Farming in ways that support nature can pay off - not just for the environment, but for crops too. That’s the takeaway from a new study that tested how different methods of agroecological farming perform on real working farms in England. 



The study showed that adding simple nature-friendly features like wildflower margins and organic matter improved biodiversity and led to stronger crop performance.



But there’s a catch: to make these methods financially viable on a large scale, many farmers may need more government support.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-farms-real-results">Real farms, real results</h2>



The research team, based at the <a href="https://www.ceh.ac.uk/">UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology</a> and Rothamsted Research, ran a four-year study across 17 commercial farms in southern England. This was the first time anyone tested both the ecological and financial impacts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sustainable-farming-is-good-for-farmers-well-being/">agroecological</a> practices at this scale in the UK.



The researchers didn’t just run lab trials. The researchers partnered directly with farmers to design and carry out real-world experiments, testing three types of farming systems side by side.



The first was a business-as-usual approach, using standard intensive methods without any nature-friendly additions. 



The second, called the enhanced ecological system, introduced wildflower field margins to support pollinators and other beneficial insects, along with overwinter cover crops to protect and enrich the soil. 



The third was the maximized ecological system, which built on the enhanced version by adding wildflower strips within the fields - essentially creating insect “runways” - and using farmyard <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/beer-byproducts-and-manure-used-to-increase-crop-yields/">manure</a> to improve soil health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-bugs-better-soil-higher-yields">More bugs, better soil, higher yields</h2>



The results were clear. The farms that adopted enhanced or maximized ecological methods saw an increase in beneficial species. 



Earthworms, bees, hoverflies, ladybirds, spiders, and lacewings were all more abundant. These helped reduce crop pests like aphids and snails.



That’s not all. The flowering crops - like oilseed rape - produced more seeds thanks to better pollination. The soils held more carbon. And overall, the yields went up.



Even with a little land taken out of production to make room for habitats, the gains in crop health and pollination made a difference. The enhanced ecological system was just as profitable as conventional farming - but only because of current government subsidies.



The maximized system delivered even stronger environmental and yield benefits. But it was more expensive to implement. 



Without more support, most farms would not find it financially competitive. Some farms, especially mixed ones that already have manure on hand, might fare better. But others would struggle without extra help.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-profit-meets-sustainability">Profit meets sustainability</h2>



Dr. Ben Woodcock, one of the study’s lead scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology, elaborated on the research.



“Without the introduction of new financial incentives, many farmers will be deterred from adopting agroecological farming practices and systems. This could leave them locked into high input, intensive farming systems and more exposed to the impacts of pesticide resistance, declining soil health and climate change."



According to Dr. Woodcock, while farmers run businesses that need to be profitable, there is an increasing awareness that more sustainable systems can help "future-proof" their farms in terms of soil health, less reliance on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pesticides-attack-bees-in-multiple-ways-throughout-the-body/">pesticides</a> and climate change.



“Agroecological methods are good for biodiversity, food security, and, in the long-term, provide more secure farm incomes but habitats can take several years to establish, so agri-environment subsidies are essential to helping farmers transition to these more sustainable systems.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-support-for-greener-farming">Support for greener farming</h2>



The researchers believe that showcasing these successful results could help convince more farmers to make the switch. It’s about breaking the cycle of intensive practices that keep farms dependent on chemical inputs and vulnerable to environmental changes.



Professor Jonathan Storkey, an ecologist at Rothamsted Research, said the study confirmed that managing land on farms for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farming-for-wildlife-how-traditional-practices-can-protect-nature/">wildlife</a> is not in direct conflict with food security but can support sustainable production by increasing yields and reducing pest pressure. 



"These ‘ecosystem services’ could potentially substitute for chemical fertilizers and pesticides which negatively impact the environment," said Professor Storkey. 



“However, our analysis has shown that realizing these benefits will require additional support for farm businesses that currently operate on very narrow profit margins. As input costs increase, however, these agroecological approaches may become more attractive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-training-makes-a-difference">Training makes a difference</h2>



The quality of nature-friendly measures also depends on how well they’re implemented, and training helps.



Earlier research from the UK Centre for Ecology &amp; Hydrology showed that when farmers receive proper guidance on creating and managing wildlife habitats, those habitats do a much better job of supporting <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-pollinators-boost-the-nutritional-value-of-crops/">pollinators</a> and pest-controlling insects.



Field margins and wildflower strips may seem like simple changes, but getting them right requires different thinking than managing crops. The better these habitats are planned and maintained, the more they deliver.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-green-nationwide">Growing green, nationwide</h2>



Nature-friendly farming isn’t just about doing good for the environment - it can also help farms thrive. But making the switch isn’t free, and for many farmers, the numbers have to work. 



That’s where targeted subsidies and support come in. The research shows what’s possible. Now, the question is how to make it doable for more farms across the country.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.70079">Journal of Applied Ecology</a>.



-----



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Eco-friendly farms can succeed - but they need support

Farming in ways that support nature can pay off - not just for the environment, but for crops too. That’s the takeaway from a new study that tested how different methods of agroecological farming perform on real working farms in England. The study showed that adding simple nature-friendly features like wildflower margins and organic matter improved biodiversity and led to stronger crop performance. But there’s a catch: to make these methods financially viable on a large scale, many farmers may need more government support. Real farms, real...

Whale songs revealed a whole new melody, researchers report.

Scientists from <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> (WHOI) got a surprise during a recent study into humpback whale songs: there may be another whole layer to their music than was previously believed.

In an article in the Nov. 2 edition of <a href="http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biology Letters</a>, WHOI researchers explained that they were studying humpback whale songs in Hawaii while recording both pressure waves and particle motion. Pressure waves create the part of whale songs that humans can hear. Particle motion, however, creates vibrations similar to those a human might feel if the bass on a stereo is very loud.

Particle motion in whale songs hadn’t been studied before because it’s complicated to record, the underwater equipment needed wasn’t available to most researchers, and scientists expected it would only carry a few feet anyway.

However, the WHOI biologists had the equipment needed to record particle motion for an unrelated study, so they decided to use it with the whales. They traveled as far as 200 meters away from the whales – about 656 feet – and the particle motion was still strong, especially at the lower end of the whales’ vocal range.

The WHOI research team was unable to gather enough data to explore how or whether the pressure motion affected the whales’ communication, but did note that humpback whales’ ears are fused to their skulls, unlike most other marine mammals. This could allow them to sense the vibrations that particle motion would cause, adding a whole new layer of depth to their songs and perhaps helping them better “see” the underwater world around them.

It wouldn’t be a first among the animal kingdom, the biologists said, as both elephants and hippopotami have some degree of “vibrational hearing.”

The whales’ use of particle motion could also offer some explanation for why they and other underwater animals are so sensitive to sounds like underwater blasting and low-frequency active sonar.

Whale songs reveal new melody, researchers report

Whale songs revealed a whole new melody, researchers report. Scientists...

UK diesel vehicles may face a new tax. Diesel car drivers in the UK may soon face fees when driving in large city centers after a ruling from the High Court in London found the government was failing to meet European emission standards. 

The Supreme Court called for immediate action to cap nitrogen dioxide emissions, estimated to cause over 50,000 premature deaths per year. Justice Garnham declared that the current plan in place doesn’t do enough to limit diesel vehicles from entering major city centers.

In 1999, the EU first introduced legislation limiting NO2 emissions. But Justice Garnham accused these measures of “adopting too optimistic a model for future emissions.”

In December 2015, five new low-emission zones were announced, paving the way for new penalties for any diesel vehicle driving through them. But the UK Automobile Assocation and RAC Limited campaigners argue that a blanket penalty would be unfair for families who bought diesel vehicles in an attempt to be more environmentally friendly.

The previous administration introduced a “Dash For Diesel” program that more than tripled the number of UK diesel vehicles. The program issued tax incentives for those buying diesel vehicles, which were thought to be more environmentally friendly because they emitted less carbon dioxide. But scientists have since found that diesel vehicles emit more nitrogen oxide particles that are very damaging to human health. 

Simon Peevers, spokesman for the RAC, argued against new diesel fees: “This ruling will set alarm bells ringing for millions of motorists and business who are reliant on their diesel vehicles.” But something clearly must be done, as ClientEarth found that 37 out of 43 zones across the UK “remain in breach of legal limits.”

Sadiq Kahn, mayor of London, has said “this must now act as a real wake-up call to Government to finally get to grips with the national health emergency that is causing 9400 deaths every year just in London alone.”

But motoring broadcaster Quentin Willson counters that “punishing millions of diesel drivers for the mistakes in past government policy is neither fair nor honest.”

The new fees for diesel vehicles still need to be approved before being set into law. Regardless of whether or not this particular legislation is the answer, Dr. Penny Woods of the British Lung Foundation put it simply: “It’s a public health crisis.”

UK diesel vehicles face new tax in large city centers

UK diesel vehicles may face a new tax. Diesel car...

African striped mouse reveals his stripes in a report published in this week’s Nature. It was determined that the stripes found on the African striped mouse are due to a gene called Alx3.

Until recently, there had still been some mystery surrounding how are animal color patterns are determined. Dr. Hopi Hoekstra of Harvard University studies the development and evolution of stripe patterns in wild mice, because the stripes are most likely involved in mice’s defense from predators.

To figure out how African striped mice get their stripes, Hoekstra’s colleague Ricardo Mallarino studied how the stripes form during mouse embryogenesis. Dr. Mallarino observed that pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes failed to differentiate in the areas where the stripes were ultimately located. By failing to differentiate, the melanocytes cannot produce pigment, creating the lighter hair found in the stripes.

Using RNA sequencing, Mallarino and team compared the genes in the skin of the light-colored stripe and the skin of the areas with darker hair. They found that the gene Alx3 was highly present in the light stripe but not the skin with darker hair. “It looks like what happened,” Hoekstra explained, “is that Alx3 has been co-opted from its role in making light-colored bellies, and now it’s expressed where the stripe is going to form.”

To find out exactly how Alx3 affects mouse hair color, the team used protein-DNA binding assays. They found that when Alx3 binds to the promoter, it represses MITF, a regulator of melanocyte differentiation. Then, to see if this Alx3 effect occurred in other species as well, the team studied the North American chipmunk. Surely enough, the skin of the chipmunk showed a very similar Alx3 expression as was found on the African striped mouse.

“The next step is to figure out what controls Alx3 expression,” said Mallarino. 

“Can you just tinker with where and when Alx3 is expressed to generation a diversity of striping patterns? We don’t know the answer but it’s something we are excited about,” reported Hoekstra.

African striped mouse reveals stripes due to newly discovered gene

African striped mouse reveals his stripes in a report published...

Canned clean air, the once-novelty product, sees an uptake in highly polluted areas.

Australians enjoy deep breaths of clean, pure air in the pristine Yarra Valley wine country or along beautiful Bondi Beach. The fresh air in Canada’s Rocky Mountains and Britain’s countryside are favorites among those countries’ populations.

The people living in Beijing, China? Their air’s not so clean – and they’re willing to buy air that is. It sounds like a joke, but the bottled air business has been going strong in parts of China since at least 2013. That’s when the Daily Mail, a British news outlet, first reported that recycling magnate Chen Guangbiao was selling small canned clean air from less polluted parts of the country to residents in the north.

The cans of air were a joke, he said, and his goal was to draw attention to pollution in northeastern China, especially Beijing.

Sales of bottled air have skyrocketed in the past year, however, as desperate residents in Beijing and the surrounding area deal with unprecedented air pollution.

Beijing’s smog comes both from the industrial factories and plants located in the area that burn coal for power, and the coal heating systems still used in most Chinese homes. Air pollution in the region is at its worst during the winter months; the city issued its first-ever “red alert” in December 2015, shutting down schools in reaction to the smog covering Beijing so thickly it looked like heavy fog.

This year, officials in the region have already declared “hazardous” pollution three times, warning it could get even worse. Air purifier sales are also on the rise.

Vitality Air, which bottles air in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, started out to sell a novelty product to tourists. But in December 2015, demand in China prompted them to enter the market there.

At least one bottler, Green and Clean of Australia, plans to expand to other polluted cities in India, Malaysia and elsewhere beginning next year.

Prices range from 80 cents for Chen Guangbiao’s cans of air, to $97 or more for luxury brand Aethaer’s British and Welsh countryside air.

Canned clean air, once a joke, sees uptake in polluted areas

Canned clean air, the once-novelty product, sees an uptake in...

U.S. gas consumption has hit a record high, according to a new governmental report.

There’s good news and bad news on gasoline consumption.

Here’s the bad news: U.S. consumption of gasoline has hit a record high. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published a report this week saying the amount of gasoline and total miles traveled during the summer set a new record. Total gas consumption in June hit 9.7 million barrels a day, besting the previous record of 9.6 million barrels set in July 2007.

“U.S. gasoline consumption during summer 2016 – June through August – increased by 169,000 bpd, or 1.8 percent, relative to the same period in 2015,” the EIA reported.

That may not be so great for the environment, but there is a silver lining. Miles traveled set a new record for June, up 3% from 2015. This figure is attributed to a more efficient fuel economy, with drivers traveling more miles on less fuel. 

Gasoline production is just shy of an all-time record, keeping prices low. According to the Automobile Association of America, the average national price of gas is currently $2.21 per gallon, on par with this time last year. The all-time record average national price was set in July 2008 when gasoline hit $4.11 per gallon.

U.S. gas consumption hits record high, says gov't report

U.S. gas consumption has hit a record high, according to...

Wind farm benefits &amp; hazards were analyzed by recent report out by The Scientific Alliance at the UK’s Adam Smith Institute.

Since their inception and throughout their implementation, wind farms have courted controversy. Supporters praise wind turbines as a useful source of clean energy, while critics find them to be an inefficient eyesore.

On the bright side, wind power can provide a domestic source of clean energy. Unlike power plants that rely on fossil fuels, wind energy doesn’t pollute the environment and provides the world with a more self-sufficient energy source.

Wind turbines are especially effective in rural areas, where farmers can continue to work their land after installing wind turbines to generate additional income from their existing property. But while wind energy is the lowest-priced renewable energy technology available, even its most enthusiastic supporters concede it’s still tough to compete with conventional energy sources on a cost level.

The recent report from The Scientific Alliance blasted wind energy as overhyped and inefficient, arguing wind turbines do in fact pollute communities – with noise. Depending on the volume of turbines in one particular area, the whipping noise can be a nuisance to neighbors.

The report also argues a single turbine can kill over 100 birds per year. Moreover, critics suggest that wind turbines generate energy at the wrong times, being active during warm weather when energy is less needed, and lying dormant in the winter when demand is higher. 

The latter argument is shaky at best, especially depending on geographical location. While the issue of wind farm benefits continues to be politicized, it’s clear that imperfect wind turbines do offer a low-cost, clean energy source.

Wind farm benefits & hazards analyzed by researchers

Wind farm benefits &amp; hazards were analyzed by recent report...

U.S. fuel economy reached a new record high, says the EPA.

Automakers can be proud of themselves this week as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the news that nearly every car manufacturer had produced more efficient vehicles in 2015.

Average mileage per gallon across all vehicles went up to 24.8 mpg, from 24.3 mpg in 2014.

Part of this success comes from the use of lighter materials such as aluminum, the EPA said. This led to 2015 models that averaged about 25 pounds lighter than their 2014 counterparts.

Improvements in engine and transmission technologies are also improving U.S. fuel economy, the EPA said.

The improvements are important for a number of reasons. The main one, of course, is that as vehicles become more fuel efficient, they reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are thought to be linked to climate change and other environmental issues.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, about 24 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from personal cars and trucks.  

Fuel efficiency also reduces dependence on oil, leading to lower costs for drivers. And using less oil lowers the risks of drilling and transporting oil – which could prevent major environmental disasters like some we’ve seen in the past.

The Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 has caused long-lasting negative effects on the environment. Barataria Bay in Louisiana was a key nesting site for a number of birds; those sites were mostly lost. Dolphins living in the Gulf have shown illness linked to oil poisoning.

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill had similar aftereffects. More than 25 years later, some species are only just beginning to reach pre-spill numbers.

According to the EPA, Mazda has the best average fuel economy among its models at 29.6 mpg. Fiat Chrysler's average, 20.8, is the lowest. General Motors and Toyota, which produce the largest number of pickup trucks, backslid in their average fuel efficiency from 2014 to 2015, the EPA said.

U.S. fuel economy reaches record high, says EPA

U.S. fuel economy reached a new record high, says the...

Human nutrition's carbon footprint was analyzed by scientists at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. 

What really makes fresh food “sustainable”? To determine this, the researchers decided to calculate the amount of each food we eat needed to create a kilogram of new greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The results were not especially surprising – the scientists found plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables and nuts, tended to have much smaller carbon footprints than meat, eggs and dairy products. Cattle and sheep have the highest carbon footprint, with chickens, fish and pigs slightly lower.

Since all plants absorb at least some greenhouse gases and animals – especially cows and sheep – produce them, this is common sense. Even with the fossil fuels needed to harvest and transport plant-based foods, human nutrition's carbon footprint overall would be smaller.

The scientists took it a step farther, however, and calculated exactly how many onions, grains, nuts and pounds of beef or mutton equal the addition of a kilogram of greenhouse gases released into the environment.

They studied the environmental impact of 168 types of produce, staples and livestock, and conducted a case study on a family-owned store in Australia. They used their results to create a table that listed the median impact of each food, along with other data such as the minimum and maximum results and the range of deviation.

According to their table, for example, about 50 medium-sized onions – 12.7 pounds, or 5.8 kilograms – is roughly equal to one new kilogram of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere.

The scientists’ goal was to help people make more informed decisions about the food they choose, they said, as well as to help restaurants that work to offer “sustainable” menus to ensure that they really are making environmentally sound choices.

The table was published along with an article outlining their research and calculations in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Human nutrition's carbon footprint analyzed by resultant greenhouse gas

Human nutrition's carbon footprint was analyzed by scientists at Australia’s...

Honeybees threatened by disease from colony collapse disorder is bad news for beekeepers as 2015’s brief bump in honeybee populations didn’t last.

These afflictions carried by invasive species threaten global honeybee populations, a recent study reports. In 2015, USDA tracking of bee populations showed a big drop in the rates of colony collapse disorder (CCD) for the first time since 2006, after a slow rise in bee populations over several years. In the winter of 2014-15, hive loss dropped from an average of 28.7 percent to 23.1 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The exciting trend seemed to show that beekeepers were beginning to gain ground on CCD, a constellation of threats including mites, new diseases, pesticide poisoning and other stressors. CCD doubled the rate of commercial hive loss, wiping out about a third of beehives each year.

These efforts appeared to be paying off, but the threat of new diseases may be undoing progress. A new study has found honeybees threatened by disease caused by invasive species and spread by Varroa mites.

In Hawaii, an invasive social wasp has spread a new virus called Moku to honeybee populations through parasitic Varroa mites. Moku is closely related to slow bee paralysis, researchers have found.

Purnima Pachori of the Earlham Institute used bioinformatics technology to separate the virus’ genetic code from the host, isolating it in the wasps, honeybees and Varroa mites. Gideon Mordecai of the Marine Biological Association identified the virus.

The researchers say discovery of the virus that is potentially dangerous to bees underlines the need to check invasive species carefully for viruses and illnesses that could threaten native species. That way, new viruses can be monitored and controlled before they spread beyond the host species and threaten pollinators or other species that are vital to the ecosystem.

While Moku was so far found only in Hawaiian honeybee populations, it’s yet another threat to bees that are again in sharp decline all over the U.S. Between April 2015 and April 2016, beekeepers reported a huge spike in hive loss – an average of 44 percent, according to the annual USDA and Apiary Inspectors of America survey. They also reported that summer losses matched winter hive collapse, a dangerous new trend.

Varroa mite infestations – the parasite identified as the probable carrier of Moku between wasps and honeybees – are the probable cause of most of the hive losses in that time, survey organizers believe.

Honeybees threatened by disease again, study reports

Honeybees threatened by disease from colony collapse disorder is bad news for beekeepers...

Donkey symposium reveals their continued plight.

Caregivers gathered in New York for several days last month for their annual donkey symposium. Vets, nonprofits, and academics addressed ways to care for and improve the lives of these friendly creatures. Sadly, the status of donkeys, who were once worshipped by Egyptian Kings, has diminished over the years.

Dr. Eric Davis, a veterinarian from the University of California, created the annual event to shed light on the mistreatment of donkeys worldwide and to build an international organization of donkey carers. Davis is a donkey activist, travelling with a band of merry vets to treat these creatures in areas where care would otherwise be unavailable.

Nigerian veterinarian Dr. Philip Mshelia spoke about the mistreatment of donkeys in Africa. There are no regulations regarding their slaughter, with tens of thousands donkeys perishing each year to produce a gelatinous substance used in Chinese medicines. However, Dr. Mshelia did report some good news: Burkina Faso and Niger banned donkey exportation earlier this year.

Donkeys have many friends in the U.S. and Britain, who lead the way in donkey protection. The Donkey Sanctuary in England is one of the most famous welfare groups. They work globally to rescue and retire working or abused donkeys and have been doing so for over 40 years. By 2018, they hope to be operational in 40 countries and double the number of donkeys in their care to 3000.

At the conference, Dr. Davis spoke of the continued plight of the donkeys and his fears for their future. As developing countries become more affluent, they may turn away from their four-legged friends and towards motorized vehicles. If they do, we may see history repeating itself as it did at the turn of the last century, when people slaughtered their horses in favour of mechanical vehicles. Dr. Davis hopes donkey lovers will help mitigate the risks for donkey populations – if they absolutely must lessen – by assuring their deaths are as humane as possible.

—

Learn more about the symposium <a href="http://donkeywelfaresymposium.com/">here.</a> Support The Donkey Sanctuary <a href="https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/">here</a>.

Donkey symposium reveals their continued plight

Donkey symposium reveals their continued plight. Caregivers gathered in New...

Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake was reported today.

A series of seismic events which culminated in an Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake early this morning have shaken the state, a new United States Geological Survey reported.

On September 3rd, the shale-rich state saw a magnitude-5.6 quake whose epicenter was 8 miles southeast of Pawnee, Oklahoma.

A USGS study stated that the disposal of oil- and gas-related wastewater is the primary reason these events have taken place.

As a response to the Sept. 3 earthquake, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission's Oil and Gas Division claimed it was doubling its “area of concern.” Working with the Environmental Protection Agency, the state government ordered the closure of 32 wells.

The wastewater injected into the ground near Pawnee poses a huge potential danger for more earthquakes in the region. A mandatory special order ruled that wastewater injections cannot exceed 40,000 barrels per day after reviewing data from the Oklahoma Geological Survey and the USGS.

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued a declaration of a state of emergency for Pawnee County following the September quake.

Oklahoma is one of the largest crude oil producers in the United States, making a whopping 4 percent of the nation's supplies. It hosts some of the largest deposits of shale oil in the country, with the trade epicenter in Cushing acting as the largest of its kind in North America.

Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake due to oil wastewater

Oklahoma 4.5 magnitude earthquake was reported today. A series of...

Urban forest planning has been simplified by a new manual and extensive database helping city personnel with improved planning for their forests.

For some cities, trees grow into a lot of trouble. Their roots lift sidewalks, their branches tangle into power lines, and they drop limbs and leaves on everything below. Anyone who has spent time walking the streets of Los Angeles can attest to all of these issues.

In extreme cases, "problem" trees are removed and replaced with species deemed less "troublesome" – but if replacements aren't carefully chosen, the problem will just repeat further down the road.

A new manual and an extensive database released by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station aims to make those problems a thing of the past.

The projects are the result of 14 years of research into urban forests across the U.S., according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The study goes far beyond any previous attempts, said lead author Greg McPherson, a research forester with the Forest Service. In total, researchers analyzed more than 14,000 trees. The data they collected was used to create a database with more than 170 tree species of several different ages and across 16 climate zones.

Researchers also developed new methods of statistical modeling to predict each tree species' growth. In the past, a tree's diameter or age was generally used to estimate its expected growth. The Forest Service's new manual and database use 365 different sets of equations to estimate tree growth, meant to help planners with urban forests. Each set includes step-by-step instructions for their use, so anyone can use the manual without extensive training.

With the help of these new tools, city personnel in charge of urban forest planning can determine how tall a tree is expected to grow well before thinking about purchasing and planting it. That way, cities can make better use of tree-planting resources and city residents can enjoy mature, lush urban forests with less impact on lifestyle.

The manual also offers information on the amount of each tree species' foliage, which can be used to determine how well the trees clean pollution from the air.

Urban forest planning simplified by new database

Urban forest planning has been simplified by a new manual...

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



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



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Designing crops that can beat the heat

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

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



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



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



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



Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard



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



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2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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



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



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



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



Video Credit: ESA



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



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Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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



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Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



Video Credit: NTU Singapore



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



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Plants help remove heavy metals from contaminated soil

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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



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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



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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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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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