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Archive for August 29th, 2012
Landslide deaths ‘four times higher than thought’
Posted by SciDev.Net: Helen Mendes on August 29th, 2012
SciDev.Net: A detailed global database has revealed that the number of landslide-related deaths worldwide has been greatly underestimated by previous surveys. The database was compiled by David Petley, a professor of geography at Durham University's International Landslide Centre, in the United Kingdom. Writing in the journal Geology, Petley reports that a total of 2,620 fatal landslides were recorded worldwide in the period 2004 to 2010. These landslides caused 32,322 deaths -- a number over four times higher...
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As Temperatures Rise in Sri Lanka, Drought Wreaks Havoc
Posted by Inter Press Service: Amantha Perera on August 29th, 2012
Inter Press Service: - It is a time of extreme heat and anxiety in Sri Lanka. Even the rains last week felt like a sudden burst of cold water on the smouldering asbestos sheets on most Sri Lankan household roofs, creating a blast of cold air before the heat returns once the rains end.
In some regions, like the north-central Pollonaruwa District, temperatures have been hitting highs in the region of 35 Celsius at uncomfortably regular intervals between July and mid-August.
"Temperatures have been rising for some...
Scientists Suggest Cloud Brightening To Halt Hurricanes
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on August 29th, 2012
Climate Central: As Tropical Storm Isaac batters southeastern Louisiana and nearby coastal areas with surging seas, howling winds, and torrential rainfall, it's nearly impossible to imagine that humans could have done anything to stop such powerful force of nature.
Nearly impossible, but not quite.
A team of atmospheric scientists, writing in the journal Atmospheric Science Letters, has imagined precisely that. They suggest that brightening the clouds that float above hurricane-forming regions could effectively...
Isaac rains stall harvest, buoy wheat prospects
Posted by Reuters: Sam Nelson on August 29th, 2012
Reuters: Heavy rain from Hurricane Isaac will stall the harvest of U.S. crops but also add valuable soil moisture ahead of autumn seeding of winter wheat and boost river water levels, aiding waterway transport, an agricultural meteorologist said on Wednesday.
Isaac made landfall early Wednesday and topped a levee near New Orleans, triggering life-threatening flooding seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina devastated the same area, authorities said.
Global Weather Monitoring meteorologist John...
Drought Dries Up Balkans Harvests
Posted by Inter Press Service: Vesna Peric Zimonjic on August 29th, 2012
Inter Press Service: After two months of waiting, people from the central Serbian town Valjevo followed the call of their bishop and went to local Orthodox Church to pray for rain.
"It wasn`t because I am religious, but because I didn`t know what else could help," said Milan Stankovic (55), who attended the Sunday service. "Half of my raspberries are gone, half of the corn as well."
And the rain fell in the night between Sunday and Monday all over the Balkans, bringing a little relief to a region where hundreds...
Joining the EU is a cautious climate tick
Posted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Erwin Jackson on August 29th, 2012
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: AUSTRALIA'S CARBON LAWS are designed to do two things: reduce pollution to levels consistent with avoiding dangerous climate change; and drive low pollution investment in Australia. With this in mind The Climate Institute cautiously welcomed yesterday's announcement by the Government to join Australia's carbon price to the European Union's.
Much of the recent political debate in Australia has suggested that our carbon laws have been more ambitious than those in other economies. Some businesses...