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Monday, April 12, 2021
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Warmest Year in Six Decades

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2016 warmest year in decades

So far, 2016 has proved to be the warmest year in the last six decades.

Scientists warn that the temperature data coming from the first months is threatening to make 2016 the warmest year in the last six decades. The statistics confirm the climate change theories that state that the Earth is entering a hot period with extreme events.

2016, Warmest Year So Far

The researchers broke the temperature data collected in the last 60 years and grouped it in 20-year clusters. Since 1956, the average temperature increased from 0 degrees to 2 degrees and then up to almost 6 degrees in 2015.

Moreover, while the percentage of low temperatures was over one of the high temperatures in the first 40 years, starting with 1996 the rapport got reversed, and higher temperatures began to dominate.

Scientists concluded that the climate of the 20th century is starting to fade away, and the future generations will live in an entirely different medium than we were accustomed to.

The new weather pattern, warmer and having more severe events, can be a major risk to wildlife and people.

Patterns of Change

Global warming does not show a yearly progression, where each year is hotter than the last one. The big picture can be seen only when looking at 20-year periods, as the differences between consecutive years are hard to grasp and show modifications in many directions at once.

The climate experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explain that the important fact is not the difference from month to month and from year to year, but the most general pattern of data that shows a whole new trend and weather characteristics that were usual in the 20th century.

The last year where the average temperature was below 0 degrees Celsius was 1976. Since then, the weather became warmer and warmer. Throughout the years, the temperatures consistently raised over 0 degrees, with this year’s average temperature reaching 1.05 degrees Celsius.

Limits to Climate Change

The researchers say that El Nino could make up for the warm temperature at the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016. However, the trend over decades shows that the weather gets hotter on a constant basis.

While Earth’s climate is never static, the experts say that the warming pattern is unprecedented in our planet’s history.

The primary cause of this phenomenon is greenhouse gas emissions which are produced by volcanic eruptions and burning fossil fuels.

During 2015 and 2016, the annual temperatures raised 1 degree or more over the average of the last two decades.

In December 2015, the Agreement on Climate Change decided to limit the global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The scientists fear that the rate of the global warming may surpass the ability of the international community to react and create a real environmental change.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Supernova Explosion Killed the Dinosaurs

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1993J supernova explosion

Scientists believe that the 1993J supernova explosion could have caused the Pliocene extinctions.

A new hypothesis emerges from the study of a supernova remnant identified by scientists as 1993J. Scientists now think that the explosion might have caused the mass extinction on Earth, more than 2.59 million years ago.

The supernova explosion might have blasted cosmic rays that would have reached our planet and created a major extinction that occurred between the Pliocene and the Pleistocene epochs.

The authors of the study explain that the explosion could have created the desert in Africa and made forests turn into savannas. Another mystery that could have been explained by the cosmic rays is that of the glaciations, recurring ice ages that at this moment have no scientific justification.

The Pliocene Supernova Explosion

The computer simulation was conducted by the researchers from the Washburn University in Kansas. The authors tried to observe how a supernova explosion might have affected the climate and the biosphere on Earth.

As the event happened relatively recent in the history of the Earth, the scientists only took into consideration supernovas that are at 300 light-years away from our planet.

The scientists initially believed that such a distance to Earth would have protected our world from the cosmic rays of the explosion. However, the results show that radiation could have reached our planet and the organisms on land.

Another factor was the blue light that the blast would have left in the sky. The scientists believe the light could have lasted for weeks, which could have disturbed the animals’ sleep patterns.

The Cosmic Rays’ Effects

The high-energy cosmic rays are so powerful that they can penetrate into the atmosphere, tear up molecules, and reach the ground level. After reaching the surface of our planet, the immense radiation could have resulted in an increase of cancer and mutation rates. Another effect might have been a speeding of the evolution.

As for the climate, the scientists believe that the cosmic rays forced atoms and molecules to gain a negative or a positive charge. The ionization process is supposed to have lasted more than 1,000 years, and it is possible it might have triggered the climate change and brought the series of ice ages.

The present study is the first to demonstrate that a supernova explosion might have had such catastrophic effects on Earth. The earlier simulations implied the fact that a supernova would need to be very close to our planet in order to affect the climate and the biosphere.

While the previous study showed the critical distance would have been 25 light-years, the present study proves that even a distant supernova explosion may have had a huge impact on our planet.

Image Source: Flickr

Alaska Wildfires Vicious Circle

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Elk Bath Alaska Wildfires

Alaska wildfires are a threat to the ecosystems and they also induce climate changes.

A new study shows that the loss in the carbon storage from Alaska’s soil is directly linked to wildfires. The number of local fires has increased because of the changes in the Arctic climate and the rise in temperatures, thus initiating a vicious circle.

The Devastating Effects of Alaska Wildfires

2015 was Alaska’s record year in wildfires, as more than 5 million acres were affected by fire.

Carbon stored by trees and soil vegetation is released back into the atmosphere during a fire. Moreover, the burning of the plants exposes the permafrost that lies under and creates damages to the soil.

The conclusion of the recently published study shows that the net carbon balance is dangerously affected by the wildfires.

Forest burns lead to the massive releases of methane and carbon dioxide, which are the main elements involved in climate change.

Every year, the wildfires in Alaska emit more greenhouse gases than all the other fires from the states. The warming temperatures is an important factor that favorites spontaneous fire occurrences in the wild.

Alaska’s Flux of Greenhouse Gases

The new geological study analyses the effects of Alaska fires on forests, tundra, and the frozen soil. These natural elements are in turn the primary protectors against climate change.

Alaska’s vegetation and soil store more carbon than all the other US states combined, and they can absorb about 3.7 m tones of carbon each year.

Previous studies have already shown that rising temperatures have a negative impact on the carbon storage in soils and on the glaciers size.

Scientists are thus worried about the impact that the warming temperatures, the ground melting, and changes in the streams of the ocean will affect the greenhouse gas exchange and the carbon storage.

Alaska is also one of the high latitude ecosystems which are considered to be more vulnerable when carbon storage is taken into consideration. Average temperatures are thought to be having a more abrupt increase in temperatures in the next 50 years. In this worst case scenario, scientists calculated that by 2100, Alaska may lose a quarter of its frozen soils.

Until now, Alaska wildfires were considered a side effect of climate change, as their number is increased because of the new conditions brought by the warming temperatures.

The new study shows that in fact, the devastating effects of wildfires add up to the conditions that are favorable to climate warming.

This cycle can only lead to the destruction of the area and perpetuates the risks for larger scale climate changes.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Huge Reef Ecosystem Was Found in the Amazon

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"Amazon reef"

While it’s true that we’ve only explored about five percent of the world’s waters, we probably imagine that that’s only available for the world’s oceans. I mean, rivers and lakes aren’t all that big, except maybe for a few lochs here or there. Otherwise, why would we skip on exploring parts of our planet, seeing as we’re so keen on discovery?

Well, certain places are just too out of the way or too dangerous to access, while others are in fact so common-looking that nobody would think there’s something worth exploring there. Other times, places are just overlooked. All that being said, a huge reef ecosystem was found in the Amazon according to a study published in the journal Science Advances.

Amazonian discovery

Located between the Maranhão State in Brazil and the French Guiana-Brazil border, the reef lies in a plume of river water right at the mouth of the Amazon. According to the published study, this is what explains how it managed to remain undiscovered for so long despite speculations of its presence being around for over six decades.

Senior author Fabiano Thompson, oceanographer and marine biology professor at the SAGE-COPPE of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and lead author Rodrigo Moura are the ones that led the expedition in the form of three cruises as part of a United States – Brazil collaboration.

New ecosystem

Expectedly, seeing as this is one of the rarest types of reefs ever encountered, its characteristics are fairly different from any other known before. Aside from the many areas of very low light and oxygen that are usually common thousands of feet under the surface, another very unusual feature of the reef is that it resides in murky, sediment-rich waters. In fact, the Amazon sheds some 333,000 nutrients per second in that particular location.

But the biome is also very strange, with the experts on the case considering it an absolute novelty. Aside from the many single-celled organisms that play a vital role in the ecosystem, the fauna mostly consists of enormous sponges, wide varieties of algae and corals, spiny lobsters, hydroids, and some 73 species of fish.

Coral failings

Even though it was just discovered, the reef is already struggling with survival. Even though it is in far better shape than the Great Barrier Reef, as the murky Amazon waters kept it safe from most of the effects of global warming, there are other factors that are contributing to this reef’s demise.

First of all, 125 portions of the river substrate were purchased by a petroleum company in 2013, and they will soon be sending enough oil the reef’s way to make it dangerous. But as it happens, this Amazonian reef is also one of its own biggest enemies, as it sacrificed resistance for quick reproduction.

Image source: Discovery

Bill Nye Wants Electric Cars For NASCAR

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"bill nye"

In his fight to reverse climate change, Bill Nye wants electric cars for NASCAR that would replaced the gasoline-fueled vehicles currently on the tracks. Global warming is an issue on everyone’s minds, and Nye has not been shy on voicing out his theories upon the matter. As a person who impacted the lives of numerous children, it’s an important voice to have on the side of environmentalists.

Bill Nye “The Science Guy” is a former mechanical engineer that has become known through his role of a science educator. Through his show, he has inspired numerous scientists himself and brought us the basics of physics right into our homes. However, Nye’s focus is now on reversing climate change and has been highly optimistic about that still being a possibility. Others have lost hope. Not Nye.

“NASCAR kinda breaks my heart.”

Recently, Nye stated that he has become dissatisfied with NASCAR for several years due to their major impact on the world. Even more, they could have such a significant positive effect on the world as a whole that it’s truly disappointing they are not taking advantage. According to Nye, NASCAR is breaking his heart. It now stands for the celebration of old tech, one that is polluting the air and encouraging gas emissions that are so detrimental to our planet’s health.

The solution, according to the scientist, would be to switch to electric cars. That would open a huge range of possibilities that NASCAR should be jumping on with excitement. One can only think what carmakers, such as Tesla, could do if they were given three years to create racing cars. They would all be electric and they would receive a huge boost. However, they all have to do it.

Nye cited the example of the STP-Paxton Turbocar that ran on a turbine-engine. That challenged gas-powered cars that harm our environment, but was quickly deemed unusable by rules. And that is where his disappointed begins. NASCAR has a major fanbase, but seems to remain stuck in the past and discourage innovation. For us to move forward and improve matters, everyone has to join in.

On the track of Ford and Chevrolet

If NASCAR would start using electric cars, then everyone would want them, according to Nye. The influence could spread around the world, as it has for numerous models and carmakers before. It’s only a shame that they do not want to use their influence for a good purpose. That’s how major brands like Ford, Chevrolet, and Mazda got their beginning. Racing was the start, and it grew from there.

Perhaps cars are not the biggest source of pollution around the world, but they’re certainly a big contributor. Electric cars would be the step forward for our environment. And, with cities like Beijing, Delhi, and Milan covered by hazardous smog, it does seem like every bit of change could help.

Image source: amazonaws.com

Bolivia’s Lake Poopo Might Be Gone Forever

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"lake poopo"

In spite of warnings, it seems that Bolivia’s Lake Poopo might be gone forever as the body of water is now almost completely dry. It’s an unfortunate picture of things that could come in lieu of the global warming crisis. More might suffer the same fate.

2% of its former glory

Lake Poopó is the second largest lake in Bolivia, and yet it now stands as a mere puddle of what it used to be. Due to environmental changes and human-caused environmental damages, the water is all but gone. According to Dirk Hoffman, it’s now at just 2% of what it used to be and around 75% of all its species have abandoned it.

The lake stands at 12,000 feet above sea level in the semi-arid regions of the Andean plains. Its main source, the Desaguadero River, has been cut off by industry, which means that there’s little hope for recovery. It’s certainly not the first time Lake Poopó dried, but it often managed to rebound at incredible sizes. Reportedly, it could find itself replenished with water twice the size of Los Angeles.

However, experts now believe that such a thing is no longer possible. Lake Poopó may be lost forever.

The blame falls on numerous environmental factors, such as climate change, disappearing glaciers, droughts, and the damaging activity of El Nino. Drought is considered to be the main driving force behind the official declaration of the lake’s “evaporation”. Furthermore, human activities, such as agriculture and tin mining have also called upon its resources until it was left dry. The water has been mismanaged and redirected until there was unfortunately nothing left.

Now, there lies a heap of dirt and dried mud. With the lake’s fate, around 100 families have sold their livestock from surrounding farms, setting aside the fishing gear and fishnets. The village of Untavi has been abandoned by around half its population, with over 3,250 people requiring humanitarian aid for the purpose of surviving after their loss.

Small potential for recovery

According to local leader, Angel Flores, something could have been done to prevent such a disaster. The mining operations have been diverting Lake Poopó’s water since 1982, depriving it of resources. Bolivia has asked the European Union for $140 million in order to create water treatment plants around the lake, but it’s unlikely it will bring it back.

Experts fear it might be too little too late, and they do not believe they will see the azure of Lake Poopó ever again.

Image source: buzzfed.com

Jawbone Fossils of “First Human” Uncovered in Ethiopia

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Jawbone of first human found

Researchers claim that they have uncovered the jawbone of very first humans.

The fossil jawbone, which is around 2.8 million years old, was uncovered form the Ledi Geraru research area. It is approximately 400,000 years old than previously thought. It fills a big evolutionary gap of first humans and their ape like ancestors.

Chalchew Seyoum, an Ethiopian student, was the first one who came across the bone.

The oldest known fossil was around 2.3 million years old. In comparison, the newly discovered specimens is more than 2.5 million years

Dr. Brian Villmoare, professor at the University of Nevada, remarked that Homo lineage fossils are rare to find. Hence, it is pretty exciting for researchers to get a close look of the earliest phase of evolution.

The discovery reveals a strong connection between an iconic 3.2 million years old human like primate.  The old hominine, dubbed as “Lucy”, was first unearthed in 1974. However, researchers are uncertain whether Lucy’s kind was evolved into the first primitive humans or not.

However, scientists found numerous other fossils along with the jawbone. These remnants are linked to animals with more arid habitats.

The latest discovery shows that climate change speeds up the transformation of tree dweller to upright walkers.

The findings are printed in the latest edition of Journal Science

Survey Reveals Huge Gap Between the Perception of Public and Scientists Over Climate Change

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survey results

 

A latest poll reveals that American scientists are more concerned about rapid increase in climate change due to human action than nuclear powers.

The Pew Research Center carried out a survey in order to determine the exact difference. They accumulated data of nearly 2,002 American adults and 3,748 scientists. Afterwards, they asked the views of participants on numerous science related issues like whether the intake of genetically modified foods are safe or not?  Only 28 percent public consider modified food do not cause any harm to the health of human beings. In comparison, around 8 percent scientists believe that foods grown with pesticides are safe to eat.

Later, the close analysis of the answers indicates a gap of around 20 percent in every eighth scientific issue such as global warming and production of genetically altered foods

Lee Rainie, director of internet, science and technology at Pew discussed the outcome of the current analysis. He states that these gaps are certainly noteworthy.  It evidently shows that scientific society and public have a different perception regarding the world.  Therefore, the majority of these disagreements are between public and the members of American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Edward Maibach, a communication professor at George Mason University points out towards a few major reasons behind the difference. He informs that scientists usually draw opinion through extensive scientific knowledge. Hence, their approach is slightly different from the general public.

Volcanic Eruptions: Reason Behind the Global Warming Hiatus

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volcanic Eruption

Recently, researchers uncover that small volcanic eruption have cut the global warming in last six years.

The volcanic eruptions play an essential role in reduction of greenhouse effect up to 50 percent. These types of reductions have increased the proportion of global warming in past few years.  However, it has also slashed down the level of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Experts of Massachusetts Institute of Technology utilized laser radars, balloons and other ground based measurements for this research. They carefully analyzed the affect of vaporized particles. Later on, they concluded that numerous volcanic eruptions have decreased the heat of the Earth up to 0.05 degrees to 0.12 degrees in last 15 years.

For instance, scientists observed that the outburst of Indonesia’s Mount Tambora gave birth to cold weather in 1816. The year is commonly known as “a year without summer”. It marked a new history in the climate of Earth.

The study explains that ash and gases released from volcanoes considerably block the solar radiations.  These ashes contain sulfur dioxide that creates a kind of obstruction in solar radiations. Solar radiation is considered as one of the major causes of production of heat in the climate.

Furthermore, the new report shows that comparatively small volcanic eruption can also restrict the amount of greenhouse gases.

Typhoon Heats Up the UN Climate Change Talks in Lima

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U.N Conference Lima

The typhoon of Philippines drew attention of United Nations towards the disastrous impact of climate change. Currently, the representatives of 190 nations are divided in to two groups for the climate discussions of the United Nations.

The typhoon named “Hagupit” compelled nearly one million people to leave their homes. Thus far, it has killed three people. The entire nation is scared from the fall over of trees and power lines all over the country.  Last year, a similar kind of typhoon has killed a large number of people in Philippines.

This sort of massive typhoon demonstrates the hazards of additional global warming. The typhoon emerged at the crucial time of U.N conference aimed to cut down the carbon emission.

Shubert Ciencia, a member of Oxfam’s team stated that the damages and affect of Hagupit intensely echoed in the halls of the Lima conference. No one likes to hear threats of huge destruction in his country every year.

Green campaigners of the Philippines believe that this storm must motivate UN representatives to design stronger plans for the decrease of greenhouse effect.

Votltaire Alferez, a member of Christian aid said that people of Philippines can not disagree with the affect of climate change since they are facing them almost every year.

Earlier, a scientific research reveals suggested that climate change will give birth to powerful hurricanes and tropical storms. These storms could be extremely harmful for coastal systems and communities.

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