Blog #13- "Swallowing Rain Forest, Cities Surge in Amazon" Tara Rudo. 11/29/2012

Blog 13

11/29/2012

2:32pm

Tara Rudo

The Amazon is the world’s largest remaining area of tropical forest and it is now at risk of resource depletion due to urbanization in the area. Brazil’s military has built roads to the forest saying that it is safer to occupy this area so it is not taken away from them. The building of these roads are a product of deforestation, which already ranks as a major contributors to greenhouse-gas emissions. There are policies that regularize land claims and so this is one alluring factor to the colonization of the Amazon. Although many parts of the forest are protected and that will decrease deforestation, the increase in migrants to cities within the Amazon will cancel out those gains. There are a total of 19 cities in Brazil, with 10 of those being in the Amazon. That large shift of people moving into the Amazon has made the region’s population climb 23 percent in just ten years. There are other reasons drawing people to the cities in the Amazon. Larger family sizes in Brazil coupled with Brazil’s high levels of poverty have drawn people to seek work in the urban Amazon. There is also a lot of economic allure in the Amazon. For example, logging is still providing  the fuel for growing towns along BR-163, an important Amazon highway that is currently being paved. For the fast-growing cities, energy and industrial projects are attracting many people. The construction of new hydroelectric plants along with sprawling dams that have brought much protest, are luring manual laborers from all around the country. Many do believe that by allowing migrants to flock to these cities, this will reduce forest loss by depopulating certain rural areas that are suffering and allow tropical forests to regrow. But others disagree with this idea as well. It is hard to tell what the outcome of the colonization of the Amazon will be, but it is necessary to keep in mind, resources must be protected. 

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/world/americas/swallowing-rain-forest-brazilian-cities-surge-in-amazon.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=earth

Blog #12- "Weighing Sea Barriers as Protection for New York" Tara Rudo, 11/16/2012

Tara Rudo

Blog 12

11/16/2012

1:21pm

Hurricane Sandy caused a storm surge that flooded many cities on the East Coast but one was able to prevent millions of dollars in damage with just a click of a mouse. Two days before the storm reached Stamford, Conn. a 17- foot wall was raised out of sea to protect the city of over 100,000. The technology of movable sea barriers has been used in many coastal city areas and now engineers are looking for ways to use one in parts of New York City. The idea is that such a system could block storm surges from Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean into the East River and New York Harbor. Even during a major storm, areas within the barrier could operate like they do on a normal basis, this is why many favor these barriers. The question that is being asked is would spending billions on this concrete wall actually be worth it in the end? Many are even saying that this wall would cause more problems with disturbing the environment. Many researchers are looking at other options like flood-proofing buildings in the area and expanding wetlands to absorb more water during storms. Putting these barriers in New York City waters would disrupt water traffic and many scientists predict storms may getting worse so it is unknown how well and how high these barriers should be build for the future. Also a barrier that blocks surge on one side would cause water levels on the other to rise close to a foot, which could potentially worsen flooding. Another problem from the barriers could be that pollution from the runoff of storm water mixed with sewage might get trapped behind the barrier and not be able to move anywhere. The truth is, this topic is still being debated and it is all about weighing the pros and cons. 

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/nyregion/after-hurricane-sandy-debating-costly-sea-barriers-in-new-york-area.html?pagewanted=2&ref=earth&_r=0

Blog #11- "Fish Off Japan’s Coast Said to Contain Elevated Levels of Cesium" Tara Rudo, 11/8/12

Blog 11

Tara Rudo

11/8/12

3:41 pm

About 18 months ago the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant incident released tons of radioactive material into the waters of Japan. The effects of those radioactive materials can be seen in the current cesium levels in fish being captured off the Japanese coast. Elevated levels of cesium found in these fish suggest that those radioactive particles from the accident have settled on the seafloor and may contaminate many forms of sea life for decades to come. Fishing is one of Japan’s main sources of income and with the government banning the fishing of over 30 species many fishermen can do nothing but remain idle. Radioactive materials from the plant that were being released into the oceans were dispersed pretty quickly due to currents but remained in fish which were being caught. The contaminated fish have led to higher levels of cancer in humans. One species that is safe to fish for off Fukushima is octopus because cesium levels are low enough, that people can consume that sea creature. It has been recorded that about 40% of fish caught off Fukushima still have cesium levels that are too high to be safe to eat under regulatory limits. Cesium tends to not stay very long in the tissues of the fish, but because radiation levels have been detected in bottom-feeding fish, some fish are being newly contaminated from the cesium on the seafloor. Since the half-life of cesium is about 30 years, the chemical is predicted to remain in sediments for many decades causing problems for the future. To keep from more radioactive materials from seeping into the water from the plant, Tokyo Electric plans to build a long wall between the reactors and the ocean. This goes to show how one incident can cause others to happen. Hopefully, Japan will look into new ways to generate energy that won’t cause problems for them in the future.

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/world/asia/fish-off-fukushima-japan-show-elevated-levels-of-cesium.html?ref=earth&_r=0

Blog #10- " Did Global Warming Contribute to Hurricane Sandy’s Devastation?" Tara Rudo, 11/2/2012

Blog #10

Tara Rudo

11/2/2012

The “superstorm”, Sandy caused major damage to much of the East Coast this past week, bringing up the question; is human induced climate change the cause of Sandy and will there be more storms like this in the future?” It will take scientists years to fully understand the impact of this storm, but many are already coming up with possible reasons why Sandy was much a devastating storm. Sandy began as a hurricane by drawing up much evaporation from the warm ocean surface. The surface temperatures are much higher in the western Atlantic which is one reason to explain the intensity of this storm. A second source of energy for the storm were the sharp differences in temperature and pressure that normally drive winter storms. This was seen as snow was dumped in many regions of the Northeast. Many people called Sandy a “hybrid” storm due to the fact that began as a hurricane and merged with a midlatitude storm which was seen in the western part of the United States. Mentioned earlier in my blogs, I talked about the dramatic loss of sea ice this year, and many scientists believe that this was a potential contributor to the track of Sandy. The loss of sea ice due to human induced climate change, altered the flow of the atmosphere enough to cause severe weather occur in the midlatitude regions of the world. Storm surge is one thing that will worsen with storms due to the increase in sea levels. This rise in sea levels is caused by the rapid Arctic ice melting and the fact that warm water expands just as warm air does. Places like the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States are predicted to suffer from coastal flooding and eventually begin to sink. Many people are saying that hurricanes are going to become more common in the future due to global warming but computer model actually predict that hurricane systems will become less common but the intensity of those storm will be greater. 

Source:

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/did-global-warming-contribute-to-hurricane-sandys-devastation/?ref=earth

Blog #8- "The Dying Salt Marsh" Tara Rudo, 10-19-2012

Blog 8

Tara Rudo

10-19-2012

1:37pm

The east coast of the United States is suffering from a land loss that affects many ecosystems. Salt marshes provide a home for many species of fish, birds, and marine life. The nutrient rich- brackish water exhibits high levels of species diversity. These marshes also protect large coastal cities and towns from natural disasters and weather. These marshes are very rich in nutrients because they take out those pollutants from upland areas. Salt marshes are crucial for the coastal ecosystem and with the rise in sea-level and development, these marshes are dying off at an alarming rate. After years of added nitrogen and phosphorus due to septic and sewage systems, cracks in the marshland began to appear along the creeks that feed into the marsh. Soon, these cracks grew and collapsed into muddy areas called mudflats. Plants began to grow taller and greener but their root systems were weakening causing serious erosion problems with the daily tides. These mudflats are not a suitable habitat for species and therefore; diversity has decreased. In the article it states, “as of 2002, over half of the world's population was estimated to being living within 60 km of the coastal shoreline.” These coastline areas are extremely vulnerable to human activity like development, run-off, and erosion, so it is very important to protect these areas. Our environment is something that is very fragile and if it is not taken care of, many species, including ourselves, are going to have to pay the consequences. Slowing the rate at which these salt marshes are disappearing is a good start. By cutting back on agriculture in fragile regions and eliminating run off from development, it is very possible to save this ecosystem from collapse. 

Source:

http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/45105

Blog #7- "In Organic-Hungry Hong Kong, Corn as High as an Elevator’s Climb." Tara Rudo, 10/11/2012.

Blog 7

Tara Rudo

10-11-2012

10:40pm

Land use for farming and contamination of foods by using pesticides and chemicals are becoming a rising problem around the world, but Hong Kong has seemed to find a way around this problem. Many locals of Hong Kong have been building their own tiny plots on roof-tops and balconies. These roof-top gardens have been modeled after those seen in cities like New York and Berlin. The reason for the introduction of these tiny plots are because of the formaldehyde that has been known to be sprayed on Chinese cabbages and melamine that has been traced in milk. Citizens of Hong Kong are becoming wary of the dangerous chemicals that have been found in their food. With this increase of worry, organic stores are opening across the city, and the people of Hong Kong are willing to pay the increase in price for healthier food. Most of Hong Kong’s vegetables, meats, and fruits that are contaminated have been brought over from the mainland. Hong Kong has little farmland, only 1.6% of the total land is farmed, and no agricultural sector. This means that the city imports about 90 percent of it’s food. Lack of land isn’t the only problem with farming, the risk of typhoons and the climate of Hong Kong pose problems. The soil is not meant for farming and even soil is imported from other nations for use. Many citizens of China blame the government for the use of dangerous chemicals in food and lack of organic farming. I think the most compelling thing I read in the article was that one farmer said “You develop a different attitude,” he said of cultivating his garden, “and it changes your lifestyle.” I think this is very true and is an idea that people need to live by to create a healthier environment and world. 

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/world/asia/fearing-tainted-imports-hong-kong-squeezes-in-farms.html?ref=earth

Blog #6- "Experts See Signs of El Niño, but a Weak One" Tara Rudo, 10/2/2012

Blog #6
Tara Rudo
10/2/2012
3:15pm

I have talked a lot about the consequences of climate change in previous blogs. Scientists have forecasted an El Niño this year which normally would excite those in drought-stricken areas, but the weakness of this El Niño may not fulfill those hopes. The warmer ocean waters are predicted to trigger an El Niño but it is expected to be probably short, and hardly nasty or brutish. “El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, which includes the mirror-image oceanic cooling called La Niña probably made the past year’s drought worse.” El Niño is expected to bring relief to those areas, yet this year it seems the Southeast and Gulf Coast will get most of the precipitation instead of the drought-stricken Midwest. Large coastal cities like Baltimore and New York City are expected to see a wetter winter this year. Scientists believe that the cause of the possible weaker El Niño is due to a large pocket of cold water in the North Pacific, from the coast of Alaska out to sea, is off-setting the event. Three things need to happen in order for an El Niño to be present. The first is that equatorial sea surface temperatures must rise at least half a degree Celsius above normal across a particular part of the Pacific. This has happened so far but the cold pocket near Alaska has caused this warming to weaken in the Pacific. Next, the atmosphere must show, in measurements of winds and moisture, that it has plugged in to the ocean’s energy and is beginning to respond. Scientists have said that this step has been weak and likely the reason why the El Niño may fizzle out. The last is that these conditions must be predicted to last at least three months, which is looking like won’t happen. Areas that are suffering from drought need the El Niño to be strong and if predictions are correct, this drought will continue causing major problems for families, businesses, farming, etc. 

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/us/experts-see-signs-of-el-nino-but-a-weak-one.html?ref=earth

Blog #5- "A Melting Greenland Weighs Perils Against Potential" Tara Rudo, 9/26/2012

Tara Rudo

Blog 5

9/26/2012

3:33pm

I mentioned in my first blog how the Arctic ice cap is melting at quite an alarming rate and the same thing is being seen with the melting of glacial ice in Greenland. Scientists believe that the area will warm by 14-20 degrees by the end of the century. With fishing being Greenland’s main income for families, the melting of ice is causing trouble but may be opening the opportunity for a mining industry. Fish are moving to colder waters up north which is making the fishing industry die out but the melting of glacial ice is uncovering massive deposits of rare Earth minerals and metals. Narsaq is one of Greenland’s largest towns and many believe that mining for these materials will help save families and incomes but others simply wish to leave the environment alone. Greenland is currently under Denmark rule and many believe that with this mining industry, Greenland can become economically self sufficient, provide revenue, and may even earn it’s independence as a nation. One worry that many have is how will a state with such a small population be able to support an influx of construction workers? Others worry that mining will destroy the natural environment which is essential to Greenland’s national identity, and finally many ask if long-time fishermen can covert to becoming miners? Yes, the mines will promise employment and education of workers which have already begun in preparation. With many fishing industries going under, suicide rates have shot up and hopes of more jobs and income will hopefully lower that number. When it comes to mining for precious minerals and gems, you will always face some kind of radioactive material which would have to be disposed of safely. The government would have to drop it’s “zero-tolerance” policy for mining of radioactive material for this to be a success. People are scared of change and don’t want the environment to suffer anymore than it already has and I think that is a legitimate fear. It’s just a hard fact to face when a struggling family needs a way to bring in some money. 

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/science/earth/melting-greenland-weighs-perils-against-potential.html?ref=earth&_r=0

Blog #4- "Japan Won't Stop Work on Reactors, Official Says" Tara Rudo, 9/19/2012

 Blog #4
Tara Rudo
9/19/2012
2:54pm


Japan lacks reserves of fossil fuels which has led the country to import many resources such as natural gas and crude oil to power this growing country. Uranium is also imported into Japan and nuclear power has become a major energy source for many on the island. In 2011, Japan suffered from a tsunami and earthquake that made many people feel unsafe about the possible release of radioactive materials. After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, all nuclear reactors in the country were shut down for safety concerns and a few have re-opened since then. In the past week Japan has been debating on whether or no to phase out nuclear power completely. The proposition has put on a ban on construction of new reactors but would allow an exception for reactors that are currently being built to complete construction. The reactors that haven’t been completed yet would operate way past the 2040 deadline the government set for all nuclear power plants to be shutdown. By not shutting down the plants that are being constructed, the government is trying to make Japan’s business lobby happy. Japan’s business lobby is against shutting down all nuclear reactors because they fear it would lead to higher energy costs and an unreliable power supply. Japan is facing an up-coming election and with recent events raising concerns for the public about nuclear power, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has favored an antinuclear movement. It is not only Japan’s business lobby who oppose the shutdown but cities where these reactors are located may face risks like losing jobs, tax revenue and government subsidies. One negative from the possible shutdown would be the shutdown of a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility in Japan. The plant has never been open due to complications but it would be able to “reprocess spent uranium-based furl and make the country self-sufficient in nuclear energy.” It is hard for a country that lacks many natural resources to thrive but the dangers of nuclear reactors have scared the public into finding new energy sources. Other resources can be found that won’t harm the people of the country or the environment.

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/world/asia/japan-wont-stop-work-on-reactors-official-says.html?ref=earth&_r=0

Blog #3- Benefits of Thorium as Alternative Nuclear Fuel are ‘overstated’, Tara Rudo 9/14/2012

    Blog 3:
Tara Rudo
9/14/2012
1:41 PM

Depletion of natural resources in the world has led to environmental destruction. Mountain-top removal to retrieve coal and drilling for oil in coastal environments are a couple examples of this destruction. When it comes to nuclear energy, many businesses like the cheap energy but rarely consider the cost it has to the environment and the people around those nuclear power plants. The Chernobyl disaster that occurred in 1986 released radioactive contamination into the air which killed off wildlife and caused mutations and illness for humans in that area. Although many countries like having the cheap and clean energy, they worry about the potential risks of the reactors. Recently, the United Kingdom has turned it’s attention to a potential energy resource called, Thorium. It is very abundant element around the world and is only mildly radioactive. Most of it can be found in places like Turkey, India, and Brazil, according to the World Nuclear Association. A government report was prepared for the Department of Energy and Climate Change by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) stating that Thorium has advantages over uranium. Those include “reducing radio-toxicity and reducing proliferation risk.” Many proponents of Thorium say that the real reason why this element should be used as energy is because it runs much more efficiently and leaves less hazardous waste behind which would have to be disposed of correctly and safely. I mentioned in a previous blog about the Treadmill of Production and how many people are hesitant to change their ways. Many people are scared of change, even if it is for the better. In the UK, hesitance is coming from many of the energy companies who don’t want to invest money and time into Thorium’s development. Finding cleaner energy resources that do not destroy our environment is what we need for a better future.


Source:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/13/benefits-of-thorium-as-alternative-nuclear-fuel-are-overstated-report/

Blog #2: Drought in India Devastates Crops and Farmers. Tara Rudo. 9/6/12.

Tara Rudo, 8:37pm

BLOG #2

Global climate change has led to many issues around the world, and India is currently facing the problem of drought. The World Meteorological Organization has said that climate change is “projected to increase the frequency, intensity and duration of droughts.” Monsoon rains, which usually occur from June to October, account for much of India’s freshwater and with the annual monsoon season down 12 percent in India, many farmers are in trouble. Prolonged dry spells make it difficult for certain crops to grow and so Indian farmers aren’t making an adequate income. While farmers may not be able to grow certain crops, India is not facing a possibility of widespread famine. Millions of tons of rice and grain have been stored in a response to the food price increase in 2008. The lack of water has contributed to a rise in food prices and much of India’s poorer population struggle to afford. Another problem that has risen from the lack of water is that the power supply has decreased due to lack of water in many of India’s dams. This article has shown me that climate change can trigger one event (droughts) which can trigger other problems in nations (power outages, increased food prices). It was alarming to also hear that much of India’s budget on water projects for irrigated farmland had been wasted by the government. Yes, only a small amount of India’s income is through farming but this dry monsoon season has clearly led to other various problems. Droughts are not only common in India, but in other countries that depend on crops for money such as the United States, Russia, and Brazil. Increased greenhouse emissions by humans have contributed to climate change and if we reduce those emissions, climate change may slow down but most of the damage has been done and this cycle of prolonged dry spells will continue. 

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/business/global/drought-in-india-devastates-crops-and-farmers.html?pagewanted=1&adxnnl=1&ref=greenhousegasemissions&adxnnlx=1346975498-vywQ8wFzZqepZjJH1czmMg

Arctic Sea Ice Reaches Lowest Extent Ever Recorded, Tara Rudo, 8/28

Tara Rudo

2:20pm- 8/28/2012

It is not a surprise to many to hear that the Arctic Sea Ice continues to melt at alarming levels and this article brings in data to prove how dramatic this melt is. The CU-Boulder research team has noted that the lowest point the ice has melted was in September of 2007 and this year the ice has already surpassed that melting point in mid August and they expect the melting to continue well into September. There was a storm in early August which broke up some ice but most scientists believe the ice continues to melt due to greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere. Something that I found interesting in the article is about how this once ancient Arctic ice has been replaced by thin ice that has survived maybe one melting season and this makes the ice very weak and brittle. Arctic ice is important because it help regulate global temperature but with the melting occurring at more alarming levels, the open ocean regions absorb sunlight which is what is creating the global warming effect. Scientists say that 2012 is just another year in the sequence of this ice melting and it is only going to get worse in future years. Research is being conducted by a NASA-funded group to deploy ocean buoys and satellites to better understand the changes that are occurring in the Arctic. This is an important issue that is developing because it is happening at a rapid rate and changes need to be made in human behavior and encourage more education on these topics. Yes, that will not halt the melting or global warming but it is better than what we are doing now. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120827130726.htm