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Archive for July 20th, 2012
Namibia: Vast African water source found
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on July 20th, 2012
BBC: A newly discovered water source in Namibia could have a major impact on development in the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Estimates suggest the aquifer could supply the north of the country for 400 years at current rates of consumption.
Scientists say the water is up to 10,000 years old but is cleaner to drink than many modern sources.
However, there are concerns that unauthorised drilling could threaten the new supply.
Huge resource
For the people of northern Namibia water...
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Plans revealed for “UK’s largest” geothermal plant
Posted by BusinessGreen: Will Nichols on July 20th, 2012
BusinessGreen: GT Energy will today unveil plans to build the UK's largest commercial deep-geothermal heat plant in Manchester, a move that could herald a further four similar developments in the coming months.
The Anglo-Irish company intends to drill two wells around 3,000 metres deep at a half acre site in the Ardwick district of the city to tap into the huge geothermal resource below Manchester.
The heat from the 10MWth plant would be then supplied to homes, businesses, and other buildings in the area,...
Drought affects large swaths of U.S
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 20th, 2012
National Public Radio: Colorado has been at the center of another devastating story in recent days -the worst wildfires in its history. Those fires are just one consequence of record heat in a drought that has spread across the Rockies and the Midwest. Local news is filled with pictures of farmers gripping shriveled ears of corn and boats marooned in empty reservoirs. It's a drought that will go down in history, much like that of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, and another in the 1950s that hit the central plains and the Southwest....
Andes water scarcity: Impact of population growth
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 20th, 2012
Environmental News Network: As the Earth's surface warms, climate models predict that the amount of fresh water for human consumption will likely decrease in parts of the globe. While that prospect looms for many cities around the world, a new study finds a more imminent threat to water supplies of cities in the tropical Andes, such as Lima, Peru and Quito, Ecuador.
"Despite all the uncertainty of the future impact of climate change, the impact of population growth is much bigger," said Wouter Buytaert of Imperial College...
Widespread Drought Is Likely to Worsen
Posted by New York Times: John Eligon on July 20th, 2012
New York Times: The drought that has settled over more than half of the continental United States this summer is the most widespread in more than half a century. And it is likely to grow worse. The latest outlook released by the National Weather Service on Thursday forecasts increasingly dry conditions over much of the nation’s breadbasket, a development that could lead to higher food prices and shipping costs as well as reduced revenues in areas that count on summer tourism. About the only relief in sight was...
US crops bake in searing heat, no relief for weeks
Posted by Reuters: Sam Nelson on July 20th, 2012
Reuters: Midday weather updates indicate extreme heat and drought conditions were set to continue baking already scorched corn and soybean crops in America's breadbasket through early August.
"It's the same old general theme, dry in the southwest Corn Belt and some showers in the north and east," said Drew Lerner, meteorologist for World Weather Inc.
The most expansive drought in over a half century was drying up waterways and beginning to slow down river shipments of commodities to U.S. Gulf export...
After first-half surge, U.S. drillers find respite in guar wars
Posted by Reuters: Selam Gebrekidan on July 20th, 2012
Reuters: U.S. oil and gas drillers are finally catching a break from the surging cost of a tiny seed at the heart of the nation's oil and gas bonanza.
After a surprise three-fold price surge in the first five months of 2012, which roiled earnings for oil services firms and threatened to stall the domestic boom, the price of guar gum -- used to thicken the slurry of water, sand and chemicals that is pumped into wells during hydraulic fracturing -- has halved over the past few weeks.
Prices have tumbled...
Leaders say climate is changing Native way of life
Posted by Associated Press: Suzanne Gamboa on July 20th, 2012
Associated Press: Native American and Alaska Native leaders told of their villages being under water because of coastal erosion, droughts and more on Thursday during a Senate hearing intended to draw attention to how climate change is affecting tribal communities.
The environmental changes being seen in native communities are "a serious and growing issue and Congress needs to address them," Tex Hall, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of New Town, N.D., said Wednesday.
Mike Williams, chief of...
Warm milk: Climate change is hard on cows
Posted by KPCC: Scott Sterling on July 20th, 2012
KPCC: With America in the grips of a sweltering heat wave that's vying to make this season the hottest summer on record, a new study by scientists at the University of Washington reveals that soaring temperatures are just as hard on our bovine friends as humans.
According to the University press release, increasing climate change and higher temperatures has the potential of reducing milk production across America, particularly in Southeastern states like Florida.
Lead researcher Yoram Bauman and...
Grain prices set records as drought, food worries spread
Posted by Reuters: Karl Plume and Deborah Zabarenko on July 20th, 2012
Reuters: Grain prices pushed to record highs on Thursday as scattered rains in U.S. Midwest did little to douse fears that the worst drought in half a century will not end soon or relieve worries around the world about higher food prices.
Government forecasters did not rule out that the drought in the U.S. heartland could last past October, continuing what has been the hottest half-year on record.
"There's a greater chance that there is no relief possible or in sight" for the U.S. Midwest, Dan Collins...