Month: November 2012

According to a report by the Interdisciplinary Center on Climate Change at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, less than half of the existing ski resorts operating within the Northeast United States will be economically viable within 30 years, if average temperatures were to rise 2.5 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit.

The US ski industry faced its worst season in history last year, with skier visits down 20 percent. The industry “faced the heat” due to average snowfall declines of 50 percent, with

Dr. Maria Tzortziou co-authored an article detailing the Chesapeake Modeling Symposium for the September/October edition of the of the NASA Earth Observer publication “Chesapeake Modeling Symposium 2012 – Interfacing Between Modeling, Management, and the Public: TMDLs, Politics, Litigation, and Conflicting Stakeholder Interests”. The article gives an overview of the plenary talks, the panel discussion, and a summary of the special sessions. A longer version of the article can be downloaded …

ESSIC Director Antonio Busalacchi was featured in a new report by AlJazeera News on Researching Climate Change in the United States. Busalacchi discussed the impact of the earth's warming temperatures coupled with the increase in notable climate events. "There's no doubt about the background claim that around the world it's warming," said Busalacchi. "On top of that warming trend, we're going to have extreme events, and the two are actually conflated …

On Tuesday December 4, ESSIC Director / ConE Chair Professor Antonio Busalacchi of will speak on the impact of Climate Change on the Chesapeake region at a luncheon hosted by the Chesapeake Project Faculty Learning Community (CPFLC).  RSVP is required since space and food are limited. The CPFLC encourages all UMD faculty to find unique ways of integrating sustainability across the curriculum.  The event will lead into a discussion forum to allow those present to voice their thoughts and …

According to data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and Retirement Study, older adults living in areas of high air pollution can be at risk to suffer decreased cognitive function. In an analysis conducted by Jennifer Ailshire of the Center for Biodemography and Population Health and the Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern California, data suggests that fine air particulate particle matter – when inhaled – can deposit deep in the lungs, …

Scientists say that by the year 2020, geothermal energy harvested from volcanic heat in Iceland may be able to power homes in the U.K. Today in Iceland, around 80% of the country’s energy production is renewable. Looking to the future, scientists say renewable energy gathered in Iceland may one day be piped to power British homes. “This is a technically challenging project, there’s no doubt, but there is no doubt in our mind that it is doable,” said Hörður Arnarson, the head of Iceland’s …

In a live interview broadcast November 13, 2012, ESSIC Director and Professor Antonio Busalacchi spoke with Newschannel8 “NewsTalk” host Bruce DePuyt, about climate change, rising sea levels, and the recent increase in wild weather. Busalacchi also discussed the recent opening of NOAA’s National Weather and Climate Prediction Center (NWCPC) and how its research will both support more accurate forecasting and prediction, as well as how the public perceives and responds to the information. …

According to environmental analyst Lester Brown, armed aggression against the U.S. would not place in the “top five,” when ranking the largest security threats to the nation.

Named “one of the world’s most influential thinkers” by the Washington Post and the Founder of both the Worldwatch Institute and the Earth Policy Institute, Brown believes there is a major and overlooked threat to not only the U.S., but to the global community on a whole – food scarcity.

On Monday, November 12th at

“We want our kids to grow up in an America… that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.” said the president in his acceptance speech Tuesday night.

Throughout the three national presidential debates, a sub-plot developed regarding the omission of an open climate change discussion. Similarly, neither candidate openly embraced a stance toward global warming throughout the election season. However, the President’s post-reelection remarks seemed to suggest a willingness