WaterWired

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 2 November 2020

'Lake Powell Shrinks'. That's the title of @CaptDocMike's This Day in Water History blog today - the year was 2004. Read all about it here.

Enjoy!

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Here are Elaine's BBs as a PDF and a Word document:

PDF: Download Bulletin_Boards_2November2020

Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_2November2020

Note: If a link does not work, try pasting the URL into your browser. 

Check out Elaine's coronavirus/COVID-19 section in the ES BB.

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 2 November 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

M7.0 hits Turkey & Greece

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/cm/magnitude-7-0-earthquake-strikes-125010038.html
• https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000c7y0/executive

Gales Creek Fault west of Portland capable of producing M7.1 to M7.4 EQ – also smaller active faults

• https://www.livescience.com/earthquake-fault-near-portland.html
• https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/10/besides-the-big-one-closer-faults-could-also-shake-portland/

What triggered the Little Ice Age?

• https://sciencenorway.no/climate-geology-ice-age/what-actually-started-the-little-ice-age/1759318
• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/38/eaba4320

Simultaneous eruptions on Kamchatka Peninsula of Klyuchevsky & Bezymyan – pics & videos

• https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/332898-two-volcanoes-just-erupted-in-kamchatka

“whaleback” forms at Shiveluch volcano on Kamchatka Peninsula

• https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/whaleback-rises-at-a-russian-volcano

Hypothesizing the next supercontinent – Pangea Ultima – Novopangea – Aurica – Amasia

• https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-next-pangea-what-earths-future-supercontinent-will-look-like

New seismic provisions for National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

• https://www.nibs.org/news/531554/Building-Seismic-Safety-Council-Updates-Earthquake-Design-Provisions-for-FEMA.htm
• Provisions parts 1 & 2: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/fema_2020-nehrp-provisions_part-1-and-part-2.pdf
• Provisions part 3: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/fema_2020-nehrp-provisions_part-3.pdf

A better bridge design to resist seismic shaking

• https://newatlas.com/architecture/limb-inspired-bridges-earthquake-resistance/

Post-tropical cyclones may influence risk of windstorms across Europe

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/post-tropical-cyclones-influence-on-european-windstorm-risk
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020GL089853

Improving understanding of marine residence times of iron in upper ocean

• https://eos.org/research-spotlights/how-long-does-iron-linger-in-the-oceans-upper-layers
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020GB006592

Dense seismic network is threatened by wildfires on West Coast

• https://eos.org/articles/wildfires-threaten-west-coasts-seismic-network

Simulations may help distinguish large-scale atmospheric circulation changes from increased temperature induced changes

• https://eos.org/research-spotlights/a-new-way-to-fingerprint-drivers-of-water-cycle-change
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020MS002106
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020MS002249

Large tidal ranges 400 myo may have initiated evolution of bony fish & land vertebrates

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Large_tides_may_have_driven_evolution_of_fish_towards_life_on_land_999.html

Fossils of giant birds in Antarctica had 21-foot wingspans

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Antarctica_yields_oldest_fossils_of_giant_birds_with_21_foot_wingspans_999.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75248-6

Glacial & interglacial climates reveal irregular frequency over past 2.6 million years

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Irregular_appearances_of_glacial_and_interglacial_climate_states_999.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18897-5

Amount of plastic dumped into Mediterranean Sea could double over next 20 years

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Amount_of_plastic_dumped_in_Med_to_double_in_20_years_report_999.html
• Report: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2020-030-En.pdf 

Understanding when & how slope failures occur on post-wildfire landscapes

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Post_wildfire_hazards_Toward_an_understanding_of_when_and_how_slope_failure_may_occur_999.html
• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Wildfires_can_cause_dangerous_debris_flows_999.html

NASA projects to make geosciences data more accessible

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Funds_Projects_to_Make_Geosciences_Data_More_Accessible_999.html

Interactive website provides access to 5 decades satellite data related to climate

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/New_website_puts_climate_in_your_hands_999.html
• Climate from Space website: https://cfs.climate.esa.int/index.html#/

Presence of Lake Cahuilla overlying southern San Andreas fault may have affected rupture timing

• https://phys.org/news/2020-10-ancient-lake-contributed-san-andreas.html
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201026153938.htm

Major explosions & paroxysms of Stromboli – an historical catalog & temporal models

• https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2020/october/stromboli-volcano.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-74301-8

Forensic geology:  tracing the origins of illegal sand by fingerprinting method

• https://phys.org/news/2020-10-source-illicit-sandcan.html

Bathurst Mining Camp – one of the oldest base metal mining districts

• https://www.geologyforinvestors.com/bathurst-mining-camp-one-of-the-worlds-great-base-metal-districts/

Mapping 11,000 years of the geologic history of Jersey Island

• https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2020-10-28/two-jersey-scientists-map-out-11000-years-of-the-islands-geology

Why does the Earth exhibit a seismic pulse every 26 seconds?

• https://newstechnologyworld.com/the-earth-is-pulsating-every-26-seconds-and-seismologists-dont-agree-why/

Back to the future of climate – polar ice caps had essentially disappeared during the Paleocene

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201027105342.htm

Using terrain-hugging drones for aerial prospecting is successful

• https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/october/26/unmanned-aerial-prospecting

Pingos can explode

• https://sputniknews.com/science/202010281080900058-dangerous-pingos-likely-to-explode-as-thawing-permafrost-creates-ticking-time-bombs-/
• Background: https://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/more-than-300-sealed-craters-are-ticking-time-bombs-from-a-total-7000-plus-arctic-permafrost-mounds/

NOAA Oral History:  Dr Eddie Bernard the “accidental tsunami guy”

• https://www.noaa.gov/heritage/stories/look-back-with-tsunami-expert-eddie-bernard

The challenges of deep-sea mining – increasing human demand, technology, environmental damage

• https://massivesci.com/articles/deep-sea-mining-ocean-industry/

Geologists Bill provides legal framework for training, registration & licensing of geologists in Kenya

• https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2020-10-27-tough-penalties-for-rogue-geologists-quacks-in-proposed-law/

Fracking could affect shared water resources in southern Africa – trans-boundary management

• https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/10/how-fracking-plans-could-affect-shared-water-resources-in-southern-africa/

Geologists simulate soil conditions on Mars in anticipation of mission and growing plants

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/uog-gss102720.php

Toward understanding relationship of AMOC and climate

• https://www.whoi.edu/press-room/news-release/two-new-studies-advance-understanding-of-currents/
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19050-y
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-19049-5

Open Access articles on remote sensing of hazards (2019-2020):  geophysical hazards, floods & glacial processes, ground instability, meteorological & climatological processes

• https://www.nature.com/collections/ciedddhbhe

Open Access articles:  Earth Sciences

• https://www.nature.com/subjects/earth-and-environmental-sciences/srep

Right Whales – plummeting population leading to the verge of extinction

• https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/26/metro/their-population-plummets-right-whales-verge-extinction/

Diel vertical migration (DVM) accounts for about 16% of carbon captured by the ocean

• http://oceans.nautil.us/feature/625/the-earth-shaping-animal-migration-no-one-ever-sees

Ropeless (or buoyless) fishing systems use transducer to acoustically trigger lift bag – safer for whales

• https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2020/10/22/ropeless-fishing-systems-hold-promise-for-fishermen-and-whales

Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 2 November 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Legacy of dumping of half a million or more barrels of DDT off the coast of California

• https://www.whoi.edu/news-insights/content/whoi-assisted-study-finds-ocean-dumping-of-ddt-waste-was-sloppy/
• https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-coast-ddt-dumping-ground/

FEIR for 800-acre storage reservoir near Patterson, California, approved – concern for seismic risks & impacts on wildlife in Del Puerto Canyon

• https://www.modbee.com/news/business/agriculture/article246608388.html
• Background: https://www.modbee.com/article238430758.html
• Documents: https://www.delpuertocanyonreservoir.com/resources#documents

Illegal immigrants cross the border again and again and again

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/immigrants-quickly-expelled-trump-try-175951220.html

Amsterdam releases 5,000 alien leaf fleas to fight invasive Japanese knotweed

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/amsterdam-releases-five-thousand-leaf-162613898.html

Those crane flies are not giant mosquitoes

• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/crane-flies-differ-mosquitoes-rid-140700018.html

Global warming alarmists now want to capitalize on using asbestos for carbon capture

• https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/asbestos-yes-asbestos-could-fight-160000922.html

New ANWR seismic proposal submitted by Native village corporation

• https://www.adn.com/business-economy/energy/2020/10/23/trump-administration-releases-new-arctic-refuge-seismic-proposal-submitted-by-native-village-corporation/

CRS InFocus:  Legal framework of NEPA

• https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11549

How clean is that captured rainwater in your rain barrel?

• https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/is-rainwater-safe-to-drink-runoff-collected-by-volunteers-offers-clues

Asian giant hornets captured near Blaine, Washington, using vacuum equipment – searching for more

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/crews-vacuum-murder-hornets-washington-202429112.html

Portion of River Trent through Stoke rerouted to provide habitat for otters & trout

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/hideous-river-trent-becomes-first-102241448.html

Gerlach, Nevada, residents oppose proposed 2 geothermal plants – environmental concerns

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/gerlach-residents-say-the-black-rock-s-dark-skies-threatened-by-proposed-geothermal-plant/ar-BB1ap7RK

Paper: Decoupling urban water use & growth in response to water scarcity – demand exceeds supply – population explosion creates greater demand

• https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/10/2868/htm

Damaged lithium-ion batteries causing fires & explosions in waste stream

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/ten-hour-standoff-oil-tanker-204320035.html

Singapore stops use of two flu vaccines after 48 deaths reported in South Korea

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/singapore-halts-flu-vaccines-48-011440179.html

Smog season begins in India & Pakistan – vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, brick kilns, burning stubble fields create hazardous levels of air pollution

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/fears-grow-over-respiratory-health-115958007.html

Fracking (UOGD) may significantly increase airborne radioactive particles – 40% above background – toxicity of other fracking chemicals is still unknown

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/finance/news/fracking-radioactive-problem-183700254.html
• https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/13/airborne-radioactivity-increases-downwind-of-fracking-study-finds
• Primer: https://www.earthworks.org/issues/hydraulic_fracturing_101/
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18226-w
• https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a11113/toxicity-of-one-third-of-fracking-chemicals-unknown-2493008/
• App: https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2020/september/is-your-drinking-water-toxic
• Reports: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/hfstudy/recordisplay.cfm?deid=332990

Rabies reported in white-tailed deer in 4 counties in west-central New York

• http://outbreaknewstoday.com/rabies-in-deer-reported-in-4-west-central-new-york-counties-56319/

California power shutoffs continue as windy weather sparks concerns over wildfires – 360,000 customers

• https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-wildfires-fire-weather-san-francisco-fires-359f6a35b4da696a4d07e5b12275dd97
• https://www.npr.org/2020/10/25/927600527/360-000-customers-lose-power-in-california-amid-fire-safety-shutoffs

Diffuse pollution from urbanization, agriculture & mining threaten rivers in Brazil

• https://eos.org/articles/urbanization-agriculture-and-mining-threaten-brazilian-rivers

Visualizing the economics of coffee

• https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-economics-of-coffee-in-one-chart/

Japan & South Korea pledge to be “carbon neutral” by 2050 – but at what other environmental costs?

• https://www.npr.org/2020/10/26/927846739/a-decarbonized-society-japan-pledges-to-be-carbon-neutral-by-2050
• https://phys.org/news/2020-10-south-korea-carbon-neutrality-moon.html

97% of wildfires that threaten homes in the US are started by humans

• https://theconversation.com/humans-ignite-almost-every-wildfire-that-threatens-homes-145997

Nanosilver additive as antimicrobial in consumer products is not good for wildlife

• https://www.treehugger.com/nanosilver-accumulates-in-canadian-fish-5083294

Impacts of wildfire emissions on global air quality – pyrogenic HONO underestimated

• https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301514&org=GEO&from=news

Fences are not beneficial to wildlife and the ecosystem

• https://www.treehugger.com/fences-cause-ecological-meltdown-5084148
• Paper: https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biaa103/5908036

Snowfall has helped in battle against East Troublesome fire in Rocky Mountain National Park

• https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/10/snow-slows-east-troublesome-fires-run-through-rocky-mountain-national-park

International feuding continues over Ethiopian dam on the Nile River

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Sudan_to_organise_week_of_talks_on_Ethiopia_dam_feud_999.html
• Background: https://www.press.et/english/?p=20829#

There are limits to intensity of human use of forests and grasslands

• https://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Land_management_in_forest_and_grasslands_How_much_can_we_intensify_999.html

Evidence of biodiversity losses deep in the Amazon rainforest

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Evidence_of_biodiversity_losses_found_deep_inside_the_rainforest_999.html
• https://www.lsu.edu/mediacenter/news/2020/10/26rnr_stouffer_ecologyletters.php

Boaters urged to take extra caution on Kentucky Lake during tagging of silver carp

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/media-advisory-boaters-encouraged-use-extra-caution-areas-kentucky-lake-early-november

You are what you eat:  high-flavanol diet associated with lower blood pressure – inverse to blood lipids

• http://www.sci-news.com/medicine/flavanol-rich-diet-blood-pressure-08974.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-74863-7

Early human behavior likely changed due to fluctuations in vegetation & water supplies

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201021140919.htm
• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/43/eabc8975

Reforestation plans in sub-Saharan Africa may be unsuccessful

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201028082942.htm

County-level exposure numbers for tropical cyclones & human health

• https://phys.org/news/2020-10-dataset-county-level-exposure-tropical-cyclones.html
• Paper: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP6976

Genomic basis of adaptations, distinguishing species, mechanisms of speciation

• https://phys.org/news/2020-10-genomic-basis-differences-species-mechanisms.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2845-0

10-year retrospective on Haiti cholera epidemic caused by peacekeeping mission

• https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-10-27/10-years-un-officials-reflect-haiti-cholera-epidemic-caused-peacekeeping-mission

Untapped eco-tourism potential in Ethiopia

• https://allafrica.com/stories/202010270878.html

Potential impacts of USFS decides to open Tongass National Forest to logging & development

• https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2020/10/29/us-ends-roadless-protections-in-countrys-largest-national-forest

Using sensors & machine learning to locate & quantify gas leaks in O&G fields

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201029105038.htm
• Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162120300320?via%3Dihub

Electronic vehicles require vast volumes of rare earth elements & other metals – production requires mining, processing & refining of billions of tons of raw materials plus energy production leading to significant environmental & human health impacts

• https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/news/9890/the-dark-side-of-tesla-gigafactories-need-gigamines?mtu=501529787
• REE Overview: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987119300258

Open Access articles on wildlife disease (2017-2019):  viral, fungal, bacterial & other

• https://www.nature.com/collections/faibiibjbc

CRS Report:  Federal Wildfire Management FY2011-FY2020

• https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46583

New York & New Jersey still in the recovery phase from Hurricane Sandy after 8 years

• https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-new-york-storms-hoboken-us-news-a4edd6e77fa26353c5056de8658ca762

$7B rebuild of I-45 in Houston, Texas – EIS released – comment period extended

• https://abc13.com/i-45-rebuild-txdot-environmental-report-texas-transportation-commission-sylvester-turner/6624692/
• Impacts: https://tejanonation.net/2020/10/21/plans-to-demolish-iconic-la-mafia-recording-studio-for-houston-highway-expansion/
• Criticism: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/06/08/houstons-i-45-project-is-a-reminder-of-urban-renewal-racism/
• https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2020/10/08/383555/public-is-asked-to-comment-on-final-environmental-statement-on-i-45-north-widening/
• Project website: http://houstontx.gov/planning/nhhip/

Man fell through collapsed sidewalk in New York City and landed in rat-filled hole

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-falls-york-city-pavement-091034747.html

CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus COVID-19 statistics by country (click on USA to get State statistics)

• https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
• https://time.com/5800901/coronavirus-map/
• interactive maps: https://geodacenter.github.io/covid/map.html

A well-reasoned, scientific and sensible strategy

• https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/sensible-compassionate-anti-covid-strategy/

Lock-downs have consequences – Oregon takes $27M hit in gas tax revenue

• https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/drivers-parked-oregon-takes-27m-hit-in-gas-tax-revenue/

Geopolitics & implications of the virus and shutdown

• https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/risk/our-insights/covid-19-implications-for-business
• https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/research/articles/200204-coronavirus-impact-key-takeaways-from-our-articles-11337257
• https://carsey.unh.edu/COVID-19-Economic-Impact-By-State

Shutdown causes social isolation which can be deadly – isolation causing new crisis

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/her-father-fell-victim-to-the-pandemic-but-it-wasn-t-covid-that-killed-him/ar-BB1arB5F
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/nursing-homes-racked-by-the-virus-face-a-new-crisis-isolation/ar-BB1aywG1

On the timeline for a possible vaccine

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/10/no-pre-election-glimpse-of-covid-19-vaccine-data-frontrunner-suggests/

The virus is not surging – the media hyperbole is and is causing people to panic unnecessarily since did not learn the lesson months ago

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-rates-not-surging-155415871.html
• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/cm/american-shoppers-panic-buying-coronavirus-161351284.html

Opposition to development of herd immunity

• https://www.ehn.org/herd-immunity-dangerous-2648497608.html
• https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2932153-X

Antibody drug has low chance of aiding hospitalized patients

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/eli-lilly-antibody-drug-fails-in-a-covid-19-study-others-go-on_n_5f97f0edc5b6b74d85f4522d

Less serious illness, fewer hospitalizations, fewer intubated, fewer deaths – second wave? – some earlier treatments “might have caused harm”

• https://news.yahoo.com/virus-hospitalizations-york-city-time-141041050.html

Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 2 November 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

US Coast Guard to deploy to counter “illegal” and “unregulated” fishing in South China Sea

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-coast-guard-tackle-china-013704915.html

“Fungie” the bottle-nosed dolphin has disappeared from Dingle Harbour for 37 years

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/fungie-county-kerrys-much-loved-150548126.html

Football more important than scheduling hearing on condemnation of easements for beach renourishment

• https://coastalobserver.com/football-weekend-delays-hearing-on-easements/

Hurricane season caused little damage to coastal restoration projects in Louisiana

• https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/state/2020/10/24/despite-active-hurricane-seasonlouisiana-coastal-restoration-projects-saw-little-damage-heres-why/3744928001/

Large-scale marine debris removal program a success – nearly 74 tons in North Carolina

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/10/marine-debris-removal-project-underway/

Where wild chickens rule the beaches

• https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/wild-chickens-rule-the-streets-in-somebeach-towns-heres-why-one-scientist

Police surround oil tanker of Isle of Wight – stowaways may have attempted to hijack vessel

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/isle-wight-tanker-police-surround-144724234.html

• https://www.yahoo.com/news/ten-hour-standoff-oil-tanker-204320035.html

Cement “smart reef” being placed off the coast of North Myrtle Beach

• https://www.myhorrynews.com/news/local/ccu-and-sc-floodwater-commission-install-smartreef-of-hory-county-coast/article_f8ba74be-149a-11eb-bfb4-f3b38243be3a.html

Slow sea level rise & European colonization created wetlands along US East Coast

• https://eos.org/research-spotlights/rising-seas-and-agriculture-created-wetlands-along-the-us-east-coast

• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020GL089415

Geomagnetic storms probably do not cause mass strandings of whales & dolphins

• https://eos.org/research-spotlights/geomagnetic-storms-probably-dont-cause-masscetacean-strandings

New coastal change forecast along Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Zeta

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/zeta-s-strong-waves-will-cause-coastal-change-along-gulf-coast

Toward a better understanding of how marsh birds survive hurricanes

• https://theconversation.com/scientists-at-work-sloshing-through-marshes-to-see-how-birdssurvive-hurricanes-146067

Melting of Greenland Ice Sheet continues to reshape coastal Greenland – coastal infrastructures inhibit natural adjustment

•https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Ice_sheet_melt_reshaping_coastal_Greenland_999.html

Beaches can “survive” sea level changes if there is room for them to migrate

•https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Beaches_can_survive_sea_level_rises_as_long_as_they_have_space_to_move_999.html

US Army COE revises “Ike Dike” plan for Texas Gulf Coast – estimated cost $26.2B

• https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Revised-Ike-Dike-plan-would-cost-26-2B-15678973.php

2020 Chesapeake Bay dead zone is smaller than in recent years

• https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/october/26/unmanned-aerialprospecting

• Report Card https://www.vims.edu/research/topics/dead_zones/_docs/2020_cb_hypoxia_reportcard.pdf

Robotic vessel launched to map coastal erosion at Salmon Whole Bay in Australia

• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-28/beachport-erosion-robotic-vessel-deployed-climatechange/12821360

More “global warming” hype regarding methane deposits in the Arctic Ocean

• https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/oct/27/sleeping-giant-arctic-methane-depositsstarting-to-release-scientists-find

California to increase efforts to protect & restore eelgrass

• https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2020/10/28/california-steps-upefforts-to-protect-and-restore-eelgrass

"A neurosis is a secret you don't know you're keeping." - Kenneth Tynan (quoted in @guardian via @TheWeek)

CRS Report: 'Climate Change Risk Mitigation by U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies'

Interesting to see what we are doing overseas vis-a-vis climate change risk mitigation. CRS experts Nick M. Brown and Emily M. Morgenstern enlighten us as to what USAID, Peace Corps, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) are doing: Climate Change Risk Mitigation by U.S. Foreign Assistance Agencies (29 October 2020).

Click on the graphics to enlarge them.

Download CRS_Report_CC_Risk_Mitigation_US_Agencies_29Oct2020

Summary
Many in Congress have a keen interest in climate change, and determining how best to address that issue is a source of continuing discussion. Gaining increased attention in such discussions are federal efforts to reduce the risks of a changing climate by planning for and adapting to projected climate change, both in federal agency operations and in achieving agencies’ respective missions. 

Specifically, U.S. foreign assistance agencies—the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)—are considering how climate change may affect both overseas programming and internal operations. For example, USAID requires climate assessments at each stage of its program cycle to help ensure that potential climate change or variability does not put development gains at risk. The Peace Corps considers how climate change may affect volunteers’ physical safety.

Congress provides funding for and conducts oversight of the foreign assistance agencies’ efforts to mitigate the risk of climate change primarily through annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations measures. Some Members in the 116th Congress have introduced legislation that would codify certain aspects of this work. Although some recent legislation has been considered and passed by one chamber, no stand-alone legislation has been enacted. Congress may consider what role it will play, if any, in supporting or directing agency efforts to mitigate the risk of climate change in the future.

Charity begins at home, right?

Enjoy!

"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur