“Millions Spent in Albany Fight to Drill for Gas”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/nyregion/hydrofracking-debate-spurs-huge-spending-by-industry.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=government%20talks%20about%20hydrofracking&st=cse

The decision for New York State has been a hot topic for the past few months regarding Andrew Como’s decision regarding whether or not natural gas extraction should take place in New York State. The decision for the Governor should be an easy one considering natural gas extracting from the hydrofracking process has been linked to several hundred water contamination accidents throughout the country where hydrofracking does take place. However, Como’s decision could be tainted considering the $3.2 million that natural gas companies have contributed to in lobbying for natural gas to become acceptable in New York State. Additionally Como has labeled himself as a person who cares deeply with not only job creation which could result from gas companies developing in new York State, but also someone determined to helping the environment. However, the issue taking place in Albany is not exclusive to New York Stare, but gas companies have also spent millions lobbying for the same things in other states such as Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio where there is also a considerable amount of shale formation.

This article gives insight to both the environmental awareness groups along with the natural gas companies who believe could make exceedingly high profits if the bill is passed. One of the complications environmental awareness groups see within the hydrofracking debate is the fact that companies are not required to say which chemicals they use when fracking, which makes it nearly impossible for people to link water contamination accidents to the companies.

This article ties in closely with class discussion on two different aspects. The fact that the reason why gas companies don’t need to submit the chemicals they use is because stated in the safe drinking water act there is what many like to describe as the Halliburton loophole. The loophole said that companies are not required to release the chemicals they are using. Additionally it also relates to the precautionary principal which states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public, or the environment that the burden to making sure no on is harmed falls on the people making taking the action. Additionally the action should not be taken if the consequences are uncertain and potentially dangerous.

"How animals predict earthquakes" By Victoria Gill from the BBC, 1 December 2011 Last updated at 01:53

This article is about the observed phenomena surrounding animal behavior and natural disasters. The researchers began to investigate strange behavior in toads in L'Aquila , Italy. The ninety-six toads abandoned their pond breeding colony in a period of three days.

The research team led by Friedemann Freund and Rachel Grant had their findings published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. In the journal article, they suggested stressed rock can release charged particles that can react with water and the air.

The mechanism described suggested the charged particles would ionize air molecules and create hydrogen peroxide in water. the reaction could cause a bigger chain reaction that could turn harmless organic matter into organic matter toxic to aquatic animals. laboratory tests suggested the changes to the water and air could be connected to the stressed rock.

I find this article to be very interesting! This would be another case where natural designs work better than modern man made made tools and understanding! These toads were able to predict an earthquake more accurately and precisely than the six scientists put on trial for failing to predict the same earthquake in Italy.

If more tests were done on the proposed mechanism and all of them led to the same conclusion, this could be a breakthrough in earthquake prediction. A large part of what would be needed to be done would be testing the air for a certain amount of ionization, testing the water for a certain amount of hydrogen peroxide, and looking for and tracking the amount of inhabitants a body of water may or should have.

As this news article states,"Friedemann Freund from Nasa and Rachel Grant from the UK's Open University hope their hypothesis will inspire biologists and geologists to work together". This is very significant for science. Imagine two scientists from very different disciplines. One studies things that are alive and the other one studies things that aren't alive. Both of them will now have something in common to study and a common goal to achieve.

I find this news article to be very interesting and hope there will be more studies on it to either discredit the hypothesis or reinforce the hypothesis even more.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/15945014

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/9593123.stm

At Meeting on Climate Change, Urgent Issues but Low Expectations

Yesterday John Broder of the New York Times reported on the expectations of the 17th conference of the United Nations convention on Climate Change. Delegates from 194 nations gathered today in Durban, South Africa to address the dangerous climate changes and the increase of natural disasters that have lead to economic devastation. Four key points will be addressed that is sure to cause some debate. First are the obligations of developing nations and who will help poor nations to adapt? This brings up the discussion of the need and demand for clean technology. Last, there is an urgency to protect tropical forests, which contain high levels of bio-diversity which make them hotspots that must be preserved. While discussing solutions and future progress, the conference is hindered by skepticism of those who do not believe in global warming/climate change. Unfortunately these skeptics come from the United States Congress, whose support is greatly needed to make great changes.
Scientists believe that arguing will only delay what needs to be done by all to reduce emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released a detailed assessment of future extreme climate events (drought, floods, cyclones, etc.) if something is not done quickly by the global community. Broder wraps up his article by reflecting on the past conferences that had little impact on the global community. The Kyoto Protocol that was established in 1997 was the first major global effort to reduce emissions. Unfortunately this only made a small dent in making a much needed difference due to the lack of support from the United States Government.
It is very interesting how the global community has spent the past 20 yrs arguing over what must be done when the answers are there all along. Everyday new technology is invented to produce clean energy and help reduce pollution. However, our future is the hands of our politicians and they must see the need to work together instead of themselves in order to make a difference. Hopefully with the multiple natural disasters that we have experienced in the past years world leaders will work harder for a better tomorrow.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/science/earth/nations-meet-to-address-problems-of-climate-change.html?ref=science

Healthy woodlands 'need quality not quantity'

Dan Smith

This article by Mark Kinver, as made obvious by the title, is about how healthy woodlands are all about quality instead of quantity. What this means is that woodlands need to have healthier management rather than focusing on the number of trees being planted in the woodlands. This is more in relation to England than anywhere else because although there are more woodlands in England, they have become overgrown due to poor management. An example of this poor management would be trees being overgrown to the point where no light can reach down to smaller plant life. There is a solution to this problem that a conservation group suggested called coppicing. Coppicing is basically cutting or leveling down a tree or shrub to ground level in order for new growth to occur. This would eliminate the lack of light getting to ground level plant life.
The main problems that are facing woodlands today (I mentioned one previously) are the fact that the woodlands are too dark, too overgrown, and too silent. Coppicing could be used as a solution to the first problem but grazing stock is a solution to the second problem as more diversity would flow to the woodland areas. In terms of the silence, which refers to the lack of wildlife, creating certain management systems would help manage certain food chains leading to increased wildlife. The biggest point to take away from these major problems is that planting a large amount of trees isn't going to be the solution that is ultimately going to be successful. A large percentage of woodlands are these full forests with canopy's being too in the way of the light trying to get to small plants. This can result in the overall color of the forests become darker leading to a negative effect of insects and other wildlife.
I've never really thought about this topic too intensively. I always hear different “green initiatives” and different methods to help the environment but I've never really thought about woodlands being an issue like it's being discussed in this article. In theory it definitely makes sense because if we don't properly manage these woodlands, it can become too much to manage in terms of physical size. Letting woodlands grow into these full forests and not letting smaller plant life get enough light is something that shouldn't be overlooked. Not only that, but reading that the overall darkness (due to the lack of light getting through) can affect the color, or existence, of certain flowers is an issue because that can lead to having an effect on other wildlife. It's not something that you would ordinarily think could happen but it becomes a cycle of there not being enough flowers to satisfy certain insects/other wildlife which in turn leads to impacting larger wildlife. This article is definitely something that shouldn't be overlooked as woodland management is important to us all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15870782

Gamburtsev Ghost Mountains Mystery Solved

Natalie Acosta

A recent article from BBC News titled, “Gamburtsev Ghost Mountains Mystery Solved” written by Jonathan Amos, discusses how scientists say they can now explain the existence and formation of the Gamburtsev Mountains. The Gamburtsevs are completely buried underneath the Antarctic ice and are about the size of the European Alps. According the article, survey data completed by researchers suggests the mountains are over one billion years old (Amos). The creation of these mountains occurred when continents were moving together to form the giant landmass Rodinia. Collision occurred due to these moving continents, pushing up what are now the Gamburstevs. They also formed what the article refers to as a “dense root” in the crust (Amos). Over the years a cycle of erosion and uplift may have occurred pulling apart and re-establishing the mountains. Uplift also occurred when rivers and glaciers engraved deep valleys into the earth. It was these glaciers that helped entomb the Gamburstevs, by spreading out and joining with the East Antarctic Ice sheet. This is why the Gamburstevs are completely buried underneath the surface of the Antarctic ice.

This BBC News article is highly applicable to what we have learned thus far in class. It is especially relevant to what he have learned about landscapes and landscape processes, including erosion and uplift. The article also touches upon the hypothesis of continental drift and the theory of plate tectonics. I believe this article and topic are very important because the article alludes to the fact that the discovery of how this mountain was formed could help researchers get details about past environment details. This includes information about past temperatures and any gases that might have been in the atmosphere. I see this as very fascinating and important to use as a comparison to current environmental details. It allows researchers to see how the environment has changed over the years and may be helpful in determining changes in the future. The article states that they are conducting further research in the Gamburtsev mountain formation as well as testing rock samples for further information. I look forward to keeping up with this topic and any future findings.

Amos, John. “Gamburtsev Ghost Mountain Mystery” BBC News 17 Nov. 2011
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15749757>.

“Human-induced fires sow the seeds of the future”

Michael Chelkowski

The article, “Human-induced fires sow the seeds of the future” by Mark Kinver creates an awareness that human-made fires are “influencing the evolutionary process of some plant species.” To further this idea, a survey was conducted in Chile where natural fires were very rare to analyze the impact of human activity. Because evidence supported that human-induced fires have been common due to Spanish colonization, researchers were allowed to have a closer look at the effect it has on Helenium Aromaticum, a native annual herb. It was hypothesized that fires have exerted a “selective pressure on seed traits” so that plants located in habitats with high fire frequency would have “smaller, more rounded and “pubescent seed with thicker coverings” compared with plants with low fire frequency. The results indicated that that human-induced fires do shape seed traits more than environmental factors. Overall, the experiment showed that seed pubescence, seed shape and outer layers thickness have an “adaptive value.”
This can be related to our discussion in earth science with furthering the idea of the evolution of plants. Earth Science is about the way things adapt to the environment. When referring back to the article, the plants had to adapt to the change in conditions. Also one could argue that the human-induced fires are affecting the availability of nutrients in the soil which is needed by the plants through the evolutionary process. You would lose that finer-textured soil that is more fertile and is able to retain more moisture and nutrients. Lastly, when dealing with human-induced fires, the importance of water scarcity comes into factor. The pollution from the fires might in affect create water scarcity which is something that is a major issue across the world. Over the years it has become a major problem in areas, such as the Middle East and Africa, where the number of people is greater than the availability of water. Right now, Latin America is not considered a problem area for water scarcity, yet between deforestation with the Amazon rain forest and human induced fires, it could become a greater problem. The world is growing increasingly dependent on each other so what happens in one part of the world has a quicker effect on other parts of the world.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15674495

Raw Sewage Levels Warning.

Thomas Sinkora

In the UK there are 22,000 recorded discharge pipes. However it is now understood that that it is more like 31,000 discharge pipes. The reason they have had such an off number is because they had not realized that there are pipes that pull double duty. The 9000 miss counted pipes is due to pipes that are combined overflow and emergency pipes, such as pumping stations or waterworks due both jobs. For the last 20 years the environment agency has put £8 billion into trying to upgrade the system, also to begin re-mapping out the pipes for a closer estimate.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is okay with regulated discharge as long as it is taken care of properly however research shows that a good sum of the 31,000 are discharging more than the 10 times allowed. Off the west coast it was estimated to have more than 1000 hours of waste discharge during beach season. However almost all beaches reach sanitation requirements so this is not a lasting matter. £4 billion will be spent for improvements on the water care.

This is similar to non-point sources. The United Kingdom was unaware of nearly 9000 drainage pipes. The watch for something like this is much harder than seems because of the fact that pipes can due two jobs and in heavy rain pipes that are not meant to be discharged pipes become them due to over flow or water. The UK has been doing there best to regulate the pipe discharge and when companies are told to stop they do. The UK has put almost £11 billion into their water cleanup and regulation. They have almost 98% of their water is clean. They plan on having complete regulation and control over their water and pipes by 2015.

The United Kingdom has a very solid grip on their water control. While American has things like the clean water act the United Kingdom seems to have an easier time work thing sort of thin out. This could be partly because they are smaller or because they have less to control. But they still seem to get the job done and done quite well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15725207

http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html

Amazon fire season 'linked to ocean temperature'

Sean Hickey

Fires have been a serious problem in the Amazon for a long time and with a study conducted by US scientists they found a link between the fires and ocean temperatures. A team of US scientists have found that there is a correlation between El Nino patterns in the pacific and fires in the Amazon. Using whats called the ONI or the Oceanic Nino Index they developed a model which correlates inter-annual fire activity with El Nino ocean currents. Also using the AMO or the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation which performs a similar function in the Atlantic they developed a model which allows them to forecast regional fire severity. The model allows them to forecast the fires with a lead time of three to five months. Studies have been done showing that "high fire" years are associated with an extended dry season and the severe dry season has a direct correlation with warm Pacific and Atlantic temperatures.

These models will provide the scientists with forecasts of fire seasons which will allow angenices and relevant bodies to prepare accordingly. The fires can be managed to conserve biodiversity and carbon stocks in forests and also will provide long term harvesting plans that can be adjusted based on the fire season. These models are also being developed for fire seasons off the west coast of the United States and could be used to predict severe fires in the United States in the future. These models are important for every area of government and may be able to allow us to predict severe fires before they happen.

Source: Kinver, Mark. "Amazon fire season 'linked to ocean temperature'."BBC News 11 Nov 2011, n. pag. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. .

Large Asteroid Nearly Hits Earth

Ryan Hardy 11/10/11
Biggest
Asteroid In 35 Years Swings Close to Earth

The biggest asteroid in over three decades passed by Earth just barely
over this past week. On Tuesday, November 8th, the asteroid known to
scientists as 2005YU55, came within 202,000 miles of planet Earth at 6:28pm
eastern standard time. Asteroids are leftovers from the formation of the solar
system some 4.5 billion years ago. Scientists believe their growth was stunted
by Jupiter's gravitational pull and never had the chance to become full-fledged
planets. Pieces of asteroids periodically break off and make fiery plunges
through the atmosphere as meteorites.
This asteroid was considered as big as an aircraft carrier and was
estimated to be a quarter mile wide. This was so close to the Earth that it was
in between the moons orbit with Earth. The moons orbit is about 239,000 miles
from Earth.
Scientists from NASA’S Deep Space Network had been tracking the asteroid
since last week. According to the scientists it approached from the Sun at
29,000 miles per hour. This asteroid was so large that it even attracted astronomers
and amateur sky gazers.
If an asteroid that size would hit the planet, Purdue University
professor Jay Melosh calculated the consequences of 2005YU55. The impact would
create a crater four miles across and 1,700 feet deep. If the asteroid slammed
into the ocean, it would have triggered 70-foot-high tsunami waves. This would
have been catastrophic for the planet.
The Clay Center Observatory in Brookline, Mass., planned an all-night
viewing party so children and parents could observe through research-grade
telescopes and listen to lectures speak about asteroid and why they are in
space. The asteroid can't be detected with the naked eye. For those who did not
have a telescope, they could watch a streamed video of the flyby live on
Ustream which the observatory put on. This attracted several thousand viewers. The
asteroid appeared as a white dot against a backdrop of stars.
Don Yeomans, who heads NASA's Near
Earth Object Program, said 2005YU55 is the type of asteroid that humans may
want to visit because it contains carbon-based materials and possibly frozen
water. Unfortunately, the space shuttle program has been retired, but the Obama
administration wants astronauts to land on an asteroid as a stepping stone to
Mars.
In the future scientist are confident that asteroids of this size will
not hit the planet. Hopefully they do not because of the serious consequences.
For example, the giant craters that could form or the 70-foot-high tsunami
waves that could occur. This could lead to scarcity on resources and could affect
many countries especially those who are located near bodies of water. If the asteroid
hit and formed the giant crater it would lead to many deaths, injuries, and
loss of homes and shelter and resources. Anyway you look at it an asteroid would
not be good if it hit Earth because of the consequences.

All
information received from:
http://news.yahoo.com/biggest-asteroid-35-years-swings-close-earth-235108756.html
NASA's
Near-Earth Object Program: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov
Ustream:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/clay-center-observatory

A Seasoned Combatant of Tornadoes Now Finds the Earth Is Moving,Too

Vincent Citro

On Saturday night in Shawnee, Oklahoma, there was a magnitude 5.6 earthquake that severely damaged St. Gregory’s University. Benedictine Hall is the trademark of the school and is where the library is located and most classes are held through out the school day. The quake occurred along the Wilzetta fault, which is located on the west-central part of Oklahoma and has been the epicenter of numerous earthquakes over the past few years. Even though tremors are very common in the area in the past, it is a mystery why the jump in seismic activity took place over such a short period of time. The people of Oklahoma always say that they would much rather have to deal with a tornado as opposed to an earthquake because you can predict and prepare for a tornado while earthquakes are nearly impossible to predict.

This goes directly into the discussion we had in class about the earthquake that took place in Italy. Despite it being a location of constant seismic activity, the fact that scientists were not able to predict it got them on trial. The people that lived in the area were so outraged by the amount of destruction and devastation that the quake caused that they needed somebody to throw the blame on. The local scientists were took the brute of the attack, despite the fact that most of them were not even seismologists.

It also goes into the earthquake activity we did in class where we were able to triangulate the exact location of the epicenter of the earthquake. The people in Oklahoma were able to triangulate based on the aftershocks of the next day and found that the source of the quake came from the Wilzetta fault. Despite them already having a good idea of the location of the quake because of all the past activity it had caused the area, it is never a bad idea to find out for certain what the source of the problem was. Hopefully they can better prepare themselves for the next quake by making buildings more resistant to the shakes and tremors that the earthquake brings to the area.

Source

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/us/oklahoma-earthquakes-damage-st-gregorys-university.html?_r=1

Quarter-Mile-Wide Asteroid Coming Close To Earth

Kenny Jack

While searching for a topic I came across something that I found to be interesting that is set to happen this week on November 8, 2011. On NPR I read that a quarter-mile wide asteroid was scheduled to come between the earth and the moon at around 6:28 pm EST. According to this article the scientists of NASA are 100 percent confident that we have nothing to worry about when it comes to getting hit with this “aircraft sized” asteroid; it’s said that the last time this specific asteroid, 2005 YU55, has came into “shouting distance” was about 200 years ago. What is so interesting about this particular asteroid is we’ve been tracking it since scientists discovered it back in 2005. Unlike most asteroids that are basically just “whirling rocks” in space, the YU55 is one that contains water and carbon-based material that is thought to have “planted the seed for life” here on earth; this is classified as a C-type asteroid. Something like this can help astronomers further develop and support the theory that I have just previously stated Don Yeomans, the manager of NASA’s near earth program, says. Studies show that there are always small objects that come close to the earth but nothing of this magnitude will have came this close since 1976. It’s expected that this particular asteroid will come within 202,000 miles from the earth, which is closer then the estimated 240,000 miles we are from the moon. What I find to be interesting is that astronomers have predicted the next time an object of this magnitude will come this close again to the earth is in the year 2029 and are confident that we will not get struck by it, but with that said in the spring of 2036 we will have yet another space object of this magnitude come close and they think that there could be a remote chance it could hit the earth. Due to these more recent discoveries President Barrack Obama has ceased progress on the 30-year space shuttle program, so NASA would have enough money to get the ball rolling, and have astronauts focus on getting to these asteroids and then to Mars in the coming decades.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=142029144

Debris from Japan Tsunami is Floating Toward Hawaii -- Laura Frei

Remember the Japanese tsunami back in March? The magnitude 9.0 earthquake, and the devastating tsunami that followed left nearly 21,000 people dead or injured. Although it occurred across the Pacific Ocean, Americans on the West Coast may be seeing the aftermath of the disaster for years to come.
Jan Hafner, a scientific computer programmer and oceanographer Nikolai Maximenko, have been researching ocean currents since 2009. In the midst of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, they used their research to predict the path of the debris through the Pacific Ocean using computer modules. However, they had no first-hand observations of the field site. That changed last month thanks to the Russian ship STS Pallada. The STS Pallada was sailing from Honolulu when it spotted debris from Japan. The debris included refrigerators, appliances, electronics, and a Japanese fishing boat. The debris was all the evidence Hafner and Maximenko needed to prove that their research was heading in the right direction.
So what does this mean for the USA? According to predictions, this debris from the disaster could reach Hawaii by 2013, and could appear on the coast of Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Canada by 2014. Although it is unlikely that the debris contains radioactive material from the Fukushima plant, it is important to remember the repercussions of debris in oceanic waters. Debris is on the same ground as pollution, which can cause injury or death to aquatic life, and can harm beach-goers. It can also cost money for cleanup efforts, as well as contribute to a decline in tourism of beaches.

This article relates to Earth Science because of its discussion of Earthquakes, tsunamis, and oceanic currents. All of these phenomena can be studied in the field of Earth Science, and extensive research can be done about these various topics. Hafner and Maximenko's hypothesis and research demonstrates the scientific method that we discussed in class.
I never considered the idea that the tsunami in Japan could ultimately impact the United States for years to come. When the disaster occurred, most people were thinking of ways to help the victims and survivors. Although the odds of radioactive material washing up on the shores of the United States is unlikely, pollution of beaches and the oceans is still a huge problem. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is doing all that it can to gather information about debris sightings. This is reassuring that the NOAA will work hard to ensure that the situation is handled properly to minimize the damaging effects of pollution in the oceans. It will be interesting to see how this develops in the next few years and to monitor the impact that the debris has on oceanic life and ecosystems.

Sources:
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/debris_from_japanese_tsunami_i.html
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/marinedebris/factsheet_marinedebris_debris.cfm

Climate Change Affecting Body Size of Birds- Mickey Sutton

A study done by San Francisco State scientists has found that birds' wings have grown longer and birds are increasing in mass over the last 27 to 40 years. What exactly is making these birds larger? The researchers think it might have something to do with climate changes on Earth's surfaces. However, this finding seems to contradict modern thought on climate change's effect on body sizes in animals. A well-known ecological rule, called Bergmann's Rule, "states that animals tend to be larger at higher latitudes. One reason for this rule might be that larger animals conserve body heat better, allowing them to thrive in the generally colder climate of higher latitudes." Using this rule, scientists have come to believe that a rise in earth's temperature over the past 100 years would result in the reduction of size over time of animal species. However, Rae Goodman and her colleagues at SF State are thinking that the connection between temperature and body size might not be so direct. Their study showed that within the data collected from over 35,000 birds in two "banding stations" in California, that their size has actually increased in the past 40 years in both wing span and body mass. While they note that an increase in body size may be due to a change in diet and food storage in the birds, after testing and discarding numerous counter explanations, Goodman and her band of researchers are confident that climate change is behind this never before seen growth in the birds. They say that "the birds may be responding to climate-related changes in plant growth or increased climate variability in central California." These findings provide the scientific community a small glimpse at the effects of climate change over a variety of species due to the changes documented over such a short period of time. However, trying to understand her findings in an optimistic manner, Goddman said, "But in some ways, it gave me a little more hope that these birds are able to respond -- hopefully in time -- to changes in climate."
After reading about this study, I was immediately reminded of Jeff Amorello's previous post about global climate affecting species size in a negative way, that is, that they are becoming smaller. Whether or not one believes in the accuracy or validity is irrelevant to the actual study at hand. This article stood out at me for various reasons. Namely, it shows that scientific research can ultimately develop two totally contrasting ideas about why specific occurrences are happening. Throughout the year, we have conversed about the validity an reliability on certain scientific findings. We have asked the questions, "Is the source credible?" or "Are there any motives or biases that might not be seen that a driving these scientists to certain conclusions?"
In the case of this study, done by Goodman and her colleagues, I find it very intriguing that the first study done on climate change's effects on North American birds, yields a conclusion found to be opposite of other studies done in other areas on the globe. Were there perhaps any motives behind the agency to conclude at these results? Or are the effects on species in North America different than those found in studies in Asia and Europe? No matter the varying results, it is clear that scientific findings still provide us with a wide spectrum of debate. Fortunately, scientific thought does not stop after one attempt, and only if the researchers remain diligent in their studies and also their global correspondence, can the truth be found.




Sources: 1. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031154127.htm

2. Rae E. Goodman, Gretchen Lebuhn, Nathaniel E. Seavy, Thomas Gardali, Jill D. Bluso-Demers. Avian body size changes and climate change: warming or increasing variability? Global Change Biology, 2011

Obama administration announces desert "solar energy zones" - Hillary Fortin

On Thursday, the Obama Administration revealed plans for solar energy development in which “solar energy zones” are set up in California’s Mojave Desert and other areas in the West by the Bureau of Land Management. These large-scale industrial projects will be directed to 285,000 acres of desert in the Western U.S. as well as 20 million acres of the Mojave Desert.
These energy zones are meant to promote development in areas that do not have any cultural or environmental conflicts. They are also to make landscapes that are most sensitive in the desert “less desirable for solar prospecting.” They do this by identifying “sweet spots” that already comply with environmental requirements thus promising “expedited permitting,” says U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. 17 solar energy zones in six Western states have been found to not have any major cultural or environmental conflicts.
Both industrial and environmental groups say there is a lot at stake with the release of this plan. For billions of dollars in subsides, solar developers need to site projects ahead of deadlines. Meanwhile, conservationists claim that the desert is not able to handle such large scale industrial change. There is also concern about the amount of money spent on these projects. According to an analysis by the Interior Department’s inspector general, these projects have consumed nearly 80% of the Recovery Acts funding that was put aside for the bureau’s entire renewable program. Renewable energy is a main concern of Obama’s energy policy, but there are areas of much concern in terms of money spent on the development of solar operations.
I think that desert areas such as Mojave are appropriate places for solar energy projects. I think it is a good way to make use of the land because of the amount of light it receives. Plus the “sweet spots” they identified have already met environmental requirements and many solar energy zones do not have any major cultural or environmental conflicts. I think this is an important aspect and that they should continue to focus on such areas. These areas can assist in Obama’s energy policy which, as stated in the article, “aims to reduce American dependence on foreign oil while developing domestic clean energy that creates jobs.” I can understand how money is a significant concern, but if they could continue to launch more projects in other areas where there are no major conflicts it could help in creating jobs and more renewable solar energy zones.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-desert-20111028,0,7889585.story

NPP Weather and Climate Satellite Launches

At 2:48Pm local time in Vandenberg, California, NASA and NOAA launched NPP, with input from the US Department of Defense. NPP is a $1.5 billion weather and climate satellite that will test new-style Earth observing instruments while providing operational data to meteorologists for general forecasting. It has five instruments on board that will monitor a wide range of land, ocean, and atmospheric phenomena - from temperature and humidity, to the spread of algal blooms in the ocean or the state of the Arctic ice. "NPP's observation will produce long-term datasets which will help scientists make better models, which then lead to better predictions, which hopefully can be used to make better decisions", says Dr. Jim Gleason. NPP stands for National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project. There is a concern, however, that NPP is being asked to do too much. Its climate role requires it to continue datasets acquired over the past 10 years, but NPP must also bridge the gap between NOAA's existing system of polar-orbiting weather satellites and the agency's future fleet. NASA is concerned about the longevity of the instruments on board. The US has geosynchronous weather satellites that sit 36,000km above the panet, but these cannot deliver some of the high-resolution atmospheric information that meteorologists need to make their forecasts. The loss of NPP before a replacement is flying would therefore be a blow to weather forecasting and climate studies on both sides of the Atlantic. Dr. Louis Uccellini, who directs NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction, said NPP's importance was underscored by events in 2011, which he described as "the year of the billion-dollar weaher disasters", speaking of the ten weather events, in the US, each costing over a billion dollars in damages. NPP's advanced data feeding give new expectation to extend forecasting skills out to five to seven days in avance for extreme weather events.
This is an interesting new advancement. I like the topics that combine Earth Science with Astronomy (Astronomy part being the use of rocket ships and talk of orbiting the Earth). I believe that the launching of this new satellite will be beneficial for the US and countries across the globe. The advanced microwave and infrared data reading system gives hope to all the communities that have been affected by natural disasters in recent years, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and tsunamis. We should be able to get many more people out of these areas before something devastating happens. Also, we should be able to better track the effects of Global Climate Change. One of the main things this satellite will look at is the state of the Arctic ice. This will give us a better idea of what is happening with sea levels and currents, and help plan for the future state of coastal cities.
This article relates to Earth Science in its conncetion with all spheres: the atomosphere, the hydrosphere, the geosphere, and the biosphere. Its connection wiht the atmosphere comes from NPP's direct observation of weather conditions, which occur in the troposphere (part of the atmosphere). It will tell us more detail about past, present, and future weather patterns as well as more detail for how these phenomenons work. It also connects the atmosphere to the biosphere in helping collect data of the greenhouse gas build up, which will inevitably affect life on Earth. Rising average global temperatures are starting to rapidly change naural conditions faster than humans and other life forms can adapt to. NPP also will monitor, directly, the state of the hydrosphere through ocean levels and the state of the icecaps. It will also link observations between the hydrosphere and biosphere by monitoring the spread of algal bloom in oceans and seas. Also, by monitoring the state of the Arctic ice, we can see how animals' habitats in the poles (such as polar bears) might be changing. The new satellite will give us information about the geosphere in aspects such as total land surface (which is being reduced by rising sea levels) and composition of rocks and soils being affected by temperature and humidity changes and increased acid rainfall. These topics show the connection between the geosphere with the hydrosphere and atmosphere. Lastly, we get insight into the future of life and what seems to be our main concern, human progress. The biosphere is affected by all of these things. The toxins that are building up in the air and water are affecting longevity of oraganisms living in theses heavily affected areas. Marine life is being affected by higher temperatures causing coral bleaching and deafness in some fish (such as clown fish). Land life is affected by acid rain, desertification, submerging of land surface, and increased natural disasters (as well as other factors).
Hopefully with this new data collection system, we can start to find new ways to address these issues.

Reference:
Amos, Jonathan. NPP weather and climate satellite launches. BBC News. Oct. 28, 2011. Accessed from BBC.com on October 28, 2011.

Global Warming 'Confirmed' by Independent Study : Response by Katie Marino

The article that I have chosen to analyze is entitled, “Global Warming ‘Confirmed’ by Independent Study”. It was written by Richard Black, the Environmental correspondent for BBC News and published on October 20, 2011. In the article, the issue of global warming and the validity of claims that climate scientists have made were raised. When the original research to support the theory of global warming was conducted, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the UEA’s Climatic Research Unit all drew similar conclusions, namely that global warming exists and is affecting the earth. Unfortunately, groups of skeptics widely criticized the accuracy of their claims and worked hard to degrade the research of “the world’s most important and established groups” (Black 2). In a fruitful attempt to restore the legitimacy of these groups and provide the world with another concrete analysis of global warming, the Berkeley Group conducted the Berkeley Earth Project to challenge the “Climategate” campaign that asserted that global warming had been exaggerated.

Founder of the group, Richard Muller Berkeley, gathered a team of 10 scientists including the year’s Nobel Physics Prize winner, Saul Perlmutter. Together, the group was able to prove that the existing data was accurate and show that their “record of global land temperature mirrors existing ones closely” (Black 3). As this was a huge triumph for the scientific community, the real issue at stake here is the idea that no matter how credible a source is, people will still try to challenge difficult results. The study concluded that the “average temperature over land has increased by 1C” since the 1950’s (Black 3). This is a stunning result that many Americans have trouble coming to terms with. What is unfortunate is that their solution is not to work to reduce the human contribution to global warming but instead, to criticize and discredit accomplished and hardworking scientists. Now that this independent study has yet again confirmed the theory of global warming I hope that former skeptics apologize for their previous allegations and care enough about the issue to ask, now what? Now that global warming is a generally accepted truth of our world, what are scientists going to do to combat this issue and what should we, as citizens of the world, do to reduce our involvement in global warming?

Before reading this article, I was unaware of the fact that the notion of global warming had been so widely challenged. I understand that there are always proponents and opponents to grand claims, but I was surprised to learn that people found ground to criticize groups like the NOAA and NASA. I support the idea of independent study and not taking things for face value, but I do believe that in some cases, when considering the source, and their intentions, claims against them are most likely unreasonable. In summation, I was pleased to learn that the reputations of the discredited scientists were restored by the work of the Berkeley Group. Unfortunately however, that means that global warming is indeed a fact of today’s society. My hope for the future is that scientists can spend less time trying to validate previous conclusions and more time combating the negative effects of global warming.

Researchers shed light on source of Earth’s water

Jenn Peone

No one has ever been able to determine conclusively how the water on earth got here.Scientists know that the early Earth was far too hot to hold water or water vapor, but then, in relatively short geological time, the oceans appeared. Now, researchers are saying that a new discovery has shed some light on the age old question. A european team reprted finding a very colld reservoir of water vapor in space that could explain earth’s water.

The region they discovered surrounds a star 175 light years away. The star is in the early stages of forming a planet or planets. Similar to how earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago. Scientists concude that the water on earth was almost certainly brought to erth by comets and asteroids known to originate in these cold but water filled zones. It is assumed that these were present when earth was forming. The observations scientists have made indicates that enough water exists in the disk of cold vapor to fill earhs oceans.

It has long been suspected that these “reservoirs” of cold water vapor existed but until now we have not found any signs of them in hotter regions closer to the sun. The theory seemed unlikely because cold asteroids and comets are formed in the outer reaches. But now we have evidence to make the theory stronger.

Also, it is likely that water has been delivered to some of the billion other planets to exist beyond our solar system, meaning there might be many other “ocean worlds” throught the galaxies.

The 10 million year old star is the closest planet forming star yet identified. Efforts to find the cold water vapor in the past all failed because the instruments were not powerful enough.around 4.1 billion years ago began a period of “heavy bombardment,” when Earth was pummeled by comets and cold meteorites — both of which carry water — from the outer reaches of its disk. some researchers hold that the water came primarily from other sources. For instance, water is believed to have been released from early volcanos that belched up molten material from deep within the planet, including H2O. Water could also leak out of certain minerals in rocks as the planet cooled.

This discovery can relate to many of the things we talk about in class. First, it can be related to the missoula flood and water on mars in terms of finding sources of water and proving an outrageous hypothesis. This story has to do with the entire earth and the way it work. How it was formed and how it can be affected in the future. Without the oceans and water on earth, there would be no life; we would not be here.

It is important to understand the way the earth was formed to understand the way it works and how it is affected by the rest of the universe. The story is definitely intriguing and I am not surprised that it has many people questioning the hypothesis. However, good points are made and no other legitimate explanations have been made to challenge the idea.

What is also another interesting topic mentioned is the discovery of the forming planet, or possible planet. Never before have we seen one so close. These observations will help us to understand our own planet due to the similarities of the formation that has taken place so far.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/clue-to-how-our-oceans-were-filled/2011/10/20/gIQAmBRs0L_story.html?wprss=

Warming Revives Dream of Sea Route in Russian Arctic

Jess Brennan

Every year the polar ice caps seem to be getting smaller. This past summer several ships sailed across the Arctic Ocean from one side of Russia to the other, a feat that was previously was extremely rare and dangerous because of the ice. This path can be particularly useful for shipping goods from the north of Europe and Asia because it is much shorter than going through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea through Egypt. Many people seem to be for this new shipping path including Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, who said, “The Arctic is the shortcut between the largest markets of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. It is an excellent opportunity to optimize costs”. Iceland’s president, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, also is in support for the path but understands that what is causing the depletion of the ice is not good. In a recent Arctic Ocean shipping conference in Russia President Grimsson said, “It is paradoxical that new opportunities are opening for our nations at the same time we understand that the threat of carbon emissions have become imminent.” Not only does this path take less time, but it also can save countries and companies millions of dollars because they are taking fewer days to complete trips, there are more places for oil companies to check for oil, and new fishing grounds. Although this pathway is great tool to use for shipping people still have to worry about avoiding huge chunks of ice in the water so they do not end up like the Titanic. Authorities in the Russia, Norway, and the United States are trying to see if transferring the goods from a regular freighter to vessels that can navigate through the ice chunks.

Not only is this topic prevalent to Earth Science but also to businesses and the economy. It touches on global warming affecting the hydrosphere, not only the atmosphere. Because of this route more people are going to have jobs because there will be more ships going to and from the different ports around the Arctic Circle. There will also be more people able to send out fishing boats to go fishing. I totally agree that this is a smart choice when thinking about shipping goods from Europe to Asia or the United States to European Russia. This pathway will lead to better connections between the countries that utilize it because it will be easier and faster to get goods to the countries that need them. I think that it is unfortunate that the reason this pathway is now opened is due to things that us humans are doing to hurt the Earth.

Article link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/business/global/warming-revives-old-dream-of-sea-route-in-russian-arctic.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&ref=science

Dave Massaroni
According to an article written by Justin Gillis
on October 1, 2011, trees along western
Montana glow an earthy red but these trees are not supposed to turn red.
They are evergreens, falling victim to beetles that used to be controlled in
part by bitterly cold winters. As the climate warms, scientists say, that
control is no longer happening. Wildfires race across the southwest parched
landscapes this summer, burning millions of acres. In Colorado, at least 15
percent of that state’s spectacular aspen forests have gone into decline
because of a lack of water. The devastation extends worldwide. Eucalyptus trees
are succumbing on a large scale to a heat blast in Australia, and the Amazon recently
suffered two “once a century” droughts just five years apart, killing many
large trees.
Scientists
have figured out that forests have been absorbing more than a quarter of the
carbon dioxide that people are putting into the air from burning fossil fuels
and other activities. It is an amount so large that trees are effectively
absorbing the emissions from all the world’s cars and trucks. Without that
disposal service, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would be rising
faster. If forests were to die on a sufficient scale, they would not only stop
absorbing carbon dioxide, they might also start to burn up or decay at such a
rate that they would spew huge amounts of the gas back into the air. That, in
turn, could speed the warming of the planet, unlocking yet more carbon stored
in once-cold places like the Arctic.
It
is clear that the point of no return has not been reached yet. “I think we have
a situation where both the ‘forces of growth’ and the ‘forces of death’ are
strengthening, and have been for some time,” said Oliver L. Phillips, a tropical
forest researcher with the University of Leeds in England. Many scientists say
that ensuring the health of the world’s forests requires slowing human emissions
of greenhouse gases. I do agree with Phillips in that we have not reached a
point of no return but we as humans need to protect our plant and continue regulating
the amount on carbon dioxide in put into the atmosphere. If we continue on the
path that we are on right now, this could cause major issues down the road as
to where these affects will become dramatically worse and could become a major concern
to humanity.
The increase in temperature touches on
some of the topics discussed in class. The increase in temperature due to the
lack of trees absorbing carbon dioxide affects three of the four Earth’s
spheres which are the; hydrosphere, which contains all of the planet's
solid, liquid, and gaseous water. The biosphere, which contains all of
the planet's living organisms, and atmosphere, which contains all of the
planet's air. This increase in temperature is a sign of global warming which
can cause polar ice caps to melt and increase the ocean levels drastically
enough that current coastal zones would eventually submerge, causing humans and
animals on land to retreat to land that they are not adapted to.

Article from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/science/earth/01forest.html?_r=2&ref=temperaturerising

Environmentalists Alarmed by the Flaring of Natural Gas

Vincent Ricotta

According to an article written by Clifford Krauss, many oil companies are flaring, or burning, natural gas across western North Dakota. With the price of crude oil on the rise, oil companies are rapidly extracting oil to make more money, but they are treating the natural gas, which bubbles up alongside the oil, as a waste. Many oil companies find it to be more profitable to just extract the oil and flare the natural gas because it is expensive to build and maintain pipelines and processing plants to capture and sell the gas. It was stated that more than 100 million ft³ of natural gas is flared every day, which releases about 2 million tons of CO₂ gas into the atmosphere every year. Since there are no federal regulations on flaring natural gas, it becomes very easy for oil companies to proceed doing so. This may be seen as a very controversial topic, which alarms many environmentalists. Even though capturing the gas is the most environmentally safe option, scientists agree that burning the gas is better for the environment than venting the gas into the environment. For instance, pure natural gas is mostly composed of methane, which is capable of trapping heat more effectively than CO₂ gas. Environmentalists are worried that this technique may spread to other states. Fortunately, the EPA has begun to ask oil companies to record data on the amount of emissions from drilling, but they have yet to prohibit the oil companies from flaring the gas.

This topic correlates to many issues that were covered in class. First off, the oil companies are flaring the natural gas due to financial prosperity and lack or government control. As a result, this flaring of gas affects each of the four Earth spheres mentioned in class. As the natural gas is burned, it emits a massive amount of CO₂ gas into the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas that leads to global warming. This increase in temperature then affects the geosphere, where temperature of Earth’s crust increases causing the hydrosphere to melt or evaporate and harsh living conditions for the biosphere. As mentioned in class, global warming can melt the polar ice caps and increase the ocean levels drastically enough that current coastal zones would eventually submerge, causing humans and animals on land to retreat to land that they are not adapted to. However, I do agree with the scientists noted in the article that flaring the gas is better than venting the gas into the atmosphere because the methane composed in natural gas has greater global warming potential than does CO₂. Personally, I believe that there should be federal restrictions on the emission of CO₂ with oil companies and that there should also be restrictions prohibiting oil companies from drilling oil if they cannot capture and maintain the natural gas in their oil wells (zero emissions). I mean, as much as I love my gas guzzling 10 mpg Jeep, I believe that the government should put more money towards fuel alternatives, such as, biodiesel, solar power, and especially fuel cells. All in all, if we burn less fuels rich in carbon, we can prevent the greenhouse effect and global climate change.

NOTE: Article cited from

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/business/energy-environment/in-north-dakota-wasted-natural-gas-flickers-against-the-sky.html?_r=3&hp

Is Global Warming Shrinking Species? Jeff Amorello

Within in the past decade, environmental issues, more specifically global warming, have been at the forefront of our world's political, social, and economical realm. Arguments for cleaner energy, fewer emissions, and more recyclable goods have bombarded society in a way that is unavoidable, and global climate change has become a serious problem around the world. Unlike climate change in the past, it is evident that the more rapid than normal increase in global temperature has been caused by modern human activity.

Global warming is often headlined in the news with concern for political, social, and economical driven initiatives, and it is rare that one is informed on the effects it is having on the earth and its organisms. Unfortunately, this problem is too often ignored, and scientists around the globe are fighting to raise awareness. In an article titled, "Climate Change is Shrinking Species, Research Suggests," the reader is given qualitative data supporting how global warming is affected the size and number of certain species of animals.

The article lays out an argument not saying that one can walk outside and specifically notice species of animals shrinking in size, but that global warming creates a vicious cycle that will lead to smaller organisms throughout the environment. In summary, the cycle is explained as such; Many areas are becoming warmer and drier, and many plants are struggling to thrive. This plant growth is reliant on water, which is becoming more scare in subtropic areas. Droughts are increasing, resulting in more forest fires which reduces critical levels of nitrogen in soil critical for plant growth. These smaller plants means less food for the species that depend on them, meaning species have to look elsewhere for food. In turn, this will result in smaller species breeding smaller offspring, and finally, evolution will favor those smaller animals that can adapt to less food, and the globe will see an increase in smaller species.

After reading this article, I was skeptical as to how accurate the information provided truly was. Backed by only limited research, I find it hard to believe that this event is currently taking place.

Although I understand that human activity has most definitely impacted the environment in negative ways, I don't think it is possible for the few decades of pollution and mistreatment of the earth to have had that significant of an impact on the earth. Throughout earth's history, natural cooling and heating of the planet has occurred numerous times, transforming earth's surface and the species which inhabit it. Despite the fact that this climate change seems to be more rapid, I doubt that species size has taken a significant hit due to human activity. Conversely, the arguments proposed by the scientists writing this article do indeed make scientific sense. The lack of nutrients in soil that affect plant growth do have lasting impacts on the food chain, unfortunately there is not substantial enough evidence to bring this theory home.

Although we haven't debated climate change in depth in class, it is extremely relevant in earth science today. Global climate change, whether influenced by humans or not, is a real world issue our generation is faced with. Increasing knowledge about our planet will only help society adapt to the ever changing planet, and it is important for people to stay informed so humans are able to adapt to whatever nature throws our way.

Flooding in Thailand

Jeff Yattaw

Thailand has seen some of it’s worst flooding in fifty years during this year’s monsoon season. Although this year’s monsoon season has been usually heavy, water experts are blaming human activity for the disasters and flooding Thailand has seen so far his season. Experts are blaming the flooding on deforestation, overbuilding in tourist areas, the damming and diversion of natural waterways, increasing urbanization, and the filling-in of canals. All of these causes are human processes in one way or another and these causes, combined with poor planning, are what have triggered the worst flooding in Thailand in over a half a century. The flooding throughout Thailand has not only affected the human population but rice terraces, which are an important piece of agriculture in the region, have been destroyed by mudslides caused by the flooding and quick flowing water. Also, certain groups of elephants in the area are being threatened by the flooding as well and food for the animals is almost impossible to find and rescue teams are too busy dealing with people at this current stage to help feed and rescue elephants in the region. Experts in meteorology have blamed the flooding on bad water management as they must have miscalculated water levels and did not discharge water from the dams early enough and as they fill up now, they discharge water at the same time as it all flows down into low lying areas which is the root for the flooding. The flooding is creeping in on the city of Bangkok, which is in trouble as the canals are clogged with garbage and other debris, as the city has been experiencing overcrowding of late.

The problem that Thailand is facing now is another example of the struggle of coexistence between humans and nature. As the human population develops and prospers, integral pieces of nature are being destroyed which at the time doesn’t appear problematic, but nature is a very unique process as everything in nature is interrelated and reliant on each other. The deforestation of wooded areas for the building of cities is certainly going to have a trickle-down affect on the nature around the area as it has been destroyed or disturbed by human processes. The floods in Thailand are a perfect example of this affect and it will continue to happen as long as human advancement is a priority over nature and the natural habitat in which we operate and interact with the natural world.

All info came from:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/world/asia/a-natural-disaster-in-thailand-guided-by-human-hand.html?ref=science

Japanese Disaster

TYLER DERRICK

Japan has been faced with a major earthquake and devastating tsunami in the past year. These disasters have left much of the small island nation in shambles. As a direct result, the principal nuclear power plant in Fukushima has experienced multiple core reactor meltdowns releasing toxic radioactive into the environment. Gasses are spewed into the atmosphere; elements with long half-lives infiltrate the lithosphere; and noxious liquids permeate the ground and contaminate the hydrosphere. These all affect the biosphere in the surrounding areas. The Japanese government is conducting a research study testing for thyroid cancer (a disease directly related to radiation exposure) on 360,000 children under the age of eighteen throughout the surrounding areas.

The Prefecture of Fukushima has declared all space within a twelve mile radius of the power plant polluted and has evacuated this zone. They have been actively trying to clean up the contagions by hosing down roads and buildings and replacing topsoil. They have declared the land in direct vicinity of the nuclear reactor condemned for at least a few decades. Many residents are planning on moving away from the area permanently.

Nuclear fission reactors have been a promising source of energy for a century now. Nuclear reactors have such an enticing appeal due to the immense amount of energy produced from a divided nucleus. However, there has been proven downfalls with this method. Many researchers who worked diligently to develop practical applications for this process were plagued with radiation poisoning. A byproduct of nuclear fission is spent radioactive waste. Disposing of this waste is tricky and methods have been implemented such as sending it into outer space or burying it deep underground. The long-term effects of these practices are unknown and speculated to be unsafe. There have also been major reactor failures such as the one in Japan or The Chernobyl Power Plant accident in the USSR. These release poisonous matter that combines with the air, water, and soil and in turn infect plants, animals, and humans. Different exposure levels could be lethal or lead to genetic mutations.

This is a prime example why renewable energy sources are crucial for our environmental future. Earth systems produce natural energy that can be harnessed and stored for use by humans. An example of this would be wind that is produced by changes in air pressure. We can create windmills that use its kinetic power to spin wind turbines and in turn create electricity. Another clean energy option is hydroelectric power. Natural flowing bodies of water can be controlled by man-made dams and spin turbines similar to wind.

This should be taken as yet another warning that we need to change our conduct as a species so that we do not compromise the health of our future generations. We need to utilize improved energy techniques to maintain a sterile environment in which we and other species call home.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/world/asia/japan-studies-radiation-effects-on-children.html?_r=2&ref=earth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission#Energetics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy