https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx en-us 2017-01-16 20:45:11 UTC 2017-01-25 04:29:17 UTC hello@padlet.com 17mccollougha https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149033219 This article discusses how a group of researchers have determined how pools of water can sit on top of porous ice. A lot of people have no understood this way of melting because it seems that usually pools form within hard surfaces that don't melt. In the arctic when spring comes the ice begins to melt and pools form on top of the ice. Then these large dark pools of water are able to accelerate the melting of the ice because they absorb more of the solar energy coming down from the sun. What people have always questioned is how exactly these ponds form. The team was able to recreate the of water pools on top of ice. They were researching about algae growth and this was a related topic to their study. They also had the right tools with them to figure this out. When doing a test for algae they found that the ice was less cold in comparison to the fresh seawater that was freezing that was forming the pools. The colder water basically clogged up the pores of the ice and made it so the water could not run through it. The researchers are hoping that this new information will be able to help predict where the melt pools will form in the future based on temperatures.]]> 2017-01-24 14:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149033219 17mccollougha https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149034483 Recently, in the Mediterranean sea it has become a problem that invasive species are beginning to hurt marine communities. The indigenous species and habitats are being greatly effected by the species invasion. This was caused originally because the Suez Canal was extended in 2015. When this occurred many of the species that were not native to the mediterranean sea were released and able to reach these new waters. A professor said that the Mediterranean sea is now the most invaded marine basin in the entire world. A management policy to stop the invasive species has attempted to form but it has been a slow process. So far nothing has actually passed through the system even though it may be critical to do so. A lot of animals in the sea are vulnerable to extinction. Being able to pass a law that would help this invaded marine area would be the best step they can take for the Mediterranean Sea for now.



]]> 2017-01-24 15:01:38 UTC https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149034483 17mccollougha https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149034804 Studies have been made in the past in order to estimate the cost of blackouts but they had failed in accurately predicting and including two components. Indirect domestic as well as international supply chain loss are the two areas that have been overlooked.  If an extreme blackout situation were to occur in which a large part of the US population was affected about 66% then it could total almost 50 billion all together in cost. Some people even fear that if blackouts were to occur they could last weeks to months because transmission networks would have to be replaced. Often big storms occur in space but very rarely do they effect the earth or the US. When estimated what other countries would lose from a blackout there were high numbers as well. It was predicted that out of all the other countries China would lose out on the most money because of all the trading between the US and China.




]]> 2017-01-24 15:02:23 UTC https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149034804 17mccollougha https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149035034 Researchers were curious to collect more data about why certain types of trees are able to survive in droughts in comparison to other types of trees. The information would be helpful to researches in predicting how and what kind of trees would be effected in future droughts. The data that was most significant that they drew was that trees that were already from really dry areas were more susceptible to being affected by droughts. Also trees that are in denser forests have more competition amongst one another for water from the ground as well as rainfall. Southern Sierra Nevada trees were found to be the most susceptible to not surviving in droughts because they are in crowded groups. An example they gave in the article was that the trees were like straws in a glass of water all competing for the same water. The recommendations of the researches to forest managers trying to make the most money is to worry about the density of the forests and when replanting new ones make sure they are planted with lower density than before after wildfires.

]]> 2017-01-24 15:02:52 UTC https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149035034 17mccollougha https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149035292 At the University of Minnesota researches found that data supported the finding of 500 year cycles of precipitation in Central China. In the future the information could be helpful in predicting flooding and having a better understanding of the weather conditions. In particular when focusing on climate change many things can be learned from past weather conditions. A technology called the speleothem can provide more than 8,000 years worth of data for researchers. The data was gained through researching the magnetic properties of layered stalagmites.  With the new technology the rocks could be studied with higher resolution and sensitivity than before. This also measures how tectonic plates have moved over time around the globe.






]]> 2017-01-24 15:03:32 UTC https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149035292 17mccollougha https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149035783 In this article it discussed how researches think that it would be a good idea to revive the floodplain. This is one of the Mississippi River's main filters of water and it is a unique environment that removes nitrogen. Nitrogen is one of the components to the harm of the Gulf of Mexico and a contributor to the dead zone. In the past century the river has become way more polluted in particular with chemical pollutants like nitrogen fertilizer which can be very bad for the water being a good source. The researchers discussed the idea of reconnecting the river and the floodplain because the dead zone at this point covers 5,000 miles. For all areas of the river it would not be possible to reconnect the floodplain and the Mississippi River but their have definitely been areas identified that would be able to be reconnected.



]]> 2017-01-24 15:04:40 UTC https://padlet.com/17mccollougha/nhjad2hjfwrx/wish/149035783