Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the west coast of South America. The photo was captured by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station while orbiting over the Atacama Desert and Central Andes Mountains near the border of Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.



"Over the Pacific Ocean, marine stratocumulus clouds develop over cold water that rises from the ocean depths as the Peru current (Humboldt current) flows north along the west coast of South America," says NASA. "The coastline is marked by low mountains that are dissected by canyons carved by rivers that flow down the western side of the Andes."



The Atacama Desert receives less than 0.2 inches of rain per year on average. According to NASA, this dry environment provides an ideal setting to conduct Mars analog studies.



"Active and inactive volcanoes comprise the Central Andean Volcanic Arc within the Atacama Desert and Andes Mountains. One of the inactive volcanoes visible in this photo is Bolivia’s Nevado Sajama, which has a maximum elevation of 6,542 meters (21,463 feet). Nevado Sajama and other volcanoes in the region often have glaciers and snow cover due to their high elevation."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



---



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



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

The west coast of South America

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 an astronaut photograph of the Cape Cod peninsula, located in the easternmost portion of Massachusetts. The peninsula extends into the Atlantic Ocean and is a significant feature of the East Coast of the United States.



Cape Cod peninsula is characterized by its beaches, villages, and seafood. It's a popular tourist destination, particularly in the summer months, with people visiting for its beautiful landscapes and unique culture.



Cape Cod consists of 15 towns, including Provincetown, Hyannis, Falmouth, and Chatham. Each town has its own distinctive character and attractions. For example, Provincetown, located at the tip of the peninsula, is known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, while Hyannis is famous as a ferry gateway to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.



The Cape Cod National Seashore, a national park covering much of the Outer Cape, including the entire east-facing coast, provides opportunities for hiking, biking, and beachgoing.



Historically, Cape Cod was a landmark for early explorers of the Americas. It was among the first places settled by the English in North America in the Pilgrim Fathers' era, and it played a key role in the early history and development of the United States.&nbsp;



Today, the Cape's history is preserved in numerous museums, historic sites, and lighthouses. In addition, a variety of wildlife can be found in the region, such as whales, seals, and many species of birds.



"The variety of ecosystems within Cape Cod National Seashore sustain over 450 species of amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, and mammals, including 32 species that are rare or endangered," says NASA. "One of those species is the American oystercatcher, a large shorebird that uses a knife-like bill to eat shellfish."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



—--



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

Cape Cod peninsula in the northeastern United States

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Amundsen Gulf in northern Canada, where ice is typically covered with ice that is fastened to surrounding coastlines. According to NASA, the breakup of this ice tends to be rapid when the melting season arrives in spring.



"Patches of fast ice remained in the eastern part of the gulf in late May, but summer weather will ultimately clear it away as well. The Amundsen Gulf, the western entrance to the Northwest Passage, is usually ice-free by August," says NASA.



Walt Meier, a senior research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, said that winds play an important role in the breakup of the ice. He noted that an area of low pressure centered south of the gulf prior to the breakup fueled strong easterly winds and large waves that broke up the ice and sent chunks of it drifting west.&nbsp;



This year's spring breakup occurred earlier than usual, which aligns with the overall trend in the Beaufort Sea region in recent decades, noted NASA.



“Over a period of two decades, the Amundsen Gulf had the highest interannual variability of anywhere across the entire Northwest Canadian Arctic,” said Eleanor Wratten, a researcher at Northumbria University and the lead author of an analysis of decades of MODIS observations of fast ice in the Northwest Canadian Arctic.&nbsp;



“We saw the timing of breakup change considerably from one year to the next, but the general pattern looked similar to what you see here. Ice usually remains in the southern bays the longest, with breakup veering toward the strait in the southeastern portion of the gulf.”



The image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite on May 30, 2023.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



—--



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

Spring ice breakup in the Amundsen Gulf

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Nova Scotia, where unusually large fires have led to the evacuation of thousands of people. The photograph, which was captured by an astronaut on the International Space Station, shows smoke rising from a fire near the town of Shelburne on May 29, 2023.



"By the morning of May 31, after four days of burning, the fire had scorched 17,000 hectares (66 square miles) near the southern tip of Nova Scotia," says NASA. "It became the largest forest fire in the province’s history, according to CBC Nova Scotia, exceeding the area burned by a fire in Guysborough County over six days in June 1976."



"Fires have burned in Canada for weeks, as the western part of the country experienced a record-breaking streak of hot weather in mid-May."&nbsp;



"Several regions in Canada also had an abnormally dry spring; Nova Scotia received about half of the usual amount of rainfall in April. Authorities classified both the Halifax and Shelburne County fires as uncontrolled on May 31 and expected the fires to grow as dry and windy conditions continued."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



—--



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

Smoke rises from fires in Nova Scotia

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Lake Hamun, a seasonal lake in the Sistan region on the Afghanistan-Iran border. The lake and surrounding wetlands have been shrinking as a result of persistent drought, leading to reduced vegetation and exposed dust. These changes have transformed the basin into a major source of dust storms.



"While dust storms are most common in the summer, they happen year-round as long as the lake is dry and the winds are strong. That was the case on January 12, 2023, when the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite captured this image of dust streaming from the dry lake bed," says NASA.



In January 2023, a team of experts led by UCLA reported that airborne dust has likely increased by 55 percent on a global scale since pre-industrial times. The researchers said this is largely due to more frequent dust storms in Asia and North Africa.&nbsp;



The team estimates that the cooling effect of airborne dust has likely masked about eight percent of the warming caused by greenhouse gases since the preindustrial era.



“Our findings imply that greenhouses gases alone could cause even more climate warming than models currently predict,” said UCLA atmospheric physicist Jasper Kok. “This is of tremendous importance because better predictions can inform better decisions of how to mitigate or adapt to climate change.”



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



---



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



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

Lake Hamun is a major source of dust storms

For over 450 million years, mycorrhizal fungi have been secret heroes, maintaining the balance of life on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-new-quasi-moon-will-stick-around-for-hundreds-of-years/">Earth</a>. These fungi are critical to supplying plants with essential soil nutrients, ensuring their growth and survival.&nbsp;



Recent scientific discoveries reveal that these tiny organisms not only form symbiotic relationships with almost all terrestrial plants but also act as vital channels, transporting carbon into soil ecosystems.



<h2 id="h-mind-blowing-amount-of-carbon-exchanged-by-plants-and-fungi">Mind-blowing amount of carbon exchanged by plants and fungi</h2>



According to a meta-analysis published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.02.027">Current Biology</a>, these fungi could be managing an astronomical amount of carbon - 13.12 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) to be precise, which is approximately 36 percent of yearly global fossil fuel emissions.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector">[sendtonews key="Lye0r2gd9Z-2782222-12187" type="single"]</div>



As nearly 70 to 90 percent of land plants engage in symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, it's been speculated for some time that a substantial amount of carbon is shuttled into the soil through the networks formed by these fungi.



Heidi Hawkins, research lead at Conservation South Africa, studies plant-soil-microbe interactions at the <a href="https://www.uct.ac.za/">University of Cape Town</a>. “We always suspected that we may have been overlooking a major carbon pool," said Hawkins.



She goes on to emphasize that despite the focus on preserving and rehabilitating forests to counter climate change, there's been a lack of attention given to the fate of the carbon dioxide drawn from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. This carbon dioxide is transmitted below ground to the mycorrhizal fungi by the plants themselves.



<h2 id="h-symbiotic-relationship-between-plants-and-mycorrhizal-fungi">Symbiotic relationship between plants and mycorrhizal fungi&nbsp;</h2>



In this symbiotic relationship, mycorrhizal fungi reciprocate the favor by transferring mineral nutrients to their plant partners. Such mutual exchanges are enabled through the interactions between fungal mycelium - the thread-like networks constituting most of the fungal biomass, and plant roots.



The underground transported carbon serves two functions for the fungi. Firstly, it's used to grow a more extensive mycelium, thus allowing the fungi to further explore the soil. Secondly, the carbon gets bound in the soil due to the sticky substances released by the fungi and can remain underground as fungal necromass, providing a structural framework for soils.



<h2 id="h-still-much-to-be-learned-about-this-process">Still much to be learned about this process</h2>



However, a crucial piece of the puzzle is still missing. “A major gap in our knowledge is the permanence of carbon within mycorrhizal structures. We do know that it is a flux, with some being retained in mycorrhizal structures while the fungus lives, and even after it dies," said Hawkins. What remains uncertain is the duration for which the carbon stays within the fungi.



“We know that mycorrhizal fungi are vitally important ecosystem engineers, but they are invisible," said Toby Kiers, a professor of evolutionary biology at Vrije University Amsterdam and co-founder of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN).



He emphasizes that our knowledge of these fundamental players at the base of Earth's food webs is just beginning to take shape.



<h2 id="h-time-is-of-the-essence">Time is of the essence</h2>



But the clock is ticking. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has issued a stark warning: by 2050, 90 percent of soils could be degraded, and fungi are conspicuously absent from most conservation and environmental policies. This could severely hamper the productivity of both natural and crop plants.



Study co-author Katie Field is a professor of plant-soil processes at the University of Sheffield. “Mycorrhizal fungi represent a blind spot in carbon modeling, conservation, and restoration," said Professor Field.&nbsp;



She warns that the disruption of ancient life support systems in the soil undermines our efforts to curb global warming and compromises the health and resilience of ecosystems upon which we rely.



There's a strong call to action from the research community. Merlin Sheldrake, co-author of the study, insists that humanity must not only limit destructive activities that harm underground ecosystems but also significantly accelerate research efforts.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-developing-open-source-maps-of-the-planet-s-fungal-networks">Developing open-source maps of the planet’s fungal networks</h2>



Sheldrake, who is part of organizations like SPUN, the Fungi Foundation, and GlobalFungi, shares that these bodies are driving a massive global sampling endeavor. The goal is to develop open-source maps of Earth's fungal networks.&nbsp;



These maps will help researchers identify properties of underground ecosystems, such as carbon sequestration hotspots, and document new fungal species capable of withstanding harsh conditions like drought and high temperatures.



However, it's important to note that while these findings and data are based on the best available evidence, they are estimates and should be interpreted carefully. Sheldrake emphasizes the need for caution.&nbsp;



"Although our numbers are only estimates, they are the best we are able to make with the data available. The limitations of our study make clear the urgent need for further empirical study of carbon and nutrient fluxes between plants and mycorrhizal fungi.”



Undoubtedly, mycorrhizal fungi play a significant role in our ecosystems and in the fight against climate change. The continuation and intensification of research in this area could unlock more secrets about these unsung heroes of the natural world. The question is whether we can learn enough in time to protect these vital, yet often overlooked, components of our planet's health.



<h2 id="h-more-about-relationship-between-plants-and-fungi">More about relationship between plants and fungi</h2>



The relationship between plants and mycorrhizal fungi is one of the most remarkable examples of symbiosis in nature. This mutualistic interaction has been critical for the survival and success of plants, especially in nutrient-poor soils, and has been in existence for millions of years.



<h3 id="h-here-s-how-it-works">Here's how it works:</h3>



<h4 id="h-nutrient-exchange">Nutrient Exchange</h4>



The primary benefit for plants in this symbiotic relationship is the enhanced access to nutrients. Fungi are particularly efficient at breaking down complex organic materials in the soil and absorbing nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. The fungal hyphae, or thread-like structures, extend far beyond the reach of plant roots and are also much thinner, allowing them to access soil pores that roots cannot. These nutrients are then transferred to the plant.



<h4 id="h-carbon-exchange">Carbon Exchange</h4>



In return for these nutrients, plants provide the fungi with carbohydrates (sugars), which they produce during photosynthesis. This serves as the primary carbon and energy source for the fungi.



<h4 id="h-improved-water-uptake">Improved Water Uptake</h4>



In addition to nutrient acquisition, the extensive network of fungal hyphae can also help plants with water uptake during times of drought.



<h4 id="h-increased-resistance-to-pathogens">Increased Resistance to Pathogens</h4>



Some types of mycorrhizal fungi can also provide increased resistance to plant diseases by serving as a physical barrier to pathogens, or by improving the plant's own immune response.



<h4 id="h-soil-structure">Soil Structure</h4>



Lastly, mycorrhizal fungi contribute to soil aggregation, which is the binding of soil particles together into clusters. This process enhances soil structure, improves water holding capacity, and promotes root penetration.



<h4 id="h-environmental-stress-resistance">Environmental Stress Resistance</h4>



The association with mycorrhizal fungi often provides plants with increased resistance to environmental stressors such as metal toxicity and salinity.



These various aspects of the plant-fungi symbiosis reveal the complex and fascinating web of interdependence that exists beneath our feet. It's a classic example of mutualism in nature, where both organisms derive benefits from the relationship. It also underscores the importance of preserving these symbiotic relationships, which play a crucial role in the overall health of our ecosystems.



Video Credit: Cargill &amp; Oyarte-Galvez (AMOLF)



—-



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

Plants distribute enormous amounts of CO2 to mycorrhizal fungi

For over 450 million years, mycorrhizal fungi have been secret...

Earth's climate is indisputably heating up due to greenhouse gas emissions. This rise in temperature is causing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/extreme-weather-is-becoming-more-difficult-to-predict/">weather</a> events that we can only classify as extreme and anomalous. But the challenge arises when we try to predict and analyze the impact of these anomalies.



According to researchers from the University of Florida, museum specimens could provide some answers. This unique approach was unveiled in a groundbreaking study, where the scientists used natural history specimens to highlight how unseasonably hot or cold days can extend the active time of moths and butterflies by nearly a month.



Robert Guralnick, the lead author and curator of biodiversity informatics at the <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/">Florida Museum of Natural History</a>, expressed surprise at these findings, saying, “The results are not at all what we expected.”



<h2 id="h-study-produces-unexpected-results">Study produces unexpected results</h2>



Conventionally, climate change studies focus on how average temperature rises impact ecosystems. As the temperature climbs, flora and fauna in a specific area become active earlier in the spring and delay their dormant phase until later in the fall.&nbsp;



Gradually, they adjust their habitats to survive in their most favorable climate conditions. However, erratic weather introduces an intricate layer to these patterns, generating unknown consequences that blur the scientists' vision of the future of global ecosystems.



Guralnick acknowledges the existing hints in scientific literature that weather anomalies may cumulatively affect ecosystems. Yet, he noted, “there wasn’t anything that directly addressed this question at a broad scale.”&nbsp;



This gap largely stems from the lack of sufficient data. While climate data collection has been consistent in many global regions for over a century, organism location and activity records remain elusive.



<h2 id="h-digging-through-the-archives-of-natural-history-museums">Digging through the archives of natural history museums</h2>



Natural history museums could offer a solution. Housing specimens for hundreds of years, these museums have now digitized their collections, making them accessible to the wider scientific community. However, digital museum records also bring their own set of challenges.



In 2022, Michael Belitz, co-author of this study, put together a dataset of moths and butterflies from museum collections. His goal was to provide a blueprint for other researchers who want to use similar data. This undertaking resulted in a comprehensive guide on collecting, organizing, and analyzing information from natural history specimens.



With this valuable tool, Belitz and his colleagues set out to detect anomalies in weather patterns. They focused on the eastern United States, analyzing records of 139 moth and butterfly species collected from the 1940s to the 2010s.



The findings were clear-cut: abnormal hot and cold weather has considerably modified insect activity, more so than the average global temperature increase over the past decades. The researchers noticed that the location and timing of extreme weather events affected insect response. In higher latitudes, warmer winter days prompted earlier spring activity in moths and butterflies. Unusually cold days, on the other hand, kept insects active longer across all latitudes, and the combination of extremely high and low temperatures had the strongest impact.



Elaborating on this, Guralnick explained, “If you have a succession of abnormally cold and warm days, it limits the ability of insects to function at peak performance. If cold doesn’t kill you, it slows you down, and it might force insects into a torpor. Insects can recover from the cold snaps pretty quickly and go on to have longer lifespans as a direct result of sudden temperature declines.”



<h2 id="h-good-and-bad-of-extended-insect-activity">Good and bad of extended insect activity</h2>



While extended insect activity might seem beneficial initially, co-author Lindsay Campbell, who studies mosquitos, highlights the potential downside. Longer or altered insect lifespans could lead to more opportunities for pathogen transmission.



She cites correlations between El Niño and rift valley fever outbreaks in East Africa. Anecdotal observations also link unusually warm or hot and dry springs, followed by a heavy precipitation event, to increased outbreaks. Campbell, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, warns about these potential repercussions.



Moreover, the stability of long-term ecosystems relies heavily on the synchronized activity of its components. Interestingly, plants may not respond to these extreme weather patterns the same way insects do. For instance, if moths and butterflies begin their activity too early, they might find plants that haven't yet produced leaves or flowers, wasting their energy in a fruitless quest for food.



Adding to this, the constant redefinition of 'extreme' brings another layer of uncertainty. Will insects be able to adapt to these changes quickly enough?



“As average temperature and climate variability increases, an organism’s resilience is going to drop precipitously,” Guralnick warned.&nbsp;



He stressed that the extreme events we witness today could become significantly more extreme in the future. At some point, organisms' capacity to buffer against these rapid changes will reach its limit, raising questions about the long-term impact on global ecosystems.



This intriguing study shines a light on a lesser-explored dimension of climate change impact, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between climate change and ecosystem dynamics.&nbsp;



It serves as a wake-up call for us to delve deeper into understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change on the world's ecosystems, making it abundantly clear that every organism, down to the smallest insect, plays a crucial role in the vast web of life on our planet.



<h2 id="h-more-about-insects-and-climate-change">More about insects and climate change</h2>



Climate change is a growing concern, and its impacts on insects are a crucial area of study due to the essential roles that insects play in the ecosystems, such as pollination, decomposition, and serving as a food source for other organisms.



Temperature is a major factor influencing the life cycles, behaviors, and geographic distributions of insects. A shift in climate could have multiple effects on insect activity and populations:



Changes in Distribution



Climate change can affect the geographic range of insects. As the world becomes warmer, insects that prefer cooler climates could move towards higher altitudes or latitudes, while those that thrive in warmer conditions might expand their range. Some species might even invade new areas where they weren't found before, potentially leading to new ecosystem interactions.



<h3>Altered Life Cycles</h3>



Warmer temperatures could speed up the life cycle of many insect species, leading to more generations each year. This acceleration could increase their population size if resources remain abundant. However, if these changes don't align with the availability of food sources, such as plants for herbivorous insects, the outcome could be detrimental for the insect populations.



<h3 id="h-increased-pest-activity">Increased Pest Activity</h3>



Certain pests, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and crop-damaging insects, could become more active with increasing temperatures. This could lead to higher risks of vector-borne diseases, like malaria or dengue, and increased crop losses, respectively.



<h3 id="h-impacts-on-biodiversity">Impacts on Biodiversity</h3>



Insects with limited geographic ranges or specialized diets could face extinction if they can't adapt to the changing climate or move to new habitats. The loss of these species could disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems, with repercussions up the food chain.



<h3 id="h-mismatched-phenology">Mismatched Phenology</h3>



Phenology refers to the timing of biological events, such as flowering or insect activity. If climate change causes these events to fall out of sync—for instance, if insects emerge before their food plants have grown—they could face food shortages.



<h3 id="h-increased-stress">Increased Stress</h3>



Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, or heatwaves, can pose direct threats to insect survival. They can also exacerbate other stresses, such as habitat loss and pollution.



Overall, while some insects might benefit from climate change, many could face significant challenges. Given their essential roles in ecosystems, changes in insect populations can have ripple effects across the food web and biodiversity, affecting the overall health of ecosystems and potentially human societies too. Further research is essential to better understand these impacts and to guide effective strategies for biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change.



—-



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

Extreme weather has increased seasonal insect activity

Earth's climate is indisputably heating up due to greenhouse gas...

Workplace burnout is increasingly widespread worldwide and has a detrimental effect on employee performance and well-being, as well as on the overall productivity of the organizations in which individuals experiencing burnout are embedded.&nbsp;



This phenomenon causes significant mental <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/listening-music-exercise-fight-fatigue/">fatigue</a>, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (a state in which people feel disconnected from their bodies, emotions, and thoughts), and a decline in personal fulfillment. While a considerable amount of research has already explored the causes and mechanisms of burnout, the role of personal relationships has largely been overlooked.



Now, a study led by the <a href="https://www.hse.ru/en/">National Research University Higher School of Economics</a> (HSE University) in Moscow has argued that satisfaction in personal relationships can significantly impact the manifestation of workplace burnout syndrome, particularly in men.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-relationship-satisfaction">Relationship satisfaction</h2>



To test this hypothesis, study author Ilya Bulgakov, a research fellow in Psychology at HSE, has administered a survey to 203 employees across a variety of Russian companies, who were asked the assess their satisfaction with personal relationships and the presence of burnout symptoms.



The investigation revealed that, as the level of marital satisfaction increased, the risk of workplace burnout decreased – a correlation found to be more pronounced in men. According to Bulgakov, these findings highlight existing disparities in social roles and stereotypes attributed to men and women, as well as variations in expectations related to marriage and career.



“For men, career success can often become a fundamental aspect of their identity and self-esteem. As a result, they may encounter greater pressure in the workplace and experience elevated stress levels while striving to fulfil their duties and meet expectations. In this context, marital satisfaction and feeling supported in one’s private life can become critical factors in preventing burnout among men,” Bulgakov explained.



<h2 id="h-emotional-fatigue">Emotional fatigue</h2>



For women experiencing burnout, depersonalization – characterized by a feeling of disconnectedness from colleagues and clients and a decrease in empathy and compassion – seems to play the most important role, while for men, the main burnout symptom is usually emotional fatigue from being overwhelmed with work-related requests and feeling incapable of managing them.



These differences are most likely linked to the different social expectations and roles imposed on women and men within the professional realm. For instance, in many cultures, women are expected to be empathic and nurturing, while men are seen as providers and protectors. Thus, women often experience pressure concerning the amount of emotional support they are expected to offer to colleagues and clients, leading to heightened stress and a tendency to dissociate from these responsibilities, ultimately leading to depersonalization.&nbsp;



On the other hand, men expected to have a high-level of responsibility linked to their perceived social roles can easily lead to emotional burnout. Fortunately, in their case, marital satisfaction was found to mitigate to a certain degree such symptoms.



<h2 id="h-workplace-success">Workplace success</h2>



The study also found that men who experience greater professional success tend to have higher levels of satisfaction in their personal relationships - a correlation that was not identified in women – suggesting that support in one’s personal life could play a greater role in facilitating workplace success for men compared to women.



“Individuals suffering from workplace burnout syndrome often struggle to disconnect from their work and therefore remain in a constant state of tension. Consequently, personal relationships serve as a means for them to escape the pressures of the career race, providing a source of satisfaction and support. Interestingly, this association has been observed only in men. This can perhaps be attributed to traditional social roles, where men are frequently assigned greater responsibility for attaining career success, leading to higher work-related pressure,” Bulgakov explained.



Better understanding the specific aspects of employee burnout could help organizations more efficiently manage stressful situations and enhance employee motivation. Since the way individuals construct and engage in both professional and personal relationships have major implications for their professional self-determination and the ways in which they cope with possible burnouts, taking into account the full complexity of these factors is crucial for avoiding damage to both individuals and organizations caused by burnout.



The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17323/2312-5942-2023-13-1-145-160">Organizational Psychology</a>.



<h2 id="h-more-about-workplace-burnout">More about workplace burnout&nbsp;</h2>



Workplace burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion often linked with feelings of cynicism, detachment, and a sense of lack of accomplishment in the job. Burnout is not just everyday stress; it's a prolonged, consistent state that can lead to serious physical and mental health problems.



<h3 id="h-common-symptoms-of-burnout">Common symptoms of burnout:</h3>



<h3 id="h-emotional-exhaustion">Emotional Exhaustion</h3>



You feel drained, unable to cope, and tired all the time. You might struggle to get out of bed, even after rest, and feel devoid of energy.



<h4 id="h-cynicism-and-detachment">Cynicism and Detachment</h4>



You may start to lose interest in your work, or begin to feel negative, cynical, or indifferent about your tasks or coworkers. You may also feel disconnected and might start distancing yourself emotionally and physically from your work.



<h4 id="h-lack-of-accomplishment">Lack of Accomplishment</h4>



You may often feel unproductive or that your work doesn't matter, despite putting a lot of effort into your tasks.



<h4 id="h-physical-symptoms">Physical Symptoms</h4>



These can include things like headaches, stomachaches, appetite changes, and sleep disturbances.



<h4 id="h-reduced-performance">Reduced Performance</h4>



You might have trouble concentrating, make more mistakes than usual, or struggle to be creative.



Workplace burnout is typically the result of work-related pressures or stressors. These can include long hours or heavy workload, lack of control over your work, insufficient rewards for your efforts, or unfair treatment.



If you're experiencing workplace burnout, it's essential to seek support. This could include speaking to a supervisor or HR about the issues you're facing, seeking help from a mental health professional, or making lifestyle changes to manage stress and promote balance, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and time for relaxation and social activities.



Employers also have a role to play in preventing and managing burnout. They can provide a supportive work environment, clear and fair job expectations, opportunities for career development, recognition for good work, and ensure work-life balance for their employees.



—-



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



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

For men, relationship satisfaction can prevent workplace burnout

Workplace burnout is increasingly widespread worldwide and has a detrimental...

<div id="58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1" class="vdb_player vdb_58e3ebce955a315103d39bd158d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49" vdb_params="m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com" data-placeholder="//img.vidible.tv/prod/2018-07/17/5b4dc5fef5077530bca90c7c/5b4dc640eac4101b7cabb1e8_o_A_v2.jpg?w=1440&#038;h=900&#038;q=60">
 <script type="text/javascript" src="//delivery.vidible.tv/jsonp/pid=58e3ebce955a315103d39bd1/vid=5b4dc5fef5077530bca90c7c/58d96b98cd4fed198a0d2a49.js?m.embeded=cms_video_plugin_www.earth.com"></script>
 </div>
  
Today&#8217;s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> discusses the interesting relationship between humans and meteorites.
A giant piece of a meteorite is central to the DECOS office in the Netherlands, and company founder Paul Vega explains how the four and a half billion-year-old specimen is a symbol of sustainability.
&#8212;
By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer
Video Credit: NASA Goddard

Meteorites represent a sustainable human society