Pacific Islands May Become Refuge for Corals in a Warming Climate, Study Finds
Scientists have predicted that ocean temperatures will rise in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems. But a new study shows that climate change could cause ocean currents to operate in a surprising way…
Pollution for the Sake of Economic Growth
Rapid economic growth will continue to be energy-intensive and highly polluting for the foreseeable future, adding to environmental harm on a global scale and having a tremendous impact on ecological systems, according to a study that looked at a decade’s worth of data from 30 Chinese provinces to build a comprehensive model of pollution.
Antarctic Ice Melting From Warm Water Below
Most glacial ice melting occurs below the sea surface and in regions where ice shelves and icebergs are concentrated, as along the Antarctic coastline. That suggests that future sea levels could rise faster than many scientists have been predicting.
Wind Pushes Plastics Deeper Into Oceans, Driving Trash Estimates Up
After taking samples of water at a depth of 16 feet (5 meters), a researcher at the University of Washington, discovered that wind was pushing plastic particles below the surface. That meant that decades of research into how much plastic litters the ocean, conducted by skimming only the surface, may vastly underestimate the true amount of plastic debris in the oceans.
Whale Found Dead in Washington, Had Swallowed Marine Debris
A gray whale found dead in Washington state’s Puget Sound had been feeding on shrimp and also had some debris, including pieces of rope and plastic, golf ball and some flat spongy material found in its stomach NOAA Fisheries said.
Former Sand Mining Site Being Considered for up to 2000 Homes, New South Wales
The Kurnell sand dune system is estimated to be about 15,000 years old, and sand mining on the Kurnell peninsula has depleted the area of much of the sand that was originally there. A former mining site, is now considered for housing up to 2000 homes.. a disaster in waiting environmentalists said.
Oil spilled in Russian Arctic
An oil spill in the Russian Arctic at the Trebs field, affected an area of up to 8,000 square meters after workers tried to open an old well, causing oil to gush uncontrollably for 37 hours, spurting out up to 500 tonnes of oil per day.
China, Iceland Announce Deal on Oil-Rich Arctic
China and Iceland announced a deal on the oil-rich Arctic region Friday after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao flew in to Reykjavik on the first stage of a four-nation European tour…
Newspaper Editor Charged For Sand Mining
A Grenadian Newspaper editor, who has used his newspaper to expose what he sees as corruption in Grenada, has been arrested and charged for illegally extracting sand from the beaches…