Geothermal Project in California Is Shut Down

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/science/earth/12quake.html?_r=1&ref=earth

December 11, 2009

The New York Times

By James Glanz

Brief Summary:

Renewable energy from hot bedrock deep in the earth could be removed to test geothermal energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. However, Altarock Energy, the company in charge, has informed federal officials that the project will not happen anymore.

Short Response:

The bedrock could have potentially been a clean and limitless energy source, saving us many worries about the earth and how to get resources. It would definitely be in our best interest to attempt this project sometime in the near future.

Tally of CO2 Pledges Misses ‘Safe’ Zone

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/tally-of-co2-pledges-falls-short-of-safe-zone/

December 13, 2009

The New York Times

By Andrew C. Revkin

Brief Summary:

Quickly responding tools have been developed to determine the climatic significance of new national emissions pledges. "C-ROADS" models are able to examine how all proposals for emissions reductions have been made by individual nations which are now on the table at Copenhagen.

Short Response:

With the rate of these emissions being determined it is very useful to our future. It is also a way we can try to reduce global warming and become more aware.

Michigan: Fear Over Asian Carp Brings Request to Close Waterways

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/science/earth/03brfs-FEAROVERASIA_BRF.html?_r=1&ref=earth

December 2, 2009

The New York Times

By The Associated Press

Brief Summary:

There are demands that Michigan government will close the waterways that connect the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. This is in fear that voracious Asian carp will enter into the Great Lakes and kill off all the other fish that inhabit these lakes.

Short Response:

Granholm refers to this as an ecological disaster, and I have to agree that this is potentially what it could be. The killing off of these species could affect many others, which in turn could create a real disaster.

Water Heater Efficiency Rules Draw Criticism

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/water-heater-efficiency-rules-draw-criticism/

December 4, 2009

The New York Times

By Todd Woody

Brief Summary:

Obama's administration has proposed energy efficiency standards for home water heaters. The standards don't take advantage of the advanced technology where the large savings are, leaving environmentalists with a hesitant reaction.

Short Response:

Regardless of what environmentalists think, the standards seem to be very helpful because they save consumers over $15 billion over a 30 year time span. They also prevent emissions of 154 tons of carbon dioxide.

At Odds Over Land, Money and Gas

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/science/earth/28drill.html?ref=earth

November 27, 2009

The New York Times

By Mireya Navarro

Brief Summary:

Regulations were recently drafted by New York environmental officials are allowing drilling to occur in the shale very soon. This is a subterranean layer of rock which is one of the largest natural gas fields in the world.

Short Response:

Thousands of residents want the drilling for their land, so they are signing leases for their land to get it done. This is a way for the community to recover, and for their children not to have to leave the state to find jobs.

Tree Harvester Offers to Save Indonesian Forest

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/science/earth/30climate.html?_r=1&ref=earth

November 29, 2009

The New York Times

By Norimitsu Onishi

Brief Summary:

Canals surround the rivers slowly drains the land and releases carbon dioxide. This contributes to make Indonesia the worlds third largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Short Response:

The peat land is leaking and it is becoming more and more obvious due to the acidity and color of the water. The Indonesian forest obviously needs help, and any help offered will I'm sure do good overall.

Gloomy Energy Report Sets the Stage for Climate Talks

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/energy-environment/11oil.html?ref=earth

November 10, 2009

The New York Times

By Jad Mouawad

Brief Summary:

Current energy policies are said to be unsustainable, and a large transformation of energy use was needed to fend off consequences of global warming. Without the global deal to limit carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumptions are likely to soar over the next decades.

Short Response:

Dependence of fossil fuels is most likely to increase, which will result in many consequences for climate change and energy security. This will happen if there is no change in government policy, and today's energy path continues.

Afloat in the Ocean, Expanding Islands of Trash

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10patch.html?_r=1&ref=earth

November 9, 2009

The New York Times

By Lindsey Hoshaw

Brief Summary:

In a specific part of the Pacific Ocean, a huge gathering of trash is circulating which is so large that it defies exact measurement. This includes items such as light bulbs, toothbrushes, bottle caps, and much more all collecting to be a pile roughly greater that twice the size of Texas.

Short Response:

The more humans contribute to littering the larger these piles will become, and the more they will be. These are affecting the fish in the Pacific Ocean due to the high content of plastic in these piles of garbage.

Ecosystem in Peru Is Losing a Key Ally

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/world/americas/08peru.html?ref=earth

November 7, 2009

The New York Times

By Simon Romero

Brief Summary:

The Peruvian tree, which has provided food and timber to the desert in Peru, has been doing so since before the Nazca civilization etched geoglyphs, can live over a millennium. There has been depletion of the huarango, which is causing ecologists to worry and save it.

Short Response:

We are cutting off one of our own limbs as we destroy a huarango. Woodcutters use handsaws at night to avoid detection, which shows they know what they are doing is wrong and should be stopped, as it should.

Creating a Landfill to Have Cleaner Air

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/science/earth/08tva.html?_r=1&ref=earth

November 7, 2009

The New York Times

By The Associated Press

Brief Summary:

In order to eliminate sulfur emissions from coal, smokestack scrubbers create a new waste stream site, which will be $1 billion worth of cleanup from an ash spill. A landfill must be created to clean the air as much as possible.

Short Response:

It is still better to clean the air, even if this means creating a landfill. The air is being cleaned that contributes to respiratory illness, so it ultimately benefits most people in one way or another.

Bridging the Generation Gap on Climate

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/science/earth/31elders.html?ref=earth

October 30, 2009

The New York Times

By Sebnem Arsu and James Kanter

Brief Summary:

There has been a fast movement of climate change up the global agenda discovered recently. This is the result, which is becoming more apparent to the public, of the consequences of burning large amounts of fossil fuels.

Short Response:

This is a wake-up call for humanity to act more responsibly when it comes to using recyclable energy, solar energy, wind power, etc. It is our generations responsibility to act properly.

A Bid to Cut Emissions Looks Away From Coal

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/science/earth/01carbon.html?_r=1&ref=earth

October 31, 2009

The New York Times

By Matthew L. Wald

Brief Summary:

In hopes to slow global warming by limiting emissions, engineers are attempting to find ways that will capture and store carbon dioxide. It may cost less and be easier in comparison to coal-fired power plants to capture the gas at oil refineries, chemical plants, ethanol plants and cement factories.

Short Response:

If we are able to capture emissions with much purer streams of carbon dioxide, we will be able to slow global warming even more than predicted. This will be all around positive for the environment and current/future living species.

Keeping Natural Gas in Pipelines, Not Air

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/keeping-natural-gas-in-pipelines-not-the-air/?scp=5&sq=environmental%20science&st=cse

October 22, 2009

The New York Times

By Andrew C. Revkin

Brief Summary:

The EPA is encouraging industries to capture emissions of methane, which is a valuable heat-trapping greenhouse gas with profitable gains. International partnerships have increased the emissions captured, but there is much more potential which has not yet been captured.

Short Response:

Because the emitted gas is not only a climate threat but also a loss to taxpayers, this basically affects most people, so we want to make sure they do it correctly. There are gradually more reductions, and as they have been reduced over the years they will hopefully reduce more for the well-being of our world.

Fossil Fuels’ Hidden Cost Is in Billions, Study Says

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/science/earth/20fossil.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=environmental%20science&st=cse

October 19, 2009

The New York Times

By Matthew L. Wald

Brief Summary:

Burning fossil fuels are causing more damage to the health of Americans than previously determined, mostly due to the thousands of premature deaths from air pollution. Recent studies determined that most of the cause is the oil and coal, leaving our country with $120 billion worth of health care costs.

Short Response:

Increased human deaths due to air pollution can make anyone worry and leave them wondering what we can do to improve the air pollution to prevent these deaths and many possible others. The fact is that we know mostly what we should and shouldn't do to help our environment, and I think a lot of progress has been made, but more people need to become involved.

Nanomaterials Under Study by the E.P.A.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/science/earth/30nano.html?scp=10&sq=environmental%20science&st=cse

September 29, 2009

The New York Times

By Cornelia Dean

Brief Summary:

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to take a look into nanomaterials to uncover any possible health or environmental risks. These are tiny substances which are becoming very common in products such as sunscreen and industrial adhesives.

Short Response:

This is definitely a substance to look into because if there are health or environmental risks, people, animals, and plants could be effected. Realizing any risks would lead us to find alternatives, and knowing which products to avoid.

Can Leaders Act as Public Climate Runs Hot or Cool?

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/can-leaders-move-as-public-climate-runs-hot-or-cool/?scp=9&sq=environmental%20science&st=cse

September 22, 2009

The New York Times

By Andrew C. Revkin

Brief Summary:

It is pondered what could happen to diplomatic/legislative efforts on climate change if the next decades conditions meet the predictions of many scientists. These predictions mainly state that more years of flat and cooling temperatures are in store for the future before things heat up in a big way again.

Short Response:

This can effect many things in many ways, such as shrinking island states to oil monarchies to established and emerging powers sitting on mountains of coal. Different species recognize changes but are having a tough time with it and the adjustment.

Disputed Solar Energy Project in California Desert Is Dropped

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/science/earth/19mojave.html?_r=1&scp=12&sq=environmental%20science&st=cse

September 18, 2009

The New York Times

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

Brief Summary:

A solar power farm in the Mojave Desert was planned to undergo a solar energy project which caused a lot of tension between environmentalists and the developers. Hundreds of small mirrors would redirect desert sunlight onto a central tower.

Short Response:

I think it was responsible behavior on the part of Brightsource. It was a major development that was potentially very profitable.

Health Ills Abound as Farm Runoff Fouls Wells

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/us/18dairy.html?ref=earth

September 17, 2009

The New York Times

By Charles Duhigg

Brief Summary:

Excessive amounts of cow manure are causing bacteria and chemicals to flow into the ground and contaminate tap water. This agricultural runoff polluted wells which caused parasites and bacteria to seep into drinking water resulting in stomach illnesses and severe ear infections of residents.

Short Response:

While this isn't occuring right near me, my family and I have nothing to worry about unless the illnesses could be contagious. However, it is possible that if this is occuring in that city, it could eventually occur near where I live so this problem needs to be addressed and fixed as soon as possible so the trend doesn't spread all over the country.

Walruses Suffer Substantial Losses as Sea Ice Erodes

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/science/earth/03walrus.html?ref=science

October 2, 2009

The New York Times

By Andrew C. Revkin

Brief Summary:

The walrus is suffering increasing deaths as the sheath in coastal waters erodes. Marine biologists are therefore worrying more and more that they face a mounting threat from global warming.

Short Response:

There are definitely legitimate reasons to be concerned due to the fact that walruses are already being slaughtered, and they will likely become extinct if the erosion from global warming has this effect on them. As more time passes, it is likely that less and less will be alive which leads me to believe that this is caused by the negative effects humans have on the environment causing global warming, so we need to help save our environment.

EPA Limits Pollution From Medical Incinerators

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/16/us/politics/AP-US-EPA-Medical-Waste.html?scp=3&sq=pollution&st=cse

September 16, 2009
The New York Times
By The Associated Press

Brief Summary:
The Environmental Protection Agency released new regulations Wednesday which will force about 50 medical waste incinerators nationwide to reduce their air pollution. These new rules will decrease toxic pollution by 390,000 pounds annually through better monitering and the tightening of emissions limits.

Short Response:
I think it's very positive and good for the environment that these new regulations were made, although it will be very costly. The air pollution from these heavy metals and acid gases are very dangerous, and the more air pollution we can reduce at a time, the better off we will be.

Global Warming Could Forestall Ice Age

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/science/earth/04arctic.html?scp=4&sq=global%20warming&st=cse

September 3, 2009
The New York Times
By Andrew C. Revkin

Brief Summary:
New evidence shows that human activity which effects global warming is predicted to fend off a new ice age over the next few milleniums. If we don't act fast to slow the rate of global warming, Arctic ecosystems and global sea level will see major changes sooner than expected.

Short Response:
Our generation needs to get more motivated to help save our environment rather than being selfish and making future generations pay for our mistakes. These may not have the full impact me or my family directly, but we should care more to save our environment and potentially the lives of future generations.