On this page you will find previous questions from our readers that have been answered by Environment Canada's knowledgeable specialists.
Issue Number and Date |
Question |
Issue 70 November 16, 2006 |
Is there a difference between a species being threatened, at risk or endangered, or can these terms be used interchangeably? |
Issue 69 October 12, 2006 |
Does the weather affect the Northern Lights? Where and when is it best to view them? |
Issue 68 September 14, 2006 |
Can I plant a tree in fall? How do I prepare the young trees in my yard for winter? |
Issue 67 August 10, 2006 |
What costs more, driving on the highway with the air conditioning on or with the windows down? |
Issue 66 June 15, 2006 |
Who should I talk to about an Asian Long-horned Beetle I found? |
Issue 65 May 19, 2006 |
I found an injured bird in my backyard. Is there someone I can call to get help for the bird? |
Issue 64 April 12, 2006 |
When does the Greater Snow Goose hunting season begin? |
Issue 63 March 22, 2006 |
What is an Earthquake? |
Issue 62 February 16, 2006 |
How do I find out about recycling in my city? |
Issue 61 January 19, 2006 |
What is the sunrise and sunset time today? |
Issue 60 December 15, 2005 |
What do I need to export protected species and their products from Canada? |
Issue 59 November 17, 2005 |
How do I obtain historical weather data? |
Issue 58 October 13, 2005 |
How do you calculate oxygen production of a tree? |
Issue 57 September 15, 2005 |
What is probability of precipitation (POP)? |
Issue 56 August 11, 2005 |
How many tonnes of greenhouse gases are created by a forest fire per hectare? |
Issue 55 June 9, 2005 |
Do you have any CO2 emissions data of a Suzuki Aerio SX 2003 Fastback, manual transmission? |
Issue 54 May 13, 2005 |
What produces more carbon dioxide: driving a 13-year-old van or the manufacturing of a new vehicle?
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Issue 53 April 14, 2005 |
Does a campfire create as much pollution as a fireplace? |
Issue 52 March 10, 2005 |
Where can I find information on water usage? |
Issue 51 February 10, 2005 |
Are there any subsidies or rebates for a household that installs solar panels? |
Issue 50 January 13, 2005 |
Why was the tsunami in Southeast Asia so devastating? Is there anything I can do to help? |
Issue 49 December 9, 2004 |
How can polar ice melting increase the world's sea level? |
Issue 48 November 15, 2004 |
How do various light bulbs compare for energy efficiency? |
Issue 47 October 18, 2004 |
Where can I find information on carbon neutral conferencing? |
Issue 46 September 10, 2004 |
Why should people recycle? |
Issue 45 August 5, 2004 |
What are the environmental benefits to using cloth versus disposable diapers? What types of cloth diapers are available? |
Issue 44 June 3, 2004 |
What are the main causes of air pollution? |
Issue 43 May 7, 2004 |
How did the Zebra Mussel originally get into Lake Erie and why did they populate so quickly? |
Issue 42 April 16, 2004 |
What causes a tornado to form, how long does the average tornado last and how is it tracked? |
Issue 41 March 11, 2004 |
What causes the temperature to drop as the sun rises, commonly known as "sunrise sag"? Are there any environmental or scientific benefits to snow? |
Issue 40 February 12, 2004 |
When the temperature is extremely cold is it better to idle the car to warm the engine before driving or warm the engine by driving? |
Issue 39 January 15, 2004 |
Will climate change have an effect on storm systems such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards and hurricanes? |
Issue 38 December 4, 2003 |
Why are the salt trucks going out before the snow falls? |
Issue 37 November 13, 2003 |
Are electric solar panels an efficient and cost saving alternative for household use? |
Issue 36 October 9, 2003 |
How do pollutants enter our drinking water from a landfill site? |
Issue 35 September 11, 2003 |
Are there incentive programs in Canada to take older vehicles off the road? |
Issue 34 July 24, 2003 |
In the last 10 years, what natural disasters has Canada faced and at what cost? |
Issue 33 June 26, 2003 |
Are fluorescent bulbs that contain mercury more harmful to the environment and human health than incandescent bulbs? |
Issue 32 May 22, 2003 |
Is diesel fuel more or less polluting than regular gasoline? Do motorcycles and scooters emit more toxins than other combustion engine vehicles? |
Issue 31 April 24, 2003 |
I would like some information on lawn care products. |
Issue 30 March 20, 2003 |
What are future concerns about landfills? |
Issue 29 February 20, 2003 |
Which areas of Canada have the greatest number of species at risk? |
Issue 28 January 23, 2003 |
Is it true that using salt on roadways to prevent icing in the winter is bad for the environment? Are there alternatives? |
Issue 27 December 19, 2002 |
How much do I save in greenhouse gas emissions by not having a car? |
Issue 26 November 21, 2002 |
What does the recycling symbol stand for and what do the numbers inside the triangle represent? |
Issue 25 October 17, 2002 |
How do I buy good quality compact fluorescent light bulbs? Does turning them on and off every time one leaves the room shorten the life of the bulb? |
Issue 24 September 19, 2002 |
Why doesn't Canada get any hurricanes? What climate is associated with hurricanes? |
Issue 23 August 15, 2002 |
What guidelines or regulations does Canada have in place for the use of two-stroke engines? Will they be restricted for marine use? |
Issue 22 July 18, 2002 |
What are the major causes of water pollution and what is being done to prevent them? |
Issue 21 June 21, 2002 |
Is pressure-treated wood a good choice for fencing? What are the alternatives? Are the alternatives worth the fuss? |
Issue 20 May 21, 2002 |
What can be used to seal or paint a pressure-treated wooden play structure to make it safe? |
Issue 19 April 22, 2002 |
How does a rooftop garden improve air quality? How much air can a rooftop garden clean? |
Issue 18 March 21, 2002 |
What is a wetland and what good is a wetland? |
Issue 17 February 21, 2002 |
What is the difference between a sea and a lake? There are salt water lakes and fresh water seas and some lakes that are bigger than other seas. |
Issue 16 January 31, 2002 |
What do you do with old computers and the parts that are obsolete or just a few years old but lack the latest capabilities? |
Issue 15 December 19, 2001 |
Are plans available for building your own compost bin?
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Issue 14 November 30, 2001 |
How much does wearing a hat or tuque in the winter help prevent body heat loss? |
Issue 13 October 30, 2001 |
What are endangered species and how do they obtain their designation? |
Issue 12 August 27, 2001 |
Why not ban the sale of lead sinkers, jigs and shotshell altogether? |
Issue 11 July 25, 2001 |
How do hydroelectric plants affect the environment? |
Issue 10 June 27, 2001 |
Where would I be able to find an overview of the air, water and soil quality in different regions of Canada? |
Issue 09 June 4, 2001 |
Could you give me a historical picture of the air quality in Ontario, and include information on what is being done to clean up the air? |
Issue 08 May 18, 2001 |
Do you have any information on the effects of weather on human behaviour? |
Issue 07 May 1, 2001 |
How long does a cotton t-shirt take to decompose in a landfill? |
Issue 06 April 2, 2001 |
What is the procedure for cleaning up oil spills? |
Issue 05 March 19, 2001 |
Where do I get general info on landfills? How many are there in Canada? |
Issue 04 February 15, 2001 |
Does composting create greenhouse gases? How to calculate relative humidity. |
Issue 04 February 15, 2001 |
Can relative humidity be calculated if you have the Barometric pressure, elevation, temperature and dew point? |
Issue 03 January 29, 2001 |
What happens to confiscated endangered species products? |
Issue 03 January 29, 2001 |
What to do with your old appliances? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
How many trees does it take to convert the carbon dioxide produced by a car travelling 20 000 kilometers per year to oxygen? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
Which plants are the most efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
Do coniferous trees continue to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen or are they simply inactive during the winter months? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
What is an Alberta Clipper and how did it get its name? |
Issue 01 December 18, 2000 |
How much fresh water does Canada have? |
Issue 01 December 18, 2000 |
How much carbon dioxide does a litre of gasoline produce? |
Issue 01 December 18, 2000 |
What is climate and how is it different from weather? |