Latest news with #MossLandingMarineLaboratories
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Science
- CBS News
New report shows massive plunge in planet's emperor penguin population
Emperor penguins may live in some of the most remote and environmentally pristine regions in the world, but that doesn't mean they're safe from the impacts of a warming planet. Just ask Dr. Birgitte McDonald, a researcher at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. For 15 years, she's studied emperor penguins and how they dive, swim, and forage for food. A new report published in "Nature" has deepened her concern about the penguins' survival. "This report wasn't too surprising but a little depressing at how fast it seems to be happening in one region," remarked McDonald. The report involved scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. For 15 years, they've monitored 16 colonies of emperor penguins via satellite imagery. These colonies represent roughly a third of all the emperor penguins on earth. A new analysis of the satellite data has detected a higher and more dramatic decline in the birds' populations. Five years ago, the scientists found a 9.5% drop. The updated data shows a startling 22% drop. "Overall, the picture is quite poor, it's quite dire for the penguins," remarked Dr. Peter Fretwell. Fretwell is the lead author of the new analysis. The warming of the planet is thinning and destabilizing the sea ice that is critical for the breeding and molting of the penguins. There is more competition for available food amongst all the creatures in the area. In addition, scientists are detecting more extreme weather in the forms of more rainfall and storms. Increasing extreme weather is a hallmark of climate change. "The chicks are well insulated with their down but the down only really works if they stay dry. And so, if there is a lot more rain, the chicks will have to spend more energy trying to stay warm. So going out to sea for the first time at a lighter weight and that could decrease their chance of survival," explained McDonald. As to what we can do to slow the warming, McDonald offered some advice: fly less, try more carpooling and driving less, and eating less meat. These are all small steps but if large enough people practice them, McDonald noted, there could be a difference. Here are more ideas on how you can reduce your carbon footprint.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers sound alarm after discovering harmful impact of social media trend: 'Comes with a cost'
New research published in The Journal of Wildlife Management reveals how human activity is disrupting southern sea otters along the California coast. According to a report shared by the study found frequent disturbances from stimuli, including kayaks, are forcing sea otters to burn more energy. Sea otters have high metabolic rates. They need uninterrupted rest to conserve their energy. Frequent disruptions can affect their health and survival. Heather Barrett, a researcher at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, warned that social media is fueling public desire for close wildlife encounters. This increased interest puts sea otters at greater risk. "People are getting too close, and this comes with a cost to wildlife," Barrett said. She cautioned that frequent human interference could have long-term consequences. Sea otters are more than adorable marine mammals. As a keystone species, they help maintain a balanced and healthy coastal ecosystem. Human activities unsettle their rest and threaten the balance of ocean biodiversity. Issues about marine life also affect people and local businesses. In La Jolla, California, growing public interest in sea lions caused a popular tourist spot to close down in an effort to protect marine life. If the same thing happens with otters, stricter regulations will follow. While these rules protect wildlife, they will have an impact on local businesses that rely on responsible ecotourism. Wildlife groups are working to teach people the value of keeping a safe distance from sea otters. The Respect the Nap campaign by Sea Otter Savvy urges photographers and tourists to avoid disturbing otters while they rest. When boats stay at least 29 meters away, sea otters are much less likely to be disturbed. People can also make a huge difference in protecting otters. Choosing ethical wildlife tours instead of following viral social media trends can help keep these animals safe. Conservation efforts, including protecting seals and advocating for animal safety, show that even small changes in human behavior can make big impacts on marine life. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Walters: California's carbon crusade faces resistance due to its real world impact
Walters: California's carbon crusade faces resistance due to its real world impact For the past two decades three California governors have committed the state to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to battle climate change. The official goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 via legislation, regulation, education, disruption and appropriation, so we're roughly at the halfway mark. Conceptually, scrubbing carbon from the state's economy, particularly transportation and utility sectors, has enjoyed broad popular support. But as the self-imposed deadline looms, specific strategies to reduce emissions are encountering resistance as Californians feel their real world impacts. The once-brisk sales of battery-powered cars, for instance, have hit a plateau. They still account for about 20% of all new car purchases, but to meet Gov. Gavin Newsom's decree of eliminating sales of gas-powered cars by 2035 they would need to increase exponentially. The slowdown in EV sales is attributed to their cost, the lack of handy charging stations and the phaseout of federal subsidies even before Donald Trump became president again with a vow to bolster hydrocarbon production. Conversion of the state's electric power system to renewable sources such as wind and solar is doubly tricky. Not only must the state phase out natural gas-fired generation while still meeting current needs, but it must expand output to cover demand from many millions of electric cars it assumes will be purchased and install enough battery backup capacity to cover demand when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine. Two simultaneous events this month frame the issue. A new study, published in the Renewable Energy journal, found that in 2024, from late winter to early summer, renewable energy sources with battery backup supplied 100% of the state's demand for up to 10 hours on 98 of 116 days, a record. The study was hailed by clean power advocates as proof that a 100% renewable grid is possible. But as it was being celebrated, a huge battery facility at Moss Landing, near Monterey, was destroyed by a fire so intense that firefighters had to let it burn out. Moreover, after the fire died, researchers at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories found high concentrations of toxic heavy metals in the nearby mudflats and marshes. The toxic pollution is drawing critical attention in the scenic Monterey Bay region. County supervisors voted unanimously that another battery bank be shut down pending an investigation of the fire's causes and effects. Vistra, owner of the destroyed Moss Landing plant, wants to build another plant at Morro Bay, another scenic coastal community in San Luis Obispo County. Local voters passed a ballot measure last year to block its construction, but the firm has said it would bypass that opposition by seeking a direct state permit. The state's blueprint for meeting its carbon emission goal assumes that offshore windmill farms will supply oodles of clean power, but that approach is also facing some headwinds. As CalMatters reported, Morro Bay is also the epicenter of growing opposition among coastal residents, who see it as a form of industrialization that would change the look and character of their communities. Offshore windmills would require extensive on-shore support facilities, plus new high-voltage power lines to carry the juice to urban areas. Finally, there's another potential conflict that's developing below the political radar — whether solar farms should replace crops on San Joaquin Valley farms as farmers face declining water supplies. Much like coastal opposition to battery banks and offshore windmills, rural communities are wary about a solar panel conversion that would alter their economies and lifestyles. There's no question that eliminating California's carbon footprint is technologically possible, given enough financial investment. But is it politically possible? CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
'Extremely disturbing': High levels of heavy metals at Monterey estuary after lithium battery site fire
Days after one of the world's largest lithium ion battery storage facilities burst into flames in Monterey County, researchers found alarmingly high concentrations of heavy metals at a nearby estuary that is home to several endangered species. Scientists at San José State University recorded a dramatic increase in nickel, manganese and cobalt — materials used in lithium ion batteries — in soil samples at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve after the recent fire at the nearby Moss Landing Power Plant. The toxic metals threaten to upset the delicate ecosystem at the Elkhorn Slough, which is the state's second-largest estuary and plays a key role in sequestering carbon emissions and protecting the coastline from sea level rise, said Ivano Aiello, chair of the university's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Aiello, who has monitored environmental conditions at the slough for more than a decade, said he was shocked by the results. The concentration of nickel, manganese and cobalt measured on the surface of the soil is hundreds to thousands of times as much as the levels in the surface soil prior to the fire or compared with levels measured deeper in the soil. "I was wondering whether there was anything associated with this fire that could have been impacted," said Aiello. "I didn't know I was going find such a high concentration of those metals." On Tuesday, Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church called the findings "extremely disturbing" and said he was worried about what future data would reveal regarding the consequences of the unprecedented blaze. The fire ignited Jan. 16, burned for five days and ultimately destroyed an estimated 80% of the batteries inside the building, which is on the coast about 18 miles north of the city of Monterey. Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) said in a statement Monday that she was "deeply concerned" about the concentration of heavy metals in "one of our most cherished and fragile ecosystems." "These concentrations are directly linked to the battery energy storage fire," she said. Read more: 'Horrifying' fire at California lithium battery plant sparks calls for new clean energy rules The battery storage site is owned by Texas-based Vistra Energy. A spokesperson said Tuesday that the company was aware of San José State's data and would work with local health agencies to determine next steps. Vistra is also completing its own investigation into the fire and environmental monitoring around the plant, the spokesperson said. The Elkhorn Slough Reserve was closed to the public from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 while it and residential areas near the power plant were under evacuation orders due to the fire. It is now open to visitors. Initial air quality monitoring from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that there was no public health risk posed by levels of particulate matter and hydrogen fluoride gas released during the fire. Hydrogen fluoride is a highly toxic gas produced by lithium ion battery fires that can cause severe respiratory damage as well as skin and eye burns. The EPA did not plan to conduct soil or water testing, which is instead being carried out by local and state health agencies. The Monterey County Health Department said Monday it was grateful for the testing conducted by Aiello's team and planned to present preliminary results from its own soil and water samples later this week. The department said it was working with the California Department of Public Health, the California Environmental Protection Agency and state epidemiologists to "evaluate the research, assess any potential health concerns, and determine the appropriate steps moving forward." San José State's soil samples suggest there could be long-term environmental and health effects from the toxic blaze, said Aiello. His lab is now in "emergency mode" trying to collect data and understand how the heavy metals might affect the ecosystem. Scientists have collected soil samples from more than 100 locations within a two-mile radius of the plant since Jan. 22. "There's a layer of heavy metals now on the soil, and I don't know what's going to happen. Is it going to be washed away? Is it going to penetrate to the groundwater? Is it going to concentrate and bioaccumulate?" he said. "We need to learn that before we can actually understand the implications." The Elkhorn Slough is home to more than 700 species of plants, animals and marine life, including endangered and threatened species such as the southern sea otter, the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and the California brown pelican. Its marshlands store large amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. The estuary also helps prevent coastal erosion and absorb the effects of sea level rise. Read more: California's federal lands are hemorrhaging carbon dioxide. Wildfires are largely to blame Supervisor Church has said the fire raises the question of whether the plant should be located near an environmentally sensitive area. He and fellow board members passed a resolution last week asking that the battery storage facility remain offline until a thorough investigation could be completed and new safety measures implemented. In the aftermath of the blaze, Assemblymember Addis introduced new legislation that would require that local government be given a say in the permitting process for battery or energy storage facilities, and establish a buffer to keep such sites a set distance away from schools, hospitals and natural habitats. "True climate solutions must benefit — not harm — our communities and natural environment," she said in a statement. "We have to continue to fight for the inclusion of community voice and proper siting of battery energy storage facilities." The American Clean Power Assn. has opposed her proposal, Assembly Bill 303, saying it puts overly onerous restrictions on the clean energy industry. "The best way to promote safety across the state of California is the universal adoption and enforcement of the latest version of the national fire protection standard for battery energy storage," ACP-California Executive Director Alex Jackson said in a statement. "This proposal misses the mark. Its sprawling restrictions would make it harder to keep the lights on in California." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
29-01-2025
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
‘Extremely disturbing': High levels of heavy metals at Monterey estuary after lithium battery site fire
Days after one of the world's largest lithium ion battery storage facilities burst into flames in Monterey County, researchers found alarmingly high concentrations of heavy metals at a nearby estuary that is home to several endangered species. Scientists at San José State University recorded a dramatic increase in nickel, manganese and cobalt — materials used in lithium ion batteries — in soil samples at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve after the recent fire at the nearby Moss Landing Power Plant. The toxic metals threaten to upset the delicate ecosystem at the Elkhorn Slough, which is the state's second-largest estuary and plays a key role in sequestering carbon emissions and protecting the coastline from sea level rise, said Ivano Aiello, chair of the university's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Aiello, who has monitored environmental conditions at the slough for more than a decade, said he was shocked by the results. The concentration of nickel, manganese and cobalt measured on the surface of the soil is hundreds to thousands of times as much as the levels in the surface soil prior to the fire or compared with levels measured deeper in the soil. 'I was wondering whether there was anything associated with this fire that could have been impacted,' said Aiello. 'I didn't know I was going find such a high concentration of those metals.' On Tuesday, Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church called the findings 'extremely disturbing' and said he was worried about what future data would reveal regarding the consequences of the unprecedented blaze. The fire ignited Jan. 16, burned for five days and ultimately destroyed an estimated 80% of the batteries inside the building, which is on the coast about 18 miles north of the city of Monterey. Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) said in a statement Monday that she was 'deeply concerned' about the concentration of heavy metals in 'one of our most cherished and fragile ecosystems.' 'These concentrations are directly linked to the battery energy storage fire,' she said. The battery storage site is owned by Texas-based Vistra Energy. A spokesperson said Tuesday that the company was aware of San José State's data and would work with local health agencies to determine next steps. Vistra is also completing its own investigation into the fire and environmental monitoring around the plant, the spokesperson said. The Elkhorn Slough Reserve was closed to the public from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 while it and residential areas near the power plant were under evacuation orders due to the fire. It is now open to visitors. Initial air quality monitoring from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that there was no public health risk posed by levels of particulate matter and hydrogen fluoride gas released during the fire. Hydrogen fluoride is a highly toxic gas produced by lithium ion battery fires that can cause severe respiratory damage as well as skin and eye burns. The EPA did not plan to conduct soil or water testing, which is instead being carried out by local and state health agencies. The Monterey County Health Department said Monday it was grateful for the testing conducted by Aiello's team and planned to present preliminary results from its own soil and water samples later this week. The department said it was working with the California Department of Public Health, the California Environmental Protection Agency and state epidemiologists to 'evaluate the research, assess any potential health concerns, and determine the appropriate steps moving forward.' San José State's soil samples suggest there could be long-term environmental and health effects from the toxic blaze, said Aiello. His lab is now in 'emergency mode' trying to collect data and understand how the heavy metals might affect the ecosystem. Scientists have collected soil samples from more than 100 locations within a two-mile radius of the plant since Jan. 22. 'There's a layer of heavy metals now on the soil, and I don't know what's going to happen. Is it going to be washed away? Is it going to penetrate to the groundwater? Is it going to concentrate and bioaccumulate?' he said. 'We need to learn that before we can actually understand the implications.' The Elkhorn Slough is home to more than 700 species of plants, animals and marine life, including endangered and threatened species such as the southern sea otter, the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and the California brown pelican. Its marshlands store large amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. The estuary also helps prevent coastal erosion and absorb the effects of sea level rise. Supervisor Church has said the fire raises the question of whether the plant should be located near an environmentally sensitive area. He and fellow board members passed a resolution last week asking that the battery storage facility remain offline until a thorough investigation could be completed and new safety measures implemented. In the aftermath of the blaze, Assemblymember Addis introduced new legislation that would require that local government be given a say in the permitting process for battery or energy storage facilities, and establish a buffer to keep such sites a set distance away from schools, hospitals and natural habitats. 'True climate solutions must benefit — not harm — our communities and natural environment,' she said in a statement. 'We have to continue to fight for the inclusion of community voice and proper siting of battery energy storage facilities.' The American Clean Power Assn. has opposed her proposal, Assembly Bill 303, saying it puts overly onerous restrictions on the clean energy industry. 'The best way to promote safety across the state of California is the universal adoption and enforcement of the latest version of the national fire protection standard for battery energy storage,' ACP-California Executive Director Alex Jackson said in a statement. 'This proposal misses the mark. Its sprawling restrictions would make it harder to keep the lights on in California.'
