PITTSBURGH‚ÄîClouds play a critical role in Earth’s climate. Clouds also are the largest source of uncertainty in present climate models, according to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Much of the uncertainty surrounding clouds’ effect on climate stems from the complexity of cloud formation. New research from scientists at the CLOUD …
The future of native forests logging in East Gippsland is under a cloud after the main woodchip customer in the region announced it would not renew its contract with Victoria’s state-owned timber company. South East Fibre Exports, which owns a large woodchip mill at Eden in south-east NSW, has told VicForests it will not accept …
Mining company Eastern Iron has been granted a licensce from the State Government to mine for iron ore seven kilometres north of Nowa Nowa. Members of the Wairewa and District Landcare Group say the project is being rushed through approvals and are worried about its viability. The company has released is preparing a environment effects …
The arrival of autumn means fire crews are busy lighting fires instead of fighting them. And there is an increased amount of country to burn this year before the fire season returns. But determining where to burn to minimise risk is a complex task. Following the Black Saturday fires which killed 173 people, the 2009 …
The Napthine government’s pledge to reform freedom-of-information laws is in disarray, with its own FOI watchdog struggling to meet a litany of complaints against secretive state departments. More than a year after the government set up Victoria’s first Freedom of Information Commissioner, figures confirm many people are waiting longer, political interference is still rife, and …
SERIAL big mouth Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh has struck again leaving Victorian taxpayers to cough up for a second defamation settlement. The latest settlement, after legal action was taken by Environment East Gippsland, will result in tens of thousands of dollars handed over because of comments made late last year. It follows a separate case …
The largest rodent in Australia is amphibious, fills the same niche as an otter and could be used to get rid of the introduced black rat. Ann Jones meets the researchers trying to find out more about the mysterious water rat. There are a number of 1.5 kilogram rats swimming around Sydney Harbour. No one …
Large parts of habitat critical to the survival of the endangered south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo have been burnt, as part of planned burning programs by the state’s environment department. Fewer than 1500 of the cockatoos are left in the wild. The bird is perhaps better known as ”Karak”, the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games mascot. The …
The Victorian Agriculture Minister, Peter Walsh, has issued a formal apology to an environment group. Environment East Gippsland successfully challenged the State Government’s forestry laws in the Supreme Court in 2010. The group has twice settled out of court in its favour, securing greater protection for threatened flora and fauna. On Wednesday, Mr Walsh posted …
The carbon content of Australia’s soil has been mapped in incredible detail for the first time. Carbon levels have been measured across every 90 square metres of the country using soil sampling data and some sensory technology and modelling. Lead researcher on the CSIRO project, Dr Raphael Viscarra Rossel, says this is the first time …
