“It contributes to bigger storms  and more intense storms,” said Kevin Trenberth, of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Global warming causes an increase in ocean surface temperatures, increasing evaporation which releases additional heat energy into the atmosphere increasing the strength and duration of tropical storms, Trenberth explained, noting it was unusual to see four storms in the Atlantic simultaneously.

“It’s rare, perhaps, but it’s not unprecedented,” countered climatologist Jay Hobgood of Ohio State University. Hobgood and others believe the Earth is in the middle of a normal 40-year weather cycle that periodically produces more hurricanes. “The hurricane season peaks in the first two weeks of September. This is when you would expect it to be most active.”

NOAA statistics show a marked increase in the annual number of tropical storms and hurricanes in the last 20 years. Veteran hurricane expert, Hugh Willoughby of Florida International University said, “What we’re getting now, I think, is a double whammy of a slow global warming trend and a natural cycle for hurricanes.” The retired National Hurricane Center specialist said within a year or two scientists should be able to separate the effects of global warming from natural storm patterns and determine the true effect of human-produced carbon dioxide on weather.

“Seeking Radical Breakthroughs in Alternative Energy — What I Would Advise the Next President” is the focus of the event. Speakers will include futurist Dr. Ray Kurzweil, biologist Dr. George Church, inventor Dr. Saul Griffith, and X Prize Foundation Chairman and CEO Dr. Peter Diamandis, among others.

This is the kind of thought-provoking program the Earth-Ship movement plans to sponsor in the near future. Once launched, the Earth Ships will become floating auditoriums dedicated to promoting worldwide awareness of the environmental impact of global warming and climate change. They will serve as demonstration labs for alternative energy innovations. They will bring together people and ideas from around the world for spirited discussions and problem-solving forums focused on global warming, climate change and the protection of our environment.

To find out more about the Earth-Ship program and how you can help, visit the Earth-Ship website.

Scientists have long known that organic carbon frozen in the world’s permafrost, which blankets one-fifth of Earth’s land mass, will release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when thawed. But they had no idea how much carbon was actually frozen in the icy tundra. University of Alaska researchers evaluated 117 meter deep soil samples to accurately gauge the volume of this “carbon pool.” Previous estimates were based on limited sampling at shallow depths.

The study found the North American carbon pool to be 60% greater than previously estimated and equivalent to about one-sixth of the atmosphere’s total carbon content.  Researchers believe the tundra of Europe and Russia may contain similarly large carbon pools. Frozen temperatures are all that keep this material from thawing and flooding the atmosphere with greenhouse gases.

“Releasing even a portion of this carbon into the atmosphere, in the form of methane or carbon dioxide, would have a significant impact on Earth’s climate,” warns Christian Beer of Germany’s Max Planck Institute. With scientists predicting a 10.8 degree (Fahrenheit) increase in Arctic temperatures before the end of the century, the potential for disaster is immense.

In anticipation of coming commercial traffic, the U.S. Coast Guard has opened two temporary stations on Alaska’s far north coast. The Coast Guard is preparing for oil tankers, fishing vessels and even cruise ships to venture into waters that have been the sole domain of indigenous hunters, seals and polar bears. “We have to prepare for the world coming to the Arctic,” said Rear Admiral Gene Brooks, commander of the Coast Guard’s Alaska district.

Each year global warming has melted an increasing amount of polar sea ice. The summer ice cap is now only half the size it was in the 1960s. Last year Arctic ice thawed to a record low. The receding ice makes ocean travel along Alaska’s inhospitable northern coast tempting; however, shifting ice can easily trap ships.

After several rescues last year, the Coast Guard opened temporary stations at Borrow and Prudhoe Bay to provide new refueling, reprovisioning and rescue services.  However, the Guard is concerned that increased ship traffic will increase the risk of oil spills, wayward boaters and other problems in what is one of the world’s last remaining pristine wilderness areas.

Unlike other hydrogen processes under development around the world, the OSU process does not use precious metals like platinum or rhodium, making it considerably less expensive than its competitors. “Rhodium is used most often for this kind of catalyst and it costs around $9,000 dollars an ounce,” said Umit Ozkan, OSU professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “Our catalyst costs around $9 a kilogram.”

Ozkan believes the OSU-developed catalyst could make the use of hydrogen-powered cars a practical reality in the future. She noted, “Our research lends itself to what’s called a ‘distributed production’ strategy. Instead of making hydrogen from biofuel at a centralized facility and transporting it to gas stations, we could use our catalyst inside reactors that are actually located at the gas stations. So we wouldn’t have to transport or store the hydrogen. We could store the biofuel and make hydrogen on the spot.”

“The cost of energy in the United States, on an annual basis, has now soared beyond $1 trillion,” says Brown. Concerned about the potential dangers of continuing to rely on foreign oil, Brown recommends:

• instituting federal energy efficiency regulations and programs, and
• creating financial incentives to encourage both individuals and businesses to embrace energy efficient measures.

Brown would use successful California energy programs as a model for a national program. He notes, “California has kept its per capita electrical consumption flat for the past 25 years — in significant part through appliance and building standards and incentives to adopt ways that get more work out of less energy.” Brown recommends setting tough but practical energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment based on the best available technology.

Brown also recommends establishing efficiency standards for new buildings; a system of rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives; increased research and development funding of new technologies and fuel sources; and tough federal and state regulations. (Click here to read Brown’s complete response.)

California Attorney General Jerry Brown warns that America must act to curb its energy appetite now, before it’s too late:

“The world is facing a triple threat of unprecedented dimensions,” says Brown. “First, the loss of cheap and easily discovered oil; second, explosive energy demand from China, India and other emerging countries as they rapidly improve their standard of living; and third, the climate disruptions caused by CO2 and other greenhouse gases. None of the three will go away. In fact, each will get progressively worse unless we take decisive action, without delay.” 

“The cost of energy in the United States, on an annual basis, has now soared beyond $1 trillion,” Brown warns. “Our massive purchases of foreign oil represent perhaps the greatest transfer of wealth from one people to another in all human history. And, paradoxically, this wealth transfer is from a far more technologically advanced nation to poorer countries — some unstable and hostile . . . Wake up America! We must stop the hemorrhaging of our national treasure, and we need to do it now.”

Next time: Jerry Brown’s Solution

Republicans want to allow offshore drilling and oil-shale development. Democrats don’t. Bans on both are set to expire at the end of September. Democrats are expected to include an extension of the bans in the temporary funding measure that Congress must pass when it returns. If Republicans vote to deny the extension by defeating the funding measure, the federal government will be forced to shut down on September 30 until Congress approves temporary funding.

Both sides of the aisle are playing hardball. Republicans say citizens squeezed by high gas prices and escalating grocery bills are ready to support offshore drilling despite the environmental risks. Democrats are banking that in an election year Republicans won’t want to disrupt government services, including veterans’ benefits, social security payments and government-backed home loans. It’s a game of political “chicken” with America’s coastline in the loser’s seat.

By 2025, the United Nations estimates that two-thirds of the world’s population will live where water is scare. Unsafe drinking water kills more than 2 million people each year. This year, drought across swaths of Africa created waves of refugees. Some neighboring countries closed their borders, afraid refugees would overwhelm their meager resources. 

Water is a basic human need. Without it we die. Just one percent of the Earth’s water is accessible and drinkable. With a world population in excess of 6 billion, all competing for each drop of water, the potential for conflict is real. We already wage war over oil which is not essential to human survival. Water is.

The recent pact by Great Lake border states and Canadian provinces ensuring them control over 95% of America’s fresh surface water (see our Aug. 13 post) is a telling example of what’s to come. The pact came in response to a Canadian businessman’s attempt to send an annual 158 million gallons of lake water to drought-stricken parts of Asia. Last October, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson further alarmed border states by suggesting Great Lakes water could solve growing water problems in the Southwest.

“There will be a water crisis,” said Ohio State Representative Matthew Dolan. “When it happens, we want to make sure our waters are protected and we have the fundamental last say in the use of our water.”

If this is the response of the usually staid Midwest, imagine what an unstable nation filled with desperate, thirsty people might do. War is not out of the question.

Water, or “blue gold,” is predicted to become a hot commodity in coming decades (see our Aug. 11 post) which means that those who control the enormous amount of water contained in the Great Lakes will wield enormous power. That thought has apparently crossed the minds of Midwest politicians. All states and provinces contiguous to the lakes have entered into the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to ensure that water will not be diverted outside the Great Lakes basin by pipeline or tanker.

Border states concerned about the effects of climate change don’t want southern and western states trying to tap into the Great Lakes as their own water sources dry up. “The value of potable water is expected to increase significantly during this century,” warns Peter Annin, author of The Great Lakes Water Wars. While shipping Great Lakes water is considered unrealistically expensive today, the former Newsweek correspondent reminds us that we once felt that way about shipping oil overseas.