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Archive for August 21st, 2012
Multiple factors, including climate change, led to collapse and depopulation of ancient Maya
Posted by Phys.Org: None Given on August 21st, 2012
Phys.Org: A new analysis of complex interactions between humans and the environment preceding the 9th century collapse and abandonment of the Central Maya Lowlands in the Yucatán Peninsula points to a series of events -- some natural, like climate change; some human-made, including large-scale landscape alterations and shifts in trade routes -- that have lessons for contemporary decision-makers and sustainability scientists.
In their revised model of the collapse of the ancient Maya, social scientists B.L....
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United States: Chinook salmon return to Olympic National Park after dam demolished
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 21st, 2012
Mongabay: In March of this year the Elwha Dam, which had stood for 99 years, was demolished in the U.S. state of Washington. Five months later, Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) made their way down the river to long-blocked off habitat and entered Olympic National Park. "As I saw the fish roll, my heart jumped!" said Phil Kennedy, Lead Fisheries Technician for Olympic, in a press release. Park officials have been conducting weekly checks all summer, waiting for the Chinook salmon to make their return....
Tepid turnout for Peru rally against Newmont mine
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 21st, 2012
Reuters: Weak turnout on Tuesday hobbled the latest in a string of protests to stop a $5 billion gold mine in the northern Peruvian region of Cajamarca and denounce the government's ban on rallies against U.S.-based Newmont Mining Corp's Conga project.
Only several hundred people marched, local media reports said, and throngs of police, helped by 300 soldiers, patrolled the streets. A high-level security source in Peru's government said the atmosphere was "calm" and that a repeat of clashes that killed...
Slowing Global Warming With Cloud Geoengineering
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 21st, 2012
redOrbit: Imagine futuristic ships shooting salt water into the clouds over the world`s oceans to create clouds that reflect sunlight. Sounds like science fiction, but it could be reality before too long.
An international team of researchers is taking a second look at this controversial idea to slow global warming effects and has published their concept in this month`s Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
University of Washington atmospheric physicist Rob Woods describes a possible way to...
NASA Image Shows Low Waters of Drought-Stricken Mississippi River
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 21st, 2012
Yale Environment 360: The top satellite photo, taken just south of Memphis, Tenn. on Aug. 8, reveals extensive sandbars that are newly exposed or far larger than they were in August, 2011 (bottom). In addition, numerous stretches of the river have become significantly narrowed by decreased water flow. The low water levels have allowed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair levees damaged by floods in 2011, which are visible as tan lines surrounding the river in these images. (NASA images)
Exxon Nigeria unit says begins oil spill clean-up
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 21st, 2012
Reuters: ExxonMobil's Nigeria unit said on Tuesday it was helping clean up an oil spill near its facility off the West African country's southeast coast, although the company wasn't yet sure what caused the leak.
Mobil Producing Nigeria, a joint venture between ExxonMobil and the state oil firm, confirmed last week oil had been sighted near Ibeno in Akwa Ibom state but the source was unknown.
Local fishing communities blame Mobil for the spill, which they say has cut off their livelihood.
"Mobil...
Georgia latest state seeking to end U.S. ethanol rule
Posted by Reuters: Patrick Rucker on August 21st, 2012
Reuters: Georgia, the center of U.S. poultry production, is adding its voice to a string of states asking Washington to help ease pressure on corn prices by suspending rules that send a large share of the crop to produce ethanol.
Ethanol fuel made from corn is blended with gasoline under a federal program meant to encourage domestic energy sources, but the rules can be waived under a formal appeal from a state.
Livestock farmers complain that demand for ethanol wrongly diverts a large share of the feed...
America Hit With Record Devastation From Wildfires
Posted by Mother Jones: Julia Whitty on August 21st, 2012
Mother Jones: The National Interagency Fire Center reports [2] that 2012 just broke the record for most acreage burned by wildfires as of this date (see chart below). The previous record was set in 2006, another mega drought year.
Year-to-date statitstics for acreage bruned by wildfires, with more lands having burned in 2012 than any previous year: National Interagency Fire Center [2]Year-to-date statistics for acreage burned by wildfires: National Interagency Fire Center
That's nearly 7 million acres—or...
China’s mega coal power bases exacerbate water crisis
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 21st, 2012
Guardian: A new Greenpeace report warns China's plan to rapidly expand large coal mines and power plants in its arid northern and western provinces threatens to drain precious water supply and could trigger a severe water crisis. The photographer Lu Guang has documented the water-intensive coal extraction, forcing deterioration of arid grassland and forcing herders to seek alternative livelihoods
Eight Ways Climate Change Is Throwing Animal Populations ‘Out Of Kilter’
Posted by ThinkProgress: Ellie Sandmeyer on August 21st, 2012
ThinkProgress: Well over half the country is suffering from extreme drought, and locally, pets and animals are struggling with the effects of climate change as well. Triple-digit temperatures have gripped much of the U.S. this summer, and extreme heat, which NASA`s James Hansen wrote is "almost certainly" connected to climate change, can have a serious impact on animal biodiversity, as food grows scarcer and a wide variety of habitats dry out.
“The whole ecosystem is going to have to move north as the climate...