We're all aware that loss of coastline means loss of plant life that relies on fresh water. What this article points out is that the mixing of salt and fresh water in tidal areas can make the water so brackish, both at the surface and in the water table, that fresh-water-dependent plants and trees simply … Continue reading Ghost forests being created by invasion of salty ocean water
Tag: environment
A good idea with a bad outcome — spreading human solid waste on agricultural land
Recycling human waste must have struck someone as an environmentally sound thing to do. Unfortunately, after the waste water has been treated and discharged, what's left is downright toxic. The last thing we want to do is add it back our food chain. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/05/biosolids-toxic-chemicals-pollution? Biosolids: mix human waste with toxic chemicals, then spread on crops … Continue reading A good idea with a bad outcome — spreading human solid waste on agricultural land
The machine for cleaning the Plastic Patch in the Pacific is working
Six years ago, a teenager proposed a way of cleaning up the patch of plastic and garbage in the Pacific that's twice the size of Texas. The first couple of prototypes didn't work. But now they have a successful model. Read on. https://www.businessinsider.com/ocean-cleanup-catches-plastic-great-pacific-garbage-patch-2019-10 The massive plastic-cleaning device invented by a 25-year-old is finally catching trash … Continue reading The machine for cleaning the Plastic Patch in the Pacific is working
Farmer’s Almanac predicting cold winter with above-normal precipitation in Northeast
This winter's long-term forecast has been announced for all the United States. Manhattan and the Northeast will have a more normal cold and precipitation-heavy end of January into February. First below is that forecast. Underneath that is the Accuweather forecast for all of the United States https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/accuweathers-2019-2020-us-winter-forecast/592125 Even tho the accuracy of such predictions is … Continue reading Farmer’s Almanac predicting cold winter with above-normal precipitation in Northeast
Another reason to support biological diversity
Between fires, floods, contamination from fossil fuel production, and insensitive development, humans have been working hard at reducing biological diversity. This article demonstrates how we simply can't tell what living animal or plant may be needed in the future. https://www.ecowatch.com/mushrooms-used-for-bioremediation-to-clean-pesticides-from-oregon-wate-1881853729.html? Mushrooms Used for Bioremediation to Clean Pesticides From Oregon Waterways Laura Beans Jan. 23, 2014 … Continue reading Another reason to support biological diversity
Is thinning enough or is absolute minimum better?
I've posted before about baby boomers' discovery that people don't want their "stuff" -- whether they're thinning to downsize or to administer an estate. Ordinarily the younger generation might be happy to take, if not buy, those possessions for the memories and to replicate their parents' and grandparents' home atmosphere. Doesn't happen any more and … Continue reading Is thinning enough or is absolute minimum better?
Oil spills along 1500 kilometers of Brazilian coast unidentified
Whether it's coastal oil spills, broken or exploding pipelines, or spills occurring during extreme weather events, I find it impossible not to immediately note that solar collection and wind farms have never produced such environmental disasters. Even if fossil fuels weren't the major contributor to our climate crisis, the other consequences of producing those fuels … Continue reading Oil spills along 1500 kilometers of Brazilian coast unidentified
We underestimate the amount of microplastics we consume – consider the teabag
Every time we think we have a handle on how much pollution plastic creates, we find out another way in which it's everywhere in our lives. Examples.... https://www.ecowatch.com/delicate-wash-cycle-releases-800000-more-microplastics-than-regular-wash-study-finds-2640633515.html? -- microplastics from using the gentle cycle https://www.newsweek.com/plastic-teabags-contain-billions-microplastics-1460742 -- microplastics from teabags TEABAGS CAN RELEASE BILLIONS OF MICROPLASTICS INTO YOUR DRINK, STUDY FINDS BY KASHMIRA GANDER ON 9/25/19 AT … Continue reading We underestimate the amount of microplastics we consume – consider the teabag
Water wars are already here — here’s are two books about battles close to home
The Colorado River in the United States has been fought over for decades. As the flow of water downstream gets less and less, the users (and there are many) are fighting dirtier and dirtier. There are many sides on the issue but who wins is tending to boil down to who has the money, not … Continue reading Water wars are already here — here’s are two books about battles close to home
Venus might have been our Planet B once
For once, a mystery about a disaster that isn't on this planet. Since we may eventually desperately need either a Planet B or at least a better understanding about how even a barely habitable planet can destroy itself, this is an article worth reading. Do click thru for some beautiful photographs. https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/20/world/venus-habitability-scn/index.html Venus was potentially … Continue reading Venus might have been our Planet B once
Greenland’s ice sheet is changing its behavior in a way that’s speeding up the runoff from melted areas
Greenland's ice sheet has always had a fairly porous texture where melting ice and snow could trickle down into the center of the glacier where it might refreeze. Now much of the surface is forming a hard, smooth layer of firm ice and the melting liquid is able to and does run off the ice … Continue reading Greenland’s ice sheet is changing its behavior in a way that’s speeding up the runoff from melted areas
Earthworms are essential for healthy soil — microplastics may be harming them
It's so easy to focus our attention on the harm plastics cause in the ocean and to ignore the very real, as yet not fully researched, harm being done by plastic waste on land. https://www.ecowatch.com/microplastics-hurt-earthworms-too-2640319867.html? Study Finds Microplastics Stunt Earthworms’ Growth and Could Harm Soil Ecosystems Olivia Rosane Sep. 12, 2019 09:52AM EST Ben Birchall … Continue reading Earthworms are essential for healthy soil — microplastics may be harming them
Abycats' Thoughts 