For Decades, Our Carbon Emissions Sped the Growth of Plants — Not Anymore
Yale Environment 360 – August 14, 2023
A forest afflicted by drought. pxfuel
For the last century, rising levels of carbon dioxide helped plants grow faster, a rare silver lining in human-caused climate change. But now, as drier conditions set in across much of the globe, that uptick in growth is leveling off, a new study finds.
Through photosynthesis, plants convert water and carbon dioxide into storable energy. By burning fossil fuels, humans have driven up carbon dioxide levels, from around 280 parts per million before the Industrial Revolution to 417 parts per million last year. That extra carbon dioxide has sped up photosynthesis, spurring plants to soak up more of our emissions and grow faster. Since 1982, plants globally have added enough leaf cover to span an area roughly twice the size of the continental U.S.
But the effect appears to be wearing off. While carbon dioxide levels continue to climb, more than a century of warming has also made the climate more hostile to plants. Drier conditions in many parts of the world mean that, even as plants get more carbon dioxide, they are getting less of the other key ingredient needed for photosynthesis — water.
For the new study, scientists gathered data from ground monitors measuring levels of carbon dioxide and water in the air from 1982 to 2016. They compared these data with satellite images of forests, grasslands, and farms, using artificial intelligence to spot changes over time. Small differences in the green hue of plants, for instance, indicate a shift in the rate of photosynthesis.
The study found that photosynthesis sped up until around the year 2000, at which point it began to level off. Looking ahead, authors say, the rate of photosynthesis could flatten out entirely, making it harder to keep rising carbon emissions — and warming — in check. The findings were published in the journal Science.
Scientists Puzzled to Find Plastic Fragments Inside Human Hearts
Noor Al-Sibai – August 13, 2023
Researchers have found microplastics inside human heart tissues — though as the scientists note, that shouldn’t be all too surprising.
“Everywhere scientists look for microplastics,” a press release about the new research reads, “they’ve found them.”
Be it in food, water, air, and even some parts of the human body, microplastics are absolutely everywhere. And, as it turns out, the human heart, one of the body’s innermost organs, isn’t spared.
An international team of researchers conducted a pilot study by collecting heart tissue samples from 15 patients during heart surgery, as well as blood samples from half of these participants.
Their preliminary findings, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, suggest that “microplastics were unexpectedly introduced during the procedures.”
Using laser direct infrared imaging instruments, the researchers detected “tens to thousands of individual microplastic pieces in most tissue samples,” though as the news release notes, “the amounts and materials varied between participants.”
The team detected eight types of plastic in the tissues including polyethylene terephthalate, which is primarily found in polyester clothing, and polyvinyl chloride or PVC.
Blood samples from all of the participants also contained minuscule plastic particles of a number of different types as well, but, curiously enough, “after surgery their average size decreased.”
While this is far from the first time materials have been left behind in human bodies post-surgery, this pilot study shines a line on how microplastics like those found in these 15 patients could be introduced without any neglect on the part of the surgeons.
“The findings show how invasive medical procedures are an overlooked route of microplastics exposure,” the press release notes, “providing direct access to the bloodstream and internal tissues.”
Larger and more diverse studies are, of course, in order to figure out how common a problem this really is, but these preliminary results are more than enough evidence to consider this a serious line of inquiry.
New study shares troubling revelation about the fish we eat: ‘All of those are areas of significant concern’
Wes Stenzel – August 14, 2023
Whales off the coast of Oregon are consuming more plastics and waste than we thought — and researchers say this has troubling implications for humans as well.
What’s happening?
Researchers from the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute analyzed the diets of gray whales and discovered alarming amounts of microplastics had passed through their systems. The researchers found that the zooplankton that the whales ate had been corrupted by hundreds of human-made microparticles — and that whales often inadvertently suck up even bigger microplastics as they vacuum-feed, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Why is this concerning?
Leigh Torres, associate professor at OSU and a researcher on the study, explained why the study’s findings were concerning.
“[Microplastics] can lead to stunted growth, smaller body size, lower ability to have calves, and animals not using this habitat anymore,” Torres told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “All of those are areas of significant concern.”
Torres also explained why these findings have alarming implications for people.
“It’s likely that humans are also getting a lot of microplastics from our own fish diet,” she told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “Little by little we are all getting exposed to more and more microplastics. That’s inescapable at this point across all ecosystems.”
The average person consumes at least 78,000 microplastics per year, according to Statista — and it’s likely that that number is far too low.
What’s being done about microplastics?
Legislative bodies around the world are slowly but surely enacting policies that will reduce the amount of harmful plastics that make their way into the ocean. For example, Oregon recently passed two laws that should help curb the problem — one allows customers to bring their own containers to be filled with food in restaurants, and the other bans “forever chemicals” and phases out polystyrene foam products, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
The most impactful way we can help limit the spread of microplastics is to consciously avoid plastic products whenever possible. We can use reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones, invest in glass containers at home instead of using plastic bags, and generally minimize our consumption of plastic packaging.
Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Mehdi Hasan: Trump Supporters’ Threats Of ‘Civil War’ Are ‘Not Just Talk’
Ben Blanchet – August 14, 2023
Mehdi Hasan warned that threats of political violence are no longer “just talk” as some elected Republicans allude to “civil war” or the use of “force” amid the criminal prosecutions of Donald Trump. (See the video below.)
The MSNBC host on Sunday was discussing how a possible conviction and sentencing of the former president would play out among his supporters, particularly as Georgia prosecutors look to bring their election interference case against him to a grand jury on Tuesday. Trump is already facing three other criminal cases.
Hasan rolled a clip of one Trump supporter speaking with NBC News’ Vaughn Hillyard at a New Hampshire rally last week.
“If Donald Trump were to be found guilty by a jury, where do you see this going?” Hillyard asked a woman in a Trump 2024 shirt.
“Civil war,” the woman responded, adding: “’Cause we can’t live together, obviously.”
These were not the “rantings of a cultish Trump superfan,” Hasan argued, pointing to elected Republicans who have made similar remarks.
At an Iowa rally on Saturday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) declared that change in Washington can come “only through force.”
Hasan then played an audio clip shared by The Messenger in which Michigan state Rep. Matt Maddock (R) warned there could be a “civil war or some sort of revolution” if the government “continues to weaponize” departments against conservatives and citizens.
“Now you might say, again, ‘That’s just talk, talk is cheap,’” Hasan said. “But it’s not just talk.”
“Political violence is not just something abstract or something that might happen at some point in the future. It’s happening right now,” he continued, citing a Reuters report on over 200 cases of political violence since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
He also noted a warning from the federal judge overseeing the 2020 election case against Trump that “even arguably ambiguous statements” from him or his team could be viewed as attempts to intimidate witnesses.
“We have to condemn the violence and the incitement of violence. We have to take steps to prevent it from escalating out of all control,” Hasan said.
“The threat of civil war, of domestic conflict, is no longer hyperbole,” Hasan concluded. “And so we just cannot afford to normalize political violence and the threat of political violence in this country just because Donald Trump benefits from it and the Republican Party seems totally fine with it.”
See the entire segment below:
.@MehdiRHasan warns that the threat of civil war is no longer hyperbole: “Political violence is not something abstract, or something that might happen at some point in the future, it’s happening right now." pic.twitter.com/JWaNyT797b
New COVID Variant EG.5 Now Makes Up Largest Proportion of New Infections Nationwide
Erin Clack – August 13, 2023
The new variant, nicknamed “Eris,” has quickly overtaken the prevailing Omicron XBB variants that have been circulating for the past six months.
The new variant, nicknamed “Eris,” has quickly overtaken the prevailing Omicron XBB variants that have been circulating for the past six months
GettyThe EG.5 “Eris” variant is now the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S.
A fast-spreading new COVID-19 variant called EG.5 is now the dominant strain in the U.S.
Data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between July 23 to Aug. 5 showed that 17.3% of new COVID-19 cases nationwide were caused by EG.5 — also known as “Eris” — up from 7.5% the first week of July.
EG.5 also is on the rise in several other countries globally, including China, South Korea and Canada. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization classified it as a “variant of interest.”
Getty
EG.5 —which was first detected in the U.S. in the spring — is closely related to the XBB variants that have been circulating for the past six months. It notably contains a particular mutation in its spike protein known to evade some of the immunity a person gets after an infection or vaccination.
Last month, EG.5 quickly surpassed the prevailing Omicron XBB variants which had accounted for the largest share of U.S. cases, indicating it’s likely more transmissible. According to CDC data, in April 29, the XXB 1.5 (Omicron) variant caused 73.5% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. though the latest data shows the same variant only accounts for 10.3% of cases.
GettySome public health experts believe waning population immunity could be contributing to the fast spread of EG.5.
However, health experts say EG.5 does not cause more severe illness and is associated with similar symptoms as the XBB variants. Those symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and an altered sense of smell.
“Omicron is out there making minor variations. It’s having children, progeny, but they’re all closely related to omicron,” Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told ABC News. “They are contagious, but they are not more serious, so that’s excellent.”
Andrew Pekosz, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University, said waning population immunity is likely contributing to the rapid spread of EG.5.
“It’s been quite a long time since boosters were provided for COVID, and those boosters did have a relatively low uptake rate in the population. That, combined with the fact that the XBB variants look different to your immune system from the [variants used in] previous COVID vaccines, means there’s probably a lot of susceptible individuals in the population,” he explained in an interview published by the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Pekosz said the new variant shouldn’t be of high concern to the generation population. However, he urged those people who are particularly susceptible to severe COVID-19 — including the elderly and those with certain medical conditions — to be more cautious and make sure they have access to testing and antivirals. Additionally, he advised those individuals to consider wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.
Pekosz also noted that the new COVID vaccine, set to be rolled out in the fall, is based on the XBB variants, and therefore should provide good immunity for EG.5. “There should be a nice match between that vaccine and the EG.5 variant, as well as the other XBB variants that are circulating right now,” he explained.
Ill. Gov. Pritzker signs bill allowing gun makers to be sued for marketing to minors
Joe Fisher – August 13, 2023
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker discusses the newly signed Firearm Industry Responsibility Act during the Everytown for Gun Safety conference in Chicago on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Illinois Governors Office/Twitter
Aug. 13 (UPI) — Firearm manufacturers and retailers can be sued in Illinois for marketing toward minors according to a new bill signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The Illinois governor signed the bill on Saturday, a day after the state Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to uphold a ban on some high-powered guns and high-capacity magazines.
The measure, called the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, mirrors similar laws for opioid manufacturers and vaping companies, Pritzker said while discussing the law during the Everytown for Gun Safety conference in Chicago.
“I know we’ve had enough of ‘thoughts and prayers,’ together we’ve taken on the gun lobby and made real change with @Everytown,” Pritzker tweeted on Saturday. “We go further today by signing the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act into law holding gun manufacturers accountable.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker likened the newly signed Firearm Industry Responsibility Act to laws that allow opioid manufacturers and vaping companies to be sued for their marketing tactics. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Under the law, firearm businesses can be sued for advertising to people under the age of 18 as well as businesses that do not take measures to stop illegal sales or sell firearms to a person who is not legally allowed to possess them. It also restricts certain imagery from being used in firearms advertisements.
Illinois is the eighth state to enact such a law.
“The Firearms Industry Responsibility Act will clarify my office’s ability to use the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, which is a primary tool available to hold businesses accountable for fraudulent or deceptive practices through civil litigation,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement in May.
“It is how my office has protected the public from opioid manufacturers, vaping companies, tobacco companies and predatory lenders. No single industry should be given a free pass to engage in unlawful, unfair or deceptive conduct.”
Vivek Ramaswamy says US ‘climate change agenda’ is a ‘hoax’
Nick Robertson – August 12, 2023
GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy railed against climate-conscious business policy at an Iowa State Fair appearance Saturday.
In an fireside chat with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Ramaswamy said that environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) business policies are among the “grave threats to liberty,” and said “the climate change agenda” is a “hoax.”
“They’re using our money… to implement social and environmental agendas through the backdoor. Through corporate America,” Ramaswamy said. “Using your retirement funds and your investment accounts to vote for racial equity audits or Scope 3 emissions caps that you didn’t know they were using your money to do, and that Congress would have never passed through the front door.”
ESG has become a political punching bag for conservatives, who view it as corporations overreaching into the political space. The policies increase diverse hiring, reduce carbon emissions and manage how they invest their money with climate in mind.
“This is actually one of the grave threats to liberty today. Wherever you stand on climate change — I think most of the climate change agenda is, I’m just going to say it, is a hoax,” Ramaswamy said. “I’m going to call that for what it is.”
The entrepreneur also claimed ESG is comparable to the “back-rooms deals” of Old World Europe, and called for more public debate on the topic.
“Wherever you stand on that, we should settle that through free space and open debate in the public square in a constitutional republic,” he said. “That’s the way we do things, post-1776, on this side of the Atlantic.”
Conservatives’ crusade against ESG has drawn ire from Democrats, who have called many of the follies a waste of time. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) called a House hearing over the issue the “stupidest hearing I’ve ever been to.”
Ramaswamy’s campaign has gained steam in recent months, rising from an unknown political figure to third in national polling averages — passing former Vice President Mike Pence last month. A biotech entrepreneur from Ohio, Ramaswamy has garnered about 7 percent support in recent polls.
Some say Thomas’ longstanding acceptance of freebies shows the need for ethics reform on the Supreme Court.
“This is a shameless lifestyle underwritten for years by a gaggle of fawning billionaires,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wrote on Twitter. “Justices Thomas and [Samuel] Alito have made it clear that they’re oblivious to the embarrassment they’ve visited on the highest court in the land.”
He said that if the court wouldn’t reform itself, Congress should step in and do it for them.
Other lawmakers went further, demanding that Thomas to step down.
“Thomas takes cash bribes while crushing your freedoms,” Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) wrote on Twitter. “He’s corrupt as hell and should resign today.”
Others also called on him to pack up his robes:
Thomas once bragged that when it came to travel, he preferred camping in Walmart parking lots ― where budget RV travelers often gather ― and “seeing the regular parts of the United States.”
“I come from regular stock, and I prefer that — I prefer being around that,” he said in a documentary financed by one of his travel benefactors, according to Slate.
And as for camping, Thomas owns a $267,230 luxury RV financed by a wealthy friend in a deal he also failed to disclose.
The Thomas scandal has led to growing call for ethics reform of the court ― but at least one justice has bristled publicly at the notion of Congress stepping in.
“No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court,” Associate Justice Samuel Alito told the Wall Street Journal last month. “Period.”
Alito, according to ProPublica, took a luxury fishing vacation funded by a billionaire who later had cases before the Supreme Court.
Protecting oneself from the summer sun and its damaging ultraviolet rays is often not straightforward. And public health messaging around when and how to be screened for skin cancer has become somewhat confusing.
In April 2023, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent national panel of science experts, provided updated recommendations on skin cancer screening following a systematic review of existing research. The task force concluded that the evidence does not support annual widespread skin screening of adolescents and adults, but that catching cancers at the earliest stages reduces the risk of death from skin cancer.
At first glance, these statements appear conflicting. So The Conversation asked dermatology experts Enrique Torchia, Tamara Terzian and Neil Box to help unravel the task force recommendations, what they mean for the public and how people can minimize their skin cancer risk.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma – collectively known as keratinocyte cancers – account for more than 97% of skin cancer cases, but invasive melanomas cause the most deaths. Keratinocyte cancers arise from basal cells and the more differentiated squamous cells in the epidermis – the top layer of skin – whereas melanoma comes from melanocytes found at the junction of the epidermis and the dermis, or middle layer.
Unlike normal cells, skin cancer cells grow without constraints, acquiring the ability to invade down into the dermis.
Invasive melanomas are classified by stages 1 through 4. The higher the number, the more invasive the tumor is into the dermis and to other organs of the body in a process called metastasis.
What are the main causes of skin cancer?
Overexposure to ultraviolet rays causes the majority of skin cancers. Both light- and dark-skinned people can get skin cancer, but light-skinned individuals have a greater risk. Those with light skin, light or red hair, or with numerous moles, are more susceptible to skin damage and severe burns by ultraviolet rays. Darker-skinned individuals produce more of the protective pigment called melanin.
Overexposure to UV light damages skin, causing sunburns and stimulating melanocytes to make melanin, the protective pigment that darkens skin during tanning. Sunscreen can protect skin from UV damage. chombosan/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Tanning serves as the body’s protective response to skin damage from ultraviolet rays, stimulating melanocytes to produce melanin. People who use tanning beds are at a higher risk of skin damage and skin cancers. This is why the American Academy of Dermatology and others recommend avoiding tanning beds. Outdoor workers or those who spend time outdoors recreationally, especially at higher elevation, are exposed to more ultraviolet light.
A history of sunburns also puts people at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Because the damage from ultraviolet, or UV, exposure is cumulative, skin cancer is more prevalent in people over 55 years old.
Survivors of skin cancers are also more likely to get another cancer in their lifetime. Moreover, those who had a squamous cell carcinoma may be at higher risk of dying from noncancer causes. The reasons for these observations are not well understood but may be linked to inflammation or altered immunity, or both, in skin cancer survivors.
What is the debate behind screening?
The ongoing debate revolves around whether more screening reduces the death toll from melanoma.
Since the early 1990s, the incidence of melanoma has risen dramatically in the U.S. This increase may be due in part to more emphasis on early detection. More melanomas have been found, particularly those identified at the earliest stage, also known as stage 0 or melanoma in situ.
Despite this, the rate of death per capita from melanoma has remained unchanged over the last 40 years. Researchers have attributed this fact to overdiagnosis, in which suspicious lesions are diagnosed as early melanomas, even though they may not actually be melanomas or progress to be invasive melanomas, which have the worst prognosis.
This observation suggests that widespread screening may result in unnecessary surgical biopsies and increased psychological stress associated with a cancer diagnosis.
However, a recent study published after the task force recommendations showed that patients with melanoma in situ had a slight risk of death from melanoma, but lived longer than the average person. The authors speculated that the diagnosis of early stage melanoma resulted in a greater awareness of the patient’s overall health, leading to more health-conscious behavior. So, there may be additional benefits to screening the public.
What did the task force base its new recommendations on?
The task force reviewed current and past data on the major types of skin cancers. The expert panel relied in part on the results of a large public skin cancer screening program in Germany. This program initially examined 20-year-olds from a single state and subsequently expanded the program nationwide to include people over 35. However, death rates from melanoma were unchanged compared to areas where skin exams were not offered.
The results of the German screening program did not provide strong confidence that annual widespread public screening of adults would reduce skin cancer deaths compared with current practices. However, the task force did conclude, based on numerous studies involving millions of patients, that detecting melanoma at early stages when tumors are less invasive improved patient survival.
When should you get a skin exam?
The American Academy of Dermatology, the Skin Cancer Foundation and the CDC recommendmonthly self-checks. This requires familiarity with your skin or that of your family members. Luckily, there are many online guides on detecting suspicious skin lesions.
Whenever you have a concern about a spot on your skin, seek medical advice. Annual or more frequent exams are also recommended for high-risk groups. This includes those who are older or susceptible to getting skin cancers, skin cancer survivors and immunocompromised people like organ transplant recipients.
Between 8% to 30% of the U.S. population gets an annual skin exam, but the numbers are imprecise because screening rates have not been well studied. Access to screening may also be challenging for some people. In response, nonprofits like the American Academy of Dermatology, the Skin Cancer Foundation and The Sun Bus provide resources for free exams. However, these opportunities are often few and far between.
Based on internal unpublished data from The Sun Bus, our mobile clinic operating in the central and southern U.S., a significant number of individuals seeking free exams were primarily motivated by concerns about a skin lesion and the cost of visiting a dermatologist.
Our data suggests that screening programs attract individuals who are proactive and health-conscious.
How can you minimize the risk of skin cancer?
Strategies that limit UV exposure will reduce skin cancer risk. This includes avoiding sunburns by:
Finding shade
Covering exposed skin
Using a hat and sunglasses
Using and reapplying sunscreen routinely
A broad-spectrum sunscreen and lip balm with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 when applied correctly will block 97% of ultraviolet rays. Apply these products 15-20 minutes before heading out into the sun and reapply every two hours.
UV light is most intense between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is a good idea to pay attention to the UV index – a forecast by zip code that projects risk of UV exposure on a scale of 0 to 11. A UV index below 2 is the safest, whereas 11 represents extreme danger.
Ideally, clothing should be rated with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 50. Wearing regular long-sleeved clothing and pants will also provide some protection.
These measures can keep your skin healthy into your golden years by reducing skin aging and cancer caused by ultraviolet light.
This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Enrique Torchia received funding from American Cancer Society and Dermatology Foundation.
Neil Box receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and the American Skin Association. He is affiliated with Caris Life Sciences and the Colorado Melanoma Foundation.
Tamara Terzian received funding from National Institutes of Health, Dermatology Foundation, Skin Cancer Foundation, American Skin Association, American Cancer Society, Cancer League of Colorado, and Colorado Clinical Translational Sciences Institute. She is affiliated with the Colorado Melanoma Foundation and the University of Colorado.
Humans have pumped so much groundwater from the Earth that it’s actually caused the planet’s axis to shift, a new study found
Carla Delgado – August 11, 2023
We’re moving so much water from under the continents to the oceans that it’s affecting our axial tilt, a new study found.DrPixel / Getty Images
New research shows that persistently pumping groundwater has shifted Earth’s axis.
The reason is that we’re moving all that water mass from under the continents to the oceans.
Most groundwater ends up in our oceans and raised sea levels by 6.24 mm from 1993-2010.
Below the Earth’s surface lies over a thousand times more water than all the rivers and lakes in the world.
This groundwater accounts for almost all the freshwater on the planet.
But in many areas of the world, groundwater is being extracted faster than the rate that it naturally recharges.
A recent study found that humans are pumping so much groundwater that it’s not only increasing sea levels, it’s actually shifting the entire planet on its axis.
How groundwater depletion affects Earth’s rotational pole
The Earth’s rotational pole normally changes and wanders by about several meters each year.
Many factors contribute to this axial wobble, including the melting of snow and ice in the Northern Hemisphere every spring, which significantly changes the distribution of water mass on Earth.
Extracting groundwater also redistributes water mass. Groundwater naturally exists under continents, but about 80% finds its way to the ocean through rivers after extraction, therefore shifting all that water mass from Earth’s continents to its oceans.
And we’ve been extracting so much groundwater that it caused the Earth’s rotational pole to drift 78.48 cm toward 64.16 degrees east at a rate of about 4.36 cm per year from 1993 to 2010, researchers reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters in June.
For comparison, a different study reported that the accelerated melting of the glaciers drove a polar drift of 26 degrees east at about 3.28 milliarcseconds (or about 9.84 centimeters) per year after the 1990s.
Since Earth’s rotational pole periodically wanders by several meters per year, this contribution of a few centimeters from groundwater depletion is unconcerning, one of the researchers told Insider.
“What we found in this study about drift of the pole would be negligible compared with such several meters oscillations. So, at this point, we wouldn’t worry about it,” said Ki-Weon Seo, geophysicist and associate professor in the Department of Earth Science Education at Seoul National University, who led the study. He added that the rotational pole returns to previous positions most of the time.
What is concerning, however, is groundwater’s contribution to sea level rise.
Why humans pump so much groundwater and its negative effects on the Earth
Groundwater is used for about 40% of global irrigation and provides almost half of all drinking water.
To put it simply, groundwater depletion contributes to sea level rise because water is being transferred from the continents to the oceans.
The recent study found that groundwater depletion caused a 6.24-millimeter rise in global sea level from 1993 to 2010. This is significant because each millimeter rise in sea level is said to make the shoreline retreat an average of 1.5 meters.
Pumping too much groundwater too quickly can also decrease water flow from natural streams, another study found. Groundwater naturally feeds into streams, but when groundwater levels drop due to human extraction, it can reduce or even stop streamflow altogether.
In turn, this threatens the many ecosystems that rely on water flow both in and around streams.
Without better management, an estimated 42% to 79% of all watersheds that pump groundwater may no longer be able to maintain healthy ecosystems by 2050.
Correction August 10, 2023 — An earlier version of the article misstated how much Earth’s rotational pole has drifted. Earth’s rotational pole has drifted 78.48 cm toward 64.16 degrees east at a rate of about 4.36 cm per year.
