While wind power is being touted as a clean, green, renewable energy source for the future, there is one problem. Windmills can only make electricity when the wind blows.

Typically, wind farms arm their wind generators with batteries or capacitors to store electrical energy for use on days when the wind just isn’t cooperating. That way, on days when there is not enough wind present to generate electricity,…[more]

In a recently conducted study, a multidisciplinary French-American research team with expertise in archaeology, past climates, and ecology reported that Neanderthal extinction was principally a result of competition with Cro-Magnon populations, rather than the consequences of climate change.

The study, reported in the online, open-access journal PLoS ONE on December 24, figures in the ongoing debate on the reasons behind the eventual disappearance of Neanderthal populations, which occupied…[more]

The United States faces the potential for abrupt climate change in the 21st century that could pose clear risks to society in terms of our ability to adapt.

“Abrupt” changes can occur over decades or less, persist for decades more, and cause substantial disruptions to human and natural systems.

A new report, based on an assessment of published science literature, makes the following conclusions about the…[more]

The Missouri Hotel and Lodging Association has teamed up with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to develop a program to certify hotels, motels and other lodging establishments that use “green” business practices.

The Certified Green program will launch January 1, 2009 and will be able to be accessed through the lodging association’s website, lodgingmissouri.com.

This certification process is a pilot program meant to recognize those…[more]

With the cold weather season upon us, the National Biodiesel Board is
pleased to announce the launch of Bioheatonline.com, an exciting new Web site designed to educate
customers and dealers on the beneficial properties of Bioheat® fuel. Bioheat fuel is an
environmentally friendly home heating oil blended with pure biodiesel; biodiesel is a renewable fuel
made from a variety of natural oils…[more]

British climatologists are predicting that 2009 will be one of the top five warmest years on record, and the warmest since 2005. They project the average global temperature to be 0.4 degrees Celsius over the long term average.

The current warmest year on record occurred in 1998 when weather patterns were strongly influenced by El Nino events that caused the warming of surface waters in the Pacific Ocean.…[more]

JEFFERSON CITY, MO —2008 was a year of extremes for wild Missouri and those who love the outdoors. High points included fishing records and record rains, while lows included weather-related woes for ground-nesting wildlife, such as quail and turkeys.

The Missouri Conservation Commission started the conservation year in January by inducting Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, of Columbia, into the Conservation Hall of Fame for her efforts on behalf of environmental…[more]

STILLWATER, Okla. – Without proper care and an understanding of how streams operate under the rules of Mother Nature, a landowner with a stream running through his or her property may have a serious problem without an affordable solution.

Along with water, streams also transport sediment, which can create a problem if the amount of sediment picked up and moved downstream is not the same amount of sediment…[more]

Look for a welcome warming of winter weather, says Pat Guinan, climatologist with University of Missouri Extension.

“The January outlook calls for above-normal temperatures for much of the United States east of the Rockies, including all of Missouri,” said Guinan, with the MU Commercial Agriculture Program.

The new report from the National Climate Prediction Center is more uncertain on the amount of precipitation for the month.…[more]

With citizens preparing to celebrate the new year, Missourians have additional reason to celebrate as they look back on several major environmental accomplishments that will mean a cleaner, healthier 2009.

“This past year has been an outstanding one for Missouri’s environment,” said Doyle Childers, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “I’m proud of all that our agency, our partners and Missouri’s citizens have accomplished.”

…[more]