Warmer temperatures tied to wildfires, scientists say - CNN.com
Huge wildfires, such as the ones that have charred more than 460,000 acres this week in Southern California, are becoming more common in the Western United States, and scientists say warming trends and other climate factors may be responsible.
"I think the evidence is lining up that indeed there is some connection between the warming trends and especially the early arrival of spring," he said. "The strongest signal is actually in the northern states of the West -- Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana -- and also Alaska and Canada are showing a pretty clear connection between warming temperatures and wildfire activity."
Thursday, October 25, 2007
TED Electricity Monitor
Popgadget Personal Technology for Women: TED Electricity Monitor: "a small device called The Energy Detective a home energy monitor that can track and display your electricity usage in real-time."
UN report urges environmental response - Yahoo! News
UN report urges environmental response - Yahoo! News: "The international community must respond more quickly to climate change, species extinction, dwindling supplies of fresh water and other threats to the planet, the U.N. Environment Program warned Thursday.
The U.N. agency said in a report that nations still fail to recognize the seriousness of environmental threats to the planet. Prepared by 390 experts over five years, the report reviews progress made since a similar one in 1987.
The global response in the two decades since 'has in some cases been courageous and inspiring,' UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said before the report's release in London.
'But all too often it has been slow and at a pace and scale that fails to respond to or recognize the magnitude of the challenges facing the people and the environment of the planet.'"
The U.N. agency said in a report that nations still fail to recognize the seriousness of environmental threats to the planet. Prepared by 390 experts over five years, the report reviews progress made since a similar one in 1987.
The global response in the two decades since 'has in some cases been courageous and inspiring,' UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said before the report's release in London.
'But all too often it has been slow and at a pace and scale that fails to respond to or recognize the magnitude of the challenges facing the people and the environment of the planet.'"
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
White House cut warming impact testimony - Yahoo! News
White House cut warming impact testimony - Yahoo! News: "The White House severely edited congressional testimony given Tuesday by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the impact of climate change on health, removing specific scientific references to potential health risks, according to two sources familiar with the documents.
Her testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee had much less information on health risks than a much longer draft version Gerberding submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review in advance of her appearance.
'It was eviscerated,' said a CDC official, familiar with both versions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the review process.
The official said that while it is customary for testimony to be changed in a White House review, these changes were particularly 'heavy-handed,' with the document cut from its original 14 pages to four. It was six pages as presented to the Senate committee."
Her testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee had much less information on health risks than a much longer draft version Gerberding submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review in advance of her appearance.
'It was eviscerated,' said a CDC official, familiar with both versions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the review process.
The official said that while it is customary for testimony to be changed in a White House review, these changes were particularly 'heavy-handed,' with the document cut from its original 14 pages to four. It was six pages as presented to the Senate committee."
Global warming in Chile threatens industry, water supplies - Yahoo! News
Global warming in Chile threatens industry, water supplies - Yahoo! News: "Giant glaciers are disappearing. Mudslides are becoming more common. Snow no longer falls in the spring, replaced instead by tepid rains.
Last May, an entire lake in southern Chile disappeared practically overnight after the Tempano Glacier, which had acted as a dam, melted and destabilized.
'Without a doubt, global warming is the cause,' "
Last May, an entire lake in southern Chile disappeared practically overnight after the Tempano Glacier, which had acted as a dam, melted and destabilized.
'Without a doubt, global warming is the cause,' "
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Climate change blamed for fading foliage - Yahoo! News
Climate change blamed for fading foliage - Yahoo! News: "Forested hillsides usually riotous with reds, oranges and yellows have shown their colors only grudgingly in recent years, with many trees going straight from the dull green of late summer to the rust-brown of late fall with barely a stop at a brighter hue.
Warming climate affects trees in several ways.
Colors emerge on leaves in the fall, when the green chlorophyll that has dominated all spring and summer breaks down.
The process begins when shorter days signal leaves to form a layer at the base of their stems that cuts off the flow of water and nutrients. But in order to hasten the decline of chlorophyll, cold nights are needed.
In addition, warmer autumns and winters have been friendly to fungi that attack some trees, particularly the red and sugar maples that provide the most dazzling colors."
Warming climate affects trees in several ways.
Colors emerge on leaves in the fall, when the green chlorophyll that has dominated all spring and summer breaks down.
The process begins when shorter days signal leaves to form a layer at the base of their stems that cuts off the flow of water and nutrients. But in order to hasten the decline of chlorophyll, cold nights are needed.
In addition, warmer autumns and winters have been friendly to fungi that attack some trees, particularly the red and sugar maples that provide the most dazzling colors."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Seattle’s Recycling Success Is Being Measured in Scraps - New York Times
Seattle’s Recycling Success Is Being Measured in Scraps - New York Times
What goes in as yard waste and food scraps will emerge two months later as a mountain of loamy compost sold by the bag at garden centers throughout the Pacific Northwest by Cedar Grove Composting. In the process, the waste is ground up, piled up, aerated, dried and sifted. The space-age fabric covering the piles allows air to enter but keeps pungent odors from wafting over the countryside.
“This is the cool side of trash,” Cedar Grove’s founder, Steve Banchero, said of the process, which is on recycling’s cutting edge.
The company, the major composter in this area, will soon have much more trash coming its way because Seattle is making food waste yet another mandatory recycling ingredient in its already long list.
What goes in as yard waste and food scraps will emerge two months later as a mountain of loamy compost sold by the bag at garden centers throughout the Pacific Northwest by Cedar Grove Composting. In the process, the waste is ground up, piled up, aerated, dried and sifted. The space-age fabric covering the piles allows air to enter but keeps pungent odors from wafting over the countryside.
“This is the cool side of trash,” Cedar Grove’s founder, Steve Banchero, said of the process, which is on recycling’s cutting edge.
The company, the major composter in this area, will soon have much more trash coming its way because Seattle is making food waste yet another mandatory recycling ingredient in its already long list.
Photovoltaic solar power grows fast in Spain - Yahoo! News
Photovoltaic solar power grows fast in Spain - Yahoo! News
Photovoltaic solar power plants are springing up throughout Spain, capitalizing on special tariffs for renewable energies and exceeding the government's expectations.
With the current momentum, Spain will be over its target for 2010 of 400 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) power by next summer, possibly having somewhere between 800 MW and 1,200 MW, according to the Industry Ministry.
Photovoltaic solar power plants are springing up throughout Spain, capitalizing on special tariffs for renewable energies and exceeding the government's expectations.
With the current momentum, Spain will be over its target for 2010 of 400 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) power by next summer, possibly having somewhere between 800 MW and 1,200 MW, according to the Industry Ministry.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Gas emissions said at unsafe threshold - Yahoo! News
Gas emissions said at unsafe threshold - Yahoo! News: "Worldwide economic growth has accelerated the level of greenhouse gas emissions to a dangerous threshold scientists had not expected for another decade, according to a leading Australian climate change expert."
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