Earthweek: a Diary of the planet

For the week ending Friday, March 12. By Steve Newman

Space 'hurricane'

Scientists say they have observed a hurricane-like feature spinning in the highest levels of the atmosphere. An international team analyzed 3-D satellite data from 2014 and found a cyclone of plasma swirling above the polar ionosphere and magnetosphere that resembled a hurricane at the surface. But the 650-mile-wide feature, more than 125 miles above the North Pole, rained electrons rather than water. The space hurricane had spiral arms and lasted almost eight hours before breaking down.

Geriatric mom

The oldest known wild bird has hatched another chick at the age of at least 70. The Laysan albatross known as Wisdom was first tagged in 1956 and is believed to have had at least 30 chicks. Because the species mates for life, it’s believed Wisdom has outlived previous partners before mating with her current one in 2012. Wisdom’s latest hatchling emerged in February at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the mid-Pacific.

Eruptions

Mount Etna’s colorful eruption continued with lava flowing down its flanks and ash raining down.

Four blasts from a sudden eruption of Nicaragua’s San Cristóbal volcano blanketed some nearby villages and crops with a layer of ash. Guatemala’s Pacaya volcano remained very active, tossing lava bombs and spewing ash from its crater.

Greenhouse surge

Global carbon emissions have already rebounded to levels higher than before the pandemic, according to a report by the International Energy Agency. The independent intergovernmental organization in Paris says worldwide emissions in December 2020 were up 2% from December 2019. “The rebound in global carbon emissions toward the end of last year is a stark warning that not enough is being done to accelerate clean energy transitions worldwide,” an agency official said.

Rat recovery

The ecology of a remote Alaskan spot once known asRatIslandhas recovered from the damage inflicted by the invasive rodents just over 10 years after a coordinated effort eradicated them. A UC San Diego researcher writes in Scientific Reports that native species on what is now known as Hawadax Island are restoring the natural balance. Rats were introduced there before 1780 by a Japanese shipwreck.