Crikey Creek

Water news haikus no. 7

Daniel Collins • Dec 11, 2009

More regular than India’s summer monsoon But not quite as wet Science A seismic story Of fluvial erosion Around Gibraltar Minimal model Of monsoonal tipping point Controlled by water Historical links Between war and temp’rature What of climate change? New Zealand ECan’s head in sand: Surface-groundwater exchange … Read More

Welcome Flat springs cooler after July earthquake

Daniel Collins • Dec 09, 2009

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook Fiordland on July 15 was the largest in New Zealand since 1931. It caused power outages and landslides, but fortunately only minor damage and no fatalities. Land around the epicentre was uplifted by a metre, and the South Island twisted so that Dunedin moved 1 cm closer to Australia. What GNS scientists Simon Cox … Read More

Haiku news no. 6

Daniel Collins • Dec 07, 2009

Haikus, belated But surely not forgotten, Are all about risks Science Regional flood risk Water storage threshold gauged By the GRACE of god Urban water risks Drought and demand managed with Leases and options Runoff, climate change Predictions with simple model: Budyko-Holland New Zealand Rain spoils cherry crop … Read More

If doctors used climate science, part 2

Daniel Collins • Dec 07, 2009

When I was in Uganda last year, I ran into a local medical doctor working on climate change impacts in the water resources sector. I happened to be in Uganda with the Red Cross for the very same thing. The MD was an influential figure, and got a lot of good work done, but his grasp of climate science was … Read More

Haiku news no. 5

Daniel Collins • Nov 27, 2009

An abridged coverage Of news this week due to a Conference, and Thriller New Zealand Earthquake cools the pools Rejigged plumbing changes flows Below Southern Alps Manawatu flows Top among polluted list Top cause: nitrogen Drinking water crap In many rural locales One in four at risk … Read More

Watergate was not about water

Daniel Collins • Nov 24, 2009

Watergate is an office complex in Washington, D.C., overlooking the Potomac River. The Watergate Scandal was so named because political operatives for then-President Nixon broke into the Democratic National Committee offices located there, while Nixon and his staff tried to subsequently cover it up. The five burglars were convicted, and Nixon eventually abdicated the presidency. “Climategate” is not about climate. Read More

A phylogeny of hydrological thought

Daniel Collins • Nov 24, 2009

Science rarely proceeds in leaps and bounds. It is better characterised by the gradual accretion of knowledge. As Issac Newton remarked to rival Robert Hooke in 1676: ’If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.’ It is appropriate then, on this auspicious day, to illustrate how scientists manage to stand on one … Read More

Trickle down carbon sequestration

Daniel Collins • Nov 20, 2009

Nick Smith has suggested to farmers that they start offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions by planting trees. A risk with this is that planting trees may compromise water supply. Compared with pasture, trees tend to reduce the amount of rainfall that reaches rivers and aquifers. A larger canopy traps more rain as it falls, so it evaporates directly from … Read More

Water news haikus no. 4

Daniel Collins • Nov 20, 2009

From water cycle Via media cycle To haiku cycle Science Water on the moon Discovery follows probe Evidence clouded Bayes and RCMs Give projections of the Thames Water resources Water and money Modelled for Brazilian farms New method, old news Off to AGU? Geobloggers check this out … Read More