WaterWired

CRS InFocus Report: 'U.S. Agency for International Development - An Overview' Updated: 2 December 2019

Emily M. Morgenstern penned this two-pager InFocus CRS report, 'U.S. Agency for International Development - An Overview'.

Download CRS_InFocus_USAID_Overview_2December2019

Background
USAID is responsible for the implementation of more than $20 billion in combined annual appropriations, representing more than one-third of the funds provided in the State, Foreign Operations (SFOPS) appropriation and international food aid provided in the Agriculture appropriation. USAID’s annual appropriations come from14 budget accounts—most “solely owned” and someprogrammed collaboratively with the Department of State—making any calculation of its current budget imprecise. (For more on SFOPS, see CRS Report R45763,Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2020 Budget and Appropriations.)

USAID maintains more than 60 country and regional missions that design and manage a range of projects, most intended to meet specific development objectives as outlined in a Country Development Cooperation Strategy. Most projects are implemented, through a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract, by one of thousands of foreign and U.S. development partners—such as nonprofit private voluntary organizations and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), for-profit contractors, universities, international organizations, and foreign governments.

In FY2018, the most recent year for which detailed data are available, USAID provided assistance to more than 120 countries. Foreign aid allocations reflect both recipient needs and U.S. foreign policy priorities. The top 10 recipients of USAID-implemented funds in FY2018 were, in order of funding, Jordan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, and Kenya. Reflecting USAID’s povertyreduction mandate, 72 of the 78 World Bank-determined low- and lower-middle-income countries received assistance in FY2018, with about 50% of USAID funds attributable to specific countries and regions in sub-Saharan Africa (Figure 1).

Source: Foreign Aid Explorer and CRS calculations.

Enjoy!

“On behalf of the American people, we promote and demonstrate democratic values abroad, and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. In support ofAmerica’s foreign policy, the U.S. Agency for International Development leads the U.S. Government’s internationaldevelopment and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.” — USAID Mission Statement (2019)

USGAO Report: 'Water Scarcity - DOD Has Not Always Followed Leading Practices to Identify At-Risk Installations'

How about this? Not good! GAO report: 'Water Scarcity - DOD Has Not Always Followed Leading Practices to Identify At-Risk Installations'

Download Highlights

Download Full_Report

Fast Facts
Do military installations have enough water to meet mission needs?

DOD completed 6 assessments—3 at the department level and 3 at the military-service level—and found 102 installations at risk of water scarcity. But these assessments were conducted differently and produced different results. The department-level assessments didn’t follow leading practices, and officials disagreed over whether the service-level assessments could be used across DOD.

We recommended that DOD assess whether it should conduct a better department-wide assessment or use the approach in the service-level assessments to identify installations at risk of water scarcity.

Rocket Launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California: An Installation Identified at Risk of Water Scarcity

What GAO Found
GAO found that the Department of Defense (DOD) does not have assurance that it is using reliable information regarding which installations are at risk for water scarcity. When comparing the results of six Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and military department assessments on installations vulnerable to water scarcity, GAO found that they varied markedly, raising questions about their quality and about which source of information DOD is using to determine which installations are vulnerable to water scarcity (see figure).

Installations Identified in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Military Department Assessments as Being at Risk of Water Scarcity

An OSD official stated that the three OSD-produced assessments provided the best information available on which installations are at risk of water scarcity. However, GAO found that these assessments did not reflect four of five leading practices for identifying and analyzing water scarcity—practices that contribute to a reliable assessment of water availability. Specifically, OSD did not always (1) identify current water availability, (2) identify future water availability, (3) take into account all sources of water, or (4) precisely identify locations. Further, although GAO found that the three military department assessments aligned with all leading practices, OSD officials disagreed as to whether these assessments can and should be used to identify installations at risk of water scarcity across the defense enterprise. Until OSD resolves the question as to whether it should conduct a department-wide assessment of installations that aligns with leading practices or whether it should rely on the military department assessments, the department will not have assurance that it is using reliable information to assess water scarcity.

Why GAO Did This Study
DOD reported in January 2019 that critical installations are at risk of water scarcity—that is, of not having sufficient water available to meet their mission needs. According to military department officials, installations depend on water for activities such as training, weapons testing, fire suppression, and sanitation. In its 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment, the U.S. Global Change Research Program reported that warming temperatures will continue to cause worsening droughts and the decline of surface water quality.

Senate Report 115-262 included a provision for GAO to review DOD's identified or potential effects of water scarcity. For this report, GAO evaluated the extent to which DOD has assurance that it is using reliable information to identify installations at risk of water scarcity. GAO analyzed DOD's six assessments conducted from April 2017 through January 2019 to identify installations at risk of water scarcity and compared the assessments with five leading practices for identifying and analyzing water scarcity. GAO also interviewed officials from OSD and the military departments and contacted a nongeneralizable sample of 17 installations identified in OSD's assessments to reflect diversity in military service, mission, and water scarcity.

What GAO Recommends
GAO recommends that the Office of the Secretary of Defense assess whether it should conduct a coordinated, department-wide assessment aligned with leading practices or rely on military department assessments to determine which DOD installations are at risk of water scarcity. DOD concurred with GAO's recommendation.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Field at (202) 512-2775 or fielde1@gao.gov.

Wait until The Donald hears about this!

Enjoy!

"The road to success is always under construction." - J. Nusch (from the Frankfurt Airport, which is always under construction)

Josh's Water Jobs and More! 3 December 2019

From Josh:

Giving back

Last week in the US was Thanksgiving and in order to counter all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday consumerism, #GivingTuesday was developed following those days of sales to promote charitable giving. Since I’m behind in my monthly emails asking for contributions to the website, I thought I’d take this opportunity, being #GivingTuesday, to see if anyone would like to give back to support the website. If the list/website saves you time, you’ve found an opportunity via site or just want to help us out, please go here to support us. Thanks!

Josh's Jobs:

PDF: Download JWJ_3Dec2019

Word: Download JWJ_3Dec2019

1) Josh's Jobs

Highlighted:   Lots of interesting positions this week, or at least what I thought were…   1) Junior Researcher on Social Innovation – IHE Delft Institute for Water Education(Netherlands): 10 December   2) Freshwater Health Index Coordinator – Conservation International (CI) (South Africa): 4 December   3) Strategic Programmes Officer – International Water Association (IWA) (London): 10 December   4) Research Fellow in Water Security, Policy & Governance – University of Leeds (United Kingdom): 17 December   5) Programme Manager Water and Climate – The Hague Academy for Local Governance(Netherlands): 9 December   6) Global Water Stewardship Director (Sustainability) – PepsiCo (Purchase, NY, USA): Until filled   Deadline today (3 December)!   7) Somalia nationals: WASH Officer (2 positions) – Save the Children (Somalia): 3 December   8) Somalia nationals: WASH Assistant – Save the Children (Somalia): 3 December

Minimum years experience requested:

0-2 years   9) Junior Manager Climate Action Platform – South Pole (Various, Europe): Until filled   10) Papua New Guinea nationals: Programme Analyst (Environment) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Papua New Guinea): 6 December   11) Engineering Geologist – California State Water Resources Control Board(Sacramento, CA, USA): 11 December

3-4 years   12) Research Officer – Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) (Cambodia): 10 December   13) Knowledge Management and Communication Officer (two project positions) – International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) (Nepal): 18 December   14) Project Manager – Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group (Maleny, QLD, Australia): 7 December   15) Delaware River Basin Program Manager – River Network (Home-based, Delaware River Basin, USA): 10 January   16) Senior Communications Specialist (U.S. Climate) – Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) (Washington, DC): Until filled   17) FEMA Analyst II – Michael Baker International (Alexandria, VA, USA): Until filled   18) Senior Water Quality Specialist – Watershed Consulting Associates LLC(Burlington, VT, USA): Until filled   19) Environmental Analyst VI (Watershed Management) – Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (Montpelier, VT, USA): 8 December   20) Natural Resources Policy/Planning Analyst – New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM, USA): 8 December   21) Dutch speakers: Beleidsadviseur Water – Waterschap Hollandse Delta(Netherlands): 13 December   22) Thailand nationals: Programme Associate (Climate Change Adaptation) – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Bangkok): 5 December

5-7 years   23) Senior Manager (Partnerships to World Water Week and Prizes) – Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) (Stockholm): 4 December   24) (Senior) Environment Specialist – European Investment Bank (EIB) (Vienna): 10 December   25) Senior Scientist – Environmental Vulnerability & Ecosystem Services – UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) (Germany): 13 December   26) Ecosystem Programme Officer – International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Spain): 15 December 27) Programme Management Officer – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) (Geneva): 20 December   28) Technical Expert – United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)(Geneva): 5 December   29) Head of Climate Action and Ambition – Climate Action Network (Flexible): 8 December   30) Adaptation Program Director (Georgetown Climate Center - Georgetown University Law Center) – Georgetown University (Washington, DC): Until filled   31) Environmental Sustainability Manager – BESTSELLER (Denmark): 10 December   32) Canada nationals: Senior Water Adaptation and Mitigation Specialist – City of Calgary (Calgary, AB, Canada): 6 December   33) Pennsylvania Executive Director – Chesapeake Bay Foundation (Harrisburg, PA, USA): 12 December   34) Environmental Specialist – AECOM (Chantilly, VA, USA): Until filled

8-9 years   35) Re-advertisement: Gender Programme Officer – Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med) (Various): 9 December   36) Communications Director – Resources for the Future (RFF) (Washington, DC): Until filled

10+ years   37) Global Coordinator (Strategic Partnerships) – Global Water Partnership (GWP)(Stockholm or remote): 11 December   38) Senior Sustainable Development Officer – United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) (New York): 14 December   39) Team Leader (National Water Resources Strategic Plan (A Framework for Action)) – CTG Global (Somalia): 9 December   40) Water and Development IDIQ Follow-on (WADI II): Chief of Party – DAI (Africa): Until filled

Not specified:   41) Research Associate (Climate Risk) – Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)(Stockholm): 13 December   42) Two Technicians (Water Framework Directive Programme) – Inland Fisheries Ireland (Dublin): 16 December   43) Research Officer (Water Framework Directive Programme) – Inland Fisheries Ireland (Dublin): 16 December   44) GIS Officer (Water Framework Directive Programme) – Inland Fisheries Ireland(Dublin): 16 December   45) German speakers: Berater (m/w/d) Klimaschutz im Vorhaben Bodenschutz, Desertifikationsbekämpfung und Nachhaltiges Landmanagement – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Germany): 12 December   46) Knowledge Manager, Australia Pacific Climate Partnership Support Unit – Palladium (Australia): 6 December   47) Australia nationals: Assistant Policy Officer – Government of New South Wales(Parramatta, NSW, Australia): 6 December   48) Australia nationals: Director (Water Information Systems) – Queensland Government (Brisbane, QLD, Australia): 9 December   49) Australia nationals: Manager Environmental Policy and Planning – Queensland Government (Various, QLD, Australia): 10 December   50) U.K. nationals: Permitting Team Leader (Water Resources) – Environment Agency (United Kingdom): 6 December   51) Assistant Resource Protection Adviser – Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) (United Kingdom): 9 December   52) Climate Resilience Researcher – Climate Northern Ireland (Belfast): 9 December   53) U.K. nationals: Hydrology Technical Specialist – Environment Agency (United Kingdom): 15 December   54) U.K. nationals: Hydrology Technical Officer – Environment Agency (United Kingdom): 15 December   55) Deputy Director of Climate Change Service (C3S) – European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) (United Kingdom): 17 December   56) Green Climate Fund Africa Adaption Adviser – UK Department for International Development (DFID) (South Korea): 9 December   57) Assistant Hydrologist – The Coal Authority (United Kingdom): 10 December   58) Chief Operating Officer – Climate Bonds Initiative (London): Until filled   59) Water Internship Program Trainer/Community Coordinator – Water First(Winnipeg/Kenora, Canada): 5 December   60) Canada nationals: Watershed Technician – Assiniboine Watershed Stewardship Association (AWSA) (Yorkton, SK, Canada): 6 December   61) Canada nationals: Director (Climate Change Secretariat) – Yukon Government(Whitehorse, YT, Canada): 13 December   62) U.S. nationals: Supervisory Civil Engineer (Hydrologic)/Hydrologist – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Billings, MT, USA): 5 December   63) U.S. nationals: Hydrologic Technician – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)(Roswell, NM, USA): 6 December – If you’re a fan of UFOs, apply here   64) U.S. nationals: Water Resources Specialist – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation(Boulder City, NV, USA): 9  December   65) Environment and Sustainability Manager – Waymo (Mountain View, CA, USA): Until filled – Self-driving technology company

Not specified (academic): Professors/lecturers 66) Research Assistant Professor (Eco Hydraulics /Environmental Hydraulic Engineering) – Central State University (Wilberforce, OH, USA): 6 December Postdocs 67) Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Data, AI and Flooding Research – Rutgers University (Piscataway, NJ, USA): Until filled Researchers/other 68) Research Fellow in Tropical Forest Water Relations – University of Leeds (United Kingdom): 19 December

WASH: 0-2 years 69) French speakers: Associate WASH Officer (Surface Water Resource Management) – United Nations Volunteers (UNV) (Chad): 8 December 3-4 years   70) Arabic speakers: Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Specialist – Management Systems International (MSI) (Jordan): Until filled   71) French speakers: Coordinateur Eau, Hygiène & Assainissement (WASH) – Action Contre La Faim (Niger): Until filled   72) WASH Program Manager – Action Contre La Faim (Lebanon): Until filled   73) Rural Development Specialist (Environmental) – Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) (Hawaii, USA): Until filled   74) WASH Program Manager – Solidarités International (Iraq): Until filled   75) Palestine nationals: WASH Cluster Information Management Officer – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Palestine): 6 December   76) Indonesia nationals: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Officer (Surge) – International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)(Indonesia): 11 December   77) Global Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Lead – Living Water International(Houston, TX, USA): Until filled 5-7 years 78) French speakers: Un Responsable de Département Eau, Assainissement et Hygiène – Action Contre La Faim (Chad): Until filled   79) India nationals: WASH Specialist – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)(India): 15 December   80) Palestine nationals: WASH Cluster Coordinator – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Palestine): 6 December   81) Ivory Coast nationals: Spécialiste en Eau, Hygiène, Assainissement – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Ivory Coast): 9 December   82) Somali speakers: WASH Engineer – Rural Education and Agriculture Development Organization (Somalia): 10 December 10+ years 83) Global Sector Coordinator (WASH) – SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (Various): Until filled   84) Chief of Party (KAWAS) – DAI (Nepal): Until filled   85) Hindi speakers: Director / Senior Programme Manager (Urban Water and Sanitation Programme Support Unit) – Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)(India): 10 December   Not specified   86) Research & Program Manager – Aquaya (Nairobi): 31 January 2020   87) WASH Coordinator (2 Positions) – World Vision (India): 10 December

Consultancies: 88) Consultant: Mid-Term Evaluator – International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Cairo): 9 December   89) Consultancy: Wash Services Monetization Scale-up Feasibility Analysis – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Lebanon): 4 December   90) International Consultant to undertake Climate Scenarios, Socio Economic and Vulnerability Analysis – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Liberia): 9 December   91) Technical Advisor to Assist IGEN-PSWP Team in Promotion of Solar Water Pumps Sustainably in India – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (India): 18 December   92) Consultant to the UN Programme – Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Home-Based): 8 December   93) Consultant services for UNICEF’s Market-based Sanitation Guidance, Markets and Supplier Financing Centre – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)(Copenhagen): 10 December   94) Bangladesh nationals: National WASH Consultant (Accelerated Sanitation and Water for All (ASWA II) Project) – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (Dhaka): 11 December   95) Tajikistan nationals: National Water Users Association Specialist – Asian Development Bank (ADB) (Tajikistan): 4 December   96) Hindi speakers: Individual Consultant for Documentation – WaterAid (India): 8 December   97) Kiswahili speakers: ToR for Consultancy on Influencing Pastoral Natural Resource Management in the Context of Climate Change and Risk Reduction – Action Africa Help – International (Kenya): 6 December

RFP: 98) Gender and Inclusion Consultant for Assessment of Public and Community Toilets for Women – WaterAid (India): 8 December   99) Technical Consultant for Assessment of Public and Community Toilets for Women – WaterAid (India): 8 December   100) Baseline Survey on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – WaterAid (India): 10 December   101) Hygiene Promotion and Education Consultancy – African Development Bank (AfDB) (The Gambia): 9 December   102) Groundwater Study for the Skopje – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (North Macedonia): 10 December

Internships: 103) Intern (Environment Affairs, (Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility)) – Global Environment Facility (GEF) (Washington, DC): 6 December   104) Campaigns Intern – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (London): 8 December   105) Earth Hour 2020 Intern – World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (Washington, DC): Until filled   106) Intern – World Resources Institute (WRI) (Netherlands): Until filled   107) Watershed Field Study Site Intern/Conservation Associate – Willistown Conservation Trust (Newtown Square, PA, USA): Until filled   108) Intern (Environment Affairs) – United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (Geneva): 10 December   109) German speakers: Praktikant (m/w/d) im Bereich klima- und umweltpolitische Dialoge MENA / Afrika – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Berlin): 12 December   110) German-based university students: Internship (Policy and Public Affairs) – CDP(Berlin): Until filled

Scholarships: 111) Watershed Management Under Changing Climate and Land-use – University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC, Canada): 8 December   112) GW4 FRESH CDT studentship: Smart Catchments: Utilising in situ sensors to monitor ecosystem health in freshwater catchments – Cardiff University (United Kingdom): 16 December   113) GW4 FRESH CDT PhD Studentship: Chemical and ecological effects of combined sewer overflows on rivers – University of Bath (United Kingdom): 16 December

Other: 114) U.S. nationals: Student Trainee (Hydrology) – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)(Murray, KS, USA): 9 December     Last week’s list, in case you missed it   Post a job   Support Josh’s Water Jobs

For our full list of active water jobs, please visit www.joshswaterjobs.com/jobs.

2) Additional Jobs from WaterWired

115) Position: @montanastate (Bozeman, MT) - T-T Assistant/Associate Professor of Environmental Systems Science. OUF; App. review: 9 December http://bit.ly/2IZOjXg #JobWaWi

116) Positions: Federal Agencies - @usbr, @forestservice, @BLMNational, @NPS etc. (Various Locations) - One-Year Paid Internships for Latinx students. Closing dates in November & December 2019 http://bit.ly/2Qm3C1g

117) Position: @CUBoulder (Boulder, CO) - Open Rank Faculty Positions in Environmental and Water Engineering. Full consideration: 15 December http://bit.ly/2CHXl7W

117) Position: City of Stanford (CA) - Water Operations Engineer Closes: 13 December https://sforce.co/2KrXeBD #JobWaWi

118) Position: @SiuslawWC (Mapleton, OR and elsewhere) - Education and Outreach Coordinator (0.6 FTE) http://bit.ly/2DeHYUL #JobWaWi

119) Positions: @CmccClimate (Milan, Bologna, Venice, Viterbo) - Various positions - modeling, data. Various closing dates. http://bit.ly/2QoHi7c #JobWaWi

120) Position: @OHAOregon (Springfield) - Drinking Water Specialist. Closes: 8 December http://bit.ly/2r3GNVv #JobWaWi

121) Position: Gilliam-East John Day Watershed Council (Condon, OR) - Coordinator. OUF; Apps due: 5 December. Download GEJDWC_Coordinator_Job_2019 

122) Position: @GWPnews (Stockholm) - Global Coordinator, Strategic Partnerships. Closes: 11 December https://bit.ly/34sK4fz #JobWaWi

123) Postdoctoral Positions (2) - @UCSB (Santa Barbara, CA) - 1) Cartography of Movement; 2) Movement Data Science. OUF; Review of apps begin 15 December. http://bit.ly/386eZRd #JobWaWi

3) Some General Employment Resources

AGU Career Center for research/academic jobs

GoodWorkCanada - Canada's Green Jobs Site

Congressional Research Service Positions 

Check out @AidJobs - Vacancies in aid, development, humanitarian & nonprofit sector (volunteers, consultants or F-T employment) https://aidjobs.org

UN Jobs in Water Resources

UN Jobs in Water Management

UN Jobs in Water and Sanitation

Global Water Jobs

WASH Vacancies

Academic Jobs Online

Higher Education Job Site

Get Hydrology Jobs

AAG Jobs

@BCWaterNews Jobs Click View Jobs

@EcologyWA - Current Openings - Updated every few days. Click here. 

King County (WA) Jobs

Geoscience Job Board

California DWR Jobs

AZ Water Career Center 

Florida Water Jobs

NYC DEP 

Nature Conservancy jobs

State of Washington Careers

Idaho DEQ 

OSU Water Resources Program

Water District Jobs

Academic Jobs in Schools of Physical/Earth Sciences

Mac's List - Jobs in Portland and Beyond!

New Zealand Hydrological Society Jobs Board

California Water Jobs 

Government Jobs

Association of Oregon Counties Job Postings

Soil Science Societies Career Center

How to Find Work Overseas, with Marcelle Yeager. https://bit.ly/1pIopLT  

For the full list of Josh's active water jobs, please visit www.joshswaterjobs.com/jobs

Enjoy! 

"When the cause of the people is entrusted to the professors, it is lost." - Lenin

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 2 December 2019

Elaine sent these to me a day early so I could post them but a 'snowstorm' here in Bratislava knocked the hotel's Internet (but not the power). We got all of a couple of inches of snow and it was gone by noon on 2 December..

We ate at the Savage Garden restaurant here in Bratislava. Highly recommended - just don't belittle the chef. Go figure. 

Would you like to sign a document supporting an initiative to promote the sustainable use of groundwater? Click here.

Do you know of a colleague and/or student who would be interested in receiving  these Bulletin Board listings? Please forward this to them. A quick email to Geosciences-BBoard@att.net with the word “subscribe” in the subject line and the email address will  be added to the weekly distribution. 

Here are Elaine's BBs as Word/PDF documents:     

As PDF: Download Bulletin_Boards_2Dec2019

As Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_2Dec2019

Note: If a link does not work, try pasting it into your browser.

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 2 December 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Heavy rains trigger landslide and results in collapse of road bridge in Liguria, Italy

• https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-24/viaduct-on-italy-s-a6-highway-collapses-during-landslide

New high-tech shallow water buoy to improve forecasting of earthquakes & tsunamis

• https://spark.adobe.com/page/KhftNMIH9575O/

All about volcanic eruptions

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/kids/science/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-volcanic-eruptions/ar-BBWXeTX

Rare West Coast “bomb cyclone” brought winds and snow and cold – dropped more than 30 mb but we’ve experienced stronger winds many times before

• https://news.yahoo.com/bombogenesis-unprecedented-bomb-cyclone-blast-202940745.html

New geodynamic model for Cenozoic extension in southwestern US

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-geologic-method-collapse-ancient-mountains.html
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12950-8

“Fingerprinting” source of oxidizing fluids in subduction zones

• https://eos.org/articles/using-garnets-to-explore-arc-magma-oxidation

Refining the global hydrologic budget

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/a-closure-on-sea-level-rise-budget
• Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019GL085470

Applying artificial intelligence and tabletop models to understanding faults & EQs

• https://eos.org/features/machine-fault

Bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice cores help understanding of million-year-old climatic event

• https://eos.org/articles/antarctic-ice-cores-offer-a-whiff-of-earths-ancient-atmosphere

How to harness ever growing streams of geodata

• https://eos.org/features/a-geodata-fabric-for-the-21st-century

First-ever recording of heartbeats of the blue whale – largest animal to ever exist on earth

• https://news.stanford.edu/2019/11/25/first-ever-recording-blue-whales-heart-rate/
• Paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/11/19/1914273116

16 myo Dominican amber reveals interaction of social insects

• http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/electrosminthuridia-helibionta-07841.html

Well-preserved Styracosaurus albertensisskill overturns assumptions in identifying horned dinosaurs

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191125173447.htm
• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-dinosaur-skull-paleontology-assumptions.html

Jeholbaatar kielanae– extinct Mesozoic rodent fossil sheds light on evolution of middle ear

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-cretaceous-mammal-fossil-evolution-middle.html

Global warming alarmists cite climate tipping points – but not over-population

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-climate-scientists.html
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03595-0

Using radar in Antarctica to measure ionosphere

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-earth-ionosphere-largest-atmospheric-radar.html
• Paper: https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/10.1175/JTECH-D-18-0175.1

Discovering “lost” continents

• https://theconversation.com/what-are-lost-continents-and-why-are-we-discovering-so-many-126355

Extinction of large Ice Age mammals likely drove surviving animals apart

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-extinction-ice-age-giants-drove.html

Probing the isotopic ration of uranium inside a single zircon crystal

• https://www.technology.org/2019/11/26/new-geochemistry-technique-yields-clues-about-earths-earliest-days/

Poly-extreme geothermal Dallol area in Ethiopia – a place with no life

• https://www.technology.org/2019/11/25/scientists-have-discovered-a-place-on-earth-with-no-biological-life/

Thanksgiving eve meteor of 100 years ago across Michigan – comparable to Chelyabinsk event

• https://www.cnet.com/news/a-gigantic-meteor-shook-earth-on-thanksgiving-eve-100-years-ago/
• https://www.cnet.com/news/watch-russian-meteorites-impact-via-security-cam/

Planetary geology:  analysis of impact crater data of Ryugu asteroid reveals complex geologic history

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/ku-icd112719.php

Book Review:  Tectonic & Structural Framework of the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt, vol. 3

• https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191127005291/en/

Book Review:  Tectonic Setting and Gondwana Basin Architecture in the Indian Shield, vol. 4

• https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191126005385/en/Tectonic-Setting-Gondwana-Basin-Architecture-Indian-Shield

Massive asteroid impacts may have triggered early plate tectonics

• http://www.sci-news.com/geology/massive-asteroid-impacts-early-plate-tectonics-07847.html

Israel Charles White (1848-1927) – first West Virginia State Geologist

• https://www.wvpublic.org/post/november-25-1927-first-wv-state-geologist-ic-white-dies#stream/0

Gary Lash – Professor Emeritus of Geology at University of Fredonia – awarded John T. Galey Memorial Award by Eastern Section of AAPG

• https://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2019/11/fredonia-geoscientist-awarded-the-aapg-eastern-sections-highest-honor/

Cluster of new faults found using acoustic vibrations from Monterey Accelerated Research System subsea optical fiber in Monterey Bay

• https://news.berkeley.edu/2019/11/28/underwater-telecom-cables-make-superb-seismic-network/
• https://www.businessinsider.com/fiber-optic-cables-record-underwater-earthquakes-ocean-floor-2019-11

Perspective:  enabling FAIR Data Project in geoscience

• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-019-0506-4
• Project: http://www.copdess.org/enabling-fair-data-project/

What old bones and fossils reveal about Nevada

• https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/nov/29/old-bones-new-finds-what-major-fossil-discoveries/

Developing geothermal potential from old mines in Britain

• http://geographical.co.uk/nature/energy/item/3474-mine-heat

Enviromental Science Bulletin Board – 2 December 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Romaine lettuce contaminated with E. coli- 67 cases in 19 states in current outbreak – “poopy” lettuce comes from Salinas Valley

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11/poopy-lettuce-strikes-again-67-already-sickened-by-e-coli-tainted-romaine/
• https://news.yahoo.com/cdc-says-67-people-infected-193219712.html

The transformation of San Francisco over last decade – from high tech to homelessness – drug addiction – “poop patrol” to clean up human feces

• https://news.yahoo.com/san-francisco-transformed-last-decade-153456296.html

US cities with unhealthy ozone pollution resulting from combinations of factors

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/weather/54-american-cities-with-dangerous-ozone-conditions/ss-BBWX2sc

Converting dog years into human years

• https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/11/here-s-better-way-convert-dog-years-human-years-scientists-say

Growing medical marijuana has serious impact on public water systems in New Mexico

• https://www.waterwired.org/2019/11/report-high-dry-medical-cannabis-oversight-new-mexicos-public-water-systems.html
• White Paper: https://aquadoc.typepad.com/files/hi_and_dry_final.pdf

Online resource highlights progress of green stormwater infrastructure project in Detroit

• https://apnews.com/9a777d010ed843e4afe953db9677c61e
• https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/michigan/stories-in-michigan/detroit-stormwater-hub/
• Detroit Stormwater Hub: https://detroitstormwater.org/

Issuing better cell phone alerts for hazards - potentially life-threatening floods, EQs, avalanches…

• https://qz.com/1754923/national-weather-service-will-cut-down-on-emergency-phone-alerts/

Above-ground power lines pose greater risk in stormy or windy weather

• https://apnews.com/d2c2ea5bcee64a08a52dc06bb4da4337

Wetland area increasing near mouth of Atchafalaya River

• https://www.fox8live.com/2019/11/23/wetland-growth-near-mouth-atchafalaya-gives-hope-restoring-louisianas-mississippi-delta/

An “outstanding accomplishment” or not?  Shooting a deer from a blind

• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/26/florence-teeters-104-wisconsin-woman-first-buck/4314461002/

Syrian refugee crisis has consequences for natural disaster risk in neighboring countries

• https://eos.org/features/no-place-to-flee

Occupational hazard:  US countertop workers getting sick with silicosis

• https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/21/777268528/it-s-going-to-get-worse-how-u-s-countertop-workers-started-getting-sick

Perspective:  Next big crisis in Puerto Rico will be water

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/puerto-rico-water_n_5dd2e6e9e4b0d2e79f917f43

Despite the science – 80% in recent poll accept human role in climate change & 50% “great” contribution

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11/most-americans-support-efforts-on-climate-change-want-more-renewables/

Honeybees use wetted wings as hydrofoils for propulsion when trapped on water surface

• http://www.sci-news.com/biology/honeybees-wings-hydrofoils-water-surface-07819.html

Bangladesh to shut soot-belching brick kilns as air pollution reaches toxic levels

• http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Bangladesh_to_shut_brick_kilns_as_air_quality_soars_to_worlds_worst_999.html

Environmental costs of cryptocurrency – health & air quality impacts

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191113092600.htm
• Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629619302701?via%3Dihub

Some mammals are venomous – Solenodon genome reveals convergent evolution

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191125152959.htm
• Paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/11/25/1906117116

First global map of food systems sustainability

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191125100347.htm
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-019-0301-5

Risk from lava flows living on Mount Etna

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Living_at_the_edge_of_an_active_volcano_Risk_from_lava_flows_on_Mount_Etna_999.html

Should US & EU & China really pay for human-caused disasters during acts of God?

• http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/US_EU_owe_half_the_cost_of_repairing_climate_damage_999.html

Can controlled food production solve food shortages due to over-population?

• http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Using_controlled_environment_food_production_to_solve_food_shortages_999.html

Anticipating fish kills and undrinkable water in the Murray Darling river system

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-fish-undrinkable-murray-darling-summer.html

Wildlife expose to more pollution than previously thought

• https://theconversation.com/wildlife-are-exposed-to-more-pollution-than-previously-thought-124834

Keep your cat indoors – have a healthier & happier pet and protect wildlife

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-cats-indoors-pet-happy-science.html

Seeking “natural” solutions to man-made PFAS pollution of air, soil & water

• https://phys.org/news/2019-11-natural-solutions-manmade-problem.html

“Nemo” species cannot adapt to rapid environmental changes

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/whoi-bnf112619.php

Humans continue to co-evolve with immune-related diseases

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/cp-hcw112019.php
• Paper: https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/fulltext/S1471-4906(19)30210-8

Coffee, tea, chocolate & soft drinks – now caffeine is literally in our blood

• https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/we-love-coffee-tea-chocolate-and-soft-drinks-so-much-caffeine-literally-our-blood

Underlying genetic mechanisms that drive sexual differentiation of frogs

• https://www.technology.org/2019/11/22/rapid-evolution-researchers-discover-remarkable-variation-in-genetic-mechanisms-that-drive-sexual-differentiation-of-frogs/

Footprints of human activities – heavy metal contamination & source identification in river sediments in eastern China

• https://sciencetrends.com/the-footprints-of-urbanization-industrialization-and-agriculture-on-river-beds-heavy-metal-contamination-assessment-and-source-identification-in-river-sediments-in-eastern-china/

Habitat restoration of seismic lines insufficient to support threatened woodland caribou

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191127090146.htm

Proposed “AeroSlider” will use unobtrusive magnetic loops – an engineering fantasy!

• https://www.fastcompany.com/90435778/stand-aside-hyperloop-this-cross-continental-train-aims-to-replace-flying

To determine how best to assess economic & ecological impacts of natural disasters on industries & waterways around Neches River basin near Beaumont, Texas

• https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2019/11/22/wetland-flooding-zhang

US Army COE hoping that yet another dam project (cost $2.3B) will ease flooding in Baton Rouge area

• https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/environment/article_eda664ee-0f9f-11ea-bf74-c7e7644c8856.html

Huntington Beach, California, wants to build massive desalination plant to “solve” water woes

• http://www.poseidonwater.com/huntington-beach-desalination-plant.html
• https://www.hbfreshwater.com/environment.html
• https://www.surfrider.org/campaigns/desalination-plant-huntington-beach

Iranians working for Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation to preserve Asiatic cheetahs sentenced to 6-10 years in prison for “spying”

• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03626-w
• Free to Think 2019: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/resources/free-to-think-2019/

GAO Report:  “Army Corps of Engineers:  Evaluation of Flood Risk Management Projects Could Benefit from Increased Transparency”

• https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-43
• Highlights: https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/702916.pdf
• Report: https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/702914.pdf

Captive tigers in the US outnumber those that remain in the wild

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/11/tigers-in-the-united-states-outnumber-those-in-the-wild-feature/

Doctor in rural Wisconsin treats diseases of Amish & other “closed” genetic communities

• https://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-village-doctor-makes-house-100012793.html

18,000-year-old puppy preserved in Siberian permafrost might be “missing link” between dogs and wolves

• https://news.yahoo.com/18-000-old-puppy-discovered-205256995.html

Battling a plague of mice in the Farallon Islands of northern California

• https://news.yahoo.com/truly-astounding-inside-farallon-islands-110036009.html

Plastic ingested in large quantities by deer, whales, sea turtle, sea birds & other animals

• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-deer-plastic/dead-deer-found-in-thailand-with-stomach-full-of-plastic-waste-idUSKBN1Y11GX
• https://www.vox.com/2019/5/24/18635543/plastic-pollution-bags-whale-stomach-beached
• https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article237574429.html
• https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/midway-atoll-covered-with-plastic-dead-birds/5165009.html

Thailand slowly improving marine pollution ranking – still among the 20 biggest polluters

• https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-ranking-among-20-top-marine-polluters-improves-from-6th-to-10th-place/

Caution:  CBD is potentially harmful

• https://www.marketwatch.com/story/cbd-has-the-potential-to-harm-you-fda-warns-consumers-2019-11-25
• FDA alert: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis

Perspective:  What you should do about “climate change” – remember Occam’s razor and adapt

• https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/11/29/what-should-you-do-about-climate-change/

Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 2 December 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Public warned of unusually high tides in Hawaii

• https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/11/26/unusually-high-tides-bring-threat-coastalflooding-hawaii-shores/

• https://mauinow.com/2019/11/27/coastal-flooding-risks-possible-along-honoapiilani-highway/

Meetings to help local communities improve resiliency of coastal forests

• https://www.dailypress.com/news/environment/dp-nw-resilient-coastal-forests-20191127-ny4tswawyzfktai36mcg7fg5sa-story.html

Elevated mercury levels in mountain lions in Santa Cruz Mountains linked to coastal fog

• https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/elevated-toxic-mercury-in-mountain-lionslinked-to-coastal-fog-327674

Oregon coastal communities work toward earthquake & tsunami resilience

• https://www.klcc.org/post/coastal-communities-work-tsunami-resilience

Coastal Albania hit by M6.4 EQ – at least 20 killed & buildings collapsed

• https://ktla.com/2019/11/25/magnitude-6-4-quake-hits-coastal-cities-in-albania/

•http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/More_than_20_dead_as_Albania_hunts_for_earthquake_survivors_999.html

Coastal Resources of Maine waste facility fined for accidental release of 6,500 gallons of bleach

• https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-waste-plant-is-fined-after-it-releases-bleach-into-sewersystem

“Coastal Living” magazine back in publication being delivered to mailboxes

• https://businessofhome.com/articles/tiffany-s-has-a-buyer-coastal-living-is-back-in-mailboxesand-more

Coastal history of Maine

• https://www.pressherald.com/2019/11/25/coastal-history-a-maine-thanksgiving/

$30M in grants issued for coastal resilience project in 23 states and territories

• https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2019/coastal-resilience-scores-needed-public-privateboost/85736

$4.9M FAA grant for expansion of Coastal Carolina Regional Airport

• https://www.witn.com/content/news/FAA-grant-to-expand-services-at-Coastal-Carolina-Airport-in-New-Bern-565455261.html

Floating farm in Netherlands provides model for coastal cities to raise food

• https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/coastal-cities-can-build-floating-farms-like-this-one-inrotterdam/

Blue Forests Project involves pilot approaches to coastal ecosystem conservation to promote mangroves

• https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/greening-blue-championing-coastalclimate-solutions

STORMTOOLS – new coastal environmental risk index and damage assessment tool

• https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/charlestown/crmc-presents-enhanced-coastal-riskassessment-tools/article_64a940ba-113b-11ea-a29d-373c32ab2a21.html

• https://www.beachsamp.org/stormtools/stormtools-coastal-environmental-risk-index-ceri/

New law in New York aims to transfer development rights from high-risk coastal areas to low-risk areas

• https://www.easthamptonstar.com/government/20191127/law-to-aid-coastal-retreat

New renderings for Bankside development along the Harlem River

• https://ny.curbed.com/2019/11/21/20975938/south-bronx-new-york-brookfield-harlem-riveraffordable-housing

Flooding & coastal damages to cost Britain economy an estimated £12bn

• https://www.edie.net/news/9/Flooding-and-coastal-damages-risking--12bn-to-UK-economy/

Coastal GasLink Pipeline analysis – pipeline under construction from NW British Columbia to export

• Part 1 - https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2019/11/coastal-gaslink-pipeline-analysis-part-1-complexity-and-how-we-got-here/

• Part 2 - https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2019/11/coastal-gaslink-pipeline-analysis-part-2-current-social-legal-and-policy-issues/

• Part 3 - https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2019/11/coastal-gaslink-pipeline-analysis-part-3-law-policy-and-regulation/

• Full Report: https://s3.ca central1.amazonaws.com/media.jwnenergy/PDFs/Social+Legal+and+Policy+Issues+Facing+the+Coastal+GasLink+Pipeline.pdf

Low-lying neighborhood on Key Largo has had low-level flood waters for nearly 3 months

• https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/morning-edition/npr-story/783349974

Billionaire continues legal crusade to close Silicon Valley Martins Beach to the public

• https://sf.curbed.com/2019/11/27/20985641/vinod-khosla-martins-beach-appeals-court-winbillionaire

“Perfect storm” of weather conditions led to fish kill in Heron Lagoon in Siesta Key, Florida

• https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20191127/lsquoperfect-stormrsquo-of-weather-eventsled-to-fish-kill-in-siesta-key-lagoon

Wading birds begin winter return to Pelican Island – first National Wildlife Refuge

• https://www.wptv.com/news/protecting-paradise/pelican-island-the-first-national-wildliferefuge

Following summer drought, wells in Chignik Lagoon, Alaska, again produce water

• https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/11/27/after-months-of-drought-chignik-lagoons-wellshave-finally-filled-with-water/

Battling the inevitable impacts of the ocean on shoreline development on Rottnest Island

• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-29/the-ocean-is-dramatically-reshaping-rottnestforcing-change/11748140

"Ani strom naraz nezotnú." ("Little strokes fell great  oaks.") - Slovak proverb

CRS Report: 'Changes in the Arctic - Background and Issues for Congress' Updated: 27 November 2019

This is another CRS report that is updated periodically.

Just the other day I heard a story on NPR about increased Russian activity in the Arctic and the wariness of the Norwegians and others.  

So here is the latest update by Ronald O'Rourke at al. 'Changes in the Arctic - Background and Issues for Congress'

Download CRS_Report_Changes_Arctic_27Nov2019  

Summary
The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region’s future. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests in the region.

Record low extents of Arctic sea ice over the past decade have focused scientific and policy attention on links to global climate change and projected ice-free seasons in the Arctic within decades. These changes have potential consequences for weather in the United States, access to mineral and biological resources in the Arctic, the economies and cultures of peoples in the region, and national security.

Although there is significant international cooperation on Arctic issues, the Arctic is increasingly being viewed by some observers as a potential emerging security issue. Some of the Arctic coastal states, particularly Russia, have taken actions to enhance their military presences in the high north. U.S. military forces, particularly the Navy and Coast Guard, have begun to pay more attention to the region in their planning and operations.

The five Arctic coastal states—the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Denmark (of which Greenland is a territory)—have made or are in the process of preparing submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding the outer limits of their extended continental shelves. The Russian submission includes the underwater Lomonosov Ridge, a feature that spans a considerable distance across the center of the Arctic Ocean.

Two of the Coast Guard’s three polar icebreakers—Polar Star and Polar Sea—have exceeded their intended 30-year service lives, and Polar Sea is not operational. The Coast Guard has initiated a project to build up to three new heavy polar icebreakers. On May 12, 2011, representatives from the member states of the Arctic Council signed an agreement on cooperation on search and rescue in the Arctic.

The diminishment of Arctic ice could lead in coming years to increased commercial shipping on two trans-Arctic sea routes—the Northern Sea Route close to Russia, and the Northwest Passage close to Alaska and through the Canadian archipelago—though the rate of increase in the use of these routes might not be as great as sometimes anticipated in press accounts. International guidelines for ships operating in Arctic waters have been recently updated.

Changes to the Arctic brought about by warming temperatures will likely allow more exploration for oil, gas, and minerals. Warming that causes permafrost to melt could pose challenges to onshore exploration activities. Increased oil and gas exploration and tourism (cruise ships) in the Arctic increase the risk of pollution in the region. Cleaning up oil spills in ice-covered waters will be more difficult than in other areas, primarily because effective strategies for cleaning up oil spills in ice-covered waters have yet to be developed.

Large commercial fisheries exist in the Arctic. The United States is currently meeting with other countries regarding the management of Arctic fish stocks. Changes in the Arctic could affect threatened and endangered species, and could result in migration of fish stocks to new waters. Under the Endangered Species Act, the polar bear was listed as threatened on May 15, 2008. Arctic climate change is also expected to affect the economies, health, and cultures of Arctic indigenous peoples.

Here is just one issue for Congress:

Climate Change and Loss of Arctic Sea Ice
Record low extents of Arctic sea ice in 2012 and 2007 have focused scientific and policy attention on climate changes in the high north, and on the implications of projected ice-free seasons in the Arctic within decades. The Arctic has been projected by several scientists to be ice-free in most late summers as soon as the 2030s.This opens opportunities for transport through the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route, extraction of potential oil and gas resources, and expanded fishing and tourism (Figure 3).

More broadly, physical changes in the Arctic include warming ocean, soil, and air temperatures; melting permafrost; shifting vegetation and animal abundances; and altered characteristics of Arctic cyclones. All these changes are expected to affect traditional livelihoods and cultures in the region and survival of polar bear and other animal populations, and raise risks of pollution, food supply, safety, cultural losses, and national security. Moreover, linkages (“teleconnections”) between warming Arctic conditions and extreme events in the mid-latitude continents are increasingly evident, identified in such extreme events as the heat waves and fires in Russia in 2010; severe winters in the eastern United States and Europe in 2009/2010 and in Europe in 2011/2012; and Indian summer monsoons and droughts. Hence, changing climate in the Arctic suggests important implications both locally and across the Hemisphere.

Like the rest of the globe, temperatures in the Arctic have varied84 but show a significant warming trend since the 1970s, and particularly since 1995. The annual average temperature for the Arctic region (from 60o to 90o N) is now about 1.8o F warmer than the “climate normal” (the average from 1961 to 1990). Temperatures in October-November are now about 9o F above the seasonal normal. Scientists have concluded that most of the global warming of the last three decades is very likely caused by human-related emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG, mostly carbon dioxide); they expect the GHG-induced warming to continue for decades, even if, and after, GHG concentrations in the atmosphere have been stabilized. The extra heat in the Arctic is amplified by processes there (the “polar amplification”) and may result in irreversible changes on human timescales.

The observed warmer temperatures along with rising cyclone size and strength in the Arctic have reduced sea ice extent, thickness, and ice that persists year-round (“perennial ice”); natural climate variability has likely contributed to the record low ice extents of 2007 and 2012. The 2007 minimum sea ice extent was influenced by warm Arctic temperatures and warm, moist winds blowing from the North Pacific into the central Arctic, contributing to melting and pushing ice toward and into the Atlantic past Greenland. Warm winds did not account for the near-record sea ice minimum in 2008. In early August 2012, an unusually large storm with low pressure developed over the Arctic, helping to disperse the already weak ice into warmer waters and accelerating its melt rate. By August 24, 2012, sea ice extent had shrunk below the previous observed minimum of late September 2007.

Modeling of GHG-induced climate change is particularly challenging for the Arctic, but it consistently projects warming through the 21st century, with annual average Arctic temperature increases ranging from +1° to +9.0° C (+2° to +19.0° F), depending on the GHG scenario and model used. While such warming is projected by most models throughout the Arctic, some models project slight cooling localized in the North Atlantic Ocean just south of Greenland and Iceland. Most warming would occur in autumn and winter, “with very little temperature change projected over the Arctic Ocean” in summer months.

Due to observed and projected climate change, scientists have concluded that the Arctic will have changed from an ice-covered environment to a recurrent ice-free ocean (in summers) as soon as the late 2030s. The character of ice cover is expected to change as well, with the ice being thinner, more fragile, and more regionally variable. The variability in recent years of both ice quantity and location could be expected to continue.

The next section deals with the geopolitical environment. Give it a read!

Excellent overview. Enjoy!

"Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups." -- John Kenneth Galbraith