Unchartered Territories: “Maps twist our perception of the world. Countries closer to the equator—which happen to be poorer —seem smaller than they are. This is because the world is a 3D sphere, but maps are 2D projections on a plane. That means distortion. So we develop a poor intuition for comparative region sizes. The biggest… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Category Archives: Environmental Law
ShowYourStripes – visualizations tracking rises in global temperatures
ShoYourStripes: “These ‘warming stripe’ graphics are visual representations of the change in temperature as measured in each country, region or city over the past 100+ years. Each stripe or bar represents the temperature in that country, region or city averaged over a year. The stripes typically start around the year 1900 and finish in 2022,… Continue Reading
45 million people in the U.S. may be exposed to dangerous heat today
Washington Post Heat Tracker – “Extreme heat kills more people in the United States than any other weather hazard, and the risk of longer and more frequent heat waves is only expected to increase as climate change worsens. The Post is tracking the potential for dangerous heat this summer using the heat index, which accounts… Continue Reading
There Is Always An Alternative
Remarks presented to York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Graduating Class of 2023 The human condition is…not good. We’re in the polycrisis, a widening gyre of climate emergency, inequality, infrastructure neglect, rising authoritarianism and zoonotic plagues. But that’s not the bad part. Stuff breaks. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is not up… Continue Reading
Climate Reanalyzer
“Climate Reanalyzer is a platform for visualizing climate and weather datasets. The site is coded and maintained by Dr. Sean Birkel through support from the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine. Support has also been provided by the National Science Foundation, the Russell Grinnell Memorial Trust, and the Comer Family Foundation. On this… Continue Reading
The data on 40 years of California wildfires is alarmingly clear
Quartz: “Wildfires in northern and central California increased fivefold between 1971 and 2021, according to a new study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The scientists behind the study found that those fires were mostly caused by anthropogenic climate change, the kind accelerated by human actions like burning fossil fuels… Continue Reading
Purdue Plant Doctor
Purdue Plant Doctor – Enter the name of the plant, plant problem, pest, or disease, or click your way to identify and manage your pest or disease. “The Purdue Plant Doctor was a collaboration between Dr. Janna Beckerman (Department of Botany and Plant Pathology) and Dr. Cliff Sadof (Department of Entomology), who contributed equally to… Continue Reading
Living Planet Report
“This year’s Living Planet Report is filled with ground-breaking figures, with most of the indicators describing a tremendous decline in ecosystem health. The calculation of the Living Planet Index shows an average 69% decline in population sizes of monitored mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish since the year 1970. Just as the R-number in epidemiology… Continue Reading
Visualizing Light Pollution
Axios: “Some stargazers have to travel more than 200 miles to see a sky devoid of light pollution. Why it matters: Dark skies are vital for the function of local ecosystems and our understanding of the universe. As light pollution grows each year, truly dark skies might get harder to find. By the numbers: The… Continue Reading
A Heat Pump Might Be Right for Your Home. Here’s Everything to Know.
The New York Times Wire Cutter: “Heat pumps are good for your wallet—and the world. They’re the cheapest and most efficient way to handle both heating and cooling for your home, no matter where you live. They’re also better for the environment. In fact, most experts agree they’re one of the best ways for homeowners… Continue Reading
Nationwide study of the local, racially segmented resettlement of homeowners from rising flood risks
Managed retreat: a nationwide study of the local, racially segmented resettlement of homeowners from rising flood risks, by James R Elliott and Zheye Wang Published 15 June 2023. Environmental Research Letters, Volume 18 Number 6 Focus on Natural Hazards, Disasters, and Extreme Events “The government-funded retreat of homeowners from flood-prone housing is a globally ascendant… Continue Reading
Slow Birding
“The art and science of enjoying the birds in your own backyard. Are you a Slow Birder? I am! I take the time to watch the birds I see. I learn about them. I am not a motor birder, speeding from one roadside to another to add a bird or two to the day’s list.… Continue Reading
