Environmental issues by Fernanda https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi by Senior V en-us 2019-04-17 10:54:56 UTC 2023-05-15 00:01:26 UTC hello@padlet.com Air pollution 8 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/355905120
NO LINKS, NO PHOTOS....
Pollution of air. Industry and engine vehicle fumes are the most obvious toxins. Substantial metals, nitrates and plastic are poisons in charge of pollution. While water contamination is brought about by oil slicks, acid rain, and urban sprawl; air contamination is created by different gasses and poisons discharged by businesses and manufacturing plants and burning of fossil fills; soil contamination is majorly created by mechanical waste that takes supplements out of the soil.

Words Related to Air Pollution

carbon monoxide; sulphur; ozone; pollen; gas; smog; pollution; radon; formaldehyde; lung cancer; pesticide; asthma; hydrogen sulfide; acid rain; ultraviolet; particulate matter; nitrogen oxide; inflammation; black carbon; nitrogen; carbon dioxide; asbestosis; pneumonia; stroke; car; chemical; heart disease; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; particles; smoke; toxic; carbon; carcinogen

Belén E. Aguinalde

 

]]> 2019-05-01 17:45:59 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/355905120 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/355906294 WHOSE IS THIS????]]> 2019-05-01 17:48:12 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/355906294 Solar Panels 10 nachomassun https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356015035 by Ignacio Massun
What are they?
Photovoltaic solar panels absorb sunlight as a source of energy to generate electricity. A photovoltaic (PV) module is a packaged, connected assembly of typically 6x10 photovoltaic solar cells. Photovoltaic modules constitute the photovoltaic array of a photovoltaic system that generates and supplies solar electricity in commercial and residential applications.

Their advantages:
·         Impact on the Environment
·         Reduce Your Energy Bill
·         Energy Production Matches the Time Frame of Higher Demand
·         Solar Energy Is Applicable Everywhere
·         Less Electricity Lost During Long-Distance Transport.
·         Improves Grid Security

Useful vocabulary:
https://relatedwords.org/relatedto/solar%20panels

Video:
https://youtu.be/HciKU63dLtA

]]> 2019-05-02 00:18:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356015035 Global Warming by Lourdes Garcia Dominguez 9 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356027477 ¿What causes Global Warming?

Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants and greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface. Normally, this radiation would escape into space—but these pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter. That's what's known as the greenhouse effect.

Consequences of global warming

Each year, scientists learn more about the consequences of global warming, and many agree that environmental, economic, and health consequences are likely to occur if current trends continue. Here’s just a smattering of what we can look forward to:

  • Melting glaciers, early snowmelt, and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages and increase the risk of wildfires in the American West.
  • Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding on the Eastern Seaboard, especially in Florida, and in other areas such as the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Forests, farms, and cities will face troublesome new pests, heat waves, heavy downpours, and increased flooding. All those factors will damage or destroy agriculture and fisheries.
  • Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and Alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal species to extinction.
  • Allergies, asthma, and infectious disease outbreaks will become more common due to increased growth of pollen-producing ragweed, higher levels of air pollution, and the spread of conditions favorable to pathogens and mosquitoes.

Link to a video that explains global warming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McRYTC56DC4

Vocabulary to use when talking about global warming:
https://nepschool.com/en/posts/vocabulary-about-global-warming/


]]> 2019-05-02 01:18:56 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356027477 Water Energy by Candelaria Rossi 10 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356038012 Definition:
About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered in water. The energy harnessed from moving water can be used to create electricity. The two most common water energy technologies can be classified into two groups: Hydropower and Tidal Power.

Hydropower is electrical energy derived from falling or running water. The movement of the water turns the blades of a turbine, which is connected to a generator.  This converts the mechanical energy into electricity. There are two primary hydropower technologies - dams and run of river hydro. A famous example of a dam (as well as a natural world wonder) is Niagara Falls, the biggest electricity producer in New York State, generating enough electricity to light 24 million 100–watt bulbs at once. Hydropower is the most commonly used renewable form of energy, accounting for approximately 16% of global electricity production. 

Tidal power converts the natural rise and fall of the tides into electricity.  Tidal energy uses mechanical energy to create electricity using a variety of specific technologies including tidal fences, barrages and turbines.   Additionally, wave power can be harnessed to capture energy from waves on the surface of the ocean using a special buoy or other floating device.

Comment: 
The advantages of using water energy outweigh the disadvantages. 
Advantages: Is renewable, safe and green (it does not pollute).
Disadvantages: Is quite expensive and my cause droughts. 

Why is considerate as a renewable energy?
Energy from water is considered a renewable energy because it uses the Earth's water cycle and gravitational pull to generate electricity. It also does not emit greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants. However, depending on the water energy technology, negative environmental land use impacts can be an issue.

Related vocabulary: https://relatedwords.org/relatedto/water%20energy

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OeqKLiEwZ0

News: https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/articles/look-back-water-power-2018

Images: 
]]> 2019-05-02 02:15:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356038012 Microplastics by Pilar Merlo https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356192640 Microplastics  9


What is this?  
WHAT ARE THESE?
They are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.
Plastic is the most prevalent type of marine debris found in our ocean and Great Lakes. Plastic debris can come in all shapes and sizes, but those that are less than five millimeters in length (or about the size of a sesame seed) are called “microplastics.”
Microplastics come from a variety of sources, including from larger plastic debris that degrades into smaller and smaller pieces. In addition, microbeads, a type of microplastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants to health and beauty products, such as some cleansers and toothpastes. These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and Great Lakes, posing a potential threat to aquatic life.
An example of microplastic is glitter which is truly damaging for sea animals.
Did you know?
Microplastics can come from a variety of sources including larger plastic pieces that have broken apart, resin pellets used for plastic manufacturing, or in the form of microbeads, which are small, manufactured plastic beads used in health and beauty products.

Video:
https://youtu.be/Y0Ks8oSUgIs

Useful vocabulary:
https://www.ieltsetc.com/2017/06/ielts-vocabulary-topic-microplastics/
]]> 2019-05-02 13:34:39 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356192640 Salmon Aquaculture 6 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356408428 NO VOCABULARY.....
By: María Eugenia Gill
As an industry, the ocean-farming of salmon is only about 40 years old.
 
But the harm it causes has been widely documented, ranging from spreading parasites to pesticide pollution, and escaped fish muddying the wild salmon gene pool.
 
Antimicrobials used in salmon aquaculture pass into the marine environment. This could have negative impacts on marine environmental biodiversity, and on terrestrial animal and human health as a result of selection for bacteria containing antimicrobial resistance genes. 
 
Salmon farms are breeding grounds for sea lice due to the high densities of fish in relatively small net-cages. In an attempt to control chronic lice infestation, salmon farmers use pesticide treatments. Emamectin benzoate (marketed as SLICE®) is the preferred chemical for sea lice control in Canada. However, the use of this pesticide has long been opposed by scientists and environmental groups due to lack of thorough scientific research on its effects.
 
Farmed salmon ingest SLICE as an additive to their feed. Upon digestion, the drug passes through the lining of the fish’s gut and into its tissues, where it is then absorbed by sea lice attached to the fish’s body. SLICE can begin to control sea lice numbers on fish in as little as a few days after treatment. Although SLICE contains emamectin benzoate (0.2%), an active ingredient in pesticides, it is classified as a drug because it is fed to the fish rather than applied externally.
 
SLICE is not a targeted treatment; it affects the skeletal build up of crustaceans—including prawns, crab, and shrimp, as well as sea lice. Also, because of its ability to accumulate in sediments, SLICE could become toxic to other marine life. 

]]> 2019-05-02 21:20:08 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356408428 Ozone layer depletion by Sofía Cacciato 6 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356409848
NO VOCABULARY...
Formation of the ozone

Ozone is a colorless gas found in the upper atmosphere of the Earth. It is formed when oxygen molecules absorb ultraviolet photons, and undergo a chemical reaction known as photo dissociation or photolysis.

The most important reason for ozone layer depletion is the production and emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). This is what which leads to almost 80 percent of the total ozone layer depletion. 
Such substances are found in vehicular emissions, by-products of industrial processes, aerosols and refrigerants. All these ozone depleting substances remain stable in the lower atmospheric region, but as they reach the stratosphere, they get exposed to the ultra violet rays. This leads to their breakdown and releasing of free chlorine atoms which reacts with the ozone gas, thus leading to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Effects

As ozone depletes in the stratosphere, it forms a 'hole' in the layer. This hole enables harmful ultraviolet rays to enter the Earth's atmosphere. Ultraviolet rays of the Sun are associated with a number of health-related, and environmental issues. Let us take a look at how ozone depletion affects different life forms.


Impact on Humans

Skin cancer: Exposure to ultraviolet rays poses an increased risk of developing several types of skin cancers, including malignant melanoma, and basal and squamous cell carcinoma.

Eye damage: Direct exposure to UV radiations can result in photokeratitis (snow blindness), and cataracts.
Immune system damage:Effects of UV rays include impairment of the immune system. Increased exposure to UV rays weakens the response of the immune system.

Accelerated aging of skin:Constant exposure to UV radiation can cause photo allergy, which results in the outbreak of rashes in fair-skinned people.

Other effects: Ozone chemicals can cause difficulty in breathing, chest pain, throat irritation, and hamper lung functioning.


Growing concern for ozone depletion led to the adoption of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, in order to reduce and control industrial emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). 
However, more is needed to prevent the ozone from depletion. Using/buying more recycled products, saving energy, using public transport, and most importantly, spreading awareness. Our individual efforts can go a long way in saving the Earth's blanket.




]]> 2019-05-02 21:27:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356409848 By Guadalupe Kovacic https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356414382 THE EXTINCTION CRISIS
 NO VOVABULARY.... 7
It's frightening but true: Our planet is now in the midst of its sixth mass extinction of plants and animals — the sixth wave of extinctions in the past half-billion years. We're currently experiencing the worst spate of species die-offs since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Although extinction is a natural phenomenon, it occurs at a natural “background” rate of about one to five species per year. Scientists estimate we're now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the background rate, with literally dozens going extinct every day . It could be a scary future indeed, with as many as 30 to 50 percent of all species possibly heading toward extinction by mid-century.
Unlike past mass extinctions, caused by events like asteroid strikes, volcanic eruptions, and natural climate shifts, the current crisis is almost entirely caused by us — humans. In fact, 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, and global warming. Because the rate of change in our biosphere is increasing, and because every species' extinction potentially leads to the extinction of others bound to that species in a complex ecological web, numbers of extinctions are likely to snowball in the coming decades as ecosystems unravel.

Species diversity ensures ecosystem resilience, giving ecological communities the scope they need to withstand stress. Thus while conservationists often justifiably focus their efforts on species-rich ecosystems like rainforests and coral reefs — which have a lot to lose — a comprehensive strategy for saving biodiversity must also include habitat types with fewer species, like grasslands, tundra, and polar seas — for which any loss could be irreversibly devastating. And while much concern over extinction focuses on globally lost species, most of biodiversity's benefits take place at a local level, and conserving local populations is the only way to ensure genetic diversity critical for a species' long-term survival.

In the past 500 years, we know of approximately 1,000 species that have gone extinct, from the woodland bison of West Virginia and Arizona's Merriam's elk to the Rocky Mountain grasshopper, passenger pigeon and Puerto Rico's Culebra parrot — but this doesn't account for thousands of species that disappeared before scientists had a chance to describe them . Nobody really knows how many species are in danger of becoming extinct. Noted conservation scientist David Wilcove estimates that there are 14,000 to 35,000 endangered species in the United States, which is 7 to 18 percent of U.S. flora and fauna. The IUCN has assessed roughly 3 percent of described species and identified 16,928 species worldwide as being threatened with extinction, or roughly 38 percent of those assessed. In its latest four-year endangered species assessment, the IUCN reports that the world won't meet a goal of reversing the extinction trend toward species depletion by 2010.

What's clear is that many thousands of species are at risk of disappearing forever in the coming decades.

AMPHIBIANS

No group of animals has a higher rate of endangerment than amphibians. Scientists estimate that a third or more of all the roughly 6,300 known species of amphibians are at risk of extinction. The current amphibian extinction rate may range from 25,039 to 45,474 times the background extinction rate.

Frogs, toads, and salamanders are disappearing because of habitat loss, water and air pollution, climate change, ultraviolet light exposure, introduced exotic species, and disease. Because of their sensitivity to environmental changes, vanishing amphibians should be viewed as the canary in the global coal mine, signaling subtle yet radical ecosystem changes that could ultimately claim many other species, including humans.

BIRDS

Birds occur in nearly every habitat on the planet and are often the most visible and familiar wildlife to people across the globe. As such, they provide an important bellwether for tracking changes to the biosphere. Declining bird populations across most to all habitats confirm that profound changes are occurring on our planet in response to human activities.

A 2009 report on the state of birds in the United States found that 251 (31 percent) of the 800 species in the country are of conservation concern. Globally, BirdLife International estimates that 12 percent of known 9,865 bird species are now considered threatened, with 192 species, or 2 percent, facing  an “extremely high risk” of extinction in the wild — two more species than in 2008. Habitat loss and degradation have caused most of the bird declines, but the impacts of invasive species and capture by collectors play a big role, too.

FISH

Increasing demand for water, the damming of rivers throughout the world, the dumping and accumulation of various pollutants, and invasive species make aquatic ecosystems some of the most threatened on the planet; thus, it's not surprising that there are many fish species that are endangered in both freshwater and marine habitats.

The American Fisheries Society identified 700 species of freshwater or anadromous fish in North America as being imperiled, amounting to 39 percent of all such fish on the continent. In North American marine waters, at least 82 fish species are imperiled. Across the globe, 1,851 species of fish —  21 percent of all fish species evaluated —  were deemed at risk of extinction by the IUCN in 2010, including more than a third of sharks and rays.

INVERTEBRATES

Invertebrates, from butterflies to mollusks to earthworms to corals, are vastly diverse — and though no one knows just how many invertebrate species exist, they're estimated to account for about 97 percent of the total species of animals on Earth. Of the 1.3 million known invertebrate species, the IUCN has evaluated about 9,526 species, with about 30 percent of the species evaluated at risk of extinction. Freshwater invertebrates are severely threatened by water pollution, groundwater withdrawal, and water projects, while a large number of invertebrates of notable scientific significance have become either endangered or extinct due to deforestation, especially because of the rapid destruction of tropical rainforests. In the ocean, reef-building corals are declining at an alarming rate: 2008's first-ever comprehensive global assessment of these animals revealed that a third of reef-building corals are threatened.

MAMMALS

Perhaps one of the most striking elements of the present extinction crisis is the fact that the majority of our closest relatives — the primates — are severely endangered. About 90 percent of primates — the group that contains monkeys, lemurs, lorids, galagos, tarsiers, and apes (as well as humans) — live in tropical forests, which are fast disappearing. The IUCN estimates that almost 50 percent of the world's primate species are at risk of extinction. Overall, the IUCN estimates that half the globe's 5,491 known mammals are declining in population and a fifth are clearly at risk of disappearing forever with no less than 1,131 mammals across the globe classified as endangered, threatened, or vulnerable. In addition to primates, marine mammals — including several species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises — are among those mammals slipping most quickly toward extinction.

PLANTS
Through photosynthesis, plants provide the oxygen we breathe and the food we eat and are thus the foundation of most life on Earth. They're also the source of a majority of medicines in use today. Of the more than 300,000 known species of plants, the IUCN has evaluated only 12,914 species, finding that about 68 percent of evaluated plant species are threatened with extinction.

Unlike animals, plants can't readily move as their habitat is destroyed, making them particularly vulnerable to extinction. Indeed, one study found that habitat destruction leads to an “extinction debt,” whereby plants that appear dominant will disappear over time because they aren't able to disperse to new habitat patches. Global warming is likely to substantially exacerbate this problem. Already, scientists say, warming temperatures are causing quick and dramatic changes in the range and distribution of plants around the world. With plants making up the backbone of ecosystems and the base of the food chain, that's very bad news for all species, which depend on plants for food, shelter, and survival.

REPTILES

Globally, 21 percent of the total evaluated reptiles in the world are deemed endangered or vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN — 594 species — while in the United States, 32 reptile species are at risk, about 9 percent of the total. Island reptile species have been dealt the hardest blow, with at least 28 island reptiles having died out since 1600. But scientists say that island-style extinctions are creeping onto the mainlands because human activities fragment continental habitats, creating “virtual islands” as they isolate species from one another, preventing interbreeding and hindering populations' health. The main threats to reptiles are habitat destruction and the invasion of nonnative species, which prey on reptiles and compete with them for habitat and food.

Some useful vocabulary regarding the main topic:
endangered,  species, endangered species, threatened, extinct, deforestation, conserve, habitat, extinction, carnivore, herbivore, adaptation, predator, common species, omnivore, food chain, environmentalist, ecosystem, conservation effort, global warming, recover, vulnerable, reforestation, poach, area of occupancy, wildlife, risk, development, decline, conservation, near threatened, monitor, extinct in the wild, overhunt, overharvest, overfish, sustainability, critically endangered, breed in captivity, vulnerable species, threatened species and threatened categories.

Documentary:
No te pierdas "Nuestro planeta" en Netflix
www.netflix.com/title/80049832?source=android


]]> 2019-05-02 21:52:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356414382 Deforestation by Micaela Rama 6 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356418220
NO VOCABULARY....

What is Deforestation?

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. 

Forests still cover about 30 percent of the world’s land area, but they are disappearing at an alarming rate. We need trees for a variety of reasons, not least of which is that they absorb not only the carbon dioxide that we exhale, but also the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that human activities emit. As those gases enter the atmosphere, global warming increases, a trend scientists now prefer to call climate change. 

Deforestation affects the people and animals where trees are cut, as well as the wider world. Eighty percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and deforestation threatens species including the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, and many species of birds. Removing trees deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, which blocks the sun’s rays during the day and retains heat at night. That disruption leads to more extreme temperature swings that can be harmful to plants and animals. 

Many believe that to counter deforestation, people simply need to plant more trees. Though a massive replanting effort would help to alleviate the problems deforestation caused, it would not solve them all. 

Video 

https://youtu.be/Ic-J6hcSKa8 

]]> 2019-05-02 22:19:43 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356418220 Delfina Sánchez Bottini Climate change 9 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356421533 NO NAME....

https://youtu.be/G4H1N_yXBiAClimate change is the catch-all term for the shift in worldwide weather phenomena associated with an increase in global average temperatures. It's real and temperatures have been going up around the world for many decades.
The effects of anthropogenic – human-caused – climate change range from more frequent and severe droughts to snowstorms and extreme winter weather in temperate regions as a result of warming Arctic weather fronts.


It's not only humans that are affected. Warming ocean temperatures are increasing the frequency of coram reef bleaching ; warmer, drier weather means that forests in some regions are no longer recovering from wildfires and wildlife habitats around the world are becoming less hospitable to animals.


Climate change is having economic and socio-political effects, too. Food security is already being impacted in a number of African countries and researchers are studying suggestive links between climate change and an increased likelihood of military 

Vocabulary:
Ecosystem- Atmosphere- Weather- Precipitation- Fossil fuel- Natural gas- Greenhouse gas- Water vapor- Carbon dioxide- Methane- Ozone- Ultraviolet radiation- Greenhouse effect

https://images.app.goo.gl/NP1Ze6E2XP5cVm4w6


]]> 2019-05-02 22:44:33 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356421533 Deforestation 7 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356427788 By Tomás Rieken
NO VOCABULARY ....
Deforestation, is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land which is then converted to a non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches or urbanization. The most concentrated deforestation occurs in tropical rainforests. About 31% of Earth's land surface is covered by forests. 
Deforestation can occur for several reasons: trees can be cut down to be used for building or sold as fuel (sometimes in the form of charcoal or timber), while cleared land can be used as pasture for livestock and plantation. The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in habitat damage, biodiversity loss, and aridity. It has adverse impacts on biosequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Deforestation has also been used in war to deprive the enemy of vital resources and cover for its forces. Modern examples of this were the use of Agent Orange by the British military in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency and by the United States military in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. As of 2005, net deforestation rates had ceased to increase in countries with a per capita GDP of at least US$4,600. Deforested regions typically incur significant adverse soil erosion and frequently degrade into wasteland.

Environmental effects
Deforestation is a contributor to global warming and is often cited as one of the major causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect. Tropical deforestation is responsible for approximately 20% of world greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation causes carbon dioxide to linger in the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide accrues, it produces a layer in the atmosphere that traps radiation from the sun. The radiation converts to heat which causes global warming, which is better known as the greenhouse effect.
The water cycle is also affected by deforestation. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When part of a forest is removed, the trees no longer transpire this water, resulting in a much drier climate. Deforestation reduces the content of water in the soil and groundwater as well as atmospheric moisture. The dry soil leads to lower water intake for the trees to extract. Deforestation reduces soil cohesion, so that erosion, flooding and landslides ensue.




]]> 2019-05-02 23:29:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356427788 A new continent is discovered 10 luciano_ciattino https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356431016
What are you saying?

There is a seventh continent that is a third of the size of the United States but completely uninhabited. And for good reason, since it consists of an accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans.

In 1997, the American oceanographer Charles Moore discovered the first center of waste in the sea: an area of 3.4 million square kilometres contaminated by floating plastic waste, accumulating in the North Pacific gyre, a giant swirling mass of water formed by the ocean currents. Broken down into small pieces and micro-particles, the waste forms a “plastic soup” that is invisible to the human eye.

How did this happen?

From the beginning when we first throw into the sea the plastic, in the form of a bag, bottle, or straw. At that moment we started this plastic path. Due to the tides and currents of the ocean there are points where the plastic meets and because it can not flow it gets stuck, thus generating an island of plastic.

How can it be solved?

Currently, there are several investigations about eliminating that massive amount of plastic. Scientists are developing a bacterium that feeds on plastic, but does not survive the conditions that the island posse. Another possible solution is a mutation in the worm of the yield, which causes this insect to eat plastic and produce yield with it.

But from our place we can only comply with the daily recycling in our homes, picking up the garbage from the street, or reducing the costs of water, plastic, or other materials that can produce an evil to the planet.

Vocabulary:

https://relatedwords.org/relatedto/plastic

https://www.livingcircular.veolia.com/en/eco-citizen/seventh-continent-plastic

https://es.greenpeace.org/es/trabajamos-en/consumismo/plasticos/como-llega-el-plastico-a-los-oceanos-y-que-sucede-entonces/

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMncyN_C-pQ

]]> 2019-05-02 23:46:46 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356431016 Greenhouse Effect 10 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356432555 Definition: The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere. If a planet's atmosphere contains radiatively active gases, for example greenhouse gases, they will radiate energy in all directions. Part of this radiation is directed towards the surface, warming it.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT


The increase in the average temperature on Earth is changing living conditions on the planet. This are some consequences:

  • Flooding of islands and coastal cities:                                                                 During the period 1901-2010 the global average sea level rose 19 centimetres. It is estimated that by 2100 the sea level will be between 15 and 90 centimetres higher than it is now.

  • Hurricanes will be more devastating:                                   The intensification of the greenhouse effect does not cause these extreme climatic events, but it does increase there intensity. Hurricanes are connected with sea temperature, they only form over waters that have a temperature of at least 26.51 ºC.

  • Migration of species:                                                        Many animal species will be forced to migrate in order to survive the changes in the main climatic patterns altered by the progressive increase in temperatures. Human beings will also have to move, according to the World Bank, by 2050 the number of people forced to flee their homes due to extreme droughts or violent floods could reach 140 million.

HOW TO SOLVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT


Reducing emissions of the so-called greenhouse gases, such as CO2 or CH4 is not the only solution to curb the greenhouse effect. International organisations also agree on the following recommendations:
  • Use renewable energy. 
  • Use public transport and other non-polluting means, such as electric vehicles or bicycles.
  • Promote ecological awareness among citizens and different administrations.
  • Commit to recycling and the circular economy. 
  • Reduce the consumption of meat.
  • Consume organic products. 


Useful vocabulary:

https://relatedwords.org/relatedto/Greenhouse%20effect


Video explaining the Greenhouse effect:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VYMjSule0Bw


By Nicolás Almécija





]]> 2019-05-02 23:54:31 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356432555 Climate Change in the Arctic 7 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356434783
AGAIN NO VOCABULARY!
By Tomás Rieken
 
The effects of global warming in the Arctic, or climate change in the Arctic include rising air and water temperatures, loss of sea ice, and melting of the Greenland ice sheet with a related cold temperature anomaly, observed since the 1970s. Related impacts include ocean circulation changes, increased input of freshwater, and ocean acidification. Indirect effects through potential climate teleconnections to mid latitudes may result in a greater frequency of extreme weather events (flooding, fires and drought), ecological, biological and phenology changes, biological migrations and extinctions, natural resource stresses and as well as human health, displacement and security issues. Potential methane releases from the region, especially through the thawing of permafrost and methane clathrates, may occur. Presently, the Arctic is warming twice as fast compared to the rest of the world. The pronounced warming signal, is often seen as a leading indicator of global warming. The melting of Greenland's ice sheet is linked to polar amplification. According to a study published in 2016, about 0.5 °C of the warming in the Arctic has been attributed to reductions in sulfate aerosols in Europe since 1980.
 
Rising temperatures
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, "warming in the Arctic, as indicated by daily maximum and minimum temperatures, has been as great as in any other part of the world. “The period of 1995–2005 was the warmest decade in the Arctic since at least the 17th century, with temperatures 2 °C above the 1951–1990 average. Some regions within the Arctic have warmed even more rapidly, with Alaska and western Canada's temperature rising by 3 to 4 °C. This warming has been caused by the rise in greenhouse gas concentration. A 2013 article published in Geophysical Research Letters has shown that temperatures in the region haven't been as high as they currently are since at least 44,000 years ago and perhaps as long as 120,000 years ago. The authors conclude that "anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gases have led to unprecedented regional warmth." 
Decline of sea ice
Sea ice is currently in decline in area, extent, and volume and may cease to exist sometime during the 21st century. Sea ice area refers to the total area covered by ice.
]]> 2019-05-03 00:07:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356434783 HUMAN OVERPOPULATION: 9 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356437297
NO NAME!!!!
Definition:

Human overpopulation (or population overshoot) occurs when the ecological footprint of a human population in a specific geographical location exceeds the carrying capacity of the place occupied by that group. Overpopulation  can further be viewed, in a long term perspective, as existing if a population cannot be maintained given the rapid depletion of non-renewable resources or given the degradation of the capacity of the environment to give support to the population.

Related vocabulary:
http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Word=overpopulation&org1=syl&org2=l&typeofrhyme=rel&org3=y

Comment:
The dangers of overpopulation may be:
Environment
More and more people need room to live. They are taking away the living areas of animals and plants.
Cities have problems making enough drinking water for thousands of people who want to start a new life there every year.
Population in rural areas is growing too. People need more food and have to grow more crops on the same land. This means that the quality of the soil is getting worse and worse.
More and more trees are being destroyed, especially in tropical regions. More carbon dioxide, which is usually taken up by trees, is now set free into the atmosphere. This leads to global warming.
Poverty
Population growth is highest in developing countries. Young people have to care for their parents and grandparents, so they have less money to buy the things that they need. They stay poor.
Africa is the fastest-growing continent on earth. But its people are getting poorer and poorer. Every third person in Africa doesn’t have enough to eat. The average African family has about 5 children.
Food and Water
The “Green Revolution” of the 1960s and 70s has given farmers better methods and tools to grow crops and food. But, still, they cannot produce enough to feed the growing population. Food will get expensive for these countries because some of them have to buy it from industrial countries. Many people die of starvation and millions more will die in the future.
In addition, about 400 million people all over the world live in places where there is not enough drinking water.
Unemployment
Many Third World countries have a high number of children or young people. Unemployment will be going up over the next decades, because the governments cannot create enough jobs to give work to its younger generation. Young people who can’t find any work sometimes try to get money by stealing, dealing with 🤬 or doing other illegal things. This might lead to social unrest in such countries.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG7R1SOupJg

Images:
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/uw-s3-cdn/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/06/04194421/UNpopulationmap.jpg

]]> 2019-05-03 00:21:20 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356437297 Why pesticides are damaging to our soil: By Victoria Tiranti 6 https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356444429
NO VOCABULARY....
What are pesticides?
Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests. In general, a pesticide is a chemical or biological agent (such as a virus, bacterium, or fungus ) that deters, incapacitates, kills, or otherwise discourages pests.

Soil can be degraded and the community of organisms living in the soil can be damaged by the misuse or over use of pesticides. Some pesticides are more toxic to soil organisms than others. Some pesticides may break down quickly when applied to soils, while others may persist for longer periods. The type of soil and the type of pesticide can also affect pesticide persistence.

Despite the fact that pesticides can be extremely beneficial for massive production and for controlling pests, the fact that can be harmful to the land is concerning. The over use of this substances can cause a shift not only in the soil itself but the living creature’s cycle who live near farms.
Pesticides not only reach land but also water and vegetables. 
In most cases, the well known “organic farms” are also contaminated with these kinds of chemicals and are , clearly, bad for the human system as well.
I personally believe that , considering the benefits of pesticides, they should not be completely abolished but controlled. If instead of using it continuously farmers and companies can establish an irrigation schedule checked by the government or even pesticide and soil experts to make it even more accurate

]]> 2019-05-03 00:56:34 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356444429 NO NAME!!!! NOT WHAT WAS REQUIRED! https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356445322 This is the world: 
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https://office.com/getword]]> 2019-05-03 01:00:55 UTC https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356445322 Acidic Oceans https://padlet.com/mariafernandapaz/7t5agv25qywi/wish/356525261 ?????


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