Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Scientists unravel drivers of the global zinc cycle in our oceans, with implications for a changing climate      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The understanding of the global zinc cycle in our oceans has important implications in the context of warming oceans. A warmer climate increases erosion, leading to more dust in the atmosphere and consequently more dust being deposited into the oceans. More dust means more scavenging of zinc particles, leading to less zinc being available to sustain phytoplankton and other marine life, thereby diminishing the oceans' ability to absorb carbon.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather Geoscience: Volcanoes
Published

Video analysis of Iceland 2010 eruption could improve volcanic ash forecasts for aviation safety      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Video footage of Iceland's 2010 Eyjafjallaj kull eruption is providing researchers with rare, up-close observations of volcanic ash clouds -- information that could help better forecast how far explosive eruptions disperse their hazardous ash particles.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Public more confident connecting increasing heat, wildfires with climate change than other extreme weather events, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers found that U.S. adults are fairly confident in linking wildfires and heat to climate change, but less confident when it comes to other extreme weather events like hurricanes, flooding or tornadoes.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Marine Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Marine heatwaves devastate red gorgonians in the Medes Islands      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The increase in the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves in recent decades is one of the effects of global climate change. A study shows that the extreme heatwave of 2022 caused an 'unprecedented' increase in mortality of the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata, affecting 70% of the colonies located in the Montgr Natural Park, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter. According to the researchers, these results are 'alarming and threaten the viability' of this species of great value for the biodiversity of benthic ecosystems, since it is considered to be an inhabitant-forming species.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earthquakes
Published

Estimating the energy of past earthquakes from brecciation in a fault zone      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In the same way that the number of rings in a tree can tell us its age, the characteristics of rocks such as breccia can tell us about the history of a region. The breccia around Ichinokawa Mine (located in Ehime prefecture) are of particular interest, as the mine is located south of the Median Tectonic Line. Researchers uncovered how breccia can provide valuable evidence to estimate the energy of past earthquakes in the area.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Ancient ocean slowdown warns of future climate chaos      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

When it comes to the ocean's response to global warming, we're not in entirely uncharted waters. A new study shows that episodes of extreme heat in Earth's past caused the exchange of waters from the surface to the deep ocean to decline.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Dolphins with elevated mercury levels in Florida and Georgia      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists found elevated mercury levels in dolphins in the U.S. Southeast. The highest levels were found in dolphins in Florida's St. Joseph and Choctawhatchee Bays. Researchers study dolphins because they are considered a sentinel species for oceans and human health. Like us, they are high up in the food chain, live long lives, and share certain physiological traits. Some of their diet is most vulnerable to mercury pollution and is also eaten by people.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Engineering: Robotics Research Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Mobile monitoring for an airborne carcinogen in Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Louisiana's southeastern corridor is sometimes known colloquially as 'Cancer Alley' for its high cancer incidence rates connected to industrial air pollution. Most of the region's air pollution-related health risks are attributed to ethylene oxide, a volatile compound used to make plastics and sterilize medical equipment. Researchers measured concerning levels of ethylene oxide in this area with mobile optical instruments, a technique they say could improve health risk assessments.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

A mountainous mystery uncovered in Australia's pink sands      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Deposits of deep-pink sand washing up on South Australian shores shed new light on when the Australian tectonic plate began to subduct beneath the Pacific plate, as well as the presence of previously unknown ancient Antarctic mountains.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
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Site new care homes near trees and away from busy roads to protect residents' lungs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To shield older residents from dangerous air pollution, new care homes should be built as far from heavy traffic as possible, according to a new study.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Cocaine trafficking threatens critical bird habitats      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In addition to its human consequences, cocaine trafficking harms the environment and threatens habitats important to dozens of species of migratory birds, according to a new study.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Humans are the elephant in the room where conservation is debated      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Studies working to map conservation historically have left humans out of the equation. This study proposes ways to build in the outsized footprint created by people in wild places.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography
Published

Significant increase in nitrous-oxide emissions from human activities, jeopardizing climate goals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Emissions of nitrous-oxide (N2O) -- a potent greenhouse gas -- have continued to rise unabated over the past four decades, according to an international team of scientists.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Specialist and migratory birds at greater risk under climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Following decades of decline, even fewer birds will darken North American skies by the end of the century, according to a new analysis. The study examines the long-term effects of climate change on the abundance and diversity of bird groups across the continent as a whole while accounting for additional factors that put birds at risk.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Soil bacteria respire more CO2 after sugar-free meals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers tracked how plant matter moves through bacteria's metabolism. Microbes respire three times as much carbon dioxide (CO2) from non-sugar carbons from lignin compared to sugar from cellulose. Although microbes consume both types of plant matter at the same time, each type enters a different metabolic pathway. Findings could improve predictions of how climate-dependent changes in soil carbon types will affect microbial CO2 production.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Major milestone in cutting harmful gases that deplete ozone layer and worsen global warming      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has revealed significant progress in the drive to reduce levels in the atmosphere of chemicals that destroy Earth's ozone layer, confirming the success of historic regulations limiting their production.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Income inequality and carbon dioxide emissions have a complex relationship      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Income inequality and carbon dioxide emissions for high-income nations such as the United States, Denmark and Canada are intrinsically linked -- but a new study has taken a deeper look at the connection and found this relationship is less fixed, can change over time, and differ across emission components. The findings could help countries set a course toward reducing emissions of the harmful greenhouse gas and alleviating domestic income inequality at the same time.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Making remanufacturing profitable      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Returning end-of-life products to as-new condition is called remanufacturing and can be an essential element in a circular economy. But for more industrial companies to take an interest in it, remanufacturing needs to be economically viable.