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Satellite study shows drought-stricken Colorado River Basin states depleting their groundwater

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A new satellite study finds more than 75% of the water loss in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin since late 2004 came from underground resources. The Colorado River Basin (black outline) supplies water to about 40 million people in seven states. Credit: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Click to enlarge. Castle, Brian F.

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Devil in the Details: World Leaders Scramble To Salvage and Shape Copenhagens UNFCCC Climate Summit

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Although most countries have already revealed their opening emissions reduction proposals, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer pointed out Thursday that “ we still await clarity from industrialized nations on the provision of large-scale finance to developing countries for immediate and long-term climate action. by Jack Rosebro.

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Water Levels Dropping in Some of the Worlds Major Rivers

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The change in runoff inferred from streamflow records worldwide between 1948 and 2004, with bluish colors indicating more streamflow and reddish colors less. Graphic courtesy Journal of Climate, modified by UCAR.) The results will be published 15 May in the American Meteorological Society’s Journal of Climate. Click to enlarge.

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Researchers Predict Permafrost Thaw Will Intensify Climate Change More Quickly Than Previously Thought; Melting of Greenland Icesheet Could Drive More Water Than Previously Thought to North American Northeast

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Before this study, we didn’t know how fast that carbon could potentially be released from permafrost, and how this feedback to climate would change over time. An understanding of the rate of carbon release is necessary to estimate the strength of positive feedback to climate change, a likely consequence of permafrost thaw.

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Despite a Slight Recovery in 2009, Arctic Sea Ice Remains on Downward Trend

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Despite a slight recovery in summer Arctic sea ice in 2009 from record-setting low years in 2007 and 2008, the sea ice extent remains significantly below previous years and remains on a trend leading toward ice-free Arctic summers, according to the University of Colorado at Boulder’s National Snow and Ice Data Center. Earlier post.).

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Converting Oil Shale to Gasoline via Alberta Taciuk Processor Results in Full Fuel Cycle GHG Emissions 1.5-1.75 Larger Than From Conventionally Produced Gasoline

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The largest global oil shale deposits—estimated to be equivalent to 1,500 Gbbl oil equivalent—are found in the Green River formation of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. This project was terminated in 2004 due to cost overruns and opposition on environmental grounds. Tags: Climate Change Emissions Lifecycle analysis Oil Shale.

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Satellite and GPS Measurements Show Ice Loss from Greenland Ice Sheet Spreading to Northwest Coast

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A 2006 study by Wahr and Velicogna using the GRACE satellite indicated that Greenland lost roughly 684 cubic kilometers (164 cubic miles) of ice from April 2004 to April 2006—more than the volume of water in Lake Erie. Courtesy John Wahr, University of Colorado.

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