EARTHWATCH

2022-12-26 - Diary of the planet Dist. by: Andrews McMeel Syndication ©MMXXII Earth Environment Service

Planetary pact

A new U.N. framework to protect 30 percent of Earth’s land, oceans and inland bodies of water by the end of the decade was agreed to in Montreal at a long-delayed summit of world policymakers. The COP15 conference of almost 200 countries wrestled with how much funding should be sent by developed countries to developing nations, home to the most biodiversity. Poorer countries argued that First-World nations had grown rich by exploiting their natural resources, and should pay to protect them in the future. Similar to the Paris climate agreement, the new pact still faces an uphill battle to be implemented.

Earthquakes

The worst temblor to strike northwestern California in more than 40 years killed two and caused widespread damage.

• Earth movements were also felt in the San Francisco Bay Area, West Texas, the far northern Philippines, central

Nepal, the Turkey-western Syria border area and southwestern Morocco.

Stormier South

Researchers say they have figured out why the Southern Hemisphere has the reputation of being much stormier than areas north of the equator. By examining satellite data, a new study led by University of Chicago climate scientist Tiffany Shaw found that ocean circulation and large mountainous areas in the Northern

Hemisphere are the main forces behind the differences. Tall mountain ranges disrupt air flow in a way that diminishes storms, and the Southern Hemisphere has only one — the Andes. The second factor has to do with the dynamics of the powerful conveyor belt of ocean currents that travel to and from the Arctic and Antarctica.

Chile defense

Zimbabwe farmers have developed a unique and naturefriendly way to fend off attacks from elephants that threaten their crops and homes. They create items known as chile bricks, bombs and strings to deter the jumbos. The bricks and bombs are made by mixing elephant or buffalo dung with cow dung and chile powder to make a thick paste, which is then molded into bricks or balls. When burned, they release a strong odor known to repel the pachyderms. Chile strings are soaked with a mixture of used oil and chile, and have a smell that keeps the animals away.

Andean eruption

A blast from Ecuador’s towering Cotopaxi volcano dusted the capital of Quito and surrounding areas with a thin layer of ash. The ash cloud soared 3,600 feet above the volcano’s crater, where it was mainly blown to points south of Quito. The 19,347-foot mountain resumed low-level activity in late October with emissions of vapor and ash. Its last comparable activity was in 2015.

Is that me?

Researchers say they have observed that Adélie penguins appear to recognize themselves in their mirror reflections, a trait that could indicate some degree of self-awareness. The mirror test was developed in the 1970s and includes placing a mark on a test animal’s face or other parts of the body to see if it touches or investigates it when seen in a mirror. Very few animals have “passed” this test aside from some primates, dolphins and Asian elephants. Indian researchers say Adélie penguins study their images in the mirror and make movements as if to see if it is themselves. But they did not pass other parts of the test, such as recognizing foreign objects placed on them or blocking the view of themselves.