Environmental Science Briefs

La Niña likely to affect upcoming weather

Disappearing for a couple of months after playing a role in extreme weather events last spring, La Niña is expected to return soon and impact weather patterns in the U.S. and other parts of the world. A naturally occurring weather phenomena that forms from the interaction of the cooler-than-average surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean with the atmosphere, La Niña generally occurs in three to five year cycles. However, back to back La Niña events do occur about 50 percent of the time.

This interaction has strong impacts on temperatures and precipitation patterns, usually bringing drier air to the Southern U.S. and wetter conditions to the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest during the winter. The National Oceanographic and Aeronotics Administration (NOAA) predicts La Niña to strengthen gradually to full force by the winter, anticipating its return for the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane season.

La Niña and other factors played a part in the extreme storms and tornado outbreaks in the Southern U.S. earlier this year. Its return may bring some much-needed relief to drought-stricken states such as Okla. and Texas.

Low-sulphur fuels decreases air pollution from ships

Examining the effects of a container ship's switch to a low-sulphur fuel on air pollution while steaming along the Californian coast, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists found that the decrease in air pollution was much more pronounced than expected. The requirement for ships to switch to low-sulphur fuels and voluntarily slow down as they approach the coastline stems from a 2009 Calif. state regulation.

Scientists measured the levels of the main pollutant targeted, sulphur dioxide, using an aircraft flying by the cargo ship Margrethe Maersk as it was approaching the California coast and made the requisite changes in fuel use. Levels of sulphur dioxide, a precursor of acid rain, had decreased by 90 percent when the ship made the switch to a low-sulphur fuel and slowed down once it was within 23 miles of the coast.

Because of the effect ship emissions have on coastlines that they might steam by, the International Maritime Organization may uptake similar rules for ships traversing other coastlines along the U.S. and internationally by 2012. Results from the scientists' work are published online in Environmental Science & Technology.

Infectious bacteria could spread in warmer oceans

A new public health problem may arise with the onset of global warming as certain infectious bacteria spread their way to coastlines in Europe. On Tuesday, researchers from 17 European marine institutes published a lengthy paper that combined the findings of over 100 projects funded by the European Union since 1998. The collaboration of researchers was organized under Project CLAMER, which hosted a two-day conference in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.

Their findings project an increase and spread of the Vibrio genus of bacteria, which can cause food poisoning, cholera and related illnesses, as the Earth's oceans warm. Contamination of seafood, as well as direct ingestion or exposure to these bacteria, can weigh down the European Union with significant costs for treatment of infections.

 

U.N. inspector finds problems in medical waste disposal

First world nations have not taken enough care in disposing their hazardous medical waste, according to a report by a United Nations special rapporteur Calin Georgescu to the U.N. Human Rights Council.

The report highlights failures by more prosperous nations to ensure such waste does not end up in third world countries, exposing those populations to pathogens and other hazards. Georgescu's report recommends that nations adopt stronger laws concerning the treatment of medical waste to reduce preventable illnesses and deaths.