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Archive for September 11th, 2014
Aquifer Is No Quick Fix for Central Texas Thirst
Posted by New York Times: Neena Satija on September 11th, 2014
New York Times: As drought continues to grip Central Texas, those looking to provide water to the region’s fast-growing cities and suburbs see a solution in a relatively untapped aquifer. Water marketers, who bundle groundwater rights and sell the water to cities, say the region’s Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer holds hundreds of trillions of gallons of water. They say that is enough water to sustain growth for centuries in areas around Austin, whose reservoirs are only 34 percent full, and San Antonio, whose own aquifer...
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Drowned Tropical Forests Exacerbate Climate Change
Posted by Daily Climate: Paul Brown on September 11th, 2014
Daily Climate: Big dams built in the tropics to produce hydroelectricity have long been highly controversial - and data gathered in Laos by a French team studying methane emissions confirms that dams can add to global warming, not reduce it.
In many rocky regions low on vegetation and population, such as in Iceland and other northern mountainous regions, the production of electricity from hydropower is clearly a net gain in the battle against climate change.
In Asia, Africa and South America, however, masses...
Grupo Mexico dodges mine closure with $151 million toxic spill fund
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on September 11th, 2014
Reuters: Grupo Mexico and its subsidiaries on Thursday dodged losing a concession to run one of the biggest copper mines in the world as long as they comply with government obligations following a toxic spill that include creating a $151 million clean-up fund. The fund is far bigger than a $23 million reserve that Grupo Mexico had previously set aside for the clean-up at Buenavista copper mine. The government said Grupo Mexico could face fines totaling 44.5 million pesos ($3.37 million). "If they meet obligations...
Washington state enduring record wildfire season, official says
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on September 11th, 2014
Reuters: The wildfire season in Washington state has been one of the most destructive on record, charring 550 square miles of wilderness and destroying hundreds of homes and structures, the state Department of Natural Resources said on Thursday.
The assessment came as Washington Governor Jay Inslee renewed a request for the federal government to offer assistance to more than 300 people who lost their homes during July's record-setting Carlton Complex blaze near the Cascade Mountains.
Washington has...
Ukraine: Victory for anti-frackers as planning authorities block South Downs application
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on September 11th, 2014
Independent: The anti-fracking movement has received a considerable boost after a proposed development in the South Downs National Park was unanimously blocked by the planning authorities in the face of growing public scrutiny of the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing.
The planning committee strongly rejected the application to explore for oil or gas at the protected West Sussex village of Fernhurst made by the fracking company Celtique Energie, which raised the prospect of a prolonged battle by...
As Climate Change Hits Home, Americans Call for Action
Posted by Huffington Post: Frances Beinecke on September 11th, 2014
Huffington Post: The World Meteorological Organization announced this week that climate change pollution has reached record levels. Carbon pollution alone -- one of the most potent greenhouse gases -- had its biggest spike in 30 years. These measurements tell an alarming story about what is happening in our atmosphere. To understand what they mean here on earth, we just have to look outside the window. When fifth-generation Iowa farmer Matt Russell gazes out over his farm, he sees cycles of intense drought and rain...
Converting Forests to Cropland Actually Cooled the Planet
Posted by Nature World: Brian Stallard on September 11th, 2014
Nature World: Researchers have recently discovered that over the last 150 years, the conversion of forests into cropland has actually resulted in a small amount of global cooling. These results underscore the overall complexity of the climate change issue.
According to a study recently published in the journal Nature Climate Change, large-scale forest losses that have occurred over the last 150 years have actually reduced global emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) - agents that aid the...