[GWSG] Barrier islands; sun spots; aquaculture; solar prices; 1366 solar; sea change; northward!; leaky nukes; states slapped

[Tilley, Al]

1.  A study of barrier islands by Stutz and Pilkey reports that sea level rise can actually add barrier islands as it forms shallow bays.  Barrier islands are expected to react in different ways to changing conditions, and only local studies have a good chance of anticipating the effects of the rising oceans.   Storms are the key shapers of barrier islands. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110615171412.htm

2.   Three separate studies project an approaching decline in sun spots.  The effect on climate will be watched, but pop culture expectations of marked cooling are unsupported.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/us-climate-sunspots-idUSTRE75E5L620110615?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29  The BBC’s Richard Black reports on the issue with some details on the expected effects of the decline in sun spots.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13792479

3.  Aquaculture is the fastest growing food source.  While some forms feed climate change and damage the environment in various other ways, some are more benign.  Forms of shellfish culture, for example, cleanse the water.  Herbivorous fish are far more efficient than herbivorous land animals in converting grain to protein.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13756853

4.  The installed cost of solar power in Germany is $3.70/watt for small commercial installations, and falling.  American prices (which vary by state) are not far behind, though customers are often overcharged.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/06/german-rooftop-solar-averages-under-4-per-watt??cmpid=WNL-Friday-June17-2011

5.  1366 Technologies intends to produce solar panels of greater efficiency more easily, supported by a government loan guarantee.  http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20110618/ts_csm/391431  1366 hopes to cut solar manufacturing costs by 50%.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/17/us-usa-solar-1366technologies-idUSTRE75G4VL20110617?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29

6.  A new interdisciplinary study of the state of the oceans finds that destructive pressures are interacting to produce degradations far in advance of expectations.  For example, the dissolved CO2 levels are already higher than those during the great extinction of 55 million years ago.  The report will be presented at the UN this week as governments begin discussing changes to regulation of the oceans.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13796479

7.  Armadillos, white-footed mice, southern flying squirrels, and other creatures are expanding their range to the north as the climate heats.  http://wwwp.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2011/06/armadillo-moves-north

8.  75% of US nuclear reactors have leaked radioactive water.  Aging coolant pipes in concrete slabs are often to blame.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43475479/ns/us_news-environment/

9.  The US Supreme Court has ruled against six states in their attempt to force utilities to restrict emissions of greenhouse gasses, leaving all action to the EPA, which may move to restrict such emissions next year.  http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110620/pl_afp/climatewarminguscourt

I'll be out of town until early July.  Allen
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