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Archive for November, 2013
Global warming is changing soil chemistry, to the detriment of plant growth in the world’s dry regions
Posted by Summit County: Bob Berwyn on November 4th, 2013
Summit County: After studying soil samples at more than 200 sites worldwide in a networked research projects, scientists say global warming is likely to change the balance of soil nutrients in drylands -- to the detriment of plant growth.
Drylands cover about 41 percent of the earth’s surface. The study suggests that people -- about 20 percent of the world`s population -- who depend on those ecosystems for crops, livestock forage, fuel and fiber will find their resources increasingly restrained.
The findings...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Global warming is changing soil chemistry, to the detriment of plant growth in the world’s dry regionsWhy is Europe failing to take the energy-water connection seriously?
Posted by Guardian: Brooke Barton on November 4th, 2013
Guardian: Concerns are intensifying in the US about the troubling interdependence of the economy's water and energy needs. In particular, the vast quantities of water (about 40% of national water withdrawals) needed for cooling US power plants are making headlines, and proposals to build thirsty new generation plants in drought-stricken states like Texas are under heavy scrutiny. Hydropower is also under strain from climate change, as more and more "one in a hundred years" droughts are reducing rivers to a...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Why is Europe failing to take the energy-water connection seriously?Fears for salmon farming after targets missed
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 4th, 2013
Guardian: The Scottish salmon farming industry is struggling to meet a controversial target to rapidly increase production to help feed China's growing appetite for fresh and smoked salmon.
The Guardian has established that Scottish salmon producers have fallen way behind their goal of increasing production by 60,000 tonnes, or 50%, by 2020 to help meet surging demand for the fish from China's middle classes. Scottish ministers now admit that hitting the target is a "challenge".
It is central to a major...
Obama signs order on response to weather disasters & climate change
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 4th, 2013
Associated Press: A year after Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast, President Obama signed an executive order Friday to make it easier for states and local governments to respond to weather disasters.
The executive order establishes a task force of state and local officials to advise the administration on how to respond to severe storms, wildfires, droughts and other possible effects of climate change. The task force includes governors of seven states -- all Democrats -- and the Republican governor of Guam,...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Obama signs order on response to weather disasters & climate changePolar bear attacks: scientists warn of fresh dangers in warming Arctic
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 4th, 2013
Guardian: A polar bear attack in Canada that left two people injured has brought new warnings from scientists of a dangerous rise in human-bear encounters in a warming Arctic.
The friends had just walked out of the door in the pre-dawn hours after a party when the young polar bear crept up behind them, unheard and unseen.
By the time, the bear was driven off by neighbours wielding a shovel, banging pots and pans, and firing multiple rounds from a shotgun, two people were badly mauled: the young woman...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Polar bear attacks: scientists warn of fresh dangers in warming ArcticGlobal Warming Seen Taking Toll on Economy, Health, Crops
Posted by Bloomberg: Alex Morales on November 4th, 2013
Bloomberg: Global warming is expected to take an increasing toll on the economy, food production, fresh water supplies and human health as the century progresses, according to a draft study for the United Nations. A temperature increase of 2.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 degrees Fahrenheit) since industrialization may lead to losses of as much as 2 percent of global economic output, an analysis by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed. Temperatures have already risen by about 0.8 degrees. The...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Global Warming Seen Taking Toll on Economy, Health, CropsAustralia: Environment minister Greg Hunt approves nation’s largest coalmine
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 4th, 2013
AAP: The federal government has approved a massive coalmining project in central Queensland that will be the largest in the country.
The environment minister, Greg Hunt, approved the 37,380-hectare Kevin's Corner project on Friday.
The mine, to be operated by a joint India-Australia consortium, GVK-Hancock, is the first to be approved since the introduction of a water trigger rule by the previous federal government.
Greenpeace claims Kevin's Corner will use more than 9bn litres of water a year...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Australia: Environment minister Greg Hunt approves nation’s largest coalmineUnited Kingdom: Coastal retreat plan to curb floods
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on November 4th, 2013
BBC: A scheme to combat flooding by surrendering land to the sea will be completed on Monday on the south coast.
The £28m "managed realignment" at Medmerry in West Sussex has seen the building of 7km (four miles) of new sea walls up to 2km inland.
By letting the waters in, the Environment Agency says the risk of flooding for hundreds of homes will be reduced.
The surrendered land will become a wetland habitat for many species.
The sea has long been a threatening presence on the flat land of...
Global food supply at severe risk from climate change
Posted by Verge: Jacob Kastrenakes on November 3rd, 2013
Verge: A scientific panel set up by the United Nations has found that climate change will pose a serious threat to the world's food supply in the coming decades, reports The New York Times. The findings aren't set to be announced until March and are still undergoing editing, but a copy of the report has leaked online. The findings come from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has been releasing reports on the matter around every six years -- the Times reports that its 2007 findings...
Federal Pipeline Regulatory Body Re-Opens Line Causing Biggest Fracked Oil Spill in US History
Posted by Huffington Post: Steve Horn on November 3rd, 2013
Huffington Post: A month after over 865,200 gallons of oil spilled from Tesoro Logistics' 6-inch pipeline near Tioga, North Dakota, the cause of the leak is still largely unknown to anyone but Tesoro. The pipeline resumed operations today. Carrying oil obtained via hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"), the controversial horizontal drilling method used to capture oil and gas found embedded in shale rock basins worldwide, the Bakken Shale pipeline spill on September 29 was the largest fracked oil spill in U.S. history....
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Federal Pipeline Regulatory Body Re-Opens Line Causing Biggest Fracked Oil Spill in US History