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Added on the 15/09/2021 11:34:30 - Copyright : France 24 EN
As climate change drives drought, and the rising global population drives food demand, the world's food security is ever more precarious. But struggling farmers may find relief from the soaring temperatures from the sun itself--and the technology that harnesses its power. HuffPost reports students at the University of Arizona noticed that vegetables grown under the cover of solar panels flourished during the hottest summer on record. The observation provided food for thought for Prof. Greg Barron-Gafford’s research in 'agrivoltaics': growing food and generating solar energy on the same land. The concept could fulfill the need for land on which to build new solar installations while also helping farmers stay afloat. It’s a case where one plus one could equal more than two. Greg Barron-Gafford Associate Professor, University of Arizona’s School of Geography, Development and Environment
New research published in PLOS One shows the koala bear population is in decline--and it's because of humans. According to CNN, a number of human-driven stressors are depressing koalas' immune systems, making them more susceptible to disease. Human encroachment, or farming land previously occupied by koalas, is a major factor. So is climate change, which is robbing the landscape of water and trees. CNN reports climate change is also contributing to the intensity of widespread bushfires in Australia, as seen in the record-breaking blazes of 2019 and 2020. World Wide Fund for Nature - Australia is trying to double koala numbers-- in part by planting seeds to grow more trees that grow koala food.
Snow blanketed the Porto Recanati shoreline on the Adriatic coast on Tuesday, as bitterly cold weather continued to grip parts of Europe. The snow came as a surprise to local residents of the seaside resort located near the central Italian city of Macerata, with reports of schools being closed due to the snow. A thick, frosty layer of white covered palm trees as the ocean roared in the background.
No, this is no mirage. The dunes of the Sahara desert were really covered in snow on Sunday morning, producing one of the strangest sights around. Snow has only been seen in the Sahara three times in nearly 40 years, but on Sunday, dunes in Algeria's Ain Sefra where topped with cold, white snow. Some 16 inches of snow fell between Saturday night and Sunday morning, covering the town of Ain Sefra, which is sometimes called "the gateway to the desert." Unfortunately the rare beauty didn't last as it melted the same day as soon as the desert sun started shining.
Just last week, these bare rocks were the site of one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mexico. Clear blue water cascading down these stones drew thousands of tourists every day to marvel at the Agua Azul waterfall in the Mexican region of Chiapas, but the waterfall started drying up a few weeks ago and has now slowed to a trickle. Realizing that one of their main tourist attractions was in grave danger, Chiapas authorities began investigating possible reasons why the Agua Azul waterfall suddenly dried up.