1 in 10 U.S. Beaches Fails Bacteria Test In Survey
Swimmers, take heed: Ten percent of water samples taken from U.S. coastal and lake beaches fail to meet safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a new report finds.
East Riding Coastal Erosion, In Pictures
The coast of East Riding of Yorkshire, UK, is eroding at the fastest rate in Europe. Erosion rates of up to 3.5 metres a year threatens property and roads.
Liberia’s Poor and the Rising Sea
A report on the threat to the environment in Liberia released by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) states that erosion in this West African country is causing the shoreline to recede in some cities, including Buchanan, Greenville, Harper and Robertsport, and that beach sand mining is also said to be the main contributing factor.
Can Soft Coral Save Our Oceans?
New research has uncovered the protective properties of soft coral tissue, which proved resilient when exposed to declining oceanic pH levels, and may provide a new approach toward preserving the harder, calcified reef foundations.
Study Links Greenland Ice Sheet Collapse, Sea Level Rise 400,000 Years Ago
A new study suggests that a warming period more than 400,000 years ago pushed the Greenland ice sheet past its stability threshold, resulting in a nearly complete deglaciation of southern Greenland and raising global sea levels some 4-6 meters.
Plastic Waste Causes $13 Billion In Annual Damage To Marine Ecosystems, UN
Concern is growing over widespread plastic waste that is threatening marine life – with conservative yearly estimates of $13 billion in financial damage to marine ecosystems, according to two reports issued at the inaugural meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly.
Glaciar San Quintín, Chilé
San Quintín Glacier is situated within Laguna San Rafael National Park and drains west toward the Pacific Ocean.
Understanding the Ocean’s Role in Greenland Glacier Melt
Scientists think that the accelerated rate of ice sheet melt might be due to warmer ocean waters melting on the underside of the ice, where the glaciers extend into the ocean. Little, however, is known about this “submarine melting,” it has not been directly measured at any of Greenland’s major outlet glaciers.
Nigeria Fishermen Reject Shell’s $50 Million
It is the first time Shell has had its environmental record in Nigeria on trial by a British court. The thousands of compensation cases in often corrupt Nigerian courts drag on for years and often end with victims being paid a pittance. Until now, Shell has paid compensation only for spills caused by equipment failure.