Sunday, December 14News That Matters

Climate Actions

Antarctic Ice Shelf Reveals Daily Movement Triggered by Elastic Waves from Whillans Ice Stream

Antarctic Ice Shelf Reveals Daily Movement Triggered by Elastic Waves from Whillans Ice Stream

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In a fascinating revelation, researchers studying the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica have uncovered a phenomenon where elastic waves cause the entire sheet to lurch forward once or twice a day. This unexpected discovery sheds light on the dynamic nature of ice shelves and their response to changing environmental conditions. The Ross Ice Shelf, the largest in Antarctica and roughly the size of France, experiences these significant movements triggered by the Whillans Ice Stream, a fast-flowing belt of ice in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Geophysicist Doug Wiens from Washington University in St. Louis explains that the entire shelf suddenly moves about 6 to 8 centimeters (2.4 to 3.1 inches) due to a slip on the ice stream that flows into it. These slip events, akin to movements along faul...
Mount Erebus Unveils its Hidden Treasure: Daily Eruption Reveals a Golden Windfall in the Antarctic Skies

Mount Erebus Unveils its Hidden Treasure: Daily Eruption Reveals a Golden Windfall in the Antarctic Skies

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Mount Erebus, Antarctica's Active Volcano, Discovered Emitting Valuable Gold Dust into the Atmosphere, Unveiling a Daily Treasure Trove Worth Thousands of Dollars, Reports New York Post. Recent Findings Illuminate the Geological Phenomenon of Mount Erebus, Disclosing its Daily Contribution of Approximately 80 Grams of Crystallized Gold, Valued at Almost $6,000 (Rs 5 lakh), Revealed Through Astonishing Atmospheric Dispersion. NASA's Earth Observatory Observes Mount Erebus' Unique Geological Activity, Evidencing Regular Emissions of Gas, Steam, and Occasional Rock Fragments, Attributed to its Strategic Position Above a Thin Crust, Facilitating the Upward Movement of Molten Rock from Earth's Interior. Conor Bacon, Researcher from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia Universit...
Water Crisis Looms as Rivers Run Dry and Reservoirs Dwindle Across India

Water Crisis Looms as Rivers Run Dry and Reservoirs Dwindle Across India

Breaking News, Climate Actions
An alarming water crisis is unfolding across India as rivers run dry and reservoirs reach critically low levels. According to data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC), at least 13 east-flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar currently have no water. These rivers, including Rushikulya, Bahuda, and Vamsadhara, play a crucial role in supplying water for irrigation and domestic consumption in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. The storage in the basin has witnessed a continuous decline, with the current storage standing at zero. Last year, the storage was 32.28 per cent of the basin's capacity, highlighting the severity of the current situation. Furthermore, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have experienced large rainfall deficits since March 1, exacerbating the water scarcity...
Moon’s Influence on Coral Reef Sounds Reveals Ecosystem Activity: Study says

Moon’s Influence on Coral Reef Sounds Reveals Ecosystem Activity: Study says

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A recent study has shed light on how the Moon's movements influence the sounds emanating from coral reefs, providing valuable insights into ecosystem activity. Researchers discovered that as the Moon rises and sets, the soundscape of coral reefs undergoes rapid changes, indicating shifts in ecosystem interactions. Conducted by scientists from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) in the US, the study monitored three different coral reef sites off the west coast of Hawaii. Using hydrophones, they captured one-minute snapshots of the underwater soundscape at regular intervals over two years. The findings revealed that high-frequency pulse train sounds from fish increased during moonlit hours, while low-frequency fish vocali...
Aral Sea Catastrophe: ESCAP’s Multifaceted Approach to Environmental Recovery

Aral Sea Catastrophe: ESCAP’s Multifaceted Approach to Environmental Recovery

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In a region marked by stark environmental degradation and socio-economic upheaval, the Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest inland sea, stands as a tragic emblem of human-induced catastrophe. Over the past decades, the sea has dramatically shrunk by a staggering 90%, primarily due to extensive water diversion for irrigation and hydropower, exacerbated by the effects of climate change. The consequences are dire, with severe environmental and socio-economic repercussions plaguing the surrounding countries. The Grim Reality: Environmental and Socio-economic Fallout The depletion of the Aral Sea has triggered a cascade of crises, including the loss of water, increased salinity, and the collapse of local ecosystems. These changes have wrought havoc on livelihoods, plunging communitie...
New Index Shows Western Indian Himalayan Region More Prone to Climate Change Risks

New Index Shows Western Indian Himalayan Region More Prone to Climate Change Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions
A pioneering climate risk index developed by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), reveals that the Western Indian Himalayan Region faces greater vulnerability to climate change compared to the Eastern Himalayan ranges. Utilizing the latest framework from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the index integrates both physical and socio-economic indicators to assess climate risk in the Himalayas comprehensively. The Himalayas, often referred to as the "third pole" due to their vast ice and water reserves, are highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. While the region is experiencing warming temperatures and declining snow cover and glacier mass, few studies have attempted to map climate risks at a district level. The new study by...
Fluttering Hopes and Fading Wings: The Tale of Britain’s Butterflies

Fluttering Hopes and Fading Wings: The Tale of Britain’s Butterflies

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments
In the delicate dance of nature, Britain's butterflies are both messengers and victims of environmental change. While some species soar, others struggle, revealing a nuanced narrative of adaptation and decline. Amidst the flutter of brown hairstreaks and comma butterflies, a somber truth emerges: the majority of Britain's 57 breeding butterfly species face a daunting challenge. Despite the resilience of a few, Butterfly Conservation's 2022 report paints a stark picture of dwindling abundance and distribution since the 1980s. Pioneering citizen science unravels the complexities behind these shifts. From the high brown fritillary's dependence on vanishing habitats to the wall brown's plight in a changing climate, each species tells a tale of survival against the odds. Picky Eaters: ...
Himalayan Region Faces Prolonged Drought Amidst Escalating Global Warming

Himalayan Region Faces Prolonged Drought Amidst Escalating Global Warming

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
A new study led by researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) paints a grim picture for the Himalayan region, warning of enduring drought conditions if global temperatures continue to rise. Published in the journal Climatic Change, the study underscores the escalating risks posed by climate change to both human livelihoods and natural ecosystems. Key Findings: Drought Perils: The study projects that a staggering 90% of the Himalayan region could face prolonged droughts lasting over a year if global warming reaches 3 degrees Celsius. Agricultural Vulnerability: With each degree of warming, agricultural lands across India, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Ghana become increasingly susceptible to severe drought conditions. Over 50% of agricultural land in these nations is ...
Record Warmth in North Atlantic Raises Alarm Bells: What It Means for the Planet and Its Inhabitants

Record Warmth in North Atlantic Raises Alarm Bells: What It Means for the Planet and Its Inhabitants

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Amidst the wintry chill, an unsettling reality lurks beneath the surface of the North Atlantic waters: they're warmer than ever before. The sea surface temperature in this region, between South Carolina and Spain, is currently running about 2 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the average temperature over the last three decades, marking a record high. Visualizing the data reveals a stark picture: the thick orangey-red line representing 2023 stretches conspicuously above all others on the chart, signaling unprecedented warmth. Even more concerning is the shorter line from 2024, indicating a continued surge in temperature well above historical norms. Brian McNoldy, a climate researcher at the University of Miami, expressed deep concern over this alarming trend, emphasizing its implications...
Revealing the Hidden World: Satellite Technology Unveils Vast Expansion of Global Coral Reefs

Revealing the Hidden World: Satellite Technology Unveils Vast Expansion of Global Coral Reefs

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers utilizing advanced satellite imagery and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms have unveiled a stunning revelation: the world's coral reefs are nearly 25 percent larger than previously estimated. Through a collaborative effort involving satellite imagery, machine learning algorithms, and on-ground observations from a global network of experts, an additional 64,000 square kilometers (24,700 square miles) of coral reefs have been identified – an area equivalent to the size of Ireland. This newfound expanse brings the total area of the planet's shallow reefs – spanning depths of 0 to 20 meters – to a staggering 348,000 square kilometers, akin to the dimensions of Germany. Within this vast domain lies approximately 80,000 square kilometers of ha...