Science

Climate Warms UP Once Again In 2022

Published

2 years ago

2023-01-12

Kiara Grace

DENVER — Last year, the Earth’s fever didn’t go away. It didn’t reach a record high, but government groups say it was still one of the five or six warmest years on record.

Scientists from the US government, on the other hand, say that climate change caused by burning coal, oil, and gas will make the next few years the hottest on record.

Despite a La Nina, a cooling of the equatorial Pacific that somewhat lowers world average temperatures, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says 2022’s global average temperature was 14.76 degrees Celsius, placing it sixth on record. Because of data concerns, NOAA still needs to include the polar regions but will do so soon.

If the Arctic, warming three to four times faster, and Antarctica are included, NOAA says it will be the fifth warmest on record. Traditionally including the Arctic in its worldwide estimates, NASA stated that 2022 is tied for the fifth warmest with 2015. Four other scientific institutions or organizations worldwide rank the year as the fifth or sixth hottest on record.

NOAA And NASA Have Records Dating Back To 1880.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that global warming is “very alarming… What we’re seeing is our warming climate warning us all. The intensity of forest fires is increasing. Hurricanes are becoming more powerful. Droughts are wreaking havoc on the environment. The sea level is rising. Extreme weather patterns endanger our well-being all around the world.”

According to Berkeley Earth, a nonprofit collection of independent scientists, it was the fifth warmest and hottest year for 28 countries, including China, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, and New Zealand.

Another group, whose satellite-based estimations are typically cooler than other science teams, claimed it was the fifth hottest year.

2022’s Climate Was Hotter Than 2021

Last year was slightly hotter than 2021, but scientists believe the real issue is that the last eight years, beginning in 2015, have been a step above the increased temperatures the world has been experiencing. According to NOAA and NASA, the last eight years have been warmer, over 1.8 degrees (1 degree Celsius), than pre-industrial times. According to NASA, last year was 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than in the mid-nineteenth century.

“The previous eight years have certainly been warmer than the years before,” said Russ Vose, chief of NOAA’s analysis section.

In a human body, an extra 2 degrees Fahrenheit is considered a fever, but Renee McPherson, a University of Oklahoma meteorology professor who was not part of any of the study teams, believes global warming is worse than the equivalent of a planetary fever because fevers can be treated to go away quickly.

“You can’t take a pill for it. Therefore the solutions aren’t simple,” McPherson explained. “It’s more of what you’d call a chronic sickness, like cancer.”

Each Year Will Get Warmer And Warmer

“Every tenth of a degree matters and things break down, and that’s what we’re witnessing,” says Climate Central Chief Meteorologist Bernadette Woods Plucky, comparing the situation to a fever.

The World Meteorological Organization says that it is more likely that the world will warm more each year than the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) limit agreed upon in 2015. According to the United Nations Weather Service, the previous ten years have been 1.14 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial periods. Vose says there is a 50/50 chance that the temperature will briefly reach 1.5 degrees Celsius in the 2020s climate.

Vose and NASA Goddard Institute Director Gavin Schmidt stated that there are indications of an acceleration in warming, but the data isn’t yet solid enough to be certain. However, they claim that the overall warming trend is unbreakable.

“You’ve seen this steady increase in temperature since the mid-1970s, and that’s completely resistant to all the different approaches,” Schmidt said.

La Nina Will Happen More Often

La Nina, a natural phenomenon that affects weather worldwide, is in its third year. Schmidt concluded that the La Nina lowered overall temperatures by around a tenth of a degree (.06 degrees Celsius) last year, even though it was the hottest La Nina year on record.

“The La Nina years of now are not yesterday,” said Kathie Dello, a state climatologist in North Carolina. “In the past, we could count on La Nina to lower the world thermostat. Heat-trapping gases keep the temperature high, ensuring another top-10 warmest year on record.”

With La Nina likely receding and a possible El Nino on the horizon, Schmidt predicts that this year’s climate will be warmer than 2022. And keep an eye out for an El Nino next year.

“That would imply that 2024 would be the warmest year on record by a significant margin,” Schmidt said

Scientists estimate that 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases ends up in the upper 6,561 feet (2000 meters) of the ocean, and numbers released Wednesday suggest that 2022 will be another record year for ocean heat.

“There’s a fairly good connection between the patterns of ocean warming, stratification, and then the weather that we experience in our daily life on land,” a research co-author of the University of St. Thomas said.

Global warming first made news in the United States in 1988, when Schmidt’s predecessor, climate scientist James Hansen, testified about worsening warming. That year would be the warmest on record.

1988 Is Now The 28th Warmest Year On Record.

According to NOAA, the last time the Earth was cooler than the 20th-century average was in 1976.

However, scientists believe that average temperatures do not significantly impact humans and climate. What bothers and upsets people is how global warming makes extreme weather events like heat waves, floods, droughts, and storms harsher, more frequent, or both.

“These trends should concern everyone,” said Natalie Mahowald, a climate scientist at Cornell University who was not part of the study teams.

According to WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas, these extremes will “undermine health, food, energy, and water security, as well as infrastructure” in 2022. Large parts of Pakistan were inundated, resulting in significant economic losses and human deaths. Heat waves of unprecedented proportions have been recorded in China, Europe, and North and South America. Long-term drought in the Horn of Africa threatens a humanitarian disaster.

SOURCE – (AP)

Science

Canadian Researchers Look to Plants for Bacterial Infections

Published

3 weeks ago

2024-11-30

Geoff Brown

These plants are being studied for their effectiveness in battling bacterial infections

Canadian researchers are exploring novel techniques with plants to address major difficulties caused by bacterial infections, such as using antibacterial plants to control bacteria in poultry meat.

Antibiotics have been routinely used in poultry farming to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic overuse has resulted in the rise of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, endangering both animal and human health.

This has pushed scientists to investigate alternative methods of controlling bacterial infections in chickens, Agrinews Group reports.

Researchers in Canada are investigating the antibacterial properties of native plant extracts. Rumex and Potentilla are two distinct plants that have proven potential.

These plants are being studied for their effectiveness in battling bacterial infections such as Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC), a common cause of chicken sickness.

Rumex and Potentilla fight bacterial infections.

Dr. Sophie Kernéis-Golsteyn, a microbiologist at Lethbridge Polytechnic in Alberta, leads a 2.5-year Egg Farmers of Canada program.

Since 2016, her team has been testing native plants for antibacterial properties, collecting 150 samples. Rumex and Potentilla extracts are highly effective at protecting chickens from bacterial diseases.

These plants’ antibacterial properties are attributed to their ability to increase beneficial microbiota and stimulate the production of digestive enzymes. These botanical extracts reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and improve overall productivity in poultry.

The use of antimicrobial flora in avian husbandry has many benefits. First, it reduces reliance on antibiotics, lowering the danger of antibiotic resistance.

Furthermore, it improves chicken health and well-being by boosting their immune response and digestive function. Finally, it aligns with client preferences for organic and sustainable agriculture practices.

While the potential benefits are significant, there are some drawbacks to consider. The efficiency of plant extracts may vary based on factors such as extraction technique, dosage, and the bacterial strains involved.

Furthermore, more research is required to fully understand the long-term impacts of using these plants in poultry production. The study of antimicrobial plants for bacterial control in chickens is a promising field of research in Canada.

Researchers are looking for effective and sustainable alternatives to antibiotics. One strategy is to leverage the natural properties of plants such as Rumex and Potentilla. This strategy reduces antibiotic resistance and improves the overall health and productivity of chicken farms.

Mexico Wants US To Finance 4 Wind Power Plants

Science

Australia Asks Residents to Catch Deadly Funnel Web Spider

Published

1 month ago

2024-11-20

Geoff Brown

As summer approaches in Australia, residents are warned to look out for the funnel web spider, one of the country’s deadliest species.

In addition to advising the public to avoid funnel-web spiders during mating season, the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales has even asked people to capture live funnel-web spiders so they can “milk” their venom.

Native to eastern Australia, the funnel web spider can kill humans in as little as fifteen minutes if they do not receive medical treatment for its poisonous bite.

There have been thirteen fatalities attributable to this species, but none since the development of antivenom in 1981. The Australian Reptile Park is appealing to the public for assistance capturing and donating spiders, as the serum relies on milking live spiders.

Hunting for the funnel net spider in residential areas is common practice after a particularly wet and warm season. Look for spiders in cool, dark places like pools, garden residue, heaps of dirty clothing, and outside shoes.

Australian Reptile Park spider keeper Emma Teni recently blogged about how they rely on spider donations more than ever, especially now that breeding season has arrived and the temperature is perfect.

“Male funnel-web spiders have short lifespans, and with approximately 150 spiders required to make just one vial of antivenom, we need the public’s help to ensure we have enough venom to meet demand.”

“If you spot an egg sac while collecting a spider, it’s important to safely collect that as well,” said Teni. “It can provide a robust supply of healthy young spiders to aid in our antivenom production.”

The spiders won’t be able to climb plastic or glass, but Teni suggests capturing funnel webs in a wide-mouthed jar with a cover. Then, you can lead the spiders into the container using a long spoon or something similar.

After that, fill the jar with moist soil, screw on the top, and bring it to the designated drop-off spot.

“We depend on the public for spider donations, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe during the collection process, especially with conditions being so favourable this year,” said Teni.

Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Presser Video from Australia

Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video

Science

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

Published

2 months ago

2024-10-10

Kiara Grace

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – A spacecraft launched Monday to probe the site of a cosmic accident.

The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft launched on a two-year trip to the little, harmless asteroid slammed by NASA two years ago as a practice run for the day when a murderous space rock threatens Earth. It’s the second phase of a planetary defense experiment that could one day save the globe.

SpaceX’s Falcon rocket vanished with Hera into the late morning clouds. An hour later, cheering erupted in the control center in Germany as the spacecraft split from the rocket’s upper stage and returned home. “It’s an amazing day,” the space agency’s director general, Josef Aschbacher, said later.

The 2022 crash of NASA’s Dart spacecraft reduced Dimorphos’ orbit around its larger companion, indicating that if a harmful rock was heading our way, it might be pushed off course with adequate warning.

nasa

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

Scientists are eager to analyze the aftermath of the impact up close to determine how effective Dart was and what improvements may be required to protect Earth in the future.

“The more detail we can glean the better as it may be important for planning a future deflection mission should one be needed,” University of Maryland astronomer Derek Richardson stated before launch.

Researchers want to know if Dart (short for Double Asteroid Redirection Test) created a crater or changed the 500-foot (150-meter) asteroid more dramatically. It seemed to be a flying saucer before Dart’s blow and may now resemble a kidney bean, according to Richardson, who participated in the Dart mission and is assisting Hera.

Dart’s wallop sent rubble and boulders hurtling off Dimorphos, adding to the impact’s momentum. For months, the debris track extended thousands of miles (almost 10,000 kilometers) into space.

According to flight director Ignacio Tanco, some rocks and debris may still be hovering about the asteroid, posing a threat to Hera.

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

“We don’t really know very well the environment in which we are going to operate,” Tanco informed me. “But that’s the whole point of the mission is to go there and find out.”

European authorities refer to the $400 million (363 million euros) effort as a “crash scene investigation.”

“Hera is going back to the crime scene and getting all the scientific and technical information,” said project manager Ian Carnelli.

Carrying a dozen science instruments, the compact car-sized Hera must swing past Mars in 2025 for a gravitational boost before landing at Dimorphos by the end of 2026. It’s a moonlet of Didymos, the Greek word for twin, a five-times larger asteroid that spins quickly. At that point, the asteroids will be 120 million miles (195 million kilometers) from Earth.

Hera will attempt to enter orbit around the rocky duo, progressively reducing flyby distances from 18 miles (30 kilometers) to a half-mile (1 kilometer). The spacecraft will examine the moonlet for at least six months to determine its mass, shape, composition, and orbit around Didymos.

Before the crash, Dimorphos circled its larger partner from three-quarters of a mile (1,189 meters) away. Scientists believe the orbit has become tighter and more oval-shaped, and that the moonlet may be tumbling.

Two shoebox-sized Cubesats will launch from Hera for even closer drone-like examinations, with one employing radar to peek beneath the moonlet’s boulder-strewn surface. Scientists believe Dimorphos was produced from particles shed by Didymos. The radar measurements should assist in determining whether Didymos is the small moon’s parent.

A Spacecraft Is On Its Way To A Harmless Asteroid Slammed By NASA In A Previous Save-The-Earth Test

After their survey, the CubeSats will attempt to land on the moonlet. If the moonlet tumbles, the situation will become more complicated. Hera may potentially conclude its mission with a perilous touchdown but on the bigger Didymos.

Neither asteroid poses a threat to Earth, before or after Dart appeared. That is why NASA chose the pair for humanity’s first asteroid-deflecting demonstration.

Asteroids, which are remnants of the solar system’s origin 4.6 billion years ago, circle the sun principally between Mars and Jupiter in what is known as the main asteroid belt, where millions of them live. When they fall from the belt and land in our area, they become near-Earth objects.

NASA now has around 36,000 near-Earth objects, the majority of which are asteroids, although there are also some comets. More than 2,400 of them are deemed potentially dangerous to the Earth.

SOURCE | AP