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Archive for August, 2012
The Los Angeles river lives again
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 27th, 2012
Guardian: A scorching morning in the San Fernando valley and I am driving up and down Balboa Boulevard, parks and fields either side of the motorway, lost. The talking GPS on my dashboard has lapsed into silence, defeated by an arcane destination with no zip code. I spy a park attendant emptying a bin and pull over to ask directions. He eyes me, baffled. I wonder if he is deaf and repeat the question. He still looks confused. "Did you say river?" Yes, I reply. Where is the river? He shakes his head. "What...
Nanotech’s Ill Effects on Small Sea Creatures Stir Concern
Posted by LiveScience: Francie Diep on August 27th, 2012
LiveScience: A high-tech material called carbon nanotubes is harmful to the growth and lifespan of small animals important to ocean life, a new study has found. However, cleaning the nanotubes of impurities may go a long way toward reducing their toxic effects on sea life, the study added. The research is in the first wave of simple experiments on the effects of nanotechnology on the environment.
Right now, carbon nanotubes are not a commonly used -- or dumped -- material. They do appear in high-end sports...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Nanotech’s Ill Effects on Small Sea Creatures Stir ConcernIsaac poses risks due to storm surges, heavy rainfall
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 27th, 2012
Reuters: Tropical Storm Isaac poses risks to life and could cause extensive damage to states along the U.S. Gulf Coast with a storm surge of up to six to 12 feet, U.S. federal emergency officials said on Monday. "There are some aspects of this storm that are very concerning, particularly storm surge as well as now potentially heavy rainfall across the area of impact," Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate said in a conference call with reporters.
GOP Draft Platform Attacks Obama Admin For Saying Climate Change Is A ‘Severe’ National Security Threat
Posted by ThinkProgress: Ben Armbruster on August 27th, 2012
ThinkProgress: With the start of the Republican National Convention this week in Tampa, FL, the GOP draft platform has been getting a lot of attention, particularly for its extreme anti-abortion language and opposition to gay rights. But the Republican platform also attacks President Obama`s National Security Strategy for including "climate change" as a "severe" national security threat:
"The strategy subordinates our national security interests to environmental, energy and international health issues, and elevates...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on GOP Draft Platform Attacks Obama Admin For Saying Climate Change Is A ‘Severe’ National Security ThreatDesalination Sector Surges as Technology Improves, Demand Grows
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 27th, 2012
Yale Environment 360: A new report predicts that global investment in water desalination projects will triple over a five-year period from 2011 to 2016, driven by improvements in technology and a surge in companies entering the sector. According to Global Water Intelligence, investments in desalination plant installations will grow from $5 billion last year to $8.9 billion this year; by 2016, the report says, the sector could reach $17 billion. A critical factor has been the emergence of technologies that require less...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Desalination Sector Surges as Technology Improves, Demand Grows‘Eating’ Water Latest and Rising Threat to a Thirsty World
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 27th, 2012
Inter Press Service: Paradoxically, the water we "eat" is likely to become one of the growing new dangers to millions of the world's thirsty, hungering for this finite natural resource.
"More than one-fourth of all the water we use worldwide is taken to grow over one billion tons of food that nobody eats," Torgny Holmgren, executive director of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), told delegates during the opening of the annual international water conference, World Water Week, in the Swedish capital...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on ‘Eating’ Water Latest and Rising Threat to a Thirsty WorldRecord-Drought Gets Cattle Hoofin’ It
Posted by Climate Desk: None Given on August 27th, 2012
Climate Desk: The great expansion of America took ranchers west. The drought is pushing them back east.
Lifelong Wyoming rancher Neil Forgey is hoping the grass is greener in Winner, South Dakota. This year`s drought has forced a terrible choice on mid-West ranchers: sell, or haul. Neil`s usually verdant land in Douglas, Wyoming--home for decades--is "drier than it`s ever been," he said. Every county in that state is a declared disaster area, eligible for federal money. Neil`s property was also threatened by...
Mekong dam spree could create regional food crisis
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 27th, 2012
Mongabay: Fish are a hugely important protein source for many people around the world. This is no more evident than along the lower Mekong River delta where an estimated 48 million people depend directly on the river for food and livelihoods. But now a new study in Global Environmental Change cautions that 11 planned hydroelectric dams in the region could cut vital fish populations by 16 percent while putting more strain on water and land resources.
"The Mekong countries are striving for economic growth,...
Rain from Isaac to help wheat, but not corn, soy
Posted by Reuters: Sam Nelson on August 27th, 2012
Reuters: The drought-parched Midwest farm belt could get up to 5 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Isaac but it would be a mixed blessing to farmers, as the moisture will be too late for corn and soybeans but just in time for wheat planting next month.
Farmers are harvesting their corn, which has been devastated by the worst drought in half a century, as a result rain would be of no help at this time of the season.
Rain could be of marginal help to soybeans that were planted late in the season, but...
How methane becomes fish food
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 27th, 2012
ScienceDaily: Methane is an organic carbon compound containing the fundamental building block of nearly all living material: carbon. It provides an important source of energy and nutrients for bacteria. Methane is produced in oxygen-free environments and is found in abundance at the bottom of lakes.
The Brazilian post-doctoral researcher in biology and ecology, Angela Sanseverino, has presented a study that shows methane from lakebeds to be present in fish tissue. The study was carried out in cooperation with,...