AP Environmental Science

I guess you could say that having a test on global warming inspired me to write on this particular subject. In the short answer part of the test, I was amazed at the article Mr.McKinley gave us on the Chicago Tribune writer.  When I saw this article, I knew that it was one topic I should write on. 

On Friday, hundreds of scientists and representatives from 113 countries released a 21 page report on global warming. This article ”only discusses how and why the planet is warming, not what to do about it.”  The report says that there is “little doubt” that global warming is attributed to humans. It also says that temperature and sea levels will rise for centuries regardless of if people control pollution or not.

Some of the facts that it pointed out include:

1. a 2-11.5 degree Farenheit temperature increase by the end of the century
2. a best estimate for temperature rises from 3.2-7.1 degree Farenheit
3. 7-23 inch rise in sea level by 2100

The scientists have been observing and recording data to come up with these calculations since the 1960’s, even before the UN Environmental Program was founded. (That is who they work for)

This report is the first in a series of 4. Another report will address what to do about the global warming.

Achim Steiner, executive director of UN Environmental Program, stated, “It is critical that we look at this report…as a moment where the focus of attention will shift from whether climate change is linked to human activity, whether the science is sufficient, to what on earth are we going to do about it.”

I completely agree with Mr. Steiner. I know that some people are going to deny that global warming is occuring and is going to get worse, but they will probably never realize that they are wrong. I figure why not move forward with the people who do believe that it is true. This report proves that it is not just one part of the world that feels that global warming is occuring. Scientists from 113 countries all came the conclusion and agreement on what is going to happen. I would say thats a pretty good number. I am curious to see when the next report comes out.

http://www.enn.com/globe.html?id=1472

Mohave Generating Station, coal power plant in Nevada

The Environmental Protection Agency required coal-fired power plants to reduce mercury pollution earlier in 2006. Many individual states disagreed with this rule and watned the standards to be set highere.  About 12 states have increased the requirements for coal-fired power plants.

One of the states, Michigan, is going to require that plants “to cut 90 percent of mercury emissions by 2015.”

Is it really possible? Yes. In fact, 1 power plant, We Engeries, has already began reducin as much as 90% of its mercury from its emissions. “It is the first in the country to permanently install the necessary equipment.”

Althouh We Engeries in Michigan is doing this, pollution controls will not be needed to be installed accross the US for mayny years to come.

However, some argue that decreasing the mercury emissions from coal-fired plants will not necessarily decrease mercury in the State’s fish.

 I think that is worth a try and even if it doesn’t decrease mercury in the fish, it would probably still help the environment. Plus it might. We won’t know until we try.

States Toughen Federal Mercury Pollution Rules    By: Elizabeth Shorgren Information from: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6444174  Picture from: www.wikipedia.org

I never really thought that global warming would hit the US, but after reading CLIMATE CHANGE IN S.F.: Local Solutions, Local Impacts my view has been changed. A recent plan that has een developed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors covers ways to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. The goal: to decrease greenhouse gas pollution to 20% below the 1990 levels by 2012.

San Francisco and northern San Mateo County

Ways to get the word out:

1. Future Sea Level Project: the people of San Francisco get together to discuss solutions to global warming                                                                       

2. San Francisco Department of Environment- “staff is also available to speak at any San Francisco community or business organization about solutions to climate change.”

Individual Involvement:

1. Have the right car- No, I am not talking about a Mercedes or a BMW. I am talking about cars with properly inflated tires burn less gasoline. What does this mean? Less money spend on gas, plus you are helping the environment. OR there is alwasy the option of walking, riding a bike, taking public transportation, or carpooling.

2. Write the leaders to encourage them to increase fuel economy standards to at least 40 miles/gallon. What exactly would this do? 4 million barrels of oil would be saved each day. To put this in perspective, this is “more than we currently import from the Persian Gulf and could ever extract from the Artic National Wildlife Refuge combined.”

3. Encourage wind and solar power, renewable energy sources, which will “reduce our reliance on coal-burning power plants, the largerst source of global warming in the United States.”

4. Change normal lightbulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. They both produce the same amount of light. The fluorescent bulb uses only a quarter of the electricity and lasts 10 times longer.

One type of compact fluorescent light bulbs

5. Lower your thermostat. You should not be cold if before you cualk and use weather-strips along doorways and windows.

6. Low-flow shower heads and faucets will decrease water used by half. You will also save as muh as 50% on your elecctrical bill if you turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees F.

7. Replace old electronics and appliances with energy-efficient models.

8. Plant trees in your own yard to reduce Carbon Dioxide.

9. Recylce and Buy Recycled. Recycled materials are made with 70-90 percent less energy and pollution as non-recycled new products.

10. Include your community and encourage them to do what is listed above.

Impacts of Global Warming:

It is predicted that the California temperature will increase between 3-10.5 degrees F by the end of the century. Why is there such a broad spectrum? Varying amounts of what action people have done to decrease global warming. Along with the 10.5 degree increase, a possible 3 feet of water would rise the sea level by the end of the century. $48 billion in property damage would most likely accompany it if there was a  3.3 feet rise of sea level in San Francisco.

This article listed some really good suggestions. It is a major problem. I really liked the idea of writing leaders to encourage them to raise the fuel efficiency level to 40 miles/gallon. It would make us less dependent on foreign oil and it would illiviate some of the global warming that is going on.

Information from:   http://www.futuresealevel.org/solutions.asp    http://www.futuresealevel.org/sf.asp Pictures from: www.wikipedia.org

According to environmental groups, Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya will lose their ice covers withing 25 to 30 years.

WHY? Well, deforestation and industrial pollution is not stopped the ice will continue to disappear according to Fredrick Njau of the Kenyan Green Belt Movement. Statistics indicate that 82% or Kilimanjaro’s ice has already been lost over 80 years. Mount Kenya has lost 92% of its ice over 100 years.

RESULTS: “Both mountains are important water catchment areas in Kenya, with many rivers orginating from them. These rivers are major sources of water and powered generated dams.” Specifically 7 rivers depend on Mt. Kenya on which millions of people rely on.

WHATS BEING DONE: The World Bank will buy Kenya’s carbon through the carbon credits program, which gives money to countries who plant new trees. Hopefully the newly planted trees will absorb 800000 tons of carbon before the year 2017. This would help elimate industrial pollution causing the ice to melt, while raising money for Kenya.

The carbon cretdits seem like a really good sollution. I don’t know what type of restrictions are put on factories and such in countries like Kenya, but maybe that should be stricker than what it is now. It seems like the melting ice on the mountains would really affect the people of Kenya and I am surprised that people have not taken a stronger opposition to the deforestation and industrial pollution already. About 85% of both mountains ices have been lost already.

 Warning: Snows of Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya Vanishing       Associated Press  http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/