these so-called grazing angles, waves and surface roughness have very little impact on the reflection process; the sea surface acts as a very smooth mirror."



Estel Cardellach is the principal investigator at the Institute for Space Studies of Catalonia, who first submitted the idea for the project.



“In a mirror-like reflection the phase of the signal can be tracked – it is continuous," said Cardellach. "Different surface heights result in different phase measurements. It gives a very precise measurement of the surface altitude at a few centimetres’ precision.”



The researchers developed a GNSS receiver and set up an experiment in the Balaeric Islands to collect signals from the receiver that were reflected off the sea surface. Ultimately, these signals will provide improved measurements of the shape of the sea surface.



Image/ Video Credit: ESA



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

Monitoring the dynamic shape of the sea surface

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