Interesting to learn that some fungal species are moving to the higher latitudes at around three kilometres per year. Can't help wondering what happens to fungal species that are specific to particular trees? Fungal spores can move large distances on the wind but it takes a lot longer for trees to move into a new area and grow to maturity.
Who is to speak for the unloved or unknown fungi? Perhaps we need the fungal equivalent of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society?
Attended the penultimate seminar of the Adaptation to climate change seminar series entitled California and the Arctic. Professor Peter Wadhams was in the audience which lead to a very interesting questions and answers session at the end of the seminar.
Of particular interest was a just published paper, Observational determination of albedo decrease caused by vanishing Arctic sea ice. It reports that albedo decrease caused by vanishing Arctic sea ice [was] considerably larger than expectations from models and recent less direct estimates. Averaged globally, this albedo change is equivalent to 25% of the direct forcing from carbon dioxide during the past 30 years. Also learnt that the US Navy has detailed mapping data of Arctic sea ice thickness which was collected to identify suitable missile launch areas!
Interesting to contrast the problems of drought, wild fires, and water shortages in California with the flooding in the UK. It was surprising to learn that the Hoover Dam which creates Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States in maximum water capacity, could within a few years drop to the point where it could not generate electricity.
No comments:
Post a Comment