Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (published ahead of print May 16, 2011, doi:10.1073/pnas.1018670108) / by Martin J. Kennedy and Thomas Wagner — open access http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/05/12/1018670108.full.pdf+html [Yale Environment 360] A new study of prehistoric ocean sediments from an era of high carbon dioxide concentrations shows that warm oceans with high CO2 levels and low-ocean … Continue reading »
Posted on May 17, 2011 …
U.S. Flood Disaster Interactive Map
esri http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-response/floods/latest-news-map.html [InfoDocket] This map allows you to view continuously updated U.S. flooding information. You can see observed flooding locations as well as precipitation information. The map also pulls in social media pertaining to flooding. In the Social Media box, you can change the search terms for YouTube, Twitter, and Flickr by hovering over the … Continue reading »
“El petroleo es nuestro”: The Distribution of Oil Revenues in Mexico
Rice University, Baker Institute for Public Policy / by Paul Segal http://bakerinstitute.org/publications/EF-pub-SegalDistribution-04292011.pdf The principle that Mexican oil should benefit Mexicans as opposed to foreigners is clear, but the question of how the benefits of oil are distributed among citizens remains unaddressed.
The Japanese Nuclear Incident: Technical Aspects
Congressional Research Service http://opencrs.com/document/R41728/2011-04-05/?26459 [Summary] Japan’s nuclear incident has engendered much public and congressional concern about the possible impact of radiation on the Japanese public, as well as possible fallout on U.S. citizens. This report provides information on technical aspects of the nuclear incident, with reference to human health. While some radioactive material from the … Continue reading »
Effects of Radiation from Fukushima Daiichi on the U.S. Marine Environment
Congressional Research Service http://opencrs.com/document/R41751/2011-04-05/?26462 [Summary] The massive Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, caused extensive damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power installation in northeastern Japan, resulting in the release of radiation. Concerns have arisen about the potential effects of this released radiation on U.S. marine environment and resources. Both ocean currents and … Continue reading »
Locally Operated Levees: Issues and Federal Programs
Congressional Research Service http://opencrs.com/document/R41752/2011-04-05/?26463 [Summary] Locally operated levees and the federal programs that assist and accredit them are receiving increasing congressional attention. Congressional authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), expires on September 30, 2011. The pending reauthorization has increased congressional awareness of the link between … Continue reading »
Decoupling: Natural Resource Use and Environmental Impacts from Economic Growth
UN Environment Programme http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Publications/Decoupling/tabid/56048/Default.aspx [Yale Environment 360] A new UN report warns that humans could triple the natural resources they consume by 2050 unless economic growth is “decoupled” from current consumption rates. In developed nations, individuals consume an average of 16 tons per capita of minerals, ores, fossil fuels, and biomass each year, and as … Continue reading »
Program of Research on the Economics of Invasive Species Management: Fiscal 2003-2011 Activities
USDA, Economic Research Service / by Craig Osteen and William Hahn http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AP/AP056/#2011-5-16 Under the Program of Research on the Economics of Invasive Species Management (PREISM), ERS conducts intramural research and funds extramural research to support the economic basis of decisionmaking concerning invasive species issues, policies, and programs. The report, Program of Research on the Economics … Continue reading »
Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Maryland’s Vulnerability to Climate Change, Phase II: Building Societal, Economic and Ecological Resilience
State of Maryland, Dept. of Natural Resources http://www.dnr.state.md.us/climatechange/climatechange_phase2_adaptation_strategy.pdf [From a posting by Dan Huber on a Pew Center on Global Climate Change blog] The State of Maryland released a new report earlier this year recommending a course of action to adapt to our changing climate. This report is the latest in a series that began … Continue reading »
Analysis of an Estimate of the Total Costs of Federal Regulations
Congressional Research Service / by Curtis W. Copeland http://www.progressivereform.org/articles/CRS_Crain_and_Crain.pdf [From a Pew Center on Global Climate Change blog posting by Michael Tubman] While Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other air pollutants are on firm political and legal footing, attacks on them continue. Claims have been made that the costs of … Continue reading »
