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Archive for February 5th, 2014
David Cameron overrules Environment Secretary Owen Paterson to order urgent dredging in Somerset to c
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 5th, 2014
Independent: David Cameron has seized control of the flooding debacle, ordering the Environment Agency to abandon its opposition to river dredging as he pledged to spend an extra £100 million on flood defences this year.
In a bid to reassure voters that he would get the flooding under control, Mr Cameron sidelined his Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson, replacing him at the helm of the Government’s emergency flood committee. He also strongly criticised the Environment Agency’s response to the disaster. ...
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United Kingdom: David Cameron takes personal control as flooding crisis worsens
Posted by Guardian: Rowena Mason on February 5th, 2014
Guardian: David Cameron has taken personal control of emergency efforts to help households stricken by floods and promised "no restrictions" on help, as Labour accused the government of leaving people isolated and unable to cope with homes under water.
The prime minister led a meeting of Cobra, the government crisis response committee, moving aside Owen Paterson, the environment secretary, amid criticism of the official response to weeks of flooding, power outages and transport chaos.
The Environment...
Arctic Ice Season Shortens by 24 Days as Fewer Lakes Freeze to the Bottom
Posted by Nature World: James A. Foley on February 5th, 2014
Nature World: The winter ice season in the Arctic is 24 days shorter today than it was in the 1950s, according to new research led by University of Waterloo scientists.
Writing in the journal The Cryosphere, the researchers report that not only is the ice season shorter now than it was more than six decades ago, the ice is also thinner - by 38 centimeters at its thickest point.
"We've found that the thickness of the ice has decreased tremendously in response to climate warming in the region," said Cristina...
Costing 21st Century coastal flooding
Posted by Earth Times: JW Dowey on February 5th, 2014
Earth Times: So many cities worldwide are threatened by sea-level rise, resulting from greenhouse gas effect. It's likely that the threat could help energise people to try and prevent the floods before they actually happen this time; City image; Credit: © Shutterstock
The likelihood of damage from rising sea levels is linked to the extent of global warming. The oceans have risen by around 2.5 cm over the last decade, emphasising just how warm the seas and the atmosphere have become already As ice caps glaciers...
Germany to abstain in EU vote on new GMO maize
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 5th, 2014
Reuters: Germany will abstain in a European Union vote on the cultivation of a type of genetically modified maize, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, which opposition politicians say may lead to EU approval to farm the new crop.
The vote covers an insect-resistant maize, known as Pioneer 1507, developed jointly by DuPont and Dow Chemical. If approved, it would end Monsanto's current monopoly in Europe's small market for GMO crops.
The EU has only ever approved two other GMO crops for commercial...
Optical trick made Amazon seem to grow more when dry
Posted by New Scientist: Fred Pearce on February 5th, 2014
New Scientist: It always seemed odd. A decade ago, NASA satellite data suggested that the canopy of the Amazon rainforest grew faster during a drought. Apparently, this was just an optical illusion.
In 2003, remote sensors showed that the forest canopy reflects more near-infrared light during a drought. Because young leaves are greener - and reflect more infrared light - than old foliage, analysts assumed this was evidence that rainforests grew better during dry years.
A new study suggests otherwise. Douglas...
Climate change threatens to cause trillions in damage to world’s coastal regions
Posted by TG Daily: Thomas Anderson on February 5th, 2014
TG Daily: New research predicts that coastal regions may face massive increases in damages from storm surge flooding over the course of the 21st century. According to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, global average storm surge damages could increase from about $10-$40 billion per year today to up to $100,000 billion per year by the end of century, if no adaptation action is taken. The study, led by the Berlin-based think-tank Global Climate Forum (GCF) and involving...
California lawmakers preparing $644 million drought relief bill
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 5th, 2014
Reuters: California's senate leader is preparing a $644 million emergency drought relief bill designed to quickly fund shovel-ready projects to combat the state's severe water shortage, according to a draft of the bill.
The wide-ranging effort would fast-track water supply projects, speed up funding for expanded use of recycled water and stormwater capture projects, and better monitor and manage groundwater resources.
California is facing its worst drought in decades. State officials have said it is...
Australia: Drought-stricken Queensland town considers evacuating 3,000 residents
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 5th, 2014
AAP: After two years with almost no rain, a Queensland town is planning for the possible evacuation of its entire population as water supplies run out.
The mayor of the inland community of Cloncurry, near Mount Isa, says evacuating its 3,000 residents will be a last resort. But that option is part of an emergency plan now being developed in response to dwindling water supplies.
Mayor Andrew Daniels says residents are now on the toughest water restrictions, with domestic use restricted to the bare...
Power off across parts of Brazil; govt dismisses blackout fears
Posted by Reuters: Leonardo Goy on February 5th, 2014
Reuters: Some of Brazil's most populous regions suffered sporadic power outages on Tuesday, raising election-year fears of shortages in a country with a long history of blackouts. The shortages, which occurred during record heat and low reservoir levels at the country's hydroelectric plants, were caused by short circuits in transmission lines in the north-central state of Tocantins, said Brazil's national grid operator, ONS. The outages extended to as many as 6 million consumers and industrial users in...