Cataclysmic volcanic eruptions are rare but inevitable, and their potential global consequences make them a critical focus for preparedness. The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia serves as a stark reminder of the devastation such events can cause. Tambora killed 90,000 people locally and led to severe global climate disruptions. The Northern Hemisphere experienced a “year without a summer” in 1816, with temperatures dropping by 1°C and harvests failing across Europe and North America. These disruptions doubled grain prices, sparked unrest in countries like France and the UK, and plunged the U.S. into its first economic depression. In India, erratic weather fueled a cholera outbreak that became a global pandemic. Tambora’s ripple effects likely caused tens of millions of deaths worldwide.
Continue reading “Inevitable impact of volcanic eruptions”GRACE data reveals global freshwater decline
A significant decline in Earth’s freshwater levels began abruptly in May 2014 and has persisted ever since, according to an international study published in Surveys in Geophysics. Using data from NASA-German GRACE satellites, scientists discovered that from 2015 to 2023, the average amount of freshwater stored on land—including surface water, groundwater, and soil moisture—was 290 cubic miles (1,200 cubic kilometers) lower than the 2002–2014 average. This loss, equivalent to 2.5 times the volume of Lake Erie, signals a potentially long-term drying phase for Earth’s continents.
Continue reading “GRACE data reveals global freshwater decline”Exploring plankton DNA for evolutionary breakthroughs
The Ocean Genome Atlas Project (OGAP) is conducting pioneering research off Greenland’s coast, using a sailboat to sequence plankton DNA and explore Earth’s evolutionary past. Led by neuroscientist Leonid Moroz and expedition leader Peter Molnar, OGAP is on a mission to catalog and map 80% of the ocean’s smallest life forms. Their aim is to uncover insights into genetics, evolution, and medicine by studying plankton DNA. Some plankton have survived for billions of years, developing traits that allow them to regenerate, resist aging, and even avoid cancer. Such traits could provide breakthroughs for human medicine by revealing new models for understanding complex biological processes.
Continue reading “Exploring plankton DNA for evolutionary breakthroughs”Seismic wave precursor aids volcanic eruption prediction
In January 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted with record-breaking force, devastating the island, triggering evacuations, and resulting in fatalities. The sudden eruption left scientists searching for ways to better predict such events. Recently, researchers identified a seismic wave precursor—a subtle Rayleigh wave signal that traveled across Earth’s surface about 15 minutes before the eruption. This wave, detected by seismometers located over 466 miles away in Fiji and Futuna, was imperceptible to humans yet detectable by seismic equipment, providing a vital clue that an eruption was imminent. This seismic wave precursor offers new possibilities for enhancing volcanic early warning systems, potentially granting the critical minutes needed to prepare for eruptions.
Continue reading “Seismic wave precursor aids volcanic eruption prediction”AI in scientific research: promise and pitfalls
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of modern science, exemplified by the 2024 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics, where all winners utilized AI in their work. This recognition underscores how pivotal AI in scientific research has become, heralded by experts as a transformative force. One laureate even described it as “one of the most transformative technologies in human history.” However, while AI in scientific research promises faster results at lower costs, it also introduces significant concerns that, if unaddressed, could undermine public trust and change the very fabric of science.
Continue reading “AI in scientific research: promise and pitfalls”Phytoplankton biomass monitoring advances
Phytoplankton are microscopic, plant-like organisms that form the base of the marine food web, sustaining a wide range of marine life from tiny fish to massive whales. Additionally, they play a significant role in sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Monitoring phytoplankton biomass is crucial for understanding the impacts of climate change and evaluating potential carbon-removal strategies. Traditionally, satellite technology has been used to observe phytoplankton on the sea surface, but this method falls short as it cannot detect phytoplankton below the surface. This limitation leaves a substantial gap in our knowledge of phytoplankton biomass, which influences assessments of ocean health and global carbon cycles.
Continue reading “Phytoplankton biomass monitoring advances”Finland’s carbon sink crisis
In Finnish Lapland, Tiina Sanila-Aikio, former president of the Finnish Sami parliament, has witnessed a record-hot, dry summer in the region. This warming trend is visibly affecting the Sami homeland, where conifer trees are turning orange, and the typically lush moss is drying out. These boreal forests and peatlands, which are critical for absorbing carbon, form part of Finland’s natural carbon sink. However, the impacts of climate change, paired with human activities like logging and peatland degradation, are causing Finland’s carbon sink to shrink rapidly.
Continue reading “Finland’s carbon sink crisis”Rain’s role in boosting ocean carbon uptake
Three decades ago, David Ho, then a young NOAA technician, set up an unusual experiment involving two dinosaur-patterned kiddie pools in the NOAA parking lot to investigate the role of rain in CO2 exchange between air and water. Ho’s daily routine involved waiting for Miami’s frequent thunderstorms to sample the rain-affected pools, enduring months of drenching for science. The initial results showed that rainfall significantly enhances the transfer of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to the ocean, setting the stage for Ho’s lifetime research into ocean carbon uptake. Now an oceanographer at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Ho’s recent study provides a global assessment of this process, revealing rain’s critical impact on the ocean’s carbon sink.
Continue reading “Rain’s role in boosting ocean carbon uptake”Branch faults in continental transform earthquakes
Researchers Ross Stein and Peter Bird have proposed a hypothesis that many major continental transform earthquakes begin on branch faults, which they describe as “on-ramps” that lead to ruptures on larger, more mature faults. This theory, if validated, could have significant implications for earthquake monitoring and preparedness, potentially altering how and where seismic networks are deployed.
Continue reading “Branch faults in continental transform earthquakes”Threats to carbon sinks and climate stability
The Earth relies on natural processes and ecosystems to regulate the climate, with carbon sinks playing a crucial role. These include oceans, forests, and soils, which absorb about half of all human carbon emissions. One of the key processes is the daily migration of zooplankton and other marine organisms that feed on algae near the surface at night and return to the depths during the day. This vertical movement helps transport carbon to the ocean floor, contributing to the natural absorption of carbon.
Continue reading “Threats to carbon sinks and climate stability”