Tag Archives: earth

Dot Earth Blog: A Nuclear Submariner Challenges a Pro-Nuclear Film

by Myrna Posted on August 16, 2013

A former Navy nuclear engineering officer criticizes a film defending nuclear power. View this article: Dot Earth Blog: A Nuclear Submariner Challenges a Pro-Nuclear Film ; ;Related ArticlesA Nuclear Submariner Challenges a Pro-Nuclear FilmDot Earth Blog: ‘Liberated Carbon, It’ll Turn Your Night to Day’Dot Earth Blog: Is the Internet Good for the Climate? ;

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Dot Earth Blog: A Nuclear Submariner Challenges a Pro-Nuclear Film

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Dot Earth Blog: Is the Internet Good for the Climate?

by Myrna Posted on August 15, 2013

An exploration of the role of the Web in fostering, or impeding, public engagement on global warming. More here: Dot Earth Blog: Is the Internet Good for the Climate? ; ;Related ArticlesIs the Internet Good for the Climate?Oil Reforms by Mexico May Upend MarketsThe Passive House: Sealed for Freshness ;

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Dot Earth Blog: Is the Internet Good for the Climate?

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Is the Internet Good for the Climate?

by Myrna Posted on August 15, 2013

An exploration of the role of the Web in fostering, or impeding, public engagement on global warming. Continued:   Is the Internet Good for the Climate? ; ;Related ArticlesDot Earth Blog: Is the Internet Good for the Climate?From the Fire Hose: Arctic Methane, Scientists as Advocates, Vanishing VaquitaDot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging Efforts ;

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Is the Internet Good for the Climate?

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Crops can be made self-fertilizing with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, making artificial fertilizer unnecessary

by Billy Zane Posted on August 14, 2013

green4us

Inside of a Dog – Alexandra Horowitz

The bestselling book that asks what dogs know and how they think, now in paperback. The answers will surprise and delight you as Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist, explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human. Horowitz introduces the reader to dogs’ perceptual and cognitive abilities and then draw […]

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Black Legion – A Codex: Chaos Space Marines Supplement – Games Workshop

The Black Legion are among the most hated foes of the Imperium, vile traitors and fearsome warriors responsible for ten thousand years of terror and murder. About this Book: This Codex: Chaos Space Marines Supplement charts the history of the Legion, along with their Warmaster Abaddon, who stands poised to lead them to victory over the Imperium. Also inside […]

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Index Astartes: Death Company – Games Workshop

When a Blood Angel Space Marine succumbs to the Black Rage, tormented by the memories of his murdered Primarch, he joins the Death Company. In battle the Death Company are sent against the deadliest foes so they might find absolution and glory in death. About this Series: The Adeptus Astartes are genetically engineered warriors, created by the Emperor […]

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Munitorum: Chainswords – Games Workshop

Vicious close combat weapons, chainswords employ sawing blades of adamantium teeth that literally crew through flesh and bone with equal ease. In the hands of a skilled warrior these weapons can easily lop off limbs and heads in a spray of torn meat. About this series Weapons are the tools of war and with them soldiers ply their bloody trade on countless wor […]

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Dogtripping – David Rosenfelt

David Rosenfelt’s Dogtripping is moving and funny account of a cross-country move from California to Maine, and the beginnings of a dog rescue foundation When mystery writer David Rosenfelt and his family moved from Southern California to Maine, he thought he had prepared for everything. They had mapped the route, brought three […]

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Warlords of the Dark Millennium: Belial – Games Workshop

Belial Belial is the Grand Master of the Deathwing and bearer of the sacred Sword of Silence. A masterful tactician and fearsome warrior, Belial has won countless victories and honours for the Dark Angels, earning the enduring respect and admiration of his peers. As leader of the Chapter’s 1st Company he is always where the fighting is at its thickest, leadi […]

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Merle’s Door – Ted Kerasote

Now including a wonderful new photo insert chronicling Merle’s life, this national bestseller explores the relationship between humans and dogs. How would dogs live if they were free? Would they stay with their human friends? Merle and Ted found each other in the Utah desert— Merle was living wild and Ted was looking for a pup to keep him company. As their b […]

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How to Raise the Perfect Dog – Cesar Millan & Melissa Jo Peltier

From the bestselling author and star of National Geographic Channel’s Dog Whisperer , the only resource you’ll need for raising a happy, healthy dog. For the millions of people every year who consider bringing a puppy into their lives–as well as those who have already brought a dog home–Cesar Millan, the preeminent dog behavior expert, says, “Yes, […]

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Paracord Fusion Ties – Volume 1 – J.D. Lenzen

J.D. Lenzen is the creator of the highly acclaimed YouTube channel “Tying It All Together”, and the producer of over 200 instructional videos. He’s been formally recognized by the International Guild of Knot Tyers (IGKT) for his contributions to knotting, and is the originator of fusion knotting-innovative knots created through the merging of […]

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The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) – Monks of New Skete

For more than thirty years the Monks of New Skete have been among America’s most trusted authorities on dog training, canine behavior, and the animal/human bond. In their two now-classic bestsellers, How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, the Monks draw on their experience as long-time breeders of German shepherds and as t […]

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Crops can be made self-fertilizing with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, making artificial fertilizer unnecessary

Posted in alo, aquaponics, Citadel, eco-friendly, FF, G & F, GE, LAI, LG, Monterey, Naka, ONA, Oster, solar, solar power, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Crops can be made self-fertilizing with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, making artificial fertilizer unnecessary

Climate-denier politicians under attack by new ad campaign

by Isaiah McKenna Posted on August 12, 2013

Climate-denier politicians under attack by new ad campaign

By John Upton

ronjohnson.senate.gov

Sen. Ron Johnson will be the target of a new ad from LCV.

Here comes more bad PR for climate change–denying politicians.

Barack Obama’s advocacy group, Organizing for Action, began trying to embarrass denier Republicans earlier this year. Now the League of Conservation Voters is piling on, spending nearly $2 million on TV advertisements aimed at four GOP flat earthers.

Ads unveiled Monday ridicule the voting records and anti-scientific statements of Reps. Dan Benishek (Mich.), Mike Coffman (Colo.), and Rodney Davis (Ill.), and a fourth ad will soon target Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.). From a League of Conservation Voters press release:

This ad campaign follows the release of bipartisan polling [PDF] by LCV showing that young voters across the country are particularly concerned about climate change and support federal action to address it. A solid majority in the poll said they are willing to hold accountable those who ignore the problem, going so far as to describe climate change deniers as “ignorant” and “out-of-touch.”

The Hill points out that LCV has run a similar campaign before:

Last election cycle, the group launched a $1.5 million effort to defeat what they called the “Flat Earth Five,” five lawmakers who were skeptical of climate change science. All but one were defeated.

The new ad targeting Davis quotes him saying “global warming stopped” 16 years ago:

In the Benishek ad, the rep is quoted describing climate change as “baloney”:

And the ad targeting Coffman likens him to an ostrich:

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.

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Climate-denier politicians under attack by new ad campaign

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Can an ice wall stop Fukushima radiation from leaking into the sea?

by Florencepb7 Posted on August 9, 2013

Can an ice wall stop Fukushima radiation from leaking into the sea?

By Lisa Hymas

Shutterstock

The Fukushima ice wall would not look anything like this.

It’s been almost two and a half years since the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant and the place is still a huge, scary mess.

Here’s how The New York Times introduced this week’s grim news from the plant:

First, a rat gnawed through exposed wiring, setting off a scramble to end yet another blackout of vital cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Then, hastily built pits for a flood of contaminated water sprang leaks themselves. Now, a new rush of radioactive water has breached a barrier built to stop it, allowing heavily contaminated water to spill daily into the Pacific.

It turns out that radioactive water has been spilling into the sea almost since the initial disaster, at a rate of 75,000 gallons, or 300 tons, a day.

So now Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, which owns the plant, has a plan to build an underground wall of frozen earth to stop the radioactive water leakage. NPR explains:

[T]o understand, you need to know the geography of Fukushima. There are three melted down reactors, and they’re all right on the coast. To the west, you have mountains. To the east, you have ocean. And so what’s happening is groundwater flows downhill. It flows down through the ruins of the plant and then flows out to the sea. …

So now, TEPCO has proposed literally creating a wall of ice around the plant. And what they’re talking about is not a wall above ground, but freezing the ground around the plant to stop water from flowing in. …

So the basic idea is that they run piping into the ground and they put coolant in the piping and that freezes the earth around the pipes, and it all sort of gradually forms together into a wall. This is something that civil engineers see sometimes, but it’s not that common. And certainly, the way they’re talking about using it in Fukushima is unprecedented. This wall will be nearly a mile around according to TEPCO. It would require more than 2 million cubic feet of soil to be frozen. But if it worked, then it may be the only way to keep water from flowing into the plant and contaminated water from flowing out.

The New York Times points out another challenge: “the wall will need to be consistently cooled using electricity at a plant vulnerable to power failures. The original disaster was brought on by an earthquake and tsunami that knocked out electricity.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, fed up with continued ineptitude and deception from TEPCO, said this week that his government will get involved in the cleanup. It’s not clear what that involvement will look like, but it may include helping to fund the frozen wall — no small thing, as it’s expected to cost between $300 million and $400 million.

Lisa Hymas is senior editor at Grist. You can follow her on Twitter and Google+.

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Can an ice wall stop Fukushima radiation from leaking into the sea?

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Dot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging Efforts

by Myrna Posted on August 5, 2013

My Dot Earth efforts make Time’s list of 25 top bloggers for 2013. Link:  Dot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging Efforts ; ;Related ArticlesClimate Study Predicts a Watery Future for New York, Boston and MiamiGlobal Warming Could Cause 50 Percent Increase in Violent ConflictDot Earth Blog: With Arrests, Signs of Justice in Slaying of Costa Rican Turtle Guardian ;

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Dot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging Efforts

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Dot Earth Blog: Dot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging Efforts

by Myrna Posted on August 5, 2013

My Dot Earth efforts make Time’s list of 25 top bloggers for 2013. Link to article:   Dot Earth Blog: Dot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging Efforts ; ;Related ArticlesDot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging EffortsDot Earth Blog: With Arrests, Signs of Justice in Slaying of Costa Rican Turtle GuardianSquare Feet: Worker Bees on a Rooftop, Ignoring Urban Pleasures ;

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Dot Earth Blog: Dot Earth Makes Time Magazine’s List of 25 Top Blogging Efforts

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Dot Earth Blog: With Arrests, Signs of Justice in Slaying of Costa Rican Turtle Guardian

by Myrna Posted on August 2, 2013

Eight arrests are made two months after the brutal murder of a young sea turtle guardian in Costa Rica. This article: Dot Earth Blog: With Arrests, Signs of Justice in Slaying of Costa Rican Turtle Guardian ; ;Related ArticlesWith Arrests, Signs of Justice in Slaying of Costa Rican Turtle GuardianOp-Ed Contributors: A Republican Case for Climate ActionDot Earth Blog: Two Climate Analysts Fault Gas Leaks, but Not as a Big Warming Threat ;

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Dot Earth Blog: With Arrests, Signs of Justice in Slaying of Costa Rican Turtle Guardian

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Should we turn deserts into carbon-sucking tree plantations?

by nortom23 Posted on August 1, 2013

Should we turn deserts into carbon-sucking tree plantations?

By John Upton

ACICAFOC

A Barbados nut plantation.

To fight climate change, some scientists think we should vegetate the hell out of deserts. The latest such idea calls for large plantations of a hardy species of Central American tree to be planted in near-coastal desert areas and irrigated with desalinated water.

While forests soak up carbon dioxide, deserts do comparatively little to help with climate change. So should these seas of sand be planted and watered out of existence in a bid to reduce CO2 levels?

Some say yes. The approach would be like geoengineering, but rooted in a more natural system. Scientists call it bioengineering or carbon farming.

The idea of replacing deserts with forests to help the climate is not brand new. A few years ago, for example, scientists proposed planting eucalyptus trees through the Saharan and Australian deserts to help absorb carbon dioxide.

The latest suggested approach, which would involve the planting of vast orchards of Barbados nut trees, technically known as Jatropha curcas trees, was proposed Wednesday by a group of German researchers in the journal Earth System Dynamics. They say vegetating the world’s near-coastal deserts with this species, which can withstand harsh growing conditions, could provide an alternative to mechanical carbon-sequestration techniques.

The researchers crunched some numbers and determined that the carbon-farming costs would be competitive over 20 years with carbon capture and storage, an embryonic technology in which a power plant’s carbon emissions are captured and funneled underground. Carbon farming could be funded by governments through carbon taxes and through the sale of carbon allowances.

“Suitably deployed, these plants could transform unused, barren lands into long-term carbon sinks,” they write in the paper. “The carbon efficiency of this bio-ecosystem would compare favourably with all other existing processes for carbon storage and sequestration, including the cultivation of bio fuels.”

Not only would the trees soak up CO2 and deposit some of it into the soil, but their growth could influence rainfall patterns, soil quality, and regional climates, paving the way for the natural growth of other plants.

Jatropha curcas can withstand conditions that would make most plants wither, but they’re not magical. They still need water. The scientists propose desalinating water from the sea to irrigate the orchards. This is an expensive and energy-intensive way of obtaining fresh water, but the scientists incorporated that into their cost estimates.

Oil from the trees is already used extensively for biofuel, and the scientists say that after an orchard had been growing for a few years it would produce nuts and leaves that could be burned to provide some of the power needed for desalination.

The idea seems worthy of further investigation — although it wouldn’t be much good for the tortoises and other wildlife that revel in the world’s deserts.

Here’s a graphic from the paper that helps explain the proposal:

Earth System DynamicsClick to embiggen.

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.

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Should we turn deserts into carbon-sucking tree plantations?

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