Articles tagged with "environmental-monitoring"
'Drone knights' protect 200-year-old trees from drought in Germany
Researchers at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, have developed a high-tech drone system to protect nearly 200-year-old trees in the historic Hohenheim Gardens from drought and climate stress. Launched in April 2025, the project uses weekly drone flights equipped with multispectral and thermal cameras to monitor tree health by detecting variations in moisture content and physiological stress. This data, combined with information from about 100 sensors installed in the tree canopies by professional climbers, enables precise assessment of water needs and supports targeted irrigation, thereby improving climate resilience while reducing water consumption. The initiative represents a significant advancement in precision irrigation and climate-smart gardening, particularly important for preserving urban greenery amid increasing heat and drought conditions. The project has garnered EUR 350,000 in funding from the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation and operates under strict safety protocols, including licensed pilots, redundant drone systems, and regulatory compliance to ensure safe flights. The researchers hope their pilot project will serve as a model for green
drone-technologyIoT-sensorsprecision-irrigationenvironmental-monitoringclimate-resiliencesmart-agriculturewater-conservationFormer Google CEO Will Fund Boat Drones to Explore Rough Antarctic Waters
A foundation established by the former Google CEO is funding a five-year project deploying four uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), or drone boats, to explore the challenging waters of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. This region plays a critical role as one of the world’s largest carbon sinks, absorbing a significant portion of ocean-based carbon dioxide, yet it remains poorly understood due to extreme weather conditions, rough seas, and limited scientific data. The Southern Ocean’s harsh environment, especially in the Drake Passage, makes traditional crewed research difficult, and satellite observations are hindered by persistent cloud cover. The USVs will operate remotely, continuously collecting sophisticated measurements of the partial pressure of CO2 in the water, providing deeper insight into the ocean carbon cycle than previous unmanned efforts. Using machine learning, the drones’ routes will be dynamically adjusted to optimize data collection in areas beyond commercial shipping lanes, including during the winter months when data is especially scarce. The collected data will be publicly available, aiming to improve climate models
robotdroneautonomous-vesselsocean-explorationenvironmental-monitoringclimate-scienceremote-sensingTiny ocean robot captures first-ever data inside Category 5 hurricane
A surfboard-sized, wind- and solar-powered ocean robot called the C-Star has become the first uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) to capture and transmit live data from inside a Category 5 hurricane. During Hurricane Humberto on September 28, 2025, one of the four-foot-long C-Stars entered the storm’s eyewall, recording critical measurements such as a minimum air pressure of 955 millibars and hurricane-force gusts exceeding 150 mph. The data, including wind speed, direction, air pressure, temperature, humidity, and sea surface conditions, were transmitted every two minutes and used by NOAA forecasters to improve storm analysis and forecasting. NOAA, in partnership with the UK robotics firm Oshen and the University of Southern Mississippi, is operating seven C-Stars during the 2025 hurricane season to enhance understanding of hurricanes and advance prediction capabilities. The project also demonstrated rapid deployment capabilities, with two C-Stars transported and deployed within 48 hours to track
robotuncrewed-surface-vehiclehurricane-data-collectionocean-robotenvironmental-monitoringNOAAautonomous-sensorsThe EPA Is Ending Greenhouse Gas Data Collection. Who Will Step Up to Fill the Gap?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it will cease requiring polluting companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions, effectively ending the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). This move, initiated under the Trump administration, removes a critical federal tool used to monitor emissions and inform climate policy. Experts, including former EPA official Joseph Goffman, warn that this decision severely hampers the government's ability to formulate effective climate strategies, as the GHGRP data is essential for understanding emission sources, tracking industry decarbonization, and assessing new emissions-reduction technologies. The program also supports international commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and aids state and local policymakers in setting and monitoring emissions targets. While nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and technology advancements, such as AI-driven emissions tracking and satellite data, offer some potential to fill the data void, experts agree these efforts cannot fully replace the EPA’s comprehensive and authoritative data collection. Groups like Climate TRACE, a coalition using satellite imagery and
energygreenhouse-gas-emissionsclimate-policyenvironmental-monitoringdata-collectionemission-reduction-technologiesartificial-intelligenceAbandoned coal borehole leaks methane equivalent to 10,000 cars
A single abandoned coal exploration borehole in rural Queensland, Australia, has been identified as a significant methane “super-emitter,” releasing approximately 235 tonnes of methane annually—equivalent to the climate impact of 10,000 new cars each driving 12,000 kilometers per year. Researchers from the University of Queensland used advanced Quantum Gas LiDAR technology to conduct the first long-term methane emission measurements from such a borehole, which is about 100 meters deep and located in the Surat Basin. The borehole, drilled around twenty years ago and covered by dirt, was detected partly due to the absence of grass growth around it, indicating leakage. This discovery raises concerns that thousands of similar abandoned boreholes across Queensland—estimated at around 130,000—may also be leaking methane, though the extent and sealing quality of these holes remain largely unknown. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a warming effect approximately 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over 20 years, making these emissions a significant but
energymethane-emissionscoal-boreholesgreenhouse-gasesclimate-impactLiDAR-technologyenvironmental-monitoringMicrochipped moon jellyfish may reveal secrets of the deep ocean
Engineers at the University of Colorado, Boulder, have developed microchipped "cyborg" moon jellyfish equipped with microelectronic devices that stimulate their swimming muscles, allowing researchers to steer them toward remote and inaccessible ocean regions. These biohybrid jellyfish, which are among the most energy-efficient animals and have existed for over 500 million years, could serve as living sensors to collect critical environmental data such as temperature and pH. This technology offers a novel way to study deep and difficult-to-reach ocean areas, which are increasingly important to monitor due to climate change impacts like warming and acidification. The research team, led by Xu, emphasizes ethical considerations in working with these invertebrates, which lack brains and nociceptors but can exhibit stress responses. The jellies have been thriving in lab conditions, with ongoing efforts to improve steering capabilities and use sustainable methods like biodegradable particles to study their swimming dynamics. Beyond oceanographic data collection, the project aims to inspire the design of
robotIoTenergyunderwater-roboticsbiohybrid-robotsenvironmental-monitoringclimate-change-sensorsLongest lightning flash: 50x length of average bolt sets world record
A new world record for the longest lightning flash has been confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The megaflash, which occurred during a storm on October 22, 2017, in the U.S. Midwest, traveled an extraordinary 515 miles (approximately 830 kilometers) from eastern Texas to near Kansas City. This distance surpasses the previous record by 37 miles and is roughly equivalent to the distance between Paris and Venice. The flash was identified through a re-examination of satellite data from NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite, which has advanced capabilities for detecting long-duration lightning events known as megaflashes, particularly common in Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) thunderstorms in the Great Plains region. The discovery highlights both the scientific progress in lightning observation and the significant public safety concerns related to such extreme lightning events. Lightning remains a major hazard globally, posing risks to aviation, wildfire ignition, and general public safety. The WMO emphasized the importance of early warning
energylightningweatheratmospheric-scienceenvironmental-monitoringsatellite-datanatural-hazardsMethaneSAT’s Silence Won’t Save Methane Emitters From Scrutiny - CleanTechnica
MethaneSAT, a methane-monitoring satellite developed by the Environmental Defense Fund, lost communication with ground control in June 2025 and was declared irrecoverable in July, just 15 months after launch. This failure disappointed many climate scientists and environmentalists due to the satellite’s innovative approach: it combined precise hyperspectral imaging technology with global coverage and open, publicly accessible data to identify methane leaks from sources like oil and gas fields, landfills, and agriculture. MethaneSAT’s data had already highlighted significant under-reported emissions, emphasizing the urgent need for methane emission reductions to meet climate goals, given methane’s potency as a greenhouse gas—about 80 times more effective than CO2 over 20 years. Despite MethaneSAT’s loss, the article stresses that this is not a critical setback for global methane transparency. MethaneSAT was part of a broader ecosystem of methane detection technologies, including other satellites like the privately funded GHGSat constellation, which monitors emissions from individual facilities, and the
energymethane-detectionsatellite-technologyclimate-changeenvironmental-monitoringhyperspectral-imaginggreenhouse-gasesElectric Cars Plus Drones — 3 Stories - CleanTechnica
The article highlights a growing trend in 2025 of integrating drones with electric vehicles (EVs), showcasing three notable examples from major automakers. BYD has introduced the Tai 7, a Land Rover-style SUV featuring an optional roof-mounted drone system and a lidar sensor supporting its driver-assist technology. Priced around $42,000, the Tai 7 is a plug-in hybrid and part of BYD’s expanding lineup that includes models like the Bao 5, Bao 8, and Tai 3. Similarly, BYD’s Denza N9 plug-in hybrid offers an optional drone station co-developed with DJI, priced at an additional $2,230, targeting customers who may use the vehicle in remote areas. Hyundai, meanwhile, has launched the IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station in Korea, a specialized EV designed for environmental restoration rather than consumer use. This vehicle integrates a drone takeoff and landing platform and uses vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology to
electric-vehiclesdronesreforestation-technologyvehicle-to-load-(V2L)hybrid-drivetrainsmart-forest-restorationenvironmental-monitoringLGND wants to make ChatGPT for the Earth
LGND is a startup aiming to revolutionize how geospatial data about Earth is analyzed by creating advanced vector embeddings that summarize complex geographic information. Traditional methods of interpreting satellite data—such as manually examining images to answer questions like the number and changes of fire breaks in a state—are costly and time-consuming. LGND’s technology compresses spatial data into concise embeddings that capture essential features, enabling much faster and more efficient analysis. This approach can significantly improve the efficiency of professionals working with geographic data, potentially making their work 10 to 100 times more efficient rather than replacing them. The company recently raised $9 million in a seed funding round led by Javelin Venture Partners, with participation from several other investors and notable angels, including John Hanke and Karim Atiyeh. LGND offers an enterprise application and an API that allow users to query spatial data in innovative ways. For example, their embeddings can help answer complex, multi-factor questions—such as finding a rental property near snorkeling spots with
IoTgeospatial-dataAIsatellite-dataenvironmental-monitoringdata-embeddingswildfire-managementAir quality tests around xAI’s Memphis data center raise questions
Elon Musk’s xAI data center in Memphis, powered by natural gas turbines, has sparked concerns among local residents about potential air pollution. In response, the City of Memphis conducted air quality tests at three locations near the facility—downtown Memphis, Whitehaven, and Boxtown—on June 13 and 16. The results, released by the city, indicated that levels of the ten pollutants tested were not dangerous. However, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), representing the NAACP, criticized the testing for omitting ozone (smog), a significant pollutant, and for methodological issues such as placing monitors directly against buildings, which could affect accuracy. The testing was limited in scope and duration, with sampling equipment running for 10 to 13 hours on days when wind patterns were unlikely to carry pollutants from the data center to the test sites. Formaldehyde was detected downtown but remained within urban norms. The SELC's concerns highlight potential gaps in the testing approach, particularly
energydata-centernatural-gas-turbinesair-qualitypollutionenvironmental-monitoringozoneMethane Pollution Has Cheap, Effective Solutions That Aren’t Being Used
The article highlights methane as a potent greenhouse gas that, despite being odorless and colorless, significantly contributes to global warming—trapping up to 84 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a short timeframe. Methane emissions, largely driven by human activities such as energy production and cattle farming, account for nearly a third of the global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution. Recognizing its impact, over 100 countries pledged in 2021 to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. However, major emitters like Russia and China have not committed, and global methane emissions from energy production continue to rise, partly due to inadequate measurement and reporting. The article also underscores the challenges in tracking methane emissions accurately, as measurement-based data is scarce and emissions often go underreported. Methane leaks occur throughout the natural gas lifecycle—from drilling and transportation to consumption—and from coal mining, which releases even more methane than natural gas production. Despite the availability of low
energymethane-emissionsclimate-changenatural-gasfossil-fuelsenvironmental-monitoringemission-reductionUS scientists use machine learning for real-time crop disease alerts
Purdue University researchers are leveraging advanced AI and machine learning technologies to transform agriculture and environmental management. Their innovations include real-time crop disease detection using semi-supervised models that identify rare diseases from limited data, enabling faster outbreak responses and reduced chemical usage. These AI tools are designed to run efficiently on low-power devices such as drones and autonomous tractors, facilitating on-the-ground, real-time monitoring without relying on constant connectivity. Additionally, Purdue scientists are using AI to analyze urban ecosystems through remote sensing data and LiDAR imagery, uncovering patterns invisible to the naked eye to improve urban living conditions. In agriculture, AI is also being applied to enhance crop yield predictions and climate resilience. For example, machine learning ensembles simulate rice yields under future climate scenarios, improving accuracy significantly. Tools like the “Netflix for crops” platform recommend optimal crops based on soil and water data, aiding farmers and policymakers in making informed, data-driven decisions. Furthermore, Purdue developed an AI-powered medical robot capable of swimming inside a cow’s stomach to
robotAIagriculture-technologymachine-learningmedical-robotscrop-disease-detectionenvironmental-monitoringGeological CO₂ Storage: Massive Scale, Hidden Risks, Eternal Monitoring - CleanTechnica
The article critically examines the viability of geological carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration as a large-scale climate mitigation strategy. While geological storage has gained traction, partly due to less aggressive electrification scenarios and fossil fuel industry influence, real-world experience from enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations raises serious concerns about its effectiveness. EOR wells, which inject tens of millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually, already exhibit non-negligible leakage rates and mechanical integrity failures. These wells operate under less demanding conditions than dedicated sequestration wells, which must contain supercritical CO₂ under high pressure and corrosive environments for centuries or millennia. The higher risks of leakage and containment failure in future sequestration projects pose a significant challenge to meeting climate goals that require near-zero leakage over very long timescales. Scaling geological sequestration to the levels projected by organizations like the International Energy Agency—around 7.6 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year by mid-century—would require an unprecedented expansion of current capacity
energycarbon-capturegeological-storageCO2-sequestrationclimate-mitigationenhanced-oil-recoveryenvironmental-monitoringSeabed sensors to monitor CO2 storage at UK offshore carbon capture site
energycarbon-captureenvironmental-monitoringoffshore-technologysubsea-sensorsnet-zeroCO2-storageNew laser crystals boost quantum tech and cut rare earth reliance
materialslaser-technologyquantum-computingrare-earth-elementsoptical-materialsfiber-opticsenvironmental-monitoringPower of pyrazinacene: This crystal turns violet to expose a pollutant
materialscrystal-technologychemical-sensorscharge-transferenvironmental-monitoringpollution-detectionpyrazinaceneĐập thủy điện cao nhất thế giới bắt đầu trữ nước
robotIoTenergyhydropowerclean-energyconstruction-technologyenvironmental-monitoring