Scientists Predicted A Decade Ago Arctic Ice Loss Would Worsen Western Droughts. Is That Happening Already? | ThinkProgress

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In just over thirty years the arctic sea ice minimum has dropped by about 80%. Nothing to see here…

Transition Studies

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/06/30/2236751/scientists-predicted-a-decade-ago-arctic-ice-loss-would-worsen-western-droughts-is-that-happening-already/

By Joe Romm on Jun 30, 2013 at 12:36 pm

Scientists predicted a decade ago that Arctic ice loss would bring on worse western droughts. Arctic ice loss has been much faster than the researchers — and indeed all climate modelers — expected (see “CryoSat-2 Confirms Sea Ice Volume Has Collapsed“).

It just so happens that the western U.S. is in the grip of a brutal, record-breaking drought. Is this just an amazing coincidence — or were the scientists right and what would that mean for the future? I ask the authors.

Here is the latest drought monitor:

 

And that drought monitor predates the record-smashing heat wave now gripping the West.

Back in 2004, Lisa Sloan, professor of Earth sciences at UC Santa Cruz, and her graduate student Jacob Sewall published an article in Geophysical Research Letters, “Disappearing Arctic sea ice reduces available water in…

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Multinationals, It’s Your Move

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Flickr/ virtualreality

If your business practices are the embodiment of the picture above, I implore you to take heed.  We know who wears no clothes. We’ve given it a lot of thought and we’re ready to take away your social license to operate. The game is over.  The jig is up.  We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.  We’re ready to open our windows to stick out our heads and yell.

In short, we’re “mad as hell and we’re not gonna take it anymore!

We all live in glass houses now.  Choose your next move wisely as the time for cleverness has passed.

Company taxation: The price isn’t right | The Economist

Can Aquaponics Fix Our Food Systems?

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I’m working on my final project for my Master’s program.  All of my research has been on the failings and opportunities of global food systems.  This last effort is attempting to look at the opportunities of shifting a significant portion of soil-based agriculture to aquaponic systems which would be situated in urban settings.  (Aquaponics is the marriage of aquaculture, also known as fish farming, with hydroponics.)  Aquaponic systems bring numerous benefits by cycling nutrients in closed loop system that mimics a natural ecosystem.  Please take a look at the mind map below and share your thoughts in the comments.  Let me have it if you think I’ve made a leap too far, or I’ve left off an important idea.  I’d be happy to answer any questions you have as well as the goal is to put together a paper that has legs.  (What’s the point otherwise?)

Please do share a thought or a question, I’d greatly appreciate it! 🙂

-Chris

Can Aquaponics Fix Our Food Systems?

Click on the image for a larger version.

Behold the Warming Planet Crescendo

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Ensia, the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment’s (IonE) fairly new online magazine has fast become one of my favorite sources for information and inspiration. The latest post is no disappointment as it shares a song which was written using climate data. Check out the video and realize that the climate is continuing to trend towards the slasher flick range of the musical spectrum. Serious stuff.

The accompanying post is available here.