[Cob] concrete coverage in the US --- dismal news

[otherfish]

Thought those of us on the coblist might appreciate this.
Not that the implications of the excessive use of concrete comes as any
surprise .........  still, food for thought & reinforcing the importance of
our passion for cob.

It's an artivle that was published by the BBC, UK Edition

cob on
john fordice
.........................
US concrete 'would cover Ohio'
 
Excessive concrete cover is not good for the environment

If all the concrete structures in America's 48 contiguous states were added
up, they would cover a space almost as big as Ohio, researchers say.

Workers from several universities and agencies have put together the first
ever map of the US, which shows "impervious surface areas" (ISA).

It is important to tot up concrete cover because of its harmful effect on
the environment, the researchers claim.

The work was led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Giant Jigsaw 

If you made a giant jigsaw out of all the highways, streets, buildings,
parking lots and other solid structures in the contiguous states, it would
cover 112,610 sq km (43,480 sq miles). That is an area nearly the size of
Ohio, which is 116,534 sq km (44,994 sq miles).

This is far more than a Christmas cracker statistic, the researchers claim,
because concrete cover - or ISA - is not good for the environment.

The replacement of heavily vegetated areas by ISA reduces the depletion of
carbon dioxide, which plants absorb from the atmosphere. This can speed up
global warming. 

ISAs can also alter the water cycle and disrupt aquatic ecosystems. They do
this by changing the shape of stream channels, raising water temperatures
and washing pollutants into aquatic environments.

Population growth 

The ISA of the contiguous states is already slightly larger than that of its
wetlands, which cover 98,460 sq km (38,020 sq miles).

The population of the US is increasing by three million a year. Concrete
cover is spreading to match.

Every year, one million new family homes are built and 20,000 km (10,000
miles) of roads are laid.

Given these trends, it is likely a lot more will be made of impervious
surface areas in the future.

The research was part funded by the US space agency (Nasa).