Environment

Antarctic Ice Sheet Records Surprising Mass Gain After Decade of Accelerated Loss

Antarctic Ice Sheet mass change (April 2002–December 2023), based on GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite gravimetry. Ellipses highlight changes in mass loss rates during specific periods, while the grey shading marks the data gap between the two satellite missions.

A comprehensive new study reveals the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) experienced unexpected mass gain between 2021-2023, temporarily reversing a two-decade trend of accelerating ice loss that had been contributing significantly to global sea level rise. This remarkable shift comes after analysis of 22 years of satellite gravimetry data showing pronounced mass loss acceleration in several … Read more

Satellite Tool Maps Vanishing Seagrass

Fig. 1. Locations of the study sites included in this research: Belmont Bay, USA Strangford Bay, UK Beltringharder Koog, Germany Arcachon Bay, France Santander Bay, Spain Tampa Bay, USA Padilla Bay, USA Izembek Lagoon, USA Caofeidian, China Yifengxi Estuary, China Tieshan Harbor, China Mombasa, Kenya Moreton Bay, Australia Shark Bay, Australia Tauranga Harbor, New Zealand

A groundbreaking algorithm that automatically maps and tracks vital seagrass meadows from space could transform coastal ecosystem conservation efforts worldwide. Scientists from Xiamen University and Tulane University have developed a new approach that overcomes long-standing challenges in monitoring these critical but threatened underwater habitats. The new system, called Automatic Mapping through integrating Optical and SAR … Read more