• Tracking Japan’s tsunami debris

    After devastating tsunami on March 11 2011, the Japanese government estimated that 5 million tons of debris was swept up by the event. Estimates are that about 70 % sunk to the seafloor and 1.5 million tons left floating. More than a year later, the debris from that

  • Satellites map fine aerosol pollution over China

    Many types of aerosol particles circulate in the atmosphere, but one of the most damaging to human health is known as PM2.5, a technical term for microscopic bits of matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (one thirtieththe width of a human hair). These small

  • Nitrate in drinking water poses health risks for rural Californians

    According to a report released by the University of California and comissioned by the California State Water Resources Control Board, one in 10 people living in California’s most productive agricultural areas is at risk for harmful levels of nitrate contamination in

  • Haze problem hits new high in Southeast Asia

    Northern Thailand and parts of Laos and Burma (Myanmar) were blanketed by a thick pall of smoke and haze stemming from widespread agricultural and forest fires in March 2012. The haze pushed concentrations of airborne particulate matter to levels

  • Cargo ship Rena broke in two causing new oil spill

    The rough sea and waves as 7 meters (23feet) high caused the cargo ship Rena to broke in two Saturday off the coast of New Zealand. This has allowed more oil to leak. There is now a yawning 20 to 30 metre gap between the ship’s bow and stern section, which is listing

  • Heavy fog hits northern and eastern China

    Thick fog and smog have settled over North China early this week. Dense fog has enveloped Shandong and Hebei provinces in northern China, and Anhui, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces in the east. Traffic has been crippled on expressways, and hundreds of flights have