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NASA images reveal “ghost forests” in Florida

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NASA images reveal “ghost forests” in Florida


NASA and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) satellite images have unveiled a concerning phenomenon in Florida: the emergence of “ghost forests” in the state’s mangrove ecosystems.

These watery graveyards of once-thriving trees are a product of mangrove forests’ increasing vulnerability to intensifying storms and environmental change.

Mangroves are vital to the Florida Everglades. Known for their picturesque, half-submerged roots that create natural tunnels for kayakers, these trees also serve essential ecological and environmental functions.

Mangroves stabilize coastlines, buffer against erosion, store carbon and provide critical shelter for marine life.

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Florida is estimated to have 600,000 acres of mangrove forests, though their distribution has changed in recent decades mostly as a consequence of human activity, according to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Although mangroves are renowned for their resilience, including their ability to withstand flooding, the recent findings published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment revealed that stronger and more frequent hurricanes are overwhelming this natural adaptability.

Using decades of Landsat satellite data spanning from 1999 to 2023, researchers identified troubling patterns in mangrove recovery following hurricanes. Unlike previous studies that typically focused on single events, this study paints a broader picture of how these forests respond to storms over time.

The team categorized mangrove conditions into four groups: healthy (unaffected by storms), disturbed (impacted by storms but recovered within a single growing season), recovering (requiring more than one season to recover) and declining (failing to recover and entering long-term decline).

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The aftermath of recent hurricanes revealed a sharp rise in the number of declining mangroves. These forests, unable to recover, often transition into “ghost forests,” where dead trees haunt the once bustling coastline.

“Our monitoring has shown a significant increase in the area of mangroves that have lost their natural recovery capacity following recent hurricanes, such as Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022,” Zhe Zhu, a co-author of the study and a former member of the USGS–NASA Landsat science team said in a statement.

The Landsat-based maps from the study showed clear contrasts between mangrove recovery after hurricanes Wilma (2005) and Irma (2017) in the southern Everglades National Park bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

Maps showing the condition of mangroves in the Florida Everglades, 2004–2017. The iconic trees and shrubs of the Florida Everglades are under increased stress due to more frequent, intense hurricanes.

Lauren Dauphin, using data from Yang, Xiucheng, et al. 2024/NASA Earth Observatory

While most mangroves recovered naturally after Wilma, a significant portion of mangroves impacted by Irma entered a long-term decline, turning into ghost forests.

“Comparing post-hurricane conditions in Florida revealed that the increased frequency and severity of disturbances are challenging mangrove resilience, potentially diminishing their ability to recover and sustain ecosystem functions,” the researchers wrote in the study.

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A key innovation of this study was the use of a machine-learning algorithm to analyze satellite data, enabling continuous and detailed tracking of mangrove conditions. This approach provides an early warning system, helping land managers identify areas at risk before losses become irreversible.

“Our research aims to provide an early warning system for mangrove decline, helping to identify areas at risk before irreversible loss occurs,” Zhu said.

The researchers plan to refine their algorithm to better differentiate between the drivers of mangrove change, such as extreme weather, rising sea levels or human activity. They also aim to expand the study to monitor mangroves globally.

“By identifying whether changes are driven by extreme weather events, rising sea levels, or human activities, we can provide more targeted insights for conservation and management strategies in a rapidly changing environment,” Zhu said.

Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about comets? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

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Reference

Yang, X., Zhu, Z., Kroeger, K. D., Qiu, S., Covington, S., Conrad, J. R., & Zhu, Z. (2024). Tracking mangrove condition changes using dense Landsat time series. Remote Sensing of Environment, 315, 114461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2024.114461



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‘You’ll get capped:’ New viral challenge could get teens shot in Florida, sheriff warns

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‘You’ll get capped:’ New viral challenge could get teens shot in Florida, sheriff warns


FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A recent viral trend — dubbed the “Door Kick Challenge” — has been causing issues as of late in Central Florida.

The challenge involves teens covering their faces, kicking or pounding stranger’s front door when it’s dark outside, and sprinting off into the night.

[WATCH: FCSO releases footage of ‘Door Kick Challenge’ in action]

But on Wednesday, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly warned there could be deadly consequences.

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According to the sheriff’s office, these pranks may come across as an attempted home invasion for some, and with Florida being a “Stand Your Ground” state, neighbors have the right to treat it as such.

[ Central Florida deputy consoles 12-year-old accused in door-kicking incident]

“Parents, keep an eye on your children. We know they want to have fun, but they are taking huge risks when they mask up and kick strangers’ doors,” Staly said. “Be the sheriff of your own home, talk to your kids, know their friends, and make sure they know the risks associated with doing what the internet tells them to do.”

But in a release, the sheriff’s office delivered the message in a “language” that teens may better understand:

“This door kick ‘challenge’ is not the side quest you think it is.

It’s trendslop, pure brain rot straight off the FYP. You think you’re the alpha chad of the cul-de-sac? Nah bruh, you’re one hoodie masked-up sprint away from priors. The kind of rap that gets you cancelled before you ever stack any clout. Zero drip in our jail’s barbershop-looking mugshots.

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Okay, real talk. Florida is a Stand Your Ground state. A NPC wakes up to two randos kicking their door at 1 a.m. wearing sheisties — they don’t see a flex, they get the ick, and think your side quest is a home invasion. And no cap, you’ll get capped.

Taking an L on TikTok? Recoverable. Taking a round to the chest? There’s no respawn.

So skip this one, chief. Find clout elsewhere.”

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office

Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.



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Jacksonville 18-year-old vanishes during bicycle trip to Florida Keys, deputies are now asking for your help

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Jacksonville 18-year-old vanishes during bicycle trip to Florida Keys, deputies are now asking for your help


Jasper Frohock (St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing Jacksonville 18-year-old who was last seen in Fort Pierce.

Jasper Frohock was reported missing June 15. According to family members, Frohock left his Jacksonville home on a solo bicycle trip to the Florida Keys, traveling several miles each day and camping overnight in a tent, often at local parks along the route.

The last known location associated with Frohock was in the 1900 block of Crestview Drive in Fort Pierce. The exact date and time of that location update are unknown.

Frohock is described as a white male, 18 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall and approximately 150 pounds, with red hair and brown eyes.

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Anyone who has seen Frohock or has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Detective Corporal Alba at 772-462-7300, or email CrimeInfo@stluciesheriff.com. Anyone who sees Frohock and believes he may be in immediate danger should call 911.




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South Florida shark diving operators push back against Florida Safe Seas Act: “There’s a huge double standard here”

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South Florida shark diving operators push back against Florida Safe Seas Act: “There’s a huge double standard here”


Shark diving operators in South Florida are raising concerns that a bill currently moving through Congress could wipe out their industry.

The Florida Safe Seas Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month, is now headed to the Senate for consideration. If enacted, the legislation would prohibit the use of bait to attract sharks in federal waters off the Florida coast, though it would include an exception for shark fishing.

Supporters argue the bill will improve safety for swimmers, beachgoers, and anglers. Opponents, however, contend the measure would effectively dismantle the multimillion-dollar shark diving tourism industry in South Florida.

“This industry has created a natural guardianship for sharks; it is showing people that sharks are worth more alive than dead; it’s showing people the importance of sharks, really,” said Tanner Mansell, who operates Tanner Underwater Charters out of Jupiter.

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Mansell argues that banning bait would leave operators with no viable alternative. “It would completely eliminate the industry because if we could go out there and swim with sharks without using bait, I would, I would be more than happy to do that,” he said.

He noted that his charters typically operate 3 to 4 miles offshore, well away from beachgoers, and argued that shark fishing from the beach presents a greater safety risk.

“So they’re taking the same chum that we use to attract sharks offshore, but you can put it on a hook and throw it at the beach and lure sharks in if you want to catch them right next to beachgoers, so there’s a huge double standard here,” Mansell said. He also disputed claims that dive charters are responsible for drawing sharks closer to shore, pointing to the high volume of recreational fishing boats in the area.

Conversely, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust supports the legislation, citing the need to address shark depredation—a situation where sharks target hooked fish or fish being released back into the water.

“I think anything we can do to address the shark depredation issue is going to pay dividends in the long run,” said Kellie Ralston, the organization’s vice president for conservation and public policy.

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Ralston highlighted research indicating that more than 40% of breeding permit fish, a key recreational fishery in the state, were being lost to sharks during the catch-and-release process. “I think couched in kind of this larger focus on shark depredation, I think we’re poised to see some really positive results out of this that’ll benefit our anglers, our boaters, our waters and our fisheries to be sustainable for the long term,” she added.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Clermont. A spokesperson for Webster’s office stated that the legislation mirrors existing Florida state law prohibiting shark feeding off the coast.

“The bill would extend these protections to federal waters, aligning with existing federal law surrounding Hawaii and Pacific territories,” the spokesperson said. “With the bill passing the U.S. House of Representatives on June 2, it now goes to the Senate for consideration.”


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