About 70 hydro power projects in Himalayas at risk quake triggered landslides

The country temporarily lost about 20 per cent of its hydropower capacity and more than 30 hydropower projects were damaged. The projects, which were affected by earthquake‐triggered landslides, were the worst hit.
The team also analysed 273 hydropower projects that are already in operation, under construction or are being planned in the Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese Himalayas. They found that about 25 per cent of them are likely to face severe damage from quake-triggered landslides. The researchers point to an urgent need to re-evaluate hydropower development in the region.
According to reports, the Himalayas would have the highest dam density in the world, with over a thousand water reservoirs dotting the mountain range in India, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan, over the next few years.

Gujarat acts to save its pride

Stunned by the deaths of 23 lions(4 lions died of Canine Distemper Virus infection, while 17 died of Babesiosis Protozona infection), the Gujarat government, which initially insisted that the lions had died due to infighting for territorial domination.
They launched not only rescue efforts but also called experts from outside and imported a vaccine from the US.
At present 33 lions are under treatment.

Are environmental issues finally an important part of India's election discourse ?

Dated : Aug 7, 2018 ; Economic Times

This article talks about some of the issues related to environment. Cleaning of the polluted river Yamuna, which is considered holy by Hindus, has been a campaign issue for political parties for over decades. The Central government planned to cut over 16,500 trees in Delhi for the redevelopment of goverment colonies. Moreover, there was a clash between AAP, BJP and Congress parties regarding who allowed  to cut off the trees. Environment has been a part of the maifestos of other major national parties. Congress also had several environment protection related promises regarding the cleaning of river Ganga. 

As far as environment issues are concerned, it will gain the centre stage in the 2019 election campaign. As pollution is an equal oppotunity killer and it does not discriminate between rich and poor.

How some algae may survive climate change

Green algae that evolved to tolerate hostile and fluctuating conditions in salt marshes and inland salt flats are expected to survive climate change, thanks to hardy genes they stole from bacteria.These Picochlorum single-celled species of green algae provide clues to how nature can modify genomes, and suggest ways in which scientists may someday engineer more robust algae to serve as biofuels and provide other benefits.

A study appearing on the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, reveals how the miniaturized genomes of green algae have evolved from the larger genomes of their freshwater ancestors to become resilient primary producers of organic compounds that support ecosystems. This transition to a saltier and more hostile environment achieved by Picochlorum occurred over millions of years but parallels what is happening on a more rapid scale now due to climate change.

And the world's largest bird is Voromobe titan

Sept 29 2018
PARIS: After more than a century of conflicting evidence the scientists finally found the world's largest bird namely Voromobe titan. In the 19th century, the new breed over the creature, pillaging skeletons and fossilized eggs were discovered the biggest bird on earth. It is also like elephant bird, only the bones were distinct from the elephant bird specimens, in fact titan was entirely different genus with estimates of 860 kg.










https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/and-the-worlds-largest-bird-is-voromobe-titan/articleshow/65973969.cms

Science and Tourism grapples over coral reefs down under.

The portion of  The Great Barrier Reef near to Australia and New Zealand have been a local source of huge revenue in forms of Snorkeling and Scuba diving  protagonists. However, due to the man made rise in global temperature, the reefs have suffered damage. This lead to interventions by the local scientific community to cut off all tourist activities.

A  timely restriction has somehow resulted in the repair of the reef to a humble extent. But, the science folk says its too early to conclude and precaution must be on point for further mitigation, The constraint has affected almost 64000 jobs and has led to pandemonium onshore. The Aussies are divided in their opinion on the issue and are seeking refute over the conundrum.

Tourism vs Science

Scientists show polar 'polynya' supported marine life during last Ice Age

There was a small ice-free 'polynya' between the frozen continents and the open ocean where microscopic marine life prevailed, which would have provided otherwise unavailable food for fish and mammals.The study was led by Geological Survey of Norway (NGU), the Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate at The Arctic University of Norway, and the Centre for Chemical Sciences at the University of Plymouth.

The researchers believe their findings are of international importance since they show the vulnerability of marine ecosystems in the northern oceans to periods of rapid climate change, but also their adaptability to various extreme climate states.

CONCERNS GROW FOR ARCTIC BELUGA WHALE IN THAMES ESTUARY

On Wednesday, the concerns were growing for a beluga whale spotted in the River Thames outside London, thousands of kilometers from the cherished white species natural home in arctic waters. On Tuesday, the whale first seen was extremely rare sighting triggered wonder and excitement, but after it was spotted again exactly in the same location on Wednesday, concerns grew that the beluga had got lost and was potentially in danger.

Common herbicide may be killing honeybees

The world's most widely used weed killer may also be indirectly causing death of honey bees. Serratia is a widespread opportunistic pathogen that infects  bees around the world. Researchers recommend that farmers, landscapers and homeowners avoid spraying glyphosate-based herbicides on flowering plants that bees are likely to visit.

300 endangered sea turtles found dead off southern Mexican coast; environment protection officials launch investigation

• 300 endangered sea turtles were found dead off in Mexico,trapped in fishing net,shortly after 100 were recovered
• Mexico is the home to six of the world's seven species of sea turtles,there has permanent program to protect these reptiles and it includes punishment to offenders.
• The office of the federal attorney for environmental protection (PROFEPA) would invest the case.

Source : https://www.firstpost.com/world/300-endangered-sea-turtles-found-dead-off-southern-mexican-coast-environment-protection-officials-launch-investigation-5068531.html

The world's largest bird is Voromobe Titan

For 60 million years the colossal, flightless elephant bird Aepyornis Maximus stalked the savannah and rainforests of Madagascar until it was hunted to extinction around 1,000 years ago. The specimen weighing an estimated 860 kg about the same as a fully grown giraffe. 

In the study, Hansford examined elephant bird bones found around the world. Until now, the largest-ever elephant bird was described in 1894 by the British scientist C W Andrews as Aepyornis Titan a larger species of Aepyornis Maximus. 

Hansford said his research proved titan was indeed a different species. But he also found that its bones were so distinct from other elephant bird specimens that Titan was, in fact, an entirely separate genus. The creature would have stood at least three meters (10 feet) tall, and had an average weight of 650 kg, making it the largest bird genus yet uncovered. 

Source: ET e-newspaper

Microplastics found deep in sand where turtles nest

University of Exeter scientists found an average of 5,300 particles of plastic per cubic metre at depths of 60cm (2ft) on beaches in Cyprus used by green turtles and loggerheads. At the surface, up to 130,000 fragments of plastic were found per cubic metre, the second-worst level ever recorded on a beach. 

Researchers say that if conditions worsen such pollution could eventually begin to affect hatching success and even the ratio of male and female turtle hatchling. Microplastics have different physical properties to natural sediments, so high levels could change the conditions at hatching sites. 

Microplastics is defined as less than 5mm in diameter and it come from numerous sources including discarded plastic items that have broken apart, microbeads from cosmetics and microfibres from clothes. Of the microplastics categorised in this research, nurdles (pellets used in the production of plastic products) and hard fragments broken from larger items were the most common.

Source:ScienceDaily by University of Exeter