Trends of Importance (Homework 5) by Rob Turner

Homework 5 Details

rturner116 — 2024-10-17 20:48:54 UTC

Review them here before posting: https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1757502/assignments/9715904?module_item_id=22055302

The Arctic Ice Cover is Receding

2024-10-18 02:32:45 UTC

Sources:

Fleck, Anna, and Felix Richter. “Infographic: Arctic Sea Ice Cover Hits Record Lows in 2023.” Statista Daily Data, 15 June 2023,

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/851532242050740102/

https://www.statista.com/chart/19104/extend-of-arctic-sea-ice/

I decided to share this because due to the impact of climate change, the glaciers and sea ice are melting rapidly every year. Without those ice, animals like polar bears and arctic foxs are dying. Additionally, due to the melting of arctic, global warming and extreme weather events are occuring. I think that this is a serious issue people should be concerned about now.

Boreal Forests and Similar Temperature-Dependent Ecosystems Are Migrating Towards Their Nearest Poles.

2024-10-18 18:27:09 UTC

I chose to share this because the impact is challenging for humans to grasp due to its gradual nature. Climate change and the rise in global average temperatures have caused ideal habitats to shift toward the poles. This is fascinating as it demonstrates entire ecosystems' capacity to adapt to stressors in their natural environment. However, it also reveals that human activity has altered the natural environment to such an extent that we are inadvertently relocating entire ecosystems.

Sources:
Kevin, & RavenKen. (2024, April 9). New climate model suggests boreal forests to shift north and relinquish more carbon than expected. SciTechDaily. https://scitechdaily.com/new-climate-model-suggests-boreal-forests-to-shift-north-and-relinquish-more-carbon-than-expected/#:~:text=Scientists%20use%20incredibly%20complex%20computer%20simulations%20called%20Earth,regions%20to%20their%20north%20become%20warmer%20and%20wetter.

2024-10-19 03:16:48 UTC

Works Cited

Wilke, Claus O. Fundamentals of Data Visualization. Clauswilke.com, Claus O. Wilke, 18 Mar. 2019, clauswilke.com/dataviz/figure-titles-captions.html.

I chose to represent human corruption to bring awareness to less developed, third-world countries. As you can tell from the graph, countries with the least human development also tended to be the most corruptive societies. On the other hand, countries with higher levels of development and more tend to experience less corruption. This correlation emphasizes the importance of economic and social development.

The Oceans Are Becoming Warmer

rerozsn — 2024-10-19 18:37:31 UTC

This is significant because the sudden spike of temperature can have traumatic impacts on the ecosystems that reside within the oceans. Species regulate their bodies to survive the temperatures of the oceans, however, with these changes to overall warmth certain ones may not be able to adapt with the constant changing temperatures. This is important to me because I really enjoy the ocean and its animals. Therefore, I would like to preserve it in its current state before it is too late.

Work Cited:

Gonchar, Michael. “Teach about Climate Change with These 24 New York Times Graphs.” The New York Times, 28 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/learning/teach-about-climate-change-with-these-24-new-york-times-graphs.html. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024.

Global installed renewable energy capacity

2024-10-19 22:47:16 UTC

- Data source: International Renewable Energy Agency (2023)

- X-Axis: Years, Y-Axis: Installed Renewable Energy Capacity

- "Our World in Data” has visualizations of global trends across different renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydropower, and bioenergy.

- The graph shows that in 2000, hydropower had the largest installed renewable energy capacity, while solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and marine energy were almost at 0 GW.

- By around 2010, both solar and wind energy began to experience noticeable growth, with their curves steadily rising. Around 2015, the increase became much steeper, indicating a significant surge in the adoption and installation of these renewable energy sources.

- The rise of solar and wind energy shows that the world is increasingly shifting toward renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

I believe this trend is important to share because increasing the use of renewable energy helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which are major contributors to environmental pollution. By shifting to renewable sources, we can lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change, ultimately leading to a cleaner future.

Citation:

“Data Page: Global installed renewable energy capacity by technology”. Our World in Data (2024). Data adapted from International Renewable Energy Agency. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/installed-global-renewable-energy-capacity-by-technology [online resource]

IRENA (2023), Renewable power generation costs in 2022, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi.

Global Sea Levels Rising

2024-10-21 18:25:18 UTC

I decided to represent the Global Sea Levels that are rising. This is significant because this proves that ice in the poles, as well as the Arctic are melting due to the rising surface level temperatures. With the Sea Levels rising, it can cause coastal flooding all around the world, leaving people in distress. Another concern would be that it can cause erosion, making it harder to protect coastal communities when storms hit. With there being multiple concerns regarding this matter, we need to make a difference before it can flood and destroy the Earth.

Sources:

NASA Science Editorial Team. Rising Waters: How NASA is Monitoring Sea Level Rise, 5 November 2020. https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/rising-waters/

Annual production volume of oil

belevanna10 — 2024-10-21 20:04:41 UTC

Sources:

https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html

https://www.anthroponumbers.org/catalog/entry/66789

I chose to share this data because oil rigs and oil platforms are used to drill long holes in the ground to create an oil well and extract the oil. Once extracted, the oil is refined to make gasoline and other products such as tires and refrigerators. Oil extraction can be dangerous and has resulted in oil spills. Our population should always be informed about changes in the price of oil and its volume because the price of oil will affect the price of everything else. It also affects unemployment. Oil is very important to our economy.

hassetw — 2024-10-21 21:56:50 UTC

Works Cited: “Vital Signs | Number of Southern Resident Killer Whales.” Vitalsigns.pugetsoundinfo.wa.gov, vitalsigns.pugetsoundinfo.wa.gov/VitalSignIndicator/Detail/32. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.

Annual Census as reported to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the Center for Whale Research.

I believe it's important to look into this information as these specific orca whales have been considered endangered since 2005 and data shows they are still losing a large number continuously. Factors such as vessel traffic and ocean pollution are possible factors, and we should be more knowledgeable of how we are killing other species actively in danger of becoming extinct.

Global CO2 Emissions Over Time

2024-10-21 23:46:28 UTC

Source:

Global Carbon Project. Global Carbon Budget. Global Carbon Project, https://www.globalcarbonproject.org/. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.

I chose this trend of global CO2 emissions because it is a clear sign of how human activity is reshaping the planet. The spike after the 1950s shows how fast industrialization and modern lifestyles ramped up emissions, pushing us into the Anthropocene. This matters because it is tied to climate change and everything that comes with it like heatwaves, storms, and disrupted ecosystems.

Ocean plastic pollution overtime

2024-10-22 01:20:27 UTC

I chose this subject because plastic pollution is a serious problem that has an impact on both human health and ecosystems. This trend emphasizes the critical need for stricter laws, waste management strategies, and a change in consumption patterns to protect our planet's future as microplastics find their way into food chains and plastic garbage destroys marine life.

Work cited: Our World in Data. (2024). Plastic Pollution. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution.

Wildfires Increasing

rekrieger06 — 2024-10-22 01:58:10 UTC

Source:

“Infographic: Wildfires and Climate Change.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 8 Sept. 2020, www.ucsusa.org/resources/infographic-wildfires-and-climate-change.

The reason I chose this specific impact is because I personally have observed that many of Washington's recent summers have been plagued by a smokey haze for a few weeks at a time during the height of wildfire season. While wildfires can be beneficial to the health of soil and new growth in many cases, the number, and severity of many recent wildfires has gotten out of control. Hotter, drier summers leads to an increased probability in naturally occurring wildfires and in human caused wildfires. This impacts air quality, and also the ability for forests around the world to filter carbon dioxide. The rapid increase in wildfires does not give enough time for forests to bounce back/recover, which then leads to less carbon dioxide exchange. All of this plays a role in climate change, and as a society we should be concerned about the increase in fires not only for the safety of ourselves and our homes/communities, but also for the impacts these fires are having on nature and carbon dioxide levels, as well as deforestation.

Global Average Temperature Anomalies (1850–2024)

2024-10-22 04:22:34 UTC

I chose this trend because rising global temperatures directly result from increased greenhouse gas emissions, leading to worldwide environmental disruptions. These include frequent extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and long-term impacts on ecosystems and human societies. Understanding this trend is crucial for mitigating the effects of climate change and protecting our future.

Works Cited:

Ritchie, Hannah, et al. “CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Our World in Data, 28 Dec. 2023, ourworldindata.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions.

Cobalt Stained Red

2024-10-22 04:35:24 UTC

Works Cited:

Jaganmohan, Madhumitha. “DR Congo Cobalt Production 2023.” Statista, 6 Sept. 2024

Gross, Terry. “How ‘modern-Day Slavery’ in the Congo Powers the Rechargeable Battery Economy.” NPR, NPR, 1 Feb. 2023,

I think this statistic is significant because as the world tries to innovate through technological advancements, more cobalt is being used. Cobalt is the main component of batteries in electric cars, phones, and computers. The way this cobalt is being collected, especially in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, are extremely unethical. DR Congo mines their Cobalt with child slavery. These children are forced to work long hard hours in cruel working conditions in order to afford schooling. As the demand for cobalt rises, the more children are enslaved and put to work.

Global temperature changes

2024-10-22 05:25:37 UTC

Sources:Climate Change: Global Temperature

BY REBECCA LINDSEY AND LUANN DAHLMAN REVIEWED

BY JESSICA BLUNDEN PUBLISHED JANUARY 18, 2024

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature

I share this trend because I think there are more and more hot days every year, and the extremely high temperature is also rising. This has a serious impact on people's lives. If the temperature continues to rise, it will lead to melting glaciers, global sea level rise, and the extinction of a large number of species and other serious problems.

Higher global sea levels

2024-10-22 05:34:12 UTC

This is important for awareness of higher sea levels globally to show flood and erosion hazards so communities can prepare and adapt to change. It should then inform decisions on where people reside and infrastructures are built, while also raising awareness regarding environmental impacts on sensitive ecosystems. It also considers the economic consequences for industries dependent on natural resources, like tourism. The informed can, therefore, become climate ambassadors to call for action and be an advocate of sustainable best practices when faced with rising sea level challenges.

Source:

https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-sea-level

More natural disasters are more likely to occur

2024-10-22 05:54:55 UTC

I chose this topic because natural disasters have a significant impact on the damage of infrastructure, deaths, people suffering economic costs, how we might deal with it possibly, people left without homes, valuable property destruction, how the states are going to have to withstand even more of them, and even more environmental damage. During these natural disasters such as the hurricanes in the coastal south, there are times when people have no choice but to live without electricity, water/food for a while until FEMA or the national guard arrives like during Hurricane Katrina when so many people had to resort to the Louisiana Superdome where all the water pumps broke so that people had no choice but to pee in trash cans as the toilets/urinals were broken, all the sinks broke so they weren't able to clean themselves, no electricity so all the refrigerators which stored all the food rotted, there weren't much medical supplies so there were a number of people that died and suffered and all this mess created one of the most strongest disgusting smells in the facility. They suffered from lack of water, food, and other essentials such as medical supplies. So yeah, these natural disasters can have a significant detrimental impact on the communities. Not to mention the wildfires that are engulfing some of the land as well and so on.

Amount of Land Burned Down from Wildfires Increasing Each Year

dharrie — 2024-10-22 05:56:55 UTC

Works Cited: Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-wildfires

U.S. wages have stagnated in comparison to increasing productivity.

2024-10-22 06:43:44 UTC

I decided to share this particular trend because it is so pervasive on a personal (my paycheck) and global level. Opinions on immigration reform or the implementation of socialist policies are largely fueled by the dissatisfaction voters feel about stagnating wages. While the U.S. does not reflect the world, these debates are happening all across it. In addition, the U.S. is the economic forerunner of the world. If this issue is not resolved, then we may see increasing radicalism among xenophobes and socialists.

Wildlife populations dropping rapidly (1970) (2018)

2024-10-22 06:58:24 UTC

Source: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/10/nature-loss-biodiversity-wwf/

This trend is important for people to know because the dramatic decline in wildlife populations underscores the urgent need for increased awareness about biodiversity loss. Understanding the extent of these declines helps people recognize the significance of maintaining healthy ecosystems. Wildlife populations are indicators of healthy ecosystems, with the decline in wildlife population, come a more unhealthy and failing ecosystem. Humans are the main reason why we have seen a steady decline in these populations. Deforestation, industrialization, and urbanization, climate change, all have huge impacts, and awareness of these impacts can encourage the world to be more cautious moving forward and find more sustainable practices. It is imprtant for us to acknowledge what is happing with wildlife populations to save them and the ecosystems for the future generations of people.

Global Temperature Rise graph (1880 - 2020)

2024-10-22 07:32:23 UTC

The graph showing global temperature rise from 1880 to 2020 clearly shows that average temperatures have gone up by about 1.2°C over this time. In the beginning, temperatures stayed fairly stable, but starting around the mid-20th century, they began to rise more quickly. This increase is mainly due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As temperatures rise, we see more heatwaves, changes in weather patterns, and rising sea levels, all of which can harm plants, animals, and people. This graph helps us understand why it's important to take action against climate change and work towards more sustainable ways of living.

I chose this topic because climate change is a huge problem for all of us. The rise in temperatures affects our weather and environment. It scares me how fast things are changing and how it can hurt people and nature. I want to help raise awareness about this issue so more people understand it. It’s important for everyone to work together to protect our planet and find solutions.

4o mini

BY REBECCA LINDSEY AND LUANN DAHLMAN REVIEWED BY JESSICA BLUNDEN

PUBLISHED JANUARY 18, 2024

E-Cigarette Usage is the Lowest We Have Seen in a Decade

2024-10-22 12:15:57 UTC

I picked to do this on paper because I suck at using MacOs.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s1102-e-cigarettes-down.html

2024-10-22 16:47:03 UTC

I was curious as to how microplastic pollution has changed over time. It is an important topic to discuss because fixing this solution is really hard, because microplastics are small like only visible through a microscope or whatever else for the tiny things. It's also not safe because there have been articles of scientists finding microplastics in human bodies? Like in our vital organs for survival. So, it's important to notice the change in this graph to get a better idea of how urgent it is to improve, and start working on it as soon as possible.

Global CO2 Emissions Over Time

2024-10-24 21:57:15 UTC

Friedlingstein, P., Jones, M. W., O’Sullivan, M., Andrew, R. M., Hauck, J., Peters, G. P., … & Le Quéré, C. “Global Carbon Budget 2021.” Earth System Science Data, vol. 13, no. 11, 2021, pp. 5767-5860. Global Carbon Project, https://www.globalcarbonproject.org/carbonbudget/21/files/GCP_CarbonBudget_2021.pdf.

Global Temperature rise over the Last Century

2024-10-27 03:17:33 UTC

The rise in global temperatures is a critical indicator of climate change. It points to the increase in greenhouse gases due to human activities like fossil fuel burning and deforestation. These temperature shifts are linked to extreme weather events, melting polar ice, and rising sea levels, which pose risks to ecosystems and human societies. Addressing this trend is essential to mitigating future climate impacts.

Global Rise in Sea Levels

2024-11-07 04:40:14 UTC

The graph shows the rise in global sea levels in the last hundred years, caused by melting ice caps and thermal expansion of seawater. Rising sea levels threaten coastal cities and towns with more frequent, large-scale flooding.

Sea level rise is a consequence of global warming - particularly from the burning of fossil fuels. It poses a threat to millions living in coastal regions. Increased storm surges, flooding, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources make these areas susceptible to climate change impacts.

Citation: https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/sea-level/?intent=121