Recent ssi items

Ice, Snow and Water: impacts of climate change on California and Himalayan Asia

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This Briefing Note describes the issues discussed at an international Workshop held in San Diego in May 2009 which focussed on the impact on water resources of declining mountain snows and glacier retreat in Himalayan Asia and the Western United States. The Workshop concluded that as adaptation strategies are locally conditioned, new regional climate assessments are required that link global climate models to local decision making.

Knowledge Action Networks: Connecting regional climate change assessments to local action

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Knowledge Action Networks: Connecting regional climate change assessments to local action

Potential impacts of global climate change on Tijuana River Watershed hydrology - An initial analysis

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

During the past year, an investigation has been initiated regarding how future climate changes may impact the hydrology of the Tijuana River Watershed – a binational watershed. The study has used gridded observed daily precipitation and temperatures and downscaled daily precipitation and temperature projections from three global climate models (GCM) to drive the VIC macroscale hydrologic model. Sensitivity analysis using VIC suggests about 2% reduction of runoff for each 1% reduction in precipitation. A 1oC increase in average temperature produces about 3% reduction of runoff. All three GCM simulations yield annual warming, with end-of-century temperature increases from approximately +1oC under a lower emission scenario in the less responsive PCM1 to +3oC in a higher emission scenario with the more responsive GFDL model. Climate projections suggest greater warming in the spring and summer months ranging between 2oC to 3oC under the higher emission scenario. Two of the three...

Saving Venice: Engineering and ecology in the Venice lagoon

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This paper describes some of the challenges of sustainability, and shows how they are manifested in coastal environments. It reviews the problems facing Venice and its lagoon, as a particularly interesting and complex example, and describes the technological, environmental, and scientific actions taken to address the problems of sustainability. Specifically, the actions and interdisciplinary research supporting management of the Venice lagoon environment are discussed, with a particular focus on the sediment. Conclusions are drawn regarding the integration of science, technology, and the environment, including the interactions of industry, the international scientific community, and governments.

Metals concentration in salt marshes plants and kelp around San Diego: A window to environment quality

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This project was developed into two avenues aiming at assessing levels of metals in kelp and salt marsh plants in the San Diego area. This information was then used to address whether metals levels found in kelp and salt marsh plants reflect bioavailable metals in the environment, which could help their use in environmental monitoring.

Information Infrastructure for Publishing and Integrating Water Resource Data from Pacific Rim Universities in Support of Hydrologic Modeling and Integrated Water Resource Management

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Information Infrastructure for Publishing and Integrating Water Resource Data from Pacific Rim Universities in Support of Hydrologic Modeling and Integrated Water Resource Management

Point Loma Outfall Review

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) was hired by the City of San Diego to assess the adequacy of the Point Loma Ocean Outfall (PLOO) monitoring system in providing the scientific understanding necessary to answer relevant questions about the effects on the ocean environment of the outfall and the potential issues that could arise if there were increases in the discharge volume and solids. SIO also was asked to recommend changes required to meet this need. A team of scientists conducted a review of existing monitoring capabilities in San Diego, as well as examining programs elsewhere that address similar outfalls.

The San Diego Foundation Regional Focus 2050 Study

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The San Diego Foundation’s Regional Focus 2050 Study (Focus 2050 Study) was conceived of and commissioned by the Foundation’s Environment Program. The Foundation contracted with UC San Diego’s Environment and Sustainability Initiative (ESI) to serve as the project manager for the Focus 2050 study in coordination with Foundation staff. Contributing authors developed each working paper in a coordinated process, and then the combined report was externally peer-reviewed. A workshop was also held in June 2008 to present key findings to the study’s stakeholders and to invite final comments and suggestions for the report prior to publication. The Focus 2050 Study for the San Diego region is modeled, in part, on the Focus 2050 study undertaken by King County, Washington. This study also forms the basis for a technical assessment which was developed for inclusion in the 2008 Climate Change Impacts Assessment, Second Biennial Science Report to the California Climate Action Team.

UCSD Biomass to Power Economic Feasibility Study

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

This report examines the economic and technical feasibility of using separated biomass feedstock from the Miramar Landfill, located in San Diego County, to generate 3 MW of power. The process will utilize gasification technology provided by West Biofuels, LLC. The objective of the study is to determine the economics of the proposed biomass power system in terms of the potential revenue streams and operational costs. The goal of this study is to determine whether this project has a positive net present value (NPV) based on the site specific parameters associated with the Miramar Landfill.

Economic Analysis of a 3MW Biomass Gasification Power Plant

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

An economic and technical analysis of the use of separated wood biomass as a feedstock for gasification for a 3 MW power plant was conducted for the Miramar Landfill, located in San Diego County, CA. The method to generate combustible gas from the biomass is based on a dual-fluidized bed gasification process which operates at atmospheric pressure with air and produces a high quality producer gas with little nitrogen. The objective of the study was to determine the economic feasibility of the proposed biomass power system in terms of the potential revenue streams and costs. Major economic considerations in the analysis include feedstock, capital, and operating costs. Regulatory issues, inclusive of production credits, renewable energy incentives, and feed-in tariffs are addressed as significant economic inputs. The Miramar landfill, in San Diego County, CA is representative of a typical existing urban landfill, with corresponding feedstock and some market for separated wood...

The Transition to a Carbon-Neutral Energy Economy: Exploring UCSD's Role

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A workshop of UCSD faculty, researchers, and students, joined by representatives of industry, government and non-profit organizations, spent two days considering the role UCSD and its partners could and should play in addressing the challenges of energy and sustainability. As UCSD proceeds with developing a campus-wide Environment and Sustainability Initiative, it is clear that energy must be an important area of research, teaching, and partnership. The workshop succeeded in providing a forum for participants to share their expertise and explore the potential for UCSD to develop interdisciplinary sustainable energy projects. UCSD has a wide range of expertise, including ocean and atmospheric sciences, engineering, informatics, chemistry, biology, health sciences, economics, management, international relations, political science, and urban studies. UCSD is also part of the larger San Diego community, the border region, and has a role to play at the national and international...

Venice Sustainability Advisory Panel

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Venice Sustainability Advisory Panel (VSAP), an international group of experts in environmental sustainability put together by UC San Diego’s Sustainability Solutions Institute, was created to advise key authorities and decision-makers on how to prepare regular formal assessments of the environmental sustainability of the Venice Lagoon and its surrounding regions, taking into account the specific social and economic drivers of environmental change in the region. Assessment is regarded as a critical initial step in achieving adaptive management capability. The VSAP met three times - twice in Venice (in June 2008 and September 2008) and once in La Jolla (in January 2009).