Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 24 April 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The Department of Water and Sanitation says the Vaal Dam is currently experiencing increased water inflows due to heavy rainfall on the upper catchment. As a result, it has reopened a third sluice gate to manage the water outflows. The department’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, says the water level at the dam is at 108.4-percent and there is a possibility that another sluice gate will be opened today. She adds that at Bloemhof Dam, water outflows have also increased:

# A collaborative effort between Alexandra activists and artists aims to rehabilitate the polluted Jukskei River in Johannesburg. Led by environmentalist Hannelie Coetzee and the Alexandra Water Warriors, the initiative employs recycled plastic nets to trap waste and features sculptures made from river debris. The plan includes planting over 40-thousand trees along the river. This community-driven approach seeks to restore the river’s health and foster environmental stewardship among residents.

# And finally: Climate change has become a major driver of the Earth’s rotational behaviour, driven by melting glaciers, retreating polar ice, and shifting water levels. This is according to a new study by researchers from a public university in Switzerland, ETH Zurich. The study combined historical data and future projections to explore how climate-related mass shifts have tilted and will continue to tilt the Earth’s axis. The researchers say reducing emissions could help preserve the Earth’s rotational stability and reduce its cascading effects.

Stay tuned for more news………….