Hawai’i land impacted by sea level rise may be double previous estimates
By including models of dynamical physical processes such as erosion and wave run-up, a team of researchers has determined that land area in Hawai’i vulnerable to future sea level rise may be double previous estimates.
PCB pollution threatens to wipe out killer whales
More than 40 years after the first initiatives were taken to ban the use of PCBs, the chemical pollutants remain a deadly threat to animals at the top of the food chain. A new study shows that the current concentrations of PCBs can lead to the disappearance of half of the world’s populations of killer whales from the most heavily contaminated areas within a period of just 30-50 years.
Tsunami sweeps away homes as power earthquakes rock Indonesia
Powerful earthquakes jolted the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday and a triggered a tsunami that an official said swept away houses. Indonesia had declared a tsunami warning after the strongest quake, which registered magnitude 7.5, but lifted it about half an hour later
“A Never-Ending Commitment”: The High Cost of Preserving Vulnerable Beaches
In the wake of hurricanes like Florence, the U.S. government pays to dump truckloads of sand onto eroding beaches, in a cycle that is said to harm ecosystems and disproportionately benefit the rich.
Wash your hands if you touch the ocean in NC – and forget swimming, experts warn
Waters off much of the North Carolina coast are no longer safe for swimming or even wading due to Hurricane Florence runoff, according to a warning posted by the North Carolina Coastal Federation.
Tropical Storm Kirk brings threat of dangerous flooding to Caribbean
Tropical Storm Kirk dropped heavy rain that could bring dangerous flooding to the eastern Caribbean. The hurricane center said that up to 10 inches of rain could fall in parts of Dominica and Martinique. Forecasters said mudslides and flash flooding are possible.
Inventory of Municipal Wastewater Discharges to California Coastal Waters
417 billion gallons of treated municipal wastewater were discharged from treatment plants at fifty-seven locations directly into California coastal waters. Engineering feasibility and financial considerations will be significant factors in determining the viability of using existing coastal wastewater discharges for increasing recycled water production.
Microplastics found deep in sand where turtles nest
Scientists found an average of 5,300 particles of plastic per cubic metre at depths of 60cm (2ft) on beaches in Cyprus used by green turtles and loggerheads. These beaches in Cyprus are located far from industrial practices and aren’t visited by large numbers of people. The findings support the theory that beaches act as a “sink” for marine micro plastics.
Back from the brink: the global effort to save coral from climate change
Underwater nurseries offer glimmer of hope for endangered ecosystems, encouraging growth of coral fragments on fibreglass structures anchored to the seabed.