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Archive for July, 2011
Record low Danube levels cut down bird populations: WWF
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 5th, 2011
Agence France-Presse: The record low levels of the Danube this summer have caused a drastic drop in bird populations along the Bulgarian and Romanian stretch of the river, environmental group WWF said Tuesday. A week-long WWF bird watching expedition at the end of June counted 3,145 pairs of nesting birds -- herons, cormorants, spoonbils and ibises -- 500 fewer pairs than last year, it said in a statement. The number of birds was also lower compared to another WWF census in 2006. When the river levels are low, water...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Record low Danube levels cut down bird populations: WWFNew Study Implicates Environmental Factors in Autism
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 5th, 2011
New York Times: A new study of twins suggests that environmental factors, including conditions in the womb, may be at least as important as genes in causing autism.
The researchers did not say which environmental influences might be at work. But other experts said the new study, released online on Monday, marked an important shift in thinking about the causes of autism, which is now thought to affect at least 1 percent of the population in the developed world.
"This is a very significant study because it confirms...
United States: Yellowstone River Oil Spill Spreads over 40 Miles Downstream
Posted by Yahoo!: Charles Simmins on July 5th, 2011
Yahoo!: An oil pipeline under the Yellowstone River just upstream from Laurel, Mont., ruptured Saturday. The pipeline's operators reacted quickly and shut down the flow but not before at least 10,000 barrels, 42,000 gallons, of crude oil spilled into the river. The pipeline runs from Silver Tip, Mont., to a refinery in Billings, Mont..
The Yellowstone is slowly receding from severe flooding conditions in the late spring. Just upstream from the break, the Edgar MT river gauge shows the water down a foot...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United States: Yellowstone River Oil Spill Spreads over 40 Miles DownstreamThawing Arctic opens up new shipping routes on the ‘roof of the world’
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 5th, 2011
Guardian: Cold is the new hot in shipping circles as melting sea ice opens up prospects for trade between China and the west to move across the roof of the world.
An increasing amount of seaborne traffic is beginning to move on the so-called Northern Sea Route which traverses the Siberian coast. There are also hopes of opening up more of the North West Passage above Canada.
The attraction of the voyage is that it is one-third of the distance of more traditional routes through the Suez Canal. This means...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Thawing Arctic opens up new shipping routes on the ‘roof of the world’Africa Drought Endangers Millions
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 5th, 2011
ClimateWire: Aid agencies are calling it the worst drought in 60 years. Emergency relief workers are getting increasingly alarmed at the scale of a slow-moving disaster in the Horn of Africa, where months of dry weather is said to be threatening famine and a new humanitarian crisis. Last week U.N. agencies monitoring a severe drought in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti increased the volume on existing warnings over food shortages in the region, a consequence, they say, of an unprecedented dry spell, instability...
WHO releases new guidelines on drinking water quality
Posted by Xinhua Net: None Given on July 5th, 2011
Xinhua Net: The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its updated edition of drinking water guidelines here on Monday to push water suppliers to systematically manage the potential risk of contaminants entering water, from the catchment to the consumer.
The WHO said the new guidelines, launched at the Singapore International Water Week, can help governments strengthen their management of drinking water quality by adopting water safety planning.
"Countries have an opportunity to make substantial public...
Arizona wildfires leave bitter aftermath for water, climate
Posted by AZ Central.com: Shaun McKinnon on July 5th, 2011
AZ Central.com: The physical scars burned into Arizona's forests this summer are the most visible proof of wildfires' fury, but the aftermath will spread far beyond the charred landscape.
The loss of so many trees and other vegetation will affect air and water quality for years to come, some Arizona scientists say, reversing the ability of forests to help slow climate change and protect desert water supplies.
Arizona wildfire: Wallow Fire near Alpine
Arizona wildfire: Monument Fire near Sierra Vista
So...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Arizona wildfires leave bitter aftermath for water, climateFlooding hinders US Yellowstone river cleanup
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 5th, 2011
AFP: ExxonMobil has deployed more than 280 people to clean up an oil spill along the scenic Yellowstone River but their efforts have been hindered by flooding, the oil giant said.
It said cleanup activities involving absorbent pads and vacuum trucks were focused on a 19-mile (30-kilometer) stretch of the river downstream from the pipeline spill with another 222 miles (357 kilometers) under surveillance.
"Daily aerial flights over the river are being undertaken to identify additional oil locations...
Crews mop up oil on Yellowstone River in Montana
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 5th, 2011
Associated Press: The initial cleanup along the oil-fouled Yellowstone River could be tested Tuesday as rising waters make it harder for Exxon Mobil Corp. to get to areas damaged by the crude spilled from a company pipeline.
The National Weather Service predicts the Yellowstone River, swelling with mountain snowmelt amid hot summer temperatures, will peak at Billings on Tuesday afternoon -- a day after Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co. President Gary Pruessing promised to do "whatever is necessary" to mop up oil spilled...
Brazil’s Amazon settlers ‘scratching out a living’
Posted by BBC: Robin Lustig on July 5th, 2011
BBC: Brazil's Amazon settlers 'scratching out a living' The rate of deforestation in the Amazon has suddenly increased this year The charred tree stumps in the Amazon rain forest tell their own story.
Even though the trees here are probably the best-protected anywhere on earth - at least in theory - someone is still cutting them down and burning them.
For several years now, the Brazilian government has insisted that the rate of deforestation in the Amazon has declined sharply.
But earlier this...