Scientists are hoping to stall plans to erect a string of dams along the Mekong River.

Accumulating evidence shows that the planet is warming as a response to human emissions of greenhouse gases. Strategies of adaptation to climate change will require quantitative projections of how altered regional patterns of temperature, precipitation and sea level could cascade to provoke local impacts such as modified water supplies, increasing risks of coastal flooding, and growing challenges to sustainability of native species.

Dust has the potential to modify global climate by influencing the radiative balance of the atmosphere and by supplying iron and other essential limiting micronutrients to the ocean. Indeed, dust supply to the Southern Ocean increases during ice ages, and ‘iron fertilization’ of the subantarctic zone may have contributed up to 40 parts per million by volume (p.p.m.v.) of the decrease (80–100 p.p.m.v.) in atmospheric carbon dioxide observed during late Pleistocene glacial cycles.

Red sandy dunal soils of Tamil Nadu is called Theri soils. They occupy about 20,000 ha. Tuticorin district has the largest area 11,200 ha. Different interpretative systems have indicated that these are not suitable for agriculture. In this study, tank silt is used to amend the soil and the different physical parameters which make the soil better for cultivation are estimated and their interrelationships are presented.

On the basis of a climate modelling study, Lal et al. predicted that during the winter months there will be 5–25% less rainfall and in the summer season the monsoon rainfall will be not only 10–15% more than the normal, but also quite variable and specially irregular in Central India.

An industry approach to greener hydropower is far from perfect, but it does offer a way forwards. (Editorial)

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v474/n7352/full/474420a.html

Physico-chemical characteristics of Rajakkamangalam estuary situated in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu and its sediment samples were collected in 4 sampling stations in 2001.

When humans try to constrain rivers, the results can be calamitous. (Editorial)

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028142.700-mississippi-delta-blu...