Christyn Cullen MP 1 by Christyn Cullen https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb en-us 2017-11-04 17:26:51 UTC 2018-05-09 11:35:01 UTC hello@padlet.com New Analysis Shows Brazil Slows Deforestation with Land Registration Program 19cullenc https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204523000 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171101151224.htm

This article talks about Brazil’s environmental land registration program, known as the CAR (Cadastro Ambiental Rural) and how it has successfully been slowing down the rate of deforestation. The program allows the government to monitor land use of the Amazon, which holds 13 percent of the world’s remaining forests. Deforestation, which is “the removal of a forest where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use” increases the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which ultimately leads to global warming. A new study shows that deforestation would’ve been 10 percents higher if the CAR was not put into effect. ]]> 2017-11-07 18:45:14 UTC https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204523000 Alaska's Permafrost is Thawing 19cullenc https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204526894 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/23/climate/alaska-permafrost-thawing.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate&action=click&contentCollection=climate&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=sectionfront  

This article talks about how Alaska’s permafrost is thawing, which is a result of climate change. The arctic is warming twice as fast compared to the rest of the planet and is causing wildlife habitats to disappear and sea levels to rise. Permafrost, which is a think layer of frozen soil, contains massive amounts of carbon in organic matter. When this organic matter begins to thaw, it is converted into carbon dioxide and methane by microbes and causes more warming. It is estimated that 1.5 billion tons of carbon will be released into the atmosphere over the rest of the century because of the permafrost thawing. Researchers have found that Alaska could possibly be shifting from a sink of carbon to a net source.]]> 2017-11-07 18:52:09 UTC https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204526894 Corals May Have a Taste for Dangerous Plasitc 19cullenc https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204575401 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/31/science/corals-plastic-taste.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate&action=click&contentCollection=climate&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=9&pgtype=sectionfront 

This article talks about how corals have been affected because of the increase of plastic in the ocean. Every year eight million tons of plastic is thrown into the ocean. The creatures that live in the ocean have been eating broken down pieces of plastic, which looks edible and colorful. Corals, which are the organisms that make up coral reefs, have been consuming this dangerous material. Marine Pollution Bulletin recently came out with a new study that shows how some chemicals in the plastics can actually taste like food to these organisms. These pieces of plastics disrupt their digestive system and can cause harm. 
]]> 2017-11-07 20:22:59 UTC https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204575401 U.S. Government Report Says Climate Change is Real, and Humans Are to Blame 19cullenc https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204578507 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-government-report-says-climate-change-is-real-and-humans-are-to-blame

This article talks about how humans have affected climate change. Researchers have said that since the Industrial Revolution, the average global temperature has increased 1°C. They have also projected that by the end of the century, temperatures could increase another 4°C. These drastic increases in temperature would affect natural and human ecosystems. We have already seen the affects of global warming from more extreme weather, melting glaciers and sea levels that are rising. This article also talks about the first volume of the fourth National Climate Assessment, which shows the effects of global warming. These documents show pictures of increasing tidal flooding, more frequent forest fires, overall warmer temperatures and the shrinking of mountain snow-caps which are reducing the region’s availability to water. ]]> 2017-11-07 20:29:36 UTC https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204578507 Can Corals Adapt to Climate Change? 19cullenc https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204587583 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171101141712.htm

This article talks about how corals can adapt to slightly warmer temperature, however only if the emissions of greenhouse gases are lower. A study that was published in Science Advances shows that most corals can not adapt quickly enough to keep up with climate change. The study also found a specie of corals in the Cook Islands that are heat tolerant. They tested how heat tolerant most corals were through simulations, in which most could survive moderate scenarios. When they tried more severe scenarios, the corals could not adapt fast enough and would result in extinction. The article also talks about how reef-building corals are the most vulnerable to warmer temperatures and these corals have experienced the most bleaching over the past three years.]]> 2017-11-07 20:50:15 UTC https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204587583 Scientists Warn of 'Unsafe' Decline in Biodiversity 19cullenc https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204596842 http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36805227

This article talks about how scientists are saying that biodiversity is rapidly declining. In order to function, ecosystems rely on biodiversity. In 2015, the Planetary Boundary Framework said that states losing 10% of the biodiversity within that area, is putting the ecosystem at risk. Another report shows that 58% of the land in the world has fallen below a safe level for biodiversity. The article suggests that in order to sustain these ecosystems, human intervention may be necessary. By creating management plans for long-term sustainability, these ecosystems could recover and thrive. An important quote in the article, made by Dr Newbold is, “we hope that the report will inform policy makers and debate on how we use the Earth’s land”.]]> 2017-11-07 21:17:29 UTC https://padlet.com/19cullenc/t5eluxf089nb/wish/204596842