Alaska's Permafrost is Thawing, by Henry Fountain 8/24/2017
In this article, Fountain highlights the slow depletion of the permafrost layer in Alaska due to to the slowly rising temperature of the Earth's atmosphere. This permafrost layer spreads deep beneath the Earth's surface, in some areas reaching hundreds of feet down below. Within these frozen layers of the Earth lie plants and animals from tens of thousands of years ago which were frozen over, not allowing them to be fully decomposed. Once this layer is exposed to the surface of the Earth, microorganisms begin to break down these substances, releasing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, contributing to the warming of the Earth. This further contributes to the warming of the atmosphere, causing a gradual increase of temperature over the years.
This cause of gradual warming of the Earth's atmosphere is directly correlated to our lives as human beings. Many industrial areas within the United States release harmful gases which cause a gradual increase of the overall temperature. This gradual shift of temperature causes many other problems for the wildlife native to Alaska, and even wildlife around the world. The exponential melting of the permafrost layer also cause significant damage to infrastructure and the land of Alaska, causing unstable and loose land due to the constant shift of water freezing and melting. If not enacted upon, wildlife will continue to struggle in this certain region and eventually transfer into the lives of wildlife worldwide.
This cause of gradual warming of the Earth's atmosphere is directly correlated to our lives as human beings. Many industrial areas within the United States release harmful gases which cause a gradual increase of the overall temperature. This gradual shift of temperature causes many other problems for the wildlife native to Alaska, and even wildlife around the world. The exponential melting of the permafrost layer also cause significant damage to infrastructure and the land of Alaska, causing unstable and loose land due to the constant shift of water freezing and melting. If not enacted upon, wildlife will continue to struggle in this certain region and eventually transfer into the lives of wildlife worldwide.
Explosions and Black Smoke Reported at Chemical Plant 8/31/2017
In this week's article, there has been a reported case of two explosions at Arkema chemical plants in Crosby, just about 30 miles off of Houston. These plants are known for processing plastics and other materials, which require certain parameters in order to operate safely. Due to the massive rainfall caused by the hurricane, a majority of the plant was flooded with rainwater, causing the plant to lose power for about a week. In order for the chemicals to stay controlled, they require necessary refrigeration to keep the chemicals cool, which is only accomplished with power. These explosions caused an immediate order for evacuation in a 1.5 mile radius, but was difficult to execute due to the excessive flooding, causing many families to be in a relatively dangerous location in relation to this chemical plant.
If many more of these explosions occur, there can be a greater release of harmful chemicals and pollution into the water and the surrounding air, causing major issues for those in the surrounding area. Those trying to control these explosions are using special equipment such as refrigerated trucks and backup generators in order to keep the chemicals cooled and dormant. If many more occur, there can be a serious risk for many of those residents who are trapped and can not evacuate due to the high levels of flood water caused by the massive hurricane.
If many more of these explosions occur, there can be a greater release of harmful chemicals and pollution into the water and the surrounding air, causing major issues for those in the surrounding area. Those trying to control these explosions are using special equipment such as refrigerated trucks and backup generators in order to keep the chemicals cooled and dormant. If many more occur, there can be a serious risk for many of those residents who are trapped and can not evacuate due to the high levels of flood water caused by the massive hurricane.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey 9/7/2017
After the devastating storm named Hurricane Harvey died out last week, the entire world is left to deal with the damages that were taken place during this record-breaking storm. A majority of the buildings within the radius that the storm covered are destroyed, showing heavy signs of water damage and even structural damage. Many highways and major roadways are still completely flooded with many feet of water, disabling any automotive transportation. There have also been a reported toll of thirty-nine total confirmed deaths from this devastating storm. This storm has caught the attention of the entire world, never before encountering a storm of this magnitude. Many organizations and individuals have organized groups in order to support those who lost everything in this horrible storm.
No hurricane has ever reached a magnitude that Harvey has achieved, being one of the most powerful storms in history. Speculation has come up around this subject, leaving many people to question why a storm of this magnitude would ever happen. Many of those people believe that these storms are not purely coincidental, but are directly impacted by human behavior. Climate change, which has been on the rise, is drawn to be a key factor in the cause for the immense strength of these storms. While this is not completely proven, it does have significant evidence to back up its claim. In order to further prevent the potential cause of these extremely powerful storms, we, as human beings, must actively strive to reduce carbon emissions and other factors which greatly impact the gradual increase of the climate.
No hurricane has ever reached a magnitude that Harvey has achieved, being one of the most powerful storms in history. Speculation has come up around this subject, leaving many people to question why a storm of this magnitude would ever happen. Many of those people believe that these storms are not purely coincidental, but are directly impacted by human behavior. Climate change, which has been on the rise, is drawn to be a key factor in the cause for the immense strength of these storms. While this is not completely proven, it does have significant evidence to back up its claim. In order to further prevent the potential cause of these extremely powerful storms, we, as human beings, must actively strive to reduce carbon emissions and other factors which greatly impact the gradual increase of the climate.
Irma's Staggering Toll 9/14/2017
This week's article, written by Pam Wright, addresses the devastating aftermath of hurricane Irma, occurring not even a week after the devastation in Houston. Hurricane Irma is responsible for the death of at least 68 people so far, also causing an incredible amount of damage to the Caribbean islands and southern parts of Florida. Locations affected by the hurricane experienced winds over 170 miles per hour, shredding through homes and cities, leaving cities in ruins. Many organizations have set up and raised numerous funds in order to assist in the relief of citizens whose belongings were destroyed in the storm.
Hurricane Irma is one, if not the, biggest hurricane recorded in history, therefore causing the most damage to any city ever recorded. One of the major apparent causes of these hurricanes are through a differentiation of air temperature in the atmosphere. The greater the difference in temperature, the stronger the storm. Humans have a significant impact on climate change itself, leaving it up to us in order to actively change the way we live in order to keep the Earth habitable and safe for future generations.
Hurricane Irma is one, if not the, biggest hurricane recorded in history, therefore causing the most damage to any city ever recorded. One of the major apparent causes of these hurricanes are through a differentiation of air temperature in the atmosphere. The greater the difference in temperature, the stronger the storm. Humans have a significant impact on climate change itself, leaving it up to us in order to actively change the way we live in order to keep the Earth habitable and safe for future generations.
Hurricane Maria Drowned What Hurricane Irma Missed 9/21/2017
Another category five hurricane has made landfall this month, Hurricane Maria causing significant damage to infrastructure developed in the Virgin Islands. This storm was about fourteen days after the infamous hurricane Irma made landfall in the same location, both causing irreparable damage to homes, buildings, and the overall landscape. It destroyed hospitals, where patients were still being treated and apartment complexes, where residents were sheltered from the storm, even causing power to be cut off for these facilities. This article interviews different residents still on the islands, one man stating that "This hurricane broke our spirit". This hurricane was even more demoralizing to citizens after facing Irma itself, seemingly not allowing the citizens to rest and requiring them to take extreme caution.
This hurricane will be known as one of the strongest, if not the strongest storm in recorded history. The fact that three of the strongest storms occurred in one hurricane season, relatively close to each other, is unimaginable. These storms do not appear to occur randomly, but appearing to be affected heavily through our own actions as human beings. Through urban development and other sources of human growth, we are greatly contributing to the strength of these storms, making it important to recognize this and either prepare for it through infrastructure of eliminate the source of the problem.
This hurricane will be known as one of the strongest, if not the strongest storm in recorded history. The fact that three of the strongest storms occurred in one hurricane season, relatively close to each other, is unimaginable. These storms do not appear to occur randomly, but appearing to be affected heavily through our own actions as human beings. Through urban development and other sources of human growth, we are greatly contributing to the strength of these storms, making it important to recognize this and either prepare for it through infrastructure of eliminate the source of the problem.
Lake Color and Condition 9/28/2017
This weeks article from Science Daily talks about the recent discovery of the color of lakes being related to the rising temperatures of the climate. Through measurements from satellites and other instruments, scientists at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries were able to illustrate the colors of the different bodies of water, being changed by the temperature of the climate itself. Within many lakes, there is a large population of phytoplankton which cause the color of the water to change. Researchers noted as the overall temperature of the water increased, green lakes became greener due to the increase of phytoplankton and more blue and clear lakes became more blue, making the phytoplankton relocate to a different body of water.
This study is one of the many observations which show a clear effect that increasing temperatures cause to specific ecosystems within the world we live in. If issues such as this continue to occur, entire food chains could potentially be damaged and if not severely changed which could cause a chain effect of disastrous results. This article further emphasizes the importance of human activity, us having the power to preserve or destroy ecosystems through our own actions.
This study is one of the many observations which show a clear effect that increasing temperatures cause to specific ecosystems within the world we live in. If issues such as this continue to occur, entire food chains could potentially be damaged and if not severely changed which could cause a chain effect of disastrous results. This article further emphasizes the importance of human activity, us having the power to preserve or destroy ecosystems through our own actions.
Global Warming Drying Up Western U.S 10/5/2017
This weeks article from Science Daily highlights the falling rates of monsoon rain and the shifting location of the rain towards the southern United States and Mexico instead of in northern parts. These monsoon patterns are dropping and changing significantly due to recent changes in the overall climate, affecting heavily the amount of rainfall collected each year. Increasing climate has decreased the overall rate of these crucial rains, leaving the northern areas of the US drier than usual. A study conducted by members from Princeton University conducted this experiment, concluding that the overall increasing climate will drastically impact future agricultural patterns if these monsoon rains continue to decrease.
Because northern and southern regions are heavily agricultural based, having these rains can play a major role in the decrease of agricultural output of the United States, potentially affecting other parts of the world as well. We most be active in the role of climate change in order to preserve the agricultural land that we as humans need to survive.
Because northern and southern regions are heavily agricultural based, having these rains can play a major role in the decrease of agricultural output of the United States, potentially affecting other parts of the world as well. We most be active in the role of climate change in order to preserve the agricultural land that we as humans need to survive.
New Threat to the Ozone Layer 10/12/2017
In Science Daily, this week highlights a potential risk to the depletion of the ozone layer that is not specifically addressed in the Montreal Protocol, a treaty which ensured the preservation of the ozone layer by significantly reducing consumer use of CFC's, deadly chemicals which damaged the ozone layer greatly. This product was first viewed by those who developed the Montreal Protocol as harmless to the ozone layer, or relatively insignificant at most, not having any impact on the ozone layer itself. As this research further developed, however, scientists conclude that this emission must be regulated by the treaty because it is a major source of CFC's, which damage the ozone layer tremendously. This emission is very common from China's many factories, releasing a heavy concentration of these harmful fumes into the atmosphere.
This newly analyzed emission must be reconsidered and recognized as hazardous not only to the ozone layer, but on a greater scale, to human life itself. The ozone layer is the greatest protection from the sun's dangerous emissions of ultraviolet, or UV, light. With an increasing amount of CFC's being released into the atmosphere, the ozone layer can start to thin and deplete, or even create holes, which remove this protective barrier from UV lights. Without a regulation or attempt to eliminate these emissions, deadly amounts of ultraviolet light can reach the surface of the Earth, causing an inhabitable environment for humans and other animals to live in.
This newly analyzed emission must be reconsidered and recognized as hazardous not only to the ozone layer, but on a greater scale, to human life itself. The ozone layer is the greatest protection from the sun's dangerous emissions of ultraviolet, or UV, light. With an increasing amount of CFC's being released into the atmosphere, the ozone layer can start to thin and deplete, or even create holes, which remove this protective barrier from UV lights. Without a regulation or attempt to eliminate these emissions, deadly amounts of ultraviolet light can reach the surface of the Earth, causing an inhabitable environment for humans and other animals to live in.
Danger to Air Quality from Forest Fires (Q2 #1)
Due to the many devastating forest fires that have occurred over the past few weeks, scientists have investigated why wildfires have been increasing significantly in intensity compared to previous years, and not just for the United States. In European and South-Eastern Asian countries, wildfires have dramatically increased in intensity compared to previous years, causing for the fire season to span over many more months and for each fire to intensify, releasing even more pollutants in the air than ever seen before. In the picture to the left, it shows the concentration of small particle pollutants in the air, the top one being the current day fires and the bottom being an average monthly estimate during the fire season. This directly translates to an extremely poor air quality which can lead to many health issues for any citizen in the surrounding area. Not only this, but the poor air quality also affects livestock and even vegetation in the area, indirectly devastating the ecosystems and food webs of all organisms within them. Because of the drier climates, these wildfires are spread even more rapidly and burn out for longer duration of time, allowing for them to destroy more residential and wildlife areas, only leading to more difficult living conditions for all organisms in the affected region.
Current climate change unparalleled over the last 100 million years? (Q2 #2)
According to a study performed by the French National Center for Scientific Research, the method in which decades of researchers have calculated and based a majority of climate change data could be inaccurate due to the methods of measurement. For over 60 years, researchers and scientists have based the ocean's temperature change off of fossils of tiny marine organisms known as foraminifera, which reside on the ocean floor. These fossils are tested for their concentration of oxygen-18, which is then used to calculate the ocean's temperature based on its concentration. This method is being challenged by French researchers because in their study, they observed that the amount of Oxygen-18 can be affected by the ocean's surrounding temperatures, even in its fossilized state, causing this concentration to change which leads to a misinterpretation of the predicted ocean temperatures.
If this method of calculation is proven to be inaccurate, almost over a century of scientifically collected data could have been misinterpreted, which affects our current calculations of climate change. Because the Earth is covered almost 70% by oceans, it is our biggest regulator of climate change and overall temperatures, making it important to maintain an accurate reading of its change in temperature over time.
If this method of calculation is proven to be inaccurate, almost over a century of scientifically collected data could have been misinterpreted, which affects our current calculations of climate change. Because the Earth is covered almost 70% by oceans, it is our biggest regulator of climate change and overall temperatures, making it important to maintain an accurate reading of its change in temperature over time.
Startling Decline in European Birds (Q2 #3)
Recent surveys conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter in Europe observed that many species of common, everyday birds have been drastically declining. Some of these birds include house sparrows, skylarks, grey partridges, and starlings. While not all bird populations are declining, some even measured to be growing, many species struggle to maintain their population sizes simply due to urban development and a lack of conservation efforts directed to common species of birds. While more rare and endangered species are under strict regulation and conservation efforts, these common birds are seemingly neglected from protection and are suffering in population size because of it.
Birds, even common ones, provide significant environmental benefits including controlling pests for agricultural practices, spreading and dispersing seeds of trees and other plants, and also removing dead carcass of other small animals. Birds are also a provider of entertainment and enjoyment, attracting the attention of many hobbyist's and other common people, representing the tranquility of nature and its presence, making it a human obligation to protect and provide for the needs of these birds.
Birds, even common ones, provide significant environmental benefits including controlling pests for agricultural practices, spreading and dispersing seeds of trees and other plants, and also removing dead carcass of other small animals. Birds are also a provider of entertainment and enjoyment, attracting the attention of many hobbyist's and other common people, representing the tranquility of nature and its presence, making it a human obligation to protect and provide for the needs of these birds.
Dinosaur-killing asteroid cooled the Earth More? (Q2 #4)
The Chicxulub asteroid, also known as the asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs, could have released more sulfur gas into the atmosphere than scientists have originally predicted, translating to a differing cooler temperature reading than before. Researchers want to revisit their previous model of the collision and recalculate their previous data due to the inaccuracies shown through their old data simulations. Because the technology used to predict their previous measurement was incapable of calculating for additional sulfur in the air, it assumed that all of the sulfur emitted from the collision entered the atmosphere, which could have significantly changed their measurements.
Because of the difficulty to measure the exact amount of sulfur gas released into the atmosphere, it is hard to accurately measure this incident. If the previous method was incorrect, more sulfur would have been present, blocking more sunlight which would have caused greater cooling temperatures which eventually led to the ice age. This could be later used to study the effects of longer term impacts of climate change.
Because of the difficulty to measure the exact amount of sulfur gas released into the atmosphere, it is hard to accurately measure this incident. If the previous method was incorrect, more sulfur would have been present, blocking more sunlight which would have caused greater cooling temperatures which eventually led to the ice age. This could be later used to study the effects of longer term impacts of climate change.
Passenger Pigeon Extinction Through Genome Perspective(Q2 #5)
The infamous passenger pigeons were known for their extremely rapid decline in population to the point of extinction due to human interference. These birds flocked in abundance, which some scientists say could have dramatically influenced their rapid decline in population. Researchers at UCSC have been studying genomic patterns for these pigeons, concluding specific behaviors relative to their large population size. Because these birds always were in large flocks, they became well adapted to their life in this state. When their population began to decline, these birds were found to be greatly susceptible to diseases, due to their low genetic diversity, and other behavioral issues such as social stress and dietary issues associated with their unfamiliarity to live in small flocks, causing an even more rapid decline in the bird's population. Because of the influence of humans and their susceptibility to genetic issues because of it, these pigeons where one of the first to rapidly decline in population, serving as a model for future species.
Drought-resistant Plant Genes Could Accelerate Evolution of Crops (Q2 #6)
Scientists and researchers for the Department of Energy in Oik Ridge National Laboratory have discovered and identified a gene which allows plants to more adequately survive in drier and more arid conditions without the need for a sufficient source of water, changing the field of bio engineering for potential agricultural use. Through a process known as CAM photosynthesis, plants are able to close their pores during the day in order to preserve water and to open them at night to collect carbon dioxide and convert it into malic acid, which is stored and converted back in the day. Through convergent evolution, scientists believe that they can transfer these genetic traits into other common plants and potentially use them for other agricultural purposes, for crops such as rice, wheat, and soybeans. This could change agricultural development for less suitable conditions, providing a greater yield for a lower cost of production and natural resources.
The Patterns of Climate Change (Q2 #7)
In Garraf National Park, near one of the biggest cities in Spain, researches conducted an experiment to attempt to simulate the effects of predicted climate change models on many species of plants and animals, native and common. In order to conduct this, the surface area of two regularly sized football fields were marked off and used as the grounds for the experiment. These researchers constructed what they refer to as an automatic shelter, in order to match the predicted climate values and conditions predicted for the future, analyzing and observing the effects on many different plants and animals. It was difficult to account for every potential species of organism living within the area due to the large amount of ground covered, but in general, they observed that due to the decreased precipitation and increased climate patterns, there was a significant decrease in plant vegetation. This can be extrapolated to other regions of the world, following the main principle that plants need a great amount of water and sunlight in order to thrive adequately; these predicted models are simply not providing enough water for these plants to live. If actions are not enacted quickly enough, many species of plants and animals could die off relatively quickly, leaving a small amount of biodiversity and little variation in species, all having traits which allow them to survive under low water conditions.