Snow on the Southern Alps turned from white to red in 2019-2020. New geochemical evidence points to the color change resulting from red Australian desert dust carried across the Tasman Sea.
dust
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Martian Dust Will Be a Health Hazard for Astronauts
Prolonged exposure to the Red Planet’s regolith, which contains carcinogens and toxic metals, could pose respiratory threats and increase chronic disease risk.
Posted inNews
Will Its $154 Billion Price Tag Keep Dust from Being Swept Under the Rug?
Data from 2017 show that costs associated with dust were second only to hurricanes when comparing billion-dollar disasters.
Posted inNews
The Deleterious Dust of the Salton Sea
Coarse particulate matter deriving from California’s largest lake is linked to an increased risk of respiratory-related hospitalizations.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Mars and Earth: A Tale of Two Energy Budgets
The first view of Mars’ latitudinal radiant energy budget reveals stark contrast with Earth’s energy distribution, offering new insights into each planet’s unique energy dynamics.
Posted inNews
Human Activities Might Create Temporary Atmospheres on the Moon
Outgassing could pose problems for long-term habitation of the Moon, including health hazards for astronauts, hindrances for electronics, and hampered scientific study.
Posted inNews
Saharan Dust Carries Iron That Feeds Life in the Distant Ocean
A new study of seafloor sediments suggests reactions in the atmosphere convert dust-borne iron into forms more readily taken up by phytoplankton.
Posted inNews
A Fuller Great Salt Lake Would Likely Narrow an Environmental Health Gap
Pacific Islander and Hispanic residents of Salt Lake City would benefit most from higher lake levels and reduced dust pollution.
Posted inNews
Lots of Dust Gets Sucked Up by Jet Engines
Changing flight times and holding altitudes could substantially reduce the amount of wear-inducing dust ingested by jet engines.
Posted inNews
Dust Declines in Parts of Asia May Be Caused by the Warming Arctic
Rising Arctic temperatures have changed both wind patterns and precipitation in areas that carry dust to West and South Asia, but the change may not be permanent.