Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Microplastics found embedded in tissues of whales and dolphins      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Microscopic plastic particles have been found in the fats and lungs of two-thirds of the marine mammals in a graduate student's study of ocean microplastics. The presence of polymer particles and fibers in these animals suggests that microplastics can travel out of the digestive tract and lodge in the tissues.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
Published

How a massive North Atlantic cooling event disrupted early human occupation in Europe      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study finds that around 1.12 million years ago a massive cooling event in the North Atlantic and corresponding shifts in climate, vegetation and food resources disrupted early human occupation of Europe.

Geoscience: Earthquakes Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Study ties fracking to another type of shaking      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research confirms fracking causes slow, small earthquakes or tremors, whose origin was previously a mystery to scientists. The tremors are produced by the same processes that could create large, damaging earthquakes.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Landslides
Published

Climate protection: Land use changes cause the carbon sink to decline      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Terrestrial carbon sinks can mitigate the greenhouse effect. Researchers pooled various data sources and found that European carbon storage takes place mainly in surface biomass in East Europe. However, changes of land use in particular have caused this carbon sink to decline.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Over one million acres of tribal land submerged by dams in the US, research finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Dam constructions have flooded over 1.13 million acres of tribal land in the U.S., contributing to the historic and ongoing struggle against land dispossession for Indigenous peoples in the United States. New research has identified that a region of tribal land larger than the state of Rhode Island has been submerged by dams in the U.S. The findings raise concerns about the destruction of ecosystems, cultural heritage, and livelihoods.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Particulate air pollution a growing risk for premature CVD death and disability worldwide      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Between 1990 and 2019, the total annual number of premature CVD deaths and years of disability attributable to particulate matter air pollution rose by 31% worldwide.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Measuring the extent of global droughts in unprecedented detail      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While some parts of the world suffer extreme heat and persistent drought, others are being flooded. Overall, continental water volumes vary so much over time that global sea levels fluctuate significantly too. By combining the hydrological model WaterGAP with GRACE satellite data, a team of geodesists have come up with a new set of data that shows how the total distribution of water over the Earth's land surfaces has changed over the past 20 years more accurately than ever before.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Land-sea relationship is major driver of coral reef health outcomes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research indicates that mitigating both local land and sea-based human impacts, especially in terms of pollutants and over-fishing, provides coral reef ecosystems with the best opportunity to persist under climate change. Along some highly populated areas on the shorelines of Hawai'i, wastewater pollution and urban runoff combine with fishing pressures to put immense stress on coral reefs.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather Paleontology: Climate
Published

Then vs. now: Did the Horn of Africa reach a drought tipping point 11,700 years ago?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

If climate models predict that much of tropical Africa will become wetter with a warming climate, then why does it keep getting drier in the Horn of Africa?

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Telecommunications cable used to track sea ice extent in the Arctic      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A telecommunications fiber optic cable deployed offshore of Oliktok Point, Alaska recorded ambient seismic noise that can be used to finely track the formation and retreat of sea ice in the area, researchers report.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

An early warning system for joint heat and ozone extremes in China      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have identified large-scale climate patterns that could be used to predict the co-occurrence of extreme heat and ozone days in China months before they occur. Like predictions for hurricane and wildfire seasons, the forecasts could help the government prepare resources and implement policies to mitigate the severity of the season.

Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Classroom environmental education doesn't change attitudes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of conservation educational activities in the Cape Verde Island of Maio.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Marine protected areas overwhelmingly manage with climate change in mind      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientific findings don't always translate neatly into actions, especially in conservation and resource management. The disconnect can leave academics and practitioners disheartened and a bit frustrated.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Landslides
Published

Nitrogen runoff strategies complicated by climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

As climate change progresses, rising temperatures may impact nitrogen runoff from land to lakes and streams more than projected increases in total and extreme precipitation for most of the continental United States, according to new research from a team of climate scientists.

Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

New Antarctic extremes 'virtually certain' as world warms      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Extreme events in Antarctica such as ocean heatwaves and ice loss will almost certainly become more common and more severe, researchers say.

Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Wildfires emit potent climate-warming organic particles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers found that wildfires are causing a much greater warming effect than has been accounted for by climate scientists. The work, which focuses on the role of 'dark brown carbon' -- an abundant but previously unknown class of particles emitted as part of wildfire smoke -- highlights an urgent need to revise climate models and update approaches for the changing environment.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Sustainable plastic made more compostable      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a way to make a promising, sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics more biodegradable. A team has made a bio-based polymer blend that's compostable in both home and industrial settings.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Geomagnetic Storms Space: General Space: Structures and Features Space: The Solar System
Published

Geomagnetic field protects Earth from electron showers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Geophysicists studied the activity of high energy electrons and clarified the unexpected protective role of the geomagnetic field surrounding the Earth.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Hartshorn salt and 'baking' solves a serious environmental problem      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Polyester is the second most used textile in the world and an environmental menace, especially because most of it never gets recycled. The fabric, a blend of plastic and cotton, has been difficult for the industry to separate and therefore recycle. Now, a group of young chemists has invented a green and surprisingly simple solution using a single household ingredient.