Maximum height of extreme waves up dramatically in Pacific Northwest

Interesting study done by Oregon State University passed on through the Department of Ecology.

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Excerpts:

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A major increase in maximum ocean wave heights off the Pacific Northwest in recent decades has forced scientists to re-evaluate how high a “100-year event” might be, and the new findings raise special concerns for flooding, coastal erosion and structural damage.

The new assessment concludes that the highest waves may be as much as 46 feet, up from estimates of only 33 feet that were made as recently as 1996, and a 40 percent increase. December and January are the months such waves are most likely to occur, although summer waves are also significantly higher.

In a study just published online in the journal Coastal Engineering, scientists from Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries report that the cause of these dramatically higher waves is not completely certain, but “likely due to Earth’s changing climate.”

Increasing wave heights, they said, have had double or triple the impact in terms of erosion, flooding and damage as sea level rise over the last few decades. If wave heights continue to increase, they may continue to dominate over the acceleration in sea level that’s anticipated over the next couple of decades. The prior concern about what sea level rise could do, in other words, is already a reality. If sea levels do increase significantly in future decades and centuries, that will only add to the damage already being done by higher waves.

"Going to the future, communities are going to have to plan for heavier wave impacts and erosion, and decide what amounts of risk they are willing to take, how coastal growth should be managed and what criteria to use for structures”


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World Reaction to Obama Winning the Nobel Peace Prize

Every world leader's "Twitter" reaction to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Speech.

Click HERE to see the Time Magazine article.

Some Excerpts:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai
"We congratulate, wholeheartedly, President Obama on the award of this prestigious award. We recognize and commend President Obama's vision and leadership with a hope that peace and normalcy will return to Afghanistan and our region."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy
"It confirms, finally, America's return to the hearts of the people of the world."

Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader and 1990 Nobel Peace Prize winner
"I am happy. What Obama did during his presidency is a big signal — he gave hope. In these hard times, people who are capable of taking responsibility, who have a vision, commitment and political will, should be supported."

Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwean Prime Minister, who was among those favored for this year's prize
"I wish to congratulate President Obama. I think he is a deserving candidate."

Only two are bad

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman
"He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan ... We condemn the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for Obama."


Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official
"Obama has a long way to go still and lots of work to do before he can deserve a reward. Obama only made promises and did not contribute any substance to world peace."

History of Modern Nutrition (Food and Health, Sustainable Agriculture, Diet)