Natural Environment

New insight into the North Atlantic weather system that unleashed "sting jets" in the 1987 storm that hit North Western Europe
Whereas most storms have a relatively even wind distribution, the research shows that sting jets -  localised bursts of wind desending from high altitude and reaching the ground at speeds as...
Plants can be affected by traffic noise owing to impact on pollinating animals
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/nesc-njf031412.php
Mechanism that causes plants to bloom when temperature rises identified
With parts of England enjoying a spectacular, but drought ridden spring, one asks what causes the timing of plants coming into bloom. Flowering is activated by a special molecule, called Florigen....
Microplastic from sewage threat to marine ecosystems
Ultra fine plastic fibres released during clothes washing are entering the sewage system and ultimately the sea.  Here they are ingested and can enter animal cells.  "Some polyester...
Groundwater maps produced for the USA
The maps show graphically current levels of groundwater across the USA.  They are based on satellite measurement of fine changes in gravitational attraction, as a pair of satellites passes over...
Research on urban noise highlights impact on song birds
The urban parks studied had average noise levels ranging between 62 and 72 decibels (dB); squares, between 54.5 and 62 dB, and university campuses, between 53 and 58.5 dB. The lowest average levels...
Unusually heavy monsoon leads to month long flood in Bangkok
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/10/bangkok-could-be-flooded-for-a.html   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8852807/Floods-reach-Bangkok-Thailand...
Phytopthera Lateralis identified in Devon, threatens Lawsons Cypress
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051067/Killer-tree-disease-Phytophthora-lateralis-arrives-Plymouth.html http://www.forestry.gov.uk/phytophthora
Japanese tsunami may have reached 40 metres
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8645094/Japanese-tsunami-stood-at-132.5ft.html
River and aquifer over-abstraction risks raised in Britain, China, India
A Policy Exchange report has highlihted over abstraction, and lack of effective control when river flows are low is leading to enviornmental damage. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/britains-...
Urbanisation appears to offer no benefit to bats
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-05/uoc-bch053111.php
Cryptomycota - group of fungi unkown to science - disovered in a pond at the University of Exeter
 Fungi have been well studied for 150 years and it was thought we had a good understanding of the major evolutionary groups, but these findings have changed that radically. "Current...
Inventory created of remaining traditional orchards using aerial photograhps
Unique http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9474000/9474777.stm
Environmental tipping points are in part determined by how humans react
Environmental tipping points are, according to a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sometimes dependent on whether humans are indifferent, or prepared to accept the runaway...
Animated world map of remaining natural vegetation shows how land-use has changed over the past 8500 years
Of note is change in South America up to the first contact with settlers from the old world leading to a dramatic reversal and revival of the natural environment, coinciding with the death of the...
Enter the "Anthropocene" Era
A set of papers published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society  the authors of which contend that recent human activity, including stunning population growth, sprawling...