Super-Typhoon Haiyan Lashes The Philippines
Issue: National
Summary: Much of the Philippines is simply devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, which unleashed Category 5 winds and massive storm surges on the country on Thursday, November 7th. Not did it only achieve the Category 5 rating, but on the Dvorak Scale it hit an 8.0, the highest possible value. This storm is utterly the "perfect storm." Infrared technology revealed the walls of the Typhoon's Eye to have multiple, concentric rings of thunderstorms and a deep convective Eye Wall. Very defined Eyes such as this indicate an extremely powerful storm. The only thing that may have been more stunning than the 190 mph sustained winds, however, would be the incredible waves that attained a height of 50 feet!! This Typhoon has become a storm almost unparalleled in modern history.
Opinion: I think that we as a country need to lend a helping hand to the people in need after a disaster like this. However, we need to also take into account our economic situation in this country. I think the best idea would be to set up foundations for individual donations to help the people impacted by the storm so that way the us Americans that can afford to help will do so on their own accord.
Definition:
Dvorak Scale- A widely-used scale to measure the intensity of tropical cyclones.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Is Global Heating Hiding Out In The Oceans?
Is Global Heating Hiding Out In The Oceans?
Issue: Global
Summary: Researchers have discovered ground-breaking evidence that regions in the Pacific Ocean are currently warming at a rate of 15x the normal warming rate over a period of 10,000 years. By using buoys to measure ocean temperature, and by using fossil analysis to understand what kind of climates organisms lived in climates over the last 10,000 years, we now understand how quickly our climate is now changing. This can greatly impact the organisms across the globe, forcing them to adapt to new environments, possibly quicker than they're ready to do. From 7,000 years ago until about 1600, there was a cooling period where the oceanic temperatures gradually dropped a total of 2 degrees Fahrenheit over that time. But now, in the past two hundred years (approximately) temperatures have risen a total .32 degrees Fahrenheit; a staggering increase compared to the normal rate of heating and cooling.
Opinion: I think the overall issue is all related to human-impacted-climate-change. A 15x rate of heating in comparison to the normal global scale is scary, and is obviously caused by humans and the techno/industrial revolutions. By progressing towards fixing our climatic impacts we can fix climate change issues worldwide.
Definition:
Hyalinea Balthica- A single-celled aquatic organism, in which fossils of it were found in the region where the Pacific Ocean flows into the Indian Ocean.
Issue: Global
Summary: Researchers have discovered ground-breaking evidence that regions in the Pacific Ocean are currently warming at a rate of 15x the normal warming rate over a period of 10,000 years. By using buoys to measure ocean temperature, and by using fossil analysis to understand what kind of climates organisms lived in climates over the last 10,000 years, we now understand how quickly our climate is now changing. This can greatly impact the organisms across the globe, forcing them to adapt to new environments, possibly quicker than they're ready to do. From 7,000 years ago until about 1600, there was a cooling period where the oceanic temperatures gradually dropped a total of 2 degrees Fahrenheit over that time. But now, in the past two hundred years (approximately) temperatures have risen a total .32 degrees Fahrenheit; a staggering increase compared to the normal rate of heating and cooling.
Opinion: I think the overall issue is all related to human-impacted-climate-change. A 15x rate of heating in comparison to the normal global scale is scary, and is obviously caused by humans and the techno/industrial revolutions. By progressing towards fixing our climatic impacts we can fix climate change issues worldwide.
Definition:
Hyalinea Balthica- A single-celled aquatic organism, in which fossils of it were found in the region where the Pacific Ocean flows into the Indian Ocean.
Researchers Advocate For Climate Change Research
Researchers Advocate For Climate Change Research
Issue: Global
Summary: Researchers are continuing to push for more and more action on the topic of climate change. Also, the action must not be taking on a local or even national level, it has to be taken globally. There are four challenges that must be overcome.
1. To understand what information we need to address the climate change issue.
2. To identify potential weaknesses in society, the economy, and the environment.
3. To improve forecasting and climatic models to address specific problems.
4. Provide technology, management, and policies as options for adapting to the environment.
Most researchers think that improving our methods in predictions is necessary to understand what issues are most prevalent and what issues we need to attack first.
Opinion: I think that climate change is a HUGE issue that needs to be fixed. However, we cannot simply sacrifice our economy's in order to fix the environment. What I think needs to be done is for new technology to be created that can help us with our environmental problems as we, globally, progress towards a greener economy. I really don't agree with what the researchers are saying when they say we need better prediction methods. We already know what's happening; now it's time to stop wasting money on funding "predictions" and start getting down to fixing the problems.
Definition:
No words I don't know!
Issue: Global
Summary: Researchers are continuing to push for more and more action on the topic of climate change. Also, the action must not be taking on a local or even national level, it has to be taken globally. There are four challenges that must be overcome.
1. To understand what information we need to address the climate change issue.
2. To identify potential weaknesses in society, the economy, and the environment.
3. To improve forecasting and climatic models to address specific problems.
4. Provide technology, management, and policies as options for adapting to the environment.
Most researchers think that improving our methods in predictions is necessary to understand what issues are most prevalent and what issues we need to attack first.
Opinion: I think that climate change is a HUGE issue that needs to be fixed. However, we cannot simply sacrifice our economy's in order to fix the environment. What I think needs to be done is for new technology to be created that can help us with our environmental problems as we, globally, progress towards a greener economy. I really don't agree with what the researchers are saying when they say we need better prediction methods. We already know what's happening; now it's time to stop wasting money on funding "predictions" and start getting down to fixing the problems.
Definition:
No words I don't know!
Rebirth of Pollution in Love Canal
Rebirth of Pollution in Love Canal
Issue: Local
Summary: In Niagra Falls, N.Y., a toxic waste incident of the 1970's has come back to haunt the residents of the area. Many residents are trying to "get out" of the area because of complaints of a variety of effects including rashes, cysts, illness, etc. People are suing the town and real estate agencies of the area for leading them to believe that the buried chemicals were contained and that the location was safe. One poor resident had two miscarriages due to the toxic effects of the chemicals. One scary part of the incident is that a woman who experienced the impact of the chemical leak 35 years ago returned to the area only to hear people suffering exactly how she did. She warned the town not to allow resettlement of the general area but wasn't listened to. Now innocent people are facing the consequences of the inaction of authority.
Opinion: I think that this is an issue that should have been resolved long ago. Obviously, back in the 1970's our technology and our understanding of sciences was much less than it is now, but we should have taken extra precautions. Now, this event is changing people's lives and it'll take many resources and a ton of money to fix a problem that shouldn't exist.
Definition:
Vinyl: Any resin formed by polymerization of compounds containing the vinyl group or plastics made from such resins.
Issue: Local
Summary: In Niagra Falls, N.Y., a toxic waste incident of the 1970's has come back to haunt the residents of the area. Many residents are trying to "get out" of the area because of complaints of a variety of effects including rashes, cysts, illness, etc. People are suing the town and real estate agencies of the area for leading them to believe that the buried chemicals were contained and that the location was safe. One poor resident had two miscarriages due to the toxic effects of the chemicals. One scary part of the incident is that a woman who experienced the impact of the chemical leak 35 years ago returned to the area only to hear people suffering exactly how she did. She warned the town not to allow resettlement of the general area but wasn't listened to. Now innocent people are facing the consequences of the inaction of authority.
Opinion: I think that this is an issue that should have been resolved long ago. Obviously, back in the 1970's our technology and our understanding of sciences was much less than it is now, but we should have taken extra precautions. Now, this event is changing people's lives and it'll take many resources and a ton of money to fix a problem that shouldn't exist.
Definition:
Vinyl: Any resin formed by polymerization of compounds containing the vinyl group or plastics made from such resins.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)