According to the birds, spring is arriving earlier
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-03-22-12-Migration-Changes.mp3|titles=EW 03-22-12 Migration Changes]
From blooming to breeding, the lifecycle of plants and animals are closely tied to seasonal variations in climate. In fall, shorter, cooler days stimulate the onset of fall colors and eventual fall. In spring, following snow-melt, warm, wet nights herald the mating rituals of peepers. [Read more…] about According to the birds, spring is arriving earlier
Rethinking wild boars
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-03-21-12-Wild-Boars.mp3|titles=EW 03-21-12 Wild Boars]
Wild boars are a problem in more than twenty states. These invasive animals are prolific breeders with voracious appetites. They cause tremendous damage to crops and native plant communities and they spread diseases, such as pseudorabies, from feral hogs to domestic livestock. [Read more…] about Rethinking wild boars
Denial: It’s not just a river in Egypt anymore
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-20-12-Climate-Denial.mp3|titles=EW 03-20-12 Climate Denial]
A number of Presidential candidates are trying to cast doubt on the reality of climate change. Some point to a handful of weather stations that have seen little change in temperature, despite the thousands of others that have recorded increases. [Read more…] about Denial: It’s not just a river in Egypt anymore
Can we weed out the truth about atrazine?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-19-12-Atrazine.mp3|titles=EW 03-19-12 Atrazine]
Atrazine is the second most widely used herbicide in the United States. Last year some 75 million pounds of the weed killer were applied to sugar cane and corn crops, as well as lawns and golf courses. Sales topped a billion dollars. [Read more…] about Can we weed out the truth about atrazine?
Plant trees, save the planet?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-16-12-Tree-Planting.mp3|titles=EW 03-16-12 Tree Planting]
Renewable energy is a small part of our nation’s energy portfolio. In 2011, only 14% of our electricity came from renewable sources. As we wean off fossil fuels, trees can be an important ally in offsetting associated carbon emissions. [Read more…] about Plant trees, save the planet?
Somewhere in West Virginia, a mountain is missing its top
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-15-12-Mtn-Top-Removal.mp3|titles=EW 03-15-12 Mtn Top Removal]
When we turn on the air conditioner this summer, few of us will think about mountain forests and the streams that drain them. We simply want to be cool. But, air conditioning comes at a cost to the central Appalachian Mountains. [Read more…] about Somewhere in West Virginia, a mountain is missing its top
Remember the canary in the coal mine?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-14-12-Bird-Importance.mp3|titles=EW 03-14-12 Bird Importance]
Worldwide, bird populations are in decline. Their shrinking numbers are an unfortunate reminder of the negative impact that humans are having on the planet. [Read more…] about Remember the canary in the coal mine?
It’s a small world out there
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-03-13-12-Nanoparticles.mp3|titles=EW 03-13-12 Nanoparticles]
Like it or not, we have entered the world of nanotechnology. Less than 1/3 of a micron in length, nano-particles are miniscule. On the surface of clothing, they can prevent stains and wrinkles; on bandages, they impart antimicrobial properties. [Read more…] about It’s a small world out there
Would you like a little oil in your water?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-12-12-Gulf-Oil-Spill.mp3|titles=EW 03-12-12 Gulf Oil Spill]
In 2010, two days before the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, millions of gallons of crude oil began spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. The BP Deepwater Horizon blowout would shape up to be one of the largest accidental oil spills on record. And awkwardly, the leak was at the bottom of the ocean, at a depth of about a mile. [Read more…] about Would you like a little oil in your water?
Acidity: it’s just not good for forests
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-09-12-Acid-Rain.mp3|titles=EW 03-09-12 Acid Rain]
Every now and then I run into someone who believes that acid rain is a hoax. No use in pointing out that the rain in the eastern United States is more acidic than the rain in California—an area not downwind of major power plants. [Read more…] about Acidity: it’s just not good for forests
Are trees nature’s air conditioner?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-08-12-Cooling-Trees.mp3|titles=EW 03-08-12 Cooling Trees]
During the summer, it’s no surprise that suburban areas with trees seem cooler than urban pavement. Many cities, including New York City, are promoting tree-planting programs to benefit from the natural cooling that trees provide. [Read more…] about Are trees nature’s air conditioner?
Let’s not put the last log on the fire
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-07-12-Woody-Biomass.mp3|titles=EW 03-07-12 Woody Biomass]
In an attempt to wean the nation from coal—an unhealthy source of energy that drives global warming, several policy groups have suggested switching to wood. Existing coal-fired power plants could be converted to burn wood with relatively little cost and expense. And trees have the benefit of being a renewable resource. [Read more…] about Let’s not put the last log on the fire
It’s time to forsake your lawn
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-05-12-Lawns.mp3|titles=EW 03-05-12 Lawns]
Unless you are an avid fan of croquet, lawn tennis, or summer garden parties, it’s time to let your lawn go natural. A wild yard is not un-American – it’s what the pilgrims had when they first arrived in New England. For nearly all of us, today’s obsession with the perfect, park-like lawn is a waste of time and money and bad for the environment. Let it go natural. [Read more…] about It’s time to forsake your lawn
Do we need to retard the rush to flame retardants?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-02-12-Flame-Retardants-.mp3|titles=EW 03-02-12 Flame Retardants]
Few of us are familiar with polybrominated diphenyl ethers. They’re not in your spice or medicine cabinet, and you’re not likely to find them among the garden chemicals in your garage. But, if you have a sofa, a laptop, or a TV, they are in your house. [Read more…] about Do we need to retard the rush to flame retardants?
Is the weather getting weirder?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-03-01-12-Weird-Weather.mp3|titles=EW 03-01-12 Weird Weather]
This past year held some weather extremes—drought in Texas, floods in the Midwest, and an early snowstorm in New England. Neighbors who do not believe in climate change love to point and laugh at me whenever there is a deep snow in our small northeastern town. [Read more…] about Is the weather getting weirder?
Ammonia—a toxic gas that feeds the world
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/EW-02-29-12-Ammonia-.mp3|titles=EW 02-29-12 Ammonia]