Scientists Develop New Method to Help Global Coasts Adapt to Sea-Level Rises

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131025091822.htm

The University of Southampton hosts a group of scientists who are looking at the global sea-level rises over the next 100 years and how the coasts can adapt. While "future sea-level rise seems inevitable", scientists are unsure of the exact pattern changes we can expect. That being said, it is crucial we step into action now, supported by their research of both "climate and non-climate mechanisms" that are contributing the the sea-level change we are experiencing and expect to continue experiencing. While they assure their motives are "not to scare people", they aim to "encourage policy makers to think across the full range of possibilities". We can progress and adapt as a nation if we listen to the scientists providing the facts and suggestions. These types of reports are submitted to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change who aim to take into consideration all the experimental data and knowledgeable advice.

One concept that stood out to me in the article was the concern of "over-adapting". The scientists are hoping not to do just that, but I was curious as to what exactly that would mean. Is it possible to over-adapt? I guess it is, because scientists are concerned about it. What would be the consequences of over-adapting? Would it be better than under-adapting? Definitely something to think about!

New Information on the Development of Urban Regions in Finland

http://www.sciencedaily.com/release/2013/10/131025091705.htm

This article stood out to me because it reminded me of how world-wide of an issue climate change is, and how important constant adaptation and preparation is everywhere. This articles talks about how researchers are focusing on "sustainable urban planning" in Finland. The European Union's COST technology network put together a report after a seminar in Helsinki, Finland. They discussed many factors that go into urbanization, such as "placement of housing and workplaces, and the population's travel behaviour at different times". They studied which zones are more oriented toward walking, cars, or public transportation. They talked about and measured "the harmful and beneficial effects of different planning solutions" that they can implement in the future.

I think it's great that they're really taking matters into their own hands. It's no question the environment is changing, and something as crucial to the future as urbanization is a great place to start. If they're doing it in Finland, we can hope that we have researchers here who are just as productive as they are.

Increasing Toxicity of Algal Blooms Tied to Nutrient Enrichment and Climate Change

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131024143309.htm

This article addressed the ever-present concern of climate change, focusing on the increase in algal blooms. The increase of toxicity of algal blooms "threatens aquatic organisms, ecosystem health and human drinking water safety". One cause of the increase in toxicity is the increase of cyanobacteria. The author of the article compares cyanobacteria to cockroaches in the way that they're always there, but never necessarily wanted. However, it is believed that cyanobacteria is what released the oxygen that made the evolution of terrestrial life possible, which I thought was interesting, immediately picturing dinosaurs. Oregon State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill both provided scientists to investigate the real consequences of this increase in algal blooms.

The cyanobacteria releases toxins, and about 1/3 of lakes greater than 10 acres big may contain cyanobacteria. This results in algal blooms "so massive that they are visible from outer space". Because of the location of the toxins, "exposure risks are greatest near the water's surface", which is scary as far as recreational water uses like swimming, but also for drinking water. As one of the scientists sums up, "with a warming climate, rising carbon dioxide levels, dams on more rivers than not, and overloading of nutrients into our waterways, the magnitude and duration of toxic cyanobacterial blooms is only going to get worse."

Optimism About Meeting 'Grand Challenge' of Global Prosperity

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131024121806.htm

While science proves again and again how scary the future can be if we don't start making changes, it was refreshing to find someone with an optimistic outlook. Professor Lawrence M. Cathles teaches earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell University and feels that there's one way we can look forward to a future: by obtaining a "European standard of living". He says they have food sustainability, natural resources, and energy levels down and if the rest of the world could catch up to them, we could potentially be in good shape. Cathles argues that "the most essential resource is energy" and we must lower our percent of carbon for them. He recommends looking toward the oceans, where "the extraction footprint would be tiny". Lastly, Cathles comments on the uselessness of wars over energy: "We have plenty of resources; we do not need to fight over them" he states.