Rice University, Baker Institute / by Robert M. Stein, Leonardo Dueñas-Osorio, Birnur Buzcu-Guven, Devika Subramanian, David Kahle http://bit.ly/oKqYn8 [Summary] This study shows that people are more sensitive to overall perceived hurricane-related hazards than they are to individual risk types. Emergency managers can use this information to achieve greater compliance to emergency government directives and evacuations.
Posted on August 25, 2011 …
Arctic Environmental Assessment and Outlook Report: In support of the Navy Arctic Roadmap
Oceanographer of the US Navy, Task Force Climate Change http://1.usa.gov/p23eeY [From Press Release] The Navy released an Arctic environmental assessment and outlook Aug. 15 that will be instrumental in developing future strategic plans and investments in a region that is becoming increasingly accessible to exploration and commercial enterprise. “In the past the Arctic was largely … Continue reading »
The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2010
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/nws-nhc-6.pdf This technical memorandum lists the deadliest tropical cyclones in the United States during 1851-2010 and the costliest tropical cyclones in the United States during 1900-2010. The compilation ranks damage, as expressed by monetary losses, in three ways: 1) contemporaneous estimates; 2) contemporaneous estimates adjusted by inflation to 2010 … Continue reading »
Hazardous Waste: Early Goals Have Been Met in EPA’s Corrective Action Program, but Resource and Technical Challenges Will Constrain Future Progress
US Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-514 [Summary]Years of industrial development generated hazardous waste that, when improperly disposed of, poses risks to human health and the environment. To mitigate these risks, Congress passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA). Subtitle C of RCRA, as amended, requires owners or operators to take corrective actions to … Continue reading »
Final Supplement to AB 32 Scoping Plan FED
California Air Resources Board http://1.usa.gov/nCqFpj (analysis) http://www.arb.ca.gov/board/books/2011/082411/11-6-1pres.pdf (Status of AB 32 Implementation and Consideration of Updated Environmental Analysis of Scoping Plan Alternatives — ARB Staff presentation) [Green Car Congress post] The California Air Resources Board (ARB) approved an updated environmental analysis of the Scoping Plan. Approval of the updated environmental analysis (known as the Functional … Continue reading »
Greenhouse Gas Regulation: EPA Defers Reporting of Sensitive Data for Up to 4 Years
US EPA “Change to the Reporting Date for Certain Data Elements Required Under the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule” http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-21727_PI.pdf [Summary] EPA is deferring the reporting deadline for data elements that are used by direct emitter reporters as inputs to emission equations under the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule. The deadline for reporting some … Continue reading »
Climate Engineering: Technical Status, Future Directions, and Potential Responses
US General Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-71 [Summary] Reports of rising global temperatures have raised questions about responses to climate change, including efforts to (1) reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, (2) adapt to climate change, and (3) design and develop climate engineering technologies for deliberate, large-scale intervention in Earth’s climate. Reporting earlier that the nation lacks a … Continue reading »
Energy Development and Water Use: Impacts of Potential Oil Shale Development on Water Resources
US General Accountability Office — Testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives. Statement of Anu K. Mittal, Director, Natural Resources and Environment Team http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d11929thigh.pdf (Highlights ) http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11929t.pdf (Full testimony) [Summary] GAO reported that water is likely to be available for the initial development of an oil … Continue reading »
Global Change and Extreme Hydrology: Testing Conventional Wisdom
National Research Council http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13211 [Description] Climate theory dictates that core elements of the climate system, including precipitation,evapotranspiration, and reservoirs of atmospheric and soil moisture, should change as the climate warms, both in their means and extremes. A major challenge that faces the climate and hydrologic science communities is understanding the nature of these ongoing changes … Continue reading »
