https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q Made with charm en-us 2017-11-08 02:41:38 UTC 2026-01-04 14:31:45 UTC hello@padlet.com 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204655987 A recent article published by NBC News expressed cause for concern for the exorbitantly elevated atmospheric concentrations of CO2.  According to the World Meteorological Organization, rising temperatures could continue to spike unless CO2 emissions are heavily constrained. This is especially relevant as the Trump administration has alluded to pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement which may be a harbinger for increased emission-law deregulation which may further precipitate the problem. The article also emphasized the validity of the global warming issue discussing possible consequences of not addressing the problem ex. unprecedented heat waves, increasingly destructive hurricanes, prolonged drought and inundation of coastal cities, etc.]]> 2017-11-08 02:45:22 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204655987 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204658006 An intriguing article published by DW news discussed the benefits and drawbacks of electric cars. It focused on the fact that electric cars do not emit greenhouse gases or detrimental nitrogen oxide gas, they are easy to operate, and quiet in nature. However, notable downsides to electric cars is that they can be running on electricity produced by burning fossil fuels, it requires more energy to produce an electric car than a conventional one, and batteries create an environmental hazard. The conclusion of a 2011 study conducted by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research determined that under present conditions the overall carbon footprint of a battery powered car is similar to that of a conventional car regardless of its size.]]> 2017-11-08 03:00:07 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204658006 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204661197 Due to the unsustainable and environmentally detrimental impacts of fossil fuels there are a plethora of options ranging from solar power, wind energy, ethanol, and bio-fuels.  However, hydrogen offers the most promise for an environmentally sustainable and commercially viable energy solution. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, is clean burning with the only byproduct being water and heat. However, hydrogen is not a ready source of energy but rather a means of storing energy as pure hydrogen is not available in quantities large enough to sustain an energy economy.]]> 2017-11-08 03:20:35 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204661197 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204662929 Logging, pollution, draining of wetlands, and coastal development contribute to habitat destruction. The decimation of cypress swamps is considered one of the reasons for the devastation of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Most of the worlds oceans are experiencing habitat loss but coastal areas have suffered disproportionately more from human stresses. Humans contribute to habitat destruction through excessive tourism, destructive fishing, inland dams, and dredging of wetlands.]]> 2017-11-08 03:32:09 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204662929 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204664847 Nuclear power is a sustainable energy source but has the ability to be renewable if the uranium source is changed from mined ore to seawater. Because Uranium is replenished via geologic processes nuclear could become as endless as solar energy. The distinction between renewable and sustainable is then delineated in that renewable implies any resource that naturally replenishes with time whereas renewable energy implies that the energy humans extract from nature will replace itself. ]]> 2017-11-08 03:47:28 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204664847 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204666829 Nature reserves and national parks in Asia, South America, and Africa created to protect wildlife and indigenous people have a profound effect in reducing carbon emissions from tropical deforestation by a third consequently slowing the rate of global warming. Protected areas account for twenty percent of the world's tropical forest and play a critical role in providing habitats for elephants, tigers, lions, and jaguars. They are also designated to conserve wild heritage sites such as the ruins of Machu Picchu. ]]> 2017-11-08 04:01:58 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/204666829 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224494858 A study conducted by Tohoku University in Japan concluded that sorting scrap parts could increase the recycling of alloy elements by over 97%. The study demonstrated that by optimizing recycling practices, Japanese steel makers could save close to 32 billion yen on raw materials, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 28 percent. The university also indicated that the same alloy conservation techniques could be utilized in other industries to reduce material costs and harmful co2 emissions.]]> 2018-01-25 02:19:34 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224494858 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224496109 A recent paper published by professors at Southampton University indicated that if immediate evasive action was not taken Earth's global temperatures would increase 1.5 degrees celsius within the next 17-18 years and would increase by 2.0 degrees celsius in 35-41 years. The professors urged developing a carbon neutral or carbon negative future or alternatively preparing to contend with a warmer climate. The professors research substantiated the notion that the more cumulative carbon emissions increase global warming will exhibit a corresponding increase.]]> 2018-01-25 02:28:36 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224496109 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224496823 Findings by Aarhus University indicated that Greenland's ice sheet is gradually becoming smaller and smaller and the ice's melting is occuring much more quickly than models predicted. The researchers concluded that higher air and sea temperatures, precipitation, and localized dynamics of heat loss from the earth's interior contributed to a reduction in the size of Greenland's ice sheet.  The researchers also anticipate that new discoveries will make models of ice sheet dynamics more accurate allowing them to better predict the stability of Greenland's melting ice sheet.]]> 2018-01-25 02:34:30 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224496823 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224497428 A recent study conducted by Duke University determined that elevated radioactivity levels remained in stream sediments in disposal sites distributed across rural pennsylvania. University researchers determined that the contamination was a result of the disposal of oil and gas wastewater. The level of radiation found in the streams was 650 times greater than radiation in upstream sediments and even exceeded the radioactivity level that necessitates disposal in only federally assigned radioactive waste disposal sites. ]]> 2018-01-25 02:39:48 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224497428 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224498121 Research conducted by a florida state university scientist helped to identify a correlation between increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and flower blooms in tropical rainforests. The researchers findings suggested that rainforests are much more sensitive to even subtle climatic changes. The study involved evaluating a record of plant material that was archived by researchers on the island for over 28 years. The study concluded that atmospheric carbon dioxide had the largest effect on flower increases]]> 2018-01-25 02:45:32 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224498121 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224498695 A scientist from the university of Miami examined the effect of climate change on trees and other species that characterize the diverse regions of the Amazon and Peru. The scientist found that there were large decreases in the quality, yield, and market value of corn and potatoes as crops were damaged by pests, droughts, and temperature fluctuations. The conclusion was that communities in rural locations will experience large agricultural headwinds as they are unable to adapt quickly to climate change and switch their crop to a variety that is tolerant to increased temperatures.  ]]> 2018-01-25 02:50:36 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/224498695 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250988668 Scientists have uncovered two subglacial bodies of water beneath 500 metres of ice. The conditions in the subglacial water bodies mirror the saline conditions in the subsurface ocean of Jupiter's moon Europa. The newfound lakes were identified by researchers at the University of Alberta. These subglacial lakes were the first to be discovered in the Canadian arctic and are estimated to extend five and eight square kilometers respectively. Continued assessment of the water in the lakes enables scientists to gain valuable insights into living organisms and the environmental conditions of other planets.]]> 2018-04-12 03:53:06 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250988668 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250989811 Researchers have identified a large shift in the system of ocean currents that assist with temperature regulation. The study determined that the increasing amount of melting ice has precipitated weaker water circulation in the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists anticipate that changes to the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation could cool the North Atlantic and transform deep-ocean ecosystems. This could have the undesired effect of impairing temperature sensitive species such as coral or Atlantic cod.]]> 2018-04-12 04:02:57 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250989811 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250992375 Studies conducted by the University of California have reinforced the conclusion that not all of the nitrogen located on planet Earth originates from the atmosphere. According to new research, up to a quarter of the world's nitrogen comes from Earth's bedrock, a positive reality as it could greatly improve climate change forecasts. The study found that up to 26% of the nitrogen in natural ecosystem is sourced from rocks while the remaining fraction originates from the atmosphere. This newly identified nitrogen source could feed the land based carbon cycle and enable ecosystems to extract more carbon out of the atmosphere. ]]> 2018-04-12 04:18:46 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250992375 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250993295 Research performed by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, has revealed that global warming has a significant effect on fish who rely on coral reefs. International studies have illuminated that coral bleaching has the effect of whitewashing coral and reducing fish populations living in coral ecosystems. Scientists found that the loss of coral affected some varieties of fish more than others. Following the bleaching event, researchers observed a noticeable decrease in the diversity of fish communities as the species mix changed.]]> 2018-04-12 04:25:32 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250993295 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250994535 In the past decade, scientists have uncovered a growing number of plant species on mountain tops.  Researchers at Aarhus University, pinpointed that plant species on European mountain tops have increased nearly 5 fold from the mid 20th century to present day. Data derived from 302 European mountain peaks demonstrates that the increase in mountain-top species is strongly linked with global warming. Scientists have associated increased plant growth in mountain top regions as a result of rising temperatures. However, the study does not show how much the increase in plant species has affected existing species that have been growing at these heights for centuries.]]> 2018-04-12 04:33:15 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250994535 18lodatoy https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250995917 Researchers have ascertained a surprising correlation between monarch butterflies, climate change, and milkweed plants. Scientists from Louisiana State University determined that warming temperatures turn a butterfly's preferred plant food into poison. Although butterflies and caterpillars are resistant to milkweeds' toxic chemical compounds, excessive toxin production from milkweeds can inadvertently poison butterflies and caterpillars. Warmer temperatures have the effect of increasing milkweed toxin production to deadly levels. This has the detrimental effect of reducing monarch populations as the toxin filled leaf material is too much for their system to handle. ]]> 2018-04-12 04:44:10 UTC https://padlet.com/18lodatoy/s6e05ns9qt0q/wish/250995917