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Archive for July, 2015
Wildfire Rages Across Glacier National Park
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 23rd, 2015
Associated Press: Firefighters battling a blaze in Montana’s Glacier National Park may see relief from the hot, dry and windy conditions that have worked against them, as a cold front sweeps toward the Northern Rocky Mountains this weekend.
A severe drought has fueled multiple fires burning in the Western U.S., threatening homes and watersheds in California and Washington state.
"Much cooler temperatures are expected in Glacier National Park the next few days, with highs in the 50s on Sunday, and possibly staying...
Fracking impact on CO2 cuts ‘a myth’
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on July 22nd, 2015
BBC: New research suggests that the impact of shale gas on curbing US carbon emissions has been overstated.
Politicians have argued that the US was able to significantly reduce CO2 between 2007 and 2013 because of fracking.
But scientists now believe an 11% cut in emissions in that period was chiefly due to economic recession.
The study suggests that the future impacts of shale as a way of curbing carbon may be limited.
Between 2007 and 2013 US emissions of carbon dioxide, mainly from the...
Harmful Algal Blooms Predicted for Lake Erie, Says NOAA
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on July 22nd, 2015
EcoWatch: Summer is here and that means it’s toxic algae season for Lake Erie. Harmful algal blooms have been making the lake green around the gills for the past several years. Last August, the cyanobacteria even contaminated Toledo’s drinking water, leaving more than 400,000 people high and dry for two days. Scientists from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say this summer will be another doozy. The agency’s seasonal forecast predicts that 2015 could be the second-worst year on record after...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Harmful Algal Blooms Predicted for Lake Erie, Says NOAAAustralia’s drought bringing the beef to McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr
Posted by Bloomberg: Phoebe Sedgman on July 22nd, 2015
Bloomberg: Australia’s dry spell and a strengthening El Nino are proving a boon for U.S. hamburger lovers.
Queensland’s most widespread drought ever is sending a near record number of cattle to feedlots as ranchers cull cows at the fastest pace in more than three decades. That’s boosting beef exports to an all-time high, including a more than 70 percent surge in shipments to the U.S., government data show, with most of that destined to become burgers.
The U.S. last year overtook Japan as Australia’s top...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Australia’s drought bringing the beef to McDonald’s, Carl’s JrJust about every big measure of climate change bad last year
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 22nd, 2015
Washington Post: THE CLIMATE got its annual physical last week, and the results were not good.
The comprehensive report, compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, found that last year was the warmest in the 135-year record of modern temperature measurement. One very hot year doesn’t prove that the planet is on a dangerous warming path. But the long-term trends indicating poor climatic health are worrying.
“Most of the dozens of essential climate variables monitored each year in this report...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Just about every big measure of climate change bad last yearNew study says even 2 degrees of warming ‘highly dangerous’
Posted by InsideClimate: None Given on July 22nd, 2015
InsideClimate: When world leaders meet in Paris this December to agree on a new international treaty on climate change, their goal will be to keep atmospheric warming to 2 degrees Celsius, the point after which catastrophic climate change will be nearly inevitable, scientists say. But a new study being published this week by a team of 17 leading international climate scientists warns that even 2 degrees of warming is "highly dangerous" and could cause sea level rise of "at least several meters" this century, leaving...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on New study says even 2 degrees of warming ‘highly dangerous’Dire climate warning raises questions, not answers
Posted by Climate Central: Brian Kahn on July 22nd, 2015
Climate Central: NASA's former climate chief has issued a stark new study that finds that the world's current climate goal could be inadequate and may not prevent catastrophic losses from rising seas, ocean temperatures and changes in global weather. But the extreme nature of his projections has some scientists questioning the methods he used and the results he reached.
Global leaders and scientists have agreed that keeping global warming to within 2°C of pre-industrial temperatures represents a safe level of...
Hillary Dodges Questions on Climate, Keystone and Fracking in Facebook Q&A
Posted by EcoWatch: Peter Rugh on July 21st, 2015
EcoWatch: Hillary Clinton fielded questions from voters on Facebook Monday afternoon and many of the queries posed to the Democratic presidential frontrunner centered on environmental issues, including climate change, Keystone XL and fracking. Clinton chose to direct her responses mainly toward economic questions. Nonetheless, the Facebook chat highlights the environmental concerns voters are raising ahead of the 2016 election.
“My biggest concern is the health of our Planet,” wrote Jess Barnett, who according...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Hillary Dodges Questions on Climate, Keystone and Fracking in Facebook Q&ACalifornia Almonds Have Less Environmental Impact Than Many Foods
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 21st, 2015
Yale Environment 360: California almonds could become carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative if growers were to make full use of practices such as shell, hull, and biomass recycling, according to new research in the Journal of Industrial Ecology. Eighty percent of the world's almonds come from the drought-stricken state, and production operations there have drawn much ire since studies showed that almonds are a particularly water-intensive crop. However, the new research shows that the energy and greenhouse gas footprints...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on California Almonds Have Less Environmental Impact Than Many FoodsDrought dings quality of winter wheat in Northwest
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 21st, 2015
Associated Press: Intense drought conditions have shrunk the kernels and disrupted the proteins of winter wheat crops in Montana, Washington, Oregon and Idaho, the region that produces a fifth of the U.S. harvest.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service classified a large percentage of the region's winter wheat as below-average quality on Monday.
Farmers in the Northwest are nervous that the uncharacteristically low quality of their product could slash the crop's already declining prices.
"The problem...