Welcome to Science Saturday! This week, we dive into the pressing issues of California wildfires and global warming, explore groundbreaking discoveries in ancient ice, and uncover new insights into the Moon's magnetic history.
California Wildfires
Southern California has been ravaged by devastating wildfires, driven by a combination of extreme weather events. Supersized Santa Ana winds reaching 161 kilometers per hour, prolonged droughts, and the rapid growth and subsequent drying of plant life set the stage for these disasters. An unstable jet stream and power lines flapping in powerful winds further exacerbated the situation. Experts agree that climate change is a significant factor behind these intensified weather events.
Global Warming
2024 has been recorded as the hottest year ever, surpassing the previous record set in 2023. This alarming trend continues to push global temperatures higher, exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit established by the 2015 Paris climate pact. The primary culprit? The accumulation of greenhouse gases from the burning of coal, oil, and gas. Scientists warn that climate change will only intensify if these emissions are not curbed.
Ancient Ice
In a remarkable achievement, scientists have unearthed ancient ice from Antarctica, drilling nearly 2.8 kilometers to access ice that is at least 1.2 million years old. Previously, they had drilled an 800,000-year-old core. These findings reveal that greenhouse gas levels during the warmest periods of the past 800,000 years never surpassed those of the Industrial Revolution. This research provides valuable insights into how Earth's atmosphere and climate have evolved over millennia.
Moon Exploration
The Chang'e-5 mission by China has provided groundbreaking samples showing that the Moon had a magnetic field 2 billion years ago. Experts found that the magnetic field was persistent but weak, measuring less than 10 percent of Earth's current field strength. This discovery suggests that the lunar dynamo was active until the Moon's middle years, filling a significant gap in our understanding of the Moon's magnetic evolution.
Reference(s):
Science Saturday: California wildfires, global warming, and more
cgtn.com
