Biodegradable Plastics Are Not the Answer to Reducing Marine Litter, Says UN
Widespread adoption of products labelled ‘biodegradable’ will not significantly decrease the volume of plastic entering the ocean or the physical and chemical risks that plastics pose to marine environment, concluded a UN report released today.
Brazil Dam Toxic Mud Reaches Atlantic Ocean Via Rio Doce Estuary
A wave of toxic mud travelling down the Rio Doce river in Brazil from a collapsed dam has reached the Atlantic Ocean, amid concerns it will cause severe pollution.
Coastal Erosion is Washing Away Our Archaeological Footprint, LA
As Louisiana coastline is lost through the combined processes of erosion and subsidence, archaeological sites that were once situated on land erode-away with it and end up submerged, damaged or destroyed fully.
337 Whales Beached in Largest Stranding Ever
Scientists made a startling discovery on an observation flight over a remote fjord in southern Chile’s Patagonia: 337 dead whales. That is the biggest single whale stranding event known to science.
Sand Mining in SF Bay Dealt Blow by State Appeals Court
A California appeals court has ruled that sand in the San Francisco Bay must be considered a public trust resource, potentially challenging the practice of mining for sand in the Bay that’s in turn used in construction projects.
New Rules to Ease Sandbag Restrictions, NC
Proposed new rules will make it easier for beachfront land owners to build sandbag walls and leave them in place for longer periods. Members of the state panel directed by the N.C. General Assembly to create the rules expressed fears that the new, looser restrictions could result in hardened beaches along the entire N.C. coast.
Sea Traffic Pollutes Our Lungs More Than Previously Thought
New data show that the air along the coasts is full of hazardous nanoparticles from sea traffic. Almost half of the measured particles stem from sea traffic emissions, while the rest is deemed to be mainly from cars but also industries and natural particles from the sea.
Coastal Construction: How Britain’s Shoreline Changed in 50 Years
Built-up areas have increased by more than 40% along Britain’s coast over five decades,but conservationists have saved almost all seaside landscapes identified as “pristine” 50 years ago, a survey has found.
How Coastal Real Estate Is Being Impacted By Climate Change
Accelerated sea-level rise and growing storm intensity, two widely studied effects of climate change, are giving the oceans a powerful edge in the age-old battle against continental shorelines. The impact is not only environmental, but economical.