Thursday, May 31, 2012

http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/effects-air-pollution-acid-rain-2255.html

The Effects of Air Pollution: Acid Rain
by David Chandler, Demand Media, March 2011













This Gargoyle has been damaged from acid rain.

Acid rain is caused by natural deposits of sulfuric and nitric acids that occur in the atmosphere, however, recently much attention has been given to human causes of this type of pollution. Coal power plants give off tons of carbon emissions and other pollution into the air every year. These emissions rise into the air and mix with moisture in the air, which becomes acid rain in the process of precipitation. This rain pollutes water systems and kills fish and other plants. Acid rain can also destroy forest ecosystems, when it kills the leaves off of trees. It pollutes the soil and releases toxins into the roots of trees. Like the picture above, stone and building sculptures can be easily destroyed by acid rain. The calcite material that predominates these structures is quickly eroded and dissolved by acid rain. Finally, acid rain does not have any direct affect on humans, however the pollution that causes it does. These air pollutants cause respiratory illnesses, heart illnesses, and other painful symptoms that are unpleasant for anyone. In some cases, these pollutants can even be responsible for death.

This source shows us that air pollution is not strictly limited to the air. The atmosphere is just another part of Earth, but is directly connected to the surface. If we are to save the Earth from further contamination, we need to thoroughly check how much pollution is released into the air each year, and reduce it. If we fail to do this, symptoms such as acid rain will continue to occur. Fortunately, measures such as the Clean Air Act help protect the atmosphere from pollution that industry releases. According to the EPA, between 1980 and 2009, pollution that causes acid rain such as sulfur dioxide has decreased 76%, and nitrogen dioxide has reduced 48%. This is a great start! I am glad that I found this article, for I want to be a part of helping reduce pollutions even further. I hope to learn more in class, because I find it to be very important. We, the youth, must be a part of this issue.

1. How does Acid Rain harm both the atmosphere and the lithosphere?
2. What other EPA laws could possibly play into acid rain depletion?
3. How can you help to reduce acid rain? How can you let others know about it?
4. Do we have an acid rain problem in our community?


Tuesday, May 22, 2012


A Fracking Mess: Is New Brunswick's Budding Natural Gas 

Industry Worth the Environmental Uncertainty?

By Kyle Dupont
Red Maple Foundation


In orange, you can see how much land the New Brunswick government is controlling
with oil and gas licenses and leases.
         
Summary     
     People all over the world need to be educated about the dangerous impacts hydraulic fracturing has on people and the environment. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is when water, sand, and other materials are pumped down and across deep (10,000 feet) into the earth at a high pressure. This pressurized mixture causes the rock layer to crack; these cracks are called fissures. The fissures are held open by the sand particles so that natural gas can flow up. New Brunswick’s government voted to move forward with responsible and regulated development of natural gas. That same month, the EPA released a report about how hydraulic fracturing is severely contaminating water quality at a site in Wyoming. Stephanie Merrill, program coordinator for the Shale Gas Alert Campaign, educates the New Brunswick citizens about the dangers of fracking. She says that there are guaranteed negative effects that can harm water quality which can damage the respiratory system. 400 New Brunswick people were surveyed, and the results were the following: 45% in favor of natural gas exploration, 45% opposed, and 10% unsure what the government should do. However, the New Brunswick government has already placed 71 oil and natural gas agreements, and companies are paying more than $1 million annually to be fracking the land. The government predicts to have reached $225 million once the fracturing wells are fully in place.

Opinion/Reflection
                $225 million dollars!? That is a lot of money! Well then wait a minute, this is all for the money. Hydraulic fracturing has so many negative effects, but money is the stronger asset in this situation. I think the main reason hydraulic fracturing occurs is because not many people know about the side effects it leaves; fracking can harm water quality leaving it undrinkable, and people are beginning to walk a few miles day just to get water. Our modern society should not have to be dealing with this, which is why fracking is so bad to do! I will admit, I did not know anything about what hydraulic fracturing was until this year. It is important to educate those who do not know about hydraulic fracturing because the more people who are against it, the more likely it will not take place. I was shocked to find out that 45% of 400 people were in favor of this. That was absolutely absurd; how can people see fracking as a good thing when the negative impacts are so overpowering?! It was also shocking to me that 10% did not know what to do. This is why more people need to be educated about the topic so they can make a smart decision.

Questions:
1. Before reading this, how much did you already know about hydraulic fracturing?
2. Why are governments for hydraulic fracturing? Do you think they should be paying more attention to the people?
3. The New Brunswick government is continuing to “frack” and getting millions of dollars in return. What other benefits are governments getting by allowing hydraulic fracturing?
4. What are some negative impacts to the environment of hydraulic fracturing besides poor water quality? 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

DOE invests in future nuclear energy leaders
May 9, 2012
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47364463



A better way to handle nuclear waste or radioactive energy may be discovered soon.

Summary
       The Department of Energy (DEO) in Richland, Washington has decided to give more than $47 million in scholarships, fellowships, grants and university research reactor advancements. The reason is to train and educate the next people of America’s nuclear industry. The 143 awards (from the Department’s Nuclear Energy University Programs and Integrated University Program) will provide nuclear energy R&D, and student investment at 46 colleges and universities across the United States. Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman has received a little under $2 million in funds and two grants to update their infrastructure including the nuclear reactor. Professor, Ken Nash says he will use the money to find a different way to handle nuclear or radioactive waste, which comes from a power plant. He and his students will be doing the research in Richland at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Unfortunately, it has been hard for Department of Energy national labs to hire people with the right knowledge. The radioactive chemistry professor believes the research will help his pupils find an open field of interest.

Opinion/Reaction                    

        I am glad the Department of Energy was generous enough to spend money on the future leaders of America’s nuclear industry. Education is the key to success and I am glad that many opportunities are now available to students across the country. Hopefully, Ken Nash and his graduate students will be able to find a better way to handle nuclear waste, since it is hazardous to organisms. It is great to hear that we might be making progress. How technically sophisticated will our world get, though? In environmental science class, I remember learning about nuclear energy and watching that cool power point. Nuclear energy is a way of creating heat through the fission process of atoms. I also remember going on a website and filling out a chart that had Nuclear Power on it. Nuclear Power is not renewable and must be kept from natural disasters, people, and animals.

Questions

How is nuclear or radioactive waste handled?
Would you want to work for the Department of Energy? Explain.
What events have recently occurred with Nuclear Energy around the world?


Monday, May 7, 2012

Modern Landfills: Safe for the Enviroment?



Most will agree that the idea of landfills is not a good choice for the enviroment. Landfills are areas where wastes are disposed of, and more or less just dumped there. These have bad effects such as leaking contaminants into the water and soil, taking up land, and many other things that could go wrong with a pile of garbage sitting there to rot. But is there a way to make these things okay for the planet? This article says yes we can! They place collection systems in the area to prevent the leaking of harmful chemicals. They have liners to prevent gasses from leaving the area. Waste is laid in layers and compacted tightly to put more garbage into one space. Once the area is filled to it's capacity, it is capped off to keep it confined. We can also do things like use the trapped gasses for energy!

I think this idea is genious! Alothough in theory, it isn't perfectm, it is the best we will ever get it to be. We can more easily contain our byproducts when we put them in places like this. One problem we may have is that they would be very expensive. We would also need to have the space to put these things in. But in the long run, they will save us a lot of time and energy. I think the coolest idea about this is that you can use the gasses for fuel. This is a great way of putting our garbage to use, and is well the worth the money we would put into it.

Questions:
1. What are the biggest benifits of these containers?
2. Do you think there are better ways of storing waste?
3. Do you think it is important to keep our garbage contained safely? Why?
4. What long-term benifits would this provide?
5. How can we show that this is the best way of disposing our garbage?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012


Companies Going Green with Energy Alternatives

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12040418/ns/business-cnbc_tv/t/companies-going-green-energy-alternatives/#.T6GJJOuXTpw

Author: Wendy Furrer

Publication: CNBC and MSNBC

Publication Date: 3/29/

Above is an image of a wind turbine at General Electric. The
demand for wind turbines is so vigorous that GE sold out its
2006 production.

Summary
     Corporate managers are looking for alternative ways to save money and reduce the amount of fossil fuels being used. According to a recent report by the National Association of Manufacturers, “industrial use accounts for about a third of energy consumed in the U.S., according to Energy Dept. estimates” ("Companies Going Green with Energy Alternatives"). Just by cutting back by 20% of these consumptions, American businesses can save up to $1.9 billion a year, and much of those savings can be achieved without investment. As energy prices increase, more people are motivated to save energy. A company called Cargill, a global food processor, is using meat scraps to make methane and replace high-cost natural gas. In addition to cutting down their own energy use, high energy prices are creating new markets for companies to sell equipment that offers alternatives to fossil fuel. A great example of an alternative energy is a gas-electric hybrid car; this encourages companies such as UPS to cut down their cost of fuel of $2 billion in order to deliver 15 million packages a day.  

Reflection/Opinion
I found it interesting how much can be saved by cutting back 20%. Since the price for energy is going to constantly be increasing, it is important for companies to find ways to save as much energy as possible. I know a few people who drive hybrid cars, and I think they are so smart because they a good for the environment and they benefit people as well. Soon, I hope that majority of people will be driving hybrid vehicles because of their convenience. I also liked how Cargill used their scraps and put them to use. This situation is kind of like composition: people can take leftover soil, plants, or newspaper and use that as soil to plant trees or flowers; Cargill uses their left over meats to make an alternative gas.

Here are some questions to think about:
1)        What other companies are out there today that work to go green?
2)        What are the benefits of using an alternative energy? Provide an example which benefits people and the environment.
3)        Why is the price of energy increasing?
4)        Do you think companies are willing to stop what they are doing and make a change by using alternative energy?
5)        In your own words, what is alternative energy? Provide an example on how you can make a change in your life by using them (example: solar panels on roof, hybrid cars, energy saving light bulbs, etc.).