Study: Gen-Xers ‘dismissive & doubtful’ of global warming

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Gen-Xers are showing a declining level of concern about global warming, according to a University of Michigan study. Photo courtesy NASA.

Survey suggests high percentage of Gen-Xers are uninformed about the causes and potential impacts of climate change

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — In what might be a sign of recent economic woes, Generation Xers seems to be less concerned about global warming than just a few years ago, according to a long-term demographic study by researchers at the University of Michigan.

“Most Generation Xers are surprisingly disengaged, dismissive or doubtful about whether global climate change is happening and they don’t spend much time worrying about it,” said Jon D. Miller, author of The Generation X Report. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, global warming | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Environment: How big will this year’s Gulf dead zone be?

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Researchers measure the carryover effect of last year’s record nutrient runoff

A NOAA graphic shows the impacts of nutrient loading by highlight oxygen-starved dead zones in red. This year’s Gulf of Mexico dead zone may be smaller than in recent years because of a dry spring in the Midwest.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Although this year’s oxygen-starved dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico may be smaller than in recent years because of a drier-than-average spring in the Midwest, the long-term trend of nutrient loading hasn’t changed, according to University of Michigan researchers who recently modeled the predicted impacts of this year’s runoff.

The amount of nitrogen, mainly from agricultural fertilizers, entering the Gulf of Mexico each spring has increased about 300 percent since the 1960s. This year’s Gulf dead zone could be the second-smallest on record, but it’s still predicted to cover about 1,200 miles, about the size of Rhode Island.

But a second dead-zone forecast issued by a NOAA-supported team from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and Louisiana State University, predicts a much larger 2012 Gulf dead zone of 6,213 square miles. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, rivers, water | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Fate of Aegean reptiles foreshadows global warming impacts

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

An Aegean wall lizard on a Greek Island. PHOTO BY JOHANNES FOUFOPOLOUS.

New study shows importance of preserving intact wildlife movement corridors

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Scientists studying reptile extinctions on Greek islands say their work may help show how global warming will affect plants and animals in the coming centuries. The study also highlights the importance of preserving habitat corridors so plants and animals can migrate in response to climate change, thereby maximizing their chances of survival. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, global warming, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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