Computer vision for climate change has emerged as a pivotal approach in addressing the challenges posed by environmental shifts. Traditionally, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques were underutilized in climate research. However, there is now a widespread acknowledgment of AI’s potential in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Continue reading “Computer vision for climate change”Unveiling Cloud Condensation Nuclei
A recent analysis of cloud data from the California coast, along with global satellite observations, highlights the significant role of aerosol particles as small as 25–30 nanometers in cloud formation. This challenges previous assumptions and suggests that the climate impact of tiny aerosols may have been underestimated.
Continue reading “Unveiling Cloud Condensation Nuclei”High-resolution forest mapping
Forests are crucial for sustaining Earth’s biodiversity and are key in absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide, offering vital ecosystem services as defenses against climate and biodiversity crises. However, a significant knowledge gap exists due to most global forest data coming from low to medium resolution satellite imagery, which inadequately covers dynamic and dispersed forest systems such as agroforestry, drylands, and alpine forests.
Continue reading “High-resolution forest mapping”Generative AI for weather forecasting
Google has revolutionized weather forecasting with the introduction of a new artificial intelligence (AI) model. The “Scalable Ensemble Envelope Diffusion Sampler” (SEEDS) utilizes generative AI for weather forecasting, combining speed, cost-efficiency, and the capability to detect extreme weather events more effectively than traditional methods.
Continue reading “Generative AI for weather forecasting”Our Ocean Conference: A decade of marine advocacy
In an exclusive article for Euronews, actor and environmental advocate Ted Danson reflects on the enduring challenges facing our oceans and the critical, bold actions required to address them. He emphasizes that despite the significant stresses we have imposed on marine environments, initiatives like the Our Ocean Conference provide a beacon of hope for oceanic restoration and the future of our planet.
Continue reading “Our Ocean Conference: A decade of marine advocacy”Seabed 2030: mapping the unknown ocean depths
A decade after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which left Kuala Lumpur with 239 people aboard and vanished over the Indian Ocean, the search operations not only failed to locate the aircraft but also revealed the vast, unmapped expanses beneath the waves. This discovery underscored the need for extensive mapping of the ocean floor, leading to the launch of the Seabed 2030 project, aimed at charting all seafloor features larger than 100 meters by 2030.
Continue reading “Seabed 2030: mapping the unknown ocean depths”Sustainable shift in the Brazilian Amazon economy
The Brazilian Amazon economy has traditionally been supported by activities like farming and mining, which lead to extensive deforestation. However, a new study from WRI Brasil and New Climate Economy suggests that economic growth in this region can continue without further deforestation.
Continue reading “Sustainable shift in the Brazilian Amazon economy”Revealing soil inorganic carbon’s global impact
While carbon in Earth’s atmosphere and within living organisms is well-documented, a substantial but often overlooked reservoir exists in the planet’s soil—specifically in the form of soil inorganic carbon. A new study published in Science highlights that this type of carbon is far more prevalent than previously understood, making it a significant component of the global carbon cycle.
Continue reading “Revealing soil inorganic carbon’s global impact”Understanding intraplate earthquakes
Intraplate earthquakes are seismic events that occur within the stable interiors of tectonic plates, far from the active boundaries where most earthquakes originate. Prof Éric Calais and Jean François Ritz highlight the unpredictable nature of these quakes, which can strike unexpectedly in geologically quiet regions.
Continue reading “Understanding intraplate earthquakes”Surprising sources of methane
The escalating concerns about methane emissions are driving significant attention toward their major sources of methane. A new methane-monitoring satellite has recently been deployed to observe rogue emissions, particularly from the oil and gas sectors, indicating a step forward in tracking this potent greenhouse gas. However, the complexity of methane’s impact on climate extends far beyond fossil fuel industries. Agriculture stands out as the largest anthropogenic source of methane, closely followed by leaks from oil and gas fields.
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