The oceans are in perpetual motion, under the influence of gravity and wind that produces currents and waves. Chile, with over 4,000 kilometers of Pacific coastline, has the potential to become an energy giant by harnessing vast amounts of this energy.

So says Alexander Gorlov, who knows a few things about generating electricity from ocean energy. He invented the Gorlov helical turbine (GHT), which won the Thomas Edison patent award the same year in 2001. The GHT claims to offer greater versatility and efficiency in the harnessing of alternative hydroelectric power and is now being tested in North America, Europe and Asia.

Patagonia Sea Atlas is published by Wildlife Conservation Society And Birdlife International

The first-ever comprehensive atlas of the Patagonia Sea and marine ecosystems was released last week by the Wildlife Conservation Society And Birdlife International.

 

The atlas is based on hundreds of thousands of recordings of individual uplinks from satellite transmitters fitted on penguins, albatrosses, sea lions and other marine animals. It contains the most accurate maps ever assembled for this ecosystem, revealing key migratory corridors that span coastlines, as well as deep-sea feeding areas off the continental shelf, hundreds of miles away.

 

 

Government Agencies Still Not Convinced

At least three government agencies this week gave a negative response to the refurbished Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted Oct. 20 by the controversial HidroAysén dam project that is slated for Chile’s southern Patagonia area.

The government’s forestry service agency, CONAF, together with the National Properties Ministry and the Water Directorate Agency (DGA) all submitted critical responses to HidroAysén’s newly resubmitted EIS.

 

Punta Arenas authorities warned this weekend that especially high indexes of ultra violet (UV) radiation have been recorded and recommended that local residents take the normal precautions: limiting time exposure to the sun, wearing long sleeves and wide brim hats, UV protection sunglasses and sun cream.

They also cautioned that even UV rays are equally intense an dangerous with cloudy skies.

 

Breeding Center To Study Disease Prevention

European salmon farming company Aqua Gen will invest US$12 million to open a new genetic research center in Chile’ Los Lagos area (Region X), the company announced this week.

The new center will focus primarily on egg reproduction and aims to produce 50 million Atlantic salmon eggs a year.