Our Daily Planet: China's National Parks and Disappearing Lakes

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

China's New National Parks: A determined hiker noses his way into the emerging national parks of China's Yunnan province. [Related: Top 10 Most Visited U.S. National Parks.]

California Endangered: California's deserts, the Sierra Nevada and the San Francisco Bay Delta are three of the ten most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change in the United States, according to a new report.

Snowy Weekend: Just as the snow from the Christmas Blizzard of 2010 has mostly melted (and all the leftover garbage mostly collected) more snow may be on the way this weekend. [Related: Blow-by-Blow: Smowmageddon vs. Christmas Blizzard of 2010 .]

Plant Database: Britain's Kew Gardens has complied a database of every plant name on the planet, all 1.25 million of them. [Related: Hold Your Nose: 7 Foul Flowers .]

Disappearing Lakes: Glacial lakes are bursting and flooding, causing the lakes to disappear. Climate change isn't necessarily to blame, but it's not making it easier for the glacial ponds.

Previously on Our Daily Planet: China's Freezing Weather and California's Salmon Runs

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

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Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.