Can Sea Level Rise and Fall With Lightning Speed?
Berardelli, P. “Can Sea Level Rise and Fall With Lightning Speed?” ScienceNOW Daily News. February 11, 2010. Retreived February 13, 2010 From http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2010/211/3
The fluctuations of ice ages have been quite perplexing as it is amusing for most paleoclimatologists. Some spend lifetimes defining the cycles of these ice ages. In fact, recent study ran into a brick wall in figuring out the behaviors of sea level during the last several ice ages. Inside a coastal cave off the coast of Mediterranean Sea on a Spanish Island called Mallorca, showed some evidence in a dramatic rise in sea level so fast that it is unthinkable to believe that ice can melt that quickly. This evidence was shown on stalactites encrusted with calcite and like bathtub rings, they measured the watermarks on them showing high and low water levels. They measured these encrustations and it indicated that the sea level might have risen 2 meters per century. In geologic time, glaciers melting that fast is probably considered lightning fast.
These findings were not exactly discovered recently but discovered back in 1970s. However, the lack of technology back then could not measure and date them accurately until now. This discovery is strange and mysterious enough to ask some serious questions that might do some rethinking about the earth’s dynamics. In other words, there is still a lot to learn on how Earth and its Cryosphere works.
Showing posts with label CLIMATE CHANGE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CLIMATE CHANGE. Show all posts
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Science Article #12
Climate change will make world more ‘fragrant'
Walker, M. “Climate change will make world more ‘fragrant’." BBC-Earth News. February 9, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2010 From http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8503000/8503823.stm
Ever imagine what plant life was like millions of years ago when the climate was warmer? Scientists are getting closer to answers to those questions. The fact that more CO2 is lingering in the atmosphere, temperatures increase. It is this greenhouse effect that will affect plant life significantly. As temperature increases, the plants will emit a higher level of BVOS (biogenic volatile organic compound). Such increase will enable the planet Earth to be more fragrant. Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound serves as a communication technique with other plants as well as defense tactic against pest and herbivores.
According to the scientist leading this major scientific review, the world may have already becoming more fragrant. However, if the temperature increases even more, the emissions of BVOS will exponentially increase. It is important to monitor this because any changes to BVOS; the plants will undergo drastic changes. According to Professor Josep Penuelas, “The increased emissions will likely affect physiology and ecology, i.e. the function of life”.
Also, the warmer climate will increase vegetation in other parts of the world, especially the in the high latitudes where permafrost dominates the terrain. Even though study shows that plant life will be altered and emit higher levels of BVOS, its consequences are still unknown.
Walker, M. “Climate change will make world more ‘fragrant’." BBC-Earth News. February 9, 2010. Retrieved February 12, 2010 From http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8503000/8503823.stm
Ever imagine what plant life was like millions of years ago when the climate was warmer? Scientists are getting closer to answers to those questions. The fact that more CO2 is lingering in the atmosphere, temperatures increase. It is this greenhouse effect that will affect plant life significantly. As temperature increases, the plants will emit a higher level of BVOS (biogenic volatile organic compound). Such increase will enable the planet Earth to be more fragrant. Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound serves as a communication technique with other plants as well as defense tactic against pest and herbivores.
According to the scientist leading this major scientific review, the world may have already becoming more fragrant. However, if the temperature increases even more, the emissions of BVOS will exponentially increase. It is important to monitor this because any changes to BVOS; the plants will undergo drastic changes. According to Professor Josep Penuelas, “The increased emissions will likely affect physiology and ecology, i.e. the function of life”.
Also, the warmer climate will increase vegetation in other parts of the world, especially the in the high latitudes where permafrost dominates the terrain. Even though study shows that plant life will be altered and emit higher levels of BVOS, its consequences are still unknown.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Science Article #11
Australia, Antarctica Linked By Climate
Beradelli, P. “Australia, Antarctica Linked By Climate”. ScienceNow Daily News. February 8, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010 From http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2010/208/1
There is an adverse weather conditions between Australia and Antarctica. Climate researchers have seen that when one continent experiences drought, the other experiences precipitation. The southwestern corner of Australia is suffering a drought whereas the eastern Antarctica is consistently getting a barrage of snowstorms. This scientific finding needed further investigation so they took ice core samples from an ice field directly south of Australia’s southwestern tip. According to climate scientist Tas van Ommen and Vin Morgan, researchers of the Australian Antarctic Division in Tasmania, they have found evidence that the area of Antarctica has been experiencing an unusual amount of snowfalls for few decades. In fact, this anomaly is similar to the droughts that have occurred in Australia.
The researchers are convinced that these weather anomalies are linked together and may have been intensified by human/environment interactions. They monitored precipitations, atmospheric circulation patterns as well as measuring particles in ice cores. The evidence for human causes are strong because of human-made carbon dioxide as well as reduction in ozone had created a drier air in the southwestern regions of Australia. Inversely, Antarctica experiences wetter and snowier conditions. Researching this is crucial for the farming regions of Australia because without rainfalls, the farming industry will receive a devastating blow. This is a fine example of global warming in the works.
Beradelli, P. “Australia, Antarctica Linked By Climate”. ScienceNow Daily News. February 8, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010 From http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2010/208/1
There is an adverse weather conditions between Australia and Antarctica. Climate researchers have seen that when one continent experiences drought, the other experiences precipitation. The southwestern corner of Australia is suffering a drought whereas the eastern Antarctica is consistently getting a barrage of snowstorms. This scientific finding needed further investigation so they took ice core samples from an ice field directly south of Australia’s southwestern tip. According to climate scientist Tas van Ommen and Vin Morgan, researchers of the Australian Antarctic Division in Tasmania, they have found evidence that the area of Antarctica has been experiencing an unusual amount of snowfalls for few decades. In fact, this anomaly is similar to the droughts that have occurred in Australia.
The researchers are convinced that these weather anomalies are linked together and may have been intensified by human/environment interactions. They monitored precipitations, atmospheric circulation patterns as well as measuring particles in ice cores. The evidence for human causes are strong because of human-made carbon dioxide as well as reduction in ozone had created a drier air in the southwestern regions of Australia. Inversely, Antarctica experiences wetter and snowier conditions. Researching this is crucial for the farming regions of Australia because without rainfalls, the farming industry will receive a devastating blow. This is a fine example of global warming in the works.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Science Article #8
Climate Scepticism ‘on the rise’, BBC polls shows
“Climate Scepticism ‘on the rise’, BBC polls shows”. BBC NEWS. February 5, 2010
Retrieved February 7, 2010 From
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8500443.stm
It is hard to believe after a snowstorm that we just recently experience that climate change is really happening. In fact, there has been a rise in climate change skepticism. According to BBC NEWS Poll, “the number of people in Britain who are skeptical about climate change is rising”. Like us, they have experience a really cold and snowy winter in the past month. In December, the entire country of England was blanket in snow causing severe delays in air traffic and shortage in salts for the roads all over the country. It is easy to see why this increase in skepticism is happening.
However, the poll indicates that the increased in skepticism is quite sudden. Back in November, there was approximately 1 out of 5 people believed that global warming is a farce or an exaggeration. Now, the poll indicates that 1 out of 3 people believed the same thing. This has shown an 8% increase in skepticism since November.
This growing skepticism is a cause of a concern. The reason for a concern is because people who are skeptical of climate change and that humankind is the catalyst is beginning to think it is an exaggerated threat. The experts are afraid that this skepticism will hinder people from actually doing something to curb the climate change such as using less water, recycle, or anything that is beneficial for the environment. If we can reverse this skepticism and prove that the climate change is actually happening, maybe we can do some good because we all need to pitch in ensure our way of life on earth continues.
“Climate Scepticism ‘on the rise’, BBC polls shows”. BBC NEWS. February 5, 2010
Retrieved February 7, 2010 From
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8500443.stm
It is hard to believe after a snowstorm that we just recently experience that climate change is really happening. In fact, there has been a rise in climate change skepticism. According to BBC NEWS Poll, “the number of people in Britain who are skeptical about climate change is rising”. Like us, they have experience a really cold and snowy winter in the past month. In December, the entire country of England was blanket in snow causing severe delays in air traffic and shortage in salts for the roads all over the country. It is easy to see why this increase in skepticism is happening.
However, the poll indicates that the increased in skepticism is quite sudden. Back in November, there was approximately 1 out of 5 people believed that global warming is a farce or an exaggeration. Now, the poll indicates that 1 out of 3 people believed the same thing. This has shown an 8% increase in skepticism since November.
This growing skepticism is a cause of a concern. The reason for a concern is because people who are skeptical of climate change and that humankind is the catalyst is beginning to think it is an exaggerated threat. The experts are afraid that this skepticism will hinder people from actually doing something to curb the climate change such as using less water, recycle, or anything that is beneficial for the environment. If we can reverse this skepticism and prove that the climate change is actually happening, maybe we can do some good because we all need to pitch in ensure our way of life on earth continues.
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