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A Hot Year In Europe | Earth Wise

January 5, 2023 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

2022 was a hot year, particularly for Europe

This past summer was marked by some devastating heat waves in Europe.  Through November, the UK, Germany, and France have experienced their hottest year on record.

The UK has experienced its warmest year since 1884 and, in fact, all the top ten warmest years on record have occurred since 2002.

In France, the average temperature for the year is a few tenths of a degree higher than the  previous record, which was set in 2020.

In Germany, the first 11 months of the year saw a record for average temperature.  Its previous record was also set in 2020.

All three countries saw a spike in heat-related mortality as result of the summer heatwaves.  England and Wales reported 3,271 excess deaths during the summer.  France reported 2,816 excess deaths during its three heat waves.  In Germany, an estimated 4,500 people died as a result of extreme heat.

There are multiple effects of climate change which include more frequent heat waves in Europe.  A recent study showed that European summers are warming twice as fast as the global average.  In fact, summer temperatures across much of the European continent have already risen by 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees Celsius, which is the feared level of global climate increase that nations around the world are trying to stave off.

Worldwide, 2022 will rank among the top ten warmest years on record but will most likely not be the warmest.   That being said, the past eight years are on track to be the eight warmest years on record.  The US will also see one of its ten warmest years, although not the warmest.

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UK, Germany, France on Pace for Their Hottest Year on Record

Photo, posted April 23, 2022, courtesy of Jose A. via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Bringing Back Bison | Earth Wise

August 23, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Over the past few decades, research has identified the importance of large mammals like bison as ecosystem engineers.  These animals shape and maintain various natural processes and, in the process, are responsible for the sequestering of large amounts of carbon.  But large mammals – both herbivores and predators – have seen their numbers dwindle over time.  At this point, nearly two-thirds of large carnivores are threatened with extinction.   Overall, less than 6% of worldwide ecosystems have the extensive, intact large-mammal communities that were dominant 500 years ago.

Conservationists around the world have embarked on programs of “rewilding”- reintroducing large mammals into ecosystems.  Some of the animals involved in these programs include brown bears, wild horses, jaguars, reindeer, Eurasian beavers, elk, moose, wolverines, tigers, hippos, and bison.

A group of bison raised in South Dakota have recently been transplanted to the Chihuhuan Desert at the US-Mexico border across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.  There used to be huge bison herds in that region, but it has been largely bison-free for 150 years.

Perhaps more remarkably, wild bison are also being reintroduced into a forest near Canterbury, England.  There haven’t been bison in the United Kingdom for thousands of years.  But conservationists are introducing European bison into the British forest to knock down trees, trample shrubs, and create space for a greater diversity of flora and fauna. 

Apart from the ecosystem goals of the British project, people in the UK, for the first time in over a thousand years, will be able to experience bison in the wild.

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Gone for Thousands of Years, Wild Bison Return to the UK

Photo, posted December 31, 2018, courtesy of Marco Verch via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Better Marine Protected Areas | Earth Wise

August 17, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Marine protected areas are regions of seas, oceans, estuaries, and in the US, the Great Lakes, that are afforded special protections.  MPAs restrict human activity for conservation purposes, generally in order to protect natural or possibly cultural resources.   MPAs may limit such things as development, fishing practices, fishing seasons, catch limits, moorings, and removal or disruption of marine life.

A new study by the University of Plymouth in the UK looked at the effectiveness of MPAs in increasing the total abundance of reef species.  It looked at the MPAs in Lyme Bay, off the south coast of England, where two of them are co-located but governed by different constraints.

The study found that whole-site management of an MPA can increase the total abundance of reef species within its borders by up to 95%.  This is in contrast to the MPA where only known features are conserved and human activity is otherwise allowed to continue unchecked.  In that place, species abundance increased by only 15%.

The whole-site MPAs were observed to have other benefits as well.   They show higher levels of functional redundancy, meaning that when there are species losses, they are compensated by other species.  Whole-site MPAs also exhibit higher levels of species diversity.

MPAs are increasingly being recognized as a sustainable way to enhance the marine environment even while supporting coastal communities.  The Global Ocean Alliance, a 72-country alliance led by the UK, has set a target of protecting 30% of all marine areas by 2030.  The new study shows that even more important than simply establishing marine protected areas, it is essential that they are effectively implemented.

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Whole-site management of Marine Protected Areas can lead to a 95% increase in reef species

Photo, posted October 28, 2011, courtesy of Benjamin Evans via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Declining Flying Insects | Earth Wise

June 30, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the global decline in insect abundance.  A recently published survey of the abundance of flying insects in the UK has revealed very troubling results.

The Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife – two UK-based conservation groups – compared the number of dead insects on vehicles in 2004 and 2021.  In this Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey, the data was collected by roughly 20,000 ordinary citizens using a smartphone app.

The results were that the number of flying insects in Britain dropped nearly 60% over that time period.  The insects declined most in England and Wales, with drops of 65% and 55%, respectively. 

It is possible that 2004 was a particularly good year for British insects and 2021 an especially bad one, but the findings of this study are consistent with other research around the world showing an alarming decline in insects.  A series of studies in 2019 found that the global mass of insects is shrinking by 2.5% a year and that insects are going extinct eight times faster than reptiles, birds, or mammals.

Insects face multiple overlapping threats including the destruction of wild habitats for farming, urbanization, pesticides, and light pollution.  On top of these things is climate change which is disrupting ecosystems in multiple ways.

Insects play a vital role in pollinating crops, consuming organic waste, killing pests, and as essential parts of multiple ecosystems.  Severe insect declines can potentially have dire global ecological and economic consequences.

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Flying Insects Have Declined by 60 Percent in the U.K., Survey Finds

Insect decline in the Anthropocene: Death by a thousand cuts

Photo, posted May 6, 2007, courtesy of Richard Giddins via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Spring Is Coming Earlier In Britain | Earth Wise

March 1, 2022 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Climate change is causing spring to arrive earlier

The United Kingdom has some of the most detailed records of seasonal changes anywhere in the world.  Since the 18th century, observations of seasonal changes have been recorded by scientists, naturalists, amateur and professional gardeners, and organizations such as the Royal Meteorological Society.  Researchers at two British institutions have collected and collated these records into a database they call Nature’s Calendar, which currently has about 3.5 million records going back to 1736.

By analyzing more than 400,000 observations of 406 plant species in Nature’s Calendar, they found that the average first flowering date from 1987 to 2019 is a full month earlier than the average from 1753 to 1986.  The change correlates very well with rising global temperatures.

The ecological risks associated with earlier flowering times are high.  When plants flower too early, a late frost can kill them – a phenomenon most gardeners have experienced at some point or another.  Beyond that, plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife have co-evolved to be synchronized with plants in their development stages.  A certain plant flowers and attracts a certain kind of insect, which then attracts a particular kind of bird, and so on.  If plants get out of sync with the animals in the ecosystem and the animals can’t change their behavior quickly enough, it can lead to species collapse.

If global temperatures continue to increase at their current rate, spring in the UK could eventually start in February, creating serious problems for many of the species that inhabit forests, gardens, and farms.  The dangers of climate change are not just about extreme weather.

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UK plants flowering a month earlier due to climate change

Photo, posted February 1, 2012, courtesy of Mandy via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Coastlines and Climate Change | Earth Wise

August 16, 2021 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Scientists predict how climate change will affect coastlines

Climate change poses a fundamental threat to life on earth and has already left observable effects on the planet.  For example, glaciers have shrunk, oceans have warmed, heatwaves have become more intense, and plant and animal ranges have shifted. 

As a result of the changing climate, coastal communities around the world are confronting the increasing threats posed by a combination of extreme storms and the predicted acceleration of sea level rise. 

Scientists from the University of Plymouth in England have developed a simple algorithm-based model to predict how coastlines could be affected by climate change.  This model allows coastal communities to identify the actions they need to take in order to adapt to their changing environment.

The Forecasting Coastal Evolution (or ForCE)  model has the potential to be a game-changer because it allows adaptations in the shoreline to be predicted over timescales of anything from days to decades. As a result, the model is capable of predicting both the short-term impact of extreme storms as well as predicting the longer-term impact of rising seas.   

The ForCE model relies on past and present beach measurements and data showing the physical properties of the coast.  It also considers other key factors like tidal, surge, and global sea-level rise data to assess how beaches might be impacted by climate change.  Beach sediments form the frontline defense against coastal erosion and flooding, and are key in preventing damage to valuable coastal infrastructure.

According to the study, which was recently published in the journal Coastal Evolution, the ForCE model predictions have shown to be more than 80% accurate in current tests in South West England.

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New model accurately predicts how coasts will be impacted by storms and sea-level rise

Photo, posted April 17, 2016, courtesy of Nicolas Henderson via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Electric Cars And The Environment | Earth Wise

April 20, 2020 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

electric cars are good for the environment

There are articles in the media all the time questioning whether electric cars are really better for the environment than those powered by fossil fuels.  The usual argument is that once emissions from vehicle production and electricity generation are taken into account, electric cars are no greener than gas cars, or even worse for the environment.  Of course, these arguments tend to be made by oil companies and their supporters.

A new study by three European universities looked at this very issue in detail. They carried out a life-cycle assessment in which they not only calculated greenhouse gas emissions generated when using cars, but also in the production chain and waste processing.

Their conclusions are that under current conditions, driving an electric car is better for the climate than conventional gasoline cars in 95% of the world.  The only exceptions are places like Poland, where almost all electricity comes from coal-fired plants.

Average lifetime emissions associated with electric cars are up to 70% lower than gas cars in countries like Sweden and France and about 30% lower in England.

It is important to note than in a few years, even inefficient electric cars will be less emission-intensive than gas cars because electricity generation is becoming less carbon-intensive all the time.  The study projects that by 2050, half of the world’s cars will be electric resulting in carbon dioxide emission reductions of 1.5 billion tons.

The study states that the idea that electric cars could increase emissions is a myth.  The detailed study has run the numbers for all around the world and even in the worst-case scenario, there would be a reduction in emissions in almost all cases.

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Electric cars better for climate in 95% of the world

Photo, posted February 13, 2019, courtesy of Guillaume Vachey via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Scottish Wind Power

September 5, 2019 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Scotland is a windy country.  Most wind turbines in the European Union produce electricity at an average of 25% of their maximum rated power as a result of the variability of wind resources.  The west and northern coasts of Scotland have an average capacity of 31% or more.  Some wind farms in Scotland have achieved more than 50% capacity over the course of a year.

As of the end of last year, Scotland had more than 8 GW of installed wind power capacity.  This included 7.8 GW of onshore wind and 623 MW of offshore wind generators.  Estimates are that more than 11 GW of onshore wind could be installed in Scotland.  The total offshore potential is far greater than that but would be much more expensive.  There are multiple large-scale wind farms proposed or under construction in Scotland.

All of this growth in wind power has led to some remarkable results.  During the first half of 2019, wind turbines in Scotland produced enough electricity to power every home in the country twice over.  Scottish wind farms generated nearly 10 million megawatt-hours between January and June, which is equal to the consumption of 4.5 million homes during that period.   That is enough to take care of all of Scotland’s homes plus a large portion of northern England’s. 

Scotland has set a target of generating half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and decarbonizing its energy system almost entirely by 2050.  The recent performance of its wind power installations shows that the country might be able to reach its goal much sooner than anticipated.

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Scotland’s Wind Farms Generate Enough Electricity to Power Nearly 4.5 Million Homes

Photo, posted March 27, 2017, courtesy of Ian Dick via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Renewables Taking Over In Britain

March 14, 2019 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

A year-and-a-half ago, we reported on the steep decline in the use of coal in Britain, including the conversion of the giant Drax Power Station from burning coal to running on wood chips.  Since then, Britain has been steadily moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources.  The transformation is being driven by a surge in offshore wind farms currently under construction or about to begin operating.  Britain is in the process of adding over 6 GW of offshore wind to its current total of 8 GW.  Renewables generated one-third of the UK’s electricity last year, and half of that came from wind power. 

In 2018, coal- and gas-fired power stations generated about 131 terawatt-hours of electricity in Britain.  Renewable energy plants – including wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower – produced about 96 terawatt-hours.  Based on the new projects coming online, renewable sources could generate 121 TWh by 2020 and fossil fuel plants are likely to fall to 105.6 TWh as more coal plants are retired.  Thus, within the next year or so, renewables in Britain are likely to surpass fossil fuels in electricity generation.

The transformation in Britain has been rapid and dramatic.  In 1974, the country generated 80% of its electricity using coal.  By 2016, that number had dropped to 9%.  Last April, the British power grid went three days in a row without burning any coal.  The UK is expected to shut down its remaining coal plants by 2025, if not sooner. 

At the same time, Britain’s renewable energy capacity has more than quadrupled since 2010, jumping from 21 TWh that year to 96 TWh last year.  Britain’s energy mix is changing fast and getting significantly cleaner every year.

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Renewables Could Surpass Fossil Fuels in Britain by 2020

Photo, posted August 2, 2008, courtesy of Richard Allaway via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Cloning Ancient Redwoods

January 30, 2019 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

During the 19th and 20th centuries, many of the world’s largest and oldest tress were cut down for their lumber.   Some of these coast redwoods were 3,000 years old and measured 35 feet in diameter.

Today, giant stumps of these ancient redwoods dot the landscape from Oregon to northern California and are a remnant of the old-growth forest that once stretched across much of the Pacific Northwest.

An organization called the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is dedicated to reestablishing ancient redwood forests to help combat climate change.  Coastal redwoods are not only huge but can grow an average of 10 feet a year.  One of these enormous trees can sequester 250 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, more than 200 times the amount for an average tree.

While many experts thought that the giant stumps were lifeless, arborists at Archangel collected DNA from the stumps of five giant coast redwoods, all larger than the largest tree living today.  They then used this genetic material to grow dozens of saplings, which are clones of the ancient trees, in a process that takes about two-and-a-half years.

To date, the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive has planted nearly 100 of these saplings in the Eden Project garden in Cornwall, England, a couple of hundred in Oregon, and most recently, has planted 75 in the Presidio National Park in San Francisco.

According to arborists at the nonprofit organization, these saplings have extraordinary potential to purify our air, water, and soil for generations to come.  Their hopes are that the new San Francisco ‘super grove’ will be allowed to grow unmolested by manmade or natural disasters and thus propagate forever.

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Arborists Have Cloned Ancient Redwoods From Their Massive Stumps

Photo, posted April 8, 2013, courtesy of Michael Balint via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Coffee Power

January 3, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/EW-01-03-18-Coffee-Power.mp3

The residents of London are known for tea drinking, but in fact each of them consumes an average of 2.3 cups of coffee a day as well.  But now, it won’t just be commuters that are running on coffee in the morning.  London buses will in part run on oil produced from coffee grounds.

[Read more…] about Coffee Power

Fuel From Greenhouse Gases

November 28, 2017 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/EW-11-28-17-Fuel-from-Greenhouse-Gases.mp3

Carbon dioxide and methane are the two greenhouse gases that are having the greatest impact on the global climate.  There are basically three ways to prevent them from getting into the atmosphere:  don’t emit them, trap them and store them away, or turn them into something useful.

[Read more…] about Fuel From Greenhouse Gases

An All-Electric Plane

November 14, 2017 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/EW-11-14-17-An-All-Electric-Plane.mp3

The British discount airline EasyJet recently announced a partnership with American company Wright Electric to develop an all-electric commercial airplane that they said could be flying within 10 years.  The goal of the partnership is to develop aircraft with a maximum range of 335 miles, which is long enough for many of the European routes that EasyJet flies from its hub in England.

[Read more…] about An All-Electric Plane

The End Of British Coal

November 3, 2017 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/EW-11-03-17-The-End-of-British-Coal.mp3

In the 19th century, Britain produced 80% of the world’s coal.  Britain was the dominant global power in the industrial revolution with its giant blast furnaces, steam locomotives and steam ships.  And with advent of the electric age, coal once again was the power source of choice.  Even as late as the 1970s, Britain got 80% of its electricity from burning coal.

[Read more…] about The End Of British Coal

Floating Solar

August 22, 2016 By WAMC WEB

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/EW-08-22-16-Floating-Solar.mp3

Installing solar arrays on the surface of bodies of water is an idea that is catching on around the world.  Such installations are especially attractive in places like Japan, where land resources are scarce.  In the UK, there are a couple of these so-called “floatovoltaic” projects underway – one outside of London and one near Manchester.

[Read more…] about Floating Solar

Global Water Scarcity

March 23, 2016 By WAMC WEB

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/EW-03-23-16-Global-Water-Scarcity.mp3

Water is a simple chemical compound containing two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom connected by covalent bonds.  It covers 71% of Earth’s surface and is vital for all forms of life.  Despite its abundance, water that is safe for drinking is globally in short supply. 

[Read more…] about Global Water Scarcity

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