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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Sea-ice habitats essential to polar bears would likely respond positively should more curbs be placed on global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new modeling study published this month in the journal, Nature.
The study, led by the U.S. Geological Survey, included university and other federal agency scientists. The research broke new ground in the “tipping point” debate in the scientific community by providing evidence that during this century there does not seem to be a tipping point at which sea-ice loss would become irreversible.
The report does not affect the decision made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2008 to list the polar bear as a threatened species.
This new study builds and expands upon studies published by the USGS in 2007. The new study evaluates additional scenarios in which greenhouse gas emissions are reduced in comparison to the business-as-usual scenario that was exclusively used in the previous research.
Modeling outcomes for the additional scenarios provided evidence that the projected continuation of Arctic sea-ice decline could be altered if greenhouse gas emissions were mitigated in a manner that stabilizes atmospheric CO2 levels at or less than around 450 parts per million. Current CO2 levels are around 390 ppm.
The 2007 studies by the USGS had projected that under the business-as-usual greenhouse gas emissions scenario, future reduction of Arctic sea ice could result in a loss of two-thirds of the world's polar bear population by mid-century.
They had also shown that under this scenario, loss of sea ice would have such a drastic negative effect on polar bears that other efforts to reduce stress on their populations would have negligible benefits.
Other stress factors considered in the modeling include disease and predation, overutilization, contaminants, tourism, bear-human interactions, oil and gas activity, and shipping. The earlier study did not examine other greenhouse gas emission scenarios.
The new analyses published in the journal, Nature, indicate that with lower greenhouse gas emissions, coupled with reductions in other population stressors, polar bears could persist in all four ecoregions where they presently occur, said Steve Amstrup, lead author of the study and a scientist emeritus with the USGS Alaska Science Center.
Amstrup noted that their new work emulated the rapid sea-ice loss that occurred in the Arctic between September 2006 and September 2007 when the loss of sea ice equaled the total amount of ice lost during the previous 27 years.
This exponential loss of ice during such a short time was one of the reasons why so many scientists were concerned that there might be a tipping point beyond which sea ice would be irreversibly lost.
“Instead, we found that the relationship between the loss of sea ice and the average global temperature is linear,” said Amstrup. “In fact, the models indicate that major losses of summer sea ice can occur without pushing ice into a tipping point with permanent ice-free summers. If such a tipping point had existed, it would have meant that efforts to reduce greenhouse gases would have had little value in stemming the loss of polar ice critical for polar bears.”
Polar bears depend on sea ice as a platform to hunt seals, their primary food. Current declines in habitat have been associated with declines in body stature, survival rates, and population size in broad areas of the current polar bear range.
The new paper, “Greenhouse gas mitigation can reduce sea-ice loss and increase polar bear persistence,” was published by the journal, Nature, on Dec. 16.
The study was authored by Steve Amstrup (USGS), Eric DeWeaver (National Science Foundation), David Douglas (USGS), Bruce Marcot (USDA Forest Service), George Durner (USGS), Cecilia Bitz (University of Washington) and David Bailey (National Center for Atmospheric Research).
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The crash occurred near the intersection of Highways 29 and 281 at Kit's Corner just after 6 p.m. Thursday, as Lake County News has reported.
CHP Officer Joe Wind said fellow officers who responded to the collision described the scene as chaotic, with numerous drivers, passenger and seven vehicles.
“The collision is still under investigation,” Wind said Friday. “We don't really know who's at fault at this point in time.”
He said they're still trying to piece together the scene and how the collision was triggered.
“It was essentially a pileup,” he said.
There were some injuries, but Wind said they were minor.
The crash was initially reported as a vehicle into a telephone pole, but Wind said the investigation so far hasn't revealed whether that was how the crash started, or if a vehicle ended up against he pole after the crash. He said PG&E and other utility companies weren't called to make any repairs to the pole.
Officers are looking for a possible suspect vehicle that some witnesses saw leaving the crash scene, said Wind.
“Preliminary reports indicate we have a white Dodge Durango that was possibly involved that left the scene going southbound,” he said.
The Durango, for which he didn't have a year, was said to have minor damage to its front left fender.
Lake County News received information from another party that the Durango triggered the crash by hitting a PT Cruiser first.
Wind said the CHP made one arrest, with one of the drivers involved, Ruth Mary Vanlokeren of Middletown, arrested by CHP Officer Jeremy Jensen on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Vanlokeren later posted $5,000 bail and was released.
Wind said Jensen is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information on the suspect vehicle is asked to call the CHP at 707-279-0103.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
Dale Daniel McKay, 20, of Clearlake was arrested for burglary and resisting arrest, according to a report from Sgt. Tim Hobbs.
At 7:30 a.m. Friday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to Walmart on a report of burglary that had just occurred, Hobbs said.
Hobbs said the suspect, later identified as McKay, had allegedly fled the store with two PlayStation 3s and was last seen going into the field to the south of McDonald’s.
During a search of the area McKay came out of the field and was spotted by Officer Travis Lenz in the loading dock area behind Ray's Food Place, Hobbs said.
A foot pursuit ensued and McKay ran from Lenz around to the front of the store. As McKay attempted to run inside the store he was tackled by a citizen who had observed Lenz chasing him through the parking lot, Hobbs said.
McKay was arrested for burglary and resisting arrest and later booked into the Lake County Jail, with bail set at $10,000, according to Hobbs. McKay later posted bail and was released.
Hobbs said the stolen property also was located.
The Clearlake Police Department also wanted to recognize the efforts of the citizen who assisted in the arrest of McKay, said Hobbs.
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The money will be used to help reduce energy usage, save money and help students learn the importance of environmental stewardship.
A total of $152,500 was given out to the 25 schools.
The Lake County Office of Education in Lakeport, in partnership with University of California, San Francisco, was awarded $5,000.
Other schools around the North Coast region receiving the awards were the Napa Valley Language Academy, $5,000; Vintage High School in Napa, $10,000; the REACH School, Sebastopol, $10,000; and Pacific Union Elementary School, Arcata, $5,000.
As part of the larger PG&E Solar Schools program, the Bright Ideas Grants program promotes the understanding of renewable energy.
Last spring, 18 additional schools were selected to receive Bright Ideas grants, bringing the total awarded in 2010 to $327,500.
The grants were awarded to credentialed teachers, administrators and facilities managers within five major categories: Educational solar projects, youth energy and environmental programs, renewable energy or science related field trips, green your school projects and professional development/service learning projects/ workforce development programs.
“Bright Ideas grants fund innovative educational programs that teach California students the importance of renewable energy,” said Greg Pruett, senior vice president of corporate affairs at PG&E. “This program would not be possible without the dedication of teachers throughout California who are developing future sustainable energy innovators and scientists.”
The PG&E Solar Schools Program includes installation of photovoltaic systems in public schools, a solar-based curriculum training package, workshops for teachers and Bright Ideas grants.
Since its inception in 2004, PG&E shareholders have contributed more than $8 million to the PG&E Solar Schools program. With more than 125 schools participating throughout PG&E’s service area, the program has trained more than 3,000 teachers, benefiting nearly 200,000 students.
PG&E partners with leaders in education and the solar industry to deliver the training and infrastructure associated with this program. The National Energy Education Development Project manages curriculum training and administration of the grants, and the Foundation for Environmental Education coordinates installation of the donated photovoltaic systems.
PG&E’s award-winning Solar Schools Program is nationally recognized for teaching the value of renewable energy. It has been awarded the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) Annual Innovation award, named “Education Innovator of the Year” by the San Francisco Business Times and received the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, California’s highest and most prestigious environmental honor.
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More parties mean more driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and more car crashes.
Not only is this a danger to motorists, but it also increases the risk to highway workers, according to Caltrans.
Caltrans is responsible for cleaning up debris after traffic collisions, directing traffic, quickly repairing highway damage, and getting traffic flowing again so additional crashes don't occur. This puts Caltrans workers at risk of being hit by a drunk or otherwise impaired driver as they are directing traffic or cleaning up after a collision.
That is what happened recently when Caltrans highway maintenance worker Gary Smith was called from home to provide traffic control on Highway 99 in Chico when an earlier DUI crash killed two adults and one child.
A suspected drunk driver then drove through the safety barriers, striking and killing Smith, a nearly 33-year veteran of Caltrans.
“It is everyone's responsibility to slow down when traveling through a highway work zone or when there is a roadside emergency,” said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim. “By slowing down and driving responsibly, you can help ensure that highway workers will safely return home to their families this holiday season.”
Caltrans, the California Office of Traffic Safety and the California Highway Patrol remind all drivers to plan ahead to have a designated sober driver after drinking, and to be alert for other drivers who may be impaired.
Anyone who suspects someone driving under the influence should immediately notify law enforcement by dialing 911.
Also, if you see a Caltrans or CHP vehicle flashing their warning lights, slow down, watch for highway workers and be prepared for sudden stops or lane closures.
Be sure to follow the “Move Over” law and try to switch to a safer lane when approaching highway crews or CHP officers on the side of the road.
Help protect those who make our highways safer everyday.
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Just after 10 p.m. Thursday the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding the disappearance fo Eugene Marshall Bright, 76, according to a report from Lt. Tim Marsh.
Marsh said Bright's neighbor, Sylvia Carsey, made the report.
Carsey told officials that she looks after Bright, who she last saw on the property around his residence at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
At around 9 p.m. Carsey went to check on Bright and found he was gone, along with his small, gray-haired poodle. Marsh said Bright's ID was left behind.
Marsh said officials have received reports of Bright seen walking down Highway 128 in the Yorkville area.
He said Highway 128 between Philo and the south county line has been extensively driven in attempts to locate Bright, but thus far no one has been able to find him.
Bright is described as 6 feet tall and 157 pounds. He was last seen wearing a light orange-colored jacket, blue jeans and a felt brimmed like hat with a small feather on the outside band of the hat.
Anyone with information on Bright's whereabouts is asked to call the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at 707-463-4086.
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