Anyone who has spent time on Forest Service land is familiar with slash piles, big dunes of plant scraps gathered up as a side-effect of logging. Scientists at UW, including SEFS PhD canidate Jenny Knoth, have invented a blanket to wrap around slash piles, that serves as CO2 absorber, fertilizer and kiln. Read more here!
|
We know that different types of fuels emit different levels of greenhouse gases. But what about the emissions that result from gaining access to those fuel sources themselves? In this interview, Steve Davis – a research associate at the Carnegie Institution for Science and a visiting scholar at the Climate Impacts Group – helps us understand the impacts of coal mining, delivery and use, from a CO2 perspective. The Washington Department of Natural Resources, along with researchers from the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, completed an assessment that suggests that we could use the “extra” biomass on the forest floor for fuel. This study was completed in March, and pubic meetings were held last week to explain the results of the assessment. Read more here. Check out this video featuring APL doctoral student Chris Bassett: “By all objective measures Puget Sound is a noisy place. And this is due to the amount of vessel traffic in the area. Noise can interfere with marine mammals — their ability to communicate with themselves or to forage and hunt for prey. All the complex tasks they perform are done with sound. If we limit their ability to hear, we’re limiting their ability to perform.” His research will inform plans to add a tidal energy conversion system to the Puget Sound seafloor. Efforts are under way to create an aviation biofuels industry in the Northwest, harnessing the presence of Boeing, Alaska Airlines and research labs across the state. Read more here. Using biofuels, the USS Ford, an Everett-based Navy guided-missile Frigate, successfully sailed from home port to San Diego on March 2nd. The USS Ford (FFG54) burned 25,000 gallons of a 50-50 algae-derived, hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum blend in the ship’s gas turbines. Read more here. A Washington Department of Natural Resources study has concluded that up to 3 million tons of wood waste can be removed from the state’s forests for biofuels production without harming the ecosystem. This total is double the amount currently being removed. The report was a collaborative effort involving SEFS. Read more here. |
|
|
|
College of the Environment | Log in | Privacy | Terms | Copyright © 2012 University of Washington |
||
Follow CoEnv