RSS Feed
Archive for July, 2013
Global power brokers ‘alarmed’ as US has a fracking good time
Posted by Canberra Times: Nick O'Malley on July 20th, 2013
Canberra Times: A few years ago when you headed from Bismarck in central North Dakota up towards Williston in the state's north-west it might have seemed you were heading from nowhere to nothing. You'd drive on empty roads by the badlands of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and if you missed the farming town of 14,000 you would hit Canada a few hours later.
Not any more. Williston is at the epicentre of a US oil and gas boom sparked by fracking technology that some economists believe will arrest America's...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Global power brokers ‘alarmed’ as US has a fracking good timeBritain battles seventh day of 30-plus temperatures
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 20th, 2013
Independent: The heatwave is piling pressure on England's already over-stretched A&E services, with last week being the busiest so far this year – while rising temperatures indicate accident and emergency departments could come under even more pressure next week.
Official figures show that 457,459 people attended A&E wards, minor injury units or walk-in centres in the week ending 14 July – more than in any week during the winter and the second highest weekly attendance since week-by-week records began three...
Gimme swelter: we explain the UK and US heatwaves
Posted by New Scientist: Fred Pearce on July 20th, 2013
New Scientist: After the cold, the heat. High pressure spreading across the UK from Siberia last spring brought record cold temperatures. Now more high pressure, this time from the tropical Atlantic, is bringing a sweltering heatwave. These high-pressure zones are blocking the jet stream which usually brings the country's normal changeable weather. "Blocking highs" are an increasing theme of North American weather reports too, bringing concern of a long-term shift. New Scientist looks at the issues.
What's going...
More heat, drought and floods in 2013
Posted by ClimateWire: Christa Marshall on July 20th, 2013
ClimateWire: Global average temperatures in June were the fifth highest on record, as above-average heat conditions continued a multidecade streak, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported yesterday. June marked the 340th consecutive month -- a span of time more than 28 years -- that global temperatures surged above the 20th century average, according to the agency. "The last below-average June temperature was June 1976 and the last below-average temperature for any month was February 1985,"...
Thunderstorms could hamper efforts to subdue California wildfire
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 20th, 2013
Reuters: Firefighters raced on Friday to buttress defensive lines against a fierce blaze roaring for a fifth day near the scenic mountain resort of Idyllwild in Southern California, as forecast thunderstorms threatened to hamper efforts to subdue the flames.
The so-called Mountain Fire has already burned across more than 27,000 acres of dry brush and timber and forced the evacuation of Idyllwild after destroying seven homes and other property in the rugged San Jacinto range, authorities said.
The blaze,...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Thunderstorms could hamper efforts to subdue California wildfireFederal officials pledge to reduce fire risks, protect watershed
Posted by My Desert: Kevin Duggan on July 20th, 2013
My Desert: With fire-scarred hillsides and the glittering water of Horsetooth Reservoir serving as a backdrop, federal officials on Friday announced an initiative aimed at protecting western water supplies from the ravages of wildfire. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, signed a document committing their agencies to work with state and local officials and private landowners in reducing the risk and impact of massive fires. The partnership also is expected...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Federal officials pledge to reduce fire risks, protect watershedIce, ice, maybe: Snow and ice melting at record speed
Posted by Grist: Claire Thompson on July 19th, 2013
Grist: You may have noticed it’s been a hot summer so far. June temperatures were above average across the world, and both NASA and NOAA ranked the month among the top five warmest since record keeping began in the late 1800s.
Not surprisingly, snow extent in the Northern Hemisphere was at its third-lowest on record by June. But what makes the current paltry snow cover more significant is the fact that, just a few months ago, the Northern Hemisphere was unusually snowy - April 2013 had the ninth-highest...
Youngstown Pushes for Protections From Fracking, Earthquakes and Pollution
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on July 19th, 2013
EcoWatch: They’re back and more determined than ever to win on election day in November 2013. The Youngstown, OH, Community Bill of Rights Committee is coordinating a new door-to-door campaign to get the required number of registered Youngstown voter signatures to put a question on the November ballot.
The group says that a "Yes" vote on that ballot question would uphold Youngstown citizens’ fundamental rights to protect their family’s safe drinking water, clean air and land, and to local self-governance....
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Youngstown Pushes for Protections From Fracking, Earthquakes and PollutionHarry Reid blames climate change for fires ravaging his state
Posted by Grist: None Given on July 19th, 2013
Grist: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has no doubt about what`s causing this summer`s disastrous Western fire season: climate change.
During a meeting with reporters this week, Reid linked global warming to a 28,000-acre blaze in Nevada that caused hundreds to be evacuated from their homes. After being mocked by conservative media, he doubled down and made his points again in front of a group of reporters.
"The West is being devastated by wildfires. Millions of acres are burning. Millions...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Harry Reid blames climate change for fires ravaging his stateGov. O’Malley to Forge Ahead with Fracking in Maryland, Despite Calls for Ban
Posted by EcoWatch: Jorge Aguilar on July 19th, 2013
EcoWatch: Leaders in the Maryland Legislature rejected a bill last session that would have placed a ban on fracking in the state, seemingly supporting Gov. O’Malley (D-MD) in whatever plan he unveils for Maryland. The governor, in turn, has appropriated taxpayer money to conduct several studies to determine whether or not the long-term effects of fracking would be too detrimental to public health and the environment.
In fact, Gov. O’Malley has been telling anti-fracking advocates that the Old Line State...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Gov. O’Malley to Forge Ahead with Fracking in Maryland, Despite Calls for Ban