Global Warming

Global Warming, Climate Change, and the need for Change in Human Practices
by: Soroush Nazari
July 12th, 2012
http://ezinearticles.com/?Global-Warming,-Climate-Change-and-the-Need-for-Change-in-Human-Practices&id=7174005

This picture shows what our planet could come to if we do not do anything about this major problem.

Summary: Global Warming is a major issue that effects the climate change, and directly how we humans live. It is mostly caused by climate change, however, some of the problems come from the actions of humans themselves. Global Warming is ultimately caused by the shift in the atmosphere because of gases that we are letting off. When global warming occurs, it affects the temperature and precipitation. Therefore, this affects any living creature on the planet. Also, due to animal habitats being disturbed, the climate will affect the cycle of the ecosystem and, in turn, jeopardize the energy and chemical flow through food chains. "Although green house gasses are one cause of Global Warming, it has been found that the most negative cause of Global Warming is Carbon Dioxide, the most potent of greenhouse gases." To conclude, it is a fact that we cannot solve this problem alone. We need help from experts, and we need to think fast about decisions that need to be made. We cant keep living without doing anything about Global Warming because one day, we will look like that picture.

Opinion/Reflection:
Even though every one of us knows that Global Warming is becoming a big problem, unfortunately, I don't think that a dramatic change for the better will happen anytime soon. Because the human population is only concerned about how they live their everyday materialistic life, they don't understand that Global Warming is something that could tear them down very easily and can affect this planet in a terrible way. That is why we need to find solutions. And fast.

Questions:
What can we do to help stop Global Warming?
Where is earth's breaking point? When will this become inevitable?
Is there a way to diminish the unwanted greenhouse gases?
What will happen to the human population if Global Warming goes into full effect?

Loss of Tropical Forests Reduces Rain

University of Leeds. "Loss of tropical forests reduces rain." ScienceDaily, 5 Sep. 2012. Web. 27 Sep. 2012. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120905135008.htm

Picture shows fog over top of the rain forest.

Summary: A team of researchers from the University of Leeds and the NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology discovered that in areas where air passes over tropical forests, there is noticeably more rainfall. By combining the data they found from the amount of rain fall over tropical forest areas, and by making estimations they suspect that due to the decreasing of rain forest the amount of rain that would generally fall over the Amazon Basin will also decrease by at least 1/5 by 2050. Scientists were debating whether or not the forest was affecting rainfall over time, and they realized that the vegetation does in fact add moisture to the air.

Opinion/Reflection: I think that the trees are getting cut down is a big deal but also the fact that it is affecting other parts of Earth's natural cycles. If humans were not cutting trees down in the first place there wouldn't be a problem with the rainfall. If humans weren't here the rainfall to rain forest ratio wouldn't be affected the way they are. I understand that that also doesn't change the fact that this is a current problem. Somehow we have to protect the rain forest before the amount of rainfall is majorly affected. 

Questions:

1. How do you think they can try to help save the rain forest before it creates a major impact on the amount of rainfall?

2. How do you think that a change in rainfall would affect nearby civilization?

3. How do you think that a change in rainfall would affect the plants or animals?

Amazon Could be Part of Climate Change
By: Devin Powell
Copyright date: 2/11/12
Date: 9/24/12
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SPL2298H-0-3239&artno=0000339604&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=carbon%20cycle&title=Amazon%20Could%20Become%20Part%20of%20Climate%20Problem&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=N

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Picture: This picture shows that because of the drought in the Amazon rain forest, forest fires have started and are burning all the carbon that was in the carbon sink releasing carbon dioxide into the air.

Summary: Although the Amazon has been getting rid of CO2 from in the air, due to recent droughts the forest is now creating a greenhouse effect. This effect might contribute to global warming and will release CO2 back into the air. The trees in the rain forest contain about 100 billion tons of carbon. In 2005, there was a drought that caused many trees to die releasing 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the air. Scientist labeled it as a once in a century event. In 2010, there was an even bigger drought causing even more carbon to be released and some Geophysical Research Letters showed the forest turning brown. An ecologist said, “Distinguishing a trend from a natural cycle is difficult.” That quote means that the release of carbon may just be part of a natural cycle rather than it being a disaster.

Opinion/ Reflection: I think that the release of carbon dioxide and drought is part of a natural cycle. I believe this because many other parts of the world have been through droughts and have released carbon into the air. With the release of carbon into the air will cause more storms and the drought will end, it is all part of a big natural cycle. Also I don’t think that the release of carbon from the Amazon is a major disaster because when there is a release of carbon somewhere then there is someplace else that needs the carbon, like other plants near the rain forest.

Questions:
1. Is the release of carbon a disaster or just part of a natural cycle?
2. How can you capture and get rid of carbon dioxide from in the air most efficiently?
3. How do you stop a drought and the release of carbon before it starts without harming the environment?