Arctic sea ice cover hits its worst record for 2018

• The ice cover in arctic reached its lowest on September  2018,and it gets worsened day by day.
• With an ice cover of 4.59 million sq km, 2018 is tied with 2008 and 2010 for the sixth lowest summertime ice cover.
• The growth and decay of ice capping in Arctic ocean depends on several reasons.
• It thickens during fall and winter and thin during summer and spring.
• This affects earth's weather patterns and ocean circulation.
• The scientist in NASA says that cover is relatively higher that what it was in 2012, but relatively lower than in 1970s , 80s, and 90s.

source :https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/arctic-sea-ice-cover-hits-its-worst-record-for-2018-61757

Liquid metal discovery to make toxic water safe and drinkable

Researchers found that nano-filters made of aluminium oxide could be economically produced using virtually no energy from a fixed amount of liquid metal gallium and explained how when a chunk of aluminium is added to the core of liquid gallium at room temperature, layers of aluminium oxide are quickly produced at the surface of the gallium.

It was also discovered that these aluminium oxide nano-sheets were highly porous and its efficiency in filtering both heavy metal ions and oil contamination at unprecedented, ultra-fast rates.

 Researchers said these low cost and portable filters produced by this new liquid metal based manufacturing process could be used by people without access to clean drinking water to remove substances like lead and other toxic metals in a matter of minutes. This technology could be put to good use in Africa and Asia in places where heavy metal ions in the water are at levels well beyond safe human consumption. It is estimated that 790 million people, or one in 10 of the Earth's population, do not have access to clean water.

There are portable filtration products available that do remove heavy metals from water, but they are comparatively expensive, often costing more than $100. By contrast, aluminium oxide filters produced from liquid gallium could be produced for as little as 10 cents, making them attractive to prospective manufacturers. While aluminium is a plentiful and cheap metal, gallium is relatively expensive. But what makes gallium the hero in the process is the fact that it remains pure and unchanged after each production of aluminium oxide.

Major transformation ahead for Earth's ecosystems

International Scientists warned that Earth's ecosystem will risks a major transformation in the next century due to climate change. Some of these changes were already started to happen in the US through wildfires it had destroyed pine forests and transforming swaths of the territory into shrublands. These changes will likely to extend to savannas, deserts and woodlands n the next 100-150 years. It will upset the whole ecosystem. Climate change is something we have to give the greatest importance and should check it properly. Otherwise, it will affect the diversity of the planet. Human-caused climate change is different than other causes. The burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal emits heat trapped gases around the planet. the Earth is currently heating up at, much quicker pace. Researchers described their work as the most comprehensive study to date, based on pollen and plant fossil records from 594 sites worldwide dating back to between 21000 and 14000 years ago. every continent except Antartica is included. The most significant changes were seen in the mid to high latitudes of North America, Europe, and Southern South America. Shifting landscapes would affect drinking water, water recreation, river flow.

Source:(TOI, August 31)

RIVER POLLUTION: NGT directs the state to act

The news all about the increased in polluted river stretches in the country, the national green tribunal(NGT) has directed all states and union territories to prepare action plans within two months,

also, they introduce what was happened like they had to failed to check pollution, and they have not been able to stop dumping of waste, discharge of effluents in rivers and water bodies.

Tsunami hits Indonesian city after 7.5 magnitude earthquake

A tsunami of up to 2m hit a small city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi after a 7.5 quake struck offshore yesterday. the 1.5 to two-meter tsunami has receded, and the yesterday situation is very chaotic, people are running on the streets and buildings collapsed. already BMKG had issued a tsunami warning.  

2018 Arctic summertime sea ice minimum extent tied for sixth lowest on record

Arctic sea ice likely reached its 2018 lowest extent on Sept. 19 and again on Sept. 23, 2018. Analysis of satellite data showed that, at 1.77 million square miles (4.59 million square kilometers), 2018 effectively tied with 2008 and 2010 for the sixth lowest summertime minimum extent in the satellite record.

Arctic sea ice, the cap of frozen seawater blanketing most of the Arctic Ocean and neighboring seas in wintertime, follows seasonal patterns of growth and decay. It thickens and spreads during the fall and winter and thins and shrinks during the spring and summer. But in the past decades, increasing temperatures have led to prominent decreases in the Arctic sea ice extents, with particularly rapid decreases in the minimum summertime extent. The shrinking of the Arctic sea ice cover can ultimately affect the planet's weather patterns and the circulation of the oceans.

One of the most unusual features of this year's melt season has been the reopening of a polynya-like hole in the icepack north of Greenland, where the oldest and thickest sea ice of the Arctic typically resides. In February of this year, a similar opening appeared in the same area, catching the attention of sea ice scientists everywhere. The first appearance of the hole raised concerns about the possibility that the region could became vulnerable if the original, thicker ice cover was replaced with thinner ice as the exposed seawater refroze. NASA's Operation IceBridge mission probed the area in March, finding that the ice was indeed thinner and thus more susceptible to be pushed around by the winds and ocean currents.

With the successful launch of NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, on Sept. 15, scientists will be able to use the data from the spacecraft's advanced laser altimeter to create detailed maps of sea ice thickness in both the Arctic and the Antarctic.

How some algae may survive climate change

Green algae that evolved to tolerate hostile and fluctuating conditions in salt marshes and inland salt flats are expected to survive climate change, thanks to hardy genes they stole from bacteria.These Picochlorum single-celled species of green algae provide clues to how nature can modify genomes, and suggest ways in which scientists may someday engineer more robust algae to serve as biofuels and provide other benefits.

A study appearing on the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, reveals how the miniaturized genomes of green algae have evolved from the larger genomes of their freshwater ancestors to become resilient primary producers of organic compounds that support ecosystems. This transition to a saltier and more hostile environment achieved by Picochlorum occurred over millions of years but parallels what is happening on a more rapid scale now due to climate change.

And the world's largest bird is Voromobe titan

Sept 29 2018
PARIS: After more than a century of conflicting evidence the scientists finally found the world's largest bird namely Voromobe titan. In the 19th century, the new breed over the creature, pillaging skeletons and fossilized eggs were discovered the biggest bird on earth. It is also like elephant bird, only the bones were distinct from the elephant bird specimens, in fact titan was entirely different genus with estimates of 860 kg.










https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/and-the-worlds-largest-bird-is-voromobe-titan/articleshow/65973969.cms

BOMBAY HIGH COURT ORDERS TOTAL FREEZE ON MANGROVE DESTRUCTION

The news was published on 18th september, 2018 in THE INDIAN EXPRESS.
The bombay high court ordered a total freeze on the destruction of mangroves in the state.The court said that the destruction of mangroves across the state cannot be permitted for any use unless it is necessary for the public good. A 50m buffer zone should be created around mangrove land in which no constuction activity or dumping of debris should be allowed.The bench said that the developement plan in the future will be in consideration above judgement.The court further directed the state Government to constitute a committe for the preservation of mangroves in the state within aperiod of 1 month and this committee will be responsible for the preservations and restoration of mangrove and check violation and ensure that all the directions in the  judgement are implemented. The state will have to notify all private mangrove land as protected forest land within 18 months.

Tsunami hits Indonesia's Palu after strong earthquake.

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 on the ritcher scale and Donggala in Indonesia as the epicenter has triggered Tsunami waves across the island nation. Tsunami waves have been reported to hit at Palu in Indonesia.

This incident is reminiscent of the 2004 earthquake with Sumatra as the epicenter, which caused loss of many lives and also spread havoc, chaos and destruction over the Indian subcontinent and many parts of Indonesia.

Experts say Indonesia is highly vulnerable to earthquakes as it lies across the 'ring of fire' where active volcanoes are present which results in tectonic activities which can cause earthquakes and may set off tsunami waves,

2018 Tsunami

Alarm! A change for the best is neccessary for the planet.

The UN has called the crisis urgent and decried the lack of global leadership to address the issue of Global Warming. Secretary General, Antonio Gutteres, warned that the world is facing a " direct existential threat" and must rapidly reduce or stop usage of fossil fuel by 2020 to prevent "runaway climate change".

Renewable energy is the alternative for fossil fuels. It must be promoted to reduce the Social Cost of Carbon incurred by the nation of the world. Use of renewable energy will significantly and dramatically minimise and mitigate the backlash of damage done to the environment which led to the global temperature increase.

Alarm bells!

Science and Tourism grapples over coral reefs down under.

The portion of  The Great Barrier Reef near to Australia and New Zealand have been a local source of huge revenue in forms of Snorkeling and Scuba diving  protagonists. However, due to the man made rise in global temperature, the reefs have suffered damage. This lead to interventions by the local scientific community to cut off all tourist activities.

A  timely restriction has somehow resulted in the repair of the reef to a humble extent. But, the science folk says its too early to conclude and precaution must be on point for further mitigation, The constraint has affected almost 64000 jobs and has led to pandemonium onshore. The Aussies are divided in their opinion on the issue and are seeking refute over the conundrum.

Tourism vs Science

Govt's first solar panel manufacturing tender draws Zero response( 28 Sep 2018 - Business standard)

The government's first tender for 3Gw of solar panel manufacturing ,along with 10Gw of power plant has received no bids. The tender was first issued in May this year and extended several times owing to resistance from the industry over specifications. 

Major players not accepting this bid, because that there is no funding push from the centre ,which reduces the viability of solar manufacturing in India Government across the world including china support solar through subsidy. In India, there is market uncertainty due to high import coupled with interest and capital cost.The tender for setting up solar cell and module manufacturing plant - for an aggregate capacity of 5Gw linked with solar PV projects in India on "build own operate" basis issued in May 2018.

Abrupt thawing of permafrost leads to over whelming release of methane following the formation of thermokarst lakes.

The permafrost present in the Artic are prone to seasonal thawing due to predictable phenomena of nature. But,they are now subject to gradual and abrupt thawing as consequence of climate warming due to man made pollution. 

Thawing is the process which releases methane gas from the soil when the carbon present in the soil gets consumed by microbes. Naturally, this process is very minimal in effect when compared to Abrupt Thawing; which makes the release of methane gas to a overwhelming and unprecedented extent. 

Thermokarsts are lakes which are formed due to the melting of permafrost present in the Artic region. Permafrost is ground that is frozen year-round. In the Arctic, ice-rich permafrost soils can be up to 260 feet (80 meters) thick. Due to human-caused warming of the atmosphere from greenhouse gas emissions, a gradual thawing of the permafrost is currently taking place where the upper layer of seasonally thawed soil is gradually getting thicker and reaching deeper into the ground. 

This process wakes up microbes in the soil that decompose soil organic matter and as a result release carbon dioxide and methane(bi-products) back into the atmosphere. This gradual thaw process is accounted for in climate models and is thought to have minimal effect as thawed ground also stimulates the growth of plants, which counterbalance the carbon released into the atmosphere by consuming it during photosynthesis.

However, in the presence of thermokarst lakes, permafrost thaws deeper and more quickly. Thermokarst lakes form when substantial amounts of ice in the deep soil melts to liquid water. Because the same amount of ice takes up more volume than water, the land surface slumps and subsides, creating a small depression that then fills with water from rain, snow melt and ground ice melt. The water in the lakes speeds up the thawing of the frozen soil along their shores and expands the lake size and depth at a much faster pace than gradual thawing.

Abrupt thawing leads to thermokarsts.

Greater Chennai corporation ,CREDAI sign a MoU to restore 10 waterbodies( 28 Sep 2018  -TOI)

The greater Chennai corporation and CREDAI Chennai have signed a memorandum of understanding for the restoration of 10 water bodies. CREDAI Chennai engaged EFI to carry out restoration work and it will be completed within 6 months. Under this initiative ,the floor of  lakes and ponds will be cleaned .They will be made accessible, the bunds will be strengthened ,fenced and trees will be planted around the water body.

The water bodies taken up includes Arraa kulam,, Ayyankulam ,Vairavan Kulam ,Mayttukuppam Ganga Nagar Pond ,Appaduraipillai street pond in valasarvakkam. Aalavancherry kulam,Mandapam Kuttai,Amara pond in perungudi ,Thalikulam and sarayakulam in Sholinganallur . The storm water drain department has taken up the restoration of these water bodies The city based NGO ,Chennai city coordinates the effort.

NOTES

EFI - Environmentalist Foundation of India