Global Warming Quiz

Here is another quiz from National Geographic about global warming this time. It has the same sort of layout, where you get information about each question's answer. This time the quiz is more focused on energy and the future possibilities. I did the quiz and I had gotten the same as the previous... 50 percent. There are some interesting questions on there that definitely inform you of some things you probably would not have known otherwise. Here is the link to take the quiz yourself!

Source: "Global Warming Facts, Global Warming Information, Global Warming Questions, Quiz - National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014.

Geothermal Energy?

What is geothermal energy? It is a source of energy using the heat that is already in the earth. It uses steam and hot water that is trapped in layers underneath the surface and converts it into electricity or energy. Many countries rely on this method already as a heating source. There are over 20 countries that use this for heating and/or cooling or electricity. The huge benefit for geothermal energy is that it can be extracted without the use of a fossil fuel such as coal or oil. The only problem is that it releases hydrogen sulfide, which at low concentrations smells like rotten eggs. There is also the fluids that are left over that have a slight toxin level to them. To read more about geothermal energy, click here.

Source: "Geothermal Energy Information, Geothermal Power Facts - National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014.

The Big Energy Question

Also on the National Geographic website I found a page full of discussion on important energy issues. This gives people a chance to express their opinions. I truly believe it is places like this where people can get some extremely innovated ideas. People can just think of thinks that may actually spark an idea that could lead to a solution. The topics on this page includes innovation in transportation, clean energy, biofuels and much more. To read what some of the people are saying click here.

Source: "The Big Energy Question." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014.

Climate Quiz

What do you know about climate? There is a quiz on the national geographic to test how much you know about climate change on our planet. You can take the quiz here. After you answer each question it tells you whether you are correct or not, and gives a brief explanation of the answer. I took the quiz and got 50 percent. The questions on the quiz are more about what is being effected by climate change past, present and future. It teaches you some cool facts that you probably didn't know, and some are actually kind of scary!

Source: "Freshwater Quiz: Climate Change -- National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014.

WHAT CAN I SAY?!

So what's the difference... global warming....climate change.... it's all the same thing right? WRONG! Global warming refers to the global temperature increasing. While climate change refers to a much broader area. Climate change refers to how climates are taking the increase in global temperatures. This means like weather patterns, sea level rise and ocean acidification. NASA prefers the term climate change over global warming because it is a better representation of what the planet is going through since it does not only cover the increase of global temperature. To read more about where the phrases originated from, and the debate click here.

Source: Wall, Tim. "War of the Words: Climate Change or Global Warming? : DNews."DNews. N.p., 6 May 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.

5 Common Misconceptions about Antarctic Ice

These five myths are commonly heard from the people who are denying that climate change exists. On this site they discuss the five most common misconceptions about the Antarctic ice melting. Here are three of the five myths:

1. The Antarctic ice is not shrinking, it is getting bigger.
1. The ice may seem like it is getting bigger, but what people are seeing is sea ice, not land ice. When scientists refer to the ice melting, they are referring to the land ice or the glaciers melting. And there is a possibility of the glaciers melting being caused by the growing amount of sea ice.
2. It must be all those volcanoes.
1. Volcanoes are not to blame for the melting ice. Climate change is definitely what is effecting the Antarctic with no exceptions. There are multiple examples of places that have a good amount of volcanoes and have glaciers covering it's surface.
3. It's all a global warming conspiracy.
1. False. All of the facts point towards humans causing global warming. What scientists report and what news shows talk about are all based on observed data not computer based simulations or projections. There is no global warming conspiracy there are numerous facts and data to back up the fact that humans are causing the climate to change.

If you want to read the other two you can click here to read more information about the myths and why they are wrong!

Source: Oskin, Becky. "Common Misconceptions About Big Changes : DNews." DNews. N.p., 14 May 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.

The Arctic Ice Could Melt Faster Than We Thought!

All throughout the ocean there are underwater volcanoes that will sometimes erupt. There are volcanoes that are present underneath the Antarctic ice sheet, which could potentially lead to huge problems. If these were to erupt, the heat would cause the ice sheet to melt at a much faster rate and would cause abrupt sea level rises. If the ice were to melt at an accelerated pace, society as a whole most likely will not be able to completely prepare for such a sudden rise in sea levels. For more information about volcanic reactions effecting the ice you can look here.

Source: Heltzel, Paul. "Antarctic Melt Could Increase Volcanic Activity : DNews."DNews. N.p., 20 May 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.

For All You Non-Believers...

As with almost every issue, there is going to be two sides. Even things that you would think are common knowledge or relatively simple, like 9/11 or other tragic events, somehow have conspiracies behind them. Even with every fact pointing towards something being true, there are going to be people that don't believe it. And even nowadays with every single sign pointing towards global warming being real and happening, there are still people saying that it isn't real. As this group is becoming fewer and fewer, here is some solid proof that climate change is happening and effecting us more than we may know. On this website it shows you ten signs that climate change is happening, but all of these coincidentally have to do with rising sea levels and ice melting. Could it be any more obvious how much of a reality climate change is?

Source: Mulvaney, Kieran. "1. Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in the Atmosphere Are Increasing : DNews." DNews. N.p., 22 Apr. 2013. Web. 27 May 2014.

2,000 Year Old Ice Core

Scientists have recently successfully drilled into a 2,000 year old ice core in Antarctica, and can now directly observed how much the climate has evolved. In these ice cores scientists are able to receive information about previous climates using the chemistry of the air that was caught in the snow and ice. Ice cores are a very useful tool in paleoclimatology. From these little pieces of ice you can find our the solar radiation, volcanic activity and even storm events that occurred in the previous climates. Analyzing this cored will help scientists understand the series of ice ages and warm periods that occurred in the past. For more information about this drill you can read it here.

Source: AFP. "Polar Scientists Drill 2,000-year-old Ice Core : DNews." DNews. N.p., 8 May 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.

The Earth

The climate is a complex system of functions that allow our planet to sustain life. But how did everything come to be the way it is now? How did water become such a vital role to our planet? Why are we able to sustain life? The climate of our planet corresponds to how our planet was created. Here are 8 of the planet's biggest questions answered. And if you want to see even more facts about Earth and it's uniqueness you can find it here, which have 50 facts about Earth and it's cool features.

Sources: 

Oskin, Becky. "So Many Questions : DNews." DNews. N.p., 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.

Bryner, Stephanie Pappas and Jeanna. "50 Interesting Facts About The Earth."LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 18 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 May 2014.

A New Fuel Source...Seawater!

If it wasn't already apparent enough, society today is extremely dependent on oil as a fuel source. The price of oil can fluctuate and it comes to the point of where we kind of have to accept it no matter the cost, because we rely on it so heavily. The US Navy has been looking into other fuel sources for their ships and other machines, one of those sources has been sea water. While this source is plentiful, it was originally difficult to find a way to turn this into energy. Scientists have found a way to extract the carbon and hydrogen from the sea water and liquidate it. The article here calls this a game-changer, allowing ships to refuel right in the middle of the ocean. Many carriers and submarines would have to abandon their mission to refuel if they relied on oil, but if they were to rely on sea water there would be no need for abandonment. This may be able to expand into other areas on the Military or into society as a whole.

Source: AFP. "US Navy Game-Changer: Seawater Turned in Fuel : DNews." DNews. N.p., 8 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.

Climate Model? How about a Universe Model?!

We all know about climate models, they can explain simple things in the climate or the climate as a whole. Up until now, scientists were never able to create a model (just like our climate ones) that displayed the entire universe as a whole. But now for the first time they created a model that shows the universe at the beginning up until now. This model is special because it shows a large and small scale changes at the same time. In this model scientists are able to fast forward, pause and zoom in to specific areas to get a better look. If you were to put this model into a modern day computer, it would take 2,000 years. The reason that this really interested me is because the building blocks behind these computer models are all mathematics equations. Here is the article from the Discovery Channel.

Source: O'Neill, Ian. "Mind-Blowing Computer Simulation Recreates Our Universe : DNews." DNews. N.p., 7 May 2014. Web. 28 May 2014.

Moonshine as a Fuel?

On Episode 210 of the show Mythbusters they tested to see whether or not moonshine would suffice as a fuel to power a car. They set up an experiment that tested how well the cars operated, performed and the longevity of the car. In order to give it the best shot possible they used the same make and model car, but from three different decades, each having a different method of fuel injection. They used a 1970s, 1990s and a 2010s car, with a carbureted, fuel-injected and a modern fuel-injected engine. The course that they set up tested the car in starting up, accelerating, maneuvering and turning. Using 192-proof moonshine, the cars didn't completely hold up to the test. While the 1970 and 1990 cars either had trouble starting up or sputtered on the course, neither were able to make a complete lap. The 2010 car had a little bit easier of a time, but was definitely noticeably slower. It was able however to complete all three laps. From this point on they tested strictly with the 2010 car. They tested three different proofs of moonshine, and as a conclusion, they were actually able to prove it true! Who knew moonshine could power a car?

For a summary of the episode, here is a link to the Wiki (look under moonshine myths): here
For some pictures of the episode here is the link to discover: here

Glaciers

This is a before and after painting of a glacier melting. As global warming progresses through the years, glaciers that could be used to cool the planet (ice albedo) are now melting at an accelerated pace. The ice albedo feedback is essential to our climate and it's balance. This and the other feedbacks are what influence the climate and its variability. As the ice melts, there is less of a chance for the planet to cool itself down. If the melting rate slows down, there is a chance the the ice albedo effect can catch up and cool down the planet.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/culture/diane-burko-puts-climate-change-on-a-canvas-with-politics-of-snow.html

The Effects of Climate Change in a Picture

Global warming does not necessarily mean that the entire globe is facing the same effects. A rise in temperature globally can mean more precipitation in some parts of the world, with less precipitation in other parts of the world. Some parts of the world are going to experience frequent extreme weather conditions like tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes or hurricanes. Other extremes people may face would be the temperatures. There could be colder winters and hotter summers and extreme highs and lows are going to become more common. The hot weather shown on the right could become a reality in the US with the rising temperatures, causing more frequent droughts.

Source: http://kabq.org.au/welcome-to-the-low-carbon-diet/what-is-climate-change

Feedbacks

Why are feedbacks such an important aspect of climate change? It can either cool down or warm up our planet. There are many different feedbacks that occur on this planet the the clouds, ice and ocean create. There are still feedbacks that scientists don't know too much information about and how they influence our climate. You can learn more information about feedbacks and the ones we don't know enough about at this website.

Source: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate-change/guide/science/explained/feedbacks

The Hazards of Nuclear Energy

There are so many pros and cons when in comes to using nuclear energy. There is the risk of a power plant explosion, which could cost many lives, but there is the benefit of not relying on non renewable resources. An accident that occurred during routine maintenance in India that killed six people, is now causing people to protest at the site. This can easily delay the country's plan to further the nuclear power industry. In this article you can read more about India's nuclear industry and the protest that occurred.

Source: "Nuclear Power Plant Accident Triggers Protests in India - India Real Time - WSJ." India Real Time RSS. 15 May 2014. Web. 15 May 2014.

Paleoclimatology

Paleoclimatology was always interesting to me, because it was a really cool way to determine the past's climate. At this website you can learn more about the different proxies that they use like tree rings and ice cores. Tree rings and ice cores have a lot in common when it comes to reading them, because they each have layers that scientists can analyze and record. These layers are periodic and allow the findings to be ordered into a chronological order.

Source: "Climate Data Information." Ice Cores. Web. 17 May 2014.

Climate Change is Still Really Hurting Florida

As a coastal state, Florida is getting hit pretty hard when it comes to climate change. Beaches and sea life are seeing this climate change faster than expected. And even worse, they are having to deal with the rising sea levels. This is already an effect that people have to deal with, because rising sea levels have caused increased flooding. Agriculture and wildlife are also already being effected which is really beginning to hurt Florida. In this article here you can read more about the effects climate change is having on Florida.

Source: Fishkind, Hank. "Fishkind: Effects of Climate Change Affect Florida Now."Fishkind: Effects of Climate Change Affect Florida Now. 16 May 2014. Web. 17 May 2014.

A Sassy Rant About Climate Change

In the mornings I love to look at CNN every now and then because they always have some really interesting articles. This time it was an opinion article about the importance of the Antarctica ice melting. The writer of the article starts off with a very sarcastic tone, making it a little easier and fun to actually read. In the end, the article was informative and extremely fun to read. I think that the sarcasm in the article really gave it a serious touch, it seems like he is kind of a "fed up" with the debates. And aren't we all?

Source: Safina, Carl. "Rising Oceans Will Be Unstoppable." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 16 May 2014.

Climate Change and it's Real Life Effects

When browsing the internet about recent news in climate change, I found a series of videos done by NASA that show climate change and it's effects on the planet.There are several videos in this series, about a lot of interesting things. How bees and pollination are effected, how important glaciers are and how our oceans effect climate change are all part of this video series that help really visualize global warming. Underneath the top ten videos of climate change there are other videos more specifically about life, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice.

Source: "CLIMATE REEL." Global Climate Change. Earth Science Communications Team, n.d. Web. 16 May 2014.

Why are States Trying to Prevent the Chesapeake Bay From Getting Cleaned Up?

I know it probably seems crazy, who would be against cleaning up a bay that once was filled with wildlife such as clams and crabs? Believe it or not there are 20 states that are not even close to the bay that are rejecting the idea of cleaning it up. This is because the bay is strongly polluted by chemicals and urban runoff that is produced from local factories and/or farms. These states that are not bordering the bay are trying to prevent a bill that reduces the pollution and save the wildlife. In this article, you can see more in depth about why these states are trying to prevent it.

Source: Valetine, Katie. "Why Are 20 Far-Away States Trying To Block The Cleanup Of The Chesapeake Bay?" ThinkProgress RSS. N.p., 16 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 May 2014.

Why are We Not Already on the Road to Recovery?

Since climate change has become such a major issue within the past few years, why does nothing seem to be getting done about it? Why are there no policies, laws, rules or regulations that help us control our carbon output? Besides the finances of building these new energy sources, what exactly is holding us back? Part of this answer is relatively simple, and that's the fact that Democrats and Republicans have a very hard time with agreeing...on anything! In this article here, there is a lot more of the subject of why not much is getting done through the government. Why is cap and trade being denied with no possible modifications to fix it? Why are conspiracy theories still floating around as if there is any evidence? The world may never know.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/12/opinion/krugman-crazy-climate-economics.html?_r=0

When the Economy Starts to Get Effected

Although the economy has always been influenced by climate change, lately it has been having a stronger impact than normal. In particular, it has been starting to influence insurance companies and their policies for natural disasters, that now occur more due to the climate changing. These climate change scenarios could take an extreme toll on businesses and individuals if they are not properly prepared for. In this article, you can read more about the world's oldest and biggest insurance market and what they are recommending for insurance agencies worldwide to do about climate change and it's damages.

Source: Stern, Nicholas, and Julia Kollewe. "Lloyd's Calls on Insurers to Take into Account Climate-change Risk." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 08 May 2014. Web. 21 May 2014.

Climate Change is Being Seen Worldwide

Here in the US we see climate change effecting us in was such as extreme weather and extreme temperatures. Across the globe, some countries are having a harder time with the change of climates. The Middle East and Africa are having trouble with droughts causing water deprivation and crop shortages. For undeveloped countries global warming is definitely taking a larger toll on them. At this website you can learn some more information about what they are going through, and how they are trying to handle it.

Source #6: Davenport, Coral. "Climate Change Deemed Growing Security Threat by Military Researchers." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 May 2014. Web. 20 May 2014.

The Most Accurate Video You Will Ever See About Climate Change

Bill Nye is definitely well known in the science community for facing against skeptics in debates about climate change. But why is there even a debate to begin with? We all know climate change is happening, there are statistics that confirm it! In this video they show what a "debate" against climate change should look like. And without trying to ruin anything about the video... this is the way that global warming debates are supposed to go!

Source #4: Mooney, Chris. "WATCH: John Oliver and Bill Nye Show Why Cable News Climate "debates" Are so Ridiculous." Mother Jones. 12 May 2014. Web. 21 May 2014.

Jim Anderson and his Quest to Solve Climate Change

After I watched the Bill Nye video off of the Smithsonian website this video played immediately after it, so obviously I had to watch it! The video opens up with something that would scare almost anyone: When it comes to climate change, there is no safe place to live. Climate change effects everyone and can only be changed if everyone is in it together. This video definitely emphasizes that and I think it was really interesting to watch.

Source #5: History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian." History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian. Web. 21 May 2014.

Bill Nye the Science Guy!

Bill Nye has always been one of my favorite scientists since I was growing up. Once I saw that he narrated a talk about climate change I was immediately interested. The talk is definitely simplified down to the basics, but I think it shows the proof of concept very well. There is a part of the video where they do an experiment that can be easily replicated at home. This entire concept is the source as to why the globe is warming. If anyone was skeptical about the idea of climate change, this entire video will shut them right up!

The video is here.

Source #3: "Climate Change 101 With Bill Nye the Science Guy." History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places. Web. 21 May 2014.

How did the Wildlife Make it Through This Polar Vortex?

While all of us were cozy in our beds with our heated blankets and hot chocolate, how were the wildlife surviving out there in the abnormally cold winter? Here is a website that talks more about how the animals are adapting to these frigid winters. Some animals survive through hibernation, while others learn more unique ways to adapt. Flying squirrels were seen cramming into small tree holes and huddling together and a ruffed grouse would bury itself in the snow and create a miniature igloo to protect itself from further cold spells. These are just two examples of how some of the wildlife was adapting during the Polar Vortex, but there are many other examples on the website.

Source #2: Miller, Matt. "How Will the Polar Vortex Affect Wildlife?" Cool Green Science. 8 Jan. 2014. Web. 21 May 2014.

Burmese Pythons Invade the Everglades

In one of my math classes, Operations Research, we looked at real life problems and used linear programming to help us find solutions. One of the problems proposed were the evasive species of Burmese Pythons invading the Everglades. Florida is currently facing the problem of trying to control the pythons but since they eat pretty much everything and are extremely difficult to find let alone catch. The snakes actually go brought over to the US as pets, but are rapidly spreading as an evasive species. The reason I bring this up is because since the US is getting warmer, there is now a larger area that these snakes are able to survive in. These snakes are one of the largest snakes on the planet, and although 2,000 have already been killed, that is only a fraction that is still out there. The snakes are beginning to gain ground in moving up Florida, and in no time they could continue to move right up the US. Climate change and global warming is making it easier for these snakes to survive in places they possibly never could have before, making them an even worse threat for us.

Source #1: United States. National Park Service. "Burmese Pythons." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 18 May 2014. Web. 20 May 2014.

What's your carbon footprint like?

Here is my look into becoming carbon neutral!

Test 3

Here is my Test 3!

Why are Climate Models so Important?

Here are a few common questions about climate models and the answers as to why they are so important!

Why Did The Vikings Leave Greenland?

Here is my explanation as to why I think they abandoned their settlements and went back to Europe!

High Profile Scientific Publications

Here is my document discussing the publication by Marcott et al. and how it was interpreted in the media.