Wednesday 29 June 2016

Thanks to climate change, the Arctic is turning green


Earlier this month, Nasa scientists provided a visualisation of a startling climate change trend - the Earth is getting greener, as viewed from space, especially in its rapidly warming northern regions.

And this is presumably occurring as more carbon dioxide in the air, along with warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons, makes plants very, very happy.

Now, new research in Nature Climate Change not only reinforces the reality of this trend - which is already provoking debate about the overall climate consequences of a warming Arctic - but statistically attributes it to human causes, which largely means greenhouse gas emissions (albeit with a mix of other elements as well).

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=11664809

Monday 27 June 2016

Reef tourists put off by coral bleaching


Coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef could result in one million fewer visitors and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue each year, according to a report by a Canberra-based think tank.

"The massive drop in visitors would result in the loss of one billion dollars in income, and 10,000 tourism jobs," the Australia Institute said in a report.

While many potential visitors may seek other Australian attractions, some "175,000 potential visitors may not come to Australia at all," the report said.

More than 4400 people were surveyed for the report in the United States, Britain, China and Australia, said Tom Burmester, a spokesman for the Institute.


"China, UK and US are the top three countries, making up two in five tourists visiting Australia," he said Tuesday.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=11662000

Saturday 25 June 2016

Watch: Auckland Zoo release hundreds of young giant Weta on Otata Island

Auckland Zoo hope that the release of hundreds of captive-bred young Wetapunga (Giant Weta) on Otata Island in the Hauraki Gulf will help the health of the islands forests.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=162222

Tuesday 21 June 2016

Rare and Stunning Aerial Footage Captures Endangered Bryde’s Whales Feeding


-
 
Awe inspiring video of the nearly extinct Bryde's whale with its baby feeding in New Zealand.
 
http://www.care2.com/causes/rare-and-stunning-aerial-footage-captures-endangered-brydes-whales-feeding.html
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Sunday 19 June 2016

Gentle giraffes face a silent end


Sir David Attenborough documentary warns of threat to the peaceful African mammals.
 
Giraffes are facing a "silent extinction". Only 90,000 still roam the African plains, far fewer than the endangered African elephant, a David Attenborough documentary warns.

Just 15 years ago there were thought to be about 150,000 giraffes in the wild. Since then, numbers have fallen by 40 per cent.

The new BBC documentary, narrated by Sir David, followed a conservation team as they relocated 20 animals across the Nile in Uganda, to be safe from oil prospectors.

"These gentle giants have been overlooked," said Sir David. "It's well known that African elephants are in trouble, and there are perhaps just over half a million left," said Sir David.

"But what no one realises is there are far fewer giraffes. They are killed for their meat, and their habitats are being destroyed. Time is running out."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11659072

Friday 17 June 2016

Vent erupts at Waimangu


The Mud Rift feature in the Waimangu Volcanic Valley has erupted after being dormant for over 30 years.  Photo/GNS Science
The Mud Rift feature in the Waimangu Volcanic Valley has erupted after being dormant for over 30 years. Photo/GNS Science
A deep geothermal vent has sprung into life near Rotorua after laying dormant for over 30 years.

The Mud Rift feature in the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, about 25km south of Rotorua, erupted last month releasing steam and water into the surrounding area.

GNS Science Volcanologist Brad Scott said it had appeared to be mainly steam and fine sands-muds involved.

"There is lots of evidence of fluids flooding in to the rift, especially at the west end. Vegetation nearby is stressed and browning off, but is not damaged by the eruption. There is also some evidence of collapse around the edges of the two smaller vents."


Mr Scott said it had appeared to be a short-lived event.


The Mud Rift is a 36 m long, 5-6 m wide, and 15 m deep geothermal vent in Raupo Pond Crater, one of the craters formed in the June 1886 eruption.

The Mud Rift formed in 1906 and this is the first known eruption since 1981.

GNS have recorded 47 earthquakes within 10 km of Waimangu in the last year. In the last 6 years 388 quakes have been recorded which is typically 64 per year.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/science/news/article.cfm?c_id=82&objectid=11658272


Wednesday 15 June 2016

Unit turns waste methane into power for plant


Adam Twose, foreground, says a de-tuned V8 engine will see effluent turned into useful energy at the Whangarei Wastewater Treatment Plant. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Adam Twose, foreground, says a de-tuned V8 engine will see effluent turned into useful energy at the Whangarei Wastewater Treatment Plant. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Next time you flush a toilet in Whangarei, you could be helping to save ratepayer money and enlighten local farmers to a better way of dealing with effluent.

A new unit at the city's wastewater treatment plant will use methane - a byproduct of the sewage treatment process - to generate electricity. This power would be used to run other processes at the plant, said Whangarei District Council waste and drainage operations engineer Adam Twose.
The unit would also serve as a demonstration project for Northland farmers wanting to put similar technology to use with animal effluent.

"The electricity produced won't be enough to export to the grid because this site [the treatment plant] uses about 250 to 300 kilowatts all the time," Mr Twose said. "This process is only going to generate about 70 kilowatts, but that will save the council about $60,000 worth of electricity a year."

The WDC's Kioreroa Rd plant would soon see the installation of a General Motors 8-litre V8 en
gine next to its sewage digestors. The engine is similar to what can be found inside many American muscle cars and would form the basis of a co-generation unit, which produces useful electricity as well as the heat needed to "cook" sewage sludge as part of the treatment process.

"We cook the sludge at 37C for about 30 days, allowing the solids to break down," Mr Twose said. After this, the sewage sludge was dried and taken to landfill.

Mr Twose said sludge was now cooked using boilers, which ran off the methane this process produced - a self-contained process.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=11651940

Monday 13 June 2016

Why we are slowly losing our night sky


Light pollution is rapidly altering our human experience of pondering the stars in the night sky. Photo / iStock
Light pollution is rapidly altering our human experience of pondering the stars in the night sky. Photo / iStock
More than one-third of the world's population can no longer see the Milky Way because of man-made lights.

Among those missing out on awe-inspiring Milky Way views: nearly 80 per cent of North Americans and 60 per cent of Europeans.

These are the findings of a new global atlas of light pollution, published as part of a scientific paper Friday.

More than four-fifths of Earthlings now live beneath skies polluted by artificial light, which blocks out the Milky Way for more than a third of them, according to the research.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=11654724

Saturday 11 June 2016


Baring Head. Photo / File
Baring Head. Photo / File
The last time the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere was at a level of 400 parts per million (ppm), sea levels were at least 10 metres higher than they are today.

During the Pliocene period, about three million years ago, when global temperatures were 2C or so above today's levels, forests grew on what today is a mostly barren island in the Canadian Arctic and savannas and woodlands were spread across what is now North African desert.

It was a wetter, warmer period in the planet's recent geological history.

And last week, at a windswept point at the bottom of the North Island, the 400ppm milestone was reached in New Zealand for the first time since.

Scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (Niwa) had been watching the readings recorded at the Clean Air Monitoring Station at Baring Head closely at it edged toward the symbolic threshold.

It came a year after it was crossed at the Mauna Loa station in Hawaii, which has recorded a 24 per cent rise in carbon dioxide levels since it began gathering data in 1958.

At the time of the Hawaiian 400ppm reading, scientists described it as a "psychological tripwire" and a stark reminder that the world was still not on a track to limit CO2 emissions -- growing at an annual rate of more than 2ppm -- and therefore climate impacts.

Nasa's Dr Gavin Schmidt said: "We are a society that has inadvertently chosen the double-black diamond run without having learned to ski first. It will be a bumpy ride."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/climate-change/news/article.cfm?c_id=26&objectid=11651149

The 51C heatwave that's melting India




A severe heatwave has set off new records in India, so much so that the roads beneath pedestrians are literally melting like wet cement.
 
Literally.
 
In the footage above, pedestrians' footwear can be seen actually sinking into the tarmac as they walk due to how hot it is.
 
For farmers in particular, the effects have been widespread and devastating, worsening poverty and even prompting suicide.
 
The Indian government has estimated that as much as 25 per cent of the country - 330 million Indians - could be affected by the shortages.\
 
Temperatures in the northern desert province of Rajasthan have soared to 51C, the highest in the country's recorded history, and the third-highest temperature ever documented on Earth.
 
Temperatures across much of northern India have exceeded 40C for weeks. With much of the country densely-populated, this only makes the problem worse.
 
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/climate-change/news/article.cfm?c_id=26&objectid=11645079

Thursday 9 June 2016

Awesome photo of a fish looking horrified after getting stuck inside a jellyfish in Australia


Photo / Instagram / Tim Samuel Photography
Photo / Instagram / Tim Samuel Photography
There would have been times in life when you have regretted decisions you have made, but I bet they are small fry compared to this fish stuck inside a jellyfish.

Photographer Tim Samuel was snorkelling with local videographer Franny Plumridge when he captured the perfect moment of nature off Byron Bay.

"I have never seen anything like it," he toldAustralian Geographic.

"It seemed completely trapped in there, like it had somehow managed to swim inside and then was unable to back itself out.

"The fish was able to propel the jellyfish forward and controlled its movement to an extent, the jellyfish threw it off balance though and they would wobble around, and sometimes get stuck doing circles.

"I contemplating freeing the fish as I felt bad for it, but in the end decided to just let nature run its course, which was a difficult decision for me to make."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11652898

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Thai wildlife officials start removing tigers from temple



Thai wildlife officials load a tiger into a cage on a truck after they removed it from an enclosure at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple. Photo / Getty
Thai wildlife officials load a tiger into a cage on a truck after they removed it from an enclosure at the Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Tiger Temple. Photo / Getty
Wildlife officials in Thailand on Monday began removing some of the 137 tigers held at a Buddhist temple following accusations that the monks were involved in illegal breeding and trafficking of the animals.

The director of Thailand's Wildlife Conservation Office, Teunjai Noochdumrong, said three tigers were tranquilised and transported yesterday in an operation involving about 1000 state personnel that is expected to continue for a week.

The animals will be taken to three government animal refuges elsewhere in Thailand.
 The temple, a popular money-earning tourist attraction in the western province of Kanchanaburi, has been criticised by animal rights activists because of allegations it is not properly set up to care for the animals and flouted regulations restricting their trade.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11647812

Sunday 5 June 2016

Sea sponge size of a minivan could be one of world's oldest living animals




Christopher Kelly says the researchers called their find 'the folded blanket sponge' because 'it looks as though somebody took a blanket and draped it over a chair'. Photo / NOAA
Christopher Kelly says the researchers called their find 'the folded blanket sponge' because 'it looks as though somebody took a blanket and draped it over a chair'. Photo / NOAA
The deep sea is dark and full of mysteries.

Way below the water's surface north of the Hawaiian islands, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has spotted a massive creature hitherto unknown to science.

The ROV captured footage of the spectacularly large sponge during a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) deep-sea expedition, and the species was identified for the first time in a study published yesterday in the journal Marine Biodiversity.

According to NOAA, the "sponge the size of a minivan, the largest on record", measured 3.6m by 2.1m.

Prior to this discovery, the largest recorded sponge was one discovered in shallow waters off western Canada in the late 1800s. It measured about 3.3m long and 1m wide.


And there's more to this sponge than its girth: It could also be among the oldest living animals on earth. (Yes, here is your obligatory reminder that, while sponges may look like weird underwater plants, they belong to the animal kingdom.)

Sponges can live for hundreds or even thousands of years.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11646389

Friday 3 June 2016

Tigers under threat in forest that inspired Jungle Book


A tiger snarls at Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, India. Photo / Sanjay Shukla.
A tiger snarls at Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, India. Photo / Sanjay Shukla.
The tigress lay partly obscured by a lantana bush, attracting a crowd of nature tourists at Pench Tiger Reserve with safari gear and long camera lenses who assumed she was napping in the sun.
But when the tiger nicknamed Baghinnala didn't move, park rangers eventually realised the awful truth - she was dead, along with two of her four cubs. She had been poisoned.

The big cat had been a familiar sight at the tiger reserve in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, an area abounding in teak trees, spotted deer, langur monkeys and more than 40 wild tigers that is believed to be the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. She had been such an important presence at the park that villagers protested after her death and the safari jeep drivers briefly went on strike.

Baghinnala's death, along with those of five other tigers from the famous reserve this year, has again focused attention on the perils facing the big cats in the wild, even as a new study shows the global tiger population rebounding for the first time in decades.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11647010

Wednesday 1 June 2016

Elephant calf rescued from drain in Sri Lanka



The elephant calf was wedged in the uncovered drain after falling in.
The elephant calf was wedged in the uncovered drain after falling in.
An adorable baby elephant had to be rescued after it fell down an uncovered well in Sri Lanka.

Footage shows the rescue team in Hambantota standing around the drain trying to figure out what to do after realising the elephant is trapped.

The baby elephant looks to be in distress as it waits to be rescued.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11647974