Investment risks, turbine noise, and when scientists get sued
Climate and energy news
Turbine noise can be heard from just 3% ofwindfarms, report finds
According to a wind industry report, only 3% of UK windfarms produce a low-pitched noise that can be heard a kilometreaway. The problem should be easily solved by adjusting the softwarerunning turbines, the report suggests. Noise is a popular complaintmade about wind turbines.
EPA reels as climate-change expert awaitssentencing for $1m CIA fraud
A highly paid climate-change expert at the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency pretended to be an undercover CIA agent for morethan a decade, defrauding the EPA of more than a million dollars inthe process. On one occasion he didn’t turn up for work for 18months.
Climate change is causing Earth’s poles to DRIFT,claim scientists
Melting ice sheets in the Arctic have caused changes in theplanet’s mass, leading to shifts in the location of the Earth’sNorth Pole, new research suggests. The Pole has moved by 1.2 metresin the past eight years.
Esa’s Cryosat sees Arctic sea-ice volume bounceback
Year-to-year variation in Arctic sea ice means that thisyear the volume of remaining ice has gone up, according tosatellite data. But scientists caution that the level of sea ice isstill low, and the ice is still in long-term decline, with summersfree of sea ice expected some time this century.
Wind energy costs four times more in UK thanBrazil
Thinktank Policy Exchange argues that the UK could cut thecost of renewable subsidies by allocating them more efficientlyusing an auction system. It also suggests the UK should abolish atarget which requires the UK to meet a certain amount of renewableenergy production.
Climate and energy comment
Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s rooftop solargrowth hint at U.S. battle
A new law in Hawaii can make homeowners with solar panels ontheir roof partially responsible for meeting the cost of upgradingelectricity grids to deal with the new capacity. “What’s happeningin Hawaii is a sign of battles to come… how to foster the growthof rooftop solar power while easing the concerns of regulatedutilities that see its rise as a threat.”
When Scientists Get Sued
Yale Forum on Climate Change & TheMedia
“A panel of climate researchers spoke at the AGU meeting onthe legal attacks they have faced for doing their jobs – beingsued, harassed, and the subject of Freedom of Information Actrequests they say are fishing expeditions looking to manufacturecontroversy.” Young researchers should expect such attacks, theywarned, and be prepared.
Reddit’s science forum banned climate deniers. Whydon’t all newspapers do the same?
Social network Reddit’s science section took a decision tomoderate out comments from aggressive climate contrarians. Itworked well, and the quality of debate improved: “We discoveredthat the disruptive faction that bombarded climate change posts wasactually substantially smaller than it had seemed. Just a smallhandful of people ran all of the most offensiveaccounts.”
Power Crazed
Coal power poses serious health risks, next to which theoften-cited health risks from nuclear power look tiny bycomparison, argues George Monbiot. Risks from coal power deserveour attention, he argues, and focusing on nuclear may be adisplacement activity.
Remember the ‘war on coal’? Coal is losing – butonly in the U.S.
A look at coal power in the US and globally. In the US, coaluse is shrinking rapidly – there are some statistics from theSierra Club in comments to this piece which underline that. Butglobally, demand for energy means coal demand is growing.Increasingly the US coal market will be about exports, the piecesuggests.
New climate science
Future Arctic Climate Changes: Adaptation andMitigation Timescales
If emissions stay high, Arctic temperatures in late Autumn couldrise 13 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, according tomodel projections. Even with a mitigation strategy, the figurecould still be as high as seven degrees Celsius, sayresearchers.
Sea level rise and its coastalimpacts
A fresh look at the most up to date knowledge about sea levelrise, it’s causes and future impacts in differentlocations.
Oceans Storing More Carbon than PreviouslyThought
Oceans store carbon, but different parts of the oceans store it indifferent ways. The Arctic Ocean has become a bigger carbon storeas sea ice has melted, and coastal waters are now storing morecarbon than they emit.