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Monthly Archives: September 2012

Are Biofuels green and better for the environment than other energy sources?

September 25, 2012
Climate Change, Technology

When you really think about it, any type of ethanol or Biofuel which you might consume for energy still requires burning carbon and releasing carbon dioxide – greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere.  It’s a little more sustainable because Biofuel can be produced by growing corn, plants, or algae, whereas Fossil Fuels can’t be renewed quickly.  Biofuels have advantages as a fuel type and also disadvantages to other more sustainable forms of energy production, i.e. Solar.

“First tops, then flops. That is one way of summing up the history of biofuels so far. A new study led by Empa gives an up-to-date picture of the ecobalance of various biofuels and their production processes. Only a few are overall more environmentally friendly than petrol.”

Source: EMPA Press Release:

http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/3/125597/—/l=2

http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/*/125606

Primary Source: http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/*/125527

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Arctic sea ice reaches lowest extent for the year and the satellite record

September 22, 2012
Blog, Climate Change

On September 16, Arctic sea ice appeared to have reached its minimum extent for the year of 3.41 million square kilometers (1.32 million square miles). This is the lowest seasonal minimum extent in the satellite record since 1979 and reinforces the long-term downward trend in Arctic ice extent. The sea ice extent will now begin its seasonal increase through autumn and winter.

Source: The National Snow and Ice Data Center

Arctic sea ice extent

Figure 1. Arctic sea ice extent for September 16, 2012 was 3.41 million square kilometers (1.32 million square miles). The orange line shows the 1979 to 2000 median extent for that day. The black cross indicates the geographic North Pole. Sea Ice Index data.