When episodic pulses of road salt hit after a winter storm, the impact can be like a lightning strike for the environment.
ecosystems
Could Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Help Save Corals from Bleaching?
New research indicates a well-studied form of climate intervention might at least buy time for many at-risk reefs.
Tracing Fire, Rain, and Herbivores in the Serengeti
Increasing amounts of rain fuel grass growth across the ecosystem and, consequently, the cycles of wildfire and animal migration.
Understanding Flux, from the Wettest Ecosystems to the Driest
Pulses of activity, from tides to precipitation swings, play a crucial, changing role in ecosystems worldwide.
Shallow Injection Imperfectly Filters Florida Wastewater
Injection of wastewater into shallow wells is meant to filter nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus out of the wastewater. But a new study suggests that nutrients aren’t entirely eliminated—and may be polluting coastal waters.
Underwater Glacier-Guarding Walls Could Have Unintended Consequences
Although they would likely impede the warm currents that melt glaciers, such walls would also likely block fish migration and nutrient upwelling, harming marine ecosystems and Greenland fisheries.
Mysteriously Bright Waters near Antarctica Explained
Shiny-shelled diatoms make a remote part of the Southern Ocean appear especially reflective in satellite imagery.
A Debate over Wakes in the Land of 10,000 Lakes
Wakeboats are turning Minnesota’s lakes into summertime surf spots, but the artificial chop can shake up the lake bed, too. New wake data can help communities plan for responsible recreation.
Nitrogen Needs Could Be Limiting Nature’s Carbon Capacity
A new study suggests that past calculations of biological nitrogen fixation were overestimated by up to 66%—and that farms growing nitrogen-fixing crops may be filling in the gaps, for better or worse.
