Largest Lake in Britain and Ireland Has Lost Three Quarters of Winter Water Birds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131113080135.htm

This article talked about one of the many outcomes of climate change. Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Britain and Ireland, "has lost more than three quarters of its overwintering water birds". Queen's University Belfast researchers have published a study in the Freshwater Biology journal, noting the drastic drop in diving ducks from 100,000 to less than 21,000 in a time frame of only 10 years. Along with the results of climate change, the scientists fell a major factor in this was the fact that there was a 66% decline in the duck's food in the lake, like insects and snails. While they were losing food sources here, temperature in Northern Europe during this time were increasing by about 3.8 degrees Celcius, therefore decreasing any incentive whatsoever for the birds to migrate.

There are so many consequences of our actions as humans as far as our carbon footprints stand. Study after study, like this one, just proves the point that we have to change our ways because the environment is changing before our eyes and not always for the better. One change sets off a chain reaction, like the decrease in snails and insects in this one lake. How many more studies like this one need to be published before we see the real problem and get the world back to working the way it was before, naturally?

Power Boosting Self-Cleaning Solar Panels

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131121111806.htm

Global warming is a scary thing. The only comfort is in knowing that there are many scientists working on ways in which we can prevent it, or at least slow it down, and that there aren some little, yet significant changes being made. And example of this is the increase in use of solar paneling to conduct electricity. The only problems found with solar panels are that, being reflected, a lot of sunlight in fact is directed back toward the sky, rather than actually used efficiently for electric current. The other problem is that bird droppings and rain seem to keep the solar panels rather dirty. Well, as published in the International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, researchers have found some solutions.

First, a nanoscopic relief pattern can be added to the surface of photovoltai (solar) cells in order to make them non-reflected, therefore the amount of sunlight converted to electricity would increase. Second, scientists can use the lotus leaf as a model of a water repellant surface patter, making the plant hydrophobic. This can be applied to solar panels, making them somewhat self-cleaning, hoping that the bird droppings and rain will just slide off, like they do on the lotus leaf, rather than stick. I think it's great that solar panels exist and are in use, and even better that scientists are constantly looking for ways to make them even better and more marketable. In a perfect world, everything would be run by renewable energy sources like the sun, but increasing the efficiency of solar panels is certainly a step in the right direction!

Negative Effects of Road Noises on Migratory Birds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131106113841.htm

It's no denying that building roads causes a decline in bird populations around the world. The question has always been: Is there one reason we can pinpoint? If we could find the main reason causing this, it would be possible for scientists and conservationists to help find an ecosystem that would be beneficial on all aspects, almost like a compromise. Well, this article suggests that researchers at Boise State University may have found the culprit: noise. While "disturbances, collisions, and chemical pollution" are all undoubtedly harmful to birds and other wildlife, the newest studies show that it's in fact that traffic noise that these species cannot coexist with. The study involved the creation of a "phantom road" with speakers, and the results shows that a quarter of the birds in the area declined and avoided the area when the speakers were playing traffic noises.

I found this article so interesting because it shows how much really does go into problem-solviing real world climate issues. We can't just get rid of every road in the world to save as many birds as we can. Instead, scientists were able to isolate the variable that we can change and that can make a difference without altering something entirely. There is always the possibility of finding a compromise, but it does usually take patience and experimentation to figure it out!

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.