Tackling technology to track wildlife in a changing world
As warming temperatures change climate conditions, making summers longer and winters shorter, scientists are anxious to know how that's affecting wildlife. Two stories this week highlight how technology is helping researchers learn more about how animals move.
Welcome to Climate Point, your weekly guide to climate, energy and the environment. I'm Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent with USA TODAY, and it's always fun to learn something interesting about animals.
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Video captures small eruption at Yellowstone pool, 1 year after dangerous blast
Video captures small eruption at Yellowstone pool, 1 year after dangerous blast Show Caption Hide Caption Yellowstone thermal pool eruption caught on web camera Nearly a year after a large hydrothermal explosion, a webcam captured a small eruption at the same basin in Yellowstone National Park. A newly-installed webcam captured a hydrothermal eruption at Yellowstone National Park, less than a year after a sizeable explosion destroyed the same area. The webcam captured a small eruption at Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin − just north of Old Faithful − at 8:39 p.m. MDT on May 31, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The webcam was installed on May 14 as a way to track hydrothermal activity at Black Diamond Pool following a dangerously large explosion at the site in July 2024. Though the May 31 eruption is the only one caught on official video, the USGS has received several reports of other sporadic eruptions over the past year. Watch the eruption "It is likely that these small eruptions are a result of the hydrothermal plumbing system for the pool adjusting after the major disruption of the larger explosion last summer," USGS Scientist-in-Charge Michael Poland told USA TODAY. Previously: A baffling, dangerous explosion in Yellowstone: What is a hydrothermal explosion? What causes a hydrothermal explosion? A hydrothermal explosion occurs when hot water in a volcano system turns into steam in a confined area. A sudden drop in pressure causes rapid expansion of the high-temperature fluids and a crater-forming eruption. How the 2024 explosion at Biscuit Basin affected Black Diamond Pool Watch: Hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone sends guests running Video captured the moments when a hydrothermal explosion terrified people visiting Yellowstone National Park. A larger, more dangerous hydrothermal explosion occurred at Biscuit Basin on July 23, 2024, sending steam and debris hundreds of feet in the area. A nearby boardwalk was destroyed and some of the rocks near the explosion site weighed hundreds of pounds, according to the National Park Service. Although visitors were at the basin during the explosion, no injuries were reported. As a result of the explosion, Black Diamond Pool changed shape, the National Park Service reported. As of June 3, the parking lot and boardwalk at Biscuit Basin remained closed due to the possibility of another hydrothermal event, the National Park Service's website stated. Can you watch the livestream at home? No. Livestreaming is not supported at Black Diamond Pool. However, video is recorded on-site and new images are posted on the U.S. Geological Survey website every 15 minutes. Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Mount Etna still smoldering day after eruption, drone video shows
Mount Etna still smoldering day after eruption, drone video shows Show Caption Hide Caption Drone: Mount Etna billows volcanic gas after eruption Drone footage of Mount Etna shows the volcano still billowing volcanic gas. Europe's largest and most active volcano sent people scurrying on Monday, June 2, when it erupted, throwing plumes of ash and smoke into the air. Mount Etna, an active stratovolcano located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, is known for its frequent eruptions, which produce everything from huge explosions and lava flows to simple ash emissions, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Monday's activity was believed to be a "pyroclastic flow," according to a translated post shared by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). This means the eruption was a combination of ash, rock, and gas, "probably produced by the collapse of material from the northern side of the Southeast Crater." The local alerts for volcanic activity were downgraded to yellow as of Tuesday, a more typical rating for the area. No injuries were reported, no lava flow was spotted and operations at the nearby Catania airport remained normal after the eruption. See video of Mount Etna smoldering day after eruption Drone footage captured the day after shows the volcano continuing to smolder as gas escapes into the atmosphere. See photos of Mount Etna eruption Contributing: Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Giant plume of Saharan dust to hit US. What does it mean for tropical storm development?
A plume of dust from the Saharan Desert is expected to sweep across the Gulf Coast this week, bringing hazy skies and reduced air quality to millions from Texas to Florida. While the heaviest concentrations are forecast for the southeastern U.S., the eastern half of Texas, particularly the stretch from Houston to Dallas, will still see dust-laden skies beginning this weekend. Fortunately for Texans, the dust isn't expected to be as dense as in other states, though it may still pose discomfort for those with respiratory issues. It's also fortunate for residents of Florida and other Gulf Coast states — where the National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical system that has the potential to develop — as the dust could suppress and weaken the system that's right off the southeastern United States coastline. This refers to the dust carried by winds across the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert. Thunderstorms in the Sahara region stir up dust and push it into the atmosphere. The dust is then transported across the Atlantic and deposited in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. While it primarily affects Puerto Rico, it can also reach states such as Florida and Texas. According to the CDC, Saharan dust transported to the United States is a normal occurrence, especially from late June to mid-August. While Saharan dust can lead to hazy skies and poor air quality across parts of the Gulf Coast, it also plays a significant role in shaping tropical weather patterns, often for the better, at least in terms of storm suppression. Alex DaSilva, hurricane expert for AccuWeather, previously told USA TODAY that Saharan dust can act as a natural deterrent to tropical storm development. 'It basically can choke off these systems because, again, they want plenty of moisture, and when you're taking the moisture away, it makes it harder for thunderstorms to develop," DaSilva previously told USA TODAY. In addition to drying out the atmosphere, the dust also increases wind shear and atmospheric stability — two other key factors that can hinder storm formation. Although Saharan dust was crossing the Atlantic during the intensification of Hurricane Beryl, the storm was able to strengthen because it developed ahead of the densest plume of dust. This placed it in a pocket of relatively moist, unstable air — the kind of environment tropical systems need to grow. A light layer of Saharan dust is expected to settle over South Texas on Monday, drifting north into the Dallas-Fort Worth area by Tuesday. Conditions should clear briefly on Wednesday before a thicker wave moves in Thursday and Friday. Another round is possible over the weekend or early next week. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What is Saharan dust? How it may impact tropical system near Florida
