Climate News: Week of 5 September 2010

by billlaurelMD

This is the next in a series of diaries on the state of Arctic sea ice (and other topics as warranted) in memory of Johnny Rook, who passed away in early 2009. He was the author of the Climaticide Chronicles.

This week, the climate news diary I usually do will be out a little early, since I'm writing up the more general one for Patriot News Clearinghouse today. So the latest news may be a bit briefer than usual. First, the Barrow AK Arctic Sea Ice webcam from this a.m. (5:17 Alaska Time). Weather is nasty as one would expect ... but actually a shade warmer than normal.

The rest of the Arctic story this week below.

continued at Daily Kos....

Nitrogen, Climate Change, Drought, and Tree Physiology.

by NNadir

We're having a terrible drought - coupled with outbreaks of extreme temperatures - here in Western New Jersey, and it seems to be killing some very old and very beautiful trees.   It's very sad.

From time to time in autumn, my boys and I hike some of the protected forests here, and we gather nuts - nuts we don't know, as well as nuts we do know, like acorns - and plant them in our yard.   It will be interesting to see what this year has wrought on the, um, nut harvest.

A lot of the oaks from last year's hikes seem to have taken.    We had about 15 oak seedlings - and tried to water them to keep them alive.   Some were killed by extreme heat on the days we just couldn't get to watering them, a few were trashed by animals, but I would say that about half of them will get to try out next year.

continued at Daily Kos....

could affect tourism ... but finding the truth is more important

by jamess

Gulf Coast Communities Investigate Oily Sea Mist
by Debbie Elliott, NPR -- September 3, 2010

Orange Beach city hall has been inundated with calls from residents with complaints — foam that they think is dispersant, a gray-metallic slick in back bays or seaweed that looks oiled. There's a heightened sense of environmental awareness, and local officials are looking for a way to determine what's going on.

Mayor Tony Kennon says that's why the town hired independent scientists to test the air, water and soil.
[...]

Orange Beach is using grant money from BP for the testing, and posting the data on the town's website. Mayor Kennon says negative results could affect tourism in the short term, but finding the truth is more important.

Kudos to Mayor Kennon for taking a stand, for what's right!

The Major is a man of his word.

Monitoring, he is.

continued at Daily Kos....

From the Basque Country to Bangladesh: A Climate Change Solution?

by ManfromMiddletown

In the green north of Spain, the Basque region has emerged as a renewable energy powerhouse over the last decade. Although high population density, mountainous terrain, and a lack of appropriate building sites have limited renewable energy production in the region, a number of Spain's most dynamic green energy firms have set up a dynamic manufacturing base there.  With the wind energy market growing saturated, these firms have turned to solar and wave power.  In the latter market, there is an interesting project going on in the coastal city of Mutriku which incorporates wave energy into breakwaters.

As the diagram below explains, the constant splash of small waves is captured through the inclusion of air chambers within the breakwater.  As the waves enter and exit the chamber they drive air in and out, and these changes in air pressure are utilized to drive Wells turbines.

continued at Daily Kos....

BP Catastrophe Liveblog Mothership: 102

by Gulf Watchers

Please rec the new Mothership #103 here. This one has expired.
The current ROV DIARY: Daily Kos Gulf Watchers ROV #359 - BOP is on Deck - BP's Gulf Catastrophe - Tomtech

The digest of diaries is here

Rules of the Road

• We take volunteers for subsequent diaries in the sub diaries or ROV's as we have playfully coined them.
• Please rec this mothership diary, not the ROVs.
• Please be kind to fellow kossacks who may have limited bandwidth and refrain from posting images or videos.

PLEASE visit Pam LaPier's diary to find out how you can help the Gulf now and in the future. We don't have to be idle! And thanks to Crashing Vor and Pam LaPier for working on this!

continued at Daily Kos....

Daily Kos Gulf Watchers ROV #356 - Damaged BOP Recovery - BP's Gulf Catastrophe

by peraspera

You are in the current BP disaster ROV number 356; number 355 is here. The digest of diaries is here

Please DO NOT Rec this diary, rather REC THE MOTHERSHIP instead. She needs your love to stay afloat.

Please be kind to kossacks with bandwidth issues. Please do not post images or videos. Again, many thanks for this.

PLEASE visit Pam LaPier's diary to find out how you can help the Gulf now and in the future. We don't have to be idle! And thanks to Crashing Vor and Pam LaPier for working on this!

For a description of the mothership/ROV liveblogging process, check out this thread.

continued at Daily Kos....