Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Alaskan rivers turning orange due to climate change, study finds

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:22:48 +0000

As frozen ground below the surface melts, exposed minerals such as iron are giving streams a rusty color that pose a risk to wildlife

Dozens of rivers and streams in Alaska are turning rusty orange, a likely consequence of thawing permafrost, a new study finds.

The Arctic is the fastest-warming region in the globe, and as the frozen ground below the surface melts, minerals once locked away in that soil are now seeping into waterways.

Young Alaskans sue state over fossil fuel project they claim violates their rights

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 18:02:01 +0000

Plaintiffs claim $38.7bn gas export project, which would triple state’s greenhouse gas emissions, infringes constitutional rights

Eight young people are suing the government of Alaska – the nation’s fastest-warming state – claiming a major new fossil fuel project violates their state constitutional rights.

Investigate fossil fuel industry, top Democrats urge justice department

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 16:50:44 +0000

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Jamie Raskin highlight decades-long efforts to sow doubts about climate crisis

Democrats from two powerful committees are urging Joe Biden’s justice department to investigate the fossil fuel industry over its decades-long attempts to sow doubt about the climate crisis.

The claim of a $600bn carbon capture windfall for Australia is based on heroic assumptions and selective analysis | Temperature Check

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:00:51 +0000

Projections of the size and scale of a future CCS industry should come with heavy doses of scepticism

Displaced by climate disasters, ageing Americans struggle to find housing

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:00:45 +0000

Older adults face a shortage of affordable and accessible homes as climate change worsens

From their hillside home above Barre, Vermont, Doug and Rhoda Mason thought they were safe. It was 11 July 2023, and record rains were flooding their small city.

Then, just before 5am, a landslide crashed into the Masons’ house. The mud hit with such force it pushed the structure 10ft off its foundation.

Chris Grayling named top green MP by Conservative Environment Network

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 12:52:01 +0000

MP, not renowned for action on environment, chosen for efforts to tackle global deforestation and restore UK’s wildlife habitats

To the surprise of many, the Conservative Environment Network named their favourite MP as … Chris Grayling.

Despite not being renowned for his action on the environment, the former Cabinet minister was chosen as parliamentarian of the year by the network, which said it was honouring his efforts to tackle deforestation internationally and restore the UK’s vital wildlife habitats.

I went a week without ultra-processed foods. Here’s what I learned

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 12:00:03 +0000

As I report more, I’ve stopped thinking of UPFs as food at all – and I suspect corporations don’t care how their products affect consumers

‘Horrifying. Gross’: mosquitoes bug Houston after recent storms

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 10:00:37 +0000

Humid climate makes Texas city attractive to the insects, but with rainfall and major flooding, residents are forced indoors

Amid the severe weather that has battered parts of the country in recent weeks, particularly the US south, the city of Houston in Texas can add one more thing to their worries: mosquitos.

Houston’s usually humid climate already makes it attractive to mosquitos, but the additional rainfall and major flooding it is seeing makes it an ideal habitat for the bothersome insects.

Borrowdale rainforest in Lake District declared national nature reserve

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 09:30:51 +0000

Five nature reserves will be created each year for next five years to celebrate coronation of King Charles

A temperate rainforest in the Lake District has been declared a national nature reserve in a move that will protect the rare ancient habitat for future generations.

The Borrowdale rainforest is one of the few surviving examples of a “mysterious and untouched” landscape that covers less than 1% of the UK.

Flooding and travel disruption likely with heavy rain across UK

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 05:59:12 +0000

Met Office issues amber warning for next few days, with persistent rain across much of the country

‘Never-ending’ UK rain made 10 times more likely by climate crisis, study says

Heavy rain could bring flooding and travel disruption across much of the UK on Wednesday and Thursday with an amber warning issued for part of the country.