Latest news with #Arctic
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Scientists Investigate as Whale Deaths Surge in San Francisco Bay
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A total of 15 whales, including 14 gray whales and one minke whale, have died so far in 2025, according to a joint press release from California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center. "The reason or potential reasons behind the massive spike in sightings this year are still being investigated by researchers," the release said. The latest death, a gray whale found in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday, marked the sixth whale death in as many days. Newsweek reached out via email to the California Academy of Sciences and the Marine Mammal Center on Saturday during non-working hours for more information. Why It Matters There has been "unusually high number of sightings" of whales in the region this year but there has also been an increase in deaths. The whale population has seen a 45 percent decrease since the 2019- 2023 Unusual Mortality Event (UME), according to the release. A record-low number of newborn whales was also seen this year, causing concern among researchers for the long-term outlook for the North Pacific gray whales, following the second UME in a 20-year period. "These whales basically left the Arctic with a half tank," Giancarlo Rulli, a spokesperson for the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, recently told about the other deceased whales discovered in the region. "The food sources that they were normally accustomed to eating that were highly nutritious for this massive, 10,000–12,000-mile journey, had moved farther away due to climate change, and as a result, these whales were left to forage on food matter that was much less nutritious." What To Know The whale on Wednesday was found near the Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore, the joint release said, which is about 30 miles northwest of San Francisco. While some of the deceased mammals have been necropsied, others have either been too far decomposed or stranded in areas that are inaccessible, making it difficult to pin these deaths on one similar cause. While it is not unusual to see whales in the region as they migrate, the number of deaths is the highest it has been, including in 2019 when 14 whales were found deceased in the UME, according to the release. The number of deaths currently matches the record of 15 for all of 2021, the release said. At least three of these deaths have been attributed to suspected vessel strikes, but others remain undetermined. The whales that have been spotted alive have been observed to be either regular size or emaciated. There are a total of 33 confirmed gray whale sightings in the San Francisco Bay this year, compared to only six seen last year, with about a third of those whales remaining in the bay for about 20 days. Whale carcasses have been found as far north as Alamere Falls, as far west as Farallon Islands and as inland as Berkeley. Beachgoers look at a dead juvenile Humpback Whale that washed up on Baker Beach on April 21, 2020, in San Francisco. Beachgoers look at a dead juvenile Humpback Whale that washed up on Baker Beach on April 21, 2020, in San Francisco. Photo byWhat People Are Saying The California Academy of Sciences and partners at The Marine Mammal Center said in the press release: "With San Francisco Bay serving as a shared space for commerce and increased gray whale activity, experts at the Academy and the Center note it's vital that all boaters—from large commercial vessels to sailboats—be 'whale aware' and continue to slow down. Gray whales often have a very low profile in the water that can make them difficult to sight, unlike other coastal whales like humpback whales." What Happens Next The results of the necropsy on the whale found on Wednesday are still pending, complicated by a number of factors due to "inaccessible locations that hinder full post-mortem investigations, as well as poor tissue quality from advanced decomposition, and the lack of available locations to tow for further investigation." Meanwhile, the whales that are alive are expected to be in "the bay for another one to two weeks before continuing their annual northern migration to arctic feeding grounds," according to the release. If people do see whales, they can report them through an app called Whale Alert or the Marine Mammal Center website. Sightings of dead whales should be reported to the Academy's department of Ornithology and Mammalogy.
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- Science
- India Gazette
Rare Arctic bird Sabine's Gull makes rare appearance in Nalsarova
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], May 31 (ANI): Globally rare Arctic bird, Sabine's Gull, made a rare appearance at Gujarat's Nalsarova on Saturday morning. On Saturday morning, staff of the Forest Department at the Nalsarovar Wildlife Sanctuary--a Ramsar site--spotted the rare Sabine's Gull, a moment of thrill, pride, and joy for bird enthusiasts and ornithologists alike. The bird was observed in the open waters of the wetland by sanctuary staff and visiting bird watchers. Furthermore, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary Division, Sakkira Begum, stated that under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and the leadership of Forest and Environment Minister Mulubhai Bera and Minister of State Mukesh Patel, the state has been achieving significant progress in wildlife conservation and promotion. As a result, birds from across the globe are increasingly choosing Gujarat as their seasonal home--a matter of great pride for the state's people. Further elaborating on the observation, Begum stated that the sighting was exceptional, as Sabine's Gull rarely migrates to the Indian subcontinent. According to the public bird-watching database, such occurrences are extremely rare. The last recorded sighting in India was in 2013, in Kerala. The bird observed at Nalsarovar was photographed by birding guide Gani Sama. Sabine's Gull is a small and strikingly beautiful gull, notable for its sharp black hood, clean grey upperparts, white nape, and, most uniquely, its tri-colored wings--marked in black, white, and grey. It is one of only two gull species with a black bill tipped with yellow and a forked, notched tail. The species primarily breeds in the high-latitude Arctic regions of North America, Greenland, and Siberia, nesting near wet tundra areas. For winter, it migrates to tropical upwelling zones--highly productive marine areas off the coasts of South America and western Africa. It does not typically pass through India during migration, making this sighting both rare and significant. Experts believe that the bird may have strayed from its usual migratory route. Such occurrences are of great interest and value to ornithologists and avian researchers. Nalsarovar is among India's largest and most ecologically significant wetland sanctuaries, home to numerous migratory and resident bird species such as flamingos, pelicans, ducks, and herons. The rare appearance of Sabine's Gull further underscores the sanctuary's global importance in bird conservation and elevates its status in international ornithological research. This sighting emphasises the importance of continued monitoring and documentation by Forest Department staff and bird watchers. Rare observations such as this help researchers better understand bird migration routes, behavioural patterns, and the effects of environmental and climatic changes. The Forest Department encourages all visitors and researchers to report any unusual or noteworthy bird sightings, thereby contributing to the growing understanding of India's rich avian diversity. (ANI)
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scientists prep bold experiments to fight Arctic phenomenon with global implications: 'Dramatic changes'
A team of climate researchers and engineers is working together with local Arctic communities to implement bold new strategies to address melting sea ice. In a recent article for The Conversation, Shaun Fitzgerald, Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge, divulged takeaways from his recent trip to Cambridge Bay in Northern Canada. He visited the region with two projects, Real Ice and Arctic Reflections, both of which aim to slow down the loss of sea ice through experimental strategies. "The dramatic changes in the Arctic warrant investigation into interventions that could have an impact sooner than cutting emissions or removing greenhouse gases," Fitzgerald explained. Sea ice plays a crucial role in temperature regulation globally. With changing temperatures, this delicate balance between warming and cooling of the Arctic has been thrown off balance, causing sea ice to melt more rapidly than it can refreeze in the colder months. Arctic Reflections notes that rising global temperatures have "reduced the Arctic sea ice volume already by 75% over the last 40 years." The ramifications of melting Arctic ice impact more than just the local communities in the far north — this phenomenon has global implications. More melted sea ice means more water in the ocean, which means higher tides during extreme weather events, disrupting food systems with habitat loss for certain animals, and even prompting an increase in the spread of disease. A study published this year even asserted that Arctic sea ice melting is contributing to changing weather patterns in other parts of the world. The team Fitzgerald worked with in Cambridge Bay has three bold concepts to combat the rapid deterioration of the polar ice caps. The first promotes ice growth by pouring seawater onto the surface of sea ice. The second uses snow as an insulator and floods it to create a solid ice sheet that promotes more freezing underneath. The third addresses melt ponds that form in the summer by drilling into them to drain them, leaving reflective ice at the surface to protect the sea ice below. These experiments are educated hypotheses by the team based on mathematical modelling, lab experiments, and smaller field experiments. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The goal is to gather essential real-world data to rigorously assess if this intervention warrants further consideration," Fitzgerald explained. While initial results have been inconclusive, the field experiments have been encouraging. But Fitzgerald concluded that big swings like these experiments are an important step toward the ultimate goal of preserving the global climate. "With slow progress [in combatting global temperature increases] over the past few decades, additional measures may buy us time," he asserted. 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.
Mint
11 hours ago
- Mint
Prince Harry's travel to China raises eyebrows, contradicts his climate change mission
Prince Harry flew from Los Angeles to Shanghai to talk about saving the environment and promoting eco-friendly travel. In China, he spoke at a tourism event as the founder of Travalyst, a group that supports sustainable travel. Travalyst, Prince Harry's group, is promoting a carbon calculator made with help from big travel and tech companies. This tool has been criticised before for showing lower emissions from flights. Travalyst says people should pick closer travel spots to reduce carbon impact. They aim to give clear info about flight emissions. The UK government says one return business class flight on this route causes 4,575 kg CO2, which is likely to melt 13.5 square metres of Arctic summer sea ice. but, Travalyst's tool shows only 2,600kg, The Times reported. This raised questions about the message he shared at the event. According to his speech, climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a business concern. Prince Harry's group, Travalyst, promotes eco-friendly travel. He has travelled abroad only three times for its work in six years, doing most meetings online, A spokesperson told The Times. Started in 2019 with partners like Google and Travalyst employs 20 people. It advises people to travel locally and take trains when possible. If flying, it urges people to choose flights with lower carbon emissions. In its five-year milestone report, Travalyst highlights these steps as key ways travellers can reduce their impact on the environment. 'When considering how to get there, think about low-carbon transport options such as rail. And, if flying is your only option, look for carbon emissions information when booking flights and prioritise those that have lower-than-average emissions,' says the report. Travalyst promotes a flight carbon calculator called the Travel Impact Model (TIM), developed by Google. It helps travellers see the climate impact of their flights. Nevertheless, experts say it may show lower emissions than the real impact. Greenpeace criticised it in 2022 for 'airbrushing' effects like heat-trapping condensation trails. Some experts feel the model makes airlines look better than they are. Travalyst claims the model now includes more greenhouse gases and better estimates for planes carrying cargo and people.
The Star
17 hours ago
- Science
- The Star
20,000YO whale bone tools are the oldest known evidence of humans using tools
A file picture from 2021 of a projectile made from gray whale bone, dating back to about 18,000 years ago. — ALEXANDRE LEFEBVRE/AP Scientists have pinpointed the oldest known evidence of humans making tools from whale bone. The bones, fashioned into narrow projectiles for hunting, had been uncovered in excavations dating back over a century in the Bay of Biscay near Spain and France. Scientists figured the tools were quite ancient, but many were small fragments so it was hard to determine their age. Technological advancements in the past decade have now made it possible to date the oldest of the tools to about 20,000 years ago. Scientists found that the bones came from blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales and other species. "Humans and whales have clearly been encountering one another for a long time,' said Vicki Szabo with Western Carolina University in North Carolina, United States, who studies the history of whaling and was not involved with the latest research. Scientists think that ancient humans were crafting whale bone instruments in places including the Arctic and South Pacific. There's been solid evidence of whale bone tools dating back to about 5,000 years ago, but the new research published in the journal Nature Communications pushes the timeline back. Ancient humans weren't necessarily hunting whales, said study author Jean-Marc Petillon with the French National Centre for Scientific Research. More likely, they were scavenging the bodies of beached whales and fashioning their dense, heavy bones into tools to hunt reindeer or bison. The tools indicate that ancient people in the area took advantage of resources near the sea for survival. They likely also collected seashells and fished. Finding such evidence has been difficult as rising sea levels disrupt coastlines across the globe, scientists said. "It's one more contribution to the importance of coastal environments for human groups, even in this long past," said Petillon. – AP
