...Warming is an issue at the heart of modern civilisation. The prospect of a rapidly changing global enviroment is enough to cause considerable concern towards life on earth for future generations. Therefore it is important to understand how climate change works, what is causing the climate to change, what effects these changes are having, and how they may continue to affect the global environment. What causes the environments on earth unable to support life? What can be done about these predictions of climates in the future? How will these climate changes affect South-West Western Australia? How does climate change work? Climate change is a natural process that has been functioning on earth for billions of years, it is the regulator of the earth's abililty to support life by the cycles of The Greenhouse Effect. The Greenhouse Effect has made the earth an environment for supporting life through the cycling of energy from the sun via short-wave radiation, which heats the earths surface, then is released into the atmopshere as long-wave radiation. This cycle is made possible by the prescence of Greenhouse gases, which redside in the earths atmopshere, and absorb most of the long-wave radiation given off by the earth, with the remainder being expelled into space. This process cycles the heat from the sun around the earths atmosphere and a climate is the result, without this circulation of energy life cannot exist. Greenhouse gasses absorb long-wave solar radiation, enabling the...
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...Change Introduction: Why does climate change matter? Biochemically speaking, why is temperature so important? Temperature is critical to biochemical reactions, because it determines the effectiveness of the enzymes controlling the reactions. What is an ectotherm? ectotherms, organisms whose body temperature depends on the surrounding environment. What is the connection between performance and temperature in ectotherms? For these organisms, how fast they grow,1 how quickly they move,2,3 and almost everything else about their behavior and functioning is affected by external temperatures. What is the Goldilocks principle? And to what can it be applied when it comes to temperature? Goldilocks principle when the temperature is just right, enzyme activity is maximized. It is the optimum temperature, where an enzyme or things work at its best. Can be applied to enzymes, performance, population growth rates. How does temperature relate to species richness? As temperature increases the species richness (the number of species in a given area) increases So, what’s the big deal? many biological processes exhibit the same basic hump-shaped relationship with temperature, in which temperatures that are too low or too high impair or sometimes even terminate critical biological processes.1This is why climate change is the focus of so much scientific research. Part 1: Detecting climate change What is the difference between weather and climate? How is this difference relevant...
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...are formed because they are in high-latitude regions, which results in less exposure to the heat from the sun, causing the temperatures to be very cold. Average temperatures at the North and South poles have begun to get hotter because of environmental changes, like global warming and gas emissions, causing ice caps to melt and often times, break apart. (What is a Polar Ice Cap, 2015) Why did I choose this topic? This topic is interesting for me because it proves that we, as humans, have destroyed our earth. It shows that even though we talked as a whole about fixing the global issues of our earth that we created, we didn't act fast enough to fix it, and now we are facing those consequences....
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...will tackle one small corner of the problem, global warming and the affects it will have on the health of the human race. Global warming is a phenomenon that is causing the general temperature of the earth to rise. This is affecting the earth’s atmosphere and oceans. Scientists have noted significant changes developing more rapidly in the last thirty years. These changes are a counteraction to global warming that is affecting life on the entire planet. No one or nothing is safe from the impact of global warming, plants animals, humans we are all subject to server changes of evolutionary proportion. One might ponder how global warming affects the average man; some say they see no difference. The changes are not apparent in ones day to day routine unless you become aware of the signs or symptoms of a changing planet (Time, 2006). Time magazine recently did a story called Global Warming: How It Affects Your Health. This article puts the affects of global warming on humans very plainly. According to this article the death toll that is related to climate change is going to double by the year 2030. The climate change is going to cause the population to encounter more frequent and impacting heat waves, the intense heat will have an affect the reproduction and migration of the insect population which will in turn increase the spread of disease. The rise of the ocean levels will not only impact ocean life but human survival as well, the air we breathe is even an issue...
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...Climate Change Corals reefs around the world have been fighting climate change for just over two centuries. This problem hasn’t caught much attention to the average human eye, but it’s about time everybody realizes how this is affecting their everyday lives as well. Coral bleaching is one of the main concerns with coral reefs around the world. Coral bleaching can be fatal to coral reefs, which in return could hurt us in the future. Ocean acidification is another problem that coral reefs are facing around the world. Not only is it harmful to the coral reefs but harmful to marine life as well. Although these are all negative actions towards coral reefs there can be a bright...
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...because they haven’t been able to adapt as fast as the rate of climate change. Many believe this to be what’s known as “Global Warming” and others argue that it’s just a coincidence that the earth is on a cycle and it’s at the point where it warms for some time before cooling again. Some wonder if the global warming effect is actually good for the planet and the statement that it’s solely caused by humans is surrounded by much controversy. The warming that earth has experienced is not global warming, it’s due to cycle on which the earth receives stronger radiant heat waves. The common term used when talking about Global Warming is greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gasses are the portions of carbon dioxide, methane gas and water vapor that get trapped inside earth’s atmosphere while the rest is released into space, known as the Greenhouse Effect. When the term global warming is tossed around, numerous people attribute the cause of it to humans and that it only has a negative effect. The misunderstanding and limited knowledge that some people have can cause them to become biased on a subject, such as global warming, Lane 2 without being presented both sides of the argument. Without the greenhouse effect the earth would not be able to stay at a reasonable temperature to allow life to survive. “Earth would end up feeling like Mars” (Scott). So all the people that say the greenhouse effect is only...
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...real phenomenon? Global warming is the raising of average global temperature due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human emissions. While there is a general consensus among the scientific community that global warming is currently occurring due to human emissions, there is also opposing arguments by skeptics that do not believe that global warming is happening or point out that previous warming periods have occurred in the past for a variety of reasons that may still be in play now. There have been dramatic changes to environmental systems throughout the world since human emissions increased at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution that directly demonstrate that global warming is occurring. Not only have there been immense changes in the past, but there is further evidence to indicate the changes the environment will continue to change in colossal ways in the future. This warming also is set apart by the vast differences in behavior and effect for previous warming periods in the past. Research indicates that global warming is a true phenomenon that can be explained by evidence including ongoing massive environmental and atmospheric changes since the industrial revolution, scientific model projections, and the differences between the current and previous warming periods. The Industrial Revolution was a time of great change for human carbon emissions and how fossil fuels were used. Coal had previously been used in homes as early...
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...I. History of El Niño El Niño is one of the most powerful forces driving global weather. El Niño is a reoccurring phenomenon on earth that alters the climate across half the planet. El Niño was discovered hundreds of years ago off the coast of Peru; "El Niño" means different things to different people. In Spanish, El Niño means small boy or child. In capital letters, 'El Niño' refers to Jesus as an infant was named after the Christ child ("Dictionary.com"), because it usually starts around Christmas ("El Nino"). El Niño is a severe atmospheric and oceanic disturbance in the Pacific Ocean that transpires every three to six years in a phase with a seesaw variation of atmospheric pressure (McIntosh). Because El Niño influences global weather patterns and affects human lives and ecosystems, the prediction of an El Niño is progressively important in predicting them with advance notice. It was not until about 25 years ago that the world started paying attention to El Niño. The giant El Niño of 1997-98 had deranged weather patterns around the world, killing an estimated 2,100 people, and caused at least 33 billion [U.S.] dollars in property damage (Forrester). History dates between 1200 and 1525, the Inca population lived in the part of South America extending from the Equator to the Pacific coast of Chile. Their cities and fortresses were mostly built on highlands and on the steep slopes of the Andes Mountains. The architecture of the Incan cities still amazes and puzzles most scientists...
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...current and future climatological effects of human influences, see global warming. For the study of past climate change, see paleoclimatology. For temperatures on the longest time scales, see geologic temperature record. [pic] |Atmospheric sciences | |[pic] | |Aerology | |Atmospheric physics | |Atmospheric dynamics (category) | |Atmospheric chemistry (category) | |Meteorology | |Weather (category) · (portal) | |Tropical cyclone (category) | |Climatology | |Climate (category) | |Climate change (category) | |Global warming (category) · (portal) | |v · d · e | Climate change is a long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average (e.g., more or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region or may occur across the whole Earth. |Contents | |[hide] ...
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...climate has changed over the last century. Increases in average temperatures have been seen around the globe and there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed in the last 50 years is due to human activities. While climate change is a global issue, it will affect us all. Climate change has the potential to adversely affect our environment, our communities and our economy unless we take action now to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts. Climate change will alter global and local climates. In Victoria, this means a warmer and drier future, with an increasing likelihood of more extreme events such as heatwaves, bushfires and storm surges. Climate change is the greatest threat facing our planet today. A warming planet alters weather patterns, water supplies, seasonal growth for plants and a sustainable way of life for us and the world’s wildlife. Climate change has already started, but it’s not too late to take action. There’s still time for us all to be part of the solution. A continuous flow of energy from the sun heats the Earth. Naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases – this includes carbon dioxide (CO2) - , trap this heat like a blanket, keeping the Earth at an average of 15 degrees Celsius – warm enough to sustain life. The overuse of fossil fuels is increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, trapping more and more heat and warming the Earth. As a result, we’re seeing more dramatic weather patterns...
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...beginning to make a profound impact on Earth. One of those environmental issues is Climate Change. However, one question that we constantly ask is, ‘Why is this so important?’. Climate change is already beginning to transform life on Earth. Around the globe, seasons are shifting, temperatures are climbing and sea levels are rising. And meanwhile, our planet must still supply us – and all living things – with air, water, food and safe places to live. If we don't act now, climate change will rapidly alter the lands and waters we all depend upon for survival, leaving our children and grandchildren with a very different world. Along with the alteration of our land and many other negative transformations, climate change comes with numerous other threatening consequences. Examples of these include endangerment of wildlife, increase of heat related diseases and illnesses, stronger storms and increased storm damage, and economic losses. Each and every one of these effects can cause numerous intense impacts to the way we live today, and as mentioned, for our descendents in the future. Gases emitted by power plants, automobiles, deforestation and other sources are warming up the planet, and contributing to rising temperatures. In fact, according to scientific records and meteorologists, the five hottest years on record have all occurred since 1997 and the 10 hottest since 1990, including the warmest years on record – 2005 and 2010. High temperatures are the primary culprit to blame for...
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...Oceanography Final 11/4/2015: Bob Howarth, Nutrient Pollution in Coastal Marine Ecosystem Oceans impacted by: Overfishing, Pollution, Climate Change 2010- World’s largest oil spill in Gulf of Mexico Diffuse population=Biggest problem Increase in global dead zone… too much algae -> too little oxygen Nutrient pollution is bad -> less marine diversity, currently not regulated, Eutrophication= Algae Growth, runs oxygen levels to 0 in deep ocean Increased vertical density stratification prohibits the warmer oxygen rich top layer from mixing with Deep Ocean Phosphorus and Nitrogen are crucial to the growth of Algae Phytoplankton need a 16:1-N:P Redfield ration Phosphorus: Bigger problem in fresh lakes, originally thought not to be the problem since scientific studies with phosphorous in small flasks showed that it wasn’t. But then, they tested it in a big lake in Canada and it proved to be the cause of algae growth. Nitrogen: Comes mostly from agriculture (synthetic fertilizer), main problem in coastal waters (nitro-fixation is not common in coasts because of high salinity), proved through tests in tube like pools. Wetter coastal climates deliver more nitrogen pollution to sea because of rain run-off. Gold of Mexico now warmer so there is a higher likelihood of it turning into a dead zone even with the same nitrogen input. Hudson River flows slowly now -> less freshwater discharge -> Eutrophication Gulf of St. Lawrence- climate change altered...
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...sufficient buoyancy for many organisms, e.g., the jellyfish. If a jellyfish is taken out of water and placed on land it will disintegrate by spreading apart. Thus, the water provides enough buoyancy (pressure) in order to keep the shape of the jellyfish. Pressure – This is the downward force that is applied on an organism by its medium. In water, the pressure is dependent on the depth. Organisms that live at the bottom of the ocean experience the effects of extreme pressure and they must have specific adaptations that enable them to survive in such harsh environments. Temperature Variations – Usually in an aquatic environment there are minimal temperature variations to that compared with terrestrial environments. The temperature variations also depend on the size of the body of water; a large body of water will experience much less temperature variations than a smaller body of water. Also, as depth increases the temperature of the water decreases. Availability of gases – in water the availability of gases depends on factors such as temperature, depth and turbulence. Hot water holds much less oxygen than cold water. The availability of gases also depends on the rate of diffusion which is much slower in water than it is in air. Also, as the depth of the...
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...– Potential threat to human life or property Natural Hazards – Caused by natural processes e.g. lava flow from volcanic eruption Hydro-meteorological Hazards – Caused by climatic processes (droughts, floods, tropical cyclones and storms Geophysical Hazards – Caused by land processes (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes) Disaster – When a hazard seriously affects humans Risk – Likelihood that humans will be seriously affected by a hazard Vulnerability – How susceptible a population is to the damage caused by a hazard. Disaster Risk Equation Risk (R) – Hazards (H) * Vulnerability (V) / Capacity to Cope (C) Risk increases if: * Frequency or severity of hazards increase * People vulnerability increase * Capacity to cope decreases (Capacity to cope is the ability to deal with the consequences of a hazard) e.g. people in remote areas are further from help in central areas, so have lower capacity to cope) * Global Warming – greatest global hazard * Recent increase in average global temp – climate change * Causes other types of climate change * Context hazard – global in scale (affects all parts of environment) – potential to trigger other hazards or make them worse * Chronic Hazard (Long term) * People who aren’t causing the problem are mostly affected * Difficult to find solutions * Hydro-meteorological hazards becoming more frequent * Increasing hydro-meteorological hazards due to global warming * Number of...
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...look along with other chemicals such as Monosodium glutamate. It is the second dangerous chemical found in virtually all processed meat products. The chemical is linked to disorders such as migraine headaches, Alzheimer's disease, loss of appetite control, obesity and many other serious health conditions. Describe the impact on earths systems. It does not necessarily have an impact on the systems as much as it has an impact on our whole population. If we don't try to take a stand on the issue they will continue to poison our meat. Describe the human impacts. The human impacts are pretty simple and well know that foods like hotdogs, beef jerky,peporni, and sausage are packaged meats that we eat every day and continue to be at risk to get cancer. Is this Science valid? Yes, The author Mike Adams of NaturalNews.com, the internet's No. 1 natural health news website, now reaching 7 million unique readers a month. In addition to his lab work, Adams is also the (non-paid) executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), an organization that redirects 100% of its donations receipts to grant programs that teach children and women how to grow...
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