News article critique - Cows are stressed and produce less milk due to climate change.
Cows are stressed and produce less milk due to climate change. Source: * Gohring, Nancy. Cows make less milk in hot sticky weather. 2012. http://www.futurity.org/top-stories/cows-make-less-milk-in-hot-sticky-weather/ (accessed July 17, 2012). * Whyte, Chelsea. Climate change stresses out cows, lowers milk production. 2012. http://www.isciencetimes.com/articles/3437/20120717/climate-change-stresses-out-cows-lowers-milk.htm (accessed July 17, 2012). * Climate change may cut cows’ milk production in South. 2012. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/07/12/climate-change-may-cut-cows-milk-production-in-south (accessed July 17, 2012). * Got Milk? Climate change means stressed cows in southern US may have less. 2012. http://eponline.com/articles/2012/07/16/got-milk-climate-change-means-stressed-cows-in-southern-us-may-have-less.aspx (accessed July 17, 2012). Summary of the news Change in climate in southern part of US has stressed out cows. Cows are producing less milk than usual. The humidity, hot nights, and hot weather have made southeast part of US to be the least friendly place in the country for dairy cows to live. By using detailed climate data, scientists have discovered that, dairy cows suffer more in Tillamook and Oregon which are humid and does not have any huge change in temperature at night time compared with Arizona which is more humid
Socio-economic and political impacts of climate change in Africa
'The cause of the warming of the African continent (and of the world as a whole) over the past 100 years is not clear. The change in atmospheric composition associated with rising levels of greenhouse gases must be one of the most plausible explanations, but there are other possibilities (Wigley et al., 1992). The trend may, for example, be the result of natural climate variability, shifts in the ocean temperature distribution or changes in the solar output. The progressive degradation of dryland areas, by reducing surface soil moisture, may have contributed to the warming over Africa, although the results of recent analyses suggest that the effects may account for no more than a small proportion of the trend observed over the continent as a whole (cf. Balling, 1991, with Hulme and Kelly, 1993). Whatever the cause of the warming trend, it provides one benchmark against which we can judge the projections of future climate warming for Africa' All that one needs to look at is the Annual rainfall during the mosts recent three decades to see that there has been around 20 to 40 percent less than was expected around the 1960's. Take extreme years such as 1984 and 1990 where rainfall levels have dropped below 50 percent of what is normally expected. But the real question we are trying to answer here is how sensitive are African natural resources, managed ecosystems and national
Why does climate change present potential dangers for the African Continent?
Why does climate change present potential dangers for the African Continent? From the risk of malaria to desertification to the debt crisis, Africa suffers potential danger from not only social elements, but economic and environmental factors too. This makes it a zone under threat. Although the countries within Africa, do not contribute heavily towards climate change in comparison to the scale of western countries, such as the USA, it is the one suffering from its consequences. Such global warming effects seen are desertification for example, which then leads to famine and the threat food security sees. Desertification has both human and natural causes. Human is seen through overcultivisation and overgrazing leading to desertification. Where as due to the change of climate, fertile land turns into desert. However, you could argue that although climate change is thought to be a part of the earth's natural cycle, human actions are said to fasten its process leading to the effects that it has. Moreover, desertification leads to not only famine and the threat of food security. Due to the land turning into desert, the growth of crops is unsustainable which leads to many people whom rely on the growth of crops for their personal food source to starve. This begins famine. Famine sees the struggle to receive food and a long suffering demonstrating here of both social and
Climate Change - Macro Scale. What is the Walker Cell?
Climate Change - Macro Scale What is the Walker Cell? This is the normal atmospheric conditions in the Pacific Ocean. The great NE and SE trade wind belts blow equatorward and westward across the width of the Pacific towards the warm water of the west. A convectional uplift occurs as the water heats up. Pressure rises over the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of South America, and falls over the western Pacific Ocean, toward Indonesia and the Philippines. The descending air in the east gives the clear, dry conditions that create the Atacama Desert in Peru, whilst the warm, moist air ascending in the west gives heavy convectional rainfall. What are the atmospheric conditions in an El Nino year? During an El Nino year the normal conditions are reversed in the equatorial Pacific region, in pressure, precipitation and often in winds and ocean currents. Pressure rises over the western Pacific and falls over the eastern Pacific causing the region of rising air to move east with the associated convectional uplift. This allows the ITCZ to migrate southwards and cause the trade winds to weaken in strength, or even to be reversed in direction. The descending air gives much direr conditions in South-east Asia, than it usually experiences and on extreme conditions even causing drought. In the eastern Pacific air is now rising, giving much wetter conditions in places like
Review the evidence that climate change will cause an increase in malaria.
TITLE: Review the evidence that climate change will cause an increase in malaria Malaria is the word's most important vector-borne disease. It is currently endemic (found in a particular area or a particular group of people), and 2400 million people are at risk to develop malaria (Martens et al., 1999). More than 90% of the worldwide cases are reported in sub-Saharan Africa; Asia and Americas are thought to have 5-20 million cases per year, where 80% of these occur in Asia (Anderson et al., 1996). Million deaths are caused by malaria every year, especially in young children in rural Africa (Hales and Woodward, 2003) where malaria is responsible for the deaths of one in 20 children before the age of five (Anderson et al., 1996). But what is malaria and how is transmitted? Well, malaria is an infectious disease which is conveyed from person to person by a mosquito. There are 422 species of mosquitoes around the world but only about 70 species are vectors of malaria. The main vector species in Africa, the Anopheles gambiae complex, is the major factor for the transmission of this disease to humans (Martens et al., 1999). In addition, malaria is caused by species of parasites which belong to the genus Plasmodium: Plasmodium vivax, P.falciparum,P.ovale, and P. malariae. P.falciparum is the most common species in tropical areas and the most dangerous
Explain why many scientists believe that human rather that natural causes may be more to blame for recent climate change
AS Geography Rosie Austin Explain why many scientists believe that human rather that natural causes may be more to blame for recent climate change (15 marks). Evidence of recent climate change is unambiguous. It is true that throughout history climate change has appeared to be cyclical, which we can see on a geological timescale, dating as far as 400 thousand years before present. This timescale shows that climate has always fluctuated as part of a cycle and in many years there have been some periods that are even warmer than the present. This scale shows higher than average temperatures on a long-term basis. A medium term, historical timescale also supports this as it clearly displays cooler and warmer periods, such as a medieval warm period from 1000-1400, and the ‘little’ ice age between 1400-1800.This trend occurred even before the industrial revolution. On studying a shorter term, more recent timescale however, it is clear that such a rapid increase in such a short period of time is an unprecedented phenomenon. The period from 1950-2000 in the northern hemisphere was the warmest 50 year period for 1,300 years, more notably so as such a rapid increase occurred in such a short space of time, whereas previously this change has taken place over thousands of years. It was during this period that 11 of the world’s hottest years occurred since 1850.
Critically assess why it is difficult to accurately forecast the amount of anthropogenic climate change we can expect to see by 2050
In this essay the author will assess the difficulties with forecasting the amount of anthropogenic climate change we can expect to see by 2050. The author will use quotes, definitions and examples where appropriate. Over the past 100 years, the world has seen an increase in global average temperatures. Since 1860, the global average temperature has increased by '0.6 degrees Celsius with a ninety-five percent confidence'. (Houghton, J, 2004:56) This increase is believed to be cause of the greenhouse effect, which "...refers to the reduction in outgoing infrared radiation to space due to the presence of the atmosphere." (Harvey, L, 2000:95) This greenhouse effect is induced by natural and anthropogenic sources. The greenhouse effect is partly attributed to the emissions of 'greenhouse gases', such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and nitrous oxide. (The Royal Society, 2002) The gases form a blanket over the earth which traps the sun's radiation resulting in conditions similar to a greenhouse, see Figure A. Figure A The 'Greenhouse Effect' (Houghton, J, 2004:18) Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a gas that is believed to be of main concern, as it is a prominent contributor to an 'Enhanced' Greenhouse effect. Since the industrial revolution, CO2 levels have increased by 30 percent, from 280 parts per million per volume in the 1700 (Houghton, J, 2004) to
Is there a relationship between the frequency of natural hazards and climate change?
Is there a relationship between the frequency of natural hazards and climate change? Mrs Blair By Max Winborne Is the frequency of hurricanes and related storm types increasing? Globally, there is an average of about 90 tropical storms every year. According to the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate "there is no clear trend in the annual numbers [i.e. frequency] of tropical cyclones." However, in the North Atlantic there has been a clear increase in the frequency of tropical storms and major hurricanes. From 1850-1990, the long-term average number of tropical storms was about 10, including about 5 hurricanes. For the period of 1998-2007, the average is about 15 tropical storms per year, including about 8 hurricanes. This increase in frequency correlates strongly with the rise in North Atlantic sea surface temperature, and recent scientific studies link this temperature increase to global warming. There is an ongoing scientific debate about the link between increased hurricane activity(and related storm types) and global warming. The 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change rates the probability of such a link as "more likely than not". Most agencies around the world today tend to agree that there is a increase in storms that cause hurricanes and other such disasters, looking at this graph I borrowed from the geography
A report on Climate Change
Chemistry - Ideas in Context Report on Global Warming Ella Nokes 9Brontë CO2 Emissions & Temperature Increase The first graph shows the carbon dioxide concentration in parts per billion over time. This means how many molecules of CO2 there are in a certain area. This graph illustrates to us the increase in CO2 concentration as time progresses. This is probably due to the vast improvements we have had in technologies since the 17th century, and the ways in which we power them. For this energy, we use fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are substances, which were created several hundred million years ago through the decomposition of ancient organisms and plants, which originally obtained their energy from the sun. Machines such as televisions, cars and computers we take for granted in our daily lives, need energy to run. The energy used to power these energy things come from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels can be categorized into three types; oil, natural gas and coal. When burning all of these fuels, harmful chemicals get released into the air, and one of these is carbon dioxide. The recent increase in carbon dioxide concentration is due to the lack of producing more sustainable and renewable energy sources, which are better for the environment. It is also due to the increase in the amount of fuel being used, and in many cases wasted, depleting the world of our resources and releasing
Nowadays, climate change is a hot topic and has been the subject of intense debate. Climate change is actually refers to an increase in average global temperatures caused by the human activities and natural disaster. However, human activities exist as the
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE by Yong Sook Sien Kwong Sze Yien Nowadays, climate change is a hot topic and has been the subject of intense debate. Climate change is actually refers to an increase in average global temperatures caused by the human activities and natural disaster. However, human activities exist as the main problem to cause climate change. One of the examples is the environment pollution. Environment pollution not only affects human's health but also causes extinction of flora and fauna. Can you imagine how many precious lives have been sacrificed merely to boots up our standard of living? What will be the effects of climate change and is there any solution for this problem? For natural disaster, global warming is the main problem caused by climate change. Global warming is a rapid rise of the average temperature of the earth. The rises of the temperature will cause a negative effect to the earth especially for the North Pole and South Pole of the earth. The heat will consequently melt the sea ice and mountain glacier of the polar region. Animals that habit in this area may be directly affected by the changes of the climate. Since their habitat has been destroyed, they are no longer able to stay at there anymore. This forces them to migrate in order to survive, as the animals unable to adapt to the changes of the environment, they may perish.
