China says dams not to blame for low Mekong levels

China says dams not to blame for low Mekong levels

Quarter 4

Article 10

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6341A620100405

Reuters.com

The area covered is global.

Summary:

The Mekong River in China has shown extremely large water level drops recently. Their government is denying that it is the many dams present on the river and blaming it on abnormally dry weather. Neighboring countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos have also been affected by the water level drops. The major players in this controversy are requesting more data from China's hydroelectric stations to get a better idea of what may be causing the decreased water flow. As the meetings go on, China has shut down one of their hydroelectric dams to prevent impacts on fish migration.

Opinion:

I think that it is probably a combination of both the numerous dams and the dry weather that is causing such a decreased water flow. This article is a perfect example of how a renewable resource like hydroelectric power could have negative effects on the environment. Everything that alters the natural environment has a consequence.

Definition:

Mekong River: one of the worlds largest rivers that services about 6 countries in south east asia.

Demystifying Common Myths of Wind Power

Demystifying Common Myths of Wind Power

Quarter 4

Article 9

http://blog.cleantechies.com/2010/05/25/demystifying-common-myths-wind-power

http://blog.cleantechies.com/

May 25, 2010

The area covered is national.

Summary:

In this article, many myths and misconceptions about wind farms are put to rest. One important one is that birds are not really harmed. The author said that birds can see better than us and workers at wind farms see more birds fly into glass than fly into turbine blades. He stated that there is also new technology that detects flocks and shuts turbines down if they are on a collision course. The author also said windfarms don't disrupt water ecosystems and they are not loud compared to other things in our society like highways and cities.

Opinion:

I think it was different to hear someones true but slightly sarcastic view on peoples hate towards wind turbines. He pretty much let everyone that complained know how stupid they are sounding and that what they said was a bunch of bologna.

Definition:

NIMBY- not in my backyard. Many people complain that wind farms could be an eye-sore and they dont want them constructed near their homes.

Key Countries Partner to Reduce Deforestation Emissions Sustainable Life Media

Key Countries Partner to Reduce Deforestation Emissions Sustainable Life Media

Quarter 4

Article 8

http://sustainablelifemedia.com/content/story/strategy/key_coutries_partner_on_reducing_deforestation_emissions

sustainablelifemedia.com

May 31, 2010

Summary:

Last month, over 50 developed and developing countries met to sign a REDD agreement at the Oslo Climate and Forest Conference in Norway. REDD stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. The countries signed on to spend over 4 billion dollars in the next three years to reduce deforestation. Many scientists believe this is a starting point for future international environmental agreements. The US alone pledged to spend over 1 billion in the next 3 years of this project.

Opinion:

I think that this is really great. An international agreement to help a very large issue regarding climate change is a great step forward in making our planet green. What I am interested to see is how this agreement holds up and what the countries are going to do with all of the money pledged. It will be interesting to see if all of the countries hold their promise and follow through with what they have agreed to do.

Vocabulary:

NGO- non-govermental organization. In this article, many NGO's are participating in this international agreement.

Mediterranean Sea Getting Saltier, Hotter

Mediterranean Sea Getting Saltier, Hotter

Quarter 4

Article 7

May 24, 2010

livescience.com

Source- livescience.com

May 24, 2010

The area covered is global.

Summary:

Recent studies have shown that the waters of the western Mediterranean Sea have become more salty and much warmer. They have increased by .0036 degrees farenheit and salinity has increased by .001 units each year. The trend has been accelerating since the 1990's and scientists worry it will only get worse due to its correlation with greenhouse gas processes. Scientists also realize that even this slight change in temperature is very significant because it takes a lot of heat to change such a large amount of water's temperature this much. To prevent this from getting worse, changes have to be made regarding the dams blocking the cool, fresh water from entering the Mediterranean.

Opinion:

The increased temperature and evaporation in the Mediterranean sea is creating a very bad feedback loop that will continue amplifying this bad situation. I hope that the countries surrounding this waterway find a solution to stop the warming of the water.

Vocabulary:

Geophysical research: Focuses on physics and chemistry of the earth and it's core.

Philips Unveils World's First 60 Watt LED Bulb

Quarter 4

Article 6

Philips Unveils World's First 60 Watt LED Bulb

Source: enn.com

May 13, 2010

Summary:

Phillips has now released it's new EduraLED bulb which is a 12 watt LED light bulb made to replace the common 60 watt incandescent bulb. It will last 25 times longer than the incandescent and it will not require maintenence as well as delivering up to 80% savings on energy costs. CFL bulbs have 8 times more life than an incandescent bulb which is very good but if all of these were replaced by the new LED bulbs, an immense amount of energy will be saved as well as money.

Opinion:

This new LED bulb is wonderful. It has been known that LED lights are more efficient than any other common bulb, they were just not on the market for consumers. Now that LEDs are availible, it will be much easier for consumers to cut energy usage and costs.

Vocabulary:

LED: Light Emitting Diode

A Quandary in Restoring Bald Eagle Populations

A Quandary in Restoring Bald Eagle Populations

Quarter 4

Article 5

NY Times

The area covered is national.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/science/04obeagle.html?ref=endangered_and_extinct_species

Summary: For three decades, scientists have been trying with only limited success to re-establish breeding populations of bald eagles on the Channel Islands off the Southern California coast. The eagles disappeared from the islands in the 1960s, victims, like many other birds, of DDT, which affected their ability to reproduce. However, restored eagle populations may have considerable impact on other animals on the islands. The eagles’ diet consisted mostly of seabirds. But when sheep ranching was established in the mid-19th century, the diet changed, largely to sheep carcasses. There are no more sheep on the island. If bald eagle populations were to recover, they would have to seek other prey. Prey sources might include sea lion carcasses or seabirds. Both are potentially problematic, the seabirds because their populations have also declined and are now recovering, and the sea lions because they would pass on accumulated contaminants and pollutants, including DDT, in their tissues.

My opinion: I think that it's important to reestablish bald eagle populations so that the bald eagle does not become extinct. However, environmentalists need to make sure that they do not endanger other native populations such as seabirds or allow the eagles to be poisoned by DDT.

E.P.A. Tightens Sulfur Dioxide Limit

E.P.A. Tightens Sulfur Dioxide Limits

Quarter 4

Article 4

NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/04/science/earth/04sulfur.html?ref=air_pollution

The area covered is national.

Summary:

The EPA issued a new health standard for sulfur dioxide limits. This is the first revision for SO2 limits in nearly 40 years. The agency said the new standard, adopted under the Clean Air Act, would prevent 2,300 to 5,900 premature deaths and 54,000 asthma attacks a year. The agency estimates the cost to industry of adopting the new rule at $1.5 billion over the next 10 years, and the value of the health benefits at $13 billion to $33 billion a year. The agency is also requiring that new monitors be set up by 2013 in the areas that are subject to the highest concentrations of sulfur dioxide. The current standard calls for concentrations of no more than 140 parts per billion, averaged over 24 hours. The new rule reduces the ceiling to 75 parts per billion, measured hourly.

Opinion:

I think that it is a good thing that the EPA set a new standard for sulfur dioxide emissions. Not only is it better for the environment but it will also prevent premature deaths and asthma attacks. Fewer people will be hospitalized, have asthma attacks, and will die earlier from air pollution. The EPA needs to keep setting standards regarding air pollution and making sure that they are met so that our country can be cleaner and have healthier people living in it.

Definitions:

Sulfur dioxide- SO2 is a major element of the exhaust from coal-burning power plants and a component of acid rain. It has been linked to many health problems, including respiratory distress, asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.

Smart Moves on Drilling in New York Su Smart Moves on Drilling in New York

Smart Moves on Drilling in New York

Quarter 4

Article 3

NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/nyregion/17towns.html?ref=science

Local

Summary:

While neighboring Pennsylvania and other states have rushed into the Northeast’s version of an energy boom — making some people richer and some environments poorer — and while concern has steadily risen about the evolving industrial practices used to extract gas from shale, New York and Gov. David A. Paterson have held back. New York has written fairly tough regulations that are still being made to protect sensitive areas, particularly the upstate watershed that provides drinking water to nine million people in New York City and its suburbs and exurbs to the north. State legislators are considering two new bills. One bill would delay new drilling for a year from now. One would extend the current moratorium until 120 days after the release of a federal study of the industry’s impact on water quality. Tens of thousands of gas wells,each using millions of gallons of chemically treated water, and the economic landscape for much of upstate is at stake. There are 13,000 active wells in the state. The proposed bill to postpone drilling for a year is a compromise. Those gulf images embedded into people’s minds, now more than ever, getting things right might take precedence over getting things fast.

My opinion: I do not think that New York should start drilling for oil. Although, it will provide jobs and make a lot of money, it is not worth the environmental impact that it could cause.

Vocabulary:

moratorium -A period of time in which there is a suspension of a specificactivity until future events warrant a removal of the suspension orissues regarding the activity have been resolved.

Where Gulf Spill Might Place on the Roll of Disasters

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/science/earth/19enviro.html?ref=science

Quarter 4

Article 2

NY TIMES

National

Summary:

President Obama called the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico “the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced.” However, environmentalists offer an intimidating list of disasters to consider: floods caused by human negligence, the destruction of forests across the entire continent and the near-extermination of the American bison. Scientists note that the worst disaster is always the one that we are enduring through at the moment and that perhaps the dust bowl was the worst environmental disaster that America has ever faced. A drought that began in 1930 exposed the poor farming practices that stripped away the native grasses. Boiling clouds of dust whipped up by harsh winds buried homes and cars, destroyed crops, choked farm animals to death and sent children to the hospital with pneumonia. At first the crisis was ignored in Washington, but then the apocalyptic clouds began to blow all the way to New York, Buffalo and Chicago. The environmental effects of the gulf spill remain largely unknown. But the number of lives disrupted is certainly in the thousands, if not the tens of thousands; the paychecks lost in industries like fishing add up to millions; and the ultimate cost will be counted in billions. We won't be able to tell the impact of the oil spill until it's over.

Opinion: I believe that President Obama just said that it was the worst environmental disaster to show sympathy for the people of the Gulf coast. We are not able to tell exactly how severe the impact will be until it's over. However, right now, we need to figure out a solution to stop the leak and begin the cleanup so that the disaster will not be the worst in American history.

Vocabulary:

calamity- a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury.

Recipe for Green Tires: Plants, Not Petroleum

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/automobiles/20TIRE.html?pagewanted=2&ref=science

Quarter 4

Article 1

June 17, 2010

National

Summary:

Efforts to improve the eco-friendliness of tires are growing. Automakers are trying to reduce the use of raw materials — particularly the five to 10 gallons of petroleum ingredients needed to manufacture a tire. Scientists found that 86 percent of the tire’s environmental impact revolves around how it affects fuel consumption. Only 12 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions associated with tires arise from the raw materials and manufacturing. Different car and tire companies have come up with different models of tires to make them more environmentally sustainable. For example, Sumitomo cut back the amount of carbon black filler in the tread compound while increasing the amount of fuel-saving silica filler. Vegetable processing oil was substituted for its petroleum equivalent, and the compounds were reinforced with fibers made from plant cellulose. Also, Engineers at Yokohama Tire, working toward a similar goal, have come up with tires that are 80 percent petroleum-free. It uses chemically modified natural rubber and a processing oil that is derived from orange peels. The peels are shipped from orange juice factories near the tire plant in Japan. Efforts are also growing to recycle a greater fraction of the estimated 300 million tires that domestic drivers discard each year.

Opinion: I think that it is very important that companies do all that they can to find new solutions that are environmentally friendly. If they are able to do this, they will not have to find ways to recycle 300 million tires every year.

Vocabulary:

isoprene- a colorless, volatile, water-insoluble liquid, C ₅ H ₈ , of theterpene class, usually obtained from rubber or from oil ofturpentine by pyrolysis: used chiefly in the manufacture ofsynthetic rubber by polymerization.