A new scientific paper asserts that the Earth is warming even faster than expected.

As the United States, including the Great Lakes region, endures one of the worst droughts in history, an effective strategy to address climate change requires a stronger commitment from Washington and the private sector to control greenhouse gases.

This year’s drought has encompassed nearly two-thirds of the continental United States. Many scientists consider it a likely expression of climate change.

The drought was worsened by the hottest July on record, dating to 1895. A decreased corn yield this summer is leading to higher crop, meat, and fuel prices. Parched land affects water supplies; large numbers of fish are dying in some coastal areas where saltwater has seeped in.

In Ohio, groundwater that replenishes lakes will become increasingly important if the state realizes the predicted rapid growth of its drilling industry because of the use of horizontal fracturing, or fracking, of shale bedrock to produce oil and natural gas. Fracking requires tons of fresh water….

Even if (the) report and the 2012 drought fail to persuade skeptics that more must be done to respond to man-made climate change, the Great Lakes region still has to become more proactive about committing to a clean economy. It won’t happen overnight, but it needs to happen.

The (Toledo) Blade

 

West Nile virus still threat to many of Ohio’s citizens

Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean we should take the threat of West Nile virus any less seriously.

Ohio has its ninth confirmed human case of West Nile virus this year, it was reported this week. The latest case was confirmed by the Ohio Department of Health in Clark County in central Ohio.

Health officials say the virus has been found in mosquito pools tested statewide.

West Nile is of greater concern in other areas of the country. Officials in Texas are spraying because of a growing West Nile virus epidemic that has infected more than 200 residents and killed 10 of them in the Dallas area.

It’s an example of why West Nile needs to be taken seriously and steps should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease….

If you own a home or property, there are steps you can take to limit the number of mosquitoes breeding on your property. Those steps include spraying or treating your yard and eliminating pools of water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Common areas where water can collect include flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans. Gutters can also hold water.

Follow these steps to protect your family and your community.

The Marietta Times