Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features an astronaut photograph of the Espíritu Santo Archipelago, a group of islands located in the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, off the eastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.&nbsp;



"Sunglint reflects off the water surface, accentuating wave movement, ship wakes, and cloud shadows," said NASA. "The islands appear rust-colored due to previous tectonic and volcanic activity that deposited layers of black lava and pink volcanic ash."



"The Baja Peninsula acts as a natural wind and wave break that protects islands in the Gulf of California from erosion. Slowed erosion has resulted in the preservation of rock shelters and caves."



"Exploration and excavation of these shelters contribute to understanding the geomorphology, geology, and ancient human patterns on the islands. Archeologists have found human artifacts artifacts dating back approximately ten thousand years, providing evidence of human activity on the islands."



The Espíritu Santo Archipelago is part of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and consists of several islands, the largest and most well-known of which is Isla Espíritu Santo. The other main islands in the archipelago are Isla Partida, Los Islotes, and a few smaller islets.



Espíritu Santo and its surrounding islands are known for their stunning natural beauty, featuring dramatic cliffs, white sand beaches, and turquoise waters. The region is home to a rich diversity of marine life, including sea lions, manta rays, whale sharks, and various species of whales and dolphins. It also supports a variety of bird species, such as blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and pelicans, making it a popular destination for birdwatching.



The Espíritu Santo Archipelago has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a Mexican Protected Natural Area, which helps to preserve its unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Ecotourism is popular in the area, with visitors participating in activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and wildlife watching.



The islands are accessible by boat from the nearby city of La Paz, which is the capital of Baja California Sur. There are numerous tour operators that offer day trips and multi-day excursions to the Espíritu Santo Archipelago, allowing visitors to explore the islands and their remarkable natural features.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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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Espíritu Santo Archipelago in the Gulf of California

Today's Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features...

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Dark Canyon Complex, which is a rugged, remote area in southeastern Utah. It's part of the larger Cedar Mesa Plateau and includes both the Dark Canyon Wilderness and Dark Canyon Primitive Area.&nbsp;



These are areas of steep canyons, high plateaus, and rock formations that are characteristic of the Colorado Plateau.



"Deep, meandering canyons cut through the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Utah in this photograph, taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station on April 6, 2023," says NASA.



"These canyons, known as the Dark Canyon complex, have distinctive geology, ecology, and archeology. They are some of the only intact protected canyons in the United States."



"This rugged and remote landscape has been shaped by erosion. Over thousands of years, the Colorado River and smaller tributaries have eroded winding, steep-walled canyons into the sedimentary rock. Dark Canyon - one of seven canyons within the complex - cuts diagonally across the photo."



"Within this canyon, sandstone walls tower up to 3,000 feet, shading visitors from morning and afternoon sun - hence its name. The canyon’s steep walls expose roughly 250 million years of geologic history and contain deposits from the Permian period. Cockleshell and crinoid stem fossils have been found in the area."



The astronaut photograph is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 69 crew.&nbsp;



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&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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The Dark Canyon Complex in southeastern Utah

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, and its surroundings. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on February 21, 2023.



"Situated some 50 km south of the North Korean border, the metropolitan area of Seoul appears as the grey area in the centre of the image," says ESA.



"The Han River runs through the city, and to the right of the image it can be seen partly covered by ice. It is one of the biggest rivers in the Korean peninsula. It flows westward through Seoul into the Yellow Sea, named so because of the yellowish sand that colours its water."



"Seoul is surrounded by forested mountains, which appear brown in this wintery image. Bukhansan National Park lies just north of the city. The park is like an island, acting as a big green lung for the surrounding urban environment."



Image 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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The city of Seoul, South Korea 

Today's Image of the Day from the European Space Agency...

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Typhoon Mawar as it approached Guam on May 24, 2023. According to NASA, the violent storm was one of the strongest in decades to lash the U.S. territory.



Mawar carried sustained winds of about 140 miles per hour, which is the equivalent of a Category 4 storm.&nbsp;



"The image shows the typhoon’s cloud bands completely covering the islands, which were already being lashed with powerful winds and heavy rain," says NASA.



"The typhoon maintained its category 4 strength as the storm’s center traversed the Rota Channel, between the islands of Guam and Rota, at about 9 p.m. local time on May 24."



"The eye’s southern wall passed over much of Guam, according to the U.S. National Weather Service, and delivered the most extreme winds to the northern-third of the island."



Brandon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the central and northern parts of the island received more than two feet of rain as the eyewall passed, and most of Guam received about a foot of rain during the storm.



The image was captured by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Typhoon Mawar slams the U.S. territory of Guam

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Yukon River in Alaska, where an unusually rapid spring thaw caused devastating floods in May 2023.&nbsp;



Several other Alaskan rivers, including the Tanana and the Kuskokwim River, were also impacted. Both early snowpack melt and ice breakup played a role in the record flooding.&nbsp;



According to NASA, the town of Circle - which is located on the banks of the Yukon - underwent dramatic flooding as broken-up ice pushed down the river. Flooding started at about 5 p.m. on May 13.&nbsp;



“It was reported that the water rose 10 feet in a 30-minute period shortly after that,” said meteorologist Jim Brader of the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast office in Fairbanks. “Although ice jams happen every year, this year was much worse than average."



Brader explained that flooding to this extent may occur every 10 to 20 years in some locations, but preliminary data indicate that the flood at Circle was near the record level of 1945.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Rapid spring melt in Alaska triggers damaging river floods

The widespread conversion of tropical forests into <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forests-in-oil-palm-plantations-are-key-to-conservation/">oil palm plantations</a> leads to considerable losses of biodiversity and ecological functions. Currently, about 21 million hectares of palm oil plantations are cultivated worldwide, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.&nbsp;



Recently, an international team of scientists led by the <a href="https://www.uni-goettingen.de/">University of Göttingen</a> has found that planting islands of trees in such plantations could counteract the species loss caused by the intensive cultivation of oil palms and significantly increase biodiversity within a period of five years without reducing productivity.



To test this hypothesis, the researchers established 52 tree islands with local tree species in an industrial oil palm plantation on the island of Sumatra. Although they expected yields to deteriorate over time as the tree islands consumed resources for their own development, this was not the case.



“Even five years after the experiment began, the oil palms have continued to flourish. And this has been accomplished without the use of artificial fertilizer in the tree islands,” said study lead author Delphine Clara Zemp, an expert in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning at the <a href="https://www.unine.ch/">University of Neuchâtel</a>. “Our results show that the industry can benefit from this intervention. There is real potential to develop these methods to enrich biodiversity on a large scale.”



Between three to five years after establishing the experiment, the scientists analyzed the biodiversity of soil microorganisms, insects and other small invertebrates, plants, birds, and bats. In addition, they quantified the impacts in terms of water, nutrient cycle regulation, carbon, microclimate, soil quality, pollination, and control of biological communities and invasive species.&nbsp;



The analyses revealed significant increases in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in plantations with tree islands compared to conventionally managed ones.



“Most studies of the ecology of palm oil plantations are limited to observing the loss of biodiversity and deterioration of the ecosystem,” added co-author Holger Kreft, Head of University of Göttingen’s Biodiversity, Macroecology, and Biogeography Research Group.&nbsp;



“Our approach to ecological restoration goes a step further and is unique worldwide, as it takes place against the backdrop of industrial-scale oil palm plantations across large areas. Using a rigorous experimental design, we can determine the optimal composition and size of islands of trees that will bring about the best possible way to restore the ecology.”



Although these findings suggest that planting tree islands on oil palm plantations can have highly beneficial effects, the prevention of deforestation remains a top priority for biodiversity conservation worldwide.&nbsp;



“The encouraging results must not be allowed to jeopardize the conservation of tropical forests, which are home to irreplaceable biodiversity,” the authors concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06086-5">Nature</a>.



<h2 id="h-environmental-impacts-of-palm-oil-plantations">Environmental impacts of palm oil plantations&nbsp;</h2>



Palm oil plantations can have several significant environmental impacts. Here are some of them:



<h3 id="h-deforestation">Deforestation</h3>



One of the most devastating impacts of palm oil production is the large-scale deforestation that often precedes it. Vast areas of tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa are cleared to make way for palm plantations. This process not only destroys the habitat of numerous plant and animal species but also contributes significantly to global carbon emissions due to the burning and decay of organic matter.



<h3 id="h-biodiversity-loss">Biodiversity loss</h3>



The conversion of diverse ecosystems into monocultures of palm trees significantly reduces biodiversity. In Southeast Asia, for example, this deforestation threatens the habitat of critically endangered species such as orangutans and Sumatran tigers. Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem health and resilience.



<h3 id="h-soil-and-water-degradation">Soil and water degradation</h3>



Palm oil plantations often contribute to soil degradation due to intensive fertilizer use and the disruption of local hydrological processes. Additionally, the heavy use of pesticides can contaminate local water supplies.



<h3 id="h-climate-change">Climate change</h3>



Deforestation associated with palm oil production is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. When peatlands are drained and converted into plantations, they release large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Furthermore, when these plantations are burnt, it releases additional CO2.



<h3 id="h-air-pollution">Air pollution</h3>



The slash-and-burn techniques often used to clear land for palm oil plantations can cause severe air pollution. This not only contributes to climate change but can also have severe health impacts for people living in regions downwind of the fires.



<h3 id="h-peatland-degradation">Peatland degradation</h3>



A significant proportion of palm oil is grown on peatlands. These are carbon-rich environments, and when they are drained for plantation development, they release significant quantities of carbon dioxide.



While these impacts are significant, it's also important to note that there are efforts to create more sustainable palm oil production methods.&nbsp;



These include commitments to no deforestation, peatland development, and exploitation (also known as "NDPE policies"), as well as the certification of sustainable palm oil through organizations like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).&nbsp;



Nevertheless, the effectiveness and implementation of these initiatives have been mixed, and deforestation for palm oil continues to be a serious global concern.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Tree islands can help prevent biodiversity loss in oil palm plantations

The widespread conversion of tropical forests into oil palm plantations...

For many across the United States, dogs are not just <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pet-owners-are-happier-than-people-who-dont-have-pets/">pets</a>, they are family. The bond between humans and dogs is unparalleled and has deep roots in the country's culture and lifestyle.&nbsp;



A recent study conducted by pet wellbeing experts at <a href="https://ourfitpets.com/">OurFitPets.com</a> set out to examine which states are the most enamored with their canine companions.



Taking a holistic view, the study analyzed several factors to determine the overall love for dogs in each state. Key factors considered were the number of monthly Google searches for "dog grooming" and "dog toys" per 100,000 residents.



The researchers also considered the quantity of dog parks, the percentage of dog owners, and the number of dog-friendly long-term home rentals. Based on these metrics, each state was awarded a score out of 50 to determine the most dog-loving state.



Topping the list was Colorado, which proved to be the epitome of dog love in America. With a score of 39.3 points out of 50, the state demonstrated its affection towards dogs by registering the highest combined number of monthly searches for "dog grooming" and "dog toys" - approximately 186 searches per 100,000 residents, translating to roughly 10,800 total searches per month.&nbsp;



Furthermore, nearly half of Colorado’s residents (47.2 percent) were found to be dog owners. The state also ranked third in the category of dog-friendly home rentals, boasting 53 rentals per 100,000 citizens. With 110 dog parks statewide, it averages 1.87 parks per 100,000 residents, which is 16.8 percent higher than the national average of 1.6.



Coming in at a close second was Idaho, where the experts discovered that 58 percent of the population own a dog, greatly exceeding the national average of 39.4 percent.&nbsp;



In terms of online dog care queries, Idaho residents made 121 searches for “dog grooming” and “dog toys” monthly per 100,000 citizens. The state also has around 26 dog-friendly home rentals per 100,000 residents and 33 dog parks, equating to 1.67 parks per 100,000 residents.



The study extended to identify the top ten dog-loving states. Arizona came in third, primarily due to its high rates of dog-friendly home rentals, which stands at 50 per 100,000 residents, outpacing the national average of 20.6 by more than 142 percent.&nbsp;



Other states on the list included Florida, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, Oregon, Tennessee, and Georgia, each displaying distinct dog-loving characteristics, from an extensive number of dog-friendly home rentals to a high percentage of dog owners, and an above-average number of dog care-related searches.



Wyoming, despite its seventh rank, held the highest ratio of dog parks to its population, with 5.4 parks per 100,000 citizens, a number that greatly surpasses the national average of 1.66.



A spokesperson for OurFitPets.com commented on the study's intriguing findings, stating, "It's fascinating to see which states lead the way in terms of dog-loving attributes. Colorado was found to spoil their dogs the most, with the highest rate of pet care related searches, while Idaho boasted the highest ownership rates, with one in two Idahoans found to own a dog."



“The findings shed light on which states place the most emphasis on their dogs' lifestyle and wellbeing, and which ones are less accommodating of our furry friends."



<h2 id="h-more-about-dogs-in-america">More about dogs in America</h2>



According to the <a href="https://www.americanpetproducts.org/">American Pet Products Association</a> (APPA), nearly 70 percent of American households - about 90.5 million families - owned a pet in 2021, with dogs being the most popular choice.



The U.S. is home to diverse breeds, from Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers, to Bulldogs, Beagles, and Poodles. Each breed carries its unique traits, temperament, and size, catering to a wide range of personal preferences and lifestyles.



The benefits of owning a dog in America are well recognized and stretch far beyond companionship. Studies have consistently shown that pet ownership, particularly dogs, can contribute to improved physical and mental health. Regular walks with dogs help keep owners active and can lead to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Furthermore, dogs are often used as therapy animals, providing emotional support to those suffering from various mental health conditions.



Various cities across the U.S. are known for their pet-friendly amenities, with parks, housing, and businesses that cater specifically to dog owners. As per the Trust for Public Land, the cities with the most dog parks per resident in 2020 included Boise, Idaho; Portland, Oregon; and Henderson, Nevada.



Moreover, America's love for dogs also fuels a thriving pet industry. A forecast from APPA suggests that in 2021, pet owners in the U.S. spent $99 billion on pet-related products and services, including food, supplies, veterinary care, grooming, boarding, and more.



Notably, adoption is a popular and socially responsible way to acquire a dog, with numerous rescue organizations and shelters across the country offering dogs of all ages and breeds a second chance at finding a loving home.



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Unleashing affection: The most dog-loving states in America

For many across the United States, dogs are not just...

Among the approximately 2,000 species of termites, many are extraordinary ecosystem engineers. For instance, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/termite-mounds-brazil/">mounds</a> built by some of the genera – including Amitermes, Macrotermes,&nbsp;Nasutitermes, and&nbsp;Odontotermes – are some of the world’s largest biological structures, reaching up to eight meters in height.&nbsp;



Now, researchers from <a href="https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/">Lund University</a> in Sweden and <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk/">Nottingham Trent University</a> in the UK have found that the design of termite mounds could have major applications in architecture, helping us develop comfortable interior climates for our buildings that do not have the carbon footprint of air conditioning.



“Here we show that the ‘egress complex,’ an intricate network of interconnected tunnels found in termite mounds, can be used to promote flows of air, heat, and moisture in novel ways in human architecture,” explained lead author David Andréen, a senior lecturer in Architecture at Lund.



Together with his co-author Rupert Soar, an associate professor in Sustainable Technologies at Nottingham, Andréen examined mounds built by Macrotermes michaelseni&nbsp;termites from Namibia. At the heart of these mounds – which can shelter over a million inhabitants – lie symbiotic fungus gardens, farmed by termites for food.&nbsp;



The experts focused on the egress complex, a dense, lattice-like network of tunnels three to five millimeters wide that connects wider conduits inside with the exterior. While during the rainy season (when the mound is growing), the egress complex extends over the mound’s north-facing surface to be exposed to the midday sun, outside this season, termites keep the egress tunnels blocked. Such methods are thought to allow evaporation of excess moisture, while maintaining adequate ventilation.



To clarify how this structure works, the researchers explored how the layout of the egress complex enables oscillating or pulse-like flows. When simulating wind with a speaker that drove oscillations of a CO2-air mixture through a fragment of a complex collected from the wild, they discovered that air flow was greatest at oscillation frequencies between 30Hz and 40 Hz, moderate at frequencies between 10Hz and 20 Hz, and least at frequencies between 50Hz and 120 Hz.



These findings suggest that tunnels in the complex interact with the wind blowing on the mound in a way that increases mass transfer of air for ventilation. At the same time, wind oscillations at certain frequencies generate turbulences inside the mound, and carry respiratory gases and excess moisture away from the mound’s heart.



“When ventilating a building, you want to preserve the delicate balance of temperature and humidity created inside, without impeding the movement of stale air outwards and fresh air inwards. Most HVAC systems struggle with this. Here we have a structured interface that allows the exchange of respiratory gasses, simply driven by differences in concentration between one side and the other. Conditions inside are thus maintained,” Soar said.



Subsequently, the researchers replicated the egress system by employing a sequence of 2D models. These models progressively evolved from simple straight tunnels to a more intricate lattice structure. To observe the movement of water within the tunnels, they utilized an electromotor to generate oscillations, allowing the dyed water to become visible on camera.&nbsp;



To their astonishment, they discovered that the motor only required slight back-and-forth movements, equivalent to gentle wind oscillations spanning a few millimeters, for the ebb and flow to permeate throughout the entire complex. Crucially, the necessary turbulence emerged solely when the layout was sufficiently lattice-like.



“We imagine that building walls in the future, made with emerging technologies like powder bed printers, will contain networks similar to the egress complex. These will make it possible to move air around, through embedded sensors and actuators that require only tiny amounts of energy,” Andréen said.



“Construction-scale 3D printing will only be possible when we can design structures as complex as in nature. The egress complex is an example of a complicated structure that could solve multiple problems simultaneously: keeping comfort inside our homes, while regulating the flow of respiratory gasses and moisture through the building envelope. We are on the brink of the transition towards nature-like construction: for the first time, it may be possible to design a true living, breathing building,” Soar concluded.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2023.1126974">Frontiers in Materials</a>.



<h2 id="h-more-about-termite-mounds">More about termite mounds</h2>



Termite mounds, also known as termite hills, are large, complex structures made by a certain species of termites. They are a prime example of insect architecture, and they vary in design depending on the species of termite, the type of soil, and the climate.



Most termite mounds are built by subterranean termites, which live underground. These mounds can range in size from a few inches to over 30 feet tall. The mound is not the actual colony but a structure that provides an optimal environment for the colony which is located below the ground.



The construction of a termite mound is a marvel of natural engineering. Termites mix dirt, saliva, and feces to form a strong, cement-like substance. This is then used to build a complex network of tunnels and chambers. The outer wall of the mound is particularly hard and resistant to predators.



Inside the mound, there are various chambers serving different functions such as nurseries, fungal gardens, and royal chambers. The royal chamber, deep within the mound, houses the queen and king termites, responsible for the growth and survival of the colony.



A termite mound is not just a place for termites to live; it's also an incredibly efficient system for climate control. The mound's structure aids in regulating temperature and humidity, which is crucial for the survival of the termites as they are sensitive to environmental conditions.&nbsp;



Many mounds feature a complex system of vents and conduits which facilitate air circulation, thus maintaining a stable internal environment regardless of external conditions.



Despite being known as pests due to their wood-eating habits, termites play a crucial role in ecosystems, especially in nutrient recycling, soil formation, and influencing plant community structure.



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By <a href="mailto:andrei.ionescu5891@gmail.com">Andrei Ionescu</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer



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Termite mounds could inspire “living and breathing” buildings

Among the approximately 2,000 species of termites, many are extraordinary...

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Learn about the Superfund five-year review and how your community can and should be involved in the process.

A Guide for Communities Near Federal Facilities