Martes, 09 de Diciembre de 2008
Sea bed provides information about present climatic change
Lately, every drought, flood or hurricane which happens in the planet is connected with climatic change, and therefore the interest of society and scientists is getting to know this phenomenon better.
Climatic change is connected at present with the phenomenon of global warming. This is characterized by the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2 gas), which produces the reduction of heat emission to the space and provokes a higher global warming.
Although gases in the atmosphere tell us about this greenhouse effect, oceans have accumulated information for million years which allow us a better understanding of this ...
Climatic change is connected at present with the phenomenon of global warming. This is characterized by the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2 gas), which produces the reduction of heat emission to the space and provokes a higher global warming.
Although gases in the atmosphere tell us about this greenhouse effect, oceans have accumulated information for million years which allow us a better understanding of this ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Jueves, 27 de Noviembre de 2008
An essay proves that vegetation could recover in the ski resort of Sierra Nevada
The conditioning Works of Sierra Nevada’s ski runs have destroyed a great amount of vegetable species. The researchers of the University of Granada (Spain) have already managed to grow in the laboratory two native bushy species in order to suggest new mechanisms for vegetable cover restoration. They will try to use them to preserve the biodiversity in the National Park of Sierra Nevada.
The vegetable species of Sierra Nevada are the 30% of Spain’s floral richness and they are ...
The vegetable species of Sierra Nevada are the 30% of Spain’s floral richness and they are ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008
Exposure to organochlorate pollutants and lead weakens animals bones, according to a study
A new methodology developed by a researcher of the University of Granada will permit to determine the toxicological effects caused in animals which have been exposed to organochlorate pollutants and lead analysing their bones. This work has studied the effects of lead toxicity in the long term in wild birds populations, determining how this heavy metal causes bone weakening and fracture, provoking therefore a fall in the individual survival of the affected species.
This work has been carried out by Pedro Álvarez Lloret, of the department of Mineralogy and Petrology ...
This work has been carried out by Pedro Álvarez Lloret, of the department of Mineralogy and Petrology ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Martes, 28 de Octubre de 2008
Expert recommends town councils to design low-allergy impact green spaces
Contributing to the diversity of plant species (avoiding the massive use of an only or a few species); using examples of native flora preferably instead of exotic species and promoting the participation of experts in the design of landscaped areas are some of the recommendations town councils should consider when designing green spaces with a low-allergy impact. That is the opinion of Paloma Cariñanos González, researcher of the Department of Botany of the University of Granada, who takes part in the Master Degree ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Miércoles, 01 de Octubre de 2008
Discovery of a new type of atmospheric aerosols from Sahara which will be useful to study climate change
Scientists of the Soil Science and Geopharmacy Research Group of the University of Granada (Spain), directed by Rafael Delgado, have discivered and characterized a new type of atmospheric aerosols named ‘iberulites’, which could be useful for the study of relevant atmospheric reactions from Earth.
Researchers José Luis Díaz Hernández, of the Andalusian Research and Farming, Fishing, Food, and Ecological Production Training Institute (IFAPA) and Jesús Párraga Martínez, of the
Researchers José Luis Díaz Hernández, of the Andalusian Research and Farming, Fishing, Food, and Ecological Production Training Institute (IFAPA) and Jesús Párraga Martínez, of the
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Sábado, 02 de Agosto de 2008
Fossil and molecular evidence reveals the history of major marine biodiversity hotspots
The journal Science has published in the issue of the 1st of August the results of a detailed research work about the evolution of marine diversity all through the last 50 million years. The study has been carried out with the participation of scientists from Australia, Spain, USA, UK, Holland, Malaysia and Panama.
The results obtained prove that the main concentrations of biodiversity have been located in the last 50 million years in a line, from west to east, from southwest Europe and northwest Africa to the Indo-Australian Archipelago, and ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Martes, 01 de Julio de 2008
Spanish engineers design a new model of slope marine dock
Marine docks construction has traditionally encountered problems derived from swell-produced breking, especially in the event of great storms. The economic spending to repair the damage is very high and it affects ports, promenades or beaches. The most recent case in Spain was the storm of March 2008, which caused considerable material damage in the coasts of the Bay of Biscay.
A new design will permit to build slope marine docks with less risk of damage, in order to reduce the costs of construction, maintenance and upkeep of such maritime structures.
"We have designated this new structure ‘S", ...
A new design will permit to build slope marine docks with less risk of damage, in order to reduce the costs of construction, maintenance and upkeep of such maritime structures.
"We have designated this new structure ‘S", ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Lunes, 23 de Junio de 2008
A new web offers daily information about the ultra violet index
According to the data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), overexposure to ultravioleta radiation causes more than two million new cases a year of processes, more or less serious, of cataracts in eyes.
Knowing the Ultra Violet Index (UVI) allows to prevent the harmful effects of sun exposure. The research group "Physics of the Atmosphere" (CEAMA-University of Granada, Spain-Andalusian Council) has created a new web service which provides daily information as part of a research work directed to the characterization of the interaction of atmospheric aerosol and clouds with solar ...
Knowing the Ultra Violet Index (UVI) allows to prevent the harmful effects of sun exposure. The research group "Physics of the Atmosphere" (CEAMA-University of Granada, Spain-Andalusian Council) has created a new web service which provides daily information as part of a research work directed to the characterization of the interaction of atmospheric aerosol and clouds with solar ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Jueves, 29 de Mayo de 2008
New geomorphological index created for studying the active tectonics of mountains
Active tectonics comprise the most up-to-date deformation processes that affect the Earth's crust, resulting in earthquakes or recent deformations in the planet’s faults and folds. This phenomena is analysed in geology research carried out before commencing engineering works.
Depending on the type of project (nuclear power stations or power stations, radioactive storage, natural gas or CO2, large dams and tunnels, hydroelectricity projects...) and the type of earthquake (single or multiple), the time period for evaluating active tectonics varies between 10,000 and 100,000 years for studies prior to beginning construction work.
The study, which is now published in ...
Depending on the type of project (nuclear power stations or power stations, radioactive storage, natural gas or CO2, large dams and tunnels, hydroelectricity projects...) and the type of earthquake (single or multiple), the time period for evaluating active tectonics varies between 10,000 and 100,000 years for studies prior to beginning construction work.
The study, which is now published in ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment
Jueves, 08 de Mayo de 2008
Development of new techniques to understand marble quality and durability
The international commerce of ornamental stones has grown all over the world in the last years, revealing a decided solid support to the aesthetics of natural stones in buildings construction and urban ornamentation.
Marble is, undoubtedly, the ornamental stone par excellence. All through history, numerous civilizations have architectural or sculptural works which constitute the most important pieces of their historic heritage. Despite this, nowadays we have a very limited understanding about the intrinsic features which affect marble durability/changeability.
This fact is paradoxical in countries such as Spain, with a rich historic heritage in marble and ...
Marble is, undoubtedly, the ornamental stone par excellence. All through history, numerous civilizations have architectural or sculptural works which constitute the most important pieces of their historic heritage. Despite this, nowadays we have a very limited understanding about the intrinsic features which affect marble durability/changeability.
This fact is paradoxical in countries such as Spain, with a rich historic heritage in marble and ...
Publicado en
Natural Resources and Environment