Global Warming- Microsensing: Air Pollution Measurements In The Palm Of Your HandBy Elena Craft, PhDThe science behind air pollution in urban areas is clear: smog has been linked to premature deaths, increased asthma attacks and breathing problems, and increased hospital visits. But most of us have no way of knowing about the pollutants that we’re exposed to on a daily basis. Expressways, waste facilities, and dry cleaners create highly […]
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- 3 Vital Takeaways for Business from the New 3% Solution ReportBy Tom MurrayHat's off to the World Wildlife Fund and CDP for an important new study, released this week, about the potential to drive significant financial benefits, higher return on investment, and increased capital expenditure by pursuing a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 3% annually across the U.S. corporate sector. The new report shines a spotli […]
- Microsensing: Air Pollution Measurements In The Palm Of Your Hand
- State Of The Climate
- May 2013 National OverviewNot Available […]
- May 2013 DroughtWeather systems moving in an active jet stream flow propagated several upper-level troughs and ridges across the country during May. Cold fronts and warm fronts moving with these upper-level systems brought migrating spells of cooler-than-normal and warmer-than-normal weather to parts of the country. Some of the systems tapped Gulf of Mexico moisture, result […]
- May 2013 WildfiresFor May 2013, 6,331 fires (3rd most on record) burned 106,243 acres (2nd most on record) , which is 16.8 acres burned/fire (4th most on record). For March-May, 15,700 fires (the most on record) burned 226,782 acres (the most on record) , which is 14.4 acres burned/fire (the most on record). For January-May, 18,004 fires (the most on record) burned 247,787 ac […]
- May 2013 National Overview
- Global Climate Change – Vital Signs of the Planet – News RSS Feed
- Water storage maps show improvementFrom NASA's Earth Observatory In 2012, the continental United States suffered through one of its worst droughts in decades. Nearly 80 percent of the nation’s farm, orchard, and grazing land was affected in some way, and 28 percent experienced extreme to exceptional drought. As another summer arrives in North America, surface water conditions have improv […]
- Water storage maps show improvement
Human Induced Climate Change Experiment
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- NOAA
- Possible record-setting dead zone for Gulf of Mexico
- NOAA releases draft proposal to expand Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- 2012 ranks as 2nd costliest year with 11 billion-dollar disasters causing more than $110 billion in damages
- Contiguous United States cooler and slightly wetter than average during Spring 2013
- NOAA predicts active 2013 Atlantic hurricane season
- Air
- Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Family Fun Activities Set for Installation of EPA Solar-Powered Air Monitoring System in DurhamDURHAM, NC – A ribbon-cutting ceremony for an innovative solar-paneled air monitoring system, incorporated into a park bench made from recycled milk jugs, will be held at 10 a.m. June 22 at Durham County Library South Regional. The prototype monitoring system developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is being tested at the library in partnership […]
- Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Family Fun Activities Set for Installation of EPA Solar-Powered Air Monitoring System in Durham
- Water
- EPA Announces "Cleanup Complete" at Sheboygan River Area of ConcernSHEBOYGAN, Wisc. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the completion of all dredging and habitat restoration projects required to remove the Sheboygan River "Area of Concern" from a list of toxic hot spots identified in the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement […]
- EPA Announces "Cleanup Complete" at Sheboygan River Area of Concern
- Ocean Temperatures
- Pensacola FLRecent Water Temperature: 84.2°F (29.0°C) Observation Date and Time: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:54:00 GMT […]
- Eagle Point, TXRecent Water Temperature: 79.2°F (26.2°C) Observation Date and Time: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:54:00 GMT […]
- Newport RIRecent Water Temperature: 65.1°F (18.4°C) Observation Date and Time: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:54:00 GMT […]
- Pensacola FL
- Invasive Species
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- Energy Research
- Tiny crystals glow bright in LED lightsMinuscule crystals that glow different colors may be the missing ingredient for white LED lighting that illuminates homes and offices as effectively as natural sunlight. […]
- Tiny crystals glow bright in LED lights
- Energy Savers
- New PSAs Help You Save Energy and MoneyNew PSAs Help You Save Energy and Money The Energy Department's new PSAs offer practical and simple actions that both homeowners and renters can take to save money on their energy bills. […]
- New PSAs Help You Save Energy and Money
- Food And Drugs
- FDA approves a new silicone gel-filled breast implantThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the MemoryShape Breast Implant to increase breast size (augmentation) for use in women at least 22 years old and to rebuild breast tissue (reconstruction) in women of any age. The MemoryShape Breast Implants are manufactured by Mentor Worldwide LLC. […]
- FDA approves a new silicone gel-filled breast implant
- Consumer Health
- Consumer Update AnalyticsThis page contains the most recent Consumer Update data available and links to past Consumer Update Analytics web pages. […]
- Consumer Update Analytics
Why Are The Bats Dying?
“We have found sick, dying and dead bats in unprecedented numbers in and around caves and mines from New Hampshire to Tennessee. In some hibernacula, 90 to 100 percent of the bats are dying.”
White-Nose Syndrome: A Devastating Disease of North American Bats
Current News
See map at bottom of page
White-nose syndrome spreads in Kentucky (February 6, 2012)
News release (pdf, February 6, 2012)
Bat killing fungus detected at Liberty Park, Summit County, OH (February 1, 2012)
News release (pdf, February 1, 2012)
North American bat death toll exceeds 5.5 million from white-nose syndrome
News release (January 17, 2012)
USGS National Wildlife Health Center releases winter 2011/2012 WNS submission guidelines for researchers (12/05/2011)
Winter 2011/2012 WNS bat submission protocol
Culprit Identified: Fungus Causes Deadly Bat Disease
USGS News Release (October 26, 2011)
USGS Podcast: Culprit Identified: Fungus Causes Deadly Bat Disease
Nature: Experimental infection of bats with Geomyces destructans causes white-nose syndrome
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to announce the availability of new funding for projects related directly to the investigation and management of white-nose syndrome (WNS). This opportunity is open to all State and Federal agency personnel, as well as non-governmental organizations, university, and private researchers.
We anticipate that up to $1 million will be available for high priority research projects through this request for proposal (RFP) process. The announcement will be open for 45 days, with proposals due 4 December 2011.
Please visit www.grants.gov for the official notice, found under opportunity # FWS-R5-ES-12-001
Before submitting a proposal for WNS funds, please carefully review all the information and instructions in this RFP.
2012 Request for Proposals
Current list of FWS funded and other known WNS research projects
Mammoth Cave National Park celebrates International Bat Night on August 27, 2011
News Release (August 18, 2011)
Watch the June 24, 2011 House Natural Resources Committee White-Nose Syndrome Hearing
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Oversight Hearing on “Why We Should Care About Bats: Devastating Impact White-Nose Syndrome is Having on One of Nature’s Best Pest Controllers” (June 2011)
C-Span coverage of White-Nose Syndrome Hearing (June 2011)
Review Finds Endangered Species Protection May Be Warranted for Two Bat Species
News Release (June 28, 2011)
FAQs (pdf, June 28, 2011)
Northern long-eared bat photos on Flickr
90-Day Finding on a Petition to List the Eastern Small-Footed Bat and Northern-Long Eared Bat as Threatened or Endangered (pdf, June 28, 2011)
Wyoming Game and Fish Department releases WNS strategic plan
Wyoming WNS Strategic Plan (pdf, 9.49MB, June 6, 2011)
Wyoming Game and Fish WNS Brochure (pdf, June 6, 2011)
Bat Disease, White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Maine
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife – News Release (pdf, May 24, 2011)
Flickr set of Maine WNS Survey
Fish and Wildlife Service Unveils National Plan to Combat Deadly White-Nose Syndrome in Bats
News Release (pdf, May 17, 2011)
White-Nose Syndrome National Plan (pdf, May 2011)
WNS National Plan Q&A (pdf, May 2011)
Forest Service Considering Restrictions for Northern Region Caves
News Release (pdf, May 11, 2011)
Archived activities and news
What is white-nose syndrome?
In February 2006 some 40 miles west of Albany, N.Y., a caver photographed hibernating bats with an unusual white substance on their muzzles. He noticed several dead bats. The following winter, bats behaving erratically, bats with white noses, and a few hundred dead bats in several caves came to the attention of New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists, who documented white-nose syndrome in January 2007. More than a million hibernating bats have died since. Biologists with state and federal agencies and organizations across the country are still trying to find the answer to this deadly mystery.
We have found sick, dying and dead bats in unprecedented numbers in and around caves and mines from New Hampshire to Tennessee. In some hibernacula, 90 to 100 percent of the bats are dying.
While they are in the hibernacula, affected bats often have white fungus on their muzzles and other parts of their bodies. They may have low body fat. These bats often move to cold parts of the hibernacula, fly during the day and during cold winter weather when the insects they feed upon are not available, and exhibit other uncharacteristic behavior.
Despite the continuing search to find the source of this condition by numerous laboratories and state and federal biologists, the cause of the bat deaths remains unknown. A newly discovered cold-loving fungus, Geomyces destructans, invades the skin of bats. Scientists are exploring how the fungus acts and searching for a way to stop it.
Learn more about white-nose syndrome
Map of white-nose syndrome by county/district as of 02/10/2012.
Courtesy of Cal Butchkoski, PA Game Commission.More mapsBat species range and WNS maps
(USGS Fort Collins Science Center)
WNS in Ontario, Canada maps
(Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre)