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Global Warming Threatens Our National Security !!!

2009-03-11T07:44:00.002-07:00

IISS: “A Global Catastrophe” For International Security
A recent study done by the International Institute for Strategic Studies has likened the international security effects of global warming to those caused by nuclear war. [On Deadline]

U.N.: As Dangerous As War
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said this year that global warming poses as much of a threat to the world as war. [BBC]

Center for Naval Analyses: National Security Threat
In April, a report completed by the Center for Naval Analyses predicted that global warming would cause “large-scale migrations, increased border tensions, the spread of disease and conflicts over food and water.” [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

Genocide in Sudan
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon charges, “Amid the diverse social and political causes, the Darfur conflict began as an ecological crisis, arising at least in part from climate change.” [Washington Post]

War in Somalia
In April, a group of 11 former U.S. military leaders released a report charging that the war in Somalia during the 1990s stemmed in part from national resource shortages caused by global warming. [Washington Post]

Starvation
A study by IISS found that reduced water supplies and hotter temperatures mean “65 countries were likely to lose over 15 percent of their agricultural output by 2100.” [Yahoo]

Large-Scale Migrations
Global warming will turn already-dry environments into deserts, causing the people who live there to migrate in massive numbers to more livable places. [MSNBC]

More Refugees
A study by the relief group Christian Aid estimates the number of refugees around the world will top a billion by 2050, thanks in large part to global warming. [Telegraph]

Increased Border Tensions
A report called “National Security and the Threat of Climate Change,” written by a group of retired generals and admirals, specifically linked global warming to increased border tensions. “If, as some project, sea levels rise, human migrations may occur, likely both within and across borders.” [NY Times]

Famine
“Developing countries, many with average temperatures that are already near or above crop tolerance levels, are predicted to suffer an average 10 to 25 percent decline in agricultural productivity by the 2080s.” [Economic Times]

Droughts
Global warming will cause longer, more devastating droughts, thus exacerbating the fight over the world’s water. [Washington Post]

The Poor Are Most at Risk
Although they produce low amounts of greenhouse gases, experts say under-developed countries—such as those in sub-Saharan Africa—have “the most to lose under dire predictions of wrenching change in weather patterns.” [Washington Post]

Your Checkbook
A report done last year by the British government showed global warming could cause a Global Great Depression, costing the world up to 20 percent of its annual Global Domestic Product. [Washington Post]

The World’s Checkbook
A study by the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University found that ignoring global warming would end up costing $20 trillion by 2100. [Tufts]

This piece is from the Center for American Progress Action Fund's Mic Check Radio.

Global Warming Kills the Planet

2009-03-11T07:44:00.001-07:00

Greenland’s Melting
Greenland is melting at a rate of 52 cubic miles per year—much faster than once predicted. If Greenland’s entire 2.5 million cubic kilometers of ice were to melt, it would lead to a global sea level rise of 7.2 meters, or more than 23 feet. [LA Times]

Less Ice in the Arctic
The amount of ice in the Arctic at the end of the 2005 summer “was the smallest seen in 27 years of satellite imaging, and probably the smallest in 100 years.” Experts said it’s the strongest evidence of global warming in the Arctic thus far. [Washington Post]

The Northwest Passage Becomes a Reality
Remember the “Northwest Passage”? For centuries, explorers were obsessed with the almost-mythical idea of northern sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific. Well...it’s here. So much of the ice cover in the Arctic disappeared this summer that ships were able to take recreational trips through the Arctic Sea, and scientists say so much of the ice cover will disappear in upcoming years that the passage could be open to commercial shipping by 2020. [CNN]

Ice Shelf in Antarctica Bites the Dust
In 2002, a chunk of ice in Antarctica larger than the state of Rhode Island collapsed into the sea. British and Belgian scientists said the chunk was weakened by warm winds blowing over the shelf ... and that the winds were caused by global warming. [ENS]

Ice Shelf in Canada Bites the Dust
In 2005, a giant chunk of ice the size of Manhattan broke off of a Canadian ice shelf and began free floating westward, putting oil drilling operations in peril. [Reuters]

Say Farewell to Glaciers
“In Glacier National Park, the number of glaciers in the park has dropped from 150 to 26 since 1850. Some project that none will be left within 25 to 30 years.” [AP]

The Green, Green Grass of Antarctica
Grass has started to grow in Antarctica in areas formerly covered by ice sheets and glaciers. While Antarctic hair grass has grown before in isolated tufts, warmer temperatures allow it to take over larger and larger areas and, for the first time, survive through the winter. [UK Times]

The Swiss Foothills
Late last summer, a rock the size of two Empire State Buildings in the Swiss Alps collapsed onto the canyon floor nearly 700 feet below. The reason? Melting glaciers. [MSNBC]

Giant “Sand Seas” in Africa
Global warming may unleash giant “sand seas” in Africa—giant fields of sand dunes with no vegetation—as a shortage of rainfall and increasing winds may “reactivate” the now-stable Kalahari dune fields. That means farewell to local vegetation, animals, and any tourism in the areas. [National Geographic]

Florida’s National Marine Sanctuary in Trouble
Global warming is “bleaching” the coral in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, killing the coral, tourism, and local fish that live among the coral for protection. [Washington Post]

The Oceans are Turning to Acid
It sounds like a really bad sci-fi movie, but it’s true: The oceans are turning to acid! Oceans absorb CO2 which, when mixed with seawater, turns to a weak carbonic acid. Calcium from eroded rocks creates a “natural buffer” against the acid, and most marine life is “finely tuned” to the current balance. As we produce more and more CO2, we throw the whole balance out of whack and the oceans turn to acid. [CS Monitor]

Say Goodbye to the Great Barrier Reef
According to the U.N., the Great Barrier Reef will disappear within decades as “warmer, more acidic seas could severely bleach coral in the world-famous reef as early as 2030.” [CBC News]

Mediterranean Sea? Try the Dead Sea.
Italian experts say thanks to faster evaporation and rising temperatures, the Mediterranean Sea is quickly turning into “a salty and stagnant sea.” The hot, salty water “could doom many of the sea's plant and animal species and ravage the fishing industry.” [AP]

A Sacred River Dries Up
The sacred Ganges River in India is beginning to run dry. The Ganges is fed by the Gangotri glacier, which is today “shrinking at a rate of 40 yards a year, nearly twice as fast as two decades ago.” Scientists warn the glacier could be gone as soon as 2030. [Washington Post]

Disappearing African Rivers
Geologists recently projected a 10 percent to 20 percent drop in rainfall in northwestern and southern Africa by 2070. That would leave Botswana with just 23 percent of the river it has now; Cape Town would be left with just 42 percent of its river water. [National Geographic]

Suddenly Vanishing Lakes
What happened to the five-acre glacial lake in Southern Chile? In March, it was there. In May, it was ... gone. Scientists blame global warming. [BBC News]

Goodbye to the Mangrove Trees
Next on the global warming hit list: Rising sea levels linked to climate change mean we could lose half of the mangrove trees of the Pacific Isles by the end of the century. [UNEP]

Volcanoes Blow Their Tops
British scientists warn of another possible side effect of climate change: A surge of dangerous volcanic eruptions. [ABC News Australia]

More Hurricanes
Over the past century, the number of hurricanes that strike each year has more than doubled. Scientists blame global warming and the rising temperature of the surface of the seas. [USA Today]

More Floods
During the summer of 2007, Britain suffered its worst flood in 60 years. Scientists point the finger directly at global warming, which changed precipitation patterns and is now causing more “intense rainstorms across parts of the northern hemisphere.” [Independent]

More Fires
Hotter temperatures could also mean larger and more devastating wildfires. This past summer in California, a blaze consumed more than 33,500 acres, or 52 square miles.
[ABC] [AP]

More Wildfires
Global warming has also allowed non-native grasses to thrive in the Mojave Desert, where they act as fast-burning fuel for wildfires. [AP]

Thunderstorms Get Dangerous
Hurricanes aside, NASA scientists now say as the world gets hotter, even smaller thunderstorms will pose more severe risks with “deadly lightning, damaging hail and the potential for tornadoes.” [AP]

Higher Sea Levels
Scientists believe sea levels will be three feet higher by the end of the century than they are now. [National Geographic]

Burning Poo
As “shifting rainfall patterns” brought on by global warming “have made northern Senegal drier and hotter,” entire species of trees (like the Dimb Tree) are dying out, making it harder for natives to find firewood. As a result, more people are having to burn cow dung for cooking fires. [MSNBC]

A New Dust Bowl
Calling Mr. Steinbeck. Scientists this year reported the Southwest United States is "expected to dry up notably in this century and could become as arid as the North American dust bowl of the 1930s," a process which has already started. [ABC News]

Global Warming Makes Us Sicker

People Are Dying
150,000: Number of people the World Health Organization estimates are killed by climate-change-related issues every year. [Washington Post]

Heat Waves and Strokes
Authorities in China say warmer temperatures are responsible for an uptick in heat-wave associated deaths, such as strokes and heart disease. They calculated between 173 and 685 Chinese citizens per million die every year from ailments related to global warming. [MSNBC]

Death by Smog
Three words you really don’t want in your obit: “Death by Smog.” Yet Canadian doctors say smog-related deaths could rise by 80 percent over the next 20 years. And since warm air is a key ingredient in smog, warmer temperatures will increase smog levels. [CBC News]

More Heart Attacks
Doctors warn global warming will bring more cardiovascular problems, like heart attacks. “‘The hardening of the heart's arteries is like rust developing on a car,’ said Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, chief of cardiology at Johns Hopkins University. ‘Rust develops much more quickly at warm temperatures and so does atherosclerosis.’” [MSNBC]

More Mold and Ragweed = More Allergies, Asthma
A Harvard Study in 2004 showed higher concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere is good news to allergens like mold and ragweed (they love the stuff). And that means higher rates of asthma attacks, especially in kids. [Globe and Mail]

A Resurgence In Deadly Disease
“The World Health Organization has identified more than 30 new or resurgent diseases in the last three decades, the sort of explosion some experts say has not happened since the Industrial Revolution brought masses of people together in cities.” Why? Global warming “is fueling the spread of epidemics in areas unprepared for the diseases” when “mosquitoes, ticks, mice and other carriers are surviving warmer winters and expanding their range, bringing health threats with them.” Ick. [Washington Post]

More Malaria in Africa
“A WHO report in 2000 found that warming had caused malaria to spread from three districts in western Kenya to 13 and led to epidemics of the disease in Rwanda and Tanzania.” [Washington Post]

Malaria Spreading in Western Europe
The World Health Organization warns warmer temperatures mean malaria-carrying mosquitoes are able to live in northern climes, which could lead to a surge in malaria outside the tropics (aka Europe). [BBC]

Malaria Spreading in South America
Thanks to global warming, “Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.” [An Inconvenient Truth]

Malaria Spreading in Russia
Russians found larvae of the anopheles mosquito, the malaria carrier, for the first time in Moscow last September. [BBC]

Spread of Dengue Fever
Scientists predict warmer temperatures will allow mosquitoes carrying Dengue Fever to travel outside the tropics. Since people in cooler climes lack immunity from previous exposure, that means transmission would be extensive. You get a severe fever, you start spontaneously bleeding, you can die. There is no vaccine. [Science Daily]

Death in the Time of Cholera
Cholera, which thrives in warmer water, appeared in the newly warmed waters of South America in 1991 for the first time in the 20th century. “It swept from Peru across the continent and into Mexico, killing more than 10,000 people.” [Washington Post]

Spread of Lyme Disease
Cold weather no longer kills ticks that carry Lyme Disease. Ticks recently began spreading along the coastlines of Scandinavia, which formerly was too cold for them to survive. Cases of Lyme Disease in the area have doubled since the late 1990s. [MSNBC]

West Nile Virus Home Invasion
Once confined to land near the equator, West Nile Virus is now found as far north as

Canada

. Seven years ago, West Nile virus had never been seen in North America; today, it has “infected more than 21,000 people in the United States and Canada and killed more than 800.” [Washington Post]

Global Warming Kills the Animals

2009-03-11T07:42:00.001-07:00

Species Disappear
The latest report from the World Conservation Union says that a minimum of 40 percent of the world’s species are being threatened ... and global warming’s one of the main culprits. [Reuters]

Cannibalistic Polar Bears...
As longer seasons without ice keep polar bears away from food, they start eating each other. [AP]

...And Dying Polar Bears
A recent study completed by the U.S. Geological Survey shows that cannibalism—while brutal—may be the least of the bear’s problems. Many are also drowning, unable to swim in the increased spaces between melting sea ice. Two-thirds of them may be gone by 2050. [National Geographic] [Mongo Bay]

More Bear Attacks
Earlier this year, Moscow warned its citizens to beware of brown bear attacks. In Russia, it’s been too hot in the winter for bears to sleep. When bears can’t hibernate, they get very grouchy and become “unusually aggressive.”[Der Spiegel]

Dying Gray Whales
Save the whales! Global warming is thwarting majestic gray whales’ struggle to recover from their endangered status. In recent years, more gray whales have been washing up on beaches after starving to death. Culprit: Rising ocean temps, which are killing off their food supply. [Washington Post]

Death March of the Penguins
Scientists blame global warming for the declining penguin population, as warmer waters and smaller ice floes force the birds to travel further to find food. “Emperor penguins ... have dropped from 300 breeding pairs to just nine in the western Antarctic Peninsula.” [National Geographic] [MSNBC]

Farewell to Frogs
An estimated two-thirds of the 110 known species of harlequin frog in Central and South America have vanished since the 1980s due to the outbreak of a deadly frog fungus ... brought on by global warming. Scientist J. Allen Pound: "Disease is the bullet killing frogs, but climate change is pulling the trigger.” [National Geographic]

Farewell to the Arctic Fox
The White Arctic Fox used to rule the colder climes, but as temperatures warm up, its more aggressive cousin, the Red Fox, is moving North and taking over. [Wired]

Farewell to the Walrus
Walrus pups rest on sea ice while their mothers hunt for food. A new study shows more and more abandoned pups are being stranded on floating islands as ice islands melt. Also, sadly, mother walruses are abandoning them to follow the ice further north. [Mongo Bay]

Farewell to Cute Koala Bears
Australia’s Climate Action Network reports that higher temperatures are killing off eucalyptus trees while higher levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are decreasing the nutritional value of the eucalyptus leaves Koala bears eat. They warn that the cute furry creatures could become extinct in the next few decades. [Science]

Jellyfish Attack
Ouch! At least 30,000 people were stung by jellyfish along the Mediterranean coast last year; some areas boasted more than 10 jellyfish per square foot of water. Thank global warming: Jellyfish generally stay out of the way of swimmers, preferring the warmer, saltier water of the open seas. Hotter temperatures erase the natural temperature barrier between the open sea and the shore. The offshore waters also become more saline, causing the stinging blobs of hurt to move in toward the coastlines (and your unsuspecting legs). [BBC]

Giant Squid Attack
Giant squid—an “aggressive predator” that grows up to 7 feet long and can weigh more than 110 lbs—used to only be found in the warm waters along the Pacific equator. Hotter waters mean today they’re invading the waters of California and even Alaska. [ABC]

Homeless Sheep, Goats, and Bears
Bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and grizzly bears are becoming homeless, due to the disappearance of the alpine meadows in Glacier National Park. [AP]

Homeless Deer and Marsh Rabbits
The deer and marsh rabbits in the Florida Keys also face a housing crisis, as water levels rise and warmer temperatures destroy coastal prairies and freshwater marsh habitats. [AP]

Gender-Bended Lizards
Scientists in Australia found warmer temperatures caused baby bearded dragon lizards to change from males to females while still in their eggs, making it harder for them to find mates. Trippy. [ABC AU]

More Stray Kitties
Global warming has extended the cat-breeding season beyond spring, which is the usual time for a kitten boom. The kittens are often homeless and end up in animal shelters. And remember, “The trouble with a kitten is that/ Eventually it becomes a cat.” [NBC-10: Philadelphia] [Ogden Nash]

Suffocating the Lemmings
Lemmings like to burrow under the snow when they hibernate for the winter. Warmer temperatures cause rain to fall during the winter months, where it freezes into a hard sheet of ice above the sleeping lemmings, who can’t crack their way out come spring. [Denver Post]

Goodbye to Cod
Cod in the North Sea are dying out. The warmer waters kill off the plankton the cod eat, making those ones that survive smaller. The warmer waters also mean the poor dears have become “less successful at mating and reproducing.” [MSNBC]

Birds around the World
Recent research found that “up to 72 percent of bird species in northeastern Australia and more than a third in Europe could go extinct due to global warming.” [Monga Bay]

Birds on the Coast
Hundreds of Pacific seabirds—such as common murres, auklets, and tufted puffins—washed ashore last year after starving to death. Scientists blame global warming which led to less plankton, which led to fewer small fish for the birds to eat. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Birds in your Backyard
A report by the National Audubon Society found that birds such as the bobwhite and field sparrow are dying thanks to global warming, as higher temperatures mess with their migration schedules. With vital food stocks peaking earlier and earlier, many migratory birds get to the party too late and can’t find enough to eat. [CNN] [ABC News]

Death to a Snail
The Aldabra banded snail is officially extinct. Existing only on an atoll 426 kilometers northwest of the northern tip of Madagascar, the snail died out after warmer weather cut the rainfall in its habitat. [Monga Bay]

Global Warming Kills the Animals

2009-03-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Cannibalistic Polar Bears...
As longer seasons without ice keep polar bears away from food, they start eating each other. [AP]

Farewell to the Arctic Fox
The White Arctic Fox used to rule the colder climes, but as temperatures warm up, its more aggressive cousin, the Red Fox, is moving North and taking over. [Wired]

Homeless Sheep, Goats, and Bears
Bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and grizzly bears are becoming homeless, due to the disappearance of the alpine meadows in Glacier National Park. [AP]

Global Warming Wrecks All the Fun

2009-03-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

Say Goodbye to French Wines
Wacky temperatures and rain cycles brought on by global warming are threatening something very important: Wine. Scientists believe global warming will “shift viticultural regions toward the poles, cooler coastal zones and higher elevations.” What that means in regular language: Get ready to say bye-bye to French Bordeaux and hello to British champagne. [LA Times]

Say Goodbye to Light and Dry Wines
Warmer temperatures mean grapes in California and France develop their sugars too quickly, well before their other flavors. As a result, growers are forced to either a) leave the grapes on the vines longer, which dramatically raises the alcoholic content of the fruit or b) pick the grapes too soon and make overly sweet wine that tastes like jam. [Washington Post]

Say Goodbye to Pinot Noir
The reason you adore pinot noir is that it comes from a notoriously temperamental thin-skinned grape that thrives in cool climates. Warmer temperatures are already damaging the pinots from Oregon, “baking away” the grape’s berry flavors. [Bloomberg]

Say Goodbye to Baseball
The future of the ash tree—from which all baseball bats are made—is in danger of disappearing, thanks to a combination of killer beetles and global warming. [NY Times]

Say Goodbye to Christmas Trees
The Pine Bark Beetle, which feeds on and kills pine trees, used to be held in control by cold winter temperatures. Now the species is thriving and killing off entire forests in British Columbia, unchecked. [Seattle Post Intelligencer]

Say Goodbye to the Beautiful Alaska Vacation
Warmer weather allowed Spruce Bark Beetles to live longer, hardier lives in the forests of Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, where they killed off a section of spruce forest the size of Connecticut. [Alaska Science Forum]

Say Goodbye to Fly Fishing
As water temperatures continue to rise, researchers say rainbow trout, "already at the southern limits” of their temperature ranges in the Appalachian mountains, could disappear there over the next century. [Softpedia]

Say Goodbye to Ski Competitions
Unusually warmer winters caused the International Ski Federation to cancel last year’s Alpine skiing World Cup and opening races in Sölden, Austria. Skiers are also hard-pressed now to find places for year-round training. Olympic gold medalist Anja Paerson: “Of course we’re all very worried about the future of our sport. Every year we have more trouble finding places to train.” [NY Times]

Say Goodbye to Ski Vacations
Slopes on the East Coast last year closed months ahead of time due to warmer weather, some losing as much as a third of their season. [Washington Post]

Say Hello to Really Tacky Fake Ski Vacations
Weiner Air Force and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey are building a year-round ski resort in Texas, with “wet, white Astroturf with bristles” standing in for snow to make up for all the closed resorts around the country. [WSJ]

Say Goodbye to That Snorkeling Vacation
The elkhorn coral which used to line the floor of the Caribbean are nearly gone, “victims of pollution, warmer water and acidification from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide seeping into oceans.” [Denver Post]

Say Goodbye to That Tropical Island Vacation
Indonesia's environment minister announced this year that scientific studies estimate about 2,000 of the country's lush tropical islands could disappear by 2030 due to rising sea levels. [ABC News]

Say Goodbye to Cool Cultural Landmarks
The World Monuments Fund recently added “global warming” as a threat in their list of the top 100 threatened cultural landmarks. “On Herschel Island, Canada, melting permafrost threatens ancient Inuit sites and a historic whaling town. In Chinguetti, Mauritania, the desert is encroaching on an ancient mosque. In Antarctica, a hut once used by British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott has survived almost a century of freezing conditions but is now in danger of being engulfed by increasingly heavy snows.” [AP]

Say Goodbye to Salmon Dinners
Get ready for a lot more chicken dinners: Wild pacific salmon have already vanished from 40 percent of their traditional habitats in the Northwest and the NRDC warns warmer temperatures are going to erase 41 percent of their habitat by 2090. [ENS]

Say Goodbye to Lobster Dinners
Lobsters thrive in the chilly waters of New England, but recent numbers show that as those waters have warmed up, “the big-clawed American lobster—prized for its delicate, sweet flesh—has been withering at an alarming rate from New York state to Massachusetts.” [AP]

Say Goodbye to Discoveries of Sharks That Can Walk
Scientists recently revealed a “lost world” of marine life off the coast of Indonesia, including 20 new species of corals, 8 species of shrimp, a technicolor fish that “flashes” bright pink, yellow, blue, and green hues, and sharks that “walk” on their fins. (“Avon Lady. Candygram.”) However, marine biologists warn the threats posed by global warming means millions of other crazycool sea creatures may become extinct before we ever discover them. [ABC]

Say Goodbye to Meadows of Wildflowers
Scientists think global warming could wipe out a fifth of the wildflower species in the western United States. They’ll be replaced by dominant grasses. [National Wildlife Federation]

Say Goodbye to Guacamole
Scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory predict hotter temps will cause a 40 percent drop in California’s avocado production over the next 40 years. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab]

Say Goodbye to Mixed Nuts
Guess you’ll have to start eating pretzels at the bar instead: Scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory predict hotter temps will cause a 20 percent drop in California’s almond and walnut crops over the next 40 years. [Science Daily]

Say Goodbye to French Fries
Scientists from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research say warmer temperatures are killing off wild relatives of potato and peanut plants, “threatening a valuable source of genes necessary to help these food crops fight pests and drought.” [AP]

Say Goodbye to Your Pretty Lawn
Thanks to global warming, dandelions will grow “taller, lusher, and more resilient.” By 2100, the weed will produce 32 percent more seeds and longer hairs, which allow them to spread further in the wind. [LA Times]

Say Hello to More Mosquitoes
Get ready for more mosquitoes. Mosquitoes like to live in drains and sewer puddles. During long dry spells (brought on by higher temperatures) these nasty, stagnant pools become a vital source of water for thirsty birds ... which provide a tasty feast for the resident mosquitoes. At the same time, these dry spells “reduce the populations of dragonflies, lacewings, and frogs that eat the mosquitoes.” [Washington Post]

Say Hello to Poison Ivy
You’re gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion. Increased CO2 levels cause poison ivy and other weeds to grow “taller, lusher, and more resilient.” [LA Times]

Say Hello to Bulgarian Hooker Shortages
“Brothel owners in Bulgaria are blaming global warming for staff shortages. They claim their best girls are working in ski resorts because a lack of snow has forced tourists to seek other pleasures.” [Metro UK]

Forest Demage !!!!!!

2009-03-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

Indonesian have 10% of tropical forest remaining. Forest has 12% of mammal species / mammals, 16% owner of the animal species of reptiles and amphibian, 1519 bird species and 25% of the world's fish species. Some is endemic or can only be found in the area.

Area of natural forest with native Indonesia wipe speed which is very worrying. Until now, India has lost forest of the original 72 per cent [World Resource Institute, 1997]. Indonesia logging that is not restrained during tens of years and caused a contraction of the tropical forest-produce. Rapid forest damage period 1985-1997 was 1.6 million hectares per year, whereas in the period 1997-2000 to be 3.8 million hectares per year. This makes Indonesia one of the places with the highest level of damage to forests in the world. In Indonesia, based on the interpretation of Landsat imagery in 2000 there were 101.73 million hectares of forest land and damaged, of which 59.62 million hectares of plantation in the forest area. [MoF Planologi Agency, 2003].

In the 16-century to mid-18 th century, natural forests in Java is still about 9 million hectares. At the end of the 1980s, veils of natural forest on Java only 0.97 million hectares, or 7 percent of the total broad Java. Currently, the closing of land on the island of Java by 4% live tree. Java since 1995 and has experienced water deficit of 32.3 billion cubic meters each year.

Impact of Forest Destruction

With the reduction in imprisonment forests of Indonesia, the most of the area has become a region vulnerable to disaster, whether the disaster drought, floods and landslides. Since 1998 until mid 2003, there have been 647 recorded incidents of disaster in Indonesia in 2022 with the loss of the victim lives and billions of rupiah, where 85% of disasters are floods and landslides that caused damage to forests [Bakornas Disaster Relief, 2003].

In addition, Indonesia will also lose a variety of animals and plants which have become a proud nation of Indonesia. Meanwhile, during the Indonesian forest is a source of life for the people of Indonesia. Forest is a provider of food, the drugs and become a place of living for most of the people of Indonesia. With the loss of forest in Indonesia, caused them to lose their source of food and medicines. Along with the increase in forest damage Indonesia, shows the increasing levels of poverty of the people of Indonesia, and some of the poor in Indonesia live side by side with the forest.

What is it?

Indonesia is also Forest lungs of the world, which can absorb carbon and provide oxygen for life on earth.

As a function of forest land where the water will also be disturbed due to forest destruction that constantly. This will impact on the drought often occurs in the dry season and flooding and landslides in the rainy season. In the end, this will seriously impact on the economic condition in the community.

Why We Forests Damaged?

Industry in Indonesia has a very high production capacity compared to the availability of wood. Employers do timber logging uncontrollable and destructive, a planter of a very knowledgeable, and the mining areas of open forest.

And this also worsened the condition of the corrupt government, where the forest is considered as a source of money and can blow out for personal and group interests.

How is it going?

Logging in Indonesia is uncontrollable has started since the late 1960s, known as flood-hood, where people do logging manually. Large-scale logging began in 1970. And permission to proceed with the issuance of a permit-forest plants in the industry in 1990, who finished felled (land clearing).

In addition, the forest also transferred its functions to be large-scale plantation area that also do a thorough clearing forest, a resettlement area and also the area of urban development.

In 1999, after the start of autonomy, the local government share-share to the area of forest area in the form of rights of small scale. At the same time also increased the activity logging without a permit that is not restrained by the group that financed capitalist society (capitalist), which is protected by the government and security apparatus.

Efforts made

The Government of Indonesia through the decision with the Department of Forestry and the Department of Trade and Industry since 2001 has forbidden the export of wood rounded (log) and flakes of raw materials. And in 2003, the Ministry of Forestry has been down felled tree annual quota (the amount that can ditebang by the forest) to 6.8 million cubic meters a year and will be sent down again in 2004 to 5.7 million cubic meters a year.

The government also has established Forestry Industry Revitalization Agency (BRIK) the duty to make adjustments of production forestry industry with the availability of raw materials from the forest.

In addition, the Government has also committed to make of illegal logging and forest rehabilitation are also conducted through the National Movement Forest and Land Rehabilitation (GNRHL), which is expected in 2008 will return to forest area of three million hectares.

The results of Retrieved

Unfortunately the Government is still running it all as a mere utterance without a realization in the field. Until 2002, exports are still made of wood rounded offense that indicates the government's own policies. And still the government will give permission of natural forest and plantation forest-an area of 900 thousand hectares to employers through the auction. The government also do not have a comprehensive plan to fix the damage to forests through rehabilitation, but the activity is forced to be implemented, which would lead to the occurrence of a target and the possibility of a failure in implementation.

It is most important and the government has not done this time is to close the industry that Indonesia has a lot of debt. The Government is also not adjust the production industry with the capability of providing raw materials for wood by forest industries. This can result in logging activities without a permit will continue to progress.

And with only reduce the annual quota felled, then we still can not distinguish where the wood is legal and not legal. If only the government to temporarily stop giving bribe felled, it can be ascertained that all the timber out of forest wood which is invalid or illegal, so that law enforcement can do.

What should be done?

To stop forest destruction in Indonesia, the government must seriously start to no longer issue a license-permit new Forest, and the utilization of plantation wood, and perform law enforcement against the export of wood raw material and rounded flakes. The Government should also conduct comprehensive testing of the performance of forestry industry and law enforcement problems for the industry. After this stage, need to be restructuring the damaged forest area and also handle the social impact due to termination of logging, eg with the forestry industry employs workers in the tree planting project.

Then, when you return is forest management system, giving the permits only logging on forest trees or forest-based communities, which is managed locally.
During the suspension [moratorium] is run, industry-timber industry can still way way to import the raw material wood. To facilitate supervision, the type of wood that must be imported with a different type of timber in Indonesia.

And most importantly restore the sovereignty of the people in forest management, because the people of Indonesia have long been able to manage the forests of Indonesia.

Can individuals help?

Yes, with a lobby, write letters or do in order to pressure the government to seriously keep remaining forests of Indonesia. In addition, do the supervision of the circulation in the area of wood nearby, and give a report to the Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI) and the nearest non-governmental institutions and to other law enforcement agencies, and the mass media, when the find of a circle of wood without a permit and the activities of forest .

And start planting trees for timber needs of families in the future, use the timber with the wise and no longer buy wood-the wood of the forest damage.

Global warming may make some spots inviting

2009-02-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

Predictions about the rate of global warming vary greatly, but even by conservative estimates it’s likely to have a big effect on travel. Many current tourist hotspots will literally be too hot for comfort, while others will lose their natural beauty, be prone to catastrophic storms—or simply be underwater.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the planet’s average temperature could increase by as much as 3.5 degrees celsius by 2100, causing sea levels to rise nearly four feet. If the Greenland and Antarctic continental ice sheets then melt—as some predict—sea levels could rise by an additional 30 feet. Potential side effects include increasingly intense storms, catastrophic heat waves and global flooding on a biblical scale.

Impact of Global Warming

2009-02-12T01:21:00.000-08:00

Valencia, MONDAY - The global is irrefutable and can cause a very chilling effect. Therefore one of the last statement in the report to the UN Panel on Climate Change or the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was announced in Valencia, Saturday (19/11).
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon challenging the government in countries around the world to make real the threat of action is. He invites the policy to respond to the findings in this climate change conference in Bali which will be held early December 2007.

"It is urgent, global efforts must be made," said Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General. He hopes the policy from all over the world can respond to the findings in this climate change conference to be held in Bali starting December 3 2007.

Minatory

The report mentions human origin as the main global warming. Emissions of greenhouse gases to increase 70 percent between 1970 to 2004. Concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere is much higher in the natural matrix of 650 thousand last year.

The average global temperature has increased 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit (0.72 equivalent derat Celsius) in the last 100 years. Front sea water to increase an average of 0175 centimeters per year since 1961.

About 20 percent to 30 species of plants and animals at risk disappear if temperatures rise 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius equivalent). If the increase in temperature reaches 3 degrees Celsius, 40 to 70 percent of species may be destroyed.

Although the poorest countries that will feel very bad impact, climate change also the developed countries. At 2020, 75 million to 250 million people of Africa will be short of water, the major cities in Asia will be at risk from flooding and rob. In Europe, kepuanahan species will be extensive. while in North America, heat waves and the longer the sting, so grab the source water will be high.

Weather events will become extremely routine. Tropical storms will occur more often and the greater intensity. Heat waves and heavy rain will knock over a wider area. Risk of forest fire occurrence and spread of the disease increases.

Meanwhile, the drought will reduce the productivity of land and water quality. The increase in sea-water front will trigger more extensive flooding, salt fresh water, and coastal areas.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BIRDS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO HIGH ENVIROMENTAL TEMPERATURES

2009-01-31T06:59:00.000-08:00

Although apparently inhospitable, sub-tropical deserts have been colonized by a diversity of plants and animals. Very high air temperatures, intense solar radiation, and extreme aridity, when combined with scarce free-water resources can place significant demands on the abilities of animals to balance their water budgets in these environments. The success of birds in such regions is striking because many of the basic attributes of this group would seem to exacerbate problems of heat and aridity (Bartholomew & Cade 1963). For example, most birds are diurnal and do not use burrows for refuge, thus they must directly confront the hottest periods of the summer day (but see Williams & Tieleman 1998). Small birds also have high mass-specific metabolic rates, which result in high rates of internal heat production and frequent ventilation of respiratory surfaces (with resultant high rates of pulmonary water loss) (Dawson 1982, Wolf & Walsberg 1996a). In addition, because of their small size they have a low thermal inertia and very limited capacity for storage of vital resources such as water (Dawson 1976).

But birds also show a number of attributes that potentially favor their residence in these environments. First, although their mass-specific rates of water and energy usage are relatively large, their overall resource requirements are modest because of their small body size. Thus, they can potentially inhabit regions where food and water resources are in short supply. Birds are also highly mobile and can travel long distances in search of resources in very short periods of time. As a consequence some species are able to take advantage of temporally or spatially localized resources over broad areas. In addition, the body temperatures of birds are on average 3 to 4°C higher than those of mammals. Birds also readily allow their body temperature to increase an additional 2 to 4°C in response to heat or water stress and exercise (Webster 1991). These higher body temperatures provide more favorable conditions for heat loss to the environment by mechanisms such as radiation, conduction or convection. Radiative, conductive and convective heat transfer mechanisms rely on temperature gradients to drive heat flow and thus help conserve precious water resources.

When the temperature of the physical environment approaches or exceeds avian body temperature, the thermal gradient for passive heat transfer (radiation, conduction and convection) is diminished or even reversed and evaporative water loss becomes an essential means of heat transfer. During these periods, both endogenous heat loads (metabolic heat) and exogenous heat loads (heat absorbed from the environment) must be lost through evaporation. Birds resident to sub-tropical deserts during the summer are routinely exposed to these conditions (Walsberg 1994). Air temperatures during the summer in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, USA, may commonly exceed 42°C for 8 hours or more of each day and occasionally can even exceed 50°C (Fig. 1) (Azmet 1990). Increases in environmental temperatures above avian body temperature leads to dramatic increases in evaporative water loss. For example, in Verdins (Auriparus flaviceps), which are small (ca. 6.5 g) year-round residents of the Sonoran Desert, total evaporative water loss increases seven-fold between 38 and 48°C under resting conditions (Fig. 2) (Wolf & Walsberg 1996b). In this situation, evaporative water loss may account for 80% or more of the Verdins total water loss and can exceed 5% of a small birds body mass each hour (Wolf & Walsberg 1996b). Under these conditions the need to evaporate water in order to maintain body temperature below critical limits is in direct conflict with the maintenance of an adequate state of hydration (Webster 1991). The above attributes, combined with the high surface-area-to-volume-ratios of small birds means they are closely coupled to their physical environments and are must respond rapidly to changes in the thermal environment if they are to maintain homeostasis (Goudie & Piatt 1990). As a consequence, these animals may be under extreme selective pressures to optimize their use of water resources.

Fig. 1. Maximun daily air temperatures for June of 1990 for Dateland, AZ (Azmet 1990).

Temperaturas máximas del aire durante junio de 1990 en Dateland, AZ.

Fig. 2. Total evaporative water loss rates for Verdins resting in the dark. Means are for 12 individuals at each data point, and 95% confidence intervals are shown at each temperature. From Wolf & Walsberg (1996b)

Tasas de perdida total de agua evaporativa para verdines descansando a la sombra. Promedios corresponden a 12 individuos para cada punto, y se presentan los intervalos de confianza del 95% para cada temperatura. En Wolf & Walsberg (1996b)

Understanding Global Warming

2009-01-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

Currently no one really knows the exact cause of global warming although it is a big part of what science is researching. There are a lot of efforts being placed into finding out the exact cause of this and to figure out how to stop it from going much further. We can speculate however what may happen if global warming is not put to a stop and put to a stop very soon. While there are many people out there with outlandish stories of what is going to happen to the world, there is some underlying cause of concern with the issue of global warming that should not be ignored in the slightest bit.

First, we all need to understand just what exactly global warming is and that is the increase of the average temperature of the surface air and the temperatures of the oceans. The temperatures have slowing increased over the years showing that this may be a trend that could very well get out of hand one day. Of course, many people and scientists are claiming that human activity could very well be the main cause of all of the problems with global warming. But there are of course natural causes that have to be taken into consideration as well.

Getting Educated

When it comes to making sure that future generations know that global warming is something serious that they need to be cautious of, there is nothing more important then education. If we just continue to ignore the subject then our future generations will not truly understand the seriousness of it and just go on allowing this whole thing to get more and more out of control. Global warming is something that should be taught in every school starting in the grade school years. Even though the younger kids cannot understand all of the complexities of the situation, they can be taught a lot of the basics just to get them to understand age appropriate things regarding the situation.

As child progress into their older years then the teachings can get a little in depth within the schools. Projects and assignments on global warming is a great way to make sure that the kids are truly getting involved and that they are really thinking hard about this. Whether or not your school district is teaching a good bit on global warming, it is a good idea to make sure that you are talking about it at home. This will reinforce what is being learned at school about global warming and your child will see that this is truly something to take serious at all times.

source from : www.goarticles.com

Hybrid Car: A Responsible Way Of Transportation

2009-01-20T05:16:00.000-08:00

Hybrid cars are currently regarded as very beneficial to the conservation of the environment. This is because the price of fuel and the harm it contributes to our surroundings has become really uncontrolled. The rationality behind this is that hybrid cars don't mainly rely on fuel for their power, but they also make the best use of electricity. That leads to lower quantity of fuel consumption and lower emission of air polluting gasses.

A hybrid car merges an electrical motor and petrol engine to supply adequate force to the vehicle with minimal fuel usage and less emissions. They're also far more useful for day-to-day purpose than pure electric-powered automobiles and far more fuel-efficient than pure gasoline-powered automobiles. Fusing the two sources of power, a newly-created vehicle will be comparatively non-polluting and will result in less fuel intake. This entails that it produces plenty of power to deliver highway speeds without wasting too much fuel; plus it is likewise neat for the stop-and-go driving in traffic heavy areas.

The hybrid car was produced to satisfy the demand to keep the environment clean from pollutions and in order to rely less on fuel resources. It is not required to plug the hybrid into an electric wall socket to be able to recharge it. They continually re-charge themselves by using the power normally lost during cruising and braking and they could as well be charged by the vehicle's gasoline engine.

Hybrids do tender more benefits than the regular cars with gasoline engines. Here is a brief list of some rewards hybrid cars extend.

1. Advanced pollution control.

One of the elements that lead to the greenhouse effect and its damages is the pollution in the air. It's a reality that the nonstop harm to our ozone layer is caused by the dangerous chemicals like carbon dioxide, which are emitted by vehicles and transmitted into the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide exhausted by a hybrid vehicle is primarily dependent on the amount of fuel it consumes; therefore the hybrid cars can be a leading factor in halting the progress of the global warming. As already stated, this is because hybrids don't use just gas in order to operate - they also employ electricity, a power source that does not wreak any risk to the environment.

2. Efficiency and operation.

Because the power is received from 2 sources hybrid vehicles get smaller engines than the regular gas autos. The smaller engines are closer to the optimal power requirements for engines that will contribute to a more effective operation.

3. Better miles-per-gallon ratio.

The evident advantage of a hybrid vehicle is that it keeps the gas expenses low. With the utilization of a hybrid car, you are capable to save money. You don't have to buy gas 2-3 times a week or afterwards each long trip because you can go a few hundred miles just on one tank.

4. Your investment acquires additional value

A hybrid vehicle may hold back a higher resale value. Whenever you need to trade in or sell a previously owned hybrid you can be certain that you will get a decent deal for it.

5. Hybrid automobiles can assist in lowering your taxes

Tax discounts are presented to hybrid car owners, so if you purchase a hybrid car you achieve additional savings through the extra tax withholding allowances. Please, always check with IRS on the latest rules.

In spite of numerous beneficial uses and advantages, there's one matter to consider in viewing the hybrid cars. For some people they may not be yet affordable at the current market prices but you should remember that your investment will pay out ten-fold.

source from : www.goarticles.com

Global Warming Exists

2009-01-20T05:04:00.000-08:00

No material how much you turn down it, global warming exists. It's real. It's happening. And its appearances are global in scale.

According to scientists examining the appearances of global warming, one of its deadliest appearances is the melting of polar ice caps, which will lob the ecosystem out of balance. Sea storeys will surge and the melted ice will generate the open ocean smaller diagram salty. Temperatures will surge, which will modification the landscape and endanger definite living organism species.

In other parts of the world, there will be intense droughts and heat waves, and since water is a rare commodity in numerous parts of the world, this may result in combats and even war.

To combat global warming, we deficiency to implement real change. If the beforehand agencies had been thinned in its placement on conditions modification, we hope that with the novel president Barack Obama, legislation calling for incisive grazes in greenhouse gas emissions will be passed. It's the best modification we deficiency in this current population, and a modification we consider that will truly material in our future.

You deficiency not be a scientist or a central social family members official to scuffle conditions change. You can be component of the solution by spreading the word come seal global warming and awareness makeup through promotional items.

- Encourage those round object you to convey smaller diagram and take the public transport. Biking, walking, or carpooling are good options that minimize your carbon footprint. By not engaging the car, you minimize your contribution of carbon monoxide to the atmosphere. A greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide has noteworthy indirect appearances on global warming. Awareness promotional portions such as pedometers will endorse population to walk more.

- Educate population on energy-efficient options such as switching from conventional incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents. Maximizing the exercise of natural sunlight not able to simply bring down your monthly electric-powered bills, but it will also lessen your contribution to global warming.

- Plant trees in your neighborhood. This creates a good corporate team-building achievement as well. An average tree bathes higher 330 pounds of carbon dioxide from the blue sky above, consequently lessening global warming. Promotional wearable portions will assist spread your advocacy.

- Inform other population come seal global warming through awareness promotional items. Support candidates any person who will further the cause. Write legislators and inform them of the importance of the scuffle against conditions change.

Remember that every single person is reliant in this war. Spread the word and bolster the cause.

source from : www.goarticles.com

Stop Global Warming

2009-01-19T05:12:00.000-08:00

Global warming is the issue worrying one and all environmentalists around the world. It is now becoming quite imperative that be stop global warming fastest so that the effects of warming that have affected earth adversely are reversed and we are able to live a little happily than before.

There are many things that can be done on a personal level to stop global warming. Firstly, we should know how much heat and pollution is created by every family, this pollution is producing green houses gases and accelerating the process of global warming. One of the answers to stop the warming is that we should consciously start planting trees not just around us, we also ensure that the lost rainforests and tropical forests are restored back to their normal volume.

These tropical and rain forests work as lungs for the entire world, creating oxygen and purifying the air. Therefore, when these are cut off, it can harm the entire ecological system of the Earth, this means there will be very less oxygen and lesser trees to provide us with oxygen. It will make us susceptible to many breathing disorders and other health problems.

We need to stop global warming, is that the scientists have been telling us for quite sometime now. The reason is obvious, if not stopped or reduced, the large snow mountains at the poles will start melting, and this will lead to a sort of catastrophe. World's major population stays at the sea side. Once the ice starts melting it will increase the sea levels several feet above what it is now. It has been already reported from the countries near the North pole that the rising sea levels has caused them to relocate their homes a little farther.

Rising sea levels will mean destruction of huge numbers of human beings, animals, property, industries, flora and fauna. This will also mean flooding and increase in salinity of available ground water. This again is potentially harmful for human health. This will also mean millions of people will have to move from near the sea to interiors. This would also mean loss of life and loss of millions of dollars.

If you feel strongly against global warming you should try and make contributions to organization you feel has been working actively for the purpose to stop global warming. Your small financial contributions can make a lot of difference. Your contributions can provide boost to these organizations to find man power and monetary power to buy land and convert it from arid dry deforested land to a good sized forest.

You can also stop global warming at your personal level. You can try and plant as many trees around your home. You can also try and use minimum electricity, you can try and avoid usage of sprays, non-green products which increase toxic waste on the Planet. It is necessary to stop global warming so our children can live healthy and long lives.

source from : www.goarticles.com

What Can I do About Global Warming?

2009-01-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

During the mid-20th century, scientists have begun to observe and record the steady increase in the average temperature of the oceans as well as on the atmosphere. This change is now termed global warming and is recognized to be one of the leading factors in which the planet has been undergoing drastic climatic changes such severe typhoons and flooding. With all these alarming developments, I could not help but wonder what I can specifically do in order to contribute toward decreasing this adverse phenomenon.

One of the recognized causes of global warming is the emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This particular compound is produced by burning fossil fuels in order to provide energy. One good way to contribute toward reduction of carbon dioxide emissions would be to use a fuel efficient vehicle. This is not a hard thing to do, since a lot of automobile manufacturers have step up to the challenge to develop and sell vehicles that don't consume as much gas as the older models. Another way to help fuel efficiency is to keep my vehicle in top shape and to try carpooling as well as commuting once in a while. It always pays to have engine tune ups regularly as well as to ensure all the tires are properly inflated, as tires not fully inflated can also increase gasoline consumption. Using car air conditioner is also one source of carbon dioxide emissions. On a cool day, driving around with windows open would a good alternative. As for driving less, it not only saves on gas but would also help reduce traffic congestions. It might even encourage a healthier lifestyle, as I now have the option of walking whenever I can.

Carbon dioxide is also emitted by home appliances so it would also make sense to purchase energy-efficient appliances that will not only reduce pollution but also translates to lower energy bill. Using compact fluorescent bulbs is also a good strategy to reduce energy costs. Appliances and light bulbs that came with the Energy Star label are also the most ideal to use and install. Some utility companies even offer rebates for those who made the switch into using energy efficient light bulbs and would also be another way for me to reduce energy bills.

There are also a lot of organizations that are pushing for the use of more renewable energy sources and thereby minimize our reliance on burning fossil fuels. I could also help the fight in global warming by giving my support to these organizations and help educate my friends and family regarding the dangers of global warming and promoting renewable energy at a community level.

Another way to contribute towards the fight against global warming would be to have a 'greener' home. This means a more energy-efficient home. One simple and practical way to ensure this would be to seal all drafts in order to prevent increased used of heating during winters. During summertime, opening the windows and letting cooling breeze come in is a good alternative to using the cooling system. These initiatives also translate into lesser energy bill and more savings on my part.

source from : www.goarticles.com

GLOBAL WARMING

2009-01-16T04:47:00.000-08:00

Global mean surface temperature anomaly relative to 1961–1990

Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation.

Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the 100 years ending in 2005. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that most of the temperature increase since the mid-twentieth century is "very likely" due to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. Natural phenomena such as solar variation and volcanoes probably had a small warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950 and a small cooling effect from 1950 onward. These basic conclusions have been endorsed by at least 30 scientific societies and academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries. While individual scientists have voiced disagreement with these findings, the overwhelming majority of scientists working on climate change agree with the IPCC's main conclusions.^[11]^[12]

Climate model projections indicate that global surface temperature will likely rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century. The uncertainty in this estimate arises from use of differing estimates of future greenhouse gas emissions and from use of models with differing climate sensitivity. Another uncertainty is how warming and related changes will vary from region to region around the globe. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming is expected to continue for more than a thousand years even if greenhouse gas levels are stabilized. This results from the large heat capacity of the oceans.

Increasing global temperature will cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation, likely including an expanse of the subtropical desert regions. Other likely effects include increases in the intensity of extreme weather events, changes in agricultural yields, modifications of trade routes, glacier retreat, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.

Most national governments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Political and public debate continues regarding what, if any, action should be taken to reduce or reverse future warming or to adapt to its expected consequences.

Source From : www.wikipedia.org

Climate Change and Agriculture

2009-01-15T04:51:00.000-08:00

Climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale. Global warming is projected to have significant impacts on conditions affecting agriculture, including temperature, precipitation and glacial run-off. These conditions determine the carrying capacity of the biosphere to produce enough food for the human population and domesticated animals. Rising carbon dioxide levels would also have effects, both detrimental and beneficial, on crop yields. The overall effect of climate change on agriculture will depend on the balance of these effects. Assessment of the effects of global climate changes on agriculture might help to properly anticipate and adapt farming to maximize agricultural production.

At the same time, agriculture has been shown to produce significant effects on climate change, primarily through the production and release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, but also by altering the earth's land cover, which can change its ability to absorb or reflect heat and light, thus contributing to radiative forcing. Land use change such as deforestation and desertification, together with use of fossil fuels, are the major anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide; agriculture itself is the major contributor to increasing methane and nitrous oxide concentrations in earth's atmosphere.

Source From : www.wikipedia.org

Global Warming Controversy

2009-01-13T04:58:00.000-08:00

The global warming controversy is a dispute regarding the nature, causes, and consequences of global warming. The disputed issues include the causes of increased global average air temperature, especially since the mid-20th century, whether this warming trend is unprecedented or within normal climatic variations, and whether the increase is wholly or partially an artifact of poor measurements. Additional disputes concern estimates of climate sensitivity, predictions of additional warming, what the consequences are, and what action should be taken (if any). The debate is vigorous in the popular media and on a policy level, with individuals, corporations, and political organizations all being involved.

Climate models are systems of differential equations based on the basic laws of physics, fluid motion, and chemistry. To “run” a model, scientists divide the planet into a 3-dimensional grid, apply the basic equations, and evaluate the results. The atmospheric component of the model calculates winds, heat transfer, radiation, relative humidity, surface hydrology, and surface fluxes of heat and moisture within each grid and evaluates interactions with neighboring points. The ocean component calculates currents, heat content and salinity. The atmospheric and oceanic components interact, for example with evaporation from the oceans into the atmosphere and with atmospheric winds affecting ocean currents. Different models vary in such basics as grid size and therefore do not give the same results.

Arctic Sea ice as of 2007 compared to 2005 and also compared to 1979-2000 average

Antarctic Skin Temperature Trends between 1981 and
2007, based on thermal infrared observations made
by a series of NOAA satellite sensors. Skin temperature
trends do not necessarily reflect air temperature trends

Source From : www.wikipedia.org

The Health Benefits Of Global Warming

2009-01-12T04:59:00.000-08:00

For 700 years the native Maori people of New Zealand have included the Green-Lipped Mussel as an integral part of their diet. This mysterious and unique mussel is known scientifically as "Perna Canaliculus" or PERNAX to consumers.
What does that have to do with a hole in the Ozone layer? Everything…

Discovered in the 1970s, the Arctic ozone hole is mostly a seasonal phenomenon. The ozone hole occurs during the Antarctic spring, from September to early December, as strong westerly winds start to circulate around the continent and create a bizarre atmospheric container.

Towards the end of spring in the southern hemisphere (mid-December) the warming temperatures cause the container to break up; ozone-rich air from the surrounding area comes flooding in and masses of ozone-depletion process shuts down, temporarily lowering the ozone protection in areas of South America and New Zealand by up to 10%.

This loss of protection above the pristine Marlborough Sound region of NZ creates intense UV exposure which causes all organisms living in this environment to adapt. This adaptation and nutrient-rich surroundings, is what gives the green lipped mussel and PERNAX its rare combination of lipid groups and unique Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Many illnesses can be attributed in part to inflammation. Man-made anti-inflammatory products have proven themselves to be potentially dangerous. Doctors, researchers and scientists around the globe are recognizing and embracing the significance of omega-3s for heart health, joint strength, pre-natal brain function development, and overall well-being.

Studies have shown that diets high in omega-3s can safely assist to reduce pain and illnesses associated with heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, depression, dry-eye, psoriasis, and allergies. New Zealand greenlip mussels are shown to have the highest concentration of omega-3 essential oils on the planet.

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Global Warming - Survive And Thrive

2009-01-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

A region's climate may alter over time becoming hotter, cooler, drier or wetter. Natural selection will determine the organisms with characteristics appropriate to the new climate. Over hundreds and thousands of generations constant minute changes will eventually lead to a new species that can survive and thrive in the altered climate.

The success or failure of an organism is reliant upon its ability to reproduce young that mature to produce more young. Only the young with the greatest survival traits for any given habitat will endure. These surviving young will transfer their adaptive characteristics to the subsequent generations. This process is known as natural selection.

If climatic or environmental changes occur too abruptly some species may not be able to adapt quickly enough and can become extinct. This has become a large problem in recent times with human altered environments changing so rapidly that there has been an ominous rise in the extinction rate.

Birds and mammals are warm-blooded (endothermic). This means they can keep their body at a fairly constant, warm temperature by processing body fat and carbohydrates. All other groups of animals are termed ectothermic as their body temperature is dictated by the temperature of the environment around them. The term cold-blooded is used to describe ectotherms, but this is something of a misnomer, particularly in hot, arid climates. As an example a “cold-blooded” lizard basking in the hot midday sun can easily increase its body temperature to over 100 degrees F, giving it warm blood.

In warm climates organisms need to cool off. Animals' strategies include heat avoidance (by going underground, or into water), or sweating and panting to induce evaporative temperature reduction. Plants must adapt to heat and drought by using leaves to minimise heat stress and water loss.

In cold climates, some endothermic animals continue to be active at night and during the winter, but eat constantly to keep their core temperature steady. Some other approaches adopted by endotherms include minimising heat loss with body insulation such as fat, feathers or hair, or avoidance of adverse temperatures by migration to a cooler environment or burrowing underground, or reducing body temperature by hibernating.

But even man, so often adaptable to the conditions we find ourselves, can be vulnerable to rapid climatic change. The Icelandic Vikings that settled on the south western coast of Greenland in the 10th Century eventually died out within 500 years as they were caught by the grip of the Little Ice Age. This was a period of cooling after a warmer period, known as the Medieval Warm Period. The Little Ice Age brought bitterly cold winters to the Northern Hemisphere and the Greenland Viking colonies died out simply because they could no longer grow enough food there to support themselves. They had arrived on Greenland in much more favourable climatic times.

So whether endothermic or ectothermic life has a way of surviving, and although our current global warming trend is a serious cause for concern, the earth has seen it all before, and I am sure life will endure.

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Worries On Global Warming

2009-01-10T05:03:00.000-08:00

Global Warming has been an impending topic since years and very few people are looking into it. It has now reached levels where nations need to be involved to make the difference. Because the disadvantages of global warming are percolating into the life of the common man.

For instance along with atmospheric changes the warming has affected farming, there is a stark rise in sea levels, glaciers are reiterating, and most of all the climate is being affected. If this is not sufficient to scare us then the secondary effects on the same are said to be extreme weather changes, extinction of mass species, agricultural yields to change and trade routes are set to change.

If we take one aspect – changes in climate will lead to increase in diseases. Hence more people will fall ill. More discomfort, more running to the doctor, lesser beds in hospitals ....chaos. More claims to make with the health insurance, an industry that will dwindle because of the increasing pressure. Make a note of this and soon you will be able to understand the magnitude of the pressure on the insurance agencies – be it health, property, elements or any other.

Reasons for global warming are known to all. The industrial revolution in the mid 1700s began the emissions of harmful gases like methane, CFCs and nitrous oxide. Over the centuries the percentages of these harmful gases have increased alarmingly leading to world changes.

Okay so we all know the reasons, what about the solutions. Well they too are made known to us. But it is up to the individual conscience to retreat from wrong doing and amend the deteriorating environment. Also even though laws and regulations are in place, enforcement should be made compulsory. No one should be able to do as they please. Time to time checks or surprise checks should be carried out at noted industries so no monkey business can happen.

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