Sustainable Living
Urban green spaces are losing ground
A new study has revealed a concerning trend in many U.S. cities: urban tree cover is in decline, and hardened surfaces are on the rise. [Read more…] about Urban green spaces are losing ground
Turning algae into fuel
It took geology hundreds of millions of years to create the fossil fuels that power modern society. Can humble algae compress this process into months and make it carbon neutral? [Read more…] about Turning algae into fuel
How dams can cause fish declines
The Glen Canyon Dam was the last big dam built in the United States. Spanning the Colorado River above the Grand Canyon, it provides hydropower for the region and regulates the flow of water. Until the dam was built, the river would experience spring floods during snowmelt followed by low flow in the summer, especially during drought years. Now water below the dam flows at about the same rate year-round. [Read more…] about How dams can cause fish declines
Kicking the can down the road
Fifteen years ago, the first international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was adopted. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change recognized the threat elevated greenhouse gases posed. And it presented a framework for stabilizing emissions. [Read more…] about Kicking the can down the road
Underestimating climate risks
Climate scientists are often portrayed as alarmists by deniers, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC, derided by naysayers. But a new review in the journal Global Environmental Change highlights a reality that most scientists already know: over the past 20 years the IPCC has underestimated climate change impacts. [Read more…] about Underestimating climate risks
Why should we care about one endangered fish?
The humpback chub is a rather homely fish that lives only in the Colorado River. It is federally listed as protected under the Endangered Species Act. [Read more…] about Why should we care about one endangered fish?
Thawing permafrost. What does that mean?
Permafrost is defined as soil, sediment, or rock – including ice and organic material – that’s remained frozen for at least two straight years. Permafrost covers a large area of land in the Northern Hemisphere. The problem? It’s thawing. [Read more…] about Thawing permafrost. What does that mean?
Biochar: Can it save our climate?
Chances are good that you’ve never heard of biochar, though you may know of it by its common name: charcoal. Burying partially burned wood may enhance the storage of carbon in soils, helping to mitigate climate change. [Read more…] about Biochar: Can it save our climate?
The KeyStone XL pipeline
Soon, the Obama administration will likely make a decision on the KeyStone XL pipeline, proposed to carry crude oil extracted from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada to refineries in the United States. There is huge pressure from oil companies to build the pipeline and increase the production of oil in North America. [Read more…] about The KeyStone XL pipeline
Biodiversity: What is it and why should you care?
Recently, I was chatting with a newspaper reporter about the impacts of encroaching development in California’s Mojave Desert. I mentioned we could expect to lose some of the wondrous diversity of plants and animals that are adapted to such extreme desert conditions. Her response? “I know you’re right, but no one cares about diversity.” [Read more…] about Biodiversity: What is it and why should you care?
Cap & trade
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Environmental scientists have high hopes that the newly elected Congress will tackle rising concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, and the global warming that it will bring. [Read more…] about Cap & trade
Should we get a real or an artificial Christmas tree this year?
Last year, Americans bought nearly 38 million Christmas trees, spending $1.8 billion dollars. Nearly a quarter of these were artificial trees, which now include a number of pre-lit and decorated options. [Read more…] about Should we get a real or an artificial Christmas tree this year?
Clouding our ability to forecast severe weather
Hurricane Sandy battered the New York metropolitan region. Floods, blackouts, fires, and gas shortages left many feeling vulnerable. A number of areas are still recovering, and damages are expected to top $50 billion. [Read more…] about Clouding our ability to forecast severe weather
Genetically engineered food and consumer choice
Last month, California had the chance to be the first state in the union to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food. Dubbed the ‘Right to Know Act,’ Proposition 37 would have required producers to clearly label raw or processed foods that contained modified ingredients. [Read more…] about Genetically engineered food and consumer choice
Let’s keep electronics out of our landfills
Our cell phones, computers, and game consoles make our lives more productive or at least more interesting. But in our efforts to keep up with the latest technology, we are creating an enormous problem of electronic waste. [Read more…] about Let’s keep electronics out of our landfills
Climate change and the American mind
More Americans believe global warming is real, the number of climate deniers is shrinking, and the majority of Americans believe that climate change is causing extreme weather. So reports a new opinion poll conducted by Yale and George Mason University. It is the seventh poll in an ongoing series initiated to track evolving public attitudes toward climate change. [Read more…] about Climate change and the American mind
The military as a climate change ally
By now, most listeners are familiar with the consequences of climate change. Warming has been linked to a rise in the frequency and intensity of droughts, severe storms, floods, and infectious disease. These events damage infrastructure, sicken citizens, and alter the availability of crops and natural resources. [Read more…] about The military as a climate change ally
How should we choose which species to protect?
Bald eagles, humpback whales, and giant pandas have a few things in common. They are larger than their peers, their looks are striking, and they are or have been endangered. These species, along with various types of tiger, dolphin, and wolf, have become known as Charismatic Megafauna. [Read more…] about How should we choose which species to protect?
Ecological engineering on the ski slope
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