Walkable towns curb obesity, pollution, expert says - Yahoo! News: "Designing walkable communities is a cost-effective way to address the growing epidemic of obesity in the United States and cut down on harmful car emissions and pollution, a researcher told the American College of Sports Medicine's 12th annual Health and Fitness Summit in Long Beach, California.
The problem, said Jim Sallis from San Diego State University, is that local zoning laws essentially prevent the development of walkable communities. 'Zoning laws today,' he told Reuters Health, 'really enforce the separation of uses; they are designed to move cars as quickly as possible -- which is dangerous to pedestrians.'"
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Vast Antarctic Ice Shelf on Verge of Collapse - Yahoo! News
Vast Antarctic Ice Shelf on Verge of Collapse - Yahoo! News: "A vast ice shelf hanging on by a thin strip looks to be the next chunk to break off from the Antarctic Peninsula, the latest sign of global warming's impact on Earth's southernmost continent.
Scientists are shocked by the rapid change of events.
Glaciologist Ted Scambos of the University of Colorado was monitoring satellite images of the Wilkins Ice Shelf and spotted a huge iceberg measuring 25 miles by 1.5 miles (41 kilometers by 2.5 kilometers) that appeared to have broken away from the shelf.
Scambos alerted colleagues at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) that it looked like the entire ice shelf - about 6,180 square miles (16,000 square kilometers - about the size of Northern Ireland)- was at risk of collapsing.
David Vaughan of the BAS had predicted in 1993 that the northern part of the Wilkins Ice Shelf was likely to be lost within 30 years if warming on the Peninsula continued at the same rate.
'Wilkins is the largest ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula yet to be threatened,' he said. 'I didn't expect to see things happen this quickly. The ice shelf is hanging by a thread - we'll know in the next few days and weeks what its fate will be.'"
Scientists are shocked by the rapid change of events.
Glaciologist Ted Scambos of the University of Colorado was monitoring satellite images of the Wilkins Ice Shelf and spotted a huge iceberg measuring 25 miles by 1.5 miles (41 kilometers by 2.5 kilometers) that appeared to have broken away from the shelf.
Scambos alerted colleagues at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) that it looked like the entire ice shelf - about 6,180 square miles (16,000 square kilometers - about the size of Northern Ireland)- was at risk of collapsing.
David Vaughan of the BAS had predicted in 1993 that the northern part of the Wilkins Ice Shelf was likely to be lost within 30 years if warming on the Peninsula continued at the same rate.
'Wilkins is the largest ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula yet to be threatened,' he said. 'I didn't expect to see things happen this quickly. The ice shelf is hanging by a thread - we'll know in the next few days and weeks what its fate will be.'"
Study: Warming may threaten Lake Tahoe - Yahoo! News
Study: Warming may threaten Lake Tahoe - Yahoo! News: "A new study predicts water circulation in Lake Tahoe is being dramatically altered by global warming, threatening the lake's delicate ecosystem and famed clear waters.
The University of California, Davis study said one likely consequence is warmer lake temperatures that will mean fewer cold-water native fish and more invasive species — like carp, large-mouth bass and bluegill.
'What we expect is that deep mixing of Lake Tahoe's water layers will become less frequent, even nonexistent, depleting the bottom waters of oxygen,' said Geoffrey Schladow, director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center at U.S. Davis."
The University of California, Davis study said one likely consequence is warmer lake temperatures that will mean fewer cold-water native fish and more invasive species — like carp, large-mouth bass and bluegill.
'What we expect is that deep mixing of Lake Tahoe's water layers will become less frequent, even nonexistent, depleting the bottom waters of oxygen,' said Geoffrey Schladow, director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center at U.S. Davis."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Global warming rushes timing of spring - Yahoo! News
Global warming rushes timing of spring - Yahoo! News: "Pollen is bursting. Critters are stirring. Buds are swelling. Biologists are worrying.
'The alarm clock that all the plants and animals are listening to is running too fast,' Stanford University biologist Terry Root said.
Blame global warming.
The fingerprints of man-made climate change are evident in seasonal timing changes for thousands of species on Earth, according to dozens of studies and last year's authoritative report by the Nobel Prize-winning international climate scientists. More than 30 scientists told The Associated Press how global warming is affecting plants and animals at springtime across the country, in nearly every state."
'The alarm clock that all the plants and animals are listening to is running too fast,' Stanford University biologist Terry Root said.
Blame global warming.
The fingerprints of man-made climate change are evident in seasonal timing changes for thousands of species on Earth, according to dozens of studies and last year's authoritative report by the Nobel Prize-winning international climate scientists. More than 30 scientists told The Associated Press how global warming is affecting plants and animals at springtime across the country, in nearly every state."
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Pressure, private cash driving clean energy - CNN.com
Pressure, private cash driving clean energy - CNN.com: "High oil prices and growing concerns about the environment may drive more than $7 trillion of new investment in so-called clean energy technologies by 2030, an energy research group says.
Public pressure and private investment dollars are combining to bring clean energy technologies -- defined as energy sources that are low in carbon emissions -- from the fringes of the energy industry to its center, said Cambridge Energy Research Associates, or CERA, in a new report."
Public pressure and private investment dollars are combining to bring clean energy technologies -- defined as energy sources that are low in carbon emissions -- from the fringes of the energy industry to its center, said Cambridge Energy Research Associates, or CERA, in a new report."
Study: Ethanol may add to global warming - Yahoo! News
Study: Ethanol may add to global warming - Yahoo! News: "The widespread use of ethanol from corn could result in nearly twice the greenhouse gas emissions as the gasoline it would replace because of expected land-use changes, researchers concluded Thursday. The study challenges the rush to biofuels as a response to global warming.
The researchers said that past studies showing the benefits of ethanol in combating climate change have not taken into account almost certain changes in land use worldwide if ethanol from corn — and in the future from other feedstocks such as switchgrass — become a prized commodity."
The researchers said that past studies showing the benefits of ethanol in combating climate change have not taken into account almost certain changes in land use worldwide if ethanol from corn — and in the future from other feedstocks such as switchgrass — become a prized commodity."
Thursday, January 31, 2008
New climate guide sets crisis in context - Yahoo! News
New climate guide sets crisis in context - Yahoo! News: "The Rough Guide series of books has long given budget travelers detailed insights into the customs and cultures of the countries they visit.
A new addition to the series instead gives a panoramic view of the climate troubles facing the entire planet.
'This is intended as a one-stop-shop for information on climate change,' said Robert Henson, climate journalist and author of The Rough Guide to Climate Change. 'It is meant as something you dip into for information.'
'This is not aimed at the converted, they already know the details of what is happening, and it is not intended to convert those who refuse to accept there is a problem. This speaks to the uncommitted,' he said by telephone from Denver."
A new addition to the series instead gives a panoramic view of the climate troubles facing the entire planet.
'This is intended as a one-stop-shop for information on climate change,' said Robert Henson, climate journalist and author of The Rough Guide to Climate Change. 'It is meant as something you dip into for information.'
'This is not aimed at the converted, they already know the details of what is happening, and it is not intended to convert those who refuse to accept there is a problem. This speaks to the uncommitted,' he said by telephone from Denver."
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Arctic ice-cap loss twice the size of France: research - Yahoo! News
Arctic ice-cap loss twice the size of France: research - Yahoo! News: "The Arctic ice cap has shrunk by an area twice the size of France's land mass over the last two years, the Paris-based National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) said Wednesday.
'The year 2008 promises to be a critical year on every level,' said Jean-Claude Gascard, the body's research director and coordinator of European scientific mission Damocles, which is monitoring the effects of climate change across the Arctic."
'The year 2008 promises to be a critical year on every level,' said Jean-Claude Gascard, the body's research director and coordinator of European scientific mission Damocles, which is monitoring the effects of climate change across the Arctic."
EPA staff backed Calif. pollution waiver - Yahoo! News
EPA staff backed Calif. pollution waiver - Yahoo! News: "EPA officials told the agency's administrator that California had 'compelling and extraordinary conditions' to justify a federal waiver allowing the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, according to excerpts of documents released Wednesday.
Yet when Administrator Stephen Johnson denied the state's request for a waiver in December, he said the California standards were not needed to meet 'compelling and extraordinary conditions,' one of the criteria in federal law."
Yet when Administrator Stephen Johnson denied the state's request for a waiver in December, he said the California standards were not needed to meet 'compelling and extraordinary conditions,' one of the criteria in federal law."
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Study: Northeast winters warming fast - Yahoo! News
Study: Northeast winters warming fast - Yahoo! News: "A study of weather station data from across the Northeast from 1965 through 2005 found December-March temperatures increased by 2.5 degrees. Snowfall totals dropped by an average of 8.8 inches across the region over the same period, and the number of days with at least 1 inch of snow on the ground decreased by nine days on average.
Burakowski cites two likely causes for the reduction in so-called snow-covered days: higher maximum temperatures and "snow-albedo feedback," in which less snow cover to begin with allows more sunshine warmth to be absorbed by the darker ground, making it less conducive to snow cover.
The research has yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal, though meteorologists who have studied long-term climate trends said the observations appear to be in line with other research."
Burakowski cites two likely causes for the reduction in so-called snow-covered days: higher maximum temperatures and "snow-albedo feedback," in which less snow cover to begin with allows more sunshine warmth to be absorbed by the darker ground, making it less conducive to snow cover.
The research has yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal, though meteorologists who have studied long-term climate trends said the observations appear to be in line with other research."
Study: Northeast winters warming fast - Yahoo! News
Study: Northeast winters warming fast - Yahoo! News: "A study of weather station data from across the Northeast from 1965 through 2005 found December-March temperatures increased by 2.5 degrees. Snowfall totals dropped by an average of 8.8 inches across the region over the same period, and the number of days with at least 1 inch of snow on the ground decreased by nine days on average.
Burakowski cites two likely causes for the reduction in so-called snow-covered days: higher maximum temperatures and "snow-albedo feedback," in which less snow cover to begin with allows more sunshine warmth to be absorbed by the darker ground, making it less conducive to snow cover.
The research has yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal, though meteorologists who have studied long-term climate trends said the observations appear to be in line with other research."
Burakowski cites two likely causes for the reduction in so-called snow-covered days: higher maximum temperatures and "snow-albedo feedback," in which less snow cover to begin with allows more sunshine warmth to be absorbed by the darker ground, making it less conducive to snow cover.
The research has yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal, though meteorologists who have studied long-term climate trends said the observations appear to be in line with other research."
Monday, January 14, 2008
The storied Mediterranean faces climate change - Yahoo! News
The storied Mediterranean faces climate change - Yahoo! News: "Water usage is twice that of 1950. More than 100 species are endangered.
Now, climate change is exacerbating the situation.
The region's climate may already be changing faster than projected. In June, a recording station in Athens measured the highest temperature ever recorded there, nearly 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Overall, temperatures for the summer months were about 5 degrees warmer than average. Months passed without rain. Then deadly fires swept across the country, killing at least 67 people and scorching some 650,000 acres of land."
Now, climate change is exacerbating the situation.
The region's climate may already be changing faster than projected. In June, a recording station in Athens measured the highest temperature ever recorded there, nearly 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Overall, temperatures for the summer months were about 5 degrees warmer than average. Months passed without rain. Then deadly fires swept across the country, killing at least 67 people and scorching some 650,000 acres of land."
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Swedes to use body heat to warm offices - Yahoo! News
Swedes to use body heat to warm offices - Yahoo! News: "A Swedish company plans to harness the body heat generated by thousands of commuters scrambling to catch their trains at Stockholm's main railway station and use it for heating a nearby office building.
Real estate firm Jernhusen AB believes the system can provide about 15 percent of the heating needed for a 13-storey building being built next to the Central Station in the Swedish capital."
The system will cost about 300,000 kronor (euro32,000; US$47,000) to install, he said.
Real estate firm Jernhusen AB believes the system can provide about 15 percent of the heating needed for a 13-storey building being built next to the Central Station in the Swedish capital."
The system will cost about 300,000 kronor (euro32,000; US$47,000) to install, he said.
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