Articles tagged with Deserts
A team of Arizona scientists, led by Raina Maier, found microbial life in the Atacama Desert's core, which is one to two inches below the arid surface. The discovery contradicts a previous study that claimed the region was sterile, highlighting the importance of searching beyond the surface.
Scientists use Zoe, an autonomous solar-powered rover, to explore the Atacama Desert and test robotic capabilities. They aim to detect signatures of microbial life remotely, which will aid in future human missions to Mars.
Scientists use satellites, computer models, and ground stations to study the unique aerosol laboratory created by desert dust, smoke, and man-made emissions. The UAE2 mission aims to improve computer climate models and predictions of climate behavior in response to changes in aerosol concentrations.
Researchers found that buffelgrass, an invasive non-native species, grabs water before foothill palo verde trees can, ultimately killing them. The grass reduces the available water to trees, exacerbating drought conditions and causing self-pruning, a natural defense mechanism for the trees.
Researchers found that in the driest years, desert and forest ecosystems exhibit similar growth rates per unit of precipitation, suggesting water scarcity is the primary factor limiting productivity. This study challenges current global models' ability to predict plant production under climate variability.
The winners operate in the UAE, Australia, Barbados, and Indonesia, showcasing a balance between tourism and nature conservation. The awards recognize companies making significant contributions to protecting natural areas, cultural heritage, and promoting sustainable tourism.
Cornell University and Caltech researchers will develop the world's most sensitive sub-millimeter telescope in the Atacama Desert, capable of probing star formation during galaxy formation. The telescope's high sensitivity will enable studies of large-scale universe structure and hidden planets in circumstellar disks.
The Bridging the Rift Center will study the unique ecology of the Dead Sea region, transforming a remote desert into a thriving science and technology village. The center will symbolically straddle the border, bringing together scientists from Jordan, Israel, and international partners.
Researchers use ATTA, a highly sensitive method, to measure krypton-81 in groundwater, estimating ages of 200,000 to 1,000,000 years. The study reveals ancient water transported by air masses from the Atlantic Ocean, reflecting climate conditions different from today.
A study published in Conservation Biology found that climate change is consistently correlated with extinction among desert bighorn sheep. The researchers identified higher temperatures and decreased precipitation as key factors contributing to the decline of these populations, which are already living on a knife's edge.
A joint research effort discovered Mars-like soils in Chile's Atacama Desert, which are depleted in organic materials and would have been missed by NASA's Viking missions. The team found that the conditions in this environment represent a limit for microbial life on Earth.
Scientists discovered that plants can thrive under quartz rocks, possibly mirroring ancient life on early Earth. The study found that sunlight filtering through the rocks provides a greenhouse effect, keeping plants warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
The Gemini Deep Deep Survey reveals that a large fraction of stars in the Universe are already in place when the Universe was young, contradicting existing models. The survey provides a comprehensive sample of galaxies in the Redshift Desert, revealing more metal-rich galaxies than expected.
A new study using NCAR's global Climate System Model predicts a significant decrease in global dust levels by 2100. The reduction is expected to lower temperatures and reduce carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere through marine organisms.
Researchers have discovered large reservoirs of nitrates in desert subsoils, challenging the concept that nitrogen is tightly retained in soil. This finding has implications for potential groundwater nitrate contamination following climate change or land-use alterations in natural deserts.
Researchers found that common raven populations in the western Mojave Desert have exploded by 1,500 percent, posing a significant threat to young desert tortoises. The study used artificial baits to assess risk of predation and mapped areas with high predation risk, highlighting the importance of safe refuges for tortoises.
A NASA study tracked a dust storm that traveled from China to the French Alps in just two weeks, crossing multiple continents along the way. The research used computer models and meteorological data to recreate the dust's journey and understand its composition and origin.
A Weizmann Institute study found that the Yatir forest is expanding rapidly into the Negev Desert, absorbing more carbon dioxide than expected. This could be due to the increased availability of carbon dioxide, which eases plants' water loss dilemma, allowing forests to grow in areas previously too dry.
The Office of Naval Research has developed a chest-mounted air-conditioning system that can cool an aviator's body by up to 10 degrees Centigrade. The system uses zeolite to absorb heat and is designed to be lightweight, compact, and independent of aircraft power.
The Carnegie Mellon, NASA collaboration aims to push the limits of technology in harsh environments using a robotic system that will use sensing and intelligence to find land forms or environmental conditions that could harbor life. The project involves annual field experiments in the Atacama Desert with an increasingly capable robot.
Scientists at MIT found that vegetation growth and decay are crucial for accurate climate models. The Sahara desert's transformation from fertile to arid was only explained when including vegetation as a variable.
Researchers have discovered that an earthquake can cause damage to a neighboring fault line, potentially leading to more earthquakes. The study, led by UCLA's Vidale, measured seismic wave speed to detect this effect and found it in the Landers fault, which is 10 miles away from the Hector Mine fault.
Global analysis reveals 46% of the Earth's land surface is still intact wilderness, but only 2.4% of the world's population inhabits it. The areas are under threat from encroaching agriculture and resource extraction, with only 7% enjoying protection.
Researchers used GIS techniques to assess New Minia City's site risk and bedrock stability, revealing soft limestone prone to dissolution. The model was found effective in identifying geo-environmental problems, allowing for informed decision-making on sustainable development.
Researchers conducted a high-tech simulation to test the Mars Exploration Rover mission, which will arrive on Mars in early 2004. The test aimed to understand the nature and accumulation patterns of Mars' signature red dust, crucial for ensuring astronaut safety.
In southern Jordan, a team led by Thomas Levy from UCSD discovered the largest Early Bronze Age metal factory in the Middle East, dated to ca. 2700 BC. The site yielded hundreds of clay casting molds and thousands of stone hammers, anvils, and other artifacts.
The Georgia Tech/Goddard Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model accurately reproduces short-term and long-term variations in dust concentrations and distributions. The model provides five-day dust forecasts to warn people with respiratory problems and fisheries about potential red tides.
A recent study published in Conservation Biology found that moderate cattle grazing has little to no effect on Texas tortoise populations. The researchers compared tortoise populations in grazed and ungrazed pastures and found no differences in abundance, size, growth rate, or adult survival.
A recent study published in Science found that tallgrass prairies have more variable plant growth than deserts, despite having less rainfall variability. This suggests that these ecosystems can respond to changes in precipitation patterns and may serve as an early warning system for climate change.
Scientists use declassified spy satellite images and aerial photographs to document an increase in both shrub numbers and area in a former arid grassland. The study reveals that honey mesquite bushes now dominate large areas of the Southwest, with most shrubs holding their ground despite early droughts.
The USGS is studying the effects of climate change, fire, and carbon dioxide on ecosystems in America's grasslands, deserts, and mountains. Researchers have found that high mortality rates among grassland birds in Colorado may be caused by small mammals invading nests.
Researchers found that desert bee larvae wait for rain to emerge, using a bet-hedging strategy to minimize losses in drought years. The approach allows them to thrive in arid environments.
E. Imre Friedman, a renowned desert researcher, has been awarded the Procter and Gamble Award in Applied and Environmental Microbiology for his groundbreaking work on microbial life in hot and cold deserts. His discoveries expanded our understanding of life's limits and pushed the boundaries of biogeochemistry and microbiology.
Researchers at Purdue University are conducting a project to count and identify desert plants in Egypt's New Valley region before irrigation begins. The goal is to preserve native plant species and understand the ecological impact of water reclamation on vegetation.
Researchers discovered a vast collection of ancient stone tools and fragments in the Sahara Desert, revealing clues about the seasonal inhabitants. The stone artifacts suggest that the nomads moved in specific patterns through the desert, possibly using cattle to transport heavy sandstone boulders.
Nomad, an autonomous wheeled robot, is undertaking a 40-day, 125-mile journey through the Atacama Desert to explore terrain, navigate, and conduct remote science. The experiment aims to develop technologies for planetary exploration and provide a unique opportunity for public teleoperation.
Using NCAR computer models of climate and vegetation, Benjamin Felzer found which plant types ancestors would have walked among during the last glacial maximum. The model reveals a global picture of vegetation 21,000 years ago, with significant changes in central Asia and Africa.
A four-year study reveals that winter rainfall is crucial for desert plant growth, contrary to previous assumptions. This discovery sheds light on the complex factors causing desertification and emphasizes the need for further research on desert ecology.