What Greenland Can Tell Us About Water's Future in a Changing World
Warming temperatures are melting Greenland's ice at an increasing rate, causing it to transform into liquid and slide into the sea. This transformation leaves previously ice-covered landscapes exposed, making way for new ecosystems to flourish.
Last summer a University of Florida research team, supported by both the University of Florida Water Institute Graduate Fellows Program and the National Science Foundation, traveled to Greenland to study how climate change is transforming arctic watersheds, and what that will mean for the rest of our planet.
The team brings researchers together across academic fields to focus on how the warming planet is affecting chemical, ecological and hydrological processes in Greenland. The interdisciplinary spirit reaches beyond the science to also train researchers in what the team calls Environmental Civics. They aim to connect people from all walks of life to the important research they are doing. Read more in our feature story, produced in collaboration with the UF Water Institute.
To pair with the rest of our educational content in each Earth to Florida newsletter, we bring you monthly updates on statewide environmental news. Read below to see what we found for January:
A 21-foot long, 5,000-pound orca whale was found stranded near Palm Coast on January 11. Orcas usually live in colder waters, but there are also pods of these whales in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. It is uncommon to see a whale in Florida, although sightings do occur from time to time. This is the first time in nearly 70 years an orca has been stranded in the southeastern U.S. A necropsy performed at SeaWorld found that the cause of death was disease, though the exact disease is still unknown. This whale stranding was one of three in a short period of time in Florida.
The Florida state Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee has agreed to back a proposed bill that would allocate $20 million a year from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to environmental projects in the Florida Keys. The funds would go toward restoring Florida Bay and the area’s coral reefs. The proposal was recently amended to remove a section that would have prohibited using the funds for wastewater projects, raising some concerns among certain environmental groups.
With federal funds, Hillsborough County will soon begin the process of designating Little Manatee River as a scenic waterway. Having the ‘scenic’ status will safeguard the river from any future development while still allowing recreational activities. The river must go through a formal study by the National Park Service before it can achieve its scenic designation. The study can take as long as three years to complete.
The Florida Cabinet recently approved $17.8 million in land conservation deals that advocates say will bring the Florida Wildlife Corridor a step closer to completion. The Florida Wildlife Corridor consists of different green spaces such as national parks, state forests, rivers and streams that aim to better connect Florida’s natural lands, prevent habitat fragmentation, and protect Florida’s drinking water sources. These deals will help preserve several thousand acres of ranch land and buffer areas from development and secure their place as part of the Corridor. In 2021, the Florida House and Senate unanimously passed the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, securing $400 million in funding to protect interconnected natural areas in the state.
Florida’s iconic manatee has had a rough go in recent years. About 800 manatees died in 2022, the second deadliest year on record. The species is undergoing widespread famine due to the loss of seagrass, their main dietary staple. But not all is lost for our precious sea cows. Manatees were largely spared from red tide in 2022 and wildlife officials have confirmed that long-term care facilities for malnourished manatees are equipped to take in new rescues. In an extremely rare occurrence, a female manatee named Estel has given birth to twins. And in the recent cold fronts, manatees have managed to stay warm long enough to avoid major casualties.
On January 10, Governor Ron DeSantis announced an executive order pledging $3.5 billion for Everglades and water protection. The funds, which are subject to legislative approval, will be spread over four years and focus on restoration in the Everglades and Indian River Lagoon, coastal resiliency, coral reef protection, and land conservation. This is a $1 billion increase from DeSantis’ first executive order in 2019, which also focused on Everglades and water quality improvement.
Florida biologists have long pointed to cold snaps as the only realistic hope for controlling South Florida’s invasive iguanas. But researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found that the region’s most common lizard species, including iguanas, can withstand lower temperatures than they were able to four years ago. This means that rates of falling iguanas during South Florida winters may decrease as the species develops a cold hardiness and global temperatures rise. Scientists say a combination of acclimation and evolution is allowing these iguanas to better survive the winters.
Earlier this month, experts urged boaters to keep their distance as a critically endangered right whale and her calf made their way south along Florida’s east coast. With only 70 breeding females left in the world, every single female North Atlantic right whale and calf is vital to the species’ continuation and recovery. Researchers are tracking the whales through social media posts and sighting reports. Nine calves have been born so far this calving season, but one was recently found dead in North Carolina. Researchers say calving seasons typically need 50 calves or more to stabilize the population.
Recently, there has been an increase in crocodile sightings across the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimated that the number of Florida crocodiles has increased from 300 in 1975 to as many as 2,000 today. As a result, Florida is experiencing increasing complaints about nuisance crocodiles.
Last year, the Miami-Dade County Commission moved the urban development boundary that protects wetlands and farms in South Dade to make way for a warehouse complex. If the project comes to fruition, the warehouse will be built over a slough, a shallow and slow-moving channel that is important for restoring water flow from the Everglades to Biscayne Bay. The decision is being challenged by a nearby resident and a hearing before an administrative law judge is scheduled for May.
Visit the links below for other environmental stories you may have missed this month!
Each week on our @UFEarthSystems Instagram page, our student Environmental Communicators share simple sustainability actions you can incorporate into your everyday routines. Click the images below to learn more.
Visit our blog posts below to learn more about these topics!
Environmental protection and social justice are deeply intertwined, and we cannot accurately communicate the environmental issues facing our state without acknowledging this relationship. In this monthly Earth to Florida segment, we will share articles and videos that help explain these connections.
Tell Me About is a weekly series on TESI's Instagram channel that explains environmental topics facing Florida and why they matter. Click the images or visit the links below to learn more about climate oscillations and light pollution in Florida!
Visit our blog posts below to learn more about these topics!
Want to impress your friends with all you know about our beautiful state? Follow us on Instagram @KnowYourFlorida and get to know your state’s natural history and outdoor wonders.Click the images below for fun Florida facts for this month!
About the Institute
Started in 2018, the mission of the UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute is to advance communication and education about Earth systems science in a way that inspires Floridians to be effective stewards of our planet.
Each month, a student-led team at the UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute curates Florida's environmental news and puts it into context by explaining what’s going on, why it matters and what we can do about it. We hope you enjoy this month's sampling.
