Feature Channels: Environmental Science

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Released: 14-Nov-2013 5:00 PM EST
Alberta Plan Fails to Protect Headwater Havens for Vulnerable Wildlife
Wildlife Conservation Society

Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada) scientists said today that the draft South Saskatchewan Regional Plan released recently by the Alberta government falls far short of protecting vulnerable fish and wildlife populations and headwater sources of precious water that are cherished by southern Albertans.

Released: 14-Nov-2013 1:30 PM EST
Scientists Nearing Forecasts of Long-Lived Wildfires
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Scientists have developed a new computer modeling technique that offers the promise, for the first time, of producing continually updated daylong predictions of wildfire growth throughout the lifetime of long-lived blazes. The technique, developed by a research team led by NCAR, combines detailed computer simulations with newly available satellite observations.

Released: 14-Nov-2013 10:00 AM EST
Renowned Scientist to Speak at UF/IFAS York Lecture Series
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Penn State Meteorology professor Michael Mann to talk about climate change and political wars.

Released: 13-Nov-2013 4:30 PM EST
The Big Fish That Got Away… (It Was Let Go)
Wildlife Conservation Society

It’s not every day that fishermen catch the world’s largest fish species in their nets, but this is what recently happened in Indonesia’s Karimunjawa National Park, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Released: 13-Nov-2013 4:00 PM EST
Nature’s Glowing Slime: Scientists Peek into Hidden Sea Worm’s Light
University of California San Diego

Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and their colleagues are unraveling the mechanisms behind a little-known marine worm that produces a dazzling bioluminescent display in the form of puffs of blue light released into seawater.

Released: 13-Nov-2013 2:00 PM EST
Warming Since 1950s Partly Caused by El Niño
University of Alabama Huntsville

A natural shift to stronger warm El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean might be responsible for a substantial portion of the global warming recorded during the past 50 years, according to new research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).

Released: 13-Nov-2013 1:55 PM EST
Snow Melts Faster Under Trees Than in Open Areas in Mild Climates
University of Washington

University of Washington researchers have found that tree cover actually causes snow to melt more quickly in warm, Mediterranean-type climates around the world. Alternatively, open, clear gaps in the forests tend to keep snow on the ground longer into the spring and summer. Their findings were published this fall in Water Resources Research.

Released: 13-Nov-2013 1:00 PM EST
WCS and Esri Develop Interactive Online Story Map on Elephant Poaching for Media Use
Wildlife Conservation Society

WCS and GIS software innovator Esri jointly produced an online Story Map that combines spatial data, cartography, and Web mapping tools to visually tell the story of the elephant poaching crisis.

Released: 11-Nov-2013 10:00 AM EST
Methane-Munching Microorganisms Meddle with Metals
Georgia Institute of Technology

A pair of microbes on the ocean floor “eats” methane in a unique way, and a new study provides insights into their surprising nutritional requirements. Learning how these methane-munching organisms make a living in these extreme environments could provide clues about how the deep-sea environment might change in a warming world.

Released: 4-Nov-2013 9:00 AM EST
College Mathematics Journal Proves Applicability of Math to Earth’s Problems
Mathematical Association of America

The Mathematical Association of America offers the themed November issue of the College Mathematics Journal as one contribution to the international Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 initiative.

Released: 31-Oct-2013 4:15 PM EDT
In Battle Against Flies, Don’t Toss Old Bulbs
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

University of Florida researchers find old bulbs work almost as well as newer ones in helping zap bugs. This saves millions of dollars and more mercury from entering waste stream.

30-Oct-2013 12:45 PM EDT
Residents Weigh Global Benefits and Local Risks in Views of Climate Change Measures
Society for Risk Analysis (SRA)

A survey of Indiana residents tracks public acceptance of potential measures to address climate change in their communities.

Released: 31-Oct-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Geoengineering the Climate Could Reduce Vital Rains
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Although a significant build-up in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would alter worldwide precipitation patterns, geoengineering would also interfere with rainfall and snowfall. An international study, led by NCAR scientists, finds that “geoengineering” could result in monsoonal rains in North America, East Asia, and other regions dropping by 5-7 percent compared to preindustrial conditions because of less evaporation and reduced plant emissions of water.

Released: 29-Oct-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Redwood Trees Reveal History of West Coast Rain, Fog, Ocean Conditions
University of Washington

Scientists have found a way to use coastal redwood trees as a window into historic climate, using oxygen and carbon atoms in the wood to detect fog and rainfall in previous seasons.

Released: 29-Oct-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Earthworms Invade New England
University of Vermont

At least sixteen species of earthworms are now found in Vermont and elsewhere in New England. All are exotic and many are invasive. As they spread, they devour organic matter, disrupting forests and releasing carbon dioxide. But they also store carbon deep in the soil. So, do the worms, on balance, slow or accelerate climate change? Vermont researchers are on the case.

24-Oct-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Disrupted Phenological Cues Undermine Ant/Plant Mutualism
SUNY Buffalo State University

When early-foraging ant species are displaced by later-foraging ant species due to climate change, early blooming plant species suffer. The presence of effective dispersers is as important as abiotic requirements in shaping a plant's niche.

24-Oct-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Scientists Eye Longer-Term Forecasts of U.S. Heat Waves
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Scientists have fingerprinted a distinctive atmospheric wave pattern high above the Northern Hemisphere that can foreshadow the emergence of summertime heat waves in the United States more than two weeks in advance. The new research, led by scientists at NCAR, could potentially enable forecasts of the likelihood of U.S. heat waves 15-20 days out, giving society more time to prepare for these often-deadly events.

Released: 24-Oct-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Researcher Is Optimistic About Meeting ‘Grand Challenge’ of Global Prosperity
Cornell University

With ecological viability threatened, world resources draining and population burgeoning, the end is nigh. Or not, says Lawrence M. Cathles, Cornell professor of earth and atmospheric sciences in his article, “Future Rx: Optimism, Preparation, Acceptance of Risk,” in a special publication of The Journal of the Geological Society.

Released: 24-Oct-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Bees Underwent Massive Extinction When Dinosaurs Did
University of New Hampshire

For the first time ever, scientists have documented a widespread extinction of bees that occurred 65 million years ago, concurrent with the massive event that wiped out land dinosaurs and many flowering plants. Their findings, published this week in the journal PLOS ONE, could shed light on the current decline in bee species.

Released: 23-Oct-2013 2:00 PM EDT
Uncovering the Tricks of Nature’s Ice-Seeding Bacteria
AVS: Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing

New discoveries, presented at the AVS Meeting in Long Beach, Calif., could impact applications ranging from artificial snowmaking to global climate models.

Released: 22-Oct-2013 10:25 AM EDT
Amping Up Solar in the Snowy North
Michigan Technological University

What's the best way to capture photovoltaic energy where snowfall is measured in feet?

18-Oct-2013 1:30 PM EDT
New Study Indicates Risk of Amazon Rainforest Dieback Due to Global Warming is Higher than Previously Projected
Boston University College of Arts and Sciences

A new study co-authored by Boston University Professor of Earth & Environment Ranga Myneni suggests the southern portion of the Amazon rainforest is at a much higher risk of dieback due to climate change than projections made in the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). If severe enough, the loss of rainforest could cause the release of large volumes of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It could also disrupt plant and animal communities in one of the regions of highest biodiversity in the world.

Released: 18-Oct-2013 8:00 AM EDT
Could Sandy Happen Again? Maybe, Says Tufts Geologist
Tufts University

Almost a year after Hurricane Sandy, parts of New York and New Jersey are still recovering from billions of dollars in flood damage. Tufts University geologist Andrew Kemp sees the possibility of damage from storms smaller than Sandy in the future.

Released: 16-Oct-2013 3:25 PM EDT
Study Puts Freshwater Biodiversity on the Map for Planners and Policymakers
University of Wisconsin–Madison

When it comes to economic growth and environmental impacts, it can seem like Newton’s third law of motion is the rule — for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction — and that in most cases, the economy prospers and the environment suffers.

Released: 15-Oct-2013 6:00 PM EDT
World Ocean Systems Undermined by Climate Change by 2100
University of California San Diego

An ambitious new study that includes Lisa Levin of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego describes the full chain of events by which ocean biogeochemical changes triggered by manmade greenhouse gas emissions may cascade through marine habitats and organisms, penetrating to the deep ocean and eventually influencing humans.

Released: 10-Oct-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Hybrid Cars Are a Status Symbol of Sorts for Seniors
Baylor University

Paying extra bucks to “go green” in a hybrid car may pay off in self-esteem and image for older drivers, as well as give a healthy boost to the environment, according to a Baylor University study.

Released: 10-Oct-2013 9:50 AM EDT
‘Stadium Waves’ Could Explain Lull In Global Warming
Georgia Institute of Technology

A new paper published in the journal Climate Dynamics suggests that ‘unpredictable climate variability’ behaves in a more predictable way than previously assumed. The paper’s authors, Marcia Wyatt and Judith Curry, point to the so-called ‘stadium-wave’ signal that propagates like the cheer at sporting events whereby sections of sports fans seated in a stadium stand and sit as a ‘wave’ propagates through the audience.

Released: 9-Oct-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Water and Lava, but — Curiously — No Explosion
University at Buffalo

A study finds that hollow, land-based lava pillars in Iceland likely formed in a surprising reaction where lava met water without an explosion. Such formations are common deep under the ocean, but have not been described on land, the lead researcher says.

Released: 7-Oct-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Seeking Good News from a Bad Storm
Drexel University

In a stroke of good luck, Drexel's Dr. Tracy Quirk captured detailed measurements of water level and salinity at a range of coastal wetland sites, even as they were overtaken by Hurricane Sandy. After the storm, she began working on an intensive year-long project, funded by the National Science Foundation, to evaluate ecosystem processes in New Jersey’s salt marshes before, during, and for a year following Hurricane Sandy. Quirk is beginning to analyze findings from the study now.

Released: 3-Oct-2013 3:55 PM EDT
Study of April 27, 2011, TornadoesAffirms Theories About the Causes
University of Alabama Huntsville

A new study of an April 2011 tornado outbreak apparently affirms some new theories about factors that might enhance tornado development.

Released: 3-Oct-2013 10:00 AM EDT
UF/IFAS Survey: College Students Worried About Climate Change Hazards
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Results of survey of University of Florida students gauging perceptions, level of fear re: climate change.

Released: 2-Oct-2013 2:30 PM EDT
Death of a Spruce Tree
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Examining a long-lived forest, researchers have measured mortality of Black Spruce trees in the northern forests of North America, and have found the dead trees aren’t being replaced by new ones. The result suggests trees might be storing more carbon than currently estimated.

Released: 30-Sep-2013 3:00 PM EDT
Water Vapor In Stratosphere Plays Role In Climate
Texas A&M University

Water vapor changes in the stratosphere contribute to warmer temperatures and likely play an important role in the evolution of Earth’s climate, says a research team led by a Texas A&M University professor.

Released: 30-Sep-2013 2:00 PM EDT
Study Finds Tungsten in Aquifer Groundwater Controlled by pH, Oxygen
Kansas State University

Geologists found that the likelihood that tungsten will seep into an aquifer's groundwater depends on the groundwater's pH level, the amount of oxygen in the aquifer and the number of oxidized particles in the water and sediment.

Released: 27-Sep-2013 2:35 PM EDT
Researchers Release New Biological Agent to Fight Invasive Weed
University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island entomologists reached a milestone in their efforts to control the invasive weed swallow-wort this month with the first release of a biological agent to fight the pest.

25-Sep-2013 2:00 PM EDT
Study Finds Steroids May Persist Longer in the Environment Than Expected
University of Iowa

Certain anabolic steroids and pharmaceutical products last longer in the environment than previously known, according to a new study led by the University of Iowa. The researchers found that the steroid trenbolone acetate, along with some other pharmaceutical products, never fully degrade in the environment, and in fact can partially regenerate themselves. Results published online in the journal Science Express.

Released: 26-Sep-2013 12:50 PM EDT
Methane Out, Carbon Dioxide In?
University of Virginia

University of Virginia researchers have found that the Marcellus Shale geological formation in Pennsylvania has the potential to store roughly 50 percent of the U.S. carbon dioxide emissions produced from stationary sources between 2018 and 2030.

Released: 25-Sep-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Whale Mass Stranding Attributed to Sonar Mapping for First Time
Wildlife Conservation Society

An independent scientific review panel has concluded that the mass stranding of approximately 100 melon-headed whales in the Loza Lagoon system in northwest Madagascar in 2008 was primarily triggered by acoustic stimuli, more specifically, a multi-beam echosounder system operated by a survey vessel contracted by ExxonMobil Exploration and Production (Northern Madagascar) Limited.

Released: 25-Sep-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Blue-Green Algae a Five-Tool Player in Converting Waste to Fuel
Washington University in St. Louis

There is a current superstar species of blue-green algae that, through its powers of photosynthesis and carbon dioxide fixation, or uptake, can produce ethanol, hydrogen, butanol, isobutanol and potentially biodiesel. Now that’s some five-tool player.

Released: 25-Sep-2013 11:00 AM EDT
‘Seeing It in Practice’: Engineering Students Learned Around the World in Summer Experiences
Washington University in St. Louis

Sixteen Washington University in St. Louis students traveled to Australia to learn about that country's energy and environmental practices at coal mines, solar arrays, algae ponds and power plants.

Released: 24-Sep-2013 4:45 PM EDT
New Adsorbent Is More Effective and Environmentally Friendly for Treating Wastewater
Temple University

A new adsorbent for removing emerging contaminants from wastewater that is more effective, reusable and ecco-friendly, has been developed by researchers at Temple University.

Released: 24-Sep-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Time to Rethink Misguided Policies That Promote Biofuels to Protect Climate
University of Michigan

Policymakers need to rethink the idea of promoting biofuels to protect the climate because the methods used to justify such policies are inherently flawed, according to a University of Michigan energy researcher.

Released: 23-Sep-2013 3:00 PM EDT
Pesticide Regulation in California Is Flawed, UCLA Report Says
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

Approximately 30 million pounds of fumigant pesticides are used each year on soil that yields valuable California crops. Determining whether these pesticides are as safe as possible falls to one state entity, the Department of Pesticide Regulation. But in 2010, a neurotoxic, carcinogenic pesticide called methyl iodide was approved for use with strawberries. The science was incomplete, the approval was rushed, and while it stayed on the market, lives were endangered. A case study has been conducted by UCLA's Sustainable Technology and Policy Program that details the flaws in the system, and makes recommendations to prevent this from happening again..

   
Released: 23-Sep-2013 1:15 PM EDT
Modifying Rice Crops to Resist Herbicide Prompts Weedy Neighbors’ Growth Spurt
Ohio State University

Rice containing an overactive gene that makes it resistant to a common herbicide can pass that genetic trait to weedy rice, prompting powerful growth even without a weed-killer to trigger the modification benefit, new research shows.

Released: 23-Sep-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Fossil Record Shows Crustaceans Vulnerable as Modern Coral Reefs Decline
University of Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Many ancient crustaceans went extinct following a massive collapse of reefs across the planet, and new University of Florida research suggests modern species living in rapidly declining reef habitats may now be at risk.



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