Articles tagged with Earth Observations
A new framework for global species monitoring has been developed to improve tracking of biodiversity trends worldwide. The framework, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, aims to address the 'woefully inadequate' current information on species populations and ecosystems.
Scientists have recovered accurate values for precession frequencies of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter using lake sediment data from the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic epochs. The findings provide insights into climate variations driven by Solar System chaos and could constrain models of Solar System evolution.
Researchers have identified key aspects of planetary motions from a period around 200 million years ago, pushing the record back further than ever before. They used geological records to create a 'Geological Orrery', a precise history of solar system changes that can be extrapolated into the future.
A recent study found that urbanization is weakening the shoreline of New York City's Jamaica Bay wetlands, causing erosion and loss of vital mineral sediment. The marshes are being drained of essential sediments, leading to their gradual but dramatic disintegration.
Scientists discovered that a North Korean nuclear bomb test in 2017 set off aftershocks over eight months, providing insight into the physics of nuclear explosions and how natural earthquakes can be triggered. The analysis used new methods to pinpoint the locations of the quakes with greater precision, revealing a hidden fracture.
Researchers from Columbia University and USGS develop a physics-based model that replicates California's statistical seismic hazard model. This breakthrough marks a turning point in earthquake forecasting, providing accurate hazard estimates for engineers and regulators to make informed decisions on building codes and construction costs.
Researchers studying ocean temperatures in West Antarctica found a complex cycle of warming and cooling that affects ice shelf melting rates. The findings suggest that changes in deep ocean temperatures can lead to significant variations in ice sheet melting, with potential implications for global sea-level rise.
A new imaging technology is being developed to enable more targeted Earth observation, allowing for the monitoring of climate change and ocean activity. The technology, which could be mounted on many nanosatellites, would enable continuous global coverage and more efficient data collection.
Researchers are combining citizen science data with NASA Earth satellite observations to create new forecast models that can predict the spread of mosquito-carrying diseases. The study found that vegetation, humidity, and soil moisture make it easier for mosquitoes to thrive during the summer months.
Scientists use AI-powered tool to track songbirds' arrival patterns in Alaska's North Slope, providing insights into their adaptation to hotter temperatures and more erratic weather. The study's findings suggest that birds may time their migrations to local conditions, including day length, rather than just temperature.
Scientists discovered that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet regrew in recent history due to a previously unknown mechanism involving its own shrinking and crustal uplift. The findings contradict previous assumptions and suggest that global sea levels may decrease due to ice sheet readvances.
The largest 1% of trees in mature forests worldwide comprise 50% of forest biomass, according to a global study. The size of the largest trees is crucial for forest structure and carbon storage, with big trees providing unique habitat and strongly influencing their surroundings.
Scientists have documented a 405,000-year climate cycle in ancient rocks, which repeats every 405,000 years and plays a role in natural climate swings. The cycle is believed to result from a complex interplay with the gravitational influences of Venus and Jupiter.
Researchers validate the geologic time scale by matching magnetic polarity sequences with detrital zircon ages from a long sediment core. The correlation supports assumptions about planetary interactions used to construct the APTS for hundreds of millions of years.
A Rice University team is part of a $25 million study investigating the collapse of Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica. The team will use marine geological and geophysical data to examine how the glacier retreated in the past and determine key boundary conditions controlling its retreat.
A new study reveals that palm trees can thrive in regions as cold as Washington DC, with an average temperature above 2 degrees Celsius. The study's findings suggest that palms are sensitive indicators of changing climates and can provide insights into past temperatures.
A global network of 1,000 ground stations is proposed to track environmental interactions and link with satellite data for comprehensive monitoring. The initiative aims to address climate change, air pollution, and other environmental challenges by providing a cohesive dataset.
A new study projects that high humidity in many regions will dramatically increase in coming decades, surpassing humans' ability to work or survive. Potentially affected areas include the southeastern US, Amazon, Africa, and eastern China, with hundreds of millions of people facing severe human impact.
Researchers found that ancient volcanic eruptions caused significant melting of the northern European ice sheet, with some eruptions leading to 20 centimeters of ice loss. The study suggests that modern ice sheets may be vulnerable to similar effects, highlighting a potential positive feedback loop between volcanism and climate change.
A new study predicts that global warming will extend the range of the southern pine beetle, a tree-killing insect, through much of the northern US and southern Canada. The beetle's spread is threatened by rising winter temperatures, which could lead to loss of biodiversity, iconic forests, and damage to tourism and forestry industries.
Researchers have mapped a geologic structure off Alaska's seafloor that suggests high tsunami danger, with similar features found in Japan and potentially elsewhere in the Pacific. The discovery highlights the need for better understanding of subduction zones and their potential hazards.
A new study finds that rising temperatures will make it harder for many aircraft to take off, with some planes needing to dump weight or wait for cooler hours. The study projects widespread effects on aviation, particularly in hotter parts of the world.
Research from the University of Leicester and EarthSense reveals associations between air pollution and type 2 diabetes in a large cross-sectional study. Demographic factors largely explained the association, but the study suggests continued research into potential long-term exposure factors.
Research found that tropical trees have fewer neighbors to compete with, allowing for more space for rare species. This phenomenon, CNDD, contributes to the higher biodiversity in tropical forests compared to temperate regions.
A new survey found nearly 700 seasonal systems of interconnected ponds, channels and braided streams fringing Antarctica on all sides. The study reveals that warming projected for this century could quickly magnify the influence of these meltwater systems on sea level.
Scientists have found evidence of severe droughts in the Mideast during past warm periods, with rainfall plummeting to a fifth of modern levels. The findings suggest that the region is already experiencing dire drought and may become even drier as climate warms.
Researchers S. George Philander and Mark A. Cane developed a key insight that the Pacific Ocean's weather balance swings seesaw-like between extremes, leading to practical forecasts of El Niño events. Their work enabled institutions worldwide to monitor warning signs for crop planting, disease control, and floods or droughts.
A new study uses airborne ice-penetrating radar to observe meltwater's year-round life under the Greenland ice. The research reveals extensive winter water storage beneath the ice, which affects glaciers' response to melting.
A new analysis published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America suggests that a tiny North Korean seismic event in May 2010 was an earthquake, not a nuclear explosion. The study's findings contradict previous reports that claimed it was a small nuclear test.
A study found that the Greenland ice sheet nearly disappeared for extended periods in the last million years, challenging previous assumptions about its stability. The finding implies global warming could tip it into decline rapidly, causing rapid sea-level rise.
Researchers compare biodiversity trends with the stock market to develop a framework for preventing species loss. The concept of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) can help document critical changes in biodiversity and inform policy decisions.
Scientists propose a novel plate tectonic scenario for the genesis of major Mesozoic oil fields. The model suggests that rapid continental movement and changes in latitude could have led to the emplacement of organic carbon at equatorial latitudes, eventually sealing it with sediments deposited at sub-tropical latitudes.
A new study has found heightened concentrations of common substances in drinking water near fracking sites in Pennsylvania. The researchers suggest underground disturbances that could be harbingers of eventual water-quality problems.
A recent study suggests that a tear in the Earth's crust is the primary driver of undersea volcanic eruptions. The research team analyzed seismic data and underwater microphones from an eruption at the East Pacific Rise, finding that violent popping noises were triggered by the emergence of lava on the seafloor.
A recent study analyzing seized African elephant tusks confirms that nearly all come from animals killed less than three years prior to seizure. The findings support evidence of widespread poaching and undermine the idea that many tusks are illegally recycled from older stockpiles.
Researchers have discovered tiny glass droplets in New Jersey sediment layers that could be linked to an extraterrestrial object hitting Earth. The finding is consistent with previous work suggesting an impact triggered the PETM, a period of rapid warming comparable to modern human-induced climate change.
Ancient leaves reveal that carbon dioxide levels increased dramatically as the ice sheet began to deteriorate, raising questions about its stability today. The study found a rapid decline in ice extent over a short period, similar to modern times, where CO2 concentrations are rising.
A new study reveals that human-induced climate change has doubled the area affected by forest fires in the U.S. West over the last 30 years. The study found that heightened temperatures and resulting aridity have caused fires to spread across an additional 16,000 square miles than they otherwise would have.
Researchers found high calcium-to-aluminum ratios in olivine and diamond inclusions, suggesting a connection between the chemistry of tiny carbon-rich fluids trapped within diamonds and those that form HIMU islands. The study suggests that material from diamond-forming regions journeys to earth's core and back up to form such islands.
A new study from Columbia University and MIT found that large-scale groundwater pumping is contaminating aquifers in Southeast Asia with high levels of arsenic, posing a significant risk to human health. The researchers discovered clear patterns of contamination that can help farmers and communities locate lower-risk sites for wells.
Scientists have identified a subduction zone beneath Bangladesh, where two tectonic plates are slowly thrusting under each other. The resulting strain could lead to an earthquake magnitude of up to 9, affecting over 140 million people in the region.
A new study has found that smaller-scale processes in the Earth's mantle have a more significant impact on plate tectonics than previously thought. The research used high-resolution imaging to map the flow of the mantle beneath the ocean's tectonic plates, revealing that convection channels play a crucial role in driving plate movement.
New evidence suggests that ocean circulation slowed during every one of the temperature plunges in the Northern Hemisphere during the last ice age, contributing to abrupt climate changes. This finding supports the view that changes in ocean circulation were responsible for causing these events.
Scientists at the Hellisheidi power plant in Iceland have developed a method to convert CO2 emissions into solid minerals within months, significantly faster than predicted. The process involves mixing CO2 with water and injecting it into volcanic basalt, resulting in the formation of whitish, chalky minerals.
A new technique combines economics and volcano science to identify past eruptions from tree-ring temperature reconstructions, potentially pinpointing previously unknown eruptions. The method may help separate volcanic impacts on climate from random variability, informing policy and scientific applications.
A recent NTU EOS study found a pattern to slow fault movements that may precede large earthquakes. This discovery could improve seismic monitoring and forecast large earthquakes in Southeast Asia.
A new optical technology developed by Russian physicists can significantly improve the detection of exoplanets, allowing for direct observation of their images. The 'smoothed' light technique uses adaptive optics to remove atmospheric distortions, enabling telescopes to resolve the faint signals of Earth-type planets.
The EU BON project published guidelines for standardized, easy-to-find, re-shareable, and re-usable biodiversity data. The report aims to increase interoperability of data and make its re-use both easy and legal. EU BON also promotes the use of biodiversity data as a common resource for human society.
A new NASA study reconstructs the Mediterranean's drought history using tree rings, finding that the eastern region has experienced its worst drought in 900 years. The research provides a 'fingerprint' for identifying human-induced climate change contributions and will improve computer models simulating climate change.
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists found phytoplankton populations double in size above natural oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. Turbulence from rising oil and gas bubbles brings up deep-water nutrients that phytoplankton need to grow.
Arnold L. Gordon selected as Fellow of The Oceanography Society for fundamental contributions to understanding ocean interconnectedness, drawing from observations of the Southern Ocean and Indonesian Seas. Dr. Gordon's work has had a lasting impact on our understanding of global ocean circulation.
Scientists have found that maximum observed earthquake magnitudes on transform faults generally scale with offset across the faults, but for some earthquakes, a larger coseismic stress drop occurs. This study contributes to developing refined building codes and risk mitigation concepts along major transform faults.
The GEO-CRADLE consortium coordinates regional institutions to support effective integration of Earth Observation (EO) capacities, modeling, and data exploitation skills. The project provides a roadmap for implementing GEOSS and Copernicus in the region, with a focus on climate change, food security, access to raw materials and energy.
Chapman University associate professor Hesham El-Askary is the regional coordinator for a €3 million European Union Grant. The project, GEO-CRADLE, aims to strengthen earth observation networks in the region, addressing specific challenges affecting global understanding of climate and natural resources.
The new atlas uses tree rings to map severe droughts and wet periods across Europe, parts of North Africa, and the Middle East over 2,000 years. It fills a major geographic gap in climate data, helping scientists pinpoint causes of drought and extreme rainfall.
A UK-based remote satellite monitoring programme will help monitor the impact of human activities on the Laguna Bacalar's ecosystem. The project will use satellite data to analyze changes and provide evidence for conservation efforts, benefiting from a £1.5M funding by the UK Space Agency.
The Horn of Africa is becoming increasingly arid due to global warming, threatening the region's agriculture and exacerbating tensions. Researchers have found a 2,000-year trend of drying in the region, which contradicts predictions that it will become wetter.
Scientists found evidence of an 800-foot wave in the Cape Verde Islands that suggests sudden volcanic collapses can trigger giant tsunamis. The study suggests these events are more common than previously thought and could pose a realistic hazard today.
The EU BON project uses the European Biodiversity Observation Network to develop an integrated biodiversity information framework. This framework collects and standardizes existing data sources to show trends and prognoses useful to policy and society. The aim is to make biodiversity data discoverable, accessible, and digestible.
A new study finds that global warming is deepening California's drought by driving moisture from plants and soil into the air. The research estimates that up to a quarter of the drought can be attributed to rising temperatures.