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Archive for April 6th, 2015
Beneath California Crops, Groundwater Crisis Grows
Posted by New York Times: Justin Gillis and Matt Richtel on April 6th, 2015
New York Times: Even as the worst drought in decades ravages California, and its cities face mandatory cuts in water use, millions of pounds of thirsty crops like oranges, tomatoes and almonds continue to stream out of the state and onto the nation’s grocery shelves. But the way that California farmers have pulled off that feat is a case study in the unwise use of natural resources, many experts say. Farmers are drilling wells at a feverish pace and pumping billions of gallons of water from the ground, depleting...
In Long Beach, Calif., Smart Meters Spot Wasteful Water Users
Posted by National Public Radio: Molly Peterson on April 6th, 2015
National Public Radio: The city has reduced its water consumption 6 percent since the drought started. The new meters can detect illegal watering in real time, and they've helped to cut some homeowners' use by 80 percent.
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on In Long Beach, Calif., Smart Meters Spot Wasteful Water UsersWhen Did Humans Start Shaping Earth’s Fate? An Epoch Debate
Posted by National Public Radio: Nell Greenfieldboyce on April 6th, 2015
National Public Radio: Humans have had such a huge impact on the Earth that some geologists think the human era should be enshrined in the official timeline of our planet.
They want to give the age of humans a formal name, just as scientists use terms like the Jurassic or the Cretaceous to talk about the age of dinosaurs.
"If the Anthropocene began in 1945, then the entire story of changing the surface of the Earth by cutting forests and plowing prairies occurred before the Anthropocene. Does that make sense?"
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Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on When Did Humans Start Shaping Earth’s Fate? An Epoch DebateIndia to measure air quality in world’s most polluted capital
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on April 6th, 2015
Agence France-Presse: India's prime minister suggested Monday the country's "age-old traditions" could be used to ease its choking smog, as he launched a new air quality index for the world's most polluted capital.
Narendra Modi proposed making every Sunday "bicycle day" and switching off street lights during a full moon, amid growing public concern over the impact of air pollution on the health of India's 1.2 billion people.
"There can be green solutions in our age-old traditions," he said in a speech at a conference...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on India to measure air quality in world’s most polluted capitalPoll: Americans Starting to Worry About Climate Change Now That It Affects Their Lawns
Posted by New Yorker: Andy Borowitz on April 6th, 2015
New Yorker: A new poll shows that Americans who were unconcerned about climate change as it wreaked havoc around the world are beginning to worry, now that global warming is affecting the appearance of their lawns.
According to the poll, conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Opinion Research Institute, rising sea levels, the destruction of habitats, and catastrophic weather conditions, such as hurricanes and tsunamis, have not served as the wake-up call to Americans that their lawns` unsightly barrenness...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Poll: Americans Starting to Worry About Climate Change Now That It Affects Their LawnsJerry Brown defends drought order that doesn’t limit farmers
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on April 6th, 2015
Associated Press: Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday defended his order requiring Californians statewide to cut back on their water use in a historic mandate that spares those who consume the most — farmers. Related Stories As California endures a fourth year of drought, Brown's order this week requires towns and cities statewide to draw down water use by 25 percent compared with 2013 levels. While past reductions were voluntary, Brown said he is using his emergency powers to make the cuts mandatory. Martha Raddatz, host...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Jerry Brown defends drought order that doesn’t limit farmersBrazilian Drought Could Last 30 More Years, Meteorologist Says
Posted by Herald Tribune: None Given on April 6th, 2015
Herald Tribune: The current drought in southeastern Brazil, the richest, most densely populated region in the country, has created the greatest water shortage in the last 85 years and could last for 30 more years, a meteorologist said Saturday. The meteorologist and partner-director of the consultancy Somar Meteorology, Paulo Ethichury, told Efe that the South American country’s current climate follows a cooling cycle in the Pacific Ocean during recent years, which came after the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, when it...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Brazilian Drought Could Last 30 More Years, Meteorologist Says