Documentary ‘Sand Wars’ Highlights Local, Global Sand Crises
The environmental documentary ‘Sand Wars’ was shown at The Center for Ocean Health in Santa Cruz on Thursday, preceded by a presentation by UCSC professor Gary Griggs. As Gary Griggs and “Sand Wars” demonstrate, sand has become a valuable resource worldwide due in large part to continuous construction.
Tracing The Coastline
With each wave that breaks and washes ashore as well as with every gust of wind, the coast is altered. Sometimes the change is dramatic, but more often, the change is too small to be seen right away and it only becomes clear over time.
There’s No Such Thing As a Spill-Proof Way to Transport Oil
To a historian of pipelines, last month’s Santa Barbara oil spill is a reminder that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Since their first introduction in the late 19th century, pipelines have leaked regularly and ruptured occasionally.
Suspended Sediment Makes it Harder for Fish to Breathe
Researchers have discovered that suspended sediment damages fish gills and can increase the rate of disease in fish. Suspended sediments result from flood plumes, coastal agricultural and industrial development and from dredging operations and are increasing in coastal waters worldwide.
At the Intersection of Coastal Peru and a Cloud Bank
In the winter, the coast of Peru is a very cloudy place. In this part of the Pacific Ocean, the Humboldt Current provokes coastal upwelling; that is, cooler water from the ocean depths are pulled up to the surface.
Erosion and the Disappearance of Senegal’s coast
At their recent summit in Germany, G7 leaders agreed to limit global warming to 2°C, but along Senegal’s coast, the consequences of climate change are already tangible. The coastline is suffering severe land loss due to erosion.
Accelerated Warming of the Continental Shelf Off Northeast Coast
A couple of unexplained large scale changes in the waters off the northeast coast of the U.S. have oceanographers perplexed: an accelerated rate of sea level rise compared to most other parts of the world; and the disturbing signs of collapsing fisheries in the region.
Former Liberia Minister Ponders Lawsuit Over Buchanan Ongoing Beach Sand Mining
The ongoing beach sand mining in Buchanan communities seem to be undermining government’s and her partners collective efforts to prevent reoccurrence of the devastation of sea erosion in Buchanan City. “On a daily basis, trucks are seen hauling sand from the beach… this is scary and environmentally dangerous.”
Turning to the Ocean to Help Unravel the Mysteries of Cloud Formation
To understand the Earth’s climate, scientists must consider and measure both human-made environmental pollutants and naturally occurring processes that influence how much energy the planet absorbs from the sun or radiates back into space. One naturally occurring process that plays a big role in this delicate balance is the formation of clouds.