Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which has caused deadly flooding and landslides in Malawi and Mozambique.



According to the World Meteorological Organization, Freddy has likely broken the record for longest-lasting tropical cyclone.



"Freddy’s long journey began off the coast of Australia in early February 2023. After becoming an exceptionally powerful storm and crossing the Indian Ocean," says NASA.



"Freddy first struck eastern Madagascar on February 21 and southern Mozambique a few days later. After drenching Mozambique’s Inhambane province, the storm looped back into the Mozambique Channel in early March, where it benefited from warm ocean temperatures and favorable wind conditions."



"It underwent rapid intensification for a record seventh time on March 11 as winds strengthened by at least 55 kilometers (35 miles) per hour in a 24-hour period. Freddy continued moving northwest until making landfall in Mozambique’s Zambezi Province later that day."



Due to the slow pace of the storm, parts of Malawi and Mozambique received up to 26 inches of rain in two days.&nbsp;



The image was captured on March 19, 2023 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite.&nbsp;



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.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy has left a month-long trail of destruction 

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 Miura Peninsula in Japan. The photo was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station.



The northern section of the peninsula separates Tokyo Bay from Sagami Bay. In the center of the image, an expressway connects Yokosuka and Yokohama, two cities within the Greater Tokyo Area.



"Inlets along Sagami Bay are tinged with brown-hued sediment as waves break near the shore. Darker regions near the center of the Miura Peninsula are heavily forested. Mount Ogusu (Ogusuyama), one of the highest points on the peninsula, is neighbored by parks, trails, a golf course, and solar power plants," says NASA.



"Along the bottom right of the image, Yokohama and Yokosuka port facilities line the coast and ships linger in Tokyo Bay."



"At this focal length, the high spatial resolution of the photograph captures infrastructure and individual buildings near coasts, roads, or valleys. Vehicle and electronics manufacturing are just some of the activities that employ thousands of people in the industrial zones of the Yokosuka and Yokohama area, which has a population of about 680,000."



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



---



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

The Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa, Japan

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features Laguna Ojo de Liebre, a coastal lagoon in the northwestern Baja California Sur state of Mexico.



The photograph was captured by an astronaut onboard the International Space Station (ISS) while orbiting over the Baja Peninsula on December 16, 2022. According to NASA, the lagoon is a large salt producer and a destination for ecotourists.



"Several evaporation ponds used for salt production occupy much of the area shown in the photograph. Salt is produced by channeling saltwater from the lagoon into the ponds," says NASA.



"Sunlight and wind promote evaporation, leaving behind a salty brine, which is then moved to neighboring ponds with dikes for additional evaporation. Salt crystallization is the last step of the process."



"While the ponds often appear green, many of the ponds appear red here. Salt evaporation ponds can range in hue between red, green, and blue depending on the time of year, water conditions, and the mixture of microorganisms in the water."



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.

Laguna Ojo de Liebre on the Baja Peninsula

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features a phytoplankton bloom off the coast of Argentina, which became visible in satellite images as summer approached in the southern hemisphere.



“The color of the ocean provides us with important information about phytoplankton, the health of the ocean, and the global climate,” said Ivona Cetinić, the science lead of ocean biogeochemistry for an upcoming NASA satellite called the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission.



Cetinić said that the color of the swirls can tell us something about the type of plankton present in the bloom. She explained that it is difficult to tell immediately the types of phytoplankton present.



Identifying the different types of phytoplankton present in seawater can help scientists understand more about carbon and nutrient cycling in the ocean. While satellites still have some limitations for understanding ocean ecology, some of these limitations could soon be resolved, said Cetinić.



“PACE is hyperspectral, which means it will be able to see many different hues and will help us tease apart which types of phytoplankton are present. It will also help us quickly identify and forecast harmful algal blooms."&nbsp;



Cetinić said that moving to PACE to understand ocean ecology will be like "switching from a flip phone to the latest smart phone."



The image was captured on November 21, 2022 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.&nbsp;



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



---



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.

Plankton colors provide information about ocean health

Today's Image of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> features the Toshka Lakes in southern Egypt’s New Valley. When this image was captured on November of 2021, water levels in the lakes were exceptionally high following a spring season of floods in the region.&nbsp;



According to NASA, the Tosha Lakes are natural depressions in the Sahara Desert that are filled by overflow from Lake Nasser, a 340-mile reservoir on the Nile River.&nbsp;



Fluctuations in the flow of the Nile influence the rise and fall of the lakes. In 2017 and 2018, for example, the lakes had shrank to the point of becoming small remnants of water.&nbsp;



This trend began to reverse in 2019, when abundant summer rainfall in Sudan raised the water level in Lake Nasser, which started filling up the Tosha Lakes as well. This pattern continued in 2020, as record-breaking floods triggered the highest water level ever recorded in Lake Nasser. Sudanese floods approached record levels again in 2021.



Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory



---



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

The Toshka Lakes of southern Egypt

Human activities are placing major strain on coastal areas across the globe, according to a study led by the <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/">University of Queensland</a>. The researchers mapped the presence and extent of major coastline stressors, and discovered that 97 percent of coastal areas are significantly impacted.



Study lead author Hannah Allan said the research outlined the spatial extent and magnitude of 10 major land-based stressors and 10 major marine stressors that occur across coastlines globally.



“The threats human activity pose to coastal ecosystems and biodiversity come from both the land and sea, sometimes arriving far from human activity,” said Allan. “Therefore, coastal conservation must incorporate land-sea connections. Human population size, tourism, and roads were some of the biggest contributors to the terrestrial component of Australia’s coastal human footprint."



“As for marine stressors, increasing sea surface temperatures, nutrient pollution, and shipping were found to be major drivers of human pressure on Australian coastlines.”



Professor Noam Levin noted that a map of this kind, which assembles both terrestrial and marine stressors and presents the coastal human footprint globally, has rarely been attempted.



“This research offers valuable insights that could help decision-makers and managers identify where to mitigate particular impacts,” said Professor Levin. “For example, the database underlying the human footprint can show specific areas with high oil and gas operations, such as in Western Australia."



“This can help develop preparedness procedures for the very realistic chance of environmental disasters that impact coastal areas, such as oil spills."



“An added benefit of our new global map is that it helps prioritise these decisions based on how widespread the potential pressures of our human footprint in certain areas of the world might be."



"Coastal areas, where 90 percent of Australians live, were not immune to these stressors. For Australia, the highest human footprint was found in the coastal cities, in the order of Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane."



Professor Levin said the team mapped 160 areas on the planet with the most pristine coastal areas, including several in Australia. “Of those, nearly 40 percent were totally unprotected - opening an opportunity to identify coastal areas for further conservation actions."



“A key finding was that light pollution is increasing, with more white LEDs being used, placing great strain on areas of high importance for biodiversity, disrupting the natural patterns of wildlife."



Professor Salit Kark said the team was surprised at the sheer extent and far-reaching impact revealed by the footprint map.



“There is hardly anywhere on the planet, outside of the polar and arctic regions, that does not show some form of human pressure on their coastline,” said Professor Kark. “In essence, we have influenced the majority of coastal areas globally. We therefore should aim to map and understand our impacts, and also leave some untouched coastlines.”



The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106476">Ocean and Coastal Management</a>.



---



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.

Human activity impacts 97 percent of the world's coastline

Human activities are placing major strain on coastal areas across...

Forests and green spaces reduce human health risks on a global scale, according to a new report from the <a href="https://www.iufro.org/">International Union of Forest Research Organizations</a> (IUFRO). The assessment is the most comprehensive of its kind.&nbsp;



For the investigation, 44 scientists from around the world&nbsp; teamed up to review scientific evidence of the human health benefits associated with forests, trees and green spaces.&nbsp;



The experts say that in order to address health challenges, it is important to recognize the close links between human health and the health of other species, of ecosystems, and of the planet as a whole.



Existing evidence shows that forests and green spaces have positive effects on cognitive aging and longevity and protective effects against diabetes, cancer, depression, and stress-related disorders. According to the study authors, the significant effects on neurodevelopment in children are particularly important, not least because of repercussions in later life.



The experts report that 24 percent of global deaths are due to air pollution, extreme weather events, and other negative environmental factors. Premature deaths and disease can be prevented through the healthier environments that are provided by forests.



In addition, green spaces help reduce the negative health impacts of climate change. For example, as heatwaves become more frequent and intense, green spaces provide a cooling effect.&nbsp;



"The report underpins a One Health perspective, which recognizes that the health of humans, animals, plants, and the wider environment are closely linked and interdependent. It suggests that decision-makers in forest, health and related domains should also adopt more integrative perspectives for addressing forest-human health relations," said Cecil Konijnendijk of the University of British Columbia.



"By linking forest and human health policies and strategies, new and innovative solutions for health and forest challenges can be identified."&nbsp;



The study authors say the relationship between forests, trees, green spaces, and human health is complex. "Forests and trees provide multiple goods and services that contribute to human health, including medicines, nutritious food and non-wood forest products."



'They also support climate change mitigation and adaptation, moderate microcli-mate, filter air pollutants and offer areas for recreation, all of which can contribute to better physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being."



"At the same time, poor practices in the conservation and management of forests and trees have contributed to adverse effects on human health and wellbeing, with the emergence of zoonotic diseases and forest fires."



Regardless, the team found that most of the human health effects of forests and green spaces are positive. The experts note that decision-makers should promote positive forest and tree health outcomes while minimizing and managing potential negative impacts, especially on vulnerable populations.



The full report from the Global Forest Expert Panel (GFEP) on Forests and Human Health is available <a href="https://www.iufro.org/news/article/2023/03/21/forests-and-trees-for-human-health-pathways-impacts-challenges-and-response-options-1/">online</a>.&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.

International Day of Forests: Green spaces reduce health risks

Forests and green spaces reduce human health risks on a...

Experts at <a href="https://wustl.edu/">Washington University in St. Louis</a> are describing how hummingbirds use torpor, a hibernation-like state of inactivity, to survive harsh <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/environmental-dna-can-help-monitor-pollinators/">environments</a>. According to the study, hummingbirds use torpor in different ways depending on their physical state and the environmental conditions they are facing.&nbsp;



In collaboration with biologists in Colombia, the researchers caught 249 hummingbirds (29 different species) living in the middle to high altitudes of the Andes Mountains. The experts wanted to measure torpor under various semi-natural conditions.&nbsp;



“Torpor is somewhere between a power nap and hibernation,” said study first author Justin Baldwin. “Earlier research had suggested that torpor was a way of completely shutting metabolism down to minimal levels."



"Our findings join a growing body of evidence to suggest that when animals enter torpor, they have diverse options to calibrate aspects of torpor to their environment.”



The study revealed that hummingbirds can enter into deep or shallow torpor, and they can remain in this state for just a few hours or for the entire night. In addition, the birds can begin to emerge from torpor hours or just minutes before sunrise.&nbsp;



"Small birds were more likely to use torpor than large birds, but only at low ambient temperatures, where torpor was prolonged. We also found effects of proxy variables for body condition and energy expenditure on the use of torpor, its characteristics, and impacts," wrote the researchers.



Study co-author Gustavo Londoño is a professor at the Universidad Icesi in Cali, Colombia. He explained that torpor can be the difference between surviving through cold night-time temperatures encountered at high elevations, or dying trying to regulate their body temperature using fuel from their internal reserves.



“One of the new things we learned with this study is that hummingbirds start exiting torpor more or less one hour before sunrise,” said Professor Londoño. “Being out of torpor and ready to fly with the first sunlight is key to ensuring that their first meal will be from flowers that are full of nectar. The flowers then get depleted through the morning.”



By studying many hummingbird species at once, the researchers were able to analyze how torpor may have contributed to their evolution and colonization of harsh environments.



“Species that more readily deployed torpor at our study sites also occurred at higher elevations across the entire Andean region,” said Baldwin. “This is exciting, because it suggests that a characteristic of bird physiology can tell us something about their distribution across the entire continent."



“Even though we don’t know which came first - an increase in readiness to use torpor or the ability to persist at high elevations - we think that hummingbirds’ readiness to use torpor is likely tied to their evolutionary conquest of mountain habitats.”



&nbsp;The study is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.2099">Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences</a>.



---



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.

Hummingbirds have evolved to survive harsh environments 

Experts at Washington University in St. Louis are describing how...

<div class="wp-block-sendtonews-playerselector"><div class="s2nPlayer-DgbTywtCqS-1965472-12187" data-type="single"></div>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//embed.sendtonews.com/player2/embedcode.php?SC=DgbTywtCqS-1965472-12187&cid=12187&autoplay=on" data-type="s2nScript"></script>
</div>



Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a wearable sensor to help monitor the water levels of plants.&nbsp;



When plants are in need of water, there are not always obvious signals. Plant leaves do not turn brown or shrivel until most of the water is gone.&nbsp;



The new system is designed to detect water loss earlier. According to ACS, the system can wirelessly transmit data to a smartphone app, allowing for remote management of drought stress in gardens and crops.



&#8220;Impedimetric wearable sensors are a promising strategy for determining the loss of water content (LWC) from leaves because they can afford on-site and nondestructive quantification of cellular water from a single measurement,&#8221; explained the study authors.&nbsp;



&#8220;Because the water content is a key marker of leaf health, monitoring of the LWC can lend key insights into daily practice in precision agriculture, toxicity studies, and the development of agricultural inputs.&#8221;



The experts have published their research in the ACS journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/aamick">Applied Materials &amp; Interfaces</a>.



Video Credit: ACS



&#8211;&#8212;



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

Plant sensor can remotely track water levels