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16 April 2014
Ground-level Ozone vs. Stratospheric Ozone Solutions to ground level ozone Solutions to the hole in the ozone
EPAs regulated air pollutants El Nino & La Nina Major Types of Fuel Types
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted in 1987 as an international treaty to eliminate the production and consumption of ozonedepleting chemicals. A subsequent amendment created the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, becoming the first of the multilateral environmental agreements to establish a financial mechanism for implementation. The Montreal Protocol's ultimate success will be based on having created an enduring global commitment to stop producing and consuming substances that deplete the ozone layer. This commitment must be maintained across boundaries and by all peoples of the world. The sustainability of our efforts requires empowered partners for technical innovation, policy implementation and project management.
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agricultural, industrial and mining activities while nitrous oxide is from combustion and fertilizer use. In the
stratosphere the ozone layer absorbs and filters the sun's ultraviolet rays, protecting the earth from harmful radiation. Scientists report a thinning of this shield. In some areas, such as in the Antarctic, "holes" have appeared. As the
SOLUTIONS
You have a role to play to avoid any catastrophic outcomes. Each one of us is expected to follow the following guidelines. Electronic appliances emit CFC even when they are not in use. So always unplug the electronic instruments when they are not in use. Prefer to walk and as far as possible, avoid using vehicles. Simple measures like using public transportation instead of your own private vehicle or carpooling will help in the long run. Prefer buying energy-efficient appliances like fluorescent bulbs. Plant trees, as they absorb UV rays greatly and thus protect the environment. Replace your old refrigerators and air conditioners as they are the major contributors of CFC in the atmosphere. Avoid or restrict the use of insecticides and pesticides.
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Climate Change is the change in global climate patterns apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards, attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels. Scientists are aware of a number of positive feedbacks loops in the climate system. One example is melting ice. Because ice is light-colored and reflective, a large proportion of the sunlight that hits it is bounced back to space, which limits the amount of warming it causes. But as the world gets hotter, ice melts, revealing the darkercolored land or water below. The result is that more of the sun's energy is absorbed, leading to more warming, which in turn leads to more ice melting and so on. Industrial vs. Photochemical Smog Industries are economic activity that is concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories. Industries are a particular form or branch of commercial or economic activity. Industries include all types of businesses in any region or area. Industry is a blanket term for groups of businesses. Examples of industries are agriculture, legal, health care, education, sports, and banking. Other industries include defense,
department stores, gas stations, manufacturing, retail, entertainment, and technology. Smog is a type of air pollution. Smog is a mixture of smoke and fog. Smog usually forms when smoke from pollution mixes with fog. For example, London, England, is often very foggy. Most people in London used to heat their homes by burning coal. The coal made lots of smoke, which mixed with fog to form smog. London used to have a lot of smog. Temperature Changes One of the most common temperature changes in a real world is our body temperature. When we have some infections or viral infections, our cells reacts to the foreign substance and fighting it in order to maintain the homeostasis. As a result, the immune system will signal the brain to increase the body temperature thus causing us to be warmer. Antipyretics on the other hand are medicine used to lower down the temperature of the body. Antipyretics will signal the hypothalamus to control the increased in temperature thus making the fever goes down.
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It is not only small island states that need to worry about sea level rise. Sea level rise increases the risk of both temporary and permanent flooding of coastal lands. Around 23% of the worlds population lives in the near coastal zone with population densities about three times higher than the global average.
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since the onset of agriculture. Thus, during great part of the Holocene, pollen data might have too human-derived noise to provide reliable climatic information, although still giving useful information about the landscape (Committee on abrupt climate change 2002; Lebreton et al. 2004). Indeed, most pollen assemblages for the last two millennia reveal clear symptoms of anthropogenic disturbance, such as the abundance of pollen from cereals and other crops, and the spread of ruderal species.
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The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty intended to bring countries together to reduce global warming and to cope with the effects of temperature increases that are unavoidable after 150 years of industrialization. The provisions of the Kyoto Protocol are legally binding on the ratifying nations, and stronger than those of the UNFCCC. Countries that ratify the Kyoto Protocol agree to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs and PFCs. The countries are allowed to use emissions trading to meet their obligations if they maintain or increase their greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions trading allow nations that can easily meet their targets to sell credits to those that cannot. Pros Advocates of the Kyoto Protocol claim that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an essential step in slowing or reversing global warming, and that immediate multinational collaboration is needed if the world is to have any serious hope of preventing devastating climate changes. Scientists agree that even a small increase in the average global temperature would lead to significant climate and weather changes, and profoundly affect plant, animal and human life on Earth.
Cons Arguments against the Kyoto Protocol generally fall into three categories: it demands too much; it achieves too little; or it is unnecessary. In rejecting the Kyoto Protocol, which 178 other nations had accepted, President Bush claimed that the treaty requirements would harm the U.S. economy, leading to economic losses of $400 billion and costing 4.9 million jobs. Bush also objected to the exemption for developing nations. The presidents decision brought heavy criticism from U.S. allies and environmental groups in the U.S. and around the world.
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Carbon Offsets
A carbon offset is a credit for greenhouse gas reductions achieved by one party that can be purchased and used to compensate (offset) the emissions of another party. Carbon offsets are typically measured in tonnes of CO2-equivalents (or CO2e) and are bought and sold through a number of international brokers, online retailers and trading platforms. Because it can be difficult for offset buyers to get clear answers to each of the above questions, a good way to ensure that your offset purchase is making a positive contribution to the climate is to purchase offsets that meet recognized standards. Just as consumers can feel confident when purchasing food products that meet strict third-party standards for organic agriculture, standards for carbon offsets provide assurance that certain criteria are met when the offset is developed and sold. The Gold Standard is restricted to offset projects in countries that don't have emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol, primarily developing countries. Supporting offset projects that meet The Gold Standard therefore helps these countries leapfrog developed countries technologically so they don't go down the same fossil-fuel path, which would be disastrous for the climate.
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1. Major Types CLEAN COAL: PROS AND CONS Pros Abundant supply, concentrated in industrialized countries (US, Russia, China, India). Relatively inexpensive. Continuous power. Good utilization. High load factor. Substantial existing infrastructure. Mature industry. Cons Coal is nonrenewable. There is a finite supply. Coal contains the most CO2 per BTU, the largest contributor to global warming. Severe environmental, social and health and safety impacts of coal mining. Devastation of environment around coal mines. SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS: PROS AND CONS Pros Clean energy. No combustion. No greenhouse gas emission from use. Inexhaustible and abundant fuel supply Available nearly everywhere Well suited for distribution generation Cons Intermittent source. Not available at night or under clouds. Relatively high cost, especially with storage Requires inverter to produce AC current Requires storage or grid connection for continuous round-the-clock use
Chau Vu, Yen Ho, Diem Le Pros Widely used, contributes 21% of the worlds energy production today Delivery infrastructure already exists End use appliances already widespread Used extensively for power generation as well as heat Cleanest of all the fossil fuels Emits 45% less CO2 than coal Emits 30% less CO2 than oil Cons Non-renewable fuel, supply cannot be replaced for millennia Emits carbon dioxide when burned Contains 80-95% methane, a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) Explosive, potentially dangerous Concentrated sources require long distance transmission and transportation Requires extensive pipelines to transport over land Stored and distributed under high pressure
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NUCLEAR ENERGY: PROS AND CONS PROS Lower carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) released into the atmosphere in power generation. Low operating costs (relatively). Known, developed technology ready for market. Large power-generating capacity able to meet industrial and city needs (as opposed to low-power technologies like solar that might meet only local, residential, or office needs but cannot generate power for heavy manufacturing). CONS High construction costs due to complex radiation containment systems and procedures. High subsidies needed for construction and operation, as well as loan guarantees. 9
Chau Vu, Yen Ho, Diem Le 16 April 2014 Subsidies and investment could be spent on other solutions (such as renewable energy systems). High-known risks in an accident. Target for terrorism (as are all centralized power generation sources).
2. Fuel types Fossil fuel Pros - Well Developed - Cheap and Reliable Cons - Contribute to Global Warming - Non-Renewable - Unsustainable - Incentivized - Accidents Happen Natural gas Pros Natural Gas produces 21% of the worlds power Natural Gas is now the number one power source in America beating coal for the first time in July 2012 Natural Gas produces little soot, verifying the clean-burning claim Emits 45% less CO2 than coal and 35% less CO2 than oil There is an abundant supply. The DOE estimate roughly 1.2 trillion barrels in American soil Can be used in manufacturing of plastics ,fertilizers ,and other chemicals Can be used for transportation No waste Employs 1.2 million people around the world Far better for cooking than electric 10
Chau Vu, Yen Ho, Diem Le Cons A non-renewable resource. Though there is a lot, its not sustainable in the long run Though it emits less CO2 than coal or petroleum, still emits millions of tons per year 85-95% methane, which is among the most potent of greenhouse gasses Requires extensive pipelines to deliver The biggest dangers are in the extraction process
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- Water pollution due to chemical runoff from fracking sites. In 2011, tests of water supplies, such as one in particular in Wyoming, show that drinking water has been tainted by fracturing chemicals, leaving the water unfit for consumption - Companies are not required to show which chemicals are used in fracking - Water can also be mixed with other ground toxins, such as arsenic do to the fracturing of shale - GHG footprint in shale is greater than that of coal - Fracking has been linked to earthquakes caused by the weakening of supporting shale - Gas ends up in drinking water leading to highly flammable water - Fracking uses huge amounts of water, which are already in short supply - Runoff destroys millions of acres of farmland rendering it useless, depleting our food supply and taking farmers out of business Oil Pros Comparatively inexpensive due to fairly large reserves and easy accessibility Very large amounts of electricity can be generated in one place using oil, fairly cheaply. An efficient oil-fuelled power station can be built almost anywhere, so long as you can get large quantities of fuel to it. It can run day and night, providing a constant source of power, unlike solar and wind power which are intermittent. Is relatively stable Oil has high heating value No new technology needed to use it Oil is arguably the planet's most adjustable fossil fuel. 11
Chau Vu, Yen Ho, Diem Le Oil is cleaner and easier to burn than coal. Cons
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Oil may contribute to global warming in its production and use by releasing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. It is now harder to find and hence more expensive. mining of oil leads to irreversible damage to the adjoining environment; Whenever there is an oil spill there is usually a massive environmental disaster. Evaporation and fumes also pollute the environment; Tankers and pipelines are vulnerable to terrorists and other criminals. Used oil is difficult to clean and recycle. Burning oil releases extra carbon dioxide, that has been stored in the earth for millions of years. This is disrupting the natural carbon cycle. It also causes strong localized effects. CO, NOx, and particulates damage local ecosystems and directly impact life expectancy (think smog, asthma, etc.).
* Greenhouse Gasses (what they are, where do they come from, what percentage) & Greenhouse Effect - Greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range - In the United States, greenhouse gas emissions come primarily from the burning of fossil fuels in energy use. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. - Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth's surface would average about 33 C colder. But if there are more and more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, more heat is trapped which makes the Earth warmer. This is known as GLOBAL WARMING. * EPAs regulated air pollutants - The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. These commonly found air pollutants (also known as "criteria pollutants") are found all over the United States. They are particle pollution, ground-level
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ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. - These pollutants can harm your health and the environment, and cause property damage. Of the six pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone are the most widespread health threats. EPA calls these pollutants "criteria" air pollutants because it regulates them by developing human health-based and/or environmentally-based criteria for setting permissible levels. * El Nino & La Nina (compare and explain how each effects the environment) Major Types of Fuel Types (pros and cons of each; you need to include: oil, natural gas, & coal) - La Nina is described as cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, near the equator off the west coast of South America. - El Nino is like La Nina's brother, the totally opposite and attention grabbing brother. This is described as warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the same area of the Pacific Ocean. - Changes in global atmospheric circulation patterns accompany La Nia and are responsible for weather extremes in various parts of the world that are typically opposite to those associated with El Nio. - These patterns result from colder than normal ocean temperatures inhibiting the formation of rain-producing clouds over the eastern equatorial Pacific region while at the same time enhancing rainfall over the western equatorial Pacific region (Indonesia, Malaysia and northern Australia.) - These patterns affect the position and intensity (weakening) of jet streams and the behavior of storms outside of the tropics in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. - Major types clean coal, solar photovoltaics, natural gas, nuclear energy. 1. Clean coal Pros abundant supply, concentrated in industrialized countries (US, Russia, China,
India). Relatively inexpensive. Continuous power. Good utilization. High load factor. Mature industry. Substantial existing infrastructure. Cons devastation of environment around coal mines. Severe environmental, social
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and health and safety impacts of coal mining. 2. Solar photovoltaics Pros - clean energy. No combustion. No greenhouse gas emission from use.
Inexhuastible and abundant fuel supply. Available nearly everywhere. Well suited for distribution generation.
Cons intermittent source. Not available at night or under clouds. Relative high
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