A Photo To Remember.

Ryan Southen took a striking photo of Pittsburgh from Mt. Washington which immediately sparked a reaction in me. The photo is a view of many of the big buildings, a bridge, bright lights and the abundant character in the architectural setup of this community. The photo is quite astonishing and for some reason, I immediately thought about climate change and losing this beautiful landscape. I thought about the body of water that is awaiting a rise in sea level so that this magnificent view can be washed away. I thought about the drastic increase in CO2 emissions that are waiting for the opportunity to completely destroy this view. I can assume that when most people view this photo, they admire the beauty and essence behind it. Interestingly, I became afraid and nervous while staring at the photo. I reflected upon Manhattan and how much fun my friends and I have on 42nd street. I thought about all the other ideal landscapes that the human race has designed. If all of these great cities, which unite to give America its plentiful tone, simply disappear it would be traumatic. When I look at this picture, I begin to wish that everyone would double the efforts in saving beautiful views such as this one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/southen/3739271474/

Immigration Relates to Climate Change

A valid argument could be that immigration and uncontrolled population growth directly link to climate change. In other words, one way to fix climate change can be to decrease immigration. Leon Kolankiewicz, an environmental planner, shares his insight to back up this claim in the video “The Impact of Immigration Policy on the Environment”. He explains that the population plays a major role in the amount of natural resources that are accessible and the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted. An interesting comment made by Kolankiewicz is the fact that if “emigration equaled immigration,” we would have population stability. According to him, this is hard to achieve because 2/3 of population growth “is driven by immigration” (“Sprawl City”). In short, Kolankiewicz is stating that immigration and drastic increases in the population directly link to resource shortages, new technologies that increase gas emissions and economic instability. Additionally, he references the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore; however, he creates a play on words. He basically states that the fact that many environmentalists are refusing to believe that immigration has a relation to climate change is the “inconvenient truth.” A relationship can be found between Gore and Kolankiewicz’s ideas because Gore stresses an increase on CO2 emissions while Kolankiewicz explains why the increase in occurring. Mark Maslin, the author of “Global Warming,” gives relevant information that can be used to validate these arguments. According to Maslin, the global climate is “sensitive to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide” (“What is Global Warming?”). I think that this is a suitable argument because CO2 emissions play a major role in climate change and the human population is a main cause for the increase of CO2 emissions. Therefore, a possibility to remedy climate change can be to lessen immigration by possibly creating quota systems or other implications of the law.

Suburbia: The Cause of It All

Racism can be said to have a major connection to the cause of climate change. The racist attitude and lifestyle practically led to the creation of suburbia. According to journalist Jim Brown, suburban areas are basically the “greatest misallocation of resources in the world” (Radiant City: Suburban Landscape). He also referred to these areas as “monocultures.” I think that’s a fitting title because of the way everything is distanced and set up. He discusses how in suburbia the shops are separated from the jobs which are separated from the homes. This basically sets up a community where automobiles and gas stations are pretty much a necessity: a major cause of GLOBAL WARMING.
In other videos, suburbia is portrayed as the beginning of tension between two ethnicities. The ideology that “whites” are superior to “blacks” was in fact the cause of segregation and the creation of suburbia. “1950 was the first year that more people lived in the suburbs than anywhere else” (The 1950s). This was simply because the “whites” didn’t want to live in the same area as the “blacks.” This attitude simply led to the development of suburbia in an effort to keep black people in one area and whites in another. This mentality is highlighted in another video that explains the creation of “black gangs” in response to the way they were being treated. These gangs were created in response to the white gangs that tormented and mistreated the blacks. These black gangs were basic brotherhoods that tried to stick together in order to defend themselves against racist actions by the whites. Chinaman, the founder of the Slausons: a black gang states “We couldn’t go there. We couldn’t go here…We’re not gangs. We are the pioneers that opened up [different areas of Los Angeles so that we could be free to go wherever we pleased]” (Racism Divides the Working Class: Gangs and White Flight). Basically, racism led to the development of suburbia which led to a double negative: tension and violence.
I think that a valid argument can be made from the way suburbia is depicted in each of these videos. Suburbia is visualized as a cause of racial destruction and global warming. I actually agree with the argument being made in each video and I think that it’s valid to say that the racist attitude led to the creation of suburban areas. These areas require automobiles in order to accommodate the distance between where one lives and where they work or where they go shopping. The drastic increase in cars actually contributes to climate change. I think a valid argument that can also be made is due to the fact that racism and white superiority has almost always existed, climate change and violence was practically unavoidable. In short, due to this ideology that existed in the beginning, suburbia had to be created, racial tension had to intensify and global warming had to occur.
Radiant City: Suburban Landscape http://youtube.com/watch?v=oCeWCVWZbdo&feature=fvw
The 1950s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhkjA2w4cXs&feature=related
Racism Divides the Working Class: Gangs and White Flight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVHMJz0IYQM

Why Be a Global Warming Skeptic?

I would expect heat waves, Hurricane Katrina, and tsunamis that have occurred in recent years, to be enough to get you to understand that the planet we live on is experiencing climate change. According to authors like Mark Maslin, activists like Al Gore, writers like Elizabeth Kolbert and a number of other scientists and researchers, we’re going to be walking under water and human activity will be why. Interestingly, your mother is the CEO of a company that will result in you having no place to live. Scientific evidence predicts that different communities will be plunged under water and others will be struggling to find a lake.
Greenhouse gases already exist in the atmosphere; however, additional greenhouse gases cause the heat from the sun to trap in the atmosphere and make the Earth warmer. This heat then interrupts the weather patterns that society is accustomed to, but moreover, affects the patterns that nature is accustomed to. Basically, carbon dioxide emissions have been measured and the temperature over time has been measured as well. Both have been increasing in a related pattern over the course of time. Mark Maslin presents information about the measurements of CO2 over time. He highlights the year 1958 in Hawaii and discusses how “atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have increased every single year since 1958” (What is Global Warming?). Additionally, Al Gore presents a graph that shows the temperatures over the past few decades and the ten hottest years on record occurred in the last 14 years: 2005 being the hottest.
Simplistically, CO2 emissions have been increasing more than ever succeeding the industrial revolution and these industrial cites are indeed producing CO2 (What is Global Warming? Graph 4a/4b). The change in temperatures that correspond to the amount of CO2 being produced can be found in recent data. This change in temperature interrupts weather patterns which result in ice melting when it normally shouldn’t. This happens when the heat from the sun directly hits the water and makes the glaciers and large bodies of ice melt faster. This change in temperature also causes oceans to become warmer which cause harsher storms: Hurricane Katrina. These big issues develop and will continue to develop based on the increase in CO2 production and other greenhouse gases: which shockingly are products of machinery from the companies similar to that of your mother’s. I’d suggest you find some information about global warming because it’s quite obvious that your mother may be hiding a few “life changing” details from you.
Interestingly, I can understand why you may doubt that climate change is occurring. Many people, similar to your mother, make tons of dollars from working in these huge oil companies, industries and factories. Why should they give up their top dollars to save the planet that billions of people live on? You may hear interesting perceptions that climate change isn’t occurring by people who are in those big positions: people like Dr. Ball. There’s a video I watched in which Dr. Ball explains his reasons for rejecting that we are experiencing climate change. One thing that he mentions is scientists once expected the earth to experience another ice age in the 70s, yet we did not. He uses this to go against what scientists are now calling climate change. (Junk Science vs. Real Science. Youtube.com) What I find interesting about this skepticism is the fact that there’s no science that explains Dr. Ball’s point of view. He uses his opinion and an incident from the past to validate why he believes that companies, like the one he works for, are not causing CO2 emissions to rise. I can understand why many may think this, but many who doubt that the earth is experiencing climate change have no scientific evidence to authenticate this idea. On the other hand, those who believe that we are experiencing climate change and human activity is a major cause of it are the ones who have scientific reasoning behind it. So, you can continue to listen to mommy and have no idea that the world you live in will soon be worse than ever before, or you can educate yourself about the issue because it’s becoming more important every day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUQAHVQ1Psc
What Is Global Warming?Mark Maslin.
An Inconvenient Truth.Al Gore.

Global Warming's Direct Impact on ME

Over the past week, I have obtained a great deal of information in regards to global warming. My attitude towards the environment and trying to make a difference with the little things like, recycling, and turning off the lights have truly changed. I always knew that global warming was a rising and serious issue, but I had no idea of the science, morals, and values behind the problem. After reading “Your Viewpoint Determines the Future,” I had this strange feeling as if I knew what category I could be placed in out of the groups listed in the text. A long time ago I would’ve considered myself an “individualist” because I used to think that nature was in control. I used to think that no matter what crazy and ridiculous things the human race decided to do to the environment, we’d always have some place to live. As of now, I’d consider myself a “hierarchist” because I think nature and human activity go hand in hand. If we cause damage to our environment, there’s a very definite possibility that the future will be destroyed and generations to come will have to suffer. The human race has the power to destroy the world. That is what I have grown to believe.
In the text, Mark Maslin asks, “Considering all the scientific evidence collected to support the global warming hypothesis, why is there still a huge range of opinions on what the future holds for us?” I think this is an amazing question. Maslin goes on to discuss myths of nature and the way it may respond to human activity. He also incorporates the four myths of human nature that go hand in hand with the four myths of nature. This information changed my mindset because it made me realize or conclude that the future is seriously in the hands of the people. What becomes of our world tomorrow is based on the actions and carelessness of individuals today. That’s terrifying. Learning about global warming, the causes, the effects, and the opinions of people towards the issue has most definitely changed my views. I understand much more clearly what can become of the world I live in and that makes me want to get involved and learn more about how I can contribute to a solution.

The Scientific Explanation for Global Warming

Global warming is a vast issue that will in the future affect the international community if nothing is done. The causes of global warming encompass everything from political neglect to an update in technology. When many people discuss the causes of this global catastrophe, they highlight the ideas of greenhouse gases, an increase in carbon dioxide, and deforestation. These are key ideas in what many already know. In fact, the misconception is made when they begin to think that these three concepts and actions are the ONLY causes of global warming.

Global warming is drastically effected by climate change. According to Mark Maslin, “the temperature of the Earth is controlled by the balance between the input from energy of the sun and the loss of this back into space.” This concept is validated by Al Gore in An Inconvenient Truth when he discusses the radiation and heat received from the sun. He highlights the fact that some of the radiation directed towards the Earth is indeed reflected back by the Earth’s atmosphere and into space. However, Gore also indicates that most of the heat is trapped by the Earth’s atmosphere and thus begins to warm the Earth. Greenhouse gases do play major role in this global inconvenience due to the fact that these gases allow more sun to trap into the atmosphere of the Earth.

Al Gore also mentions the drastic increase in Carbon Dioxide emissions. This information is also solidified by a few graphs in Mark Maslin’s text that demonstrate the CO2 emissions from industrial processes as well as changing the amounts of land that is used (i.e. deforestation). These graphs show high concentrations of CO2 in North and Central America, Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. Interestingly, CO2 emissions and the temperature are directly proportional: An increase in CO2 results in an increase in temperatures. This is why storms will most likely get worse in the years to come. Hurricane Katrina is a primary example along with many others pin pointed by Gore. Hurricane Katrina “traveled across warmer water” and ultimately, when the temperatures rise, the wind velocities tend to increase and then the water content increases. Interestingly, according to graphs shown in An Inconvenient Truth, “the 10 hottest years on record occurred in the last 14 years”, and in fact the hottest year was 2005.

Climate change at its worse can be found in the heart of every glacier. The increase in temperatures will eventually melt glaciers and dry up bodies of water: thus, flooding and drought. Gore stated that “Lake Chad, one of the largest lakes, dried up to almost nothing.” In terms of the glaciers melting, the answers can be found in the relationship of the sun, ice and water. When the sun hits the ice, 90% of it bounces back. However, as the ice slowly melts and turns into water, the bigger problem forms because 90% of the heat that hits the water is absorbed, ultimately increasing the speed of the ice melting. This will result in a tremendous rise in sea levels: Think about places like Antarctica.

Global warming has a lot to do with politics and negligence of the global community. According to Al Gore, the actions of society cause many of the problems we are facing. The increase in population leads to “pressure on the earth, pressure on the demand of food and pressure on the demand of water.” This brings us to conflict. This brings us to the fact that wars will eventually form due to disputes over water supply and access. Many people fail to see the importance of developing change to avoid the issues that are soon to come. Global warming can in part be blamed and stated as an affect of the global community not taking a stand. If politicians were to follow the example of Al Gore, create laws and contribute in some way, the problem of global warming may not be as bad as it is becoming. In the words of Al Gore, “if we allow [this] to happen, it is completely unethical.”

An Inconvenient Truth.Al Gore.2006

What is Global Warming?.Mark Maslin

The Climate of Man-I (Summary)

In the article, The Climate of Man (I), Elizabeth Kolbert discusses tons of causes and effects of global warming. The information she uses to discuss her own opinion on the issue is taken from scientists and researchers that she has met and discussed the issue with. The article talks about different places and how the causes and effects are visible and explainable through the research done in those areas.
For example, Shishmarif is a town in Alaska. People normally hunt for seals, walruses, moose and rabbits there. The sea ice is dramatically changing as time progresses. The time when it forms and the time when the ice breaks is changing from what the people are accustomed to. The town is only 22 feet above sea level and terrible storms are the result of the fact that the sea is freezing too late. The people propose to relocate their city, however that option would run them about 180 million dollars. This thought becomes quite sad for some who feel a connection to their homeland and the sea.
According to the article, 1979 was the first study of global warming by the National Academy of Sciences. A panel was formed to study and they were called the Charney Panel. The strategy they had came off to many as a risky one because of the fact that they made predictions off their reasoning, yet wanted to wait for the events to prove them true. The findings and assumptions made by the NAOS have been proven true and 25 years later, the effects and downfalls are still on the move. It’s continuing to get hot and the current trends of society are continuing.
Fairbanks, Alaska was another place highlighted in the article. Fairbanks happens to be surrounded by many forests and every summer, lightning causes forest fires. A trench was formed the spruce trees growing nearby began to slouch and hang over in what in the article is mentioned as “odd angles.” These trees are called “drunken trees.” The forest fires actually last for quite some time.
Permafrost is key in giving details that air temperatures can’t. What you walk on in the arctic is known as the active layer. This supports the growth of plants, freezes in the winter, and thaws in the summer. The temperatures get so low that the plants and grass dies, yet do not “fully decompose.” New plants and grasses simply grow on top of the stubs and shrubs that are already rotting and present. Cyroturbation is when organic matter is pushed down beneath the active layer and into the permafrost and that can sit there for years. Permafrost, then seems to many like it’s holding the carbon that has been built up. This becomes a problem because this process can backfire and go in the opposite direction due to temperature increase. If that happens, carbon dioxide and methane will be released into the air. In parts of the Arctic, this process is already occurring.
The article discusses many other places and what is going on there in terms of global warming. I feel like the point of the article was to go in depth of how serious of an issue global warming is and to give detail and evidence as to important people who have researched it and know it to be true. Important scientists, geophysicists and researches such as Vladimir Romanovsky, Nicolai Panikov and Donald Perovich were noted throughout the text and contribute amazing information. I think the purpose of the article was to explain in detail the downs of global warming and make a statement that the world needs to wake up and do something.

Global Warming...Well The Jist of It

Global warming is a world wide circumstance in which many scientists have done research to prove that this is a disasterous issue. Global warming is caused by green house gases, the burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation which will produce and most likely be the cause of a tumultuous effect on weather prediction, health, water resources, sea levels, agriculture, and temperature. It's a contraversial problem that must be taken seriously or the future will be in jeopardy and it's most likely that the sufferers will the be those who always suffer: the poorest of the "global community."

Maslin, Mark.Global Warming A Very Short Introduction.Oxford, England:Oxford University Press,2004