New Study Confirms Low Levels of Fallout from Fukushima
Fallout from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power facility in Japan was measured in minimal amounts in precipitation in the United States in about 20 percent of 167 sites sampled in a nationwide study released today. A USGS study.
Beach Renourishment Harms Ecosystem
Pumping sand onto the coastline helps maintain wide beaches for tourism and property protection, but some scientists say it also damages a fragile and often overlooked ecosystem for fish and birds.
Conservation Risk Highest Off Coasts of Canada, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand
University of British Columbia researchers have identified conservation “hot spots” around the world where the temptation to profit from overfishing outweighs the appetite for conservation.
Global Permafrost Zones in High-Resolution Images On Google Earth
Thawing permafrost will have far-reaching ramifications for populated areas, infrastructure and ecosystems. A geographer from the University of Zurich reveals where it is important to confront the issue based on new permafrost maps.
Japan Clears up Only 5% of Tsunami Rubble
Japan has cleared up just five percent of the rubble left by last year’s earthquake and tsunami, amid fears it has been contaminated following the Fukushima nuclear accident. The disasters which devastated the northeastern coastal communities last year, left almost 23 million tonnes of rubble in the hardest-hit prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima alone.
Probe Urged on Black Sand Mining
Black sand mining still persists in the Philippines, despite the existence of Batas Pambansa Blg. 265 that prohibits the extraction of gravel and sand and other activities since it erodes the natural beauty of beaches, and resulted to flooding and the occurrence of more waves nearer to the shores.
Scientist Says People Can Either ‘defend’ or Retreat From Rising Seas
Hundreds of millions of people who are living in low-lying coastal areas around the globe have two options when it comes to protecting themselves from rising sea levels, says a British Columbia-based scientist…
Mapping the World’s Forests in Three Dimensions
Trees cool and moisten our air and fill it with oxygen. They calm the winds and shade the land from sunlight. They shelter countless species, anchor the soil, and slow the movement of water. They provide food, fuel, medicines, and building materials for human activity. The coastal Pacific Northwest of the USA has the tallest trees in North America, averaging as much as 40 meters in height. It has the densest biomass in the country, but for centuries, it also has been a much-tapped resource.
Minority Partner to Pay $90 Million Over Oil Spill
A minority partner in BP’s blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico agreed Friday to pay $90 million in a settlement with the federal government and Gulf states over the 2010 oil spill. It includes the largest civil penalty ever recovered under the federal Clean Water Act.