<p>Wildfires in the western U.S. have become a growing crisis. They’re lasting longer, burning hotter, and spreading into areas that rarely burned in the past. </p>



<p>But another danger is rising, beyond heatwaves and droughts. Lightning - sudden, fierce, and incredibly powerful - is becoming one of the biggest wildfire risks.</p>



<p>In the coming decades, scientists warn that lightning will become an increasingly dominant spark for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-is-making-wildfire-smoke-more-deadly/">wildfires</a>, adding to the already mounting risks across the West.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lightning-is-fueling-more-wildfires">Lightning is fueling more wildfires</h2>



<p>Wildfires need a few things to get going: dry fuel, hot temperatures, low humidity, and a spark. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lightning-is-changing-the-atmosphere-in-surprising-ways/">Lightning</a> is one of the most powerful natural igniters.</p>



<p>In the western U.S., lightning already causes more than two-thirds of the area burned by wildfires. And now, new research shows that number is going to rise sharply due to climate change. </p>



<p>Warmer air holds more moisture, which means more unstable weather patterns. Those patterns, in turn, set the stage for more lightning.</p>



<p>A recent study has revealed that virtually all of the western U.S. - 98 percent of the region - will have more days with a greater likelihood of lightning-ignited wildfires starting as early as the 2030s. </p>



<p>For regions already accustomed to such fires, such as Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, the risk is even greater. As early as 2060, those states may have as many as 12 additional lightning-filled days per summer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-model-to-forecast-lightning">A model to forecast lightning</h2>



<p>Traditional <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-models-underestimate-sea-ice-melt-and-global-warming/">climate models</a> don’t really track lightning. That’s why a team of researchers led by Dmitri Kalashnikov built their own system to fill in the gaps.</p>



<p>“The first step was to project lightning,” said Kalashnikov, a research scientist at the <a href="https://www.ucmerced.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California Merced</a>. “The typical climate models don’t directly simulate lightning. It’s too small a process.”</p>



<p>The researchers applied machine learning to forecast where lightning would hit based on variables that we can quantify - such as temperature, humidity, and the level of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/moisture-in-the-atmosphere-causes-extreme-weather-to-last-longer/">moisture in the air</a>. </p>



<p>The team merged those results with the Fire Weather Index (FWI), a mechanism that was developed back in 1968 to monitor how probable wildfire initiation and spread is from local weather.</p>



<p>The result is a forecast model tailored to the western U.S., designed to project conditions from 2030 to 2060 - decades earlier than most studies, which typically look only to the end of the century.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-lightning-in-the-northwest">More lightning in the Northwest</h2>



<p>The northwestern states of Idaho, Oregon, and Montana are projected to experience the greatest growth in lightning days. But strangely, they may not experience the most rapid expansion in wildfires. </p>



<p>Although lightning will grow, the conditions favoring fires (such as extreme heat or dryness) are not expected to worsen as quickly in the Northwest compared to other regions.</p>



<p>That doesn’t mean northwestern states are off the hook. Cloud-to-ground lightning, the kind that hits trees or grass directly, is still expected to rise significantly in those areas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-less-lightning-greater-wildfire-risk">Less lightning, greater wildfire risk</h2>



<p>In contrast, the Southwest - including Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico - won’t see as much of a jump in lightning strikes. But the fire risk will still climb. </p>



<p>This is because even a small spark becomes a big threat when the land is extra dry, the heat is intense, and there’s little rain to cool things off.</p>



<p>The researchers found that these southern states are likely to experience the biggest increases in wildfires caused by lightning, despite the smaller bump in lightning activity. That’s because climate change is pushing up the number of fire-prone days overall.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dry-and-wet-lightning">Dry and wet lightning</h2>



<p>Kalashnikov said the next steps could involve separating the kinds of lightning events. “You can’t help but wonder what the future will look like, especially if you dig in and you realize that there’s actually a lot that we don’t understand,” he said.</p>



<p>One key factor will be figuring out how to distinguish between "dry lightning" and "wet lightning." Dry lightning happens without much rain, making it a fire hazard. </p>



<p>Wet lightning brings <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heavy-rainfall-poses-extreme-risks-in-the-western-us/">heavy rain</a>, which can reduce fire risk but increase flood danger. Understanding that difference could help emergency services respond more precisely to fire threats.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildfire-risks-are-rising-fast">Wildfire risks are rising fast</h2>



<p>As climate patterns shift, the West isn’t just getting warmer and drier - it’s getting stormier in a dangerous way. Lightning is expected to spark more fires, and fires are expected to find more dry fuel waiting. It’s a feedback loop that could reshape fire seasons in the U.S.</p>



<p>This isn’t about something that might happen a hundred years from now. The changes are coming within the next few decades - some may already be happening. </p>



<p>And for the people living in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/double-hazard-wildfire-zones-identified-in-the-american-west/">high-risk areas</a>, that means more heat, more smoke, and a greater need for preparation.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025EF006108" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth's Future</a></em>.</p>



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Lightning will ignite even more wildfires as the climate heats up

Wildfires in the western U.S. have become a growing crisis. They’re lasting longer, burning hotter, and spreading into areas that rarely burned in the past. But another danger is rising, beyond heatwaves and droughts. Lightning - sudden, fierce, and incredibly powerful - is becoming one of the biggest wildfire risks. In the coming decades, scientists warn that lightning will become an increasingly dominant spark for wildfires, adding to the already mounting risks across the West. Lightning is fueling more wildfires Wildfires need a few things to get...

<p>Climate change, with its increasing temperature variability, poses a significant threat to the survival of bird nestlings, according to a recent study from the <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research highlights how early nesting in spring due to warmer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rising-temperatures-linked-to-vision-impairment/">temperatures</a> exposes young birds to the risks of cold snaps and heat waves, leading to higher nest failure rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperature-extremes">Temperature extremes</h2>



<p>Study co-lead author Conor Taff emphasized the crucial distinction between average temperature changes and immediate weather conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"When we talk about temperature changes, the focus is mostly on averages," said Taff. "But all creatures, including humans, interact with weather conditions right in the moment, not with long-term averages."</p>



<p>"Even a one or two-day period when it’s really cold or really hot can be incredibly challenging even if the average temperature hasn't changed. Changing temperature averages and temperature variability are two different components of climate change."</p>



<p>This is especially true for birds, as even short periods of extreme cold or heat can be detrimental.</p>



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



<p>The study involved an extensive analysis of 300,000 breeding bird records from 1995 to 2020, submitted to the Cornell Lab's NestWatch project.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By examining the coldest and hottest three-day periods for each nest, the researchers assessed the impact of these extremes on nesting success, defined by the number of nestlings surviving to fledge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-insights">Alarming insights</h2>



<p>"We found that 16 of the 24 species we studied had reduced reproductive success when a cold snap occurred during the incubation or nestling stages," Taff said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Eleven of 24 had reduced success when a heat wave occurred during the breeding season. Aerial insectivores were the most sensitive to temperature extremes, especially cold."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cold-snaps">Cold snaps</h2>



<p>Cold snaps pose a unique challenge as they reduce insect availability, a critical food source for nestlings. During these periods, adult birds may leave their nests in search of survivable conditions. This makes eggs and nestlings vulnerable to cold and starvation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"It's the nestlings that really get hit hard because they can't regulate their own body temperature yet," said study co-author Ryan Shipley. "Nestlings also grow at an exponential rate during the first week or two of life and if insect activity drops because of a cold snap, the young birds likely won’t survive."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-consequences-nbsp">Long-term consequences&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The researchers also analyzed 100 years of weather data, focusing on the March-August breeding season in the U.S. and Canada. While no clear pattern emerged regarding the timing of temperature extremes, a general warming trend was evident.</p>



<p>"Even if nestlings somehow manage to survive a cold snap or heat wave, there may still be long-term consequences affecting the overall health of the birds," said Shipley. "We're only looking at a brief snapshot during early life and cannot measure long-term health in an unbanded wild population."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tree-swallows">Tree swallows </h2>



<p>Earlier studies on tree swallows by the same authors indicate that during development, temperature significantly influences nestling growth and survival, affecting their chances of successful migration and breeding in subsequent years.</p>



<p>This means that the combination of temperature changes and shifts in the breeding season could lead to life-changing consequences for bird populations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nestling-success">Nestling success</h2>



<p>Nestling success is a crucial factor in the study of avian biology, ecology, and conservation. It refers to the ability of young birds (nestlings) in a nest to survive to the point of fledging, where they are developed enough to leave the nest. Several factors influence nestling success:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-parental-care">Parental care</h3>



<p>The quality and quantity of parental care, including feeding frequency, quality of food, and protection from predators, directly impact the survival rate of nestlings.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-availability">Food availability</h3>



<p>Adequate and appropriate food is vital for the growth and development of nestlings. Food scarcity can lead to lower survival rates.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nest-site-quality">Nest site quality</h3>



<p>The location and structure of the nest can affect exposure to predators, environmental conditions, and competition. Well-constructed and strategically located nests can improve the chances of nestling survival.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-factors">Environmental factors</h3>



<p>Weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation significantly influence nestling success. Extreme weather events can be particularly detrimental.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predation">Predation</h3>



<p>Nestlings are vulnerable to predators. The presence of natural cover and the ability of parents to defend the nest can mitigate this threat.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disease-and-parasites">Disease and parasites</h3>



<p>Exposure to diseases and parasites can decrease a nestling’s chance of survival. Healthy parents and a clean nest environment are important preventive measures.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-health">Genetic health</h3>



<p>The genetic makeup of the nestlings, inherited from their parents, also plays a role in their development and ability to withstand environmental stresses.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-impact">Human impact</h3>



<p>Urbanization, pollution, and human disturbances can negatively impact nestling success. Conservation efforts aim to minimize these effects.</p>



<p>Monitoring nestling success is important for understanding the health of bird populations and ecosystems. It serves as an indicator of environmental changes and the effectiveness of conservation strategies. </p>



<p>In the context of climate change, as seen in the Cornell study, researchers pay close attention to how fluctuating temperatures and weather patterns affect the success rate of bird nestlings, providing crucial insights into the broader impacts of global environmental shifts.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43071-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Temperature variability endangers bird nestlings

Climate change, with its increasing temperature variability, poses a significant...

<p>A study led by researchers from <a href="https://www.iu.edu/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indiana University</a> has brought a new perspective to the field of climate engineering, particularly in its application to the rapidly melting ice sheets of West Antarctica. </p>



<p>The research examines the feasibility of scattering sunlight-reflecting particles in the atmosphere to slow down the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarcticas-ice-shelves-are-dwindling-at-a-startling-pace/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">melting process</a> and reduce the risk of catastrophic sea-level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rapid-melting-in-west-antarctica">Rapid melting in West Antarctica</h2>



<p>With the planet facing unprecedented climatic challenges, scientists are increasingly concerned about the accelerated ice loss in West Antarctica. This phenomenon poses a significant threat to global sea levels. </p>



<p><a href="https://earth.indiana.edu/directory/faculty/goddard-paul.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul Goddard</a> is an assistant research scientist at IU and the lead author of the study. He highlights the dire situation. “Even if we achieve the ambitious target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which we are currently not on track to do, we will still see significant sea-level rise,” he states.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stratospheric-aerosol-injection">Stratospheric aerosol injection</h2>



<p>The study delves into a specific form of climate engineering known as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atmospheric-aerosols-can-significantly-cool-down-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stratospheric aerosol injection</a>. This method involves releasing large amounts of tiny sulfur droplets into the stratosphere, mimicking the natural cooling effect produced by large volcanic eruptions. </p>



<p>The researchers, including Goddard, <a href="https://earth.indiana.edu/directory/faculty/kravitz-ben.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Kravitz</a> of IU, Douglas MacMartin and Daniele Visioni of Cornell University, Ewa Bednarz of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Walker Lee of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, utilized high-performance computers and global climate models to simulate various scenarios of this technique.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-research-team-learned">What the research team learned</h2>



<p>The simulations identified the most effective strategy for slowing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-loss-increases-snowfall-over-west-antarctica/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic ice loss</a>, recommending the dispersal of aerosols at multiple latitudes, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. This approach is pivotal in keeping warm ocean waters away from the ice shelves. </p>



<p>However, Goddard cautions, “Where you release the aerosols matters a lot. Some single-latitude injection scenarios actually accelerated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctic-ice-shelves-are-much-thinner-than-previously-estimated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic ice loss</a> due to a southward shift of prevailing winds.”</p>



<p>While the potential benefits are significant, the study also sheds light on the risks associated with stratospheric aerosol injection. Changes in regional precipitation patterns and the danger of "termination shock" -- a rapid rebound in global temperatures if the intervention is interrupted -- are among the key concerns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-climate-engineering">Understanding climate engineering</h2>



<p>The research team emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of the risks and regional effects of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/artificially-cooling-atmosphere-geoengineering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">managing solar radiation</a>. </p>



<p>“If society decides to pursue geoengineering, we need to know much more than we currently do,” says Ben Kravitz, an assistant professor at IU. “This study starts to fill knowledge gaps, but there’s a long way to go before we can consider it a viable solution.”</p>



<p>The Indiana University study represents a significant step in exploring <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/survey-mother-nature-is-more-likely-to-solve-climate-change-than-geoengineering/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate engineering</a> as a potential solution to slow down the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/antarctica-has-lost-3000-billion-tons-of-ice-in-25-years/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">catastrophic melting</a> of the West Antarctic ice sheet. However, it also underscores the complexity and potential risks of such interventions. </p>



<p>As the debate around <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/geoengineering-can-we-dim-the-sun-to-avoid-climate-tipping-points/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">geoengineering</a> continues, this research provides crucial insights and a call for further, more detailed studies to fully understand its implications for Antarctica and the planet as a whole.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-about-ice-melt-in-antarctica">More about ice melt in Antarctica</h2>



<p>Antarctica, the southernmost continent, is experiencing significant changes due to global warming, leading to the accelerated melting of its ice sheets. This phenomenon not only contributes to global sea level rise but also affects global climate patterns. In this article, we explore the causes, impacts, and potential future scenarios of Antarctica's ice melt.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-causes-of-ice-melt-in-antarctica">Causes of ice melt in Antarctica</h3>



<p>Global Warming and Climate Change: The primary driver of ice melt in Antarctica is global warming, caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions. As the Earth's atmosphere warms, so do the ocean waters surrounding Antarctica, leading to the melting of ice from below.</p>



<p>Atmospheric Changes: Changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, influenced by global warming, affect the temperature and precipitation levels in Antarctica. Warmer air temperatures directly contribute to surface melting of the ice.</p>



<p>Ocean Currents: The warming of ocean currents also plays a crucial role. Warmer currents erode the ice shelves from below, weakening them and making them more prone to break apart.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impacts-of-antarctica-s-ice-melt">Impacts of Antarctica's ice melt</h3>



<p>Sea Level Rise: The most significant impact of the melting Antarctic ice is the rise in global sea levels. The continent holds the majority of the Earth's fresh water. Consequently, its melting contributes significantly to sea level rise, threatening coastal communities worldwide.</p>



<p>Biodiversity Loss: Antarctica's unique ecosystem, including its marine life, is at risk. As ice melts and fresh water enters the ocean, it can disrupt the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. This affects species that depend on ice for their survival.</p>



<p>Global Climate Patterns: The melting of Antarctic ice can alter global climate patterns. Changes in the salinity and temperature of the ocean waters can affect ocean currents, which play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-of-antarctica-s-ice-sheets">Future of Antarctica's ice sheets</h3>



<p>Projected Increase in Melting: With current trends in global warming, scientists project an increase in the rate of Antarctica's ice melt. This acceleration could have drastic consequences for global sea levels.</p>



<p>Importance of Climate Action: To mitigate the worst impacts of ice melt, significant and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are essential. International cooperation and adherence to climate agreements like the Paris Accord are critical.</p>



<p>Scientific Research and Monitoring: Continued research and monitoring of Antarctica's ice sheets are vital. Understanding the dynamics of ice melt and its impacts can help in developing effective strategies to address this global challenge.</p>



<p>In summary, the melting of Antarctica's ice sheets is a clear indicator of the broader impacts of climate change. It requires immediate and concerted global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate its effects. The future of Antarctica's ice, and indeed the world's coastlines and climate systems, depends on the actions we take today to combat global warming.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the <a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023JD039434" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres</a>.</p>



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Scientists: Slow Antarctica ice melt with sunlight-reflecting particles

A study led by researchers from Indiana University has brought...

<p>A recent study led by <a href="https://www.psu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennsylvania State University</a> has found that as Antarctica loses sea ice due to global warming, the subsequent increase in snowfall over its ice sheets might partially offset the contributions to sea level rise.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This research uncovers a complex relationship between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sea-ice-levels-in-antarctica-have-reached-an-unprecedented-low/">sea ice loss</a> in the Amundsen Sea, West Antarctica, and an increase in atmospheric moisture leading to heavier snowfalls.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-subtle-interactions-nbsp">Subtle interactions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>According to Luke Trusel, assistant professor of Geography at Penn State and a co-author of the study, including these subtle interactions in climate models could improve predictions of phenomena like sea level rise.</p>



<p>Antarctica’s ice sheet is a major player in global sea level dynamics. As one of the world’s largest freshwater stores, any change in its volume has a direct impact on sea levels. Trusel pointed out that, while attention often focuses on visible processes like calving icebergs, less obvious factors, such as snowfall on the ice sheet, are equally crucial.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“For a place like Antarctica, which is just massive, the amount of snow falling on top of the ice sheet is as important or even more important than other processes like meltwater or ice breaking off,” Trusel said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-role-of-sea-ice">The role of sea ice</h2>



<p>Jessica Kromer, a doctoral candidate at Penn State and study lead author, emphasized the role of sea ice in the study. “Sea ice is significant. It reflects sunlight, aids in cooling the planet, and influences interactions between the atmosphere and ocean, including oceanic evaporation,” she argued.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers discovered that during periods of reduced sea ice, there was more moisture in the atmosphere, which condensed when reaching the colder ice sheet boundaries, leading to increased snowfall.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sea-level-rise">Sea level rise</h2>



<p>Despite the potential for additional snowfall to slow sea level rise, the researchers caution that it is not sufficient to offset the overall trend.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“With global warming, there’s an expectation of reduced sea ice. As sea ice diminishes, there could be increased evaporation from the ocean leading to more precipitation over Antarctica. While this might appear to offset the loss of sea ice, the implications are multifaceted. Increased snowfall in Antarctica might slow the sea level rise, but it’s essential to recognize that the ice sheet will continue to contribute to rising sea levels.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-antarctic-sea-ice-patterns">Antarctic sea ice patterns</h2>



<p>Kromer highlighted recent satellite data showing significant changes in Antarctic sea ice patterns. “While Arctic sea ice has been rapidly declining over the satellite record, the Antarctic experienced a slight increase until 2015, followed by a sharp decline in 2016,” she said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“In 2022, we witnessed a new record low, and this year’s levels are even lower, significantly below previous observations. These recent rapid changes in Antarctic sea ice highlight the urgency of understanding their causes and their potential impact on the Antarctic ice sheet.”</p>



<p>This study - published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023GL104436" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Geophysical Research Letters</em></a><em> </em>- underscores the necessity of refining climate models to accurately predict future sea level changes, particularly in representing sea ice dynamics.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“If we aim to project future sea level changes with precision, it’s essential to enhance our models, particularly in representing sea ice dynamics,” Trusel concluded.</p>



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Sea ice loss increases snowfall over West Antarctica

A recent study led by Pennsylvania State University has found...

<p>The <a href="https://www.unccd.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification</a> (UNCCD) has issued a warning about the escalating frequency of sand and dust storms (SDS) across various regions of the world, linking at least a quarter of these events to human activities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The amount of sand and dust entering the atmosphere each year is staggering. It is estimated to be around two billion tons, equivalent to the weight of 350 Great Pyramids of Giza.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This increase in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/atmospheric-dust-has-been-masking-greenhouse-warming/">desert dust</a>, which has doubled in some areas over the last century, significantly impacts various aspects of the environment, climate, health, agriculture, livelihoods, and socioeconomic well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-under-recognized-issue">Under-recognized issue</h2>



<p>The severity of this under-recognized environmental issue was highlighted during a five-day meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, focusing on the global progress in implementing the Convention, which originated at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro alongside conventions on climate change and biodiversity.</p>



<p>“The sight of rolling dark clouds of sand and dust engulfing everything in their path and turning day into night is one of nature's most intimidating spectacles," said Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD's executive secretary.</p>



<p>"It is a costly phenomenon that wreaks havoc everywhere from Northern and Central Asia to sub-Saharan Africa.”</p>



<p>“Sand and dust storms present a formidable challenge to achieving sustainable development. However, just as sand and dust storms are exacerbated by human activities, they can also be reduced through human actions."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unpredictable-and-hazardous-storms">Unpredictable and hazardous storms</h2>



<p>The experts point out that poor land and water management, coupled with droughts and climate change, have intensified sand and dust storms, making them unpredictable and hazardous.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Feras Ziadat, technical officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and chair of the UN Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, elaborated on the far-reaching effects of sand and dust storms.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-far-reaching-impacts">Far-reaching impacts</h2>



<p>“Sand and dust storms have become increasingly frequent and severe having substantial transboundary impacts, affecting various aspects of the environment, climate, health, agriculture, livelihoods and the socioeconomic well-being of individuals. The accumulation of impacts from sand and dust storms can be significant,” said Ziadat.</p>



<p>“In source areas, they damage crops, affect livestock, and strip topsoil. In depositional areas atmospheric dust, especially in combination with local industrial pollution, can cause or worsen human health problems such as respiratory diseases."&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Communications, power generation, transportation, and supply chains can also be disrupted by low visibility and dust-induced mechanical failures. The United Nations Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, chaired by FAO, was created in 2019 to lead global efforts to address SDS.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significant-burden">Significant burden</h2>



<p>Sand and dust storms are known by various local names like sirocco, haboob, yellow dust, and harmattan, originating typically in drylands and sub-humid areas with sparse vegetation. They can also occur in agricultural and humid regions under specific conditions and often have transboundary impacts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These storms impose significant economic burdens, as seen in the oil sector in Kuwait and during a single event in Australia in 2009, with damages running into hundreds of millions of dollars.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-major-sources">Major sources</h2>



<p>The major global dust sources are found across North Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, Australia, South America, and Southern Africa. The dried-up Aral Sea alone emits over 100 million tons of dust and salts annually, with far-reaching health and economic impacts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While these storms can provide some benefits like nutrient deposition on land and water bodies, these are overwhelmingly outweighed by their harmful effects.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-long-term-impacts">Long-term impacts</h2>



<p>Despite the high recognition of sand and dust storms as a disaster risk in some regions, it is less prominent elsewhere, partly due to the lack of immediate direct human fatalities from individual events.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, the long-term health, economic, and environmental impacts of sand and dust storms require more extensive documentation and research, especially regarding their interaction with air pollution and health outcomes.</p>



<p>The UNCCD's warning highlights the urgent need for global and regional policy responses to mitigate and and dust storms, including source mitigation, early warning systems, and monitoring, emphasizing that the solution to this growing problem lies in human action.</p>



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Sand and dust storms have become more unpredictable and dangerous

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has issued...

<p>The <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/countdown-health-climate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Report</a> starkly underscores the grave danger looming over billions worldwide due to delays in vital climate action. With projections leaning towards a 2.7°C increase by 2100, urgent steps are necessary to avert catastrophic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/">health</a> and survival impacts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growing-hazards-need-climate-action">Growing hazards need climate action</h2>



<p>“Our health stocktake reveals that the growing hazards of climate change are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">costing lives</a> and livelihoods worldwide today. Projections of a 2°C hotter world reveal a dangerous future, and are a grim reminder that the pace and scale of mitigation efforts seen so far have been woefully inadequate to safeguard people’s health and safety,” said Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown at <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/">University College London</a>. </p>



<p>“With 1,337 tons of carbon dioxide still emitted every second, we aren’t reducing emissions anywhere near fast enough to keep climate hazards within the levels that our health systems can cope with. There is an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/clinical-terminology-fails-to-represent-climate-related-health-impacts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enormous human cost</a> to inaction, and we can’t afford this level of disengagement – we are paying in lives. Every moment we delay makes the path to a liveable future more difficult and adaptation increasingly costly and challenging.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-action-needed-for-global-health">Climate action needed for global health</h2>



<p>This eighth installment of the Lancet Countdown, involving 114 experts from 52 institutions, presents 47 indicators, including new metrics, to evaluate the interplay between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-under-siege-earths-vital-signs-reach-an-all-time-low/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health and climate change</a>. It urges immediate action ahead of the 28th UN Conference of the Parties (COP).</p>



<p>“There is still room for hope,” Romanello said. “The health focus at COP28 is the opportunity of our lifetime to secure commitments and action. If climate negotiations drive an equitable and rapid phase out of fossil fuels, accelerate mitigation, and support adaptation efforts for health, the ambitions of the Paris Agreement to limit global heating to 1.5 °C are still achievable, and a prosperous healthy future lies within reach."</p>



<p>"Unless such progress materializes, the growing emphasis on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-are-one-indivisible-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">health within climate change</a> negotiations risks being just empty words, with each fraction of a degree of heating exacerbating the harms felt by billions of people alive today and the generations to come.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deteriorating-global-health-landscape-nbsp">Deteriorating global health landscape&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The report, led by University College London and encompassing work from global experts, highlights the escalating health-related losses and damages due to climate inaction. The rise in heat-related deaths and food insecurity, along with the spread of infectious diseases like Vibrio, reflects the deteriorating global health landscape even at the current average heating of 1.14°C.</p>



<p>Healthcare systems are under significant pressure, with many cities reporting concerns about being overwhelmed by climate change impacts. The report also notes substantial economic losses due to extreme weather and labor hours lost to heat exposure, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-crisis-on-top-of-a-crisis">A crisis on top of a crisis</h2>



<p>Dr. Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Director of the Lancet Countdown Regional Centre for Small Island Developing States, voiced concern: “We’re facing a crisis on top of a crisis. People living in poorer countries, who are often least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, are bearing the brunt of the health impacts, but are least able to access funding and technical capacity to adapt to the deadly storms, rising seas and crop-withering droughts worsened by global heating."&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Despite this, rich nations have broken their long-standing pledge to deliver the comparatively modest sum of US$100 billion a year to help vulnerable countries cope with climate change, jeopardizing a fair, equitable transition to a healthy future.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-climate-change-projections">New climate change projections</h2>



<p>The report offers new projections, developed with the <a href="https://thecvf.org/">Climate Vulnerability Forum</a> (CVF), outlining the escalating risks if the 1.5°C target is missed. Under a 2°C scenario, heat-related deaths could increase by 370 percent by mid-century, with significant rises in food insecurity and infectious diseases.</p>



<p>Professor Stella Hartinger, Director of the Lancet Countdown Regional Centre for Latin America, stressed the need for primary prevention: “We must go beyond treating the health symptoms of climate change to focus on primary prevention."</p>



<p>"The root causes of climate change must be tackled through rapidly accelerating mitigation across all sectors to ensure the magnitude of health hazards do not breach the capacity of health systems to adapt. Unless governments finally start to act on these warnings, things will get much, much worse.”&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zero-carbon-future-nbsp">Zero-carbon future&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Despite the severity of these challenges, the report outlines the transformative health benefits of a zero-carbon future. Professor Ian Hamilton, Lancet Countdown Working Group Lead on Mitigation Actions and Health Co-benefits, highlights the necessity of enabling clean energy transitions, especially in low-income countries, to achieve equitable health outcomes and reduce socioeconomic disparities.</p>



<p>Professor Paul Ekins from Lancet Countdown Working Group Lead on Economics and Finance, criticizes the ongoing investment in fossil fuels, calling for urgent redirection towards renewable energy and public health initiatives.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the report calls for unprecedented global collaboration and action. Professor Anthony Costello, co-chair of the Lancet Countdown, emphasized the need for health-centered climate action and mitigation to enable a thriving future for current and future generations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-catastrophe">Human catastrophe</h2>



<p>“Climate breakdown has begun, and humanity is staring down the barrel of an intolerable future. We are already seeing a human catastrophe unfolding with the health and livelihoods of billions across the world endangered by record-breaking heat, crop-failing droughts, rising levels of hunger, growing infectious disease outbreaks, and deadly storms and floods," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in response to the Lancet report.</p>



<p>"There is no excuse for our collective inertia. Only powerful and immediate action will limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and avert the very worst of climate change. The evidence is unequivocal—a just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewables together with a global surge in adaptation investment will save millions of lives and help protect the health of everyone on earth."</p>



<p>The report is published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)01859-7/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Lancet</em></a>.</p>



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Scientists: Immediate climate action critical to safeguard billions of lives

The 2023 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Report...

<p>Air pollution, typically associated with respiratory issues, is now being linked to potential harms in reproductive health, according to new research from <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rutgers University</a>. This discovery adds a new layer of concern regarding the impact of air pollution on human health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-pollution-and-reproductive-health">Air pollution and reproductive health</h2>



<p>The study conducted by Rutgers researchers examined air pollution data in relation to reproductive development markers in infancy. Focusing on anogenital distance (AGD), a key measure of prenatal hormonal exposure, the study aimed to uncover how air pollutants might affect this aspect of development.</p>



<p>Emily Barrett is a professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health and the lead author of the study. She highlighted the importance of their findings. </p>



<p>"These findings suggest air pollution may interfere with normal hormone activity during critical periods of prenatal and early infant development, and we suspect that disruption may have long-term consequences for reproductive health," Barrett stated. </p>



<p>This revelation points to a hidden aspect of air pollution's impact, extending beyond immediate respiratory concerns.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anogenital-distance-agd">Anogenital distance (AGD)</h2>



<p>AGD, the distance between the genitals and the anus, is a significant indicator of prenatal hormonal exposure. Researchers have linked alterations in AGD to hormone levels, semen quality, fertility issues, and reproductive disorders in adults.</p>



<p>In animal research, AGD is a standard measure for assessing developmental toxicity of pollutants, particularly on the reproductive system. Reduced AGD in male offspring, for instance, indicates disruption in fetal testosterone production caused by toxic exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-infant-development-and-environment-study-tides">The Infant Development and Environment Study (TIDES)</h2>



<p>To explore these findings in humans, Barrett and colleagues used data from <a href="https://bushlab.ucsf.edu/tides-infant-development-and-environment-study" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TIDES</a>, a longitudinal study initiated in 2010 across four U.S. cities. This study involved measuring AGD in children at birth and at one year for boys.</p>



<p>Researchers compared the TIDES data with levels of nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These particles are produced from burning gasoline, oil, diesel, and wood. An air pollution monitoring system tracked pollution levels in the residential areas of TIDES participants during pregnancy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-pollution-reproductive-health-and-agd">Air pollution, reproductive health, and AGD</h2>



<p>The researchers found a correlation between exposure to air pollution during critical developmental periods and AGD. Higher exposure to PM2.5 during crucial developmental stages associated male infants with shorter AGD.</p>



<p>These findings suggest multiple developmental stages where the reproductive system may be vulnerable to air pollution. This highlights the potential for long-term health impacts due to exposure to certain air pollutants.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trojan-horse-effect-of-pm2-5">Trojan horse effect of PM2.5</h2>



<p>Barrett describes PM2.5 as a "trojan horse" that can carry harmful metals such as cadmium and lead, known for disrupting endocrine functions. </p>



<p>"When these disruptors interfere with the body’s hormones, the result could be lifelong impacts on our health, from cancer risks to impaired ability to conceive a child," Barrett explains.</p>



<p>In summary, the Rutgers study offers a crucial insight into the hidden dangers of air pollution, particularly regarding reproductive health. It underscores the need for more rigorous environmental protections and public health policies to mitigate the impact of air pollution on human health, especially during critical developmental stages.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP12627" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Environmental Health Perspectives</em></a>.</p>



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Air pollution exposure in the womb harms offspring reproductive health

Air pollution, typically associated with respiratory issues, is now being...

<p>Microplastic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unprecedented-increase-in-global-ocean-plastic-pollution-since-2005/">pollution</a>, previously observed from oceans to mountain tops, has now been detected in clouds, raising concerns about its potential impact on weather patterns.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments, smaller than five millimeters, that originate from commonly used products like clothing, packaging, and car tires. Once released into the environment, they can travel through the air and end up in unexpected places.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-microplastics-in-the-sky">Microplastics in the sky</h2>



<p>In a new study published by the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>, a team of researchers led by Yan Wang has discovered microplastics in cloud samples from Mount Tai in eastern China. Their findings reveal that lower-altitude, denser clouds contain higher amounts of microplastics, consisting of common polymers like polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.</p>



<p>"Airborne microplastics (MPs) have the potential to travel a long distance and undergo several cloud processes through atmospheric transport. However, little is known about the interactions between MPs and clouds," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cloud-formation-nbsp">Cloud formation&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The experts found that microplastics, typically smaller than 100 micrometers, can sometimes stretch up to 1,500 micrometers. Notably, the older and rougher microplastics contained additional substances like lead, mercury, and oxygen on their surfaces, which could facilitate cloud development.</p>



<p>Wang and the team used computer models to trace the origins of these microplastics, pointing to inland areas as the primary source, rather than oceans or neighboring mountains.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>Laboratory experiments further showed that microplastics exposed to cloud-like conditions, involving ultraviolet light and filtered cloud-sourced water, undergo changes in size and texture.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These modified particles, bearing more lead, mercury, and oxygen-containing groups, suggest that clouds alter microplastics in ways that might influence cloud formation and the distribution of airborne metals.</p>



<p>The researchers emphasize that this is a growing area of study, and more research is needed to understand the full extent of microplastics' effects on clouds and weather. This discovery adds to the growing concern about the pervasive nature of microplastic pollution and its unforeseen impacts on the environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dangers-of-microplastics-nbsp">Dangers of microplastics&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Microplastics pose significant environmental and health risks due to their widespread presence and persistence. Here are some of the key dangers associated with microplastics:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wildlife-impact">Wildlife impact</h3>



<p>Microplastics are often ingested by marine and terrestrial animals, mistaking them for food. This can lead to physical harm, digestive blockages, and even death. Additionally, the chemicals in these plastics can be toxic and may accumulate in the food chain, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem health.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-health-risks">Human health risks</h3>



<p>Microplastics can make their way into human food sources, particularly seafood. The long-term health effects of ingesting microplastics are not fully understood, but there is concern about potential toxicity from the chemicals in plastics and the pollutants they can carry.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-persistence">Environmental persistence</h3>



<p>Plastics are highly durable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. This long lifespan means that the accumulation of microplastics is a growing problem, with particles continually breaking down into smaller and more widespread forms.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chemical-contamination">Chemical contamination</h3>



<p>Microplastics can absorb and concentrate environmental pollutants like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. These toxic substances can then be transferred to organisms that ingest the microplastics, potentially causing various health issues.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-impact-on-soil-health">Impact on soil health</h3>



<p>Microplastics are not just a marine issue; they are also found in soils. Their presence can affect soil structure, water retention, and microbial communities, ultimately impacting plant growth and soil health.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-airborne-particles">Airborne particles</h3>



<p>Microplastics have been found in the air, raising concerns about inhalation by humans. Breathing in microplastic particles, particularly those small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, could have health implications, although this area requires more research.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-quality">Water quality</h3>



<p>Microplastics can affect the quality of both freshwater and marine ecosystems, leading to changes in water clarity and chemistry. They can also impact wastewater treatment processes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-change-interaction">Climate change interaction</h3>



<p>There is ongoing research into how microplastics interact with climate change. For example, their role in cloud formation and potential impact on weather patterns is a subject of current study.</p>



<p>The research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00729" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology Letters</em></a>.</p>



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Microplastics found in clouds may be affecting the weather

Microplastic pollution, previously observed from oceans to mountain tops, has...

<p>Seabirds are found across the world's oceans and have unique adaptations that allow them to survive in these often harsh conditions. However, a recent study has exposed a concerning gap in seabird protection, especially in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The research highlights the need for ocean-wide protection for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-most-endangered-seabirds-are-also-threatened-by-plastic-pollution/">seabirds</a>, which are increasingly threatened by the impacts of human activities such as plastic pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction.</p>



<p>The study, conducted by teams from Exeter, Heriot-Watt, and Réunion universities, along with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), marks a significant step in marine conservation efforts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-hotspots-nbsp">Lack of hotspots&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Unlike other oceans, which are known to have specific "hotspots" where predators, including seabirds, gather in large numbers to feed, the Indian Ocean lacks such concentrated feeding areas. This lack of hotspots is particularly concerning given the various threats seabirds face due to human activities.</p>



<p>Dr. Alice Trevail, a researcher from the Environment and Sustainability Institute at <a href="https://www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall/about/penryn-campus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exeter's Penryn Campus</a>, emphasized the importance of this discovery. </p>



<p>“Efforts are being made to protect key breeding colonies, but until now little was known about where Indian Ocean seabirds go when they’re not breeding,” said Dr. Trevail. “We found that seabirds are extremely mobile outside of breeding times, with no focused hotspots."</p>



<p>This mobility poses a challenge for conservation efforts. The researchers found that even the largest Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Indian Ocean provided limited refuge for these birds, with them spending an average of no more than four days per year in any of the five largest MPAs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-international-action-is-needed">International action is needed</h2>



<p>The researchers gathered tracking data on nine seabird species during their non-breeding periods. The data showed that these birds, which primarily feed on small fish, are significantly impacted by human activities like overfishing and pollution.</p>



<p>“As the birds roam widely and spend much of their time outside national waters, we need international action - like the recent High Seas Treaty - to protect them," said Dr. Trevail. “No country can act in isolation to protect these birds.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropical-marine-ecosystems">Tropical marine ecosystems</h2>



<p>"Tropical marine ecosystems are in urgent need of protection to arrest catastrophic biodiversity loss. Spatial protection of static habitats, such as reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves, have produced conservation dividends and often include core distributions of resident and breeding species," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"However, it is more challenging to implement a coherent strategy for mobile marine predators, which play a key role in tropical ecosystem function, especially coral reef conservation."</p>



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



<p>The researchers noted that tropical seabird communities are currently a fraction of historic sizes, largely due to the impacts of habitat destruction, human exploitation, invasive species, and overfishing. "Land-based interventions at colonies provide hope for halting and reversing tropical seabird population declines."</p>



<p>"Nevertheless, threats at sea are more challenging to resolve. This is particularly the case during non-breeding, which can represent &gt;50% of the annual cycle and is when migratory species may cross ocean basins and international boundaries, potentially being exposed to anthropogenic impacts on the high seas and risking high mortality rates," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>"It is imperative, therefore, that we gain better knowledge of the migratory range of tropical seabirds and factors driving their at-sea distributions."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seabird-protection">Seabird protection </h2>



<p>Seabird conservation is a critical aspect of preserving marine ecosystems, as seabirds are important indicators of ocean health and play vital roles in these environments. However, seabird populations worldwide face numerous threats, leading to declining numbers in many species.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-threats-nbsp">Key threats&nbsp;</h3>



<ul>
<li>Overfishing: Reduces the availability of food for seabirds, affecting their ability to survive and reproduce.</li>



<li>Climate change: Alters oceanic conditions, impacting seabird food sources and breeding habitats.</li>



<li>Pollution: Oil spills, plastic waste, and chemicals in the oceans can be lethal to seabirds.</li>



<li>Invasive species: Introduced predators on breeding islands, such as rats and cats, can decimate seabird colonies.</li>



<li>Human disturbance: Direct disturbance at breeding sites and accidental bycatch in fishing gear also pose significant threats.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation-strategies">Conservation strategies</h3>



<ul>
<li>Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Establishing and enforcing MPAs can provide safe havens for seabirds by conserving their feeding and breeding grounds.</li>



<li>Sustainable fisheries: Implementing sustainable fishing practices helps ensure adequate fish stocks for seabirds.</li>



<li>Eradication of invasive species: Removing invasive predators from important seabird breeding islands has been highly successful in some areas.</li>



<li>Pollution control: Efforts to reduce pollution, including oil spills and plastic waste, are crucial.</li>



<li>Climate change mitigation: Addressing the broader issue of climate change is vital for protecting seabird habitats.</li>



<li>Research and monitoring: Ongoing research and monitoring are necessary to understand seabird ecology and the effectiveness of conservation measures.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenges-and-opportunities">Challenges and opportunities</h3>



<p>Despite the challenges, there have been successful conservation stories, such as the recovery of specific seabird species following invasive predator eradication and the establishment of large-scale MPAs. Continued effort and global cooperation remain key to the effective conservation of seabirds.</p>



<p>The study was funded by the Bertarelli Foundation. The findings are published in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.060" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Current Biology</em></a><em>.</em></p>



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Seabirds need ocean-wide protection to survive human impacts

Seabirds are found across the world's oceans and have unique...

Breathing,Toxic,Pollutants,Inside,The,Human,Body,And,Inhaling,Pollution

<p>Climate change, a phenomenon primarily driven by human-induced greenhouse gases, has been a topic of intense study and discussion. However, certain aspects of this complex issue, such as the behavior of minuscule particles formed from air molecules, remain shrouded in mystery. </p>



<p>Dominik Stolzenburg from the Institute of Materials Chemistry at <a href="https://www.tuwien.at/en/tch/imc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TU Wien</a> sheds light on these lesser-known elements of climate change. This exploration aims to enhance the precision of future climate models.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-air-particles-invisible-climate-architects">Air particles: Invisible climate architects</h2>



<p>Stolzenburg draws attention to the unnoticed influencers of climate: tiny air <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/aerosol-particles-contribute-to-rapid-warming-in-the-arctic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">particles</a> formed from volatile organic substances. </p>



<p>"You know this from a walk in the woods: you take a deep breath and it smells really nice like a forest," he explains. </p>



<p>Fragrances, emitted from trees, are not greenhouse gases but play a crucial role in climate dynamics. They oxidize in the air, leading to reaction products that clump together. </p>



<p>These eventually form clusters 100 to 200 nanometers in diameter. Though invisible to the naked eye, these particles significantly impact water vapor.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cloud-connection">The cloud connection</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-aerosol-emissions-directly-linked-to-stronger-hurricanes-in-the-atlantic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aerosols</a>, once airborne, become pivotal in cloud formation. Water molecules adhere to these particles, creating a condensation nucleus. This is essential for fog or <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-aerosols-impact-the-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cloud development</a>. </p>



<p>Stolzenburg reveals an intriguing aspect. He says, "It can be shown that high concentrations of these aerosols make clouds denser and whiter than they would otherwise be, and that they take longer to dissipate." </p>



<p>This denser cloud cover reflects more sunlight, potentially cooling the Earth. If these effects are stronger than current models predict, it suggests that the warming impact of CO2 is even more substantial. This is because the CO2 impact is partially masked by increased cloud density from human-made particles.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-aerosol-particles">Significance of aerosol particles</h2>



<p>The review article delves into the growth dynamics of these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/airborne-pollutants-amplify-the-effects-of-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">aerosol particles</a>. Their small size and mobility mean they often collide with larger particles, like pollen or soot, disappearing from the atmospheric stage as potential condensation nuclei.</p>



<p>"Only the fastest growing particles are relevant for the climate," Stolzenburg notes. Research indicates that organic molecules are critical for these particles' growth over land, while iodine-related substances or sulfate compounds are vital over oceans. These elements, however, are often overlooked in global models.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-challenge-of-reliable-modeling">Challenge of reliable modeling</h2>



<p>Despite significant advances in measurement technology, accurately modeling the complexity of aerosol growth remains a challenge. Stolzenburg emphasizes the need for more reliable models to understand the human-induced masking of climate change. </p>



<p>"We want to understand exactly which substances interact with each other and in what way, and what processes need to be included in our models to make them better," he states.</p>



<p>Dominik Stolzenburg's work highlights a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of climate change: the role of tiny, human-made particles in cloud formation and, consequently, climate regulation. </p>



<p>As the scientific community strives to unravel the complexities of these processes, this research paves the way for more accurate climate models, offering deeper insights into the intricate mechanisms driving our changing climate.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the <a href="https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.95.045002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Review of Modern Physics</a>.</p>



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Tiny air particles play an outsized role in climate change

Climate change, a phenomenon primarily driven by human-induced greenhouse gases,...

A,Single,Tree,Left,In,A,Deforested,Landscape

<p>A recent analysis by the <a href="https://act.ran.org/page/54751/donate/1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rainforest Action Network</a> (RAN) has evaluated key global brands on their efforts to eradicate deforestation and human rights abuses within their supply chains.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Titled “Keep Forests Standing 2023 Scorecard: Evaluating the Brands Driving Deforestation and Human Rights Violations,” the annual report assigned letter grades to brands based on their policies, with a focus on forest-risk commodities such as palm oil, pulp and paper, soy, beef, cocoa, coffee, and wood products.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-deforestation-and-investor-risk">Deforestation and investor risk</h2>



<p>The report revealed that despite their commitments, no brand is close to securing an “A grade” and are not aligned with upcoming regulations like the <a href="https://www.live-eo.com/solution/eudr-compliance?utm_term=eu%20deforestation%20regulation%20eudr&amp;utm_campaign=Supply+Chain&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;hsa_acc=1040347615&amp;hsa_cam=20072955823&amp;hsa_grp=149485792260&amp;hsa_ad=657077673316&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_tgt=kwd-2037225965213&amp;hsa_kw=eu%20deforestation%20regulation%20eudr&amp;hsa_mt=b&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAr8eqBhD3ARIsAIe-buP4iw5iYKnKBpgKlUU58eme35Nf7TqlvBhaMtwEMUCp7HXH5QuMu1oaAuxPEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EU Deforestation Regulation</a> (EUDR), potentially exposing their investors to significant risks.</p>



<p>Gemma Tillack from RAN has highlighted the gap between brands’ commitments and the actual <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-crisis-how-can-we-stop-massive-forest-losses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rise in deforestation</a> and violence against frontline land defenders globally. The report identified major loopholes in the brands’ adopted policies, which contribute to ongoing forest destruction and rights violations.</p>



<p>Procter &amp; Gamble, Mondelēz, Ferrero, and Nissin Foods received the lowest grades in the report, while Nestlé, PepsiCo, Kao, Colgate-Palmolive, and Mars performed moderately. Unilever, although not perfect, earned the highest score of ‘C’ for its recent policy aimed at protecting Human Rights Defenders (HRDs).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lack-of-transparency-nbsp">Lack of transparency&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The report also alerts consumers to a worrying trend where brands like Nestlé, Mars, and Ferrero claim ‘deforestation-free’ supply chains without transparent, third-party verified evidence.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It further reveals that corporate practices continue to contribute to the destruction of intact forest landscapes and indigenous territories, with brands lacking concrete deadlines to halt deforestation, ecosystem conversion, and human rights violations in their supply chains.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Despite nominal adherence to the <a href="https://www.proforest.net/fileadmin/uploads/proforest/Documents/Publications/infonote_04_introndpe.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No Deforestation, No Peatland, No Exploitation</a> (NDPE) framework, many of these policies do not encompass all forest-risk commodities used by these brands.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-deforestation-standards">New deforestation standards</h2>



<p>The impending EUDR poses a significant challenge for these brands, requiring stringent traceability of commodities back to their production sites. The report suggests that most global brands and their suppliers are unprepared for these new standards.</p>



<p>On a positive note, some companies, like Unilever and PepsiCo, are investing in landscape initiatives and jurisdictional approaches, especially in regions like Aceh and North Sumatra in Indonesia. However, the report cautions that these efforts, while promising, are not progressing rapidly enough to counteract ongoing deforestation in critical rainforest areas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-broader-implications">Broader implications</h2>



<p>The report underscores the necessity of a cross-commodity and corporate group approach for brands to fully address their impact on forests and communities. It exposes the practice of brands engaging with different arms of the same corporate group, where one complies with policy commitments while another continues business as usual, often through undisclosed operations.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This highlights a systemic issue where conglomerates supplying ingredients to major brands manage to bypass accountability while maintaining destructive practices.</p>



<p>The full report can be downloaded <a href="https://www.ran.org/kfs-scorecard/">here</a>.</p>



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Major consumer brands are failing to fight against deforestation

A recent analysis by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has...

Arctic,Fox,In,The,Rays,Of,The,Autumn,Sun

<p>A new modeling study led by researchers at <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a> (UCL) has revealed a concerning connection between rapid warming in the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-free-arctic-summers-could-be-the-new-normal-by-2030/">Arctic</a> and the acceleration of global temperature increases.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to the study, accelerated warming in the Arctic is set to speed up the global 2°C temperature rise by eight years compared to the scenario where the Arctic warms at the average global rate.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-temperature-thresholds">Temperature thresholds</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/the-arctic-dipole-the-atmospheric-pattern-shaping-our-future-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic region</a> is heating up nearly four times faster than the global average. The new study sheds light on the global ramifications of this phenomenon, particularly regarding the temperature thresholds established in the Paris Agreement.&nbsp;</p>



<p>These thresholds, set at 1.5°C and 2°C, are critical markers in the global effort to manage climate change.</p>



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



<p>The researchers set out to investigate by creating alternative climate change projections. The hypothetical models excluded the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ice-free-arctic-summers-could-be-the-new-normal-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rapid warming</a> currently observed in the Arctic.&nbsp;</p>



<p>By comparing these projections with those based on current trends, the team could assess the impact of Arctic warming on global temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rate-of-arctic-warming-is-a-concern">Rate of Arctic warming is a concern</h2>



<p>The results showed that without the Arctic's rapid warming, the 1.5°C and 2°C thresholds would be breached five and eight years later than the projected dates of 2031 and 2051, respectively.</p>



<p>An additional concern raised by the study is the concept of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-amplification-is-destabilizing-the-delicate-balance-of-the-ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arctic amplification</a>, which refers to the disproportionately fast warming of the Arctic region. This not only accelerates global temperature rise but also introduces significant uncertainty into climate projections.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers noted that the variability in model forecasts for the Arctic is considerably larger than for other regions of the planet, complicating efforts to predict and prepare for future climate scenarios.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uncertainty-in-climate-forecasts-nbsp">Uncertainty in climate forecasts&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“Our study highlights the global importance of rapid Arctic warming by quantifying its large impact on when we are likely to breach critical climate thresholds. Arctic warming also adds substantial uncertainty to climate forecasts," said study lead author and PhD candidate Alistair Duffey.</p>



<p>“These findings underscore the need for more extensive monitoring of temperatures in the region, both in-situ and via satellites, and for a better understanding of the processes occurring there, which can be used to improve forecasts of global temperature rise.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-direct-contribution-of-arctic-warming">Direct contribution of Arctic warming</h2>



<p>The researchers did not quantify the ways in which Arctic warming affects the rest of the world, such as through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/melting-arctic-glaciers-are-releasing-a-new-source-of-potent-methane-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sea ice retreat</a>. Instead, the goal was to estimate the direct contribution of Arctic warming to global temperature increases.</p>



<p>“While our study focuses on how Arctic warming affects global temperature change, the local impacts should not be overlooked. A 2C temperature rise globally would result in a 4C annual mean rise in the Arctic, and a 7C rise in winter, with profound consequences for local people and ecosystems," said study co-author Professor Julienne Stroeve.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“In addition, rapid warming in the Arctic has global consequences that we do not account for in this study, including sea level rise and the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/time-traveling-pathogens-exposing-the-dangers-of-melting-permafrost/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thawing of permafrost</a> which leads to more carbon being released into the air.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-arctic-warming-through-amplification">Arctic warming through amplification&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Arctic amplification, which is most intense during winter, arises from various factors including the retreat of sea ice. This retreat leads to more sunlight and heat being absorbed by water, rather than being reflected back into space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Additionally, the less vertical mixing of air at the poles compared to the tropics traps warmer air near the Earth's surface.</p>



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



<p>The study utilized 40 climate models from the UN's 2021 climate change report. These models use a three-dimensional grid to simulate physical processes across the Earth's surface.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers modified these models to create a hypothetical scenario where rapid Arctic warming was absent. They adjusted the temperature change rate in areas north of 66° North to match the rest of the planet, examining how this alteration would affect temperature projections under various emissions scenarios.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-critical-insights-nbsp">Critical insights&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In scenarios where emissions are significantly reduced and net zero is achieved shortly after 2050, the study found that Arctic amplification could lead to a seven-year difference in reaching the 1.5°C increase threshold.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Notably, temperature projections for the Arctic showed greater variability across models compared to other regions, contributing 15 percent to the uncertainty in global projections, despite the Arctic's relatively small surface area.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-paris-agreement-nbsp">The Paris Agreement&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The study underscores the significance of the 1.5°C and 2°C limits set by international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement. These limits are defined as the average global temperatures over a 20-year period being 1.5°C or 2°C higher than pre-industrial levels.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Paris Agreement aims to keep global temperature rise "well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels" and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unfolding-crisis-nbsp">Unfolding crisis&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The Arctic region has warmed by approximately 2.7°C since pre-industrial times, with this warming accelerating in the 21st century. The study's findings are critical in understanding and addressing global climate change.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Dr. Robbie Mallett noted that Arctic climate change is often overlooked by politicians because most of the region is outside national boundaries. "Our study shows how much the Arctic impacts global targets like the Paris Agreement, and hopefully draws attention to the crisis that’s already unfolding in the region.”</p>



<p>This research was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (<a href="https://www.ukri.org/councils/nerc/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NERC</a>), the European Space Agency (<a href="https://www.esa.int" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESA</a>), and the Canada 150 Research Chairs Program.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://esd.copernicus.org/articles/14/1165/2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth System Dynamics</a></em>.&nbsp;</p>



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Arctic warming could speed up global 2°C temperature rise by eight years

A new modeling study led by researchers at University College...

<p>An international team of researchers led by the <a href="https://www.univie.ac.at/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vienna</a> has revealed the potential impact of <a href="https://www.earth.com/search-results/?search=climate%20change&amp;start=0">climate change</a> on the human brain. The experts are investigating how our changing environment might affect brain function now and in the future.</p>



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



<p>"Anthropogenic climate change poses a substantial threat to societal living conditions. Here, we argue that neuroscience can substantially contribute to the fight against climate change and provide a framework and a roadmap to organize and prioritize neuroscience research in this domain," wrote the researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-impacts">Understanding the impacts</h2>



<p>Study lead author Dr. Kimberly C. Doell emphasized the urgency of this research. “We’ve long known that factors in our environment can lead to changes in the brain. Yet we’re only just beginning to look at how climate change, the greatest global threat of our time, might change our brains," said Dr. Doell.</p>



<p>"Given the increasingly frequent extreme weather events we’re already experiencing, alongside factors such as air pollution, the way we access nature and the stress and anxiety people experience around climate change, it’s crucial that we understand the impact this could all have on our brains. Only then can we start to find ways to mitigate these changes.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brain-development-nbsp">Brain development&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Studies conducted since the 1940s, primarily on mice, have demonstrated that environmental factors can significantly influence brain development and plasticity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Similar effects have been observed in humans, particularly in research examining the impacts of poverty on brain development, highlighting environmental influences on brain function.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-research-nbsp">Urgent research&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The paper calls for urgent research into how exposure to extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, forest fires, and floods may alter brain structure, function, and overall health. It seeks to unravel how these changes might explain shifts in well-being and behavior.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the study explores the role neuroscience could play in shaping our understanding of climate change and influencing our judgments and responses.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neural-activity">Neural activity</h2>



<p>“Understanding neural activity that is relevant to motivations, emotions and temporal horizons may help predict behavior, and improve our understanding of, underlying barriers preventing people from behaving as pro-environmentally as they might wish," said study co-author&nbsp;Dr. Mathew White of the Universities of Exeter and Vienna.</p>



<p>"Both brain function and climate change are highly complex areas. We need to start seeing them as interlinked, and to take action to protect our brains against the future realities of climate change, and start using our brains better to cope with what is already happening and prevent the worse-case scenarios.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-study-conclusion">Study conclusion</h2>



<p>"We outline how neuroscience can be used to: (1) investigate the negative impact of climate change on the human brain; (2) identify ways to adapt; (3) understand the neural substrates of decisions with pro-environmental and harmful outcomes; and (4) create neuroscience-based insights into communication and intervention strategies that aim to promote climate action," wrote the study authors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"The paper is also a call to action for neuroscientists to join broader scientific efforts to tackle the existential environmental threats Earth is currently facing."</p>



<p>The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-023-01857-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Climate Change</em></a>.</p>



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How is global warming affecting the human brain?

An international team of researchers led by the University of...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic pollution.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invisible-threat-in-urban-air"><strong>Invisible threat in urban air</strong></h2>



<p>City dwellers face an unseen danger with every breath. New findings from Emory University researchers suggest that fine particulate matter from <a href="http://earth.com/news/traffic-related-air-pollution-might-increase-alzheimers-risk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vehicle emissions may significantly elevate the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease</a>. The study examined brain tissue samples from 224 individuals who had confirmed diagnoses and volunteered their brains for scientific research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disturbing-connections-emerge"><strong>Disturbing connections emerge</strong></h2>



<p>Scientists analyzed neuritic plaques — protein clusters that characterize Alzheimer's — while mapping each participant's exposure to PM2.5 particles based on residential location and surrounding traffic density. The correlation proved more alarming than anticipated. Individuals experiencing higher pollution exposure showed nearly double the likelihood of elevated plaque accumulation in brain tissue.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-timing-matters"><strong>Timing matters</strong></h2>



<p>The research team discovered that pollution exposure during the final year before death demonstrated the strongest association with brain changes. This timeline suggests relatively rapid impacts from environmental toxins on neural health. The connection remained robust even after accounting for various demographic and health factors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetic-vulnerability-patterns"><strong>Genetic vulnerability patterns</strong></h2>



<p>Perhaps most concerning, people lacking the APOE gene—which naturally predisposes individuals to Alzheimer's — exhibited more than twice the susceptibility to pollution-related brain damage. Study author Dr. Anke Huels noted this indicates environmental elements like air contamination could trigger the disease in cases where hereditary factors don't explain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-public-health-implications"><strong>Public health implications</strong></h2>



<p>These findings, published in <em><a href="https://www.neurology.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neurology</a></em>, underscore the critical importance of air quality regulations in urban planning. The research suggests that implementing stricter emission controls and promoting alternative transportation could serve as powerful tools in Alzheimer's prevention.</p>



<p>As cities worldwide grapple with growing traffic congestion and aging populations, this study highlights an urgent need for comprehensive approaches to environmental health that protect both our lungs and our minds.</p>



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Traffic fumes may trigger Alzheimer's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHHxOej4QfE Researchers found a correlation between Alzheimer's disease and traffic...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that scientists never expected.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hidden-waters-beneath-ancient-craters">Hidden waters beneath ancient craters</h2>



<p>Scientists have made a startling discovery that challenges everything we thought we knew about <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/saturn-moon-mimas-has-remarkably-young-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Saturn's moon Mimas</a>. Beneath the heavily cratered surface that earned it the nickname "Death Star" lies a global ocean that formed just 5 to 15 million years ago—a remarkably young age by cosmic standards.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cassini-data-reveals-orbital-secrets">Cassini data reveals orbital secrets</h2>



<p>The discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the <a href="https://observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Observatoire de Paris</a>, emerged from careful analysis of <a href="https://www.nasa.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NASA</a>'s Cassini spacecraft data. By studying subtle irregularities in Mimas's orbit around Saturn, researchers detected the gravitational signature of liquid water hidden 20 to 30 kilometers beneath the moon's icy shell.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-an-unlikely-ocean-world">An unlikely ocean world</h2>



<p>At only 400 kilometers in diameter, Mimas seemed like the least likely candidate to harbor a subsurface ocean. Unlike other ocean moons such as Europa and Enceladus, which show clear surface signs of internal activity, Mimas displays no obvious hints of the liquid water beneath its ancient, crater-scarred exterior.</p>



<p>"Mimas is a small moon, and its heavily cratered surface gave no hint of the hidden ocean beneath," explained Dr. Nick Cooper from <a href="https://www.qmul.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Queen Mary University of London</a>, a study co-author.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-astrobiology">Implications for astrobiology</h2>



<p>The ocean's recent formation makes Mimas a prime target for studying how oceans develop and potentially support life. This discovery adds another member to the exclusive club of ocean worlds in our solar system, each offering unique insights into the conditions necessary for habitability.</p>



<p>The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a></em> journal, demonstrates how advanced orbital analysis can reveal hidden features of celestial bodies, opening new possibilities for understanding ocean formation throughout the cosmos.</p>



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<p>—–</p>

Scientists discover unexpected young ocean on Saturn's cratered moon Mimas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E0mn5mTvhQ 'Death Star' moon Mimas conceals a 15-million-year-old ocean that...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-earth-became-a-frozen-wasteland">When Earth became a frozen wasteland</h2>



<p>Imagine Earth as a giant snowball, frozen solid from the North Pole to the equator. This wasn't the plot of a science fiction movie – it was our planet's reality 700 million years ago during an extreme ice age that has puzzled scientists for decades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-discovery">The discovery</h2>



<p>Australian researchers from the <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Sydney</a> have finally cracked one of geology's greatest mysteries: what caused the Sturtian glaciation and why it persisted for an unprecedented 57 million years. This period occurred long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, when no complex plants or multicellular animals existed.</p>



<p>Dr. Adriana Dutkiewicz, the study's lead author, describes a world completely unlike today's climate. "Imagine the Earth almost completely frozen over," she explained. "The planet was blanketed in ice from poles to equator, and temperatures plunged."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-combination-of-climate-factors">The combination of climate factors</h2>



<p>The research team discovered that this massive freeze resulted from a "double whammy" of geological events. First, plate tectonic activity reduced volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to historically low levels. Volcanic activity typically releases CO2 into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that keeps Earth warm.</p>



<p>Simultaneously, weathering of volcanic rocks in what is now Canada actively absorbed atmospheric CO2, further reducing greenhouse gas concentrations. When atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped below 200 parts per million – less than half of today's levels – glaciation engulfed the entire planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-climate-implications">Modern climate implications</h2>



<p>Published in the journal <em><a href="https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geology</a></em>, this research provides crucial insights into Earth's climate system. While geological climate changes occur over millions of years, the study emphasizes that human-induced climate change is happening at a pace ten times faster than previously observed natural changes, highlighting the urgent need to understand our planet's delicate climate balance.</p>



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What caused the planet's longest ice age

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DuSr87SHY 57 million-year ice age mystery solved by Australian scientists....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the opposite.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-contrasting-climate-response">A contrasting climate response</h2>



<p>Most coastal towns are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sinking-land-will-intensify-the-effects-of-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preparing for higher sea levels</a>, but <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenland presents</a> a different scenario during climate change. The ground there is rising at a remarkable rate. Over the past decade, some areas have lifted about 20 centimeters, which translates to roughly 2 meters per century. This rate significantly exceeds current projections for sea level rise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-geological-rebound-process-through-climate-change">Geological rebound process through climate change</h2>



<p>The mechanism behind this phenomenon is straightforward. As the ice sheet melts, the immense weight is removed from the bedrock, causing the land to rebound upward. This process resembles the way compressed material springs back when pressure is released.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-monitoring-networks">Scientific monitoring networks</h2>



<p>Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dtu.dk/english/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Technical University of Denmark</a> are documenting this uplift using the GNET network, consisting of 61 GPS stations positioned around Greenland's coast. These sensors can detect movement with millimeter precision, providing detailed measurements of the ongoing changes.</p>



<p>The data reveal that current uplift rates exceed the gradual rebound occurring since the last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago. This acceleration corresponds directly with increased ice sheet melting rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coastal-transformation">Coastal Transformation</h2>



<p>This uplift is actively reshaping Greenland's coastline. New islands and rocky formations, called "skerries," are emerging as previously submerged land surfaces rise above the water level. This represents a notable contrast to global concerns about rising seas.</p>



<p>The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, demonstrates the varied regional impacts of climate change. While many locations face rising water levels, Greenland's bedrock is literally rising above the surrounding seas.</p>



<p>The full study was recently published in <em><a href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL104851" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geophysical Research Letters</a></em>.</p>



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Greenland's ground rises while coasts worldwide face higher seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXGGiynIjs Greenland is not sinking. In fact, it is the...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to implement the latest AI Agent building platform.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-agent-training-transforms-the-workplace-fear-factor-into-a-competitive-advantage">AI agent training transforms the workplace 'fear factor' into a competitive advantage</h2>



<p>Organizations that offer comprehensive artificial intelligence training to their workers find remarkable value that extends well beyond basic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mind-wandering-might-be-more-productive-than-you-think/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">productivity improvements</a>. Emerging research demonstrates that carefully crafted AI training programs <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ai-does-not-replace-human-creativity-but-enhances-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">enhance</a> corporate performance, lower operational costs, and dramatically improve employee psychological well-being by turning workplace uncertainty into professional empowerment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-addressing-the-widespread-ai-anxiety-crisis-among-us">Addressing the widespread 'AI anxiety' crisis among us</h2>



<p>A staggering 53% of employees expressed concern that the use of AI tools to automate work tasks could make them appear disposable to their employers, according to <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>'s 2024 workplace survey. Such pervasive worry about being substituted by machines has caused what researchers have termed "AI technostress" – a psychological state that can result in occupational burnout and poorer mental well-being.</p>



<p>Data published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a> showed that belief in AI learning ability was a moderator in the link between technology adoption and work pressure, and higher confidence significantly lowered negative psychological responses. Workers provided ample training to become competent with AI software have significantly lower stress.</p>



<p>Companies like <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a> have platforms for building what are known as "AI Agents".  In essence, AI Agents are simply tools that employees can build for themselves or their teams quickly and inexpensively.   MindStudio will even train entire companies, from the CEO on down, at no cost. By letting MindStudio empower employees, companies avoid hiring more IT staff, buying more software, and implementing solutions to problems that do not exist.</p>



<p>MindStudio even has partners locally for companies, like <a href="http://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominnus</a> with offices in the Carolinas, California, and Denver, to help build AI Agents and support employees as they become resident AI experts for their organization.  The training provided by MindStudio is applicable across other AI Agent building platforms as well.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-productivity-through-focused-learning">Revolutionary productivity through focused learning</h2>



<p>Organizations that implement large-scale AI training programs achieve dramatic outcomes. Employees performed tasks significantly better when they utilized AI support compared to when they didn't, according to <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nielsen Norman Group</a> research findings. Their study documented productivity increases of 66% for a variety of professional tasks.</p>



<p>Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis research finds workers record 33% higher productivity in time working with generative AI tools. The benefit is equivalent to 5.4% of work time savings for AI users – around 2.2 hours per week for full-time workers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-psychological-well-being-benefits-through-ai-competence">Psychological well-being benefits through AI competence</h2>



<p>The emotional transformation when employees are provided with proper technology training is a fundamental transformation from fear to professional confidence. A survey of 600 employees across industries, carried out by ScienceDirect, proved that AI capabilities strengthen work environment commitment and improve job satisfaction.</p>



<p>A <a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LUT University</a> study discovered that AI adoption has no direct effect on workers' well-being but does so indirectly through working conditions like task optimization and safety protocols. Strategically deployed AI that involves correct training can actually increase workplace mental well-being.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-replacement-anxiety-to-partnership-confidence">From 'replacement anxiety' to 'partnership confidence'</h2>



<p>Although 35% of those interviewed in recent McKinsey studies were concerned about workforce displacement, firms with large-scale training initiatives witness such fears dissipate quickly. The World Economic Forum found that two out of three respondents believe AI competencies will enhance their career prospects and job marketability.</p>



<p>This shift from fear to trust has measurable implications for job satisfaction. Applied Sciences research indicates AI can create tailored wellness programs based on individual employee requirements.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-financial-benefits-of-increased-retention">Financial benefits of increased retention</h2>



<p>The mental health advantages of AI learning have a direct impact on organizational bottom lines in the form of a positive feedback cycle with high retention of employees. Recent ROI research validates that artificial intelligence learning has a beneficial impact on employee turnover and satisfaction levels.</p>



<p>PriceWaterhouseCoopers' research documents 20% to 30% improvements in productivity, market speed, and revenue in organizations that attempt systematic AI adoption through comprehensive training.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-environmental-advantages-of-ai-enabled-teams">Environmental advantages of AI-enabled teams</h2>



<p>AI training has unforeseen environmental benefits as it makes the work environment more efficient. According to a study in Scientific Reports, the carbon footprint in writing and illustrating work is significantly lower when AI performs it compared to humans. AI software produces 130 to 1,500 times less CO2 equivalent per page of text created than human authors.</p>



<p>In addition, AI-driven remote work functionality significantly reduces environmental impact. Research by Cornell University and Microsoft indicates that remote workers reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54% by not commuting daily to offices. Hybrid workers working remotely two to four days a week can reduce their carbon footprint by 11% to 29%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cumulative-organizational-advantages">Cumulative organizational advantages</h2>



<p>The compounding gains of better mental well-being, reduced turnover, increased productivity, and environmental benefits flow to enterprises from the pairing. McKinsey analysis estimates the long-term AI potential at $4.4 trillion in incremental productivity growth opportunity from business use cases.</p>



<p>As of now, 75% of knowledge workers globally utilize generative AI, mirroring widespread adoption patterns. Organizations that provide organized training and assistance see the most favorable results in productivity, worker satisfaction, and ecological sustainability.</p>



<p>The research overwhelmingly indicates that companies that invest in proper AI education, like that offered through <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MindStudio</a>, establish win-win scenarios where employees are both more empowered and less stressed, and companies enjoy the gains of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and improved mental health outcomes throughout their workforce.</p>



<p>For more on MindStudio's free AI training for companies, visit the website's of MindStudio and Dominnus from the links below.</p>



<p>The research was published across a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including <a href="https://www.nature.com/palcomms/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanities and Social Sciences Communications</a>, <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence</a>, and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci">Applied Sciences</a>.</p>



<p id="block-9bd989d6-2fd3-4580-957f-6cacce134f08">-----</p>



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<p>MindStudio.AI: <a href="https://www.mindstudio.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.mindstudio.ai</a></p>



<p>Dominnus: <a href="https://www.dominnus.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.dominnus.com</a></p>

AI agent training boosts mental health and profits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSM3EVeGHJU Companies like MindStudio help companies train their employees to...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



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<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by <a href="https://www.earth.com/author/eralls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eric Ralls</a> and Earth.com.</p>



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Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



<p>-----</p>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

Green,Ecoduct,Over,An,Empty,Highway,During,Sunset.

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<p>A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that wildlife tunnels significantly reduce amphibian road mortality during seasonal migrations. </p>



<p>Frogs and salamanders often cross roads to reach breeding ponds each spring, but many are killed by vehicles. </p>



<p>Researchers from the <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Vermont</a>, in collaboration with local citizens and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, installed two underpass tunnels in 2015. </p>



<p>Over a 12-year monitoring period, they observed an 80.2% reduction in amphibian deaths, and up to 94% for non-climbing species like salamanders. </p>



<p>The study used a before-after-control-impact design and documented more than 5,200 amphibians, highlighting the tunnels’ effectiveness even in nearby buffer zones.</p>



<p>Funded at $342,397 - far cheaper than wildlife crossings for large mammals - the project showcased the power of community-led conservation.</p>



<p>Local groups initiated the effort after observing mass amphibian deaths. Wildlife cameras later captured over 2,200 amphibians using a tunnel in just one spring, along with other species like raccoons and bobcats, indicating wider ecosystem benefits.</p>



<p>This marks the first peer-reviewed, long-term data set in the northeastern U.S. confirming amphibian-specific underpasses work. </p>



<p>The study urges transportation departments to incorporate these designs into road planning and highlights how community action, thoughtful infrastructure, and persistence can make a real difference for biodiversity.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1617138125000780" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal for Nature Conservation</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Wildlife tunnels save millions of amphibians

https://youtu.be/XYgiPzmNBTU?si=eFYY7gPHU1JznLvU A new long-term study in Monkton, Vermont, reveals that...

<p>Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. </p>



<p>The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.</p>



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https://youtu.be/Ug657J67iEo?si=w96YjGMsg939LD_3
</div></figure>



<p>Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. </p>



<p>Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.</p>



<p>Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. </p>



<p>They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).</p>



<p>Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.</p>



<p>Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.</p>



<p>This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.</p>



<p>“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. </p>



<p>The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.</p>



<p>“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”</p>



<p>The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Wetlands are a major source of methane emissions

[sendtonews key="f8fukm28Vz-2491833-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: NASA Goddard</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

2022 illustrated the consequences of a warming climate

[sendtonews key="3UUsNkFOuS-2487333-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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

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



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

[sendtonews key="qARzJPSabQ-2270617-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Tracking changes in Earth's water cycle

[sendtonews key="fxH3eJHEkQ-2010196-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



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



<p>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.</p>

Mysterious "spoke season" captured on Saturn

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