environment on localnews page 118

environment

Unlocking the Power of Slow-Release Fertilizers in Modern Farming

January 16, 2025

Farming is a big deal in any country's economy. To grow plants well and get more crops, farmers need to water their fields and give the soil the right nutrients. With more people in the world, we need more food. So, farmers use synthetic fertilizers to help plants grow faster. But these fertilizers

environment

Ethiopia's Bowa Dayole Dam Faces Geological Challenges

January 16, 2025

In Ethiopia, where food and water are often scarce due to weather and droughts, the Bowa Dayole masonry gravity dam is set to irrigate nearby farmlands. However, the dam's foundation is made up of complex geological formations, including highly fractured and weathered aphanitic basaltic rock, and we

environment

Watching Bats Over California's Rice Fields: A Closer Look at Pest Control

January 16, 2025

Imagine a world where bats, those winged creatures of the night, are busy munching on our agricultural pests. A recent study used weather radars to keep an eye on these helpful critters in California's Northern Central Valley during the peak season of 2019. This area is known for its valuable crops

environment

Why Do We Keep Moving to Danger Zones?

January 16, 2025

Imagine a world where you're penalized for living in a place prone to natural disasters. That's what should happen according to basic economics. But our insurance system doesn't work that way. Instead, it encourages people to move to risky areas. This is a big problem, especially with climate change

environment

Dry Ground, Hot Winds: Southern California Faces Extreme Fire Danger

January 16, 2025

Southern California is on high alert due to dangerously dry conditions and gusty winds. Moisture levels are at record lows, making the region a tinderbox ready to ignite. This "weather whiplash" from wet to dry spells hasn't been seen since 1992-1993. Scientists warn that climate change may be ampli

environment

High Winds and Dry Air Fuel Fire Risks in Los Angeles

January 16, 2025

High winds and extremely low humidity are back, putting parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties at high risk for new fires. The National Weather Service predicts gusts up to 60 mph, which could fan existing flames and carry embers to new areas. Firefighters have been working tirelessly to contain

environment

Whale Protections on Hold: Last-Minute Rule Change

January 16, 2025

In a surprising last-minute move, the U. S. government has decided to drop a plan to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from ship collisions. These whales, of which fewer than 380 are left, were supposed to get better protection off the East Coast. A proposal to slow down ships near thei

environment

Fire Impact: LA Faces Billions in Wildfire Repairs

January 16, 2025

The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have left a trail of destruction, and the cost of recovery is a hot topic. Weather forecasters at AccuWeather have predicted a staggering $250 to $275 billion in economic losses, double what other estimates suggest. Some economists, however, dismiss these numbers

environment

Big Oil's Fight Against Climate Disaster Funding

January 15, 2025

In the year before the Los Angeles county wildfires, major fossil fuel companies fought hard against a bill that would have made them pay for climate disasters. This bill, known as the Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act of 2024, was aimed at requiring the state's biggest carbon polluters to con

environment

The Moon Joins World Heritage Sites at Risk

January 15, 2025

For a long time, the World Monuments Fund has been highlighting places like Machu Picchu, Cambodian temples, and Yemen's old city of Taiz that need protection. This year, they've added a surprising site: the moon. "It seems so far away, " says Bénédicte de Montlaur, the group's president. "But with