Reuters / Black carbon, the soot produced by burning fossil fuels and biomass, is a more potent atmospheric pollutant than previously thought, according to a new study. Emitted by diesel engines, brick kilns and wood-fired cookstoves, black carbon is second only to carbon dioxide as the most powerful climate pollutant, according to the study published
Black carbon a worse pollutant than feared
Impact of climate change hitting home, U.S. report finds
Reuters / The consequences of climate change are now hitting the United States on several fronts, including health, infrastructure, water supply, agriculture and especially more frequent severe weather, a congressionally mandated study has concluded. A draft of the U.S. National Climate Assessment, released Jan. 11, said observable change to the climate in the past half-century
U.S. winter likely to continue hot weather trend
After a hot spring and a scorching summer, this winter is likely to continue a U.S. warming trend that could make 2012 the hottest year since modern record-keeping began, U.S. weather experts said Oct. 18. Drought that ravaged much of the United States this year may spread in the coming months, said Mike Halpert at
U.S. winter likely to continue hot weather trend
After a hot spring and a scorching summer, this winter is likely to continue a U.S. warming trend that could make 2012 the hottest year since modern record-keeping began, U.S. weather experts said Oct. 18. Drought that ravaged much of the United States this year may spread in the coming months, said Mike Halpert at
Climate Change Likely To Spur Water Scarcity
Like oil in the 20th century, water could be the essential commodity on which the 21st century will turn. With seven billion people on the planet as of Oct. 31, water use is exponentially expanding as urbanization and development drive demand like never before more than twice the rate of population increase in the last
Climate Change To Hit American West
Climate change could cut water flow in some of the American West’s biggest river basins – including the Rio Grande and the Colorado – by up to 20 per cent this century, the Interior Department reported April 25. This steep drop in stream flow is projected for parts of the U.S. West that have seen
Canada Might Be Spared Increased Drought
Some of the world’s most populous areas – southern Europe, northern Africa, the western U. S. and much of Latin America – could face severe, even unprecedented drought by 2100, researchers said Oct. 19. Increasing drought has long been forecast as a consequence of climate change, but a new study from the U. S. National
One-third of world fish catch used for animal feed
“Does it make sense to take three to five pounds of perfectly good food and convert it into only one pound of food?” – Ellen Pikitch, Institute for Ocean Conservation Science One-third of the world’s ocean fish catch is ground up for animal feed, a potential problem for marine ecosystems and a waste of a
New bacteria could make cheaper ethanol
Genetically engineered bacteria could make cellulosic ethanol cheaper to manufacture, researchers reported Sept. 8, in a finding that may unlock more energy from the waste products of farming and forestry. Ethanol from cellulose, the kind of sugar in the likes of cornstalks and sawdust, is being promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels,
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
