Acid Raid

Nitric and Sulfuric gases are the major cause of acid rain. They come from volcanic eruptions, rotting vegetation and activities done by humans. A big factor is the burning of fossil fuels in cars, factories and coal-burning power plants. There are some negative effects of acid rain because when it reaches Earth, it enters water systems and sinks into the soil. It makes waters acidic and causes them to absorb aluminum which makes it toxic to aquatic animals including crayfish, clams and fish. In an ecosystem that is linked together, the things that effect some species can impact the rest of the food chain. Also, acid rain can damage forests by robbing the soil of its nutrients and instead releases aluminum, which makes it difficult for trees to take up water. Trees and plants are then less able to withstand cold temperatures and disease. Acid rain may also hinder the trees' ability to reproduce.

What the heck is "fracking"?

1. The purpose of fracking is to provide electricity using natural gas and oil by also creating jobs, new tax revenues and fueling power plants. 

2. Fracking is performed by injecting water, that is mixed with chemicals and sand, at high pressure. It is injected into the ground, cracking rock and releasing gas.

3. The reasons people are concerned about fracking is because people are jumping to begin drilling too fast, before they have time to figure out regulations. They are worried about the safety of the job, the cost of drilling, and the risks from working with shale gas. They are also concerned for the environment and its risks including air pollution and any potential water contamination from spills or seepage that could happen from the processes of fracking.  

Damming Rivers

Should humans continue to construct dams, or not?  What do you feel are the strongest arguments supporting your point of view?


      I think that dams serve many good purposes. They provide recreational areas for boating, skiing, camping, picnics, etc. They also help prevent the loss of lives and property to be caused by flooding. Dams also create reservoirs that supply water for all kinds of purposes. 10% of water used for irrigation is stored behind dams, which creates jobs. It is also a sufficient way for hydroelectric power resources to stay clean. Dams also provide stable inland river transportation systems.
      But, still considering those perks, I don't think (certain) dams should continue being constructed. As for areas like in the Three Gorges Project, there are animals that have very essential and specific habitats. It is nearly impossible for them to become acclimated to new living conditions. If the dam were to be built, the animals, like the Balji Dolphin whose only natural habitat is the Yangtze River, would have to be transported elsewhere, where there are no promises that he nor his peers would adjust and live an average-length life.
      As for the people living near/on the soon-to-be dammed river, they would have to be "transported" also. They would be reimbursed for their houses, that would have to be torn down. It would be the value of their house at the time, but despite this, could make it difficult to buy a new home. The money they were given may not be enough to start over nor pay for a new house in the area they've been moved to.
      Jobs, though some will be created when the dam is built, will also be wiped out. Thousands of farmers not able to receive new land as compensation, would be trained for jobs in cities. But because the relocation numbers are so high, the odds of restoring their livelihoods are low.
      When the houses are destroyed, forests and agricultural lands will also be depleted. This will lead to erosion and sediment build up at the base of the river and reservoir. This could in time lead to increased flooding upstream.

Europe's Cold Snap

The kind of weathering affecting the Colosseum is mechanical and referred to as frost wedging, where water freezes (rain/snow) and expands, which allowed the pieces of the stonework to break off and crumble.

Carbon Dioxide Graph

1. The x-axis represents the years, from 1990-2030 (40 years), that carbon dioxide emission counts have been derived from.
2. Present-day is in the middle: 1990, the past, is on the left and 2030, the future, is on the right.
3. The y-axis represents the carbon dioxide emission counts in million metric tons. It ranges from 0-45,000.
4. The graph was created from data that was gathered in October of 2009 from the Energy Information Administration, EIA. 

Global Warming Facts

Do you believe either of these sets of facts? Why or why not?

I don't necessarily believe either one of these sites, at least not their entire pages. I'm sure they each have valuable facts but because they are both so biased, it's hard to trust them and their information. Also, at least in the first site, there were spelling errors and their vocabulary was unsophisticated. Despite each of the websites having some relevant and honest facts, it was easy to tell they weren't showing all the statistics. They each had a well defined side and stuck to it.

Soil Erosion Threatens to Leave Earth Hungry

Statistics:
1. 75 billion tons of soil are lost to erosion, waterlogging and salination each year.
2. It takes between 200 to 1,000 years to renew 2.5 cm of soil.

Responses:
1. It's hard to imagine that 75 billion tons of good soil are lost each year. It's crazy to think that the factors of erosion: wind, water and salt, are to blame. The amount of lost soil is equivalent to about 12 elephants in their prime. Personally I can't even begin to picture what that would look like. That's a lot of soil! And for farmers and workers to take care of all this land just to have it become useless to them is terrible. I would be incredibly frustrated if that were to happen to me each year.
2. Farmers work really hard to grow and practice agriculture. So when they find a good area of land, they are pleased. But for it to take 200 to 1,000 years to renew only 2.5 cm of soil, they have to have some pretty well-preserved land. They can't afford for anything drastic to happen because they don't have time to renew their ground. You wouldn't think it would take that long for soil to grow healthy again. I think it's safe to say that soil isn't the most resilient natural resource.