Earthweek: a diary of the planet
For the week ending Friday, April 14.
Atlantic invasion
The waters of the Arctic Ocean are becoming increasingly similar to those of the Atlantic as warm currents from the south flow in, according to a new report. It says the intrusion of the warmer Atlantic currents is also contributing to the accelerated melting of sea ice. “Rapid changes in the eastern Arctic Ocean, which allow more heat from the ocean interior to reach the bottom of sea ice, are making it more sensitive to climate changes,” said oceanographer Igor Polyakov.
Hippo poisoning
Zimbabwe officials have started an investigation into how 11 hippos died from suspected poisoning along the country’s Mlibizi River. Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said she feared the use of chemicals in agriculture to kill weeds and invading worms could have polluted the waters in which the hippos live and feed. “Whatever that is put on the ground ends up in our water,” she said. “It affects our fish, our crocodiles, our hippos.”
Tree ‘massacre’
Environmentalists say that changes to a Polish law have led to a “massacre” of trees across the country. New legislation that went into effect on Jan. 1 removed previous requirements that private landowners who want to cut down trees must apply for permission, pay compensation, plant new trees or even notify authorities about the removal of trees. Freshly cleared spaces are now being reported.
Sumatran blast
Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung volcano exploded again, spewing ash and vapor into the Sumatran sky. Nearby residents put on face masks to protect themselves as they ventured outside. More than 2,000 families have been unable to return home since 2010.
Terminal reef
Only about a third of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef remains unaffected by the coral bleaching that has ravaged much of the U.N. World Heritage Site since 1998. The record warmth in parts of the Coral Sea in the past two years has driven out even more of the algae that gives the vast coral complex its color. This year’s bleaching is second in severity only to that of 2016 and has occurred even without El Niño warming.