Author Archives: Claire Cosgrove

About Claire Cosgrove

Dr Claire Cosgrove, Ph.D., is an independent Environmental Scientist and Educator. Looking to establish a consultancy company: “Cultural Awareness, Environmental Mindfulness”. Formerly a Professor of Environmental Sciences in the College of Engineering at AMA International University, Salmabad, Kingdom of Bahrain. Before moving to the Middle East in 2009, Dr Claire was a Research Scientist based in the USA at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville and at Georgia Institiute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr Cosgrove has lived and worked in a number of countries such as South Africa, USA, New Zealand and the Middle East. Her research work has covered air pollution, weather modification /cloud seeding, rainfall modelling and simulation and flood forecasting, to name a few areas of interest.

Microplastics – A Threat to Food Production at the Base Level of Photosynthesis

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Microplastics are everywhere and we need to know the impacts of these tiny plastic particles. These tiny particles are in our water, our food, in the air, in the soil, in the plants. Everywhere is anywhere and anywhere is everywhere. What are microplastics? Broken down plastic objects and items that are randomly discarded or disposed of in approved manner. The plastic particles are less than 5 millimeters requiring a microscope to view the particles. Even smaller particles are referred to as nanoplastics. Because the globe is so ensconced in the use of plastics domestically, in industry, medical equipment and applications, … Continue reading →

سوسة النخيل الاحمر : التهديد الحقيقي لشجر النخيل في الشرق الاوسط

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التهديد الحقيقي في الوقت الحاضر لشجر المخيل هو بسبب سوسة النخيل . هذا المخلوق موطنه اساسا من جنوب اسيا , ولكنه نشر اجنحته عبر العالم . تستطيع ان تدمر هذة السوسة بساتين النخيل , او زيت النخيل او جوز الهند , خلال ال30 سنة الاخيرة استطاعت هذة السوسة و التي احيانا يطلق عليها سوسة التمر من اختراق 60 دولة وقد وصلت الى الشرق الاوسط , شمال افريقيا , وجنوب اوروبا عبر الكاريبي . طوارئ في الشرق الاوسط  بدات هذة السوسة في الظهور في السعودية و الامارات في منتصف الثمانينات , اليوم مزارع شجر النخيل في جنوب غرب السعودية اصبحت مصابه … Continue reading →

Red Palm Weevil – A Real Threat to Date Palms in Middle East

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A modern day threat to agriculture across the globe is the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus). This creature is native to South Asia but it rather rapidly spreading its wings and crossing the globe. The red palm weevil can completely destroy palm groves, be it coconut, date or palm oil. Over the immediate past 30 years, the red palm weevil (also known as red date weevil) has penetrated over 60 countries and is now reaching the Middle East,  northern Africa, southern Europe and across to the Caribbean. Emergence of Red Palm Weevil in the Middle East The weevil began to … Continue reading →

An Interesting Approach to Combat Climate Change in the South Pacific

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New Zealand initiative named “Climate Shift” is a three-tiered approach being proposed to combat local climate change and in turn contribute to the global reduction plan to help protect our entire global environment. It focuses on addressing environmental issues on three fronts. The obvious and essential first step is to tackle the actual emissions with significant reduction. The next front is to engage with and seek support from independent organizations and governmental bodies while reaching out to the people of the land to get more engage and take responsibility. The final front is working with nature itself ensuring the sustainability … Continue reading →

What is a Fire Tornado?

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Now you might be hearing about fire tornados with the more frequent wildfires firing up across the parts of the globe. You will be familiar with the wind tornados. These fire tornados are similar in that they a whirling wind but induced by the heat of a raging fire. These fire tornados can also transport smoke and ash, and even flames of fire up though the atmosphere. Just as (wind) tornados have a variety of names  such as twister and wind devil, fire tornados have a comparable range of names including fire devil, fire whirl, fire swirl and fire twister. … Continue reading →

Climate and Weather – They Are Not The Same Thing

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We can predict the climate but we are not so good at predicting the weather. Why is this? First, let us clarify the difference between weather and climate. Weather is what happens in the atmosphere here and now. The weather may seem chaotic, even random. Weather tends to be what many of us focus on especially before weekends and holiday, and very special events. As community-based people, we need to know what the weather will be in the very near future. We have an immediate need to know whether the weather conditions with be sunny and fine, wet and windy, … Continue reading →

Everything You Should Know About Atmospheric Rivers

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Atmospheric rivers actually mean rivers of water in our skies. But what is the science behind this phenomena that can become a very serious threat across regions of the globe. An atmospheric river (also known as AR) is a long and narrow flowing stream of water, actually condensed water vapour, in the atmosphere. It is capable of producing significant levels of rain and snow. When the atmospheric river moves across land and over mountainous terrain, the water vapour rises and cools to create very heavy precipitation or snowfall. Many atmospheric rivers are of moderate size but some are exceptionally powerful … Continue reading →

The Art and Science of Caring for Our Trees

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Planting a tree is just the first step of a lengthy journey of loving and caring for nature.  And in return, nature provides shade, food, clean air. Collectively, the trees in our garden, or community parks represent life, growth, peace and harmony. It is a serious undertaking. Caring for trees is both an art and a science. Planting a tree is a complex exercise. It is far more than digging a hole and setting the roots deep into the soil, watering and covering the roots and lower stem of the juvenile tree. It is going to need mulching, feeding, trimming … Continue reading →

An Urgent Call to Save the Dead Sea from Extinction

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The news headlines read that the Dead Sea is dying so fast that it could totally disappear by the middle of this century. With the waters dying up, the exposed land is cracked and salt encrusted. Sinkholes are appearing as well and adding to the level of natural destruction. The rate of this process is being monitored by measuring the rate at which the water line is retreating. It is presently receding at the rate of one meter each year. The Dead Sea region is of great importance to three main religious groups: Jews, Muslims and Christians. The Dead Sea … Continue reading →

Effective Ways to Make Your Beach Trip Eco-friendly

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Island nations have many opportunities to take action and look after our shoreline and help to protect our beaches from trash and waste accumulation. Yes, one can join a major beach clean-up. And this sort of activity is great. But this is action after the fact, after the accumulation of trash on the beach and other shorelines.  But we can also be pro-active when we arrive at the beach to enjoy a day in the sun. The sooner one adopts these behavioral patterns, the easier it will be to really enjoy your leisure time at the beach. And to be … Continue reading →

How to Conserve Water in Your Garden

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Water scarcity is not just a nationwide problem. It can be a very real threat on the domestic scene as well. Our home is our kingdom, our domain where many persons spend much time and energy working in the garden and caring for the lawns to produce beautiful blooms, fragrant scents, herbal delights and a bountiful supply of vegetables. But water shortages are becoming a real threat at the domestic scene,  as well as nationally and regionally across the globe. After having invested in plants, fruit trees, fragrant bushes and numerous bulbs, we want the delight of a full bloom, … Continue reading →

The Challenges of Public Health and Environmental Stability

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The environment and the climate are all part of our daily life. We live and interact with the environment and the climate also influences our lives by moderating and impacting our environment. Regardless of which continent one focuses one, the concerns are similar across the globe. Many, many people across the globe live off the land. A large portion of the global population is totally dependent on agriculture and livestock farming. We call this subsistence farming. Regardless of nomenclature, these lives are hinged to and dependent on farming in an environment that is rapidly changing as the temperatures rise and … Continue reading →