Random graphic of the day: UNEP/GRID-Arendal Maps and Graphics Library

Arctic Ocean surface Temperatures

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:56:39 -0200

Consistent with the rapid retreat of sea ice, the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean have been warming in recent years, because declining sea-ice cover allows the water to absorb more heat from the sun.

Survival probability in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:36:54 -0200

Ebola is a major threat particularly to the gorillas, with severe casualties following outbreaks. As these come in ad- dition to deaths from poachers and habitat loss, the outbreaks can become detrimental.

Global Ocean Acidification

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:29:10 -0200

As carbon concentrations in the atmosphere increase, so do concentrations in the ocean, with resultant acidification as a natural chemical process.

Transboundary movements of waste in 2000

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:29:09 -0200

Waste, including extremely hazardous waste like radioactive material, toxic heavy metals and poisonous PCBs are routinely being loaded into trucks, and transported across continents. Some is loaded onto ships and exported to other countries. Often the waste is being sent for recycling but some is just dumped. Between 1993 and 1999 122 countries reported nearly 30 000 waste exports. During this period Germany was the top exporter (nearly 7 million tonnes) and France was the leading importer (just over 3 million tonnes).

En Europe, le nombre d'espèces d'oiseaux champêtres a connu une forte baisse au cours des dernières décennies, essentiellement du fait de l'intensification agricole

Sat, 18 May 2013 07:56:44 -0200

Gregory, R. 2009. “Data for European common farmland birds”. January 14, 2009, personal e-mail (January 14, 2009)

The development potential - available land per capita, in land use class

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:55:02 -0200

The amount of land area available per capita provides a rough measure on the current carrying capacity for food security and for the development of additional agricultural products for export – such as biofuels. The calculation presented in this figure show that most of Asia is very limited in this respect, especially since populations are expected to increase. Latin America and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa show more potential for the development of biofuels for export.

Albedo of basic thick sea ice surface types

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:51:52 -0200

The albedo for different surface conditions on the sea ice range widely, from roughly 85 per cent of radiation reflected for snow-covered ice to 7 per cent for open water. These two surfaces cover the range from the largest to the smallest albedo on earth. Melting snow, bare ice and ponded ice lie within this range. There is a general decrease in the albedo of the ice cover during the melt season as the snow-covered ice is replaced by a mix of melting snow, bare ice, and ponded ice. As the melt season progresses, the bare ice albedo remains fairly stable, but the pond albedo decreases. During summer the ice cover retreats, exposing more of the ocean, and the albedo of the remaining ice decreases as the snow cover melts and melt ponds form and evolve. These processes combine to form the ice–albedo feedback mechanism.

History of variations of the temperature for Africa in relation to the World

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:48:15 -0200

Africa is following the global trend of recent increases in temperatures. This resource includes three graphics. The first shows the main temperature anomaly in degrees Celsius in Africa from 1900 to 2000. The second shows departures from the 1961 to 1990 average temperatures, in degrees Celsius, on a global scale for the time period 1860 to 2000. The final graphic shows departures from the 1961 to 1990 temperatures, in degrees Celsius, for the Northern Hemisphere from the year 1000 to the year 2000. The first two graphics are based on direct temperatures, while the third graphic is based on direct temperatures and on proxy data.

Carbon inventory

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:48:05 -0200

Carbon stored by forests graphic, Distribution of carbon inventory graphic and Carbon inventory up to 2100.

Tropical hydropower dams as greenhouse sources

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:46:20 -0200

Large tropical hydropower reservoirs in Latin America may have a potential adverse impact on the climatic system through releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Submerging large areas of land and tropical vegetation under water and fluctuations in water level promote physical-chemical processes that decompose the organic matter and generate methane and carbon dioxide emissions. In the initial years of operation, emission levels are especially high. In the case Tucuru and Balbina dams in the Amazon, potential emissions of greenhouse gases could be much higher than a natural gas combined-cycle plant of similar capacity.