What do swamps, whales and underground rocks have to do with the #heatwaves that are plaguing the world today? European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service noted that “June 2024 was warmer globally than any previous June in the data record” in their recent #Climate Bulletin. As global warming continues to break records, there is a pressing need to remove or avoid the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is where swamps, whales and underground rocks have a crucial role to play as seemingly unlikely #carbon sinks. 🌾 #Swamps, including bogs, marshes and wetlands, are considered to be highly effective carbon sinks due to their immense root systems that store #carbondioxide and the slow rate of decomposition of roots and organic matter in such ecosystems due to the water-logged soil. 🐳 Apart from being one of the most loveable mammals roaming our oceans, #whales are great carbon sinks! Whales are capable of storing carbon in their bodies over a long lifespan, which can stretch up to 200 years. This translates to a potential for a single whale to sequester around 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, which is equivalent to the sequestration potential of approximately >1,000 trees over the same period. ⛰ Underground #rocks, through new climate technologies, have the potential to store large amounts of carbon dioxide. #Geological #sequestration injects carbon from the atmosphere into rock formations deep underground where it is intended to remain indefinitely. However, more remains to be done to scale these technologies and bring down the cost curve to encourage adoption. More critically, the key takeaway is that we need to continue to explore all avenues to reduce and mitigate the devasting effects of #climatechange. There is tremendous opportunity for climate action in every nook and cranny of Earth - be it through an unlikely area of wetlands, flora and fauna in our neighbourhoods, or through the unassuming rock formations that reside deep beneath our feet. What are some other unlikely #carbonsinks that we might have missed out on? Let us know if our comments section below! 💚💡
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Chief Climate Officer, Abt Global | Leveraging Public and Private Sector Impact for Climate, Health, Equity, and Inclusive Economic Growth
Today, the Arctic is warming four times faster than anywhere else on Earth. More light penetrating under sea ice means more algae blooms, which can impact the entire marine ecosystem (on top of contributing to rising sea levels) “The rapid changes happening in the Arctic will have widespread consequences that affect all of us." #ClimateChange #Arctic #Climate
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New research has found that Greenland's ice sheet is melting at an alarming rate due to global warming. As a result, vegetation is rapidly replacing the lost ice. According to the study, parts of Greenland are becoming green again, for the first time since the Vikings visited nearly 1,000 years ago. The study reports that an estimated 11,000 square miles of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers have melted over the past three decades, representing about 1.6% of Greenland's total ice and glacier cover. While this greening may seem like a positive development, it is actually a cause for concern. "The loss of ice mass in Greenland is a substantial contributor to global sea level rise, which poses significant challenges both now and in the future". If all the ice on Greenland melted, global seas would rise by about 23 feet, according to NASA. Additionally, freshwater intrusion into the ocean could affect underwater currents that influence climate and weather in the U.S. and around the world. It's important to take note of these developments, and the potential consequences they may have. As study lead author Michael Grimes points out, the loss of ice in Greenland is a trend that poses significant challenges both now and in the future. #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #Greenland #Sustainability
Greenland is turning green again for the first time since medieval times. Why it matters.
usatoday.com
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The Earth has undergone natural fluctuations in climate over millions of years, leading to periods of glacier advance and retreat. In the Sierra Nevada region, the most extensive glaciation occurred approximately one million years ago, with subsequent glacial periods occurring over time. The last glacier retreated from Yosemite Valley around 18,000 years ago, marking the end of the last glacial maximum known as the Tioga Glaciation. However, in the past century, most of the world's glaciers, including those in Yosemite, have experienced significant retreat. While historical temperatures have occasionally been warmer than today, the current warming trend stands out as unique. This trend is largely attributed to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which have reached concentrations unprecedented in the past half million years. Scientists predict that global temperatures will continue to rise in line with the trend of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. This underscores the urgent need for mitigating actions to address climate change and its impacts, including glacier retreat, to preserve the integrity of natural ecosystems and mitigate potential consequences for both human and environmental well-being (Yosemite National Park). Credit to: Yosemite National Park Photo by Roxanne Desgagnés on Unsplash #climatechange #sustainability #earth #nature #renewablenergy #renewables #renewableresource #renewablepower #decarbonization #glacier #glaciers #melting #meltingglacier
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A recent study has found the Greenland ice cap is losing 30 million tonnes of ice an hour due to climate change - 20% more than previously thought. This could have dire consequences on ocean currents in the North Atlantic. The ocean is the beating heart of planet Earth, and the lifeblood for all humanity. We must drastically reduce carbon pollution this decade to prevent further damage to our oceans and ecosystems.
Greenland losing 30m tonnes of ice an hour, study reveals
theguardian.com
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Plants needed millions of years to recover from past climate warming: The study reveals that Earth's past volcanic activity caused severe climate shifts. This led to mass extinctions and long-term warming. #Plants #ClimateWarming #VolcanicActivity #MassExtinctions #ClimateShifts #LongTermWarming #PlantHealth #PlantEvolution #EarthDotCom #EarthSnap #Earth
Plants needed millions of years to recover from past climate warming
earth.com
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With the looming threat of climate change, rising sea levels pose an existential risk to coastal communities worldwide. Just a couple of feet of sea level rise could have catastrophic consequences, putting millions of lives and livelihoods at risk. The collapse of the Thwaites glacier, often dubbed the 'doomsday glacier,' could exacerbate this crisis, triggering devastating flooding in cities like New York, Miami, and New Orleans. To combat the threat of glacial melting, geoengineers are pioneering innovative technologies like underwater curtains. John Moore, a glaciologist and researcher, proposes installing gigantic 62-mile-long curtains on the seafloor to prevent warm seawater from reaching and melting glaciers like Thwaites with $50 Billion Price Tag... https://lnkd.in/gysfPr2i #climatechange #Desaster #ClimateAction #climate
Doomsday Glacier Melting: Is $50-Billion Enough To Save the World?
https://emptystart.com
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'The tipping points at risk include the collapse of big ice sheets in Greenland and the West Antarctic, the widespread thawing of permafrost, the death of coral reefs in warm waters, and the collapse of atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic. Unlike other changes to the climate such as hotter heatwaves and heavier rainfall, these systems do not slowly shift in line with greenhouse gas emissions but can instead flip from one state to an entirely different one. When a climatic system tips – sometimes with a sudden shock – it may permanently alter the way the planet works. Scientists warn that there are large uncertainties around when such systems will shift but the report found that three more may soon join the list. These include mangroves and seagrass meadows, which are expected to die off in some regions if the temperatures rise between 1.5C and 2C, and boreal forests, which may tip as early as 1.4C of heating or as late as 5C.' https://lnkd.in/eCG2Rtek
Earth on verge of five catastrophic climate tipping points, scientists warn
theguardian.com
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Nature Author published 5 books, Environmental Consultant national and international, Biodiversity Expert, Conservationist all the way
The problem of climate change is that we disturbed earth dynamics and phenomena beyond our capacity to even comprehend !!! So as “the salty, relatively warm ocean water meets the ice, it’s causing “vigorous melting” underneath the glacier and could mean global sea level rise”.
Ocean water is rushing miles underneath the ‘Doomsday Glacier’ with potentially dire impacts on sea level rise | CNN
edition.cnn.com
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The ocean's rainbow is turning ghostly white as coral reefs face a climate crisis. The recent data on coral reefs worldwide is alarming, with at least 54 countries experiencing mass bleaching due to rising ocean temperatures. The intense heat stress is triggering a fourth global bleaching event in just three decades, with corals expelling colorful algae crucial for their survival. Scientists warn that more than 54% of global reef areas are under bleaching-level heat stress, signaling a dire situation for these vital ecosystems. The recurring bleaching events are disrupting earlier predictions, suggesting that coral-dominated ecosystems may cease to exist with just 1.2 degrees Celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels. The urgency to curb carbon dioxide emissions has never been clearer, as coral reefs face an irreversible decline without immediate action. #ClimateChange #CoralReefs #ClimateCrisis #OceanHealth #BleachingEvent #EnvironmentalCrisis #GlobalWarming #SaveOurReefs #MarineLife #ClimateAction #OceanConservation https://aje.io/c6or0x
Coral reefs around the world experiencing mass bleaching, scientists say
aljazeera.com
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What is happening in the Arctic is very real and should serve as a warning to everyone who cares about the future of the planet as we know it The Arctic is warming at roughly twice the rate of the globe as a whole. As the planet warms, the consequent loss of reflective snow and sea ice would further warm the Arctic,region. Climate models have consistently pointed to “Arctic amplification” emerging as greenhouse gas concentrations increase. Some of the emerging patterns are: -Frequent arctic heat waves - Warm ocean waters: The loss of sea ice also affects the temperature, creating a feedback loop. Earth’s ice and snow cover reflect the Sun’s incoming energy, helping to keep the region cool. When that reflective cover is gone, the dark ocean and land absorb the heat, further raising the surface temperature. - Warming permafrost: The perennially frozen ground that underlies most Arctic terrain. When permafrost thaws under homes and bridges, infrastructure can sink, tilt and collapse. -Siberian forest fires: Drier forests are more prone to fires, often from lightning strikes. When forests burn, the dark, exposed soil left behind can absorb more heat and hasten warming #seaice #arctic #heatwave #globalwarming #forestfires #permafrost Read more at Planthro BIBLIO: https://lnkd.in/edhuChvK Planthro CORP: https://www.planthro.org/ Platform anthropocene Inc. #planthro This article was republished in the University of Colorado Boulder Discover CU Boulder Arts & Sciences Magazine https://lnkd.in/eKbEi4c
100 degrees in Siberia? 5 ways the extreme Arctic heat wave follows a disturbing pattern
colorado.edu
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