Environmental News

Fan such flames if you wish, but living to high-80s or low-100s suggests that no cabal got to them back when it mattered. Legacy of this (departed) pair is generations of inspired and effective Earth scientists.

You're gonna need a bunch more polonium...

 

From @554, House also passes (363-62) that public-lands conservation bill:

Massive lands bill to protect more than 2 million acres sent to Trump

Awaits Presidential signature.

 

Decoupling economic growth from CO2 emissions:

Renewable energy policies actually work | Ars Technica

 

From USA Today and Ars Technica as stated. Te caga en la leche.

 

Various sources discuss proposed Cadiz water project in California Mojave desert. A stated amount of water from new wells drilled would be sold for direct human use.

We don' know much about Fenner aquifer, but planned water withdrawal rates are stated. We do know how much it rains 'above' that aquifer. Unknown is what fraction of rain enters aquifer (without being evaporated by surface processes), but it is a desert, so 10% would be a very generous guess.

I am doing my typical thing here; just running numbers. For all as stated above, Fenner aquifer recharge would be 27% of withdrawal, and the subsurface water level (head) would go down. Absent any other considerations, pumping costs would increase over time and some withdrawal wells would simply stop supplying. If only 1% of rain gets into aquifer (probably more reasonable) those things would happen faster.

Media mostly considers this project's effects on surface 'springs'. They are few and small in this desert but have substantial environmental roles. Depending on how well they are connected to Fenner aquifer (which is disputed) they will be diminished.

But for me, a more fundamental consideration is that this resource is to be depleted by design. Investors will invest; perhaps govts will invest. It will work for a while and then not. Depleters will (may) make short-term money and then declare bankruptcy, as failed capitalists do. They might claim "we had no way of knowing..."

Tragically, it only takes about 10 minutes of effort to smell-check this project.

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In environmental 'wars', some relatable feature becomes a focus. Could be butterflies, could be a fish, and here it is desert (surface water) springs. In my view these are placeholders for some deeper aspect of sustainability, which (by other folks' wisdom) is less relatable. When celebrated snail darters (an important? fish) got found elsewhere, 'the other side' had fun..

Too much fun I reckon. 'Environmental' side often has a strong hand but plays it poorly. It's based on assumption that everybody else is not clever enough to comprehend what ecosystem services are, and can only appreciate poster children.

I no like.

 

Five-day UN Environmental Conference in Nairobi:

United Nations conference to proceed in Nairobi despite Ethiopian Airlines crash - The Globe and Mail

would probably be lower in news stack, but an Ethiopian airliner crashed with perhaps 20 conference attendees on board. Would have been attendees.

I found number (4700) of attendees surprisingly high. Among other things, one hopes that crash victims were not intended to lead this conference.

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Separate non-envtl. issue is whether this very new 737 Max plane fell for same reason as a similar Lion Air last October. Much too soon to say.

 

I rode a Max last December and took photo of angle-of-attack sensor from boarding bridge. Oozed positive thoughts during initial climb-out.

 

Mentioned in 'Green news and more'

US Supreme Court will hear a significant groundwater pollution case during 2019-2020 session.

County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund - Wikipedia

A possible wider implication (depending on ruling) would relate to fluid injections to enhance petroleum recovery.

 

Follow my @595. Because of this latest lawndart, all 737 Max of all Chinese airlines are grounded. News sniffing does not show any other 737 Max operators to have followed yet.

Wiki says there are 350 of this type in service. Spread across many airlines but I cannot direct readers to a full list.

Hope somebody else starts a discussion in Fred's. I start too many threads. It's not like I get paid for this stuff

 

Agree with all statements @598. Linkage between angle of attack sensor, 'MCAS' software, uncommanded trim, and (training for) pilot responses were also seen as important. They led to an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for type. So I consider the story a bit larger.

FAA promulgates ADs as they can, and asks everybody else to notice. One hopes they do. I also read (not with certainty) that this AD was an interim measure and its follow on has been delayed both by regulator/Boeing disagreements and recent US govt shutdown.

Largest US operator (Southwest) adds a second angle of attack sensor to their (31) planes in type. I consider that a very unusual thing.

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As always, early in crash investigations, guesses and rumors far exceed data.