Latest news with #GRACE
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA data warns of surge in extreme weather events: Drought and floods intensifying globally
New data from NASA has revealed a dramatic and alarming increase in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events like droughts and floods worldwide. Using advanced satellite observations, researchers found that these events are not only occurring more often but are also lasting longer and impacting larger areas than ever before. The findings show that the number and intensity of these events have doubled in just the past five years compared to the 2003 to 2020 average. While the data isn't yet peer reviewed, scientists say it's a stark early warning that climate change is accelerating environmental disruptions faster than previously expected. NASA's GRACE satellite finds alarming surge in weather extremes The observations come from NASA's GRACE satellite, which monitors changes in Earth's water systems. Researchers were surprised to find that the pace of extreme weather events appears to be increasing even faster than global temperatures themselves. These events, such as long-lasting droughts and catastrophic floods, are closely linked to rising temperatures and are consistent with earlier climate predictions, but the speed of their intensification has shocked experts. Scientists expressing concerns about global warming While the dataset needs more years to confirm a definitive trend, several scientists have expressed concern. Dr Bailing Li, from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, stated that although causation can't be confirmed yet, the growing number of extreme events strongly points to global warming as a driver. Her colleague Dr Matthew Rodell described the trend as "certainly scary," noting that such changes could outpace society's ability to respond or adapt. Water systems at the breaking point NASA researchers measured events using a formula that includes affected area, duration, and wetness or dryness. They found that disruptions to water systems, one of the clearest consequences of climate change, are growing worse. A previous study in Nature Water had already warned that the world's water infrastructure is ill equipped to handle such fluctuations. Global impacts and warnings Experts from the UK Met Office and WaterAid say most cities and water utilities are unprepared for this new climate reality. Sudden transitions, called 'hydroclimatic whiplash,' from dry to wet conditions or vice versa are now more common and more damaging. These rapid shifts are affecting agriculture, infrastructure, human health, and biodiversity in unpredictable ways. Extreme event to affect global economic planning, insurances and infrastructure With the insurance industry relying on historical data to set premiums, the unpredictability of today's extreme weather could destabilize economic planning. The World Meteorological Organization has predicted that global temperatures will likely continue to rise, increasing the risk of devastating events in the next five years. Scientists and climate advocates are urging urgent investments in both emissions reduction and climate adaptation strategies to prepare for the changes already underway.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
7 essential facts about NASA satellites that students can't miss
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA )'s flotilla of satellites orbiting Earth and deep space is far more sophisticated than most people realise. These technological spectacles aren't just scanning skies and taking mind-boggling pictures; they're rewriting science and human understanding of space. These satellites are protecting our planet and unlocking cosmic mysteries far beyond. Here are 7 extraordinary capabilities that showcase the incredible ingenuity of modern space technology that students can't afford to miss. Laser highways in space replace traditional radio communication Whilst most people assume satellites communicate through radio waves, NASA's most advanced spacecraft are switching to laser technology for data transmission. These optical communication systems can beam information to Earth at speeds up to 100 times faster than conventional radio systems, whilst providing crystal-clear signal quality that doesn't degrade over vast distances. The technology works by encoding data into pulses of laser light, creating what scientists call "optical highways" through space. This breakthrough allows satellites to transmit high-resolution images and complex scientific data in minutes rather than hours, revolutionising how quickly we can access information from the cosmos. Earth's gravity secrets revealed through microscopic measurements NASA's GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellites possess an almost supernatural ability to detect the tiniest changes in Earth's gravitational field. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트, 지금 시작하세요 [자세히 보기] 임플란트 더 알아보기 Undo These twin spacecraft can measure gravitational variations as small as one part in a billion, effectively "weighing" different regions of our planet from space. This remarkable sensitivity allows scientists to track invisible phenomena with unprecedented precision. When ice sheets melt in Greenland or groundwater depletes in drought-stricken regions, these satellites detect the resulting gravitational changes before the effects become visible on the surface. The data has transformed our understanding of climate change, revealing that Earth loses approximately 150 billion tonnes of ice annually from its polar regions. Geostationary guardians that never sleep Some NASA satellites perform an incredible balancing act, appearing to hover motionlessly above specific points on Earth's surface. These spacecraft achieve this seemingly impossible feat by matching Earth's rotational speed in what's called a geostationary orbit, positioned precisely 35,786 kilometres above the equator. This strategic positioning allows continuous monitoring of weather patterns, natural disasters, and atmospheric conditions over the same geographical region 24 hours a day. Weather forecasters rely on these stationary sentinels to track hurricane development, monitor volcanic eruptions, and provide early warnings for severe weather events that save countless lives. Cosmic symphony: capturing the sounds of space Space may be a vacuum where sound cannot travel, but NASA satellites have found ingenious ways to "hear" the cosmos. These spacecraft detect electromagnetic waves, solar wind interactions, and planetary magnetic field fluctuations, then convert these signals into audible frequencies that humans can hear. The results are both haunting and beautiful, from the ethereal whistles of Jupiter's magnetosphere to the crackling static of solar storms. These cosmic sounds aren't just curiosities; they provide crucial data about space weather, helping scientists predict potentially dangerous solar activity that could disrupt satellites, power grids, and communication systems on Earth. Planet hunting through stellar shadows NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) employs a brilliantly simple yet sophisticated technique to discover worlds beyond our solar system. The satellite monitors hundreds of thousands of stars simultaneously, watching for minute decreases in brightness that occur when planets pass in front of their host stars. These tiny dips in starlight, often less than 1% brightness reduction, reveal not only the existence of exoplanets but also their size, orbital period, and atmospheric composition. TESS has already discovered thousands of potentially habitable worlds, fundamentally changing our understanding of how common planetary systems are throughout the galaxy. Earth's disappearing atmosphere captured in real time NASA satellites have made the startling discovery that Earth's atmosphere is gradually leaking into space, with hydrogen and helium atoms escaping at rates measurable from orbit. This atmospheric escape occurs primarily from the upper atmosphere, where solar radiation provides enough energy for light gases to break free from Earth's gravitational pull. Whilst this process occurs over geological timescales and poses no immediate threat, understanding atmospheric loss helps scientists predict long-term climate evolution and study how other planets may have lost their atmospheres. The research has particularly important implications for understanding Mars's transformation from a potentially habitable world to the arid planet we see today. Robotic mechanics in the void Some of NASA's most advanced satellites are equipped with sophisticated robotic arms and specialized instruments capable of performing delicate operations in the harsh environment of space. These mechanical marvels can capture defunct satellites, remove dangerous space debris, and even perform repairs on other spacecraft—all whilst travelling at thousands of kilometres per hour. The technology represents a crucial step towards sustainable space exploration, as the growing problem of space debris threatens future missions. These robotic systems can extend satellite lifespans, clear orbital pathways, and potentially salvage valuable equipment that would otherwise be lost forever. Rewriting cosmic history Perhaps most remarkably, satellites like the Hubble Space Telescope have fundamentally altered our understanding of the universe itself. By capturing images of galaxies billions of light-years away, essentially looking back in time, these instruments have helped determine that the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old and expanding at an accelerating rate. This research earned multiple Nobel Prizes and revealed the existence of dark energy, a mysterious force comprising roughly 70% of the universe. Each deep-space image collected by these satellites represents a time machine, showing us how galaxies formed and evolved over cosmic history. 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Saba Yemen
02-06-2025
- Science
- Saba Yemen
Scientists Reveal South Africa Is Floating on Ocean
Washington - (Saba): As climate change intensifies, South Africa is not only becoming hotter and drier; it is also warming by up to 2 millimeters per year, according to a new study. Scientists knew this rise was occurring, but the prevailing explanation was that it was caused by mantle flow within the Earth's crust. The new study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, suggests that this rise is due to the recent drought and the resulting water loss, a trend linked to global climate change. This discovery was made possible thanks to a network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations in South Africa. This network is used primarily for atmospheric research and provides accurate elevation data for various locations across the country. "These data showed an average rise of 6 millimeters between 2012 and 2020," says geodesist McCann Carrigar of the University of Bonn. Experts have attributed this phenomenon to the Kwathlamba hotspot. A localized bulge in the Earth's crust likely resulted from the upwelling of material from a mantle plume suspected of lying beneath the region, which triggered the recent uplift. However, we have now tested another hypothesis, says Karigar. "We believe that the loss of groundwater and surface water is also likely responsible for the land-level rise." To explore this possibility, Karigar and his colleagues analyzed Global Positioning System (GNSS) elevation data along with rainfall patterns and other hydrological variables across southern Africa. A strong correlation emerged. Areas that had experienced severe drought in recent years experienced significant land-level rise. The rise was most pronounced during the drought that lasted from 2015 to 2019, a period when Cape Town faced the imminent threat of "Day Zero"—a day without water. The study also examined data from the GRACE satellite mission, a joint effort between NASA and the German Aerospace Center to measure Earth's gravity field and changes in water distribution. 'These results can be used to calculate, among other things, the change in the total mass of the water reserve, including the sum of surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater,' says Christian Mielke, a geodesist at the University of Bonn. 'However, the spatial resolution of these measurements is very low, only a few hundred kilometers.' Despite this low resolution, the GRACE satellite data supported the hypothesis: places with less water mass had higher elevations at nearby GNSS stations. The team used hydrological models to gain a more accurate view of how drought affects the water cycle. 'These data also showed that the uplift of the land can be primarily explained by drought and the associated loss of water mass,' says Mielke. The researchers suggest that, in addition to upward pressure from the mantle plume, the loss of moisture in the Earth's crust may also be causing it to bulge. Given the serious threat posed by droughts in South Africa, as well as many other parts of the world, this discovery may provide a valuable insight into water availability. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
7NEWS
01-06-2025
- General
- 7NEWS
Gorillas once caught by wildlife traffickers set free in historic reintroduction
Last October, four female eastern lowland gorillas were airlifted from their home in Kasuhgo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and released 40 miles (64 kilometres) northeast in Virunga National Park. Less than a year later, they have all successfully integrated into a group of wild gorillas, in what is being hailed as the largest translocation of the subspecies ever. Conservationists hope that its success will not only prevent the local extinction of an isolated population, but provide essential knowledge needed to protect the critically endangered apes in the future. The females — named Isangi, Lulingu, Mapendo and Ndjingala, and aged between 10 and 21 years old — were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade as babies and taken to the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Centre (GRACE) where they were rehabilitated over a long period of time, learning to forage and socialise as they would in the wild. Deemed ready for release, last fall they were flown to Mount Tshiaberimu — or Mountain of the Spirits — a 1,700-metre (5,577-foot) peak in the northern region of the national park, where they were kept in a fenced enclosure before being released into the wild. The gorilla monitoring team, who expected the transition to take anywhere between several months to several years, were astounded when, in less than two months, they appeared ready to leave the enclosure. 'It happened much quicker than we all anticipated,' executive and science director for GRACE Gorillas, the NGO leading the rewilding process alongside Virunga National Park and local communities, Katie Fawcett said. This was partly down to the allure of a handsome wild silverback called Mwasa, who approached the fence of the enclosure day after day, beating his arms on the ground and grunting to catch the females' attention. It worked: they responded to his calls and even chose to abandon their indoor dens to sleep closer to him along the fence line. Watching on carefully, the monitoring team decided that it was the natural time to let the females join him. 'We really pride ourselves on every decision being gorilla led,' Fawcett said. 'After three days of attention directed at the magnificent Mwasa … the decision was made: 'let's go for it'. 'The fence was cut so they could come out.' Since then, to the team's surprise and delight, the four females have quickly settled into life in the wild, adjusting to the colder climate on the mountain's steep hills and a new diet of bamboo shoots and other native plants. While rangers continue to monitor the gorillas' health, collecting non-invasive biological samples and conducting visual assessments, so far the gorillas have shown no clinical signs of stress — in fact, they are looking 'amazing', says Fawcett, with thick, shiny coats and full bellies. The biggest excitement came in the new year, when Mwasa was spotted mating with Ndjingala, a 16-year-old female, for the first time. Since then, the other three have also been seen mating with him, according to Fawcett. As gorillas have a similar gestation period to humans, the team are eagerly counting down the days to September, but she says they are cautiously optimistic: 'It's probably going to take some time as the female gorillas were on contraception while they were in the sanctuary at GRACE.' Averting extinction A birth would be a huge ray of hope for the whole species. The eastern lowland gorilla, or Grauer's gorilla, is found in the lowland tropical rainforest of eastern DRC and is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies — all of which are endangered. While there have been successful translocations of western lowland gorillas in the past, eastern gorilla releases have had a very poor survival rate, with individuals dying or disappearing within weeks of release, or being so young that they have been unable to survive without a lactating mother. 'What's different about this reintroduction project is not only that it is the largest and we're putting in four females into this group, but also that the decision was made early on not to just throw a baby back into the group, but to rehabilitate it over a long period of time and make sure the gorilla has the social skills and critical survival skills,' Fawcett said. '(We were) trying to mimic that natural behaviour of having adult females join a wild group.' The project was also intended to provide a critical genetic boost to the small and isolated population of eight gorillas living on Mount Tshiaberimu. Previous scientific modelling found this population to be non-viable, with some estimating that it would go extinct between 20 and 50 years, unless new females were introduced. 'The tiny gorilla population was doomed but could now be saved by this intervention,' Liz Williamson, a professor at the University of Stirling in the UK specialising in the conservation, ecology and behaviour of gorillas, who was not part of the project, said. She added that the situation facing Grauer's gorillas across eastern DRC is 'dire', but the translocation could bring multiple conservation benefits. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park and a Belgian prince, commended the initiative: 'This is a huge milestone in efforts to bolster the eastern lowland gorilla population and we are delighted that the gorillas are successfully adapting to the wild.' Troubled times However, there are huge challenges working within Virunga National Park, which has been the centre of armed conflict for decades. More than 200 rangers have been killed in the park since it was created in 1925, and the recent resurgence of the M23 rebel group has escalated matters, with attacks on rangers becoming increasingly common. Mount Tshiaberimu is located within the troubled region. 'Working in this area is not easy,' DRC director for GRACE Gorillas Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke said. 'The main thing strategically is to put the community in the middle of everything we do: we recruit caregivers, we recruit educators who are trained at GRACE … and they feel that responsibility of taking care of wildlife.' Brought up in the area himself, he recalls when gorillas were widespread and as a child, he would listen to them calling or beating their chests. 'We grew up in the same habitat, sharing the same resource,' he said. 'Gorillas are our identity, our totem, they are an important source of pride in this area.' Yet, as human populations grow, pressures on gorilla habitat are inevitable, with forest being cleared for agriculture and firewood. During times of conflict, with communities in extreme need, these threats are heightened as some resort to hunting gorillas for their meat. The reintroduction is a huge breakthrough, but it is only the start. 'The real key for gorilla conservation success in this region is forest protection,' Fawcett said. 'We're super excited by this result and how it can help to inform these critically endangered populations, but we need to stop populations reaching that point.'
CNN
29-05-2025
- General
- CNN
Gorillas once caught by wildlife traffickers are set free in historic reintroduction
Last October, four female eastern lowland gorillas were airlifted from their home in Kasuhgo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and released 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast in Virunga National Park. Less than a year later, they have all successfully integrated into a group of wild gorillas, in what is being hailed as the largest translocation of the subspecies ever. Conservationists hope that its success will not only prevent the local extinction of an isolated population, but provide essential knowledge needed to protect the critically endangered apes in the future. The females – named Isangi, Lulingu, Mapendo and Ndjingala, and aged between 10 and 21 years old – were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade as babies and taken to the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) where they were rehabilitated over a long period of time, learning to forage and socialize as they would in the wild. Deemed ready for release, last fall they were flown to Mount Tshiaberimu – or 'Mountain of the Spirits' – a 1,700-meter (5,577-foot) peak in the northern region of the national park, where they were kept in a fenced enclosure before being released into the wild. The gorilla monitoring team, who expected the transition to take anywhere between several months to several years, were astounded when, in less than two months, they appeared ready to leave the enclosure. 'It happened much quicker than we all anticipated,' says Katie Fawcett, executive and science director for GRACE Gorillas, the NGO leading the rewilding process alongside Virunga National Park and local communities. This was partly down to the allure of a handsome wild silverback called Mwasa, who approached the fence of the enclosure day after day, beating his arms on the ground and grunting to catch the females' attention. It worked: they responded to his calls and even chose to abandon their indoor dens to sleep closer to him along the fence line. Watching on carefully, the monitoring team decided that it was the natural time to let the females join him. 'We really pride ourselves on every decision being gorilla led,' Fawcett tells CNN. 'After three days of attention directed at the magnificent Mwasa … the decision was made: 'let's go for it.' The fence was cut so they could come out.' Since then, to the team's surprise and delight, the four females have quickly settled into life in the wild, adjusting to the colder climate on the mountain's steep hills and a new diet of bamboo shoots and other native plants. Related article Meet the conservationist saving gorillas in Uganda's 'impenetrable forest' While rangers continue to monitor the gorillas' health, collecting non-invasive biological samples and conducting visual assessments, so far the gorillas have shown no clinical signs of stress – in fact, they are looking 'amazing,' says Fawcett, with thick, shiny coats and full bellies. The biggest excitement came in the new year, when Mwasa was spotted mating with Ndjingala, a 16-year-old female, for the first time. Since then, the other three have also been seen mating with him, according to Fawcett. As gorillas have a similar gestation period to humans, the team are eagerly counting down the days to September, but she says they are cautiously optimistic: 'It's probably going to take some time as the female gorillas were on contraception while they were in the sanctuary at GRACE.' A birth would be a huge ray of hope for the whole species. The eastern lowland gorilla, or Grauer's gorilla, is found in the lowland tropical rainforest of eastern DRC and is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies – all of which are endangered. While there have been successful translocations of western lowland gorillas in the past, eastern gorilla releases have had a very poor survival rate, with individuals dying or disappearing within weeks of release, or being so young that they have been unable to survive without a lactating mother. 'What's different about this reintroduction project is not only that it is the largest and we're putting in four females into this group, but also that the decision was made early on not to just throw a baby back into the group, but to rehabilitate it over a long period of time and make sure the gorilla has the social skills and critical survival skills,' says Fawcett. '(We were) trying to mimic that natural behavior of having adult females join a wild group.' The project was also intended to provide a critical genetic boost to the small and isolated population of eight gorillas living on Mount Tshiaberimu. Previous scientific modelling found this population to be non-viable, with some estimating that it would go extinct between 20 and 50 years, unless new females were introduced. 'The tiny gorilla population was doomed but could now be saved by this intervention,' Liz Williamson, a professor at the University of Stirling in the UK specializing in the conservation, ecology and behavior of gorillas, who was not part of the project, said in an email. She added that the situation facing Grauer's gorillas across eastern DRC is 'dire,' but the translocation could bring multiple conservation benefits. Related article Rhinos went extinct in Uganda 40 years ago. Now, a private ranch is home to almost 50 Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park and a Belgian prince, commended the initiative in a press release: 'This is a huge milestone in efforts to bolster the eastern lowland gorilla population and we are delighted that the gorillas are successfully adapting to the wild.' However, there are huge challenges working within Virunga National Park, which has been the center of armed conflict for decades. Over 200 rangers have been killed in the park since it was created in 1925, and the recent resurgence of the M23 rebel group has escalated matters, with attacks on rangers becoming increasingly common. Mount Tshiaberimu is located within the troubled region. 'Working in this area is not easy,' says Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke, DRC director for GRACE Gorillas. 'The main thing strategically is to put the community in the middle of everything we do: we recruit caregivers, we recruit educators who are trained at GRACE … and they feel that responsibility of taking care of wildlife.' Brought up in the area himself, he recalls when gorillas were widespread and as a child, he would listen to them calling or beating their chests. 'We grew up in the same habitat, sharing the same resource,' he says. 'Gorillas are our identity, our totem, they are an important source of pride in this area.' Related article The world's smallest elephants are facing extinction. One woman has a plan to save them Yet, as human populations grow, pressures on gorilla habitat are inevitable, with forest being cleared for agriculture and firewood. During times of conflict, with communities in extreme need, these threats are heightened as some resort to hunting gorillas for their meat. The reintroduction is a huge breakthrough, but it is only the start. 'The real key for gorilla conservation success in this region is forest protection,' says Fawcett. 'We're super excited by this result and how it can help to inform these critically endangered populations, but we need to stop populations reaching that point.'
