11/14 Desolation Sound, Kalama methanol, ocdan warming, shore flooding, marine trash, smoky air

Desolation Sound [Andrew Strain/Sunshine Coast Tourism]

Desolation Sound
Desolation Sound is a deep water sound at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. Flanked by Cortes Island and West Redonda Island, its spectacular fjords, mountains and wildlife make it a global boating and sea kayaking destination. (Wikipedia)

Study Finds Kalama Methanol Plant Would Reduce Global Carbon Emissions
A new study finds a controversial fossil fuel refinery proposed at Washington’s Port of Kalama would actually reduce global carbon emissions. The study was commissioned by the port and Cowlitz County in response to a permit requirement by the state of Washington to report the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the project. A California-based company called Life Cycle Associates tallied all the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the $1.8 billion methanol refinery proposed by developer NW Innovation Works. The plant would convert natural gas into methanol that would be shipped overseas and made into plastic. The study, part of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement for the project, included the carbon emissions from the plant's construction and operation, its energy sources and shipping. It concluded that while the plant would generate carbon pollution, it would also displace dirtier methanol production overseas, resulting in a net reduction of global carbon emissions. Cassandra Profita reports. (EarthFix)

Scientists acknowledge key errors in study of how fast the oceans are warming
Scientists behind a major study that claimed the Earth’s oceans are warming faster than previously thought now say their work contained inadvertent errors that made their conclusions seem more certain than they actually are. Two weeks after the high-profile study was published in the journal Nature, its authors have submitted corrections to the publication. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, home to several of the researchers involved, also noted the problems in the scientists’ work and corrected a news release on its website, which previously had asserted that the study detailed how the Earth’s oceans “have absorbed 60 percent more heat than previously thought.” Chris Mooney and Brady Dennis report. (Washington Post)

Ocean at the Door: New Homes and the Rising Sea
... In what we believe to be the first country-wide analysis of its kind, Climate Central and Zillow have isolated the number of new homes in low-lying coastal areas in all 24 coastal states, projecting how many will become exposed to chronic ocean flooding over the coming decades — depending on what choices the world makes around greenhouse-gas pollution today. The results are clear. If the world makes moderate cuts to greenhouse-gas pollution — roughly in line with the Paris agreement on climate, whose targets the international community is not on track to meet — some 10,000 existing homes built after 2009 will be at risk of flooding at least once per year, on average, by 2050. The figures for 2100 are about three times higher — and five times higher if pollution grows unchecked. (Zillow)

SLIDESHOW: 160,000 Pounds Of Marine Trash From Papahanaumokuakea
NOAA displayed tons of plastic and other debris collected in the remote Northwest Hawaii Islands, where the trash threatens wildlife and coral. Cory Lum reports. (Civil Beat)

Puget Sound skies see smoke from California’s deadly fires  (Tacoma News Tribune) Smoke from California reaches B.C. coastline  (Vancouver Sun)


 Now, your tug weather--

West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  816 AM PST Wed Nov 14 2018   

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING   

TODAY  SW wind 15 to 25 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 5 ft at 10 seconds  building to 7 ft at 13 seconds in the afternoon. Rain. 

TONIGHT  S wind to 10 kt. Wind waves 1 ft or less. W swell 8 ft  at 11 seconds. A chance of showers.


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