Arctic
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Atlas error overstates Greenland's (still significant!) ice loss
Here's the good news: Greenland did not lose 15 percent of its ice cover in the last 10 years, as the Times [Usually] Comprehensive Atlas of the World said it did. This is, in fact, really good news, since this amount of melting would raise sea levels three to five feet. The publisher, HarperCollins subsidiary Collins Geo, has retracted the 15 percent figure but says it's "reviewing" the map -- but in the meantime, a whole bunch of scientists went "whoa whoa whoa there."
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Global warming makes Russia militarize the Arctic
There has not traditionally been a lot of military presence in the Arctic, given as how it's mostly ice and seals. But now that the ice is melting, it's just mostly seals, and those little buggers are shifty. So Russia is sending in the troops.
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New atlas shows climate change effects — including a brand-new island
The new edition of the Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World includes an island that's only existed since 2006. Uunartoq Qeqertaq -- "Warming Island" -- surfaced when the Greenland ice cover retreated because of global warming. It's only one of the climate change side effects that have now been deemed permanent enough for inclusion in the atlas.
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New record low for arctic sea ice
Last week, sea ice coverage in the Arctic dropped to a new record low, according to data from the University of Bremen. It's the lowest since 1972, when we started observing sea ice via satellite, but it could well be the lowest in 8,000 years. And it's more than 10,000 square feet below the previous record, set in 2007.
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Critical List: Biden stumps for clean energy; the magical green properties of concrete
"The biggest mistake this nation has made in its entire history" would be not to invest in clean energy, VP Joe Biden said yesterday at the National Clean Energy Summit 4.0
The Russian government just cut a deal with Exxon to look for oil in that country’s sector of the Arctic. The next day, Russia raided BP’s Moscow offices.
George Monbiot argues that fracking without regulation is insane.
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Russia to build $100 billion rail tunnel connecting Alaska and Siberia
Ever since Tsar Nicholas II, Russians have dreamed of connecting Siberia to North America via a rail tunnel. Now, apparently, the Kremlin has green-lighted the connection, which would be the world's longest, and twice as long as the England-to-France "Chunnel."
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Critical List: The Navy and USDA invest in biofuels; Norway's big oil find
The Navy, USDA, and Energy Department are investing in biofuels that come from plants we don't eat.
As Shell fought an oil leak in the North Sea, Norway's biggest oil company announced it had found a huge oil field there. Oh awesome, nothing can go wrong with this!
Shell's also helping Iraq to double its capacity to produce natural gas.
U.S. solar manufacturers say it's hard to compete against China's low-priced workers. -
After North Sea oil spill, Shell plans to continue Arctic drilling
The Interior Department acknowledges the effects of climate change in the region but approves more drilling for fossil fuels there.
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Critical List: Shell spills oil in the Arctic; the Northwest Passage opens
A Shell oil platform in the Arctic is leaking oil. The company won't say how much but will say that the spill is under control.
The Interior Department is looking into treatment of Arctic scientist Charles Monnett, who is under investigation for his work on polar bears.
Why real world fuel efficiency is so much lower than fuel efficiency standards.