📰 EwA News Digest: Plant Communication, Low Emission Transportation, and Water Pollution
Kayla Padegimas
Hi Everyone, Kayla here, bringing you my April edition of the News Digest. Hope you enjoy it!
A recent study has looked into the ways plants ‘talk’ to each other, through releasing scents similar to animal pheromones, to alert other plants to herbivores feeding on them. Tokyo University of Science has conducted a study looking into this phenomenon, after previous studies looked into the reaction of soybeans and field mustard to nearby mint plants releasing their scent when damaged. Their study looked into the effects of one such compound, β-ocimene, on Arabidopsis leaves, which showed they would release their anti-herbivore enzymes in response.
The Arctic has become far greener in recent years, as temperatures in the far north rise three times faster than global averages. Some believe this should cause an increase in carbon dioxide absorption, reducing greenhouse gasses that cause warming. The predicted outcomes, however, are not seen; with the warmer temperature the plants are blooming earlier, giving them a shorter period to absorb carbon. As temperature continues to warm it will likely give way to less carbon absorption rather than more, as permafrost also melts disallowing the tundras to function as the carbon sinks they have been.
The Great Barrier Reef has recently experienced its fourth mass bleaching within the past 6 years, raising concerns over the long term effects of the repeated bleaching. While it has recovered well from past bleaching events, the increased frequency and signs of mortality have made experts wary of its continued ability to do so. Ocean warming and climate change have and will continue to allow these harmful conditions to further risk the health of the Reef, pushing it to the brink of its capacity for survival.
Changes to the way we look at transportation are already occurring around the globe, which with continued changes, could have a huge impact on carbon emissions. With transportation related emissions accounting for 23% of total worldwide emissions in 2019, switching to more low and zero emission transportation and overall energy resources, may be able to keep warming below the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold set by the Paris Accord. This is not just related to electric vehicle transitions but also overall lowering of emissions and relying less on personal vehicles, by increasing use of ride sharing, telework and better public transit infrastructure.
In 2020, Lake George in the Adirondacks of New York saw its first algae bloom, a sign of increased warming and water pollution in the area. While there have been a number of national acts put in place to protect against industrial waste pollution, runoff and septic-leaching remain unregulated, allowing these pollutants to run rampant for the past few decades. This has been a similar trend across the country, posing a threat to the cleanliness of 50-55% of waterways and their providing of food sources and clean water access.
Over the last few decades climate change has worsened the frequency and intensity of climate disasters throughout the world, with people in the south disproportionately affected. Migrants from South and Central America are forced to flee their homes due to climate disasters or droughts, often fleeing to the U.S. for safer conditions. When they get there, however, they face the questionable conditions of ICE detention facilities, which become worse when climate disasters hit the U.S., going days and weeks without resources like clean water, power or clean living quarters.
That’s all for April, but look out next month for my final edition of the News Digest!
~ Kayla