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Archive for November 2nd, 2011
For Parched Times, a New Water Calculus
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 2nd, 2011
New York Times: In my article about efforts by Levi Strauss & Company to adapt to climate change by reducing its water consumption, I mention the company`s estimate that each pair of 501 Levi`s jeans will consume 919 gallons of water during its life cycle. That includes everything from irrigating the cotton crop, to rinsing the jeans during the manufacturing process, to lots of home launderings.
But do those measurements go far enough?
It turns out that measuring water use is just as tricky as measuring carbon...
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Study: Most U.S. forests not adapting to climate change
Posted by USA Today: Wendy Koch on November 2nd, 2011
USA Today: More than half of Eastern U.S. tree species are not adapting to climate change as quickly or consistently as predicted, posing risks for their survival, says a new Duke University-led study. Previous climate models had predicted that trees would migrate to higher latitudes and elevations as temperatures warm but such a northward migration is not happening, according to the study that analyzed decades of data from the U.S. Forest Service. The scientists examined 92 tree species at 43,334 forest plots...
UK firm admits shale gas work caused tremors
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 2nd, 2011
Reuters: UK unconventional gas explorer Cuadrilla Resources on Wednesday said shale gas exploration work probably triggered minor earthquakes at its drill site near Blackpool in northwest England earlier this year.
"It is highly probable that the hydraulic fracturing of Cuadrilla's Preese Hall-1 well did trigger a number of minor seismic events," a report commissioned by the company said.
The tremors were triggered by pumping vast quantities of water at high pressure 3 kilometers underground through...
United Kingdom: Cuadrilla admits fracking was ‘probable’ cause of earthquakes
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 2nd, 2011
Business Green: It is "highly probable" that controversial test drilling for shale gas in Lancashire triggered seismic activity in the area, a report has concluded.
The Fylde coast was struck by a tremor measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale on 1 April and a second measuring 1.5 on 27 May after US firm Cuadrilla Resources began fracking work at its nearby Preese Hall-1 well.
Green groups have called for a ban on fracking, which involves fracturing shale rock with high-powered liquid to release gas, claiming that...
UN: Water pollution, drought threaten world’s poor
Posted by Associated Press: Jan M. Olsen on November 2nd, 2011
Associated Press: Prosperous countries have not lived up to their promises to help the poor, the U.N. declared Wednesday, saying poor people often go hungry because of polluted water, drought and other environmental factors that are increasing poverty.
In its annual report on the quality of life worldwide, the United Nations Development Program said more should be done to address international environmental concerns and that sustainability must become a way of life as the world population grows above 7 billion....
Kazakhstan: Sea Reclaimed as Lake
Posted by Inter Press Service: Christopher Pala on November 2nd, 2011
Inter Press Service: Just six years after the completion of a dike that raised the level of the northern part of the Aral Sea by two metres and slashed its salt content by two-thirds, this remote Central Asian lake once synonymous with ecological catastrophe has become a model of environmental recovery.
"It’s amazing how fast it’s bounced back," Aral Sea expert Philip Micklin of the University of Western Michigan at Kalamazoo told IPS as he measured salinity against a backdrop of reed-covered wetlands alive with sandpipers,...
United States: Protesters storm ‘fracking’ site
Posted by Guardian: James Meikle and Shiv Malik on November 2nd, 2011
Guardian: Protesters have brought work at a gas exploration site on Merseyside to a halt as they stepped up demonstrations against the controversial methods used to extract energy.
The move came as Cuadrilla Resources published a long-awaited report, undertaken by independent experts, concluding that it was "highly probable" that its fracking had caused two small earthquakes earlier this year.
Four members of the environmental campaign group Frack Off unfurled banners after climbing a rig at the Cuadrilla...
United Kingdom: Anti-fracking demo as report due
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 2nd, 2011
BBC: It is "highly probable" that shale gas test drilling triggered earth tremors in Lancashire, a study has found.
But the report, commissioned by energy firm Cuadrilla, also said the quakes were due to an "unusual combination of geology at the well site".
It said conditions which caused the minor earthquakes were "unlikely to occur again".
Protesters opposed to fracking, a gas extraction method, said the report "did not inspire confidence".
Six protesters from campaign group Frack Off climbed...
United Kingdom: Fracking protesters occupy Lancashire drilling rig
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 2nd, 2011
Guardian: Protesters from the UK's anti-fracking network Frack Off have invaded a test drilling site in Lancashire and occupied its drilling rig.
A group of nine people ran on to the site operated by Cuadrilla Resources at Hesketh Bank near Preston before dawn and used climbing equipment to clamber up the metal structure. They have fixed themselves on top and said that they plan to stay as long as possible. Other protesters are expected to hold a rally at 3pm outside the site.
The group's Twitter account...
Regional Drought Blamed For Moose Decline In Wyo
Posted by National Public Radio: Tristan Ahtone on November 2nd, 2011
National Public Radio: Wildlife outfitters in Wyoming are hurting because of the declining moose population. They depend on big game hunters for their livelihood. These businesses typically blame the reintroduction of wolves to the area as well as the states exploding grizzly bear population for the moose decline. But a decade-long drought in the region may be to blame.