UK import emissions are the highest in Europe, figures show

Britain's demand for imported goods is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions abroad than any other European country, according to a new study published today.

The report shows that 253m tonnes of carbon dioxide are released overseas each year in the manufacture of products bound for UK shores, the equivalent of 4.3 tonnes per person. The average Briton's carbon footprint is 9.7 tonnes, not including emissions from goods.

UK import emissions are the highest in Europe, figures show | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Google Street View - Simon Haughton's Blog

comparing settlements (village/town/city);

looking for safe places to cross the road (e.g. zebra/pelican crossings);

online treasure hunts (e.g. challenge children to find a particular building);

observing architecture on buildings (e.g. cathedrals);

identifying naturally-occuring features in the landscape (e.g. meanders, beaches etc.);

spotting shapes in the local environment (e.g. road markings/railings/signs etc.);

using panoramas as stimuli for story writing.

Google Street View - Simon Haughton's Blog

A Disastrous Year: 2010 Death Toll Already Abnormally High | LiveScience

In comparison to previous years, the number of casualties from natural disasters in 2010, which is already well above 200,000, is outside the norm. Yet as in other disastrous years, the high toll this year is due largely to a single event.

Over the decade from 2000 to the end of 2009, the yearly average was 78,000, according to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). For the 1990s, the average was 43,000, and the 1980s was 75,000. Disaster experts say the rise in tragedy is at least partly due to increases in urban populations.

A Disastrous Year: 2010 Death Toll Already Abnormally High | LiveScience

How to feed the world

How to feed the world ? from Denis van Waerebeke on Vimeo.

NOAA Center for Tsunami Research - Tsunami Event - February 27, 2010 Chile

The Chile tsunami was generated by a Mw 8.8 earthquake (35.846°S, 72.719°W ), at 06:34 UTC, 115 km (60 miles) NNE of Concepcion, Chile (according to the USGS). In approximately 3 hours, the tsunami was first recorded at DART® buoy 32412. Forecast results shown below were created with the NOAA forecast method using MOST model with the tsunami source inferred from DART® data. The tsunami waves first arrived at Valparaiso, Chile (approximately 330 km northeast from earthquake epicenter ), at 0708UTC, about 34 minutes after the earthquake.

NOAA Center for Tsunami Research - Tsunami Event - February 27, 2010 Chile

Google - public data

 

Google - public data

Deals can be good news when not made behind closed doors | Environment | The Observer

 

Land is life for millions of people across the developing world, central to their livelihoods, culture and identity. But there is growing concern that people's connection to their land is being undermined, and especially in Africa, where land is cheapest and where people's rights to land are weakest.Arab, east Asian, European, American and Indian investors are all leasing more and more large tracts of farmland in Africa, which some commentators have dubbed "land grabs" and say herald a new colonialism. However, blanket statements are misleading. Agricultural investments could be good news for Africa, bringing jobs, capital, know-how, access to markets and infrastructure – but only if they are done right.

Deals can be good news when not made behind closed doors | Environment | The Observer

The beauty of wind power

 

In pictures: The beauty of wind power | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Know your flood risk: Welcome

Know Your Flood Risk is a campaign with a mission to help raise awareness of the issue of flood and encourage practical guidance and support to help protect homeowners and property professionals against the risks.

Why join the campaign?
By signing up to the campaign you will join a community of organisations whose goal is to raise awareness of flood information and the potential risks. As a collective voice, Know Your Flood Risk and its members aim to raise the profile of flooding and ensure consumers are not only aware of the risks they face, but also how to mitigate them.

Know your flood risk: Welcome

BBC News - Mapping the growth of the internet

Growth of the INTERNET with interactive map from the BBC

BBC News - Mapping the growth of the internet

Population and Consumption | EarthTrends

The air is full of carbon dioxide and other pollutants;
The ocean is emptying;
We have observed record setting harvests over the last few years, and yet chronic hunger persists and has recently been increasing;
The planet is experiencing the 6th great extinction;
All of these are the result of human activity.

 

 

 

Population and Consumption | EarthTrends

How food and water are driving a 21st-century African land grab

An Observer investigation reveals how rich countries faced by a global food shortage now farm an area double the size of the UK to guarantee supplies for their citizens

How food and water are driving a 21st-century African land grab | Environment | The Observer

Fatal storm sweeps through France | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

France was today struggling to cope with its most violent storm for 10 years, as winds of more than 100mph swept through the country, killing at least 40 people and leaving 1m homes without power. Central and western France were worst hit with gales and torrential rain felling trees and causing flooding. At least seven people drowned in villages in the Vendée, while three elderly people and a child were found dead in Charente Maritime around La Rochelle. A man was killed by a falling tree branch in the south-western town of Luchon, where winds reached 90mph. As well as the known casualties, at least five other people were reported missing and dozens others injured. As the storm, known as Xynthia, progressed northwards through France over the weekend, five of the country's 95 departments were placed on red alert for only the second time in the emergency system's history. By this afternoon the alert had been downgraded.

Fatal storm sweeps through France | World news | guardian.co.uk

A news report from the event can be seen here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8541958.stm

The damage was particularly bad because of a storm surge which broke through inadequate defences:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8544002.stm

There is more about storm surges here:

http://dlgb.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/the-november-2007-storm-surge/

and about the devastating 1953 storm surge here:

http://dlgb.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/the-1953-storm-surge-what-really-happened/

The storms are part of a series of strong winter storms which have affected western Europe:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8540762.stm

Amongst the worst was the one which caused severe damage on the island of Madeira:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8526288.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8527123.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8533149.stm

MetLink Weather and Climate for Teachers and Schools

 

MetLink is the flagship education portal of the Royal Meteorological Society

We provide teachers, students, meteorologists and the general public with information about teaching weather and climate, teacher development, climate change and accreditation.

On this site you will find teaching materials including powerpoint presentations and lesson plans, information about becoming a meteorologist, how to obtain chartered status and many more things. 

You will also find general information for teaching weather, curriculum links, information about school and junior membership and how to book a "Meteorology Ambassador" to come and talk to your class

MetLink Weather and Climate for Teachers and Schools

Top 3 Scariest Airports in the Caribbean - Google Sightseeing

What do you get when you mix fast heavy planes with small island airports? A hair-raising final approach! Let’s take a look at three scariest airports to fly into in the Caribbean.

Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten (SXM)Passengers arriving into Princess Juliana often fly just a few metres over the head of sunbathers below on Maho Beach. The combination of screaming jet aircraft and beautiful tropical scenery in such close proximity make this airport a mecca for the world’s plane spotters. In fact, check out this video showing the arrival of a 747, shot by yours truly on a 2004 trip.

Arrival isn’t the only exciting part of this airport either; departing aircraft must make an immediate right hand turn to avoid flying directly into the 317 m St. Peter Hill. At the same time, the departing planes blow a massive amount of jet blast back onto Maho Beach – so strong is the blast that it can cause you and your belongings to be blown right into the water if you’re not careful.

Top 3 Scariest Airports in the Caribbean - Google Sightseeing

Giant Antarctic iceberg could affect global ocean circulation | Environment | guardian.co.uk

An iceberg the size of Luxembourg that contains enough fresh water to supply a third of the world's population for a year has broken off in the Antarctic continent, with possible implications for global ocean circulation, scientists said today.

The iceberg, measuring about 50 miles by 25, broke away from the Mertz glacier around 2,000 miles south of Australia after being rammed by another giant iceberg known as B-9B three weeks ago, satellite images reveal. The two icebergs, which both weigh more than 700m tons, are now drifting close together about 100 miles north of Antarctica.

Giant Antarctic iceberg could affect global ocean circulation | Environment | guardian.co.uk

UK export and import in 2009: top products and trading partners | News | guardian.co.uk

Which products does does the UK export, and where does it export them to?

UK export and import in 2009: top products and trading partners | News | guardian.co.uk

BBC NEWS | UK | Mapping migration from the new EU countries

Eve ry local authority in the UK has seen migration from the eight Eastern European countries that joined the EU in May 2004, a report from the Institute of Public Policy Research has revealed.The pattern of migration has been unlike previous significant influxes because about half of those who came have already left the country, according to IPPR estimates. Use the maps below to explore where migrant workers went and how many are estimated to still be in the UK.

BBC NEWS | UK | Mapping migration from the new EU countries

BBC News - Panorama - Palm oil products and the weekly shop

In researching Dying for a Biscuit, Panorama asked the makers of the top selling products containing palm oil and the major supermarket chains about their palm oil use. We also requested information on how they sourced their palm oil and whether or not they participate in the GreenPalm trading scheme, aimed at encouraging growers to produce more sustainable oil.

BBC News - Panorama - Palm oil products and the weekly shop

Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees : UK map : Mapping the UK

 

Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees : UK map : Mapping the UK