Earth Wise

By Randy Simon

From green business and new environmental legislation to how nature impacts our environment in ways never before considered, Earth Wise offers a look at our changing environment.... more

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How many episodes does Earth Wise have?

The podcast currently has 2,516 episodes available.

Earth Wise episodes:

November 18, 2019 Smarter Prospecting
The global demand for copper and gold continues to grow. Copper is widely used in building materials, plumbing, and electronics. Gold is still highly valued for jewelry and coinage, but nearly a third of the world’s gold is now used in electronics.
Both of these metals are getting increasingly difficult to find as many of the known sources have been exhausted. Companies spend millions of dollars drilling deeper and deeper in search of new deposits.
It costs about $400 to drill one meter into rock and it is not
uncommon to drill to depths of one to two kilometers. So, it can cost nearly a million dollars to
drill a hole that has no guarantee of success.
Given that ore deposits are tiny compared with the totality of the
search space, prospecting for these metals is very much like looking for a
needle in a haystack.
A researcher at the University of South Australia has developed a
suite of geochemical tools to more accurately target valuable mineral deposits
and thereby save drilling companies millions of dollars. The goal is to have drilling for valuable
minerals be faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
By mapping out where key chemical elements are found in greater concentrations, the new suite of tools greatly increases the chances of finding an ore deposit at a target site and thereby greatly improve the return on investment for exploration companies. The tools have been successfully tested at an iron oxide-copper-gold deposit in the north of South Australia, leading to a four-fold increase in the known footprint of their ore body. Finding economically viable enriched ore sites can generate both revenues and jobs.
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Web Links
Prospecting for gold just got a lot easier (and cheaper)
Photo, posted April 21, 2005, courtesy of Adam via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 15, 2019 Hydrogen From The Ocean
Hydrogen is frequently touted as an excellent source of clean energy that could be used as a fuel in vehicles, or as a storage medium for energy generated by wind and solar power. The challenge is that hydrogen is rather difficult and expensive to attain, and the most economical methods are not clean and green.
Most industrial hydrogen is produced by reforming natural gas, which
has the drawback that carbon dioxide is generated in the process. The environmentally friendly way to produce
hydrogen is via electrolysis, in which a chemical reaction is triggered by a
catalyst enabling electricity to split water into its constituent elements of
oxygen and hydrogen.
The best performing catalyst for electrolysis is platinum, but its
high price is a big drawback for the economics of making hydrogen. Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory have found a pairing of minerals that may solve the problem. Testing a molybdenum-phosphide catalyst with
wastewater in a small reactor called a microbial electrolysis cell revealed
that the new catalyst actually worked better than platinum.
Even better, the molybdenum-phosphide catalyst worked well with
seawater. If hydrogen can be produced
using seawater, there would be a pretty much unlimited resource for making
it. By eliminating the use of platinum
catalysts, it may be possible to reduce the cost of hydrogen made by
electrolysis to a competitive level.
Hydrogen as a vehicle fuel currently costs about twice as much as
gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis.
Given that running cars from batteries is considerably cheaper than
using gas, the cost of hydrogen needs to come down considerably for it to be a
viable vehicle fuel.
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Web Links
Ditching Platinum for the Ocean Could Make Hydrogen Cheap
Photo, posted July 19, 2011, courtesy of Heather Paul via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 14, 2019 Geoengineering And Volcanoes
Solar geoengineering is a theoretical strategy for curbing the effects of climate change by introducing aerosol particles in the upper atmosphere to reflect some of the Sun’s radiation back into space and thereby cool the planet. It would basically be intentionally tinkering with the climate system on a global scale.
The concept is fraught with the danger of unintended consequences and
most experts consider the idea almost unthinkable. But there are those who see it as a last
resort if all our other efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change are
unsuccessful.
Proponents of the idea like to describe the technique as being like a
human-made volcano. Major volcanic
eruptions spew ash particles into the atmosphere which can linger for as long
as a few years. The result is cooler
temperatures, sometimes across much of the globe. The Krakatoa eruption of 1883 lowered average
Northern Hemisphere temperatures by more than 2 degrees and created chaotic
weather patterns until about 1888.
Researchers at the Carnegie Institution and two Chinese research
institutions used sophisticated modeling techniques to compare the effects on
the climate of a volcanic eruption with long-term geoengineering deployment.
They found that the volcanic eruption created a greater temperature
difference between the land and sea than the geoengineering and resulted in
very different precipitation scenarios.
In both cases, there would be less available water for people on land.
Overall, the study demonstrated that volcanic eruptions are imperfect
analogs for geoengineering and that scientists should be very cautious about
extrapolating too much from them. It is
important to evaluate geoengineering from an informed position, but the truth
is that it represents a great and perilous unknown.
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Web Links
Geoengineering Versus A Volcano
Photo, posted November 1, 2002, courtesy of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 13, 2019 Air Quality In The U.S.
Globally, poor air is a serious problem. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to air pollution is linked to the premature deaths of an estimated 7 million people every year. In fact, 91% of the people on the planet live in places where air pollution exceeds WHO guideline limits.
In the United States, air pollution has dramatically improved over the
last four decades due in large part to federal regulations put in place under
the Clean Air Act of 1970. Fine
particulate matter (known as PM2.5) and other pollution, including ozone,
sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, have all decreased during this time
span.
But according to recent research, this trend has unfortunately done an
about-face. New data reveals that air
pollution has increased nationally since 2016.
An analysis of Environmental Protection Agency data by researchers at
Carnegie Mellon University found that, on average, fine particulate pollution
increased 5.5% across the country between 2016 and 2018.
This increase in fine particulate pollution was associated with nearly
10,000 additional premature deaths in the United States during that time
period.
According to researchers, there are several factors likely causing
this uptick in unhealthy air, including increases in both driving and the
burning of natural gas. Wildfires out
west are also thought to be a major contributor.
The researchers also suggest that a decrease in enforcement of the
Clean Air Act may also be playing a role.
The law put in place strict air pollution standards for vehicles,
factories, power plants, and other sources, and is credited with saving hundreds
of thousands of lives.
It’s time for clean air to be recognized as a basic human right.
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Web Links
America’s Air Quality Worsens, Ending Years of Gains, Study Says
Photo, posted April 6, 2007, courtesy of Brett Weinstein via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 12, 2019 Urban Agriculture And Sustainability Goals
In 2016, the City Council of Phoenix, Arizona adopted eight Environmental Sustainability goals for 2050 that lay out the desired long term requirements in order to become a Sustainable Desert City. Recently, a group of researchers from Arizona State University assessed how urban agriculture can help Phoenix, a desert city of 1.6 million people, meet those sustainability goals.
Using public records and high-resolution satellite imagery,
researchers analyzed the potential benefits of growing crops in three types of
urban areas in Phoenix: vacant lots, rooftops, and building facades. The study, which was supported by the
National Science Foundation and the USDA, estimated that there are 28 square
miles (or 5.4% of city space) available for urban agriculture. The data-driven analysis found that 71% of
the available areas for urban agriculture would come from existing buildings as
opposed to vacant lots.
All this available space for urban agriculture in Phoenix could supply
the city with nearly 183,000 tons of fresh produce annually, which would allow
for the delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables to all of the city’s existing
food deserts. In fact, the city’s own urban-agriculture output could meet 90%
of the fresh produce demand that currently exists in Phoenix.
In addition to producing food, rooftop agriculture could also reduce
the energy use in buildings by 3% per building per year, and displace more than
55,000 tons of CO2 annually. The use of
vacant lots could increase the total Phoenix green space by 17%, and reduce the
number of areas lacking green space by 60%.
This study demonstrates the many different ways that urban agriculture
can benefit a city.
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Web Links
Urban agriculture can push the sustainability
Photo, posted May 10, 2011, courtesy of Stephen Zank via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 11, 2019 Displaced By Extreme Weather
The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre is the world’s authoritative source of data and analysis on internal displacement. Internal displacement refers to people being forced to flee their homes or places of habitual residence but who remain within their country’s borders. Such displacements can be the result of conflict, violence, development projects, natural disasters, or climate change. As of the end of 2018, over 41 million people were living in internal displacement because of conflict and violence alone.
This year, natural disasters are causing a record number of internal
displacements. In the first half of the
year, 7 million people were displaced by disasters, accounting for nearly
two-thirds of all the internal displacements worldwide. The IDMC estimates that this number could hit
22 million by the end of the year.
The vast majority of displacement has been associated with storms and floods. Cyclone Fani alone in May displaced more than 3.4 million people in India and Bangladesh. In March, Cyclone Idai displaced 617,000 people in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. In total, 950 extreme weather events in 102 countries and territories displaced 7 million people from January to June.
Technically speaking, internally displaced people are not considered to be refugees because they remain in their home countries. But the growing millions of people represent a global crisis that continues to worsen with the changing climate. The international community cannot ignore the plight of these people. Governments around the world have to redouble their efforts to protect and assist their displaced citizens as well as to invest in sustainable development and climate change adaptation.
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Web Links
Extreme Weather Displaced 7 Million People in First Half of 2019
Photo, posted August 5, 2012, courtesy of the U.S. Embassy, Jakarta via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 08, 2019 The Benefits Of Zero-Carbon Cities
A new report issued by a coalition of 50 leading international institutions shows that low carbon initiatives in cities could reduce urban emissions by nearly 90% and support 87 million jobs worldwide by 2030. The report finds that implementing low carbon measures in cities would be worth almost $24 trillion by 2050.
Cities are home to more than half the world’s population but produce
80% of gross domestic product and 75% of carbon emissions. The research highlights the significant
benefits carbon reduction can bring to cities in areas such as public health,
job creation, and poverty alleviation.
The report shows that it is possible to cut 90% of emissions from
cities using currently available technologies and practices including carbon
savings from buildings, transportation, materials efficiency, and waste
reduction. Doing so would require an
investment of nearly $2 trillion per year but would generate annual returns of
nearly $3 trillion in 2030 and $7 trillion in 2050 based on cost savings
alone. Many low carbon measures would
pay for themselves in less than five years, including more efficient lighting,
electric vehicles, improved freight logistics, and solid waste management.
In addition to economic benefits, compact, connected and clean cities could
provide a higher standard of living and greater opportunity for all. These measures would also reduce air
pollution, cut chronic traffic congestion, and improve worker productivity.
The report offers case studies from around the world where national and local governments have worked together to rapidly and profoundly transform their cities for the better within 20 or 30 years.
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Web Links
The benefits of investing in zero-carbon cities
Photo, posted September 8, 2018, courtesy of Steffen Flor via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 07, 2019 Pesticides In The Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world and it has been under siege by warming waters and ocean acidification. Widespread coral bleaching has damaged or destroyed large portions of the 1,400-mile long coral reef system. But the effects of climate change are not the only threat to the reef. Pesticides found in waterways that flow into the Great Barrier Reef are another serious problem.
According to a new study by the University of Queensland, the combined
toxicity of 22 of the most common pesticides that flow into the Reef are not
meeting pollution reduction targets.
Different pesticides affect different organisms. Herbicides affect organisms that
photosynthesize such as seagrass, corals, mangroves, and algae. Insecticides affect insect larvae in
freshwater, and crustaceans such as crabs, prawns, and lobsters. Previous assessments have only examined
individual pesticides and only for limited times. The new study has utilized a methodology that
estimates the combined toxicity of multiple pesticides found in the waterways
that discharge into the Reef and does it for the entire wet season.
The research revealed that the pesticide reduction target set in the
Australian Government’s Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan is not
being met. Only one natural resource
management region – the Cape York region – was found to be meeting its target.
By having estimates of the risk posed by pesticides in the various
regions and individual waterways, governments, farmers, and conservationists
can see which areas pose the greatest risk and where to maximize efforts. Stakeholders have to come together to reduce
pesticide concentrations through better management practices and by using less
toxic pesticides.
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Web Links
High pesticide concentrations continue to enter Great Barrier Reef
Photo, posted July 29, 2010, courtesy of Kyle Taylor via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 06, 2019 Cooling Down Urban Heat Islands
Researchers have known about and studied the urban heat island effect for quite some time. Since large cities began to emerge in the 19th century, it has been understood that various aspects of the urban environment lead to warmer temperatures than the surrounding countryside.
Researchers led by a group at Portland State University in Oregon have
been utilizing a new way of studying the urban heat island effect. They have used citizen science volunteers in
24 cities around the world to map temperatures in the cities at ground level in
great detail using mobile sensors attached to slow-moving vehicles. Previous studies have used data from satellite
or stationary sensors. They have learned
that the urban heat island effect is more complicated, more varied, and subtler
than the earlier data indicated.
They found that
there are six things that affect urban heat. Three are living — the volume of
the tree canopy, the height of the tree canopy, and the ground level
vegetation. Three are human-built — the volume of buildings, the difference in
building heights, and the coloring of the buildings.
Buildings can
have both negative and positive effects. Tall buildings that cast shade actually
lower relative afternoon temperatures, while densely packed shorter buildings,
like the big-box stores in suburban areas, lead to hotter afternoon
temperatures. The studies show that increasing the difference in building
heights in an area creates more air circulation, which has a cooling effect.
The study also showed that urban heat is a social justice issue. Lower-income neighborhoods largely barren of
trees have considerably higher temperatures than more affluent, tree-shaded
areas.
Such detailed research can be used to guide decisions in urban
planning with regard to trees, building heights, and the color and type of
surfaces in our urban spaces.
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Web Links
Can We Turn Down the Temperature on Urban Heat Islands?
Photo, posted July 21, 2009, courtesy of Daniel Dionne via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min
November 05, 2019 Bad News For The Aletsch Glacier
The Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland is the largest glacier in the Alps. Every year, it attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. The huge ice flow in the Upper Valais region of Switzerland is an Alpine tourist attraction second only to the Matterhorn. In the summer, meltwater from the glacier is an important water source in the dry Rhone Valley.
As the climate continues to warm, the massive glacier continues to
shrink. The tongue of the glacier has
receded by about a kilometer since the year 2000 and scientists predict that
this trend will continue over the coming years.
Detailed simulations by researchers at ETH Zurich assessed the future of the Aletsch Glacier under different scenarios related to the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and the resulting warming.
The best-case scenario in which global warming is limited to less than
2 degrees Celsius would result in the glacier being half the size it is today
by the end of the century. If the global
community does not pull together quickly to take effective measures against
global warming, Switzerland could warm by as much as 4 to 8 degrees and by
2100, what was once the largest glacier in the Alps will be a couple of measly
patches of ice.
To understand how much global warming has already impacted the glacier
to date, even if somehow the climate remains the same as it has been for the
past 10 years going forward, the ice volume of the Aletsch glacier will still
decrease by nearly half its volume by the end of the century. The glacier is no longer in equilibrium with
the climate.
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Web Links
Gloomy forecast for the Aletsch Glacier
Photo, posted April 7, 2007, courtesy of Jessica Gardner via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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2min

FAQs about Earth Wise:

How many episodes does Earth Wise have?

The podcast currently has 2,516 episodes available.