https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4 MP2 en-us 2018-01-20 01:10:00 UTC 2018-05-15 12:27:07 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Xmastree.png 18wajdap https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222974613 NASA just ranked 2017 as the second hottest year since the data was first recorded in 1880. The only year to have been hotter was 2016. Even more shockingly, it came during a year without El Nino, which as we learned, naturally increases the average temperature. Gavin A. Schmidt, the man in charge of the committee that compiled that data at NASA, was quoted saying, "It's not that we've gotten to a plateau, this isn't where we're going to stay. In ten years we are going to say, 'oh look another decade of record setting temperatures'". Scientists also project that if our temperatures rise more than an average of 2 degrees celsius, the climate will hit a "disastrous point of no return".]]> 2018-01-20 01:11:11 UTC https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222974613 18wajdap https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222975071 This article outlines the idea that environmental issues are becoming increasingly bipartisan, and that this trend has no plans of stopping soon.  Fewer than a third of republicans nationwide would say that climate change is caused by humans, compared to an overwhelming majority of democrats.  As a result of today's hyper partisanship, "Being skeptical about global warming has become part of Republican or conservative identity", says Riley E. Dunlap, a professor of environmental ecology at Oklahoma State University. Due to this overall trend, it will become harder for environmental legislation to become passed. ]]> 2018-01-20 01:23:49 UTC https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222975071 18wajdap https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222975497 A team of researchers led by Daniel Scott, a University of Waterloo professor, recently did research that analyzed the rising temperatures in all of the previous Olympic Winter Games sites. They came to the conclusion that of the 21 sites, 9 of them will have temperatures too high to host another Winter Games by the year 2050. The researchers were also quick to point out that conditions for the Winter Games have not been ideal in recent years either. In Sochi, a record number of snowboarders wiped out during their half-pipe run. This crazy occurrence was due to the quality of the snow at the top of the pipe. The sugary texture slowed the riders down right as they were attempting their most difficult maneuvers.  ]]> 2018-01-20 01:33:40 UTC https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222975497 18wajdap https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222976255 Most articles about climate change have a very saddening view on the Earth's future, but this one is quite the opposite.  According to a team of researchers from Leeds, England, if we continue creating environmental legislation at even a bit of a faster rate, then we may just end up at the lowest end of their predicted average temperature range at the end of the century.  They were able to predict this using something called "equilibrium climate sensitivity". The only problem with this data is that it is just that - predictions. Should we hit temperature ranges just a tad higher, the same scientists say that we are essentially doomed.]]> 2018-01-20 01:58:30 UTC https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222976255 18wajdap https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222976423 Data shows that 2017 caused more damage in terms of dollars as a result of natural disasters than any year in history. The total cost was estimated at $306 billion. For comparison, that money could probably buy the entirety of the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. There were 16 disasters that totaled over $1 billion in damage. The firm also confirmed that there were a total of 710 natural catastrophic disasters, nearly a hundred more than the average. This data begs the question, is rebuilding in the same areas worth it?]]> 2018-01-20 02:07:07 UTC https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222976423 18wajdap https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222976923 Recent research shows that the cold snap of the last few weeks is not the result of climate change.  This research was done as a result of Trump's odd tweet saying that the East Coast "could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming. Al Gore then responded to the tweet by saying that he believed that the drastic temperature change was just some more of that good old climate change. The researchers also said that these swings are just natural in North America, and that while they'll still happen, they will most likely not be severe as climate change worsens. ]]> 2018-01-20 02:24:39 UTC https://padlet.com/18wajdap/a02zp20ntmn4/wish/222976923