Even the Ocean's failing ... !

In the Southern Indian Ocean, climate change is leading to stronger winds, which mix waters, bringing CO₂ up from the ocean depths to the surface. This is the conclusion of researchers who have studied the latest field measurements carried out by CNRS's INSU, IPEV and IPSL. As a result, the Southern Ocean can no longer absorb as much atmospheric CO₂ as before. Its role as a 'carbon sink' has been weakened, and it may now be ten times less efficient than previously estimated. The same trend can be observed at high latitudes in the North Atlantic.

The increase in the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere, which is the cause of climate warming, is the result of human activity (use of fossil fuels and deforestation). However, warming is mitigated by the oceans and by terrestrial ecosystems, which are able to absorb a large part of CO₂ emissions. The oceans are the planet's main carbon sink, but in the last ten years they have become increasingly unable to play this role, in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

This is what has been discovered by Nicolas Metzl and his team at IPSL's LOCEAN laboratory. Their conclusion is based on data collected by the OISO Indian Ocean observation service, which was set up ten years ago with the backing of INSU, CNRS, IPEV and IPSL in order to better evaluate variations in the oceanic carbon cycle on seasonal to decadal scales. From 1998 to 2008, the OISO observatory carried out repeated campaigns of CO₂ measurements in the Southern Indian Ocean between 20 and 60°S, on board the ship Marion Dufresne. The data collected, together with earlier data (1991-1995), show that the quantity of CO₂ is increasing faster in surface waters than in the atmosphere (by 2.1 microatmospheres/year in water as opposed to just 1.7 in air). So although the CO₂ content in the atmosphere remains higher than that in surface waters, the difference is decreasing.

According to Metzl, who is leader of the OISO program, this increase is the result of climate change at high latitudes, which has led to an increase in the relative difference of atmospheric pressure at latitudes between 40 and 60°S, and therefore to higher wind speeds, leading in turn to increased ocean mixing, with surface waters mixing with deep waters. Surface waters contain less CO₂ than deep waters, since CO₂ is taken up by the photosynthetic activity of marine phytoplankton. In addition, when these organisms die, they are deposited in deep water where they are broken down by bacteria, thus enriching the deep water in CO₂. Thus when there is increased wind mixing of the ocean, greater amounts of CO₂ are carried from the deep layers to the surface and, as a result, the ocean's ability to absorb atmospheric CO₂ is diminished.. This is the first time that field measurements have confirmed the role of climate change in the oceanic carbon cycle in the southern hemisphere.

Both in the northern and southern hemispheres, the last ten years have seen a weakening of oceanic carbon sinks, which means an increase in atmospheric CO₂ content and thus in climate warming. Just how far can this go, and what will the consequences be for the future climate? To find out, researchers will need to continue these observations and take into account these new results to validate models, especially the coupled climate/carbon models that include marine biology, like those used in the reports of the IPCC.

This is because the models currently used for climate prediction do not correctly simulate the changes in oceanic CO₂ observed over the last two decades at high northern and southern latitudes.

Global Warming Causes Severe Storms

Research Meteorologists found that the temperature changes brought on by global warming are significant enough to cause an increase in the occurrence of severe storms. Severe storms are those that cause flooding, have damaging winds, hail and could cause tornadoes. Their study revealed that by the end of this century, the number of days that favor severe storms could more than double certain locations, such as Atlanta and New York. Researchers also found that this increase would occur during typical stormy seasons and not during dry seasons when it may be beneficial.

As new storm forecasts hit home, areas already prone to severe weather need to be on the lookout for more storms. The latest forecast says global warming spells bad news for those areas.

Nancy Werner has seen many storms blow through trees in her yard, but there's one storm she'll never forget.

"We started hearing things land on our house," Werner said.

A stump is all that's left of what she heard falling. "We went upstairs and found limbs through our ceiling," Werner said.

The storm cost Werner $40,000 in repairs, but more severe storms could add up to a lot more. Research meteorologists at Purdue University are using climate models to study future weather conditions that would most likely produce a severe storm. Severe storms are ones that cause flooding and have damaging winds and hail. Some spawn tornadoes.

"What we found is that increases in human-induced greenhouse gases will lead to more frequent severe storms in the United States," Jeff Trapp, Ph.D., a meteorologist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., said.

Based on the models, the researchers believe the number of days that favor the formation of severe storms could more than double in places like Atlanta and New York. These added storms will likely hit areas during already heavy storm seasons and extend wet weather seasons.

"This obviously impacts people in terms of potential hazards to their life and property," Dr. Trapp said.

Researchers hope warning homeowners of increased storm days will help more people prepare earlier. Werner already has a plan in place.

"We've decided we're going to a hotel," she said. Researchers plan to use higher resolution models to find out how often future storms will spawn tornadoes.

HOW STORMS DEVELOP: Storm clouds form as moisture evaporates from the earth into the atmosphere, where the droplets jostle against each other. The air cools off rapidly as it reaches higher altitudes. Sometimes a cold front -- the boundary between where the cold air from one air mass meets the surrounding air -- will force warm, moist air upward into the colder air. This moist air cools off and the water vapor condenses onto tiny particles in the air, called condensation nuclei, collectively forming clouds. The process continues: more and more water vapor turns into liquid and the moist air warms up even more and rises higher and higher. A thunderstorm results.

WHAT CAUSES LIGHTNING? As more and more water droplets collide inside a cloud, their atoms bounce off each other more forcefully. This knocks off electrons. The ousted electrons gather at the lower portion of the cloud, giving it a negative charge, while the upper part of the cloud becomes positively charged. Eventually the growing negative charge becomes so intense that electrons on the Earth's surface are repelled and burrow deeper into the Earth. The Earth's surface becomes positively charged, and hence very attractive to the negative charge accumulating in the bottom of the cloud. All that is needed is a conductive path between cloud and Earth, in the form of ionized air.

ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING: Global warming refers to an average increase in the earth's temperature, which has risen about 1 degree Fahrenheit over the past 100 years, and to changes in climate. A warmer earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, and a rise in sea level, for example, as the polar glaciers melt. Some of this rise is due to the greenhouse effect: certain gases in the atmosphere trap energy from the sun so that heat can't escape back into space. Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be too cold for humans to survive, but if it becomes too strong, the earth could become much warmer, causing problems for humans, plants and animals.

Choices

The choices we make and the products we buy test our commitment to maintain a healthy planet. When we burn fossil fuels—such as oil, coal, and natural gas—to run our cars and light our homes, we pump carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. This thickens the heat-trapping blanket that surrounds the planet, causing global warming.

Choosing modern technology can reduce our use of fossil fuels and help protect the planet. These ten steps will help curb global warming, save you money, and create a safer environment for the future.

1. Drive Smart!

A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires burns less oil—cutting pollution and saving you money at the pump. If you have two cars, drive the one with better mileage whenever possible. Better yet, skip the drive and take public transit, walk, or bicycle when you can.

2. Buy Local and Organic

Did you know the average American meal travels more than 1,500 miles from the farm to your plate? Think of all the energy wasted and pollution added to the atmosphere—not to mention all the pesticides and chemicals used to grow most produce! So go to your local organic farmer to get your fruits and veggies.

3. Support clean, renewable energy.

Renewable energy solutions, such as wind and solar power, can reduce our reliance on coal-burning power plants, the largest source of global warming pollution in the United States.

4. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Especially those that burn the longest each day. Compact fluorescents produce the same amount of light as normal bulbs, but use about a quarter of the electricity and last ten times as long. Each switch you make helps clean the air today, curb global warming, and save you money on your electricity bill.

5. Saving energy at home is good for the environment and for your wallet.

Start with caulking and weather-stripping on doorways and windows. Then adjust your thermostat and start saving. Reduce the usage of air-conditioning unnecessarily if not required.

6. Become a smart water consumer.

Install low-flow showerheads and faucets and you'll use half the water without decreasing performance. Then turn your hot water heater down to 120°F and see hot-water costs go down by as much as 50 percent.

7. Buy energy-efficient electronics and appliances.

Replacing an old refrigerator or an air conditioner with an energy-efficient model will save you money on your electricity bill and cut global warming pollution.

8. Plant a Tree, protect a forest.

Protecting forests is a big step on the road to curbing global warming. Trees "breathe in" carbon dioxide, but slash-and-burn farming practices, intensive livestock production, and logging have destroyed 90 percent of the native forests in the United States. And you can take action in your own backyard—planting shade trees around your house will absorb CO2, and slash your summer air-conditioning bills.

9. Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70 to 90 percent of the energy and pollution, including CO2 that would result if the product came from virgin materials. Recycling a stack of newspapers only four feet high will save a good-sized tree. Please... buy recycled products!

10. Mount a local campaign against global warming.

Educate your community about how it can cut global warming pollution. Support measures at the national, state, and local level that:
• Make automobiles go further on a gallon of gas;
• Accelerate the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind;
• Increase energy efficiency and conservation; and
Preserve forests around the world

We can change only if we want to

‘No’ to plastic bags restores Himachal’s pristine beauty

The hills are looking clean again. Once an eyesore, littering the verdant mountain slopes, choking drains and scarring the environment, plastic pollution has come down dramatically in Shimla and other parts of Himachal Pradesh, four years after this north Indian state banned the use of small polythene bags.”Before the implementation of the ban, polythene pollution was a major problem in the state,” R.K. Sood, joint member- secretary of the Himachal State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. Describing the scene before the ban was imposed, he said: “Plastic bags littered the hillsides. During the monsoon, the rain water brought along heaps of polythene bags and other non-biodegradable material that choked most of the municipal drains. Now, the problem has been solved to a great extent.”
Himachal Pradesh was the first state in India to ban the production, storage, use, sale and distribution of small polythene bags in June 2004.
Under the Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act of 1995, any violator trespassing faced a fine up to Rs.25,000. The minimum fine was fixed at Rs.500.
“The ban on use of coloured polythene bags manufactured from recycled plastic was initially imposed on Jan 1, 1999. Later in 2004, the ban was imposed under Section 7(h) of the State Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Rules on the use of polythene bags having thickness less than 70 microns and size less than 18″x12″,” Sood said.
As a result, paper and jute bags are now back in the state.

Can’t afford to be fishy anymore!

My intensions are not to scare anyone. It is just that I came across this article today so thought of posting it. However after going through the article I am scared to face the truth which is not known to many people. If you want to learn more about this scary truth then read the following article….

More than 150 leading marine scientists from 26 countries are calling for immediate action by policy-makers to sharply reduce CO2 emissions so as to avoid widespread and severe damage to marine ecosystems from ocean acidification.
The scientists issued this warning Jan 30, 2009 in the Monaco Declaration, a statement based on the conclusions of participants at last October’s 2nd international symposium on The Ocean in a High-CO2 World.
Professor Andrew Dickson, a marine chemist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego and Professor Victoria Fabry, a visiting research scientist at Scripps, were among the signatories to the declaration.
The scientists note that ocean acidification is already detectable and is accelerating. They caution that its negative impacts can be avoided only by limiting future atmospheric CO2 levels.
“Studies presented at the Monaco meeting further highlighted the likely problems of ocean acidification to our oceans,” said Dickson. “I am glad to be a signatory to this declaration, and look forward to working with my colleagues to improve our knowledge of this important area and to communicate that knowledge to a wider audience.”
It is well established among researchers that the uptake of increased amounts of carbon dioxide will make ocean water more acidic as the gas dissolves to create carbonic acid. Ocean chemistry is changing 100 times more rapidly than in the 650,000 years that preceded the modern industrial era and since the late 1980s, researchers at Scripps Oceanography and others have recorded an overall drop in the pH of the oceans from 8.16 to 8.05.
This increased acidity can hamper the ability of a wide variety of marine organisms ranging from coral to abalone to form calcium carbonate shells and skeletonal structures. Researchers believe that at crucial stages in the larval and juvenile stages in the lives of many marine invertebrates, ocean acidification inhibits calcification, and also appears to affect reproduction and growth in some organisms.

Is this what we really want and desire for?

Today while I was driving back home in the afternoon the Sun was right there making my life quite miserable. It was pretty warm. I almost thought that it was the month of April/May but then realized that it’s just the first week of February. I always thought that February was suppose to be pleasant but then things are changing very fast. A lot is still waiting for us.

Back at home, I was flipping through pages of the National Geographic Magazine when I came across this article which dampened my mood which was already as good as the global economic conditions. The article reads as…..

…….In the death of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Indian tigers have lost their "chief protector", says the National Geographic Magazine. 'The Project Tiger', initiated by Indira Gandhi in 1973, resulted in the doubling of their numbers by the time she died in 1984 and after that it began to decline. "The tigers began to disappear. It was discovered they were being poisoned, shot and snared so their bones could be smuggled out of India to supply manufacturers of Chinese medicines," it adds. The Project Tiger had set aside nine national parks for special protection. The plan seemed to be working officials announced in 1984 that the number of tigers had more than doubled. But the death of Gandhi later that year meant the loss of the tiger’s chief protector. "Human population rose and promised safe corridors were converted to farmers fields, inundated by dams and honeycombed with coal mines. There were fewer and fewer places to which young tigers could disperse and more and more conflicts between tigers and people," it adds. Extended field research and documentation by author of the report for the magazine Geoffrey C. Ward and photographer Michael Nicoals have been shown that despite some progress in preserving the species the future of the tiger remains perilous. Nicoals spent more than a year on the assignment, photographing tigers in seven countries and enjoying unusual access to the parks in India where tigers live.

I put aside the magazine. I felt really small and somewhat ashamed of myself and my fellow human beings. I asked to myself “is this what we really want and desire for”? We have just become slaves to technology and desire to excel. We all desire to excel but the cost we are paying in doing that is very high. Tigers are beautiful creatures which have been an important part of wildlife for many years. But this beautiful creature is on the verge of extinction. Soon they will be wiped off from the face of the earth if we do not wake up and do something to protect them. The day is not far they will become a thing which will become a part of museums across the globe.

Can’t we do something to protect something which is so beautiful and graceful from becoming extinct? Is it that only one person had the intention and capability of protecting them? No, it’s not true. We all together can help them to live. I do believe that we can find out ways to make medicines which does not require bones of tiger. I am sure we are more intelligent than that.

A Walk towards a New begining......

It is an indisputable fact that the ecology crisis today is real. In a vast number of ways and places, the biosphere of this planet is undergoing a great deal of damage. Parts of the environment have already been rendered uninhabitable through toxic wastes and nuclear power plant disasters, while systemic pollution, ozone holes, global warming, and other disasters are increasingly tearing the fabric on which all life depends.

We are facing what might be the greatest threat to the future of mankind. And yet no one is marching in the streets, the outrage is largely intellectual and action is slow. Activists have been unable to tell their story with vivid images about immediate actions; It's just human nature to avoid the issue. Why give up something we enjoy now to make an infinitesimal change in something that is going to happen far in the future?

The choices we make and the products we buy test our commitment to maintain a healthy planet. When we burn fossil fuels - such as oil, coal, and natural gas - to run our cars and light our homes, we pump carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. This thickens the heat-trapping blanket that surrounds the planet, causing global warming.

First step to curb global warming:

Plant a Tree, protect a forest.

Protecting forests is a big step on the road to curbing global warming. Trees "breathe in" carbon dioxide, but slash-and-burn farming practices, intensive livestock production, and logging have destroyed forests. And you can take action in your own backyard—planting shade trees around your house will absorb CO2, and slash your summer electricity bills.