The Stream, May 29: Anheuser-Busch Cans Water for Texas Flood Victims

The Global Rundown

Polluted rivers have given Des Moines a record run of water treatment, and a new study underlines that when it comes to climate, what happens in the North Atlantic can affect what happens in the tropics. A beer production plant in Georgia is currently canning water for needy Texas and Oklahoma flood victims.

“It is a great example of how inter-connected things are when it comes to climate. This shows the link between polar areas and the tropics, and these changes can happen very rapidly. Climate models suggest only a decade passed between the iceberg intrusion and a resulting impact in the tropics.” — Rachael Rhodes, lead author on a study showing that ice melting in the North Atlantic increased tropical wetland area during the last ice age. (Phys.org)

By The Numbers

111 – Number of days this year that Des Moines Water Works has had to treat drinking water for the presence of nitrates. This is a new record for the utility, outpacing the 106 days treatment was required in 1999. The treatment is necessary because of continued high levels of nitrates in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, the primary water sources for the utility. Des Moines Register

Science, Studies, And Reports

A new study of Antarctic ice cores shows that during the last ice age, melting ice in the North Atlantic Ocean caused an increase in methane production in tropical wetlands. Colder temperatures in the North Atlantic caused rainfall to be concentrated into a smaller geographic area in the tropics, making it more intense, consequently expanding tropical wetland area and increasing methane production. Phys.org

On The Radar

An Anheuser-Busch plant in Cartersville, Georgia has interrupted production of beer to instead can water to be sent to victims of recent floods in the American southwest. The water will be given to the Red Cross, which will take it to Texas and Oklahoma. USA Today