Ice and rivers
News
Water goes ‘missing’ with snowloss
A new study finds that if temperatures rise and moreprecipitation falls as rain rather than snow, it will reduce thetotal amount of water in rivers. This is what scientists discoveredwhen they examined the histories of 420 catchment basins in the USspanning the period 1948-2001. The researchers report their work inthe journal Nature Climate Change.
Climate and energy news:
Is Greenland’s ice sheet more dangerous than firstthought?
Sea levels could rise far more rapidly than expected becausecanyons under Greenland’s ocean-feeding glaciers are deeper andlonger than previously thought. This was the warning issued by Nasaafter researchers in California created the most detailed map todate of Greenland’s vast canyon network hiding beneath its icesheets. Their map revealed new valleys that sink below sea level,which can make glaciers more susceptible to melting, according tothe study.
MPs: ‘Lost decade’ means UK must now fast-trackcarbon-capture projects
MPs want the future of two carbon capture and storage (CCS)demonstration projects to be determined before next year’selection, after bemoaning a “lost decade” that threatens to derailthe creation of a multibillion-pound industry vital to tacklingclimate change. The latest report by the Energy and Climate ChangeCommittee of MPs criticises the “extraordinarily slow” progress ofthe technology in the UK and around the globe that has seen just ahandful of projects in operation worldwide and only 21 currentlyunder construction. The BBCpicks up on the report’ssuggestion that old oil and gas fields be used to store the carbondioxide captured in the process.
Food groups under fire from Oxfam over carbonemissions
The world’s 10 biggest food companies emit more greenhousegases than the whole of Scandinavia but are failing to tackle therisks of climate change adequately, according to Oxfam. While foodgroups have attempted to cut their carbon emissions, they havefailed to take supply chain emissions into account, the charitysays. The Independentleads on the charity’sfinding that food prices are likely to be the next casualty ofclimate change.
‘Climategate’ had only fleeting effect on globalwarming scepticism
Oxford University analysis of Google Trends suggests impactof climate scientists’ email leak in 2009 was short-lived. Mediastorms attacking the science of climate change have only a fleetingeffect on the public’s interest and do not appear to alteropinions, according to new research.
Study: UK cities becoming mosquito-friendlyhabitats
Changes to UK urban areas provide habitats for mosquitoes,including species known to spread malaria and West Nile virus, astudy in the journal Plos One suggests. Warmer ambient temperaturesand more water containers in gardens are bringing mosquitoes intocloser contact with people, say scientists.
Climate and energy comment:
Tories’ scepticism about climate change meltsafter winter floods – in theirconstituencies
Senior Tories have shed their scepticism about climatechange after winter floods wreaked havoc on rural constituenciesand scientists debunked key sceptic arguments, according to JohnGummer, the government’s top independent climate advisor. In aninterview with The Independent, Mr Gummer – life peer Lord Deben -acknowledged that the rise of the climate-sceptic UK IndependenceParty meant environmentalists might have to “fight more” for greencauses in future. Tom Bawden,Independent
New climate science:
Public interest in climate change over the pastdecade and the effects of the ‘climategate’ mediaevent
A new paper explores concern that the hacking of theUniversity of East Anglia emails and controversy over Himalayanglacier melt rates in the 2007 IPCC report altered public opinionof climate change. Results indicate while such media events arevisible in the short-term, on longer time-scales they have littleeffect on the use of internet search terms indicatingskepticism.
Winter climate limits subantarctic low forestgrowth and establishment
Warm winter days confuse plants into thinking they shouldstart growing, a new study finds. If temperatures bounce above andbelow what plants need to stay dormant, the plants start drawing ontheir resources, which means there’s less left when spring comesaround. This contradicts the idea that warmer winters increase treeand shrub growth by extending growing seasons, say theresearchers.