Fracking Boom in U.S. and Canada Largely to Blame for Global Methane Spike, Study Finds

EcoWatch

Image by Pixabay.

New research by a scientist at Cornell University warns that the fracking boom in the U.S. and Canada over the past decade is largely to blame for a large rise in methane in the earth's atmosphere — and that reducing emissions of the extremely potent greenhouse gas is crucial to help stem the international climate crisis. Story here.

'Disgusting and Disturbing': Trump Guts Endangered Species Act in Gift to Big Business

Common Dreams

"This administration seems set on damaging fragile ecosystems by prioritizing industry interests over science." Story here.

The embattled burrowing owl. A PinP photo.

Black carbon lofts wildfire smoke high into the stratosphere to form a persistent plume

Science Magazine.

In 2017, western Canadian wildfires injected smoke into the stratosphere that was detectable by satellites for more than 8 months. The smoke plume rose from 12 to 23 kilometers within 2 months owing to solar heating of black carbon, extending the lifetime and latitudinal spread. Comparisons of model simulations to the rate of observed lofting indicate that 2% of the smoke mass was black carbon. The observed smoke lifetime in the stratosphere was 40% shorter than calculated with a standard model that does not consider photochemical loss of organic carbon. Photochemistry is represented by using an empirical ozone-organics reaction probability that matches the observed smoke decay. The observed rapid plume rise, latitudinal spread, and photochemical reactions provide new insights into potential global climate impacts from nuclear war. More here.

Smoke-filled skies over San Diego - fall 2007.
Photo by Eric Pettigrew.

'Act before it's too late': The prairie province of Saskatchewan, Canada at high risk of water shortages, says global study

CBC News

Climate change, resource extraction, agriculture among causes of potential water shortage, says author. Story here.

Echo Lake, SK. Photo by Joe Mabel from Seattle.

Rachel was right

PAN

Yet another scientific study, released today, shows just how deadly our chemical-intensive farming system has become to pollinators and other insects. Story here,

Bumblebees forage on chives in an organic garden in Manitoba.
A PinP photo.
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To Slow Global Warming, U.N. Warns Agriculture Must Change

The Salt 
Humans must drastically alter food production to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming, according to a new report from the United Nations panel on climate change.

 Story here.

An intensive sheep operation.

Industrial fishing behind plummeting shark numbers

Science News

Research finds marine predators are significantly smaller and much rarer in areas closer to people. Story here.

An ocean "white-tip" shark. Photo by NOAA.