ENP 250 Final Exam Blog Post: Climate Change

In the last decade, the discussion about climate change, or global warming, has dramatically increased. There are those who believe that Earth is in immediate danger of drastic consequences related to global warming, as well as people who believe that the effects of greenhouse gases are insignificant. It is important to learn the facts to formulate an opinion not based on that of others.

Quick facts:

• Gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide are called greenhouse gases.
• These gases are put out into the environment by cars, generation of electricity, and pollution from factories, just to name a few.
• These gases cause the deterioration of the ozone, which protects the Earth from the sun's harmful UV rays. 

Recent changes:

• Temperatures around the world have climbed an average of about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since the year 1880
• Ice in arctic areas is disappearing, the effects of which can be seen by damage done to polar bear populations
• Coral reefs are being affected, as well as plants and animals due to wildfires and stronger tropical storms

While human industry and activity have contributed to pollution in the Earth's atmosphere, some believe that such activity does not cause global increase in temperature. This argument attributes temperature change to phenomenon such as natural climate cycles based on the tilt of the Earth on its axis and changing currents in the ocean, causing cold and warm water to alternate on the surface waters. Another factor is sunspot exposure, which also alternates over long periods of time. 

Many people have strong opinions on this topic, so we should not take what they have to say at face value. Making informed decisions about this topic is important, instead of believing one report that may end up being slightly false or biased. 

Sources:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/05/31/sorry-global-warming-alarmists-the-earth-is-cooling/2/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming_2.html

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes

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High-Density Polyethylene

The main plastic found in most household bottles, HDPE is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. It is not a biodegradable material, and recycling is the best way to lower the impact of HDPE on the environment in both waste management and the protection of resources.

To produce virgin HDPE, 12 million btu is required in processing,
and the energy for material resource is 31 million btu.

HDPE can be used to make:

• Milk containers
• Tupperware
• Shampoo bottles
• Motor oil bottles

Once recycled, HDPE is turned into:

• Piping
• Plastic lumber
• Rope
• Toys
• Recycling/trash cans

Here is a full HDPE Life-Cycle Analysis Report for the American Chemistry Council...

China's Three Gorges Dam - A Threat To Our Sustainable Future

Three Gorges Dam, Sandoupingzhen, China

China's Three Gorges Dam poses a huge threat to the local environment by causing landslides, altering entire ecosystems, and harming the people of the area. 

The dam generates 18,000 megawatts of power, which of course is great for the local economy. However the environmental problems created by the goliath structure far outweigh the benefits, especially through a perspective of a sustainable future for China's energy production.

Read a full article by Mara Hvistendahl, published in the Scientific American on March 25, 2008.

Haiku Excercise

                   Urban Garden in Brooklyn, NY


     Growth in the city 
     Is stunted - its fruit extinct.
     So we will change that.