[GWSG] Legal light; a Hot Mess; auto-autos; better concrete; water whiplash for CA; oceanic circulation in flux

[Tilley, Al]

1. Concerning suits by local governments against fossil fuel corporations, Patrick Parenteau sends this Living on Earth transcript which includes "a really clear and lucid 'explainer' of the legal and proof issues by UCLA Professor Ann Carlson." http://www.loe.org/shows/shows.html?programID=18-P13-00015#feature1 The following story on the link describes Scott Pruitt's use of the EPA to attack the Clean Air Act.



2. Mary Emerson-Smith sends word of a new PBS Digital Studios YouTube series, Hot Mess, on the science and impact of climate change. One series of episodes, done with help from ProPublica, will explore environmental justice. The series streams Thursdays on YouTube and Facebook. http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-digital-studios-launches-new-digital-series-hot-mess-from-the-team-behind-its-okay-to-be-smart/



3. Tesla and Waymo (which began as a Google project) both have billions of miles of real and simulated autonomous driving experience but will require more development before self-driving cars become a conventional option. The article contrasts the approaches of the two companies. https://www.theverge.com/transportation/2018/4/19/17204044/tesla-waymo-self-driving-car-data-simulation

If autonomous cars become common they are likely to erode private car ownership in favor of transportation on demand, improving the transportation energy picture and leading to a new era of city design.



4.   Adding graphene to concrete makes it more than twice as strong and four times as water-resistant. The new technology is economical and scalable; it will reduce carbon emissions because builders can roughly halve the material used. Cement-making is responsible for about 6% of global carbon emissions. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/23/graphene-a-game-changer-in-making-building-with-concrete-greener



5. California appears to be in for both extreme floods and extreme drought in a precipitation whiplash for which they are unprepared. Thanks to Tom Larson for the item. https://mashable.com/2018/04/23/california-more-extreme-drought-flood-precipitation-whiplash/?utm_campaign=Mash-BD-Synd-Flipboard-All-Full&utm_cid=Mash-BD-Synd-Flipboard-All-Full#SN165P770aqD





6. Circulation in the oceans seems to be changing in ways with serious consequences, including a buildup of heat and carbon in the atmosphere and accelerated sea level rise. The changes have been suggested by models but not previously detected.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/04/23/one-of-the-most-worrisome-predictions-about-climate-change-may-be-coming-true/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.10182a52d7ad

I'll post new material on this development as I find it or as you send it. ?

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