Tag

Water Resources

All articles tagged with #water resources

science1 day ago•17 min saved

Mount Timpanogos Rock Glacier Hides Water Reserve

University of Utah researchers estimate a rock glacier on Mount Timpanogos contains up to 150 feet of ice, enough to fill about 600 Olympic pools, identified through precise gravity measurements mapping ice beneath debris; the ice could sustain late-summer flows into streams and groundwater in Utah’s dry climate, but hidden ice also poses flood hazards, and Utah has about 836 rock glaciers with enough ice to fill roughly 400,000 Olympic pools, underscoring the state’s potential water storage amid warming and seismic risks along the Wasatch fault.

via KSL|

#climate-change #mount-timpanogos #rock-glacier

environment1 day ago•5 min saved

Utah’s hidden ice could become a billion-ton water source

Researchers estimate Utah’s rock glaciers store about 1 billion tons of ice (roughly 815,000 acre-feet), buried under rock and including the Timpanogos Rock Glacier. This buried ice could become a meaningful water source as the West warms, supporting alpine ecosystems and wildlife, though scientists still need to quantify how much melt contributes to streams and urban water supplies.

via The Salt Lake Tribune|

#climate-change #environment #geology

environment18 days ago•10 min saved

England faces widespread drought as July becomes driest on record

71.3% of England is in drought after July, the driest month on record since 1836; the National Drought Group added regions to drought status, bringing 45 million people into drought areas and over 27 million under water-use restrictions as heatwaves persist. Amber health alerts remain, wildfire risk rises, and farmers warn of poor yields, with officials pushing on-site irrigation measures while climate scientists link the drought to warming and El Niño.

via BBC|

#climate-change #drought #england

environment22 days ago•2 min saved

Lake Mead sinks to record low as drought reshapes western water supply

Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, dropped to a new record low of 1,040.50 feet due to prolonged drought and low snowpack in the Colorado River basin, threatening water supplies for millions and, as waters fall, uncovering remains and other items once submerged.

via ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|

#climate-change #drought #environment

world4 months ago•16 min saved

Jakarta launches mass removal of invasive janitor fish from the capital's waterways

Jakarta has begun a citywide campaign to remove invasive janitor fish from the capital's rivers, canals and reservoirs, with municipal workers catching, killing and burying the fish to protect water ecosystems and infrastructure.

via AP News|

#environmental-management #invasive-species #jakarta

world4 months ago•3 min saved

Argentina loosens glacier protections to empower provincial mining

Argentina's Congress approved a reform to the 2010 Glacier Law that shifts protection of glacier regions from the national Ianigla agency to provincial authorities, making it easier to mine in glacier areas; supporters say it enables development, while opponents warn it endangers water resources since glaciers feed 36 river basins across 12 provinces and about seven million people. The reform keeps glaciers in the national inventory until provinces prove they are not strategic water reserves.

via BBC|

#argentina #environment #glaciers

environment5 months ago•9 min saved

West Sizzles Under Record Heat as Hawaii Faces Severe Flooding

Western states are experiencing a historic early-season heat wave, setting dozens of March temperature records (Phoenix hit 105F; forecast to exceed 200 more records), with rapid attribution studies finding such heat waves four times more likely due to climate change and threatening snowpack and water supplies. Meanwhile Hawaii faces relentless Kona-low storms causing severe flooding, with the Wahiawa Dam stressed and roughly $1 billion in damage plus about $11 million in farmer losses; officials have requested a major disaster declaration and relief efforts are underway.

via Inside Climate News|

#climate-change #environment #hawaii-flooding

environment6 months ago•1 min saved

Record-Breaking Snow Drought Threatens Western Water and Recreation

Across the U.S. West, an extreme snow drought driven by unusually warm temperatures has yielded record-low snow cover, risking water resources and winter recreation from Utah to Oregon as bare ground becomes common and artificial snow is used in some locations.

via The New York Times|

#climate-change #environment #snow-drought

science7 months ago•4 min saved

The Future of Space Mining: Unlocking Asteroid Treasures

A study in MNRAS reveals that most asteroids, especially carbon-rich ones, contain low precious metals, making mining for gold unviable. Instead, water-rich asteroids are identified as more practical resources for future space exploration, providing water for fuel and life support, while also aiding planetary defense efforts. Technological challenges remain significant for actual mining operations, emphasizing the need for further research and development.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#asteroid-mining #carbonaceous-chondrites #planetary-defense

environment8 months ago•2 min saved

California's Sierra Nevada Snowpack Boosted by Recent Storms

A series of December storms has improved California's snowpack, which is crucial for the state's water supply, currently at 71% of average, though it remains below last year's levels. The snowpack acts as a vital reservoir, and its health depends on continued storm activity through winter and spring. Reservoirs are above average, but the overall water situation remains uncertain amid fluctuating weather patterns.

via The Guardian|

#california #climate-change #december-storms

politics11 months ago•3 min saved

Senators Investigate California Wildfire Response and Funding

Two Senate Republicans are investigating the response to the Palisades fire, focusing on whether emergency preparations, especially water resources like the Santa Ynez Reservoir, were sufficient. The fire, which killed 12 and destroyed parts of Pacific Palisades, exposed issues with water supply and firefighting deployment, prompting multiple investigations and political debates about preparedness and response.

via Los Angeles Times|

#california #fire-response #palisades-fire

world11 months ago•1 min saved

Ethiopia’s Mega Dam Sparks Hope and Concerns Along the Nile

Africa's largest dam has raised concerns downstream along the Nile River, highlighting tensions over water resources and regional stability.

via Financial Times|

#africa #dam #geopolitics

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Scientists Discover Giant Underground Sponge Supplying Water to Rivers and Cities

Scientists have discovered a massive underground aquifer beneath Oregon's volcanic regions, holding about 81 cubic kilometers of water, which could be crucial for regional water supply, ecosystem health, and understanding volcanic activity, especially in the context of climate change and increasing wildfires.

via Earth.com|

#climate-change #groundwater-reservoir #science

science1 year ago•3 min saved

African Country Emerges from Ocean Without Tectonic Causes

Scientists have discovered that South Africa is gradually rising out of the ocean due to drought-induced water loss, which reduces underground pressure and causes the land to uplift, offering a new method for monitoring groundwater reserves and managing water crises.

via Farmingdale Observer|

#drought #geophysical-research #land-uplift

environment-climate-change2 years ago•4 min saved

"California's Snowpack Rebounds to Average Levels, Easing Drought Concerns"

California's above-average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, while initially seeming like a positive sign, is overshadowed by the grim future of the state's mountain snowpack due to climate change. Rising temperatures will lead to a decrease in snowfall and faster snowmelt, posing risks of flooding and water scarcity. Efforts to address these challenges, such as increasing reservoir capacity, face bureaucratic and financial obstacles. The relationship between snowfall and climate change is complex, with various factors influencing snowfall patterns in different regions.

via Los Angeles Times|

#california #climate-change #environment-climate-change