Earth Hour 2009

On Saturday 28 March 2009 at 8.30pm, people, businesses and iconic buildings around the world will switch off their lights for an hour – WWF's Earth Hour.
To find out more watch this clip:



Or you can click this link
So why are you still switched on?

Ethiopian Dam

This is an excellent case-study for those of you studying AS Energy and Resources. A major hydro-electric dam project in Ethiopia will help provide the region with much-needed energy and income, but could have serious implications for tribes living in the area.

To find out more click this link.

Oh I do like to be beside the sea-side!

As fears grow of a metre sea level rise by the end of the century, the Environment Agency has told Sky News Online it is impossible to defend all of Britain's coastline.

For more detail click this link.

Or go to the home page of the Environment Agency by clicking here.

A blast from the past!

For us oldies who remember this......

It is 20 years since the Exxon Valdez supertanker ran aground in Alaska, spilling 38,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sheltered waters of a picturesque sound. It wasn't the biggest oil spill recorded but it was, arguably, the most iconic.

What lessons have we learnt from this oil disaster? To find out read this article on the BBC

Where is the hottest place on Earth?

A question which is regularly asked in school and has been answered in these two BBC programmes - The first shown on 19 March (if you missed it go to BBC IPlayer) and the second is being shown this Thursday (26 March) on BBC 1 at 9pm.

Earth scientist Dr Dougal Jerram, from Durham University, joined a BBC team to investigate the geology of the Danakil desert in northern Ethiopia - officially the hottest place on Earth. Here is his account of mapping an active volcano from inside the crater.

To read and hear Dr Jerram's findings click this link.

Naked Roads?!

Unfortunately, not what you think!
Boris Johnson, London Mayor has given the go ahead for the UK's first naked roads. These are roads which have no pavements, no road markings, no speed bumps, no traffic lights infact no road clutter what so ever. The idea being that by mixing pedestrians and drivers together then the street becomes a safer place. But does it work?

Read London's Evening Standard to get a local perspective.

Brake - the road safety charity are big fans and give case studies of where the schemes are already in operation.

Gravity Satellite - doesn't blast off

The launch of a European Space Agency (Esa) gravity mapping satellite, called Goce, has been delayed. Controllers suspended the countdown when the service tower protecting its rocket failed to move clear of the pad and allow a lift-off. Engineers hope to fix the problem, which should allow another launch attempt to be made on Tuesday.

Goce will give scientists new insights into how the interior of the planet is structured and how the oceans move. Researchers will also use the satellite's data to frame a universal system to measure height anywhere on Earth.

For information about Goce click this link.

How to survive the coming century

ALLIGATORS basking off the English coast; a vast Brazilian desert; the mythical lost cities of Saigon, New Orleans, Venice and Mumbai; and 90 per cent of humanity vanished. Welcome to the world warmed by 4 °C.

Keep up with the latest thinking about global warming; do not just think geographical journals why not check out the New Scientist. This issue has an interactive map to allow you to browse the globe and speculate on the impact on different countries.

It's been cold outside.

The UK had its coldest winter for 13 years, bucking a recent trend of mild temperatures, the Met Office has said.
The average mean temperature across December, January and February was 3.1C - the lowest since the winter beginning in 1995, which averaged 2.5C.

For more information - click here and check out the source of the data by going to the met office here.

Explain this?

An earthquake has shaken a coastal town in Kent - in nearly the same spot as a tremor two years ago. The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it recorded the earthquake at 1435 GMT in Folkestone.

So Year 9 why did an Earthquake occur here despite the fact that we are not near any plate boundary?

You may get your answer if you follow these links: BBC or The British Geological Society