Dust in West up 500 percent in past two centuries

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A dusty scene near Canyonlands in Utah. Dust in the West has increased by 500 percent since the 1800s. Credit: Jason C. Neff University of Colorado at Boulder
A dusty scene near Canyonlands in Utah. Dust in the West has increased by 500 percent since the 1800s. Credit: Jason C. Neff, University of Colorado at Boulder

The West has become 500 percent dustier in the past two centuries due to westward U.S. expansion and accompanying human activity beginning in the 1800s, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder.


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All News summaries for February 24, 2008

Eruptions subside at Sicily's Mount Etna

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The eruptions that have shaken the Mount Etna volcano on the southern Italian island of Sicily have subsided, experts said Sunday at the Palermo Geophysics and Volcanology Institute.

Oil powered Norway gradually turns into the wind

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Japan aims to cut emissions by 60-80 pct by 2050: reports

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Japan aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by between 60 and 80 percent by 2050, news reports said on Sunday, as part of measures setting out the country's long term environmental goals.

Artificial reef near Miami is cemetery, diving attraction

May 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- About 45 feet beneath the ocean's surface lies a cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques and even benches. The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened last fall, is seen by its creators as a perfect final ...

Sahara made slow transition from green to desert: study

May 10, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
The Sahara became the world's biggest hot desert some 2,700 years ago after a very slow fade from green, according to a new study which clashes with the theory that desertification came abruptly.