US West Coast Erosion Spiked In Winter 2009-10, Previewing Likely Future As Climate Changes
Knowing that the U.S. west coast was battered during the winter before last by a climatic pattern expected more often in the future, scientists have now pieced together a San Diego-to-Seattle assessment of the damage wrought by that winter’s extreme waves and higher-than-usual water levels.
Japan Quake Makes 2011 Costliest Disaster Year
Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in March caused losses of 210 billion euros and 15,500 people perished, making it the costliest natural catastrophe on record.
China’s Northeast Coast: A Second Oil Spill
China National Offshore Oil Corporation, recently accused of covering up a huge spill, is cleaning up another slick after a breakdown at a rig off China’s northeast coast.
Shifting Sands and Rising Seas
“In a time of rising seas, it is senseless and dangerous to build on barrier islands.” World-renowned coastal geologist Orrin H. Pilkey and artist Mary Edna Fraser, an internationally recognized master of the textile art of batik, bring an understanding of coastal geology and global change to the public in a way that is scientifically astute and visually intriguing. By Celie Daily and Orrin Pilkey.
Lilly and Minot Visit the New Orleans Oil Spill
In this witty and charming book, which provide a whimsical look at the environment, Lilly and Minot travel to New Orleans to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of New Mexico. A children’s book from the ” Lilly and Minot” series authored by Willian Sargent, illustrated by Julia Purinton, published by Strawberry Hill Press.
Olympia Hypothesis: Tsunamis Buried the Cult Site On the Peloponnese
Olympia, site of the famous Temple of Zeus and original venue of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, was presumably destroyed by repeated tsunamis that travelled considerable distances inland, new study finds.
Death by Plastic: Is Ocean Plastic Garbage Killing Whales?
From the coasts of California to Adriatic, Tasmania or Normandy, millions of tonnes of plastic debris dumped each year in the world’s oceans, could pose a lethal threat to whales, according to a scientific assessment to be presented at the International Whaling Commission this week. Ingestion of plastic refuse is emerging as a serious cause of disability and death for the large ocean-dwelling mammals.
Japan Says Nuclear Plant Clean-Up Will Take Several Decades
Japan’s prime minister said on Saturday the decommissioning of the tsunami crippled Fukushima nuclear plant would take several decades.
Energy-Short Japan Eyes Renewable Future
In the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, power shortages have forced one of the world’s most energy-efficient countries to make do with even less.The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report this week that tsunami-torn Japan “is in the midst of perhaps one of the most severe electricity shortfalls in history.”