Global warming is occurring at an accelerated pace in many high-altitude regions around the world and among the consequences could be water shortages, according to a new study co-authored by Rutgers climate scientist Jim Miller. A professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Miller collaborated with an international team of scientists on a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The researchers say evidence is showing that global warming often occurs more rapidly in high mountains and that further study is needed to fully grasp the true impact of the phenomenon… “Water is going to be a major problem over the next few decades anyway and climate change is going to exacerbate it,” Miller said. “Who gets the water? Are you going to use the water to grow crops or are you going to use the water to fill swimming pools in LA? Those are ultimately social and political decisions. With climate change, those changes could be more dramatic.”
Archives for April 2015
Scientists Pore Over Warm West, Cold East Divide
The curiosity of a growing group of researchers has been piqued by the tenacious temperature divide that has separated East from West over the past two winters as a wild zigzag of the jet stream has brought repeated bouts of Arctic air and snow to the …
Climate Change Affecting High-Altitude Regions at Faster Rate, Rutgers Study Finds
Global warming is occurring at an accelerated pace in many high-altitude regions around the world and among the consequences could be water shortages, according to a new study co-authored by Rutgers climate scientist Jim Miller… A professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Miller collaborated with an international team of scientists on a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The researchers say evidence is showing that global warming often occurs more rapidly in high mountains and that further study is needed to fully grasp the true impact of the phenomenon… “Somewhere on the order of 1 billion people a day don’t have access to good clean water,” Miller said. “Climate change will exacerbate that and what happens in mountains is going to be a major part of that.” Globally, the team of researchers found that as altitude rises, the rate of temperature change often accelerates. In the past 20 years, temperatures above 4,000 meters (13,120 feet) have warmed 75 percent faster than at altitudes below 2,000 meters (6,560 feet).
Wildfire Risk and Freeze Watch in NJ
Talk about a bizarre combo, in this case hot and cold. There’s a risk of too much heat today and too much cold late tonight through Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service… More specifically, there’s an enhanced threat of wildfire…
Unearthing a Buried Treasure, Part II: Student’s Vision for Trail Renovation Enabled by Fellow Students
The Arbor Trail is located behind the University Inn and Conference Center on the Douglass Campus. Rutgers purchased the property in 1965. The Inn is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the trail had its grand re-opening on Rutgers Day 2015 on April 25, as part of the Inn’s anniversary celebration. In 1908, armed […]
Business Partnership Joins Sustainable Raritan Collaboration
At the recent meeting of the Board of Directors, the Somerset County Business Partnership (SCBP) unanimously approved a resolution to support the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative (SRRI) and become a Collaborative Member… The Sustainable Raritan R…
Candidate Jennifer Francis Focused on Master Plan
With a new master plan to write, Marion Planning Board candidate Jennifer Francis hopes voters will send her to the board for the first time… “The next few years are going to be really important ones for the town,” said Francis, a research professor at Rutgers University for the past 20 years… The board should consider writing bylaws that have the legal authority to stop developments that might harm the community, she said. Additionally, Francis said she wants to foster positive discussions on the board.
Legislators Bemoan 20-Year Delay in Adopting Water-Supply Master Plan
It has been nearly 20 years since the state updated its water supply master plan, a delay that legislators and conservationists said could jeopardize the ability to deliver safe and adequate drinking water to residents in the future… In those two decades, population has grown, water use has increased, and potential problems with providing potable water to consumers have multiplied. These include depletion of groundwater supplies, increased pollution, and uncertainty about where the supplies to meet tomorrow’s needs will come from… “In most cases, it comes down to ratepayers,” said Daniel Van Abs, an associate professor at Rutgers University and a former project manager at the state Department of Environmental Protection, which developed the state’s last water supply master plan in 1996.
Billions of Dollars in Debt
U.S. millennials have more than $1 trillion in outstanding student loan debt, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. In New Jersey, total student loan debt hovers around $30.8 billion, which is just shy of the amount that’s needed to run the state of New Jersey in 2015… The skyrocketing cost of education and the Great Recession forced many students to finance their education with loans. Officials say as they graduate into the real world with significant debt and, in many cases take low paying jobs they’re overqualified for, economic activity isn’t as significant as it’s been when past generations were coming into adulthood…”There are a whole lot of people out there living postponed lives,” said Barbara O’Neill, a personal finance professor at Rutgers University New Brunswick. “It’s got a dampening effect for people of all ages- not just the young people themselves. It ripples.”… Debt prevents millennials from forming households, which means they’re not renting apartments or buying homes. With 80 million nationwide, they could be boosting the economy, O’Neill said. But they’re not — and it’s because of their debt.
Parking Lot Weed Research from Prof. Struwe’s Lab Featured on “Plants are Cool, Too” Series
Dr. Chris Martine, the David Burpee Chair in Plant Genetics and Research at Bucknell University, and his film team have been producing the video series, “Plants are Cool, Too,” which is co-sponsored by the Botanical Society of America. The goal is to highlight that plant research is indeed cool, fascinating and important. The episode, “Extreme […]