Louisiana Rethinks Its Sand Berms

Many faulted the project as pointless, and transforming the rapidly built berms into permanent barrier islands that can withstand the strong storms and tides of coastal Louisiana will be extremely challenging.

BP Oil Well Threatens Ancient Coastal Libyan Sites

Plans by the energy giant BP to sink an oil well off the Libyan coast could have disastrous consequences for the region’s rich heritage of coastal ancient city sites dating from the 7th century BC– already under threat from oil tankers, coastal erosion and tourist developments.

Announcing: TEDx “The Global Plastic Pollution Crisis”

Saturday, November 6, 2010, Plastic Pollution Coalition will host TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch, a one-day event that will bring together global thought leaders from the fields of technology, science, arts and entertainment, design, community activism and business in a dialog on the theme of “The Global Plastic Pollution Crisis”.

Troubled Islands: Hurricanes, Oil Spill and Sea Level Rise

The Chandeleur Islands, are remote, tenuous strips of sand that have served as surf breaks for the steadily sinking Biloxi Marsh. Some islands could disappear entirely in coming decades, exposing huge swaths of marshland to the waves of the open sea.

Warning Systems Often Don’t Help Tsunami Victims

There are questions about whether Indonesia’s system was working properly, but even if it was, a tsunami generated by an earthquake so close to shore can reach land long before there’s a chance to raise an effective warning, experts say. Seaside communities need to learn to read natural signs, such as earthquakes and unnaturally receding seas, and immediately move away from the coast.

L’île Mystérieuse

It isn’t on the map, no one knows what to call it, and it could vanish at any moment.

Tests warned of cement troubles before BP blowout

It’s the first finding from the commission looking into the causes of the oil rig’s explosion. The independent investigators do not address other decisions that could have contributed to the cement’s failure and the eventual blowout.