Shedding Light on Freak Wave Hotspots
Issue: Global
Summary:
"Stories of ships mysteriously sent to watery graves by sudden, giant waves have long puzzled scientists and sailors." Scientists are now discovering how to pinpoint areas where these large waves are most likely to occur. By analyzing currents and depth movements, we can see conditions where rogue waves could be up to 10x as likely to occur. While a rogue wave normally has about a 3/10000 chance of occurring, with the right conditions that could become a 3/1000 chance, a remarkably higher number. By using this information and technology, we could help ships avoid this danger.
Opinion:
This knowledge is important; very important. By warning ships of dangerous areas, we could save lives, money, and save ourselves from anxiety. Because this wouldn't just help in guiding ships away from rogue-wave-prone locations, but locations where the waves in general will be much more dangerous.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Height Of Large Waves Changes According To Month
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090529085119.htm
Issue: Global
Summary:
Scientists are coming out with systems and models that can more accurately depict wave heights, factoring in the variation according to season, in which winter waves are much more powerful. For example, in a place where an average wave height is 4m during the summer, then the wave height could be up to 7m during the winter! However, across the planet, there are tons of areas that may have multiple wave peak periods and they need to be accounted for. The new systems are needed to help determine what's going on with waves across the world; the information is important to know.
Opinion:
I agree with the fact that we need to know what's going on in our oceans at all times. Without the proper technology, people could end up getting hurt or killed due to improper reading of waves. We don't want to put our people in unneeded danger.
Issue: Global
Summary:
Scientists are coming out with systems and models that can more accurately depict wave heights, factoring in the variation according to season, in which winter waves are much more powerful. For example, in a place where an average wave height is 4m during the summer, then the wave height could be up to 7m during the winter! However, across the planet, there are tons of areas that may have multiple wave peak periods and they need to be accounted for. The new systems are needed to help determine what's going on with waves across the world; the information is important to know.
Opinion:
I agree with the fact that we need to know what's going on in our oceans at all times. Without the proper technology, people could end up getting hurt or killed due to improper reading of waves. We don't want to put our people in unneeded danger.
Optical rogue waves: The storm in a test tube
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131220113648.htm
Issue: Oceanic (Global)
Summary:
Scientists are beginning to truly understand rogue waves. In physics, a wave of any medium can become much larger when another wave interferes with it constructively. When this construction occurs, the amplitude of the wave heights build upon each other, resulting in a much larger wave. Through this concept, rogue waves form. However, scientists didn't know until recently that the same process occurs frequently in optic and light waves. Except it's to a completely different degree: while a rogue wave is a wave of twice or more the height of a large wave, these optic waves can hit 10x the size of a normal wave, resulting in incredible flashes of light!
Opinion: If this research can be used in any way to help humans, then we should get to it. As interesting as these facts are, they're just facts until they're used to help people in the real world.
Issue: Oceanic (Global)
Summary:
Scientists are beginning to truly understand rogue waves. In physics, a wave of any medium can become much larger when another wave interferes with it constructively. When this construction occurs, the amplitude of the wave heights build upon each other, resulting in a much larger wave. Through this concept, rogue waves form. However, scientists didn't know until recently that the same process occurs frequently in optic and light waves. Except it's to a completely different degree: while a rogue wave is a wave of twice or more the height of a large wave, these optic waves can hit 10x the size of a normal wave, resulting in incredible flashes of light!
Opinion: If this research can be used in any way to help humans, then we should get to it. As interesting as these facts are, they're just facts until they're used to help people in the real world.
Large, deep magma chamber discovered below Kilauea volcano: Largely unknown internal plumbing of volcanoes
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140129114925.htm
Issue: Regional
Summary:
Scientists analyzed the seismic waves that travel through the Kilauea volcano; the most active volcano in the world. They discovered a magma chamber that they never knew existed, showing them for the first time that these chambers can exist in the deeper parts of a volcano. They studied the volcano to understand the internal structure of the volcanic system. Using the seismic data, the researchers developed a three-dimensional velocity model of a magma anomaly to determine the size, depth and composition of the lava chamber, which is several kilometers in diameter and located at a depth of 8-11 km. By understanding more about volcanoes, the scientists believe that we will be able to predict future eruptions, responses to earthquakes and seismic activity, and also save lives through knowledge and understanding.
Opinion:
I think that any work with natural disasters is very important. By understanding each part and the physical aspects of a disaster, we can develop ways to stop them from destroying lives and the environment around them.
Issue: Regional
Summary:
Scientists analyzed the seismic waves that travel through the Kilauea volcano; the most active volcano in the world. They discovered a magma chamber that they never knew existed, showing them for the first time that these chambers can exist in the deeper parts of a volcano. They studied the volcano to understand the internal structure of the volcanic system. Using the seismic data, the researchers developed a three-dimensional velocity model of a magma anomaly to determine the size, depth and composition of the lava chamber, which is several kilometers in diameter and located at a depth of 8-11 km. By understanding more about volcanoes, the scientists believe that we will be able to predict future eruptions, responses to earthquakes and seismic activity, and also save lives through knowledge and understanding.
Opinion:
I think that any work with natural disasters is very important. By understanding each part and the physical aspects of a disaster, we can develop ways to stop them from destroying lives and the environment around them.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
One step closer to low cost solar cells
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140127092936.htm
Issue: Specifically for Developed Countries
Summary:
Silicon-based solar cells, as environmentally friendly as they are, aren't cost effective enough for the economy. Though many people are now using Silicon-powered solar panels, we are now nearing another breakthrough in this incredible technology. A new revolution of materials such as plastic, zinc oxide, etc. possess the flexible, transparent electrodes that scientists are searching for. These new Flextrodes only have one drawback in which they need to be maintained more often or else they release contaminants. However, the scientists have also discovered that UV-Ozone treatment removes these contaminants in a cost-effective way, leaving Flextrodes as the potential future of clean energy.
Opinion:
Flextrodes are an awesome idea! They also said that there is a near-limitless supply of organic materials to make the Flextrodes, so there are so many benefits to using this technology. Solar cells are good enough as they are, but this may make them 100% economically fit as well.
Humans, volcanoes and the Sun have influenced Europe's climate over recent centuries
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119084749.htm
Issue: Global
Summary:
"An International research team has discovered that seasonal temperatures in Europe, above all in winter, have been affected over the past 500 years by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and solar activity, and by human activities such as the emission of greenhouse gases. The study could help us to better understand the dynamics of climate change."
It is now an understood fact based on research that the volcanoes, human impacts, as well as solar radiation all play a part in climate change on a level related to one another. Through Earth projection modeling, we can tell how things like volcanoes have influenced climates in the past, and how they can influence it in the future.
Opinion:
If the three factors of human impacts, volcanoes, and solar radiation are on par with one another, it would be best to first figure out how EXACTLY do they influence the climate, and in what way. Afterwards we can focus on how we can use this knowledge to our advantage to maintain a balanced climate.
Issue: Global
Summary:
"An International research team has discovered that seasonal temperatures in Europe, above all in winter, have been affected over the past 500 years by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and solar activity, and by human activities such as the emission of greenhouse gases. The study could help us to better understand the dynamics of climate change."
It is now an understood fact based on research that the volcanoes, human impacts, as well as solar radiation all play a part in climate change on a level related to one another. Through Earth projection modeling, we can tell how things like volcanoes have influenced climates in the past, and how they can influence it in the future.
Opinion:
If the three factors of human impacts, volcanoes, and solar radiation are on par with one another, it would be best to first figure out how EXACTLY do they influence the climate, and in what way. Afterwards we can focus on how we can use this knowledge to our advantage to maintain a balanced climate.
Picture of how our climate is affected by greenhouse gases is a 'cloudy' one
Climate vs Clouds vs Greenhouse
Issue: Global
Summary: Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are just scraping the surface behind the TRUE impacts of aerosols on climate change. Apparently, depending on meteorological circumstances, they can have drastic effects in either decreasing or increasing the cloud to sun deflecting effect. Also, aerosols may have the effect of causing or limiting the formation of clouds and precipitation itself. Unfortunately, computer simulations are not powerful enough to deduce an accurate simulation of the processes on a global scale. Yet recently, more advanced modeling technology has been used that has the potential to evaluate impacts over a span of several years. This technology could help shed light on human impact on weather and climate change.
Opinion:
I think if this new technology could truly help dig deeper into the roots of climate change and human impacts, then we should continue to research the topic. Also, the article said that the level of effort needed to establish the findings they would need should match the socioeconomic importance of the results. That proves that we should aim to fully research this topic.
Issue: Global
Summary: Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are just scraping the surface behind the TRUE impacts of aerosols on climate change. Apparently, depending on meteorological circumstances, they can have drastic effects in either decreasing or increasing the cloud to sun deflecting effect. Also, aerosols may have the effect of causing or limiting the formation of clouds and precipitation itself. Unfortunately, computer simulations are not powerful enough to deduce an accurate simulation of the processes on a global scale. Yet recently, more advanced modeling technology has been used that has the potential to evaluate impacts over a span of several years. This technology could help shed light on human impact on weather and climate change.
Opinion:
I think if this new technology could truly help dig deeper into the roots of climate change and human impacts, then we should continue to research the topic. Also, the article said that the level of effort needed to establish the findings they would need should match the socioeconomic importance of the results. That proves that we should aim to fully research this topic.
Is there an ocean beneath our feet? Ocean water may reach upper mantle through deep sea faults
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140127093207.htm
Issue: International
Summary:
Through small fault cracks that run beneath the deepest ocean trenches, scientists in Liverpool have learned that the oceans are transporting much more water to the mantle than previously thought. This transport of water is leading us to believe that we may have much more hidden water on the planet that previously thought.
Professor Andreas Rietbrock said, "We found that fault zones that form in the deep oceanic trench offshore Northern Japan persist to depths of up to 150 km. These hydrated fault zones can carry large amounts of water, suggesting that subduction zones carry much more water from the ocean down to the mantle than has previously been suggested."
"This supports the theory that there are large amounts of water stored deep in the Earth."
This helps us understand much more about plate tectonics, and how our Earth is working. The more we know, the better.
Opinion:
I think that the more that we understand about our Earth, the better. If there is some way to harness this hidden water, it may even be worthwhile looking into it.
Definition:
Hydrated Fault Zone- Areas deep within the Earth that show evidence of possessing quantities of water in the faults.
Issue: International
Summary:
Through small fault cracks that run beneath the deepest ocean trenches, scientists in Liverpool have learned that the oceans are transporting much more water to the mantle than previously thought. This transport of water is leading us to believe that we may have much more hidden water on the planet that previously thought.
Professor Andreas Rietbrock said, "We found that fault zones that form in the deep oceanic trench offshore Northern Japan persist to depths of up to 150 km. These hydrated fault zones can carry large amounts of water, suggesting that subduction zones carry much more water from the ocean down to the mantle than has previously been suggested."
"This supports the theory that there are large amounts of water stored deep in the Earth."
This helps us understand much more about plate tectonics, and how our Earth is working. The more we know, the better.
Opinion:
I think that the more that we understand about our Earth, the better. If there is some way to harness this hidden water, it may even be worthwhile looking into it.
Definition:
Hydrated Fault Zone- Areas deep within the Earth that show evidence of possessing quantities of water in the faults.
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