Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA Earth Observatory </a>&nbsp;features a dust storm that moved across parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in mid-September.



"This image, acquired by the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instrument on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite, shows thick plumes of dust blowing hundreds of kilometers across the arid region on September 22, 2023," said NASA.



"The dust appears to emanate from the ephemeral Hamun wetlands, which partially surround the Iranian city of Zabol. When dry, this area becomes a hotspot for dust storms due to a persistent weather feature known as the Levar wind (or “120-day wind”), which blows out of the northwest from late-May to late-September."



Across the Sistan-Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran, three people were killed in accidents related to poor visibility and more than 1,300 others sought medical assistance for respiratory, heart, and eye ailments.



According to NASA, more than two decades of low water levels in the Hamun wetlands have led to a significant increase in dust storms. This has been especially the case during the 120-day winds, strong summer winds that occur from late May to late September.



"Water levels are influenced by rainfall and the flow of the Helmand river, which runs from the Hindu Kush mountains across Afghanistan before terminating at the wetlands. More frequent drought since 1999, along with increasing upstream demands on water resources for agriculture and other uses, have amplified the drying," said NASA.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Brutal dust storm sweeps across Southern Asia

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

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features dust flowing through the Tokar Gap, where the easternmost extent of the African Sahel meets the Red Sea.



"Mountain chains border both sides of the Red Sea, the long narrow inlet of the Indian Ocean that separates Saudi Arabia to the east from Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea to the west. One major exception is the Tokar Gap, a 100-kilometer (60-mile) break in the Red Sea Hills that serves as a conduit for both winds and dust," says NASA.



"In the summer, strong surface winds frequently stream through the gap from the southwest, often funneling narrow plumes of dust from the Tokar Delta over the Red Sea."



The photo was captured on June 24, 2023 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. The image shows a plume of dust from Sudan pushing through the Tokar Gap.



"In the winter, the winds reverse and winds typically gather over the Red Sea and move through the gap toward the southwest," says NASA.



"A 2019 analysis of weather conditions that fuel summer dust storms indicated that stronger winds moving through the Tokar Gap - and warmer air and soil temperatures - have increased the amount of airborne dust found in this area since 2002."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/ Wanmei Liang



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Dust from Africa streams through the Tokar Gap

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>&nbsp;features a fjord in western Greenland as the ice was joined by a mysterious arc.



"In summer, the fjords around Greenland are commonly littered with angular pieces of ice that have sloughed off from the island’s numerous outlet glaciers. But on August 3, 2023, the ice on a fjord in western Greenland was joined by a peculiar arc," said NASA.



"The thin, white feature spans much of Itilliarsuup Kangerlua, a tributary fjord of the Uummannaq Fjord system in Western Greenland. It extends about 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) from the front of Kangilleq glacier."



While the origin of the arc remains unclear, experts have proposed some possible theories. Dan Shugar, a geomorphologist at the University of Calgary, suggests that the arc may be the result of a large iceberg that broke off from the front of the glacier.



"An iceberg breaking from the glacier - above or below the water’s surface - would displace water, creating a wave," explained NASA.



"Josh Willis, an oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Mike Wood, a glaciologist at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, agree that a newly formed iceberg is a likely explanation."



The scientists also pointed to a different phenomenon that is known to displace water in the fjords around Greenland. According to Willis, there could be water pushing ice away from the glacier face caused by an underwater plume.



The image was captured by the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9.&nbsp;



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Mysterious arc joins ice on a fjord in western Greenland

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Sahara Desert on the afternoon of May 3, 2023, as the International Space Station passed above. An astronaut captured this striking image of hills and sand dunes in southern Mauritania.&nbsp;



"A line of dark, flat-topped hills known as mesas dominate the view," said NASA. "The small town of Guérou is a faint gray patch on the banks of a small stream. The faint line of a road can be seen cutting through the landscape and connecting with Guérou."



"The mesas are remnants of a large Paleozoic Era sandstone formation. They rise steeply 300 to 400 meters (1,000 to 1,300 feet) above the surrounding plain."&nbsp;



"Rocky surfaces in deserts often appear dark-toned as a result of a thin layer of black rock varnish that develops on rock surfaces enriched in manganese."



Southern Mauritania is part of the vast Sahelian region, which serves as a transitional zone between the Sahara Desert to the north and the more fertile savannahs of West Africa to the south.&nbsp;



The southern part of Mauritania is generally flatter and has a semi-arid climate. It receives more rainfall than the northern regions, but it's still quite sparse. The Senegal River, which forms the border between Mauritania and Senegal, is one of the major rivers in West Africa and is crucial for agriculture in this region.



The area around the Senegal River is the most agriculturally productive part of Mauritania. Rice, millet, and other grains are commonly cultivated. Fishing in the Senegal River is also a significant activity. Despite these resources, southern Mauritania remains relatively poor and underdeveloped.



The region is home to a mix of ethnic groups, including the Moors (both Arab-Berber Moors and Black Moors or Haratin) and various black African ethnic groups such as the Wolof, Pular (or Fulani), and Soninke.



Southern Mauritania faces a variety of challenges. Periodic droughts can devastate local agriculture. There are also socio-economic issues, including poverty, lack of infrastructure, and limited access to education and healthcare.



The Diawling National Park, located in the southwest corner of Mauritania near the Senegal River, is one of the country's premier protected areas. The park is known for its birdlife and serves as an important wetland habitat.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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Hills and sand dunes of southern Mauritania

Today's Image of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features a false-color image of Lake Abbe in northeast Ethiopia. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.&nbsp;



"Visible as the large round dark area, Lake Abbe, also known as Lake Abhe, straddles the border of Ethiopia to the west and Djibouti to the east. The lake is 19 km wide and 17 km long and is extremely salty. It is dotted with clusters of steaming limestone chimneys and surrounded by large salt flats, visible in white, and rift volcanoes," says ESA.



"The biggest volcano in the image is Mount Dama Ali, a dormant 25-km-wide shield volcano that rises on the northwest shore of the lake."



"Lake Abbe and Lake Afambo, which is visible at the top of the image, are part of a chain of six connected salt lakes, fed by the Awash River - one of Ethiopia’s biggest rivers.'



Copernicus Sentinel-2’s near-infrared channel highlights vegetation in bright red. This strategy makes it easy to spot algal blooms, such as the one that is visible in Lake Abbe. According to ESA, the light blue color on the west shore indicates sediment discharged into the lake.



"Because of its dry, desert, almost lunar landscape and the steaming, sulphuric vents, Lake Abbe is considered one of the most inaccessible areas on Earth," says ESA. "Earth observation satellites are key in these cases as they are particularly relevant for monitoring remote regions such as this."



Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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Lake Abbe in northeast Ethiopia

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

A new study led by the University of South Carolina (USC) has found that distinct variations in the attributes of wildflowers, depending on their respective <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-are-not-just-attracted-to-plants-by-scent-but-also-by-humidity/">pollinators</a>, are driven by a small number of key genetic differences.



Wildflowers exhibit unique sets of characteristics - termed “pollination syndromes” - that have evolved to cater to specific animal pollinators, such as insects or birds.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-penstemons">Penstemons</h2>



While most species within the Penstemon genus present wide, blue flowers, serving as landing spots for bees, evolution has led some species to develop narrow, red, tubular flowers, catering to hummingbird pollination.



The North American wildflower genus&nbsp;Penstemon&nbsp;displays remarkable floral syndrome convergence, with at least 20 separate lineages that have evolved from ancestral bee pollination syndrome (wide blue-purple flowers that present a landing platform for bees and small amounts of nectar) to hummingbird pollination syndrome (bright red narrowly tubular flowers offering copious nectar).&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



Related taxa that differ in floral syndrome offer an attractive opportunity to examine the genomic basis of complex trait divergence,” the authors explained.



The objective of this research was to explore how these distinctive pollination syndromes are preserved genetically.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-the-research-was-conducted-nbsp">How the research was conducted&nbsp;</h2>



The team sequenced the DNA of 229 plants from three related species of the Penstemon genus: P. neomexicanus and P. virgatus, which are bee-pollinated, and P. barbatus, adapted to hummingbird pollination.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-researchers-learned-nbsp">What the researchers learned&nbsp;</h2>



Despite the stark differences in floral attributes, the experts found a relatively small number of genetic differences between P. barbatus and its bee-pollinated relatives.&nbsp;



Moreover, plants from the same geographical vicinity exhibited greater genetic similarity compared to those from varied locations, regardless of the species. These findings suggest that a genetic blending occurs between wildflowers adapted to both bee and hummingbird pollination.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-varied-pollinators-nbsp">Varied pollinators&nbsp;</h2>



However, the researchers identified 21 sites that showcased consistent differences among species with varied pollinators. These sites are dispersed throughout the genome, suggesting an increased likelihood of the disruption of complementary floral traits by recombination, resulting in hybrids with diminished success.&nbsp;



Interestingly, three of these identified genetic variances were located proximal to genomic regions that determine flower color, width, and nectar volume - traits distinctive to different pollination syndromes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nbsp-flower-traits">&nbsp;Flower traits</h2>



The study provides evidence of occasional hybridization between neighboring bee- and hummingbird-pollinated Penstemon species, alongside an intense selection pressure to retain flower traits adapted to each type of pollinator.



“Although bee- vs. hummingbird-pollinated species are easily distinguished in the field, based on unmistakable differences in flowers and the overall stature of the plant, a surprisingly small number of genetic regions distinguish these different species at the genetic level,” concluded Carolyn Wessinger, an assistant professor of Evolution and Plant Biology at USC.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002294" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PLoS Biology</a>.



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Just a few genetic differences tailor flowers to specific pollinators

A new study led by the University of South Carolina...

Researchers at Tulane University have found that climbing more than five flights of stairs a day can cut your risk of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-diet-may-save-your-life-six-key-foods-lower-the-risk-of-heart-disease/">heart disease</a> by 20 percent.



This challenges the popular notion that you must achieve 10,000 daily steps for optimal health benefits.&nbsp;



The study emphasizes that even a mere 50 steps climbing stairs each day could significantly reduce your risk of heart disease.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-atherosclerotic-cardiovascular-disease">Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease</h2>



The research provides a new perspective on the role of stair climbing in combating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).&nbsp;



This disease, together with coronary artery disease and stroke, stand as the predominant causes of mortality on a global scale.



“Short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing are a time-efficient way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid profile, especially among those unable to achieve the current physical activity recommendations,” said study co-author Dr. Lu Qi, a professor at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.&nbsp;



“These findings highlight the potential advantages of stair climbing as a primary preventive measure for ASCVD in the general population.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-focus-of-the-study-nbsp">Focus of the study&nbsp;</h2>



The researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank for 450,000 adults. They accounted for family history, established risk factors, genetic predispositions, and the participants’ lifestyle habits.



The goal was to measure the susceptibility of the subjects to cardiovascular diseases. Notably, the average follow-up time was 12.5 years.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-for-all">Benefits for all</h2>



The results were remarkable, showing that individuals who were less predisposed to cardiovascular disease benefited most from increased stair climbing.&nbsp;



However, Dr. Qi stated that even the higher risk individuals can "effectively offset" this susceptibility by adopting daily stair climbing.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protective-effects-of-stair-climbing-nbsp">Protective effects of stair climbing&nbsp;</h2>



Dr. Qi pointed out that stairs offer a "low-cost, accessible way to incorporate exercise into daily routines."



He also noted that the study provides novel evidence for the protective effects of stair climbing on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, particularly for individuals with multiple risk factors.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-implications-nbsp">Study implications&nbsp;</h2>



"Climbing more than five flights of stairs (approx 50 steps) daily was associated with a lower risk of ASCVD types independent of disease susceptibility," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;



"Participants who stopped stair climbing between the baseline and resurvey had a higher risk of ASCVD compared with those who never climbed stairs."



Such insights urge us to reconsider our daily routines and potentially introduce a simple yet effective habit of climbing stairs for a healthier heart.



The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(23)05221-8/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atherosclerosis</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-exercise-and-heart-health">More about exercise and heart health</h2>



Exercise is undeniably linked to heart health. Engaging in regular physical activity offers a plethora of benefits for cardiovascular well-being.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improved-circulation">Improved circulation</h3>



Regular exercise aids in enhancing the circulatory system. As you engage in aerobic activities, your heart rate increases, promoting better blood flow.&nbsp;



Over time, this can lead to a more efficient heart, which means it can pump more blood with fewer beats.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lower-blood-pressure">Lower blood pressure</h3>



Exercise helps reduce blood pressure in individuals with hypertension. It aids in keeping the arterial walls flexible, which can mitigate the risk of high blood pressure.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cholesterol-management">Cholesterol management</h3>



Physical activity can raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol, while decreasing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. This balance is beneficial for preventing arterial blockage.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-weight-control">Weight control</h3>



Exercise, combined with a balanced diet, helps control weight. Obesity is a significant risk factor for heart disease.&nbsp;



By managing weight, one reduces the strain on the heart and lowers the risk of developing other complications like diabetes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strengthened-heart-muscle">Strengthened heart muscle</h3>



Like any muscle, the heart gets stronger with exercise. A stronger heart can pump blood more efficiently, ensuring that all body parts receive the necessary oxygen and nutrients.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reduced-inflammation">Reduced inflammation</h3>



Regular exercise can reduce inflammation, a key contributor to many heart-related diseases.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stress-reduction">Stress reduction</h3>



Physical activity acts as a natural stress reliever. Chronic stress has been linked to heart disease. By reducing stress levels, you're indirectly safeguarding your heart.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-sugar-control">Blood sugar control</h3>



Exercise helps regulate blood sugar levels, decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, a known risk factor for heart disease.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-decreased-risk-of-arrhythmia">Decreased risk of arrhythmia</h3>



Regular exercise can lead to a lower chance of experiencing irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhanced-mental-well-being">Enhanced mental well-being</h3>



Exercise has been shown to improve mood and decrease symptoms of depression.&nbsp;



Given that mental well-being and heart health are interconnected, this is an added advantage.



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Climbing stairs can slash your heart disease risk by 20 percent

Researchers at Tulane University have found that climbing more than...

In a recent study, scientists have investigated some curious behavior among fish-eating killer whales in the Pacific Northwest.&nbsp;For decades, these toothed whales have been harassing and killing porpoises, but without eating them.



The research was co-led by Deborah Giles of Wild Orca and Sarah Teman of the <a href="https://www.seadocsociety.org/killer-whale-facts#:~:text=Three%20distinct%20types%20of%20killer,as%20shown%20in%20recent%20studies." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SeaDoc Society</a>, a program of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mysterious-conduct-nbsp">Mysterious conduct&nbsp;</h2>



The team examined over 60 years of interactions between Southern Resident killer whales and porpoises in the Salish Sea to clarify this mysterious conduct.



These <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lack-of-prey-is-changing-the-behavior-of-killer-whales/">killer whales</a>, an endangered group with a count of only 75, are significantly dependent on Chinook salmon for their survival. These fish are also endangered.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-ecology">Unique ecology</h2>



Giles pointed out that the killer whales, despite residing in the same waters as their marine mammal-eating counterparts, possess a distinct ecology and culture, making them exclusively fish-eaters.&nbsp;



“I am frequently asked, why don’t the Southern Residents just eat seals or porpoises instead?” said Giles.&nbsp;



“It's because fish-eating killer whales have a completely different ecology and culture from orcas that eat marine mammals - even though the two populations live in the same waters."&nbsp;



"So we must conclude that their interactions with porpoises serve a different purpose, but this purpose has only been speculation until now.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plausible-theories-nbsp">Plausible theories&nbsp;</h2>



The study authors analyzed 78 documented porpoise harassment incidents from 1962 to 2020, proposing three plausible explanations.&nbsp;



One suggestion is that this behavior serves as social play for the killer whales, allowing them to bond, communicate, and enjoy themselves, ultimately benefiting group coordination and teamwork.&nbsp;



Alternatively, harassing porpoises might be a method for the whales to sharpen their salmon-hunting skills, using the porpoises as practice targets without intending to eat them.&nbsp;



A third hypothesis introduces the concept of “mismothering behavior,” where whales may offer care to perceived weaker porpoises, mirroring their instinct to assist group members.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mothering-challenges">Mothering challenges</h2>



“Mismothering behavior - also known as ‘displaced epimeletic behavior’ to scientists - might be due to their limited opportunities to care for young,” explained Giles.&nbsp;



“Our research has shown that due to malnutrition, nearly 70% of Southern Resident killer whale pregnancies have resulted in miscarriages or calves that died right away after birth.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-complex-animals">Complex animals</h2>



The exact motivations behind porpoise harassment by these whales may remain elusive.&nbsp;The study confirms that porpoises are not included in the Southern Resident killer whale's diet, as these whales feed almost exclusively on Chinook salmon.&nbsp;



“Killer whales are incredibly complex and intelligent animals. We found that porpoise-harassing behavior has been passed on through generations and across social groupings. It’s an amazing example of killer whale culture,” said Teman.



“Still, we don’t expect the Southern Resident killer whales to start eating porpoises. The culture of eating salmon is deeply ingrained in Southern Resident society. These whales need healthy salmon populations to survive.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salmon-conservation">Salmon conservation </h2>



This dietary constraint underlines the crucial need for salmon conservation efforts in the Salish Sea to ensure the Southern Residents' survival and the health of the region’s ecosystem.&nbsp;



The study received funding and support from numerous institutions, including Wild Orca, SeaDoc Society, University of Exeter, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Orca Behavior Institute, NOAA, Cascadia Research, The Whale Museum, Center for Whale Research, ORCA at Everett Community College, Bay Cetology, North Gulf Oceanic Society, George Mason University, and Marine-Med.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mms.13073">Marine Mammal Science</a>.



Image Credit: Wild Orca



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Killer whales have been killing porpoises for decades, but why?

In a recent study, scientists have investigated some curious behavior...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency </a>&nbsp;features a satellite view of the Amazon River in the rainforest of South America.



The Amazon River flows more than 4,000 miles from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean on the northeast coast of Brazil, passing through six countries along the way.



With its source high in the Peruvian Andes, the river runs through Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.&nbsp;



The Amazon is considered the widest river in the world. It also has the largest drainage system, with more than 1,100 tributaries. These rivers provide a range of habitats for various types of wildlife, including swamps, marshes and streams.



According to WWF, it is estimated that approximately one-sixth of all the freshwater that drains into the world’s oceans goes through the Amazon delta, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean.&nbsp; During what many archaeologists called the formative stage, Amazonian societies were deeply involved in the emergence of South America’s highland agrarian systems.



The trade with Andean civilizations in the terrains of the headwaters in the Andes formed an essential contribution to the social and religious development of higher-altitude civilizations like the Muisca and Incas.



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

The Amazon River in South America