Latest news with #AdvancingEarthandSpaceSciences
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists raise concerns after discovering peculiar phenomenon affecting entire country's terrain: 'Strong correlations'
As rising sea levels erode South Africa's coastline, droughts are raising the country's land in other areas, DW reported. According to a recent study published in the AGU's Advancing Earth and Space Sciences journal, South Africa's land is rising by 2 millimeters annually. The research challenged the prevailing view that the shifts on the continent were caused by activity related to the Quathlamba hotspot under the Earth's surface. However, the team identified a different cause: groundwater loss caused by persistent droughts. As the study's summary stated: "Our GPS-derived water mass changes show strong correlations with other hydrological data sets. We suggest that the uplift in South Africa is largely due to drought." Last year, South Africa and its neighbors experienced what the U.N.'s Food Program called the "worst drought in a century," per Al Jazeera. It has put a massive strain on the country's food security. Around the same time, extreme events, including hurricanes, wildfires, and heavy rainfall, are battering the southwestern cape. Experts emphasize the importance of treating the two divergent situations as part of the same problem. David Willima, an ocean governance policy researcher in South Africa, told DW: "The problem has been that South Africa hasn't successfully linked climate and ocean discussions, they're often treated as separate issues." Human activity is driving both phenomena. Harmful pollution from burning fossil fuels is warming ocean temperatures, accelerating sea ice loss, raising sea levels, and making extreme weather events more frequent and severe. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to rising global temperatures, as many smaller farms depend on rain-fed agriculture. Without regular rainfall, the region faces a food insecurity crisis. Aside from water shortages, South Africa is vulnerable to other natural disasters. Riverine flooding, wildfires, and tropical storms all present significant risks, according to a report commissioned by the World Bank. South Africa still relies heavily on fossil fuels, especially coal, to meet its energy needs. Although coal is the dirtiest energy source, it provides 86% of the country's energy, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development. Ending fossil fuel subsidies and supporting clean, renewable energy should be prioritized. Additionally, adopting more sustainable agricultural methods will help ease the water crisis. Some farmers are already reaping the benefits of no-till farming, which uses less water and chemical fertilizers while boosting crop yields. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue urgent warning about looming threat to coastal communities around the world: 'It underscores the severe impacts'
Scientists are warning that if heat-trapping pollution continues to rise, sea levels will very likely climb half a meter to two meters (1.6 to 6.6 feet) by the end of this century, a range that is 90 centimeters (about three feet) higher than the latest United Nations projections. A team of researchers from the Netherlands and Singapore say that under a high emissions scenario, the very likely range of sea-level rise would significantly surpass projections from the United Nations. Very likely means a 90% probability that this could happen. "Under a low-emissions scenario, the fusion's very likely range of global mean sea-level rise is 0.3–1.0 m by 2100," according to the team's research article published in Advancing Earth and Space Sciences journal Earth's Future. Under a high-emissions scenario, the likely range is 0.5-1.9 meters. Do you think the federal government should give us tax breaks to improve our homes? Definitely Only for certain upgrades Let each state decide instead No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The scientists behind the article employed a new method known as the "fusion approach" to calculate sea level projections. The key points of this improved approach include fusing "the complementary strengths of alternative projections of sea-level rise" and using "a single probabilistic projection that quantifies a best estimate of scientific uncertainty." The latest projection range points out how much uncertainty there is regarding sea-level rise. The researchers say that a high-end projection of nearly two meters especially highlights the need for the future plans of decision-makers to take precautions to protect critical infrastructure. "This NTU research represents a significant breakthrough in sea-level science. By estimating the probability of the most extreme outcomes, it underscores the severe impacts of sea-level rise on coastal communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need to address the climate crisis," said director of Earth Observatory of Singapore at NTU and co-author of the study Professor Benjamin Horton, per Researchers tied sea-level rise to the extinction of a plant local to the Florida Keys. Our overheating planet is warming the oceans and melting ice sheets fast enough that it could dramatically alter coastal states. Miami may be the canary in the coal mine when it comes to cities already dealing with the impacts of rising water levels. Rescuers were called into Florida's second-most populous city last summer during a rare flash flood emergency. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, adaptation strategies include building flood barriers to protect infrastructure and elevating or relocating facilities. The EPA also recommends protecting nearby wetlands, as they provide a buffer during storm surge events. Drastically reducing the amount of heat-trapping gases released into Earth's atmosphere is the most effective way to combat sea-level rise. This will require embracing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Modernizing our homes by upgrading to LED bulbs, signing up for community solar, and unplugging energy vampires are all ways we can help. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
