Ancient snow patches melting at record speed

Researchers bore tunnels in the ice to examine it. Here, from the glacier Storbreen in 2013, before the hot summer the following year. Norway is dotted with small glaciers and permanent snow patches that contain all sorts of archaeological treasures, from ancient shoes to 5000-year-old arrowheads. But climate change has turned up the temperature on these snowfields and they are vanishing at an astonishing rate. They actually shouldn't be found in Norway. Summers are too hot and winters too dry for glaciers or perennial snow patches to form here. Yet, the Kringsollfonna ice patch in Sør-Trøndelag county and the Storbreen glacier just north of Snøhetta mountain have done just that for over 5000 years, even surviving the warm period in the Middle Ages. Now they're melting fast. With one or two more hot summers, they will be history. Working around the clock Scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) who study these snowfields are busy. The NTNU University Museum is leading this project, and archaeologists have already retrieved exciting discoveries from areas that emerge when ice and snow disappears -- such as arrowheads that are over 5,000 years old. Researchers from the Department of Geography, however, are most concerned with the relationship between weather conditions and how snow patches accumulate and melt away. Since research began in 2012, they have visited the two snow patches around ten times each year. "Norway has a long tradition of taking measurements of glaciers of varying size, but we know very little about the smallest glaciers and what the locals refer to as snow patches," says Associate Professor Geir Vatne of NTNU's Department of Geography. Detailed data A glacier is a perennial mass of moving snow and ice, while snow patches are stationary. Scientists use a lot of technological equipment to learn about glaciers and their characteristics. Using a laser scanner and snow cores, researchers measure the accumulation of snow patches in the winter and their ablation- or melt- in summer. Traditional measurement methods such as stakes and snow soundings are more resource-intensive and provide poor data quality. Ground-penetrating radar, or georadar, measures a glacier's thickness. The resulting high-resolution data are used to create 3D models that visualize changes in ice volume, which can then be matched with weather data. Scientists can also see if there are changes in winter precipitation and wind distribution of snow, or if there are changes in summer temperature that affect whether the snow patches shrink or grow. Scientists use super-accurate GPS technology to measure whether there is movement in the snow patches. They also take sediment samples from snow patch melt water lakes to study how snow patches have varied in size and activity since the ice sheet retreated from the area. Researchers have also attempted to map the extent of snow patches in the landscape over time. "Some of the results surprised us. It turns out that several of the snow patches are actually glaciers," says Vatne. Distinguishing between snow patches and glaciers But wait a minute. How can snow patches survive for 5,000 years when, based on the regional climate, they shouldn't even exist? Glaciers and snow patches, of which there are many in the Norwegian mountains, form where more snow accumulates in the winter than melts the following summer. Northeast facing snow patches are typically recessed and sheltered from direct sunlight and the dominant winds for much of the year, so they collect windblown snow. The Storbreen glacier is located high in the mountains in a permafrost area, which means that there is frost in the ground year round. Scientists have measured the temperature at the bottom of the glacier at minus 1.4 degrees in the summer, revealing that the glacier is frozen solid below and is not moving much. "Even with barely measurable movement," Vatne says, "Storbreen is still called a glacier." Gone forever Researchers have not taken the temperature of the Kringsollfonna ice patch, but GPS measurements show that it is moving, making it more of a glacier than a snow patch. This knowledge can help archaeologists explain their findings. Snow patches are nature's own freezers, storing pollen and animal bones, among other things. Now the lid of the freezer has been removed, and snow patches are melting. Vatne explains that when the snow patches are gone, wooden arrow shafts and other organic materials in the snow will quickly decompose. "Then they're lost forever. The probability of discovering finds in snow patches is greater than in glaciers, because they're not moving. The ancient materials inside moving glaciers have melted out long ago," he says. Role in the ecosystem Both Kringsollfonna and Storbreen accumulated a lot of snow during the winter of 2012, despite the fact that it did not snow especially much. The reason for the gain was that windy periods around and after major snowfalls caused snow to accumulate in depressions. At the end of the summer later that year, four feet of snow from the previous winter remained, before new snow came. However, during the hot summer of 2014 Kringsollfonna lost over 10 meters of snow and ice. "This loss wasn't just the snow from the winter before -- it included eight meters of old ice that disappeared. Our measurements show that now the snow patch is eight meters at its thickest point. With one more hot summer, all of Kringsollfonna could be gone," says Vatne. He points out that snow patches play a role in our ecosystem. Reindeer are drawn to the snow patches on hot summer days, partly to avoid insects. We may soon learn what happens when the reindeer don't have these cool places to survive the heat. Vatne has no doubt that we will. "It's highly likely that snow patches will soon melt away," he said. "Perhaps for good."

Drones ajudam a prevenir e resolver problemas

Drones ajudam a prevenir e resolver problemas no campo, diz pesquisador. Tecnologia foi apresentada por pesquisador da Embrapa no Showtec. Palestra foi realizada nesta quarta-feira (21), em Maracaju. Os drones ou veículos aéreos não tripulados (vants) podem ser importantes ferramentas para fazer o monitoramento de lavouras, levantando informações, como, por exemplo, a qualidade do plantio, o  desenvolvimento das culturas e a estimativa de safras. Podem ainda detectar problemas, como a deficiência de nitrogênio no solo, ataques de pragas e doenças e o estresse hídrico. A apresentação da tecnologia foi feita nesta quarta-feira (21), pelo pesquisador da Embrapa Instrumentação, Lúcio André de Castro Jorge, em palestra no Showtec, que está sendo promovido pela Fundação MS, em Maracaju, a 157 quilômetros de Campo Grande. Segundo Jorge, estão disponíveis no mercado brasileiro equipamentos que custam de R$ 5 mil, que é um kit para ser montado pelo próprio produtor, até R$ 300 mil. “A demanda do produtor é que vai definir que tipo de equipamento ele deve adquirir. Sempre recomendamos que o agricultor comece com modelos mais básicos, que tem operação mais simples, para que ele se familiarize com a tecnologia e depois, a medida que precisar passe para outros mais complexos”, explica. Conforme o pesquisador, além do drone ou vant também é preciso que o produtor invista em equipamentos como câmeras e sensores, que vão fazer as imagens e a leitura das informações durante os voos e ainda em softwares, que vão fazer junção das fotografias captadas, o chamado mosaico, e depois a interpretação destes dados, fornecendo os relatórios que vão fundamentar as tomadas de decisões. Jorge diz que desde 1998 a Embrapa vem realizando estudos com o uso de drones na agricultura e que o centro de pesquisa já desenvolveu alguns softwares que analisam as imagens captadas pelos equipamentos. Um deles é o Siscob, que é utilizado para fazer a análise da cobertura do solo por treinamento de exemplos. “Você indica ao software o que é o solo, o que é a planta e outras informações. A partir do reconhecimento que ele faz pela cor, possibilita a identificação, por exemplo, de falhas no plantio e da área ocupada por nematoides, além de outras informações”. Outro programa desenvolvido pela instituição é o GeoFielder, que visa coletar dados georreferenciados em campo, para elaborar mosaicos mais precisos das áreas. Os dois softwares têm versões gratuitas para download no site da Embrapa e também foram licenciados para uma empresa, que comercializa versões atualizadas dos programas, com novos recursos. O pesquisador projeta um grande incremento no uso da tecnologia dos drones na agricultura brasileira nos próximos anos, mas diz que antes, é preciso que ocorra a regulamentação do uso da tecnologia. Atesta o interesse, conforme ele, dados revelados por um fabricante que apontam que somente no ano passado essa empresa comercializou 90 drones para monitoramento agrícola no país. Fonte: Agrodebate.

Recordes da produção de soja no Mato Grosso do Sul

Produção de soja em MS será recorde pela 3ª vez consecutiva. Pela terceira vez consecutiva, a produção de soja será recorde em Mato Grosso do Sul. Nesta terça-feira 27, durante lançamento oficial da colheita do grão, o diretor da Associação dos Produtores de Soja (Aprosoja/MS), Maurício Saito, apresentou projeção de 6,8 milhões de toneladas, mas admitiu que esse volume deve ser revisto para baixo em razão das condições climáticas. Com o recuo, o volume a ser colhido deve alcançar 6,6 milhões de toneladas, 10% acima das 6 milhões de toneladas da safra anterior. Esse volume deve proporcionar receita estimada em R$ 5,52 bilhões. O evento ocorreu na tarde de ontem na sede da Federação de Agricultura de Mato Grosso do Sul (Famasul), em Campo Grande. “Este número não está consolidado. Pode ser menor em razão de um período de 15 dias de falta de chuva”, afirmou Saito, referindo-se à projeção de 6,8 milhões de toneladas de soja. Ele acredita que não haverá, até o fim da colheita, chuva em volume satisfatório para atingir essa estimativa. O problema é maior na região sul, nos municípios de Dourados, Caarapó, Naviraí, Fátima do Sul, entre outros, com média pluviométrica, nesta safra, de 300 milímetros, abaixo da média estadual de 550 milímetros. Saito preferiu não estimar a perda em relação à projeção de 6,8 milhões de toneladas. No entanto, de acordo com o analista de grãos da Famasul, Leonardo Bertolotto, o recuo deve ser de 200 mil toneladas. A produção cai, assim, para 6,6 milhões de toneladas. Fonte: Correio do Estado.

Preços do boi gordo e do bezerro seguem firmes em 2015

Os preços do boi gordo e dos bezerros devem continuar firmes em 2015, reflexo da redução de animais para abate e da seca de anos anteriores, além da valorização do dólar frente ao Real, que deve favorecer as exportações. Ainda que volte a chover com mais regularidade neste ano, “não há como esperar altas expressivas na oferta de animais para reposição ou prontos para abate em curto prazo”. A avaliação está no boletim Ativos da Pecuária de Corte, da Confederação da Agricultura e Pecuária do Brasil (CNA) e do Centro de Estudos Avançados em Economia Aplicada (Cepea). Do lado da demanda, explica o boletim, apesar das projeções de baixo crescimento econômico, não há perspectivas de redução do consumo interno e das vendas externas. “Assim, as expectativas são de continuidade de preços firmes, tanto para o boi gordo como para a reposição”, afirma a publicação. Segundo o estudo, a seca observada desde 2013 prejudicou não apenas o tempo de engorda dos animais, mas também a taxa de prenhez das matrizes (fêmeas), o intervalo entre partos e o desenvolvimento de bezerros e garrotes, além de, possivelmente, ter contribuído para elevar o índice de mortalidade dos animais. Todos estes fatores influenciaram na restrição dos índices de abate. Um dos desafios para os pecuaristas é conseguir cobrir os custos totais de produção, que subiu expressivamente em 2014, por conta da valorização dos bezerros. Os animais de reposição responderam por 50% dos custos totais de produção da pecuária de corte em 2014, 10 pontos percentuais a mais do que no ano anterior. Este índice é reflexo da forte alta dos preços dos animais de reposição, que chegou a 35%. De acordo com o estudo, o Custo Operacional Efetivo (COE), que engloba as despesas diárias na propriedade, e o Custo Operacional Total (COT), que envolve o COE mais a depreciação de patrimônio e o pró labore, fecharam 2014 com altas de 23,72% e 19,99%, respectivamente, variações de mais de 10 pontos percentuais na comparação com 2013. Estas altas foram as terceiras maiores já registradas pelo boletim CNA/Cepea. Fonte: Canal do Produtor.

Meditation: Take a stress-reduction break wherever you are

 

Meditation: A simple, fast way to reduce stress Meditation can wipe away the day's stress, bringing with it inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most. By Mayo Clinic Staff If stress has you anxious, tense and worried, consider trying meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace. Anyone can practice meditation. It's simple and inexpensive, and it doesn't require any special equipment. And you can practice meditation wherever you are — whether you're out for a walk, riding the bus, waiting at the doctor's office or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting. Understanding meditation Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction. Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being. Benefits of meditation Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don't end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may improve certain medical conditions. Meditation and emotional well-being When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress. The emotional benefits of meditation can include: Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations Building skills to manage your stress Increasing self-awareness Focusing on the present Reducing negative emotions Meditation and illness Meditation might also be useful if you have a medical condition, especially one that may be worsened by stress. While a growing body of scientific research supports the health benefits of meditation, some researchers believe it's not yet possible to draw conclusions about the possible benefits of meditation. With that in mind, some research suggests that meditation may help people manage symptoms of conditions such as: Anxiety disorders Asthma Cancer Depression Heart disease High blood pressure Sleep problems Be sure to talk to your health care provider about the pros and cons of using meditation if you have any of these conditions or other health problems. In some cases, meditation can worsen symptoms associated with certain mental and physical health conditions. Meditation isn't a replacement for traditional medical treatment. But it may be a useful addition to your other treatment. Types of meditation Meditation is an umbrella term for the many ways to a relaxed state of being. There are many types of meditation and relaxation techniques that have meditation components. All share the same goal of achieving inner peace. Ways to meditate can include: Guided meditation. Sometimes called guided imagery or visualization, with this method of meditation you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing. You try to use as many senses as possible, such as smells, sights, sounds and textures. You may be led through this process by a guide or teacher. Mantra meditation. In this type of meditation, you silently repeat a calming word, thought or phrase to prevent distracting thoughts. Mindfulness meditation. This type of meditation is based on being mindful, or having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. In mindfulness meditation, you broaden your conscious awareness. You focus on what you experience during meditation, such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions, but let them pass without judgment. Qi gong. This practice generally combines meditation, relaxation, physical movement and breathing exercises to restore and maintain balance. Qi gong (CHEE-gung) is part of traditional Chinese medicine. Tai chi. This is a form of gentle Chinese martial arts. In tai chi (TIE-CHEE), you perform a self-paced series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner while practicing deep breathing. Transcendental meditation. Transcendental meditation is a simple, natural technique. In transcendental meditation, you silently repeat a personally assigned mantra, such as a word, sound or phrase, in a specific way. This form of meditation allows your body to settle into a state of profound rest and relaxation and your mind to achieve a state of inner peace, without needing to use concentration or effort. Yoga. You perform a series of postures and controlled breathing exercises to promote a more flexible body and a calm mind. As you move through poses that require balance and concentration, you're encouraged to focus less on your busy day and more on the moment. Next Jul. 19, 2014 References See more In-depth