environment
Regional air quality worsens year over year
April 23. According to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report, Charlotte’s air quality is worse this year than it was year. Extreme heat and wildfires contributed to worsening air quality in much of the country. Charlotte Ground-level Ozone Pollution: Number of Unhealthy Days per Year: 2.7 days (1 day in 2024 report) […]
EarthTalk: Why is wind power suddenly up in the air?
Dear EarthTalk: How is wind power doing in the US? —P.K. via email March 28. Wind energy is the largest single source of renewable energy in the U.S., comprising 10 percent of the nation’s electricity mix. In Iowa and South Dakota, wind provides more than half the electricity. In 2024, U.S. wind electricity generation surpassed […]
EarthTalk: What should we do with old electronics?
Dear EarthTalk: Can we do a better job repurposing outdated technology instead of trashing it? —R.T Smith, via e-mail March 21. The annual production of “e-waste”—electronic products that have reached the end of their useful life and tossed—is rising by 2.6 million tons globally, on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030. While recycling […]
EarthTalk: What’s happening to the Great Salt Lake?
Why is the Great Salt Lake shrinking so much and can it be saved? —E.T., via email March 14. Utah’s Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. It is a remnant of Lake Bonneville, which dried up 14,000 years ago due to extreme drought. It contributes $1.9 billion annually to […]
EarthTalk: What about ‘green corridors,’ and how are they useful?
Dear EarthTalk: What are so-called “green corridors” in cities and how do they help mitigate climate change? —Peter Q, Boston, MA March 7. Green corridors, or ecological corridors, are strips of vegetation and natural landscape dispersed throughout a city. From simple, street-lined rows of trees to interconnected networks of parks and pathways, these developments provide […]
EarthTalk: What about Monarch butterflies?
Dear EarthTalk: What is the status of the monarch butterfly in the U.S. and is it listed as threatened or endangered? —M. Smith, Raleigh, NC Feb. 28. The monarch butterfly, known for its awe-inspiring migration across North America, has become a symbol of both ecological wonder and environmental decline. Once abundant across the continent, their […]
Wastewater spill near 18325 Taffrail
Feb. 27. Charlotte Water crews responded to a wastewater overflow near 18325 Taffrail Way in Cornelius. An estimated 90 gallons reached Lake Norman. Most homes along the lakes are served by low pressure sewer systems that convey waste to a gravity fed sewer to wastewater treatment plants. A damaged a low pressure pipe caused the […]
Update: Another controlled burn today
Feb. 27. [UPDATED Feb. 28] Mecklenburg County Natural Resources is conducting another controlled burn Friday beginning around 10:15 am at Latta Nature Preserve. It’s the third day of controlled burns, with Thursday starting at 11 am. Smoke will affect air quality in the downwind area for 2-3 hours. More info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/prescribed-fire To reduce your exposure […]
EarthTalk: What’s up with atmospheric rivers?
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the connection between climate change and an increase in so-called atmospheric rivers? —John H., Bridgeport, CT Feb. 7. Atmospheric rivers are narrow bands of water vapor that form in the mid to high latitudes. These can span several miles and carry immense amounts of water—up to 27 times the flow of the […]
EarthTalk: Can we store CO2 in building materials?
Dear EarthTalk: Is it really possible to store large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in building materials like concrete and plastic? If so, why don’t we do more of it already? —P.L., via email The construction industry, a major contributor to carbon emissions, has an untapped potential to become a powerful ally in […]
