Today, close to 99% of the coal mined in the Powder River Basin is consumed in domestic U.S. coal markets. However, a depressed domestic market and increased foreign demand, especially from the Pacific Rim, has piqued the interest of the largest U.S. coal producers in potential export markets. Chris Ruppel, an energy analyst at Execution, […]
1 June 2012, TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) – Oklahoma and Texas have argued for years about which has the best college football team, whose oil fields produce better crude, even where the state border should run. But in a hot, sticky dispute that no one wants to win, Oklahoma just reclaimed its crown. After recalculating data […]
The expansion and impact of world fishing fleets in a) 1950 and b) 2006. The maps show the geographical expansion of world fishing fleets from 1950 to 2006 (the latest available data). Since 1950, the area fished by global fishing fleets has increased ten-fold. By 2006 100 million km2, around 1/3 of the ocean surface, […]
By Paul-Frederik Bach30 May 2012 With a steep growth of power generation from photovoltaic (PV) and wind power and with 8 GW base load capacity suddenly taken out of service the situation in Germany has developed into a nightmare for system operators. The peak demand in Germany is about 80 GW. The variations of wind […]
1. Potomac RiverPollution and Clean Water Act rollbacks have national implications. 2. Green RiverWater withdrawals could threaten a water-strapped region. 3. Chattahoochee RiverNew dams and reservoirs threaten to dry up the river flow. 4. Missouri RiverOutdated flood management putting public safety at risk. 5. Hoback RiverNatural gas development putting clean water, world-class fishing and wildlife […]
Trends in number of global freeflowing rivers greater than 1,000km in length Trends from pre-1900 to the present day and estimated to 2020 (line), in comparison with the number of rivers dammed over time (bars). WWF, 2006 The rapid development of water management infrastructure – such as dams, dykes, levees, and diversion channels – have […]
[More evidence that the U.S. has passed Peak Education.] By Tamara Keith21 May 2012 Members of Congress are often criticized for what they do — or rather, what they don’t do. But what about what they say and, more specifically, how they say it? It turns out that the sophistication of congressional speech-making is on […]
Mean-sea-level trends at A, Hilo, 1927–2010; B, Kahului 1947–2010; C, Honolulu 1905–2010; and D, Nawiliwili, 1955–2010, Hawaii. Data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2011 Sea level has risen around Hawaii approximately 1.5 mm/yr over the past century. Although this rate may seem small, long-term sea-level rise can lead to chronic coastal erosion, coastal flooding, […]
By Tamino16 May 2012 Over thirty years ago, James Hansen was lead author of a scientific paper titled Climate Impact of Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. They estimated that doubling the amount of CO2 in the air would raise global temperature about 2.8 degrees (C, equal to about 5 degrees F). They projected that from 1980 […]
By Bruce Watson 2 May 2012 Over the past few years, high unemployment, the housing market implosion and falling wages have driven many American families closer together — both financially and literally. Parents are supporting their adult children, children are supporting parents, and generations are helping each other to weather the economic storms. In some […]
