California sea lion population rebounded to new highs
California sea lions have fully rebounded under the protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with their population on the West Coast reaching carrying capacity in 2008 before unusually warm ocean conditions reduced their numbers, according to the first comprehensive population assessment of the species.
‘Life-threatening conditions’: Forecast calls for largest waves in years to hit Northwest
Forecasts call for large waves to hit Northwest coasts on Thursday, increasing the risk to people and causing erosion and coastal flooding, the National Weather Service in Portland said.
Tropical Cyclone Berguitta approaches the islands of Mauritius and Réunion
After several days marching across the Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Berguitta approached the islands of Mauritius and Réunion, to the east of Madagascar.
As Montecito cleanup continues, a search for where to dump thousands of tons of mud
For days, crews have filled dozens of dump trucks with tangled metal, tire tread, mud and tree branches they cleared from the mudslide wreckage in Montecito.
Drones confirm importance of Costa Rican waters for sea turtles
A new drone-enabled population survey – the first ever on sea turtles – shows that larger-than-anticipated numbers of turtles aggregate in waters off Costa Rica’s Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, making it one of the most important nesting beaches in the world. Scientists estimate turtle densities may reach up to 2,086 animals per square kilometer.
Montecito Cleanup Efforts Require Transport of Mud to Santa Barbara County Beaches
The Santa Barbara County Flood Control District obtained emergency permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the California Coastal Commission to place sediment on local beaches.
South Carolina wants offshore ‘no drill’ oil exemption just like Florida
Gov. Henry McMaster is asking the Trump administration to exempt South Carolina from offshore drilling, saying the state’s tourism-rich coast is too precious an entity to put at risk.
Deadly Debris Flows in Montecito, CA
First there was fire. Then rain. And now deadly debris flows are devastating Montecito, California.
Ocean Acidification Changing Mussel Shell Structure
For thousands of years, California mussel shells have been made up of long, cylindrical calcite crystals organized in neat, vertical rows. But scientists have found that as ocean acidification has accelerated over the past 15 years, these shells have undergone dramatic structural changes, being built out of unorganized, uneven minerals instead.