People, Place and Environment GEOG 1200

The Urgent Threat to World Peace is … Canada

2009-12-01T09:52:00.001-04:00

Read what George Monbiot, author of Heat:How to Stop the Planet from Burning has to say about Canada. What do you think?

The Cane Toad

2009-12-01T00:19:00.001-04:00

The geographic distribution of the cane toad...the documentary we watched today is also on YouTube.

Invasive Species

2009-11-30T11:52:00.002-04:00

Aquatic Invasive Species Workshop

View more presentations from cconrad.

Final Bonus Assignment

2009-11-10T12:00:00.003-04:00

For the final bonus assignment, go to this carbon footprint calculator and prepare as comprehensive a summary of your carbon footprint as possible. You may not know some of the values immediately, so you might need to consult your landlord for some values, for example. As you work through the calculator, these things will become apparent. Submit a page print of your completed calculation and a one-page document describing the methods you used to determine all values. Include a statement on your biggest footprint area and how you might work towards reducing this. This bonus assignment is due, if you choose to do it, by Wed., Dec. 2.

Climate Justice Fast

2009-11-08T19:48:00.002-04:00

Watch for this...

2009-10-30T12:36:00.001-03:00

HOME - Monday, Nov. 2

2009-10-28T21:34:00.000-03:00

350

2009-10-28T21:32:00.001-03:00

Climate Change: The Physical Science Basics (a slide show prepare by the IPCC)

2009-10-26T11:59:00.000-03:00

Climate Change - The Physical Science Basis

View more presentations from Hans De Keulenaer.

"Something in the air"

2009-10-16T21:25:00.001-03:00

A sobering BBC video of air pollution in one region of China

2009-10-16T21:13:00.000-03:00

The Original New York City...watch this!

2009-10-12T11:31:00.000-03:00

Sichuan Earthquake - What I dont know and what I do know

2009-09-27T16:23:00.001-03:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Sichuan Earthquake - What I dont know and what I do know

View more presentations from kingler.

Climate Change and the Developing World

2009-09-24T20:57:00.003-03:00

Read this short article that was in the most recent issue of The Economist.

Tuktoyaktuk and Climate Change

2009-09-24T20:48:00.001-03:00

Thanks to one of you for sending me this article.

President of The Maldives addresses the UN today Pt 1

2009-09-22T22:20:00.002-03:00

President of The Maldives addresses the UN today Pt 2

2009-09-22T22:16:00.001-03:00

What countries are at greatest risk from climate change?

2009-09-17T20:46:00.002-03:00

The countries expected to experience an "extreme threat" from climate change are in the darkest blue. Why are the patterns on this map such as they are? The full report that this recently published map came from can be found here.

2009-09-17T20:44:00.001-03:00

Doctors Issue Warning about Climate Change

2009-09-15T21:20:00.002-03:00

A new article published on the BBC web site indicates that "failure to agree to a new UN climate deal in December will bring a "global health catastrophe", say 18 of the world's professional health organizations." The December "deal" they are referring to is the UN Climate meeting to be held in Copenhagen, where nations will come together to attempt to set targets for emission reductions.

The Miniature Earth

2009-09-15T13:42:00.003-03:00

Or watch with audio from The Miniature Earth site.

An interesting link

2009-09-13T11:08:00.003-03:00

A lot of you are apparently interested in natural disasters. Given that this is a Geography course, I thought I would provide you with an interesting link to a site that maps out the present distribution of a variety of disasters, from earthquakes, to tropical storms, health threats and wildfires...there are loads of links from the Global Disaster Watch site.

"The Age of Stupid"

2009-08-25T11:34:00.001-03:00

Happy New Year: 2009!

2008-12-31T08:17:00.001-04:00

We will have one extra second added to our official clocks this year thanks to the Earth "wobble": use your time wisely!

Just for fun: because I love it too.

2008-10-23T18:56:00.000-03:00

Don't forget to vote on Oct. 14!

2008-10-09T00:18:00.000-03:00

Tropical Storm "Kyle" is heading our way this Sunday

2008-09-25T21:13:00.003-03:00

Track the storm with Storm Pulse. Watch for updates and bulletins from the Canadian Hurricane Centre.

Ike is one mega-hurricane!

2008-09-12T21:41:00.001-03:00

The second of many more posts on Ike

2008-09-12T18:35:00.001-03:00

An image of Ike taken from the International Space Station.

Hurricane "Y..Ike"!

2008-09-12T07:31:00.003-03:00

From the US National Weather Service: this is a warning to pay attention to! I am worried for the people who stay behind in Galveston, Texas!

ALL NEIGHBORHOODS...AND POSSIBLY ENTIRE COASTAL COMMUNITIES...WILL BE INUNDATED DURING THE PERIOD OF PEAK STORM TIDE. PERSONSNOT HEEDING EVACUATION ORDERS IN SINGLE FAMILY ONE OR TWO STORY HOMES WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH. MANY RESIDENCES OF AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION DIRECTLY ON THE COAST WILL BE DESTROYED. WIDESPREAD AND DEVASTATING PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE IS LIKELY ELSEWHERE.VEHICLES LEFT BEHIND WILL LIKELY BE SWEPT AWAY. NUMEROUS ROADS WILL BE SWAMPED...SOME MAY BE WASHED AWAY BY THE WATER. ENTIRE FLOOD PRONE COASTAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE CUT OFF. WATER LEVELS MAY EXCEED 9 FEET FOR MORE THAN A MILE INLAND. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN MULTI-STORY FACILITIES RISK BEING CUT OFF. CONDITIONS WILL BE WORSENED BY BATTERING WAVES. SUCH WAVES WILL EXACERBATE PROPERTY DAMAGE...WITH MASSIVE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES...INCLUDING THOSE OF BLOCK CONSTRUCTION. DAMAGE FROM BEACH EROSION COULD TAKE YEARS TO REPAIR.

I'll be posting more about Ike through the day. Stay tuned.

New map of the Earth

2008-08-06T21:09:00.002-03:00

A new geologic map of the entire planet is being drawn: read about it here.

Sichuan China Earthquake

2008-05-12T20:32:00.001-03:00

Information about this poster and its' contents can be found here . "The Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, occurred as the result of motion on a northeast striking reverse fault or thrust fault on the northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin. The earthquake's epicenter and focal-mechanism are consistent with it having occurred as the result of movement on the Longmenshan fault or a tectonically related fault. The earthquake reflects tectonic stresses resulting from the convergence of crustal material slowly moving from the high Tibetan Plateau, to the west, against strong crust underlying the Sichuan Basin and southeastern China.
On a continental scale, the seismicity of central and eastern Asia is a result of northward convergence of the India plate against the Eurasia plate with a velocity of about 50 mm/y. The convergence of the two plates is broadly accommodated by the uplift of the Asian highlands and by the motion of crustal material to the east away from the uplifted Tibetan Plateau.
The northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin has previously experienced destructive earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake of August 25, 1933, killed more than 9,300 people. "

Why is climate change happening so fast?

2008-04-21T10:20:00.000-03:00

Why is climate change happening so fast?
-Ben Lemieux

To answer the question by simple analogy, it is like putting a pot of water on a hot stove and not paying attention to the pot until it boils over. The same can be said of our outlook on climate change. We have only paying attention to it for a relatively short period. The central point in answering this question, and indeed this paper’s take home message, is to highlight the polarity that exists between the changes occurring to the global climate system and our understanding of climate change. No climate change debate is complete without a talk about the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG). Simply put, there will be an increase in GHG when the emissions of GHG is larger than the removal processes.(IPCC 2007 ). This paper is necessarily divided into two parts: first it looks at emissions of GHG and tries to describe the nature and origin of GHG, and secondly we explore the removal process and the changes that are occurring to these systems.

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal”
IPCC 2007

The statement heard around the world won the IPCC a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. The IPCC are considered the leading experts on climate change. Their findings show that CO2 and Methane (CH4) concentrations in the year 2005 exceeds “by far the natural range over the last 650 000 years.”(IPCC, 2007). Put in a basic, workable analogy, GHG work as a blanket keeping what is underneath warm by preventing heat from escaping. It has been 650 000 years since the last time our planet had an atmospheric blanket whose molecular assemblage was as thickly concentrated with GHG. We should therefore expect some changes to occur. The source of such GHG is clearly identified by the IPCC as they state “[g]lobal increases in CO2 concentrations are due primarily to fossil fuel use”(IPCC, 2007).
We now understand, unequivocally, that the climate is changing and that human derived GHG emissions is to blame but to understand why some may feel overwhelmed by the rate at which the change is occurring. therefore, it is important to consider the technological advancements that occurred in the late half of the 1900’s, which set the stage for the discovery of climate change.
Prior to the 1970’s human induced global warming was not on the forefront of the scientific community due in large part to the lack of technology needed to study global climate dynamics. The case in point, we did not have the technology to land on the moon until 1969 and it was not until 1972 that the first global multispectral satellite scanning system was established, namely the Landsat satellite system (Gregory, 2000). Chad Kister in his book Arctic Melting states “ Climatologists [had] been hindered until the advent of satellite data”(Kister, 2005). It suffices to say that the climate may have been warming prior to this time but we did not have the technology requirements to monitor any global change.
However, to tackle the problem of climate change we must be willing to address human induced GHG emissions and I highlight the importance of using IPCC data for the following reason. When I am sick and feeling ill I do not seek the advice of an Economist nor do I seek the advice of a Geologist, therefore when dealing with climate change, it seems fairly logical to use data from the IPCC .
Their data states that there has been a steady change of our atmospheric blanket as“[g]lobal GHG emissions due to human activities have grown since pre-industrial times, with an increase of 70% between 1970 and 2004” (IPCC, 2007). The report also states that CO2, the most important of the GHG emitted by humans, has grown by about 80% between 1970 and 2004. (IPCC, 2007). The conclusion is simple, we have been putting more and more stuff into the atmosphere, at a rate that is almost exponential, which results in a thickening of the atmospheric blanket and a consequential warming of the climate.
The other aspect related to emissions increase is to correlate emissions with the human population increase.
In 1970, the world human population was about 3.7 billion, in 1990, the year the Kyoto protocol was signed, the population grew to about 5.2 billion and we surpassed the 6 billion mark just before the new millennium (Geohive, 2007). There is a distinct link between the world population increase and the thickening of our atmospheric blanket however, humans, by themselves are not the problem in terms of GHG emissions but our actions related to life quality are the problem.
Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is mostly found in fossil fuels and to put things into perspective, the Kyoto protocol asks for a reduction of emissions below the 1990 levels. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries), produced over 22 million barrels a day in 1990 which jumped to 32 million barrels a day in 2006. (OPEC, 2007). Coal production has also increased, and in the period from 2005 to 2006, a single year, the production rose an amazing 8.8% and 92 % since 1982 (World Coal Institute, 2007). I have chosen to use these statistics rather than the emission statistics produced by the IPCC to highlight the global links of our modern lifestyles.
Fossil fuels are derived from products that are mined or drilled in one region of the world and the extraction technology is heavily dependent on the same fossil fuels we are trying to get at. This process results in an environmental degradation of the local source region. The products are then sent to another area for refinement and eventually is distributed globally before ending up in our houses and cars. All along this chain, fossil fuels were used for the transportation and refinement which says nothing of the wars fought, and the fossil fuel dependent machinery, to keep the flow constant.
As a global population it is our economic activity fuelled in large part by technology reliant on fossil fuels that poses the problem. A sample of the facts produced by the American Clean Air Council exemplified my point:
- Each American produces 56 tons of garbage a year.
- Each year Americans produce enough thrash to line up garbage trucks from the Earth halfway to the moon.
- Americans alone throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
- Americans alone throw away enough plastic cups, paper, forks and spoons to circle the equator 300 times, a year.
(Clean Air Council, 2008)

It is apparent that there is an ever increasing production of waste and garbage, in fact, since 1979 there has been an 80% increase in thrash production in America alone. (Clean Air Council, 2008). Garbage must go somewhere and that somewhere may also be a problem in terms of increasing rates of climate change as they remove the trees and forests that could otherwise be removing GHG from our atmosphere.
Trees, through the process of photosynthesis, take in CO2 from the air and replace it with oxygen. However, each year approximately 13 million hectares, an area roughly the size of Greece is disappearing from the Earth.( FAO, 2005 ). Deforestation alone accounts for about 17.3% of the GHG emission emitted by humans (IPPC 2007). This basically means that every year the earth becomes 13 million hectares less effective at removing GHG from the atmosphere. This situation provides the impetus for the final segment of this paper, the feedback loop that occurs in the Northern Arctic.
The thickening of our atmospheric blanket by the increased addition of GHG and the elimination of the natural sequestration capabilities of our forests plainly sets the scene for the warming of the arctic and the melting of snow and ice cover.
The result of melting ice cover is a positive feedback loop that results in warmer oceans and cyclic manifestation of continued warming. The feedback loop so crucial to explaining why the rate of climate change is increasing has to do with the albedo effect, the amount of light reflected by a body. Snow and ice cover reflect the sun’s energy back to the atmosphere whereas exposed oceans and planetary surfaces absorb incoming solar radiation. (Kister, 2005). The loop is amplified during the summers when there is 24 hours of sunlight in the arctic. The less ice there is to reflect solar radiation the more the oceans warm by absorption which results in a delayed return of ice due to the warmed ocean. (Kister, 2005).The feedback effect amplifies itself yearly and the result is less reflection and more absorption which ultimately heats the global atmospheric blanket. Geography of the land also plays an important role in the loop as the seas around the arctic are surrounded by land and islands and results in a shallower sea that is more prone to rapid warming. (Kister, 2005).
It is clearly our actions, a cumulative effect of a global population increase and reliance on fossil fuels, that have put the stuff that warms the world up in the atmosphere. We may not have always known that our actions had such a heavy price to pay and we are only starting to understand the levy charged by the earth for our actions, primarily in the form of feedback loops. We do, however, have an increasing understanding of those impacts and therefore have a global responsibility to be aware of the price of our daily actions and the toll posed on all that live here, even Gaia herself.

References

Clean Air Council. Waste Facts and Figures. (Internet) 2008. Available from
http://www.cleanair.org/Waste/wasteFacts.html March 4 2008.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO). 2005. Global Resource Forest Assesment (2005) (Internet) Available from
http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/32431/en/ March 8 2008.

GeoHive. Population Milestones. (Internet). Available from
http://www.xist.org/earth/his_history2.aspx. March 8 2008.

Gregory, K.J. (2000). The Changing nature of Physical Geography. Arnold, London University Press. p 70.

IPCC. Fourth Assessment report, Topic 2. (Intenet) Available from
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_topic2.pdf March 9 2008.

Kister, C. (2005). Arctic Melting. Common Courage Pres. Monroe, ME. (p 12, 94-95).

OPEC. Annual Statistical Bulletin. (2007). available from
http://www.opec.org/library/Annual%20Statistical%20Bulletin/ASB2006.htm. March 6 2007

World Coal Institute. Coal Facts. (Internet) 2008
http://www.worldcoal.org/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=188. March 6 2008.

Extreme Climate Change

2008-04-03T20:41:00.001-03:00

Canadians Looking for Signs of Extreme Climate Change Should Look Outside - British Meteorological Office

New research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research points to Canada and Russia as the places to find the world’s most extreme temperature changes. UK Met Office scientists examined changes in daily minimum and maximum extreme temperatures across the world, and found that the coldest winter days in Canada and Russia are now up to 4˚Celsius milder than they were in the 1950s.

Read the story:
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL26748132
Met Office, Hadley Centre Press Release:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2008/pr20080326.html
Abstract from the Journal of Geophysical Research:
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2008/2006JD008091.shtml

Earth Hour is only the beginning!

2008-03-28T10:15:00.001-03:00

Take a look at how Canadians are being challenged to live "The Good Life"!

Huge iceberg collapse threatens Antarctic shelf

2008-03-25T19:12:00.004-03:00

Read about it here. Or watch a news clip about it here.

Climate Change and the World's Species

2008-03-24T20:14:00.001-03:00

“What is happening to all of the species in the world [as a consequence of climate change]?

-by Sarah Manning

The environment, in number of ways, influences the world’s species. The world’s species depend on the environment for food, water and shelter; if changes occur to the environment the species must adapt. When species are unable to adapt problems occur and the species begins to suffer. The species may eventually become endangered, which can ultimately lead to extinction. There are approximately 1.7 million known species of organisms in the world. Although, this number can be miss leading because it only includes the named species and many people believe there are far more species that have yet to be identified. It has been estimated that the total number of species is between 4 to over 20 million (MacDonald, 2003).
For the purpose of answering this question, climate change should be understood as “any long-term significant change in the weather patterns of an area. Climate change can be natural or caused by changes people have made to the land or atmosphere” (dictionary.com).
There have been many studies carried out that attempt to predict the possible outcomes of changes to the environment and how the world’s species will cope. One study suggests, "the midrange estimate is that 24 percent of plants and animals will be committed to extinction by 2050" (Warming to Extinction). The same study also found that, “15-37 percent of species sampled in the regions could be driven extinct as a result of their inability to adapt to the climate change that is likely to occur between now and 2050” (Warming to Extinction). If these predictions come true we would lose more than a quarter of the world’s species, which would consequently be many thousands of species.
Habitat loss seems to be the area of most concern when discussing the influences of climate change and its affects on the world’s species. “It is believed that at present, habitat loss is the single most important threat to a majority of imperiled or endangered species, Habitat loss combined with the effects of climate change could therefore be devastating”, according to the authors of another study (Warming to Extinction). If habitat is lost species must relocate or alter their lifestyle in order to survive. It takes time for a species to relocate and evolve, so the rate at which climate change is occurring is important to keep in mind. The faster the rate of change, the more species will be lost.
There are many countries attempting to battle the loss of indigenous species and Canada can be included in this category. “To date, 345 species including plants, molluscs, arthropods, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals are protected under SARA [Species at Risk Act]. The purposes of the Act are to prevent Canadian indigenous species, subspecies, and distinct populations from becoming extirpated or extinct, to provide for the recovery of endangered or threatened species and encourage the management of other species to prevent them from becoming at risk” (Environment Canada). Climate change is not the only factor causing problems for Canadian species but it is included on the list of possible causes. Climate change can result in habitat loss and changes in natural events, so it is necessary to track. It is important for governments to protect the species that are under threat in their country so the species has a better chance of survival. Protection from human activity, such as habitat destruction and hunting, can help stabilize a population that is being altered by climate change.
This is only the beginning of this immense subject and there is a lot of information pertaining to this topic. It is important to look at both sides of the story when researching a topic like the question presented above. There are a variety of opinions and ideas about what will happen if climate change keeps occurring at its current rate. It is almost certain that climate change will have some affect on the world’s species; it is just not certain to what degree the damage will be.

References:

- Warming to Extinction. Environment, 00139157, Mar2004, Vol. 46, Issue 2 Heldref Publications (IUCN-The World Conservation Union press release 8 January; BBC News reports, 4 December 2003 and 7 January; and The Washington Post, 8 January. (D.H.))

- Environment Canada (2005, August 11). Envirozine, Issue 56. Retrieved March 8, 2008, from
http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine/english/issues/56/feature2_e.cfm

- MacDonald, Glen M. (2003). Biogeography Space, Time, and Life. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

- www.dictionary.com

Earth Hour

2008-03-20T21:33:00.001-03:00

Earth Hour – This March 29th at 8:00 PM people all over the world will turn off their lights for one hour in solidarity for urgent global action. Read more at http://www.earthhour.org/ and don’t forget to switch off on the 29th!

Question: Is Italy sinking as a result of sea level rise?

2008-03-19T20:40:00.001-03:00

By Jessica Burgoyne

Italy is a very low-lying area, threatened by rising sea levels throughout the Venetian Lagoon. In the past, methods of dealing with flood waters included the demolition of buildings that were becoming engulfed by sea water and rebuilding on taller, stone foundations on higher ground. However, with sea levels rising at an accelerated pace, this is not an applicable or effective method of coping with the problem. Destroying the historical infrastructure of the city also makes this an outdated technique. Venice is experiencing more frequent instances of aqua alta (high water), a problem which many scientists believe is being enhanced by the ongoing burning of fossil fuels and the consequential rise of the sea. The following link will provide a virtual example of just how threatened Italy (Venice in particular) is by various increases in sea level rise. http://geology.com/sea-level-rise/venice.shtml. In addition to SLR, the sediments underlying the city (which is essentially built a top a lagoon), are continuing to settle while, fresh water is being extracted on a regular basis from a large aquifer which also underlies the city. The settling of sediment and the removal of water from the underlying aquifer are two major factors that promote rapid subsidence of the historical city.

Some Facts
Up until 1900, extreme high tides flooded St. Mark’s Square about 7 times a year
Since 1989, these tides occurred no less than 40 times a year
Tides get so high that boats cannot navigate through the canals because they can not pass under bridges.

Rising tides are damaging to the buildings of the city. The tall foundations are built from very resistant marble but above the foundation, brick is used. In the past, sea levels never rose above the marble but now it is occurring on a regular basis. The salty water from the Adriatic Sea soaks into the more porous brick and leeches into the interior of the ancient buildings destroying historical structures bit by bit. The result of the intrusive salt waters is the inevitable crumbling of the building. Replacing the old disintegrating bricks with newer waterproof bricks is and option however these renovations would take away the great historical value of the buildings and the city and therefore is an unlikely solution to the problem. Many raised wooden foot bridges have been built and put in place when the tides are come up too high to walk through. This has been done for sometime, but another more effective solution must be explored.

There have been many proposed solutions, two of which I wish to discuss.
In Rome a group of engineers have suggested that the inevitable situation of Italy sinking could possibly be solved by pumping seawater beneath the city. Twelve holes, being one meter in diameter would be drilled 700m deep within a six mile area surrounding the city. Sea water would then be pumped into these holes. Ideally, the seawater would expand the settling soils and in combination with the clays, should push up the soil. This process would hopefully raise the entire city by one foot rescuing it from the tides.

At this time, Venice is supported by millions of wooden piles which are driven into the soggy ground. Despite this support, Venice has continued to sink. As a result, another project has been developed to try to combat the constant subsidence of the city. The projects name is Moses and it involves a series of moveable dams. 79 individual dams, with 300 ton flaps will be constructed and hinged to the seabed. They will rise up and block incoming water from entering the lagoon, in times of aqua alta. Although Moses is complete, after 10 years of construction, it is currently parked by the city’s arsenal. Project implementation has been delayed for a year by the minister of environment. One representative wants to halt the project as he believes its implementation will cause more damage to the lagoon than it will resolve.

Some Facts
· Venice has sunk approximately 7cm a century for the past 1000 years.
· In the past 100 years it has subsided 24cm.
· The new project, Moses, will near $4 billion

To conclude, we can say that increases in pollution emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels, is a main factor in the growing issue of climate change. Climate change is causing some areas of the world to warm, resulting in global sea level rise due to the melt of marine glaciers and ice caps. Low lying areas are particularly vulnerable to flooding as temperatures continue to rise, ice caps continue to melt and sea level continues to rise. To address the exact question asked, “Is Italy sinking because of climate change?” we can say that yes Italy is sinking but not solely as a result of climate change. As you read previously, Italy has been subsiding for various reasons over the past 1000 years or more. Because of increased levels of anthropogenic pollution and emissions, the process of climate change is being amplified. Emission of carbon dioxide is the main contributing factor to rising temperatures and the consequential melting of polar ice caps. As a result, already low lying areas are prone to flooding as tides become more drastic with SLR. Therefore, the combination of Italy being constructed a top a lagoon and its vulnerability to frequent aqua alta causes it to be a place which is very susceptible to extreme flooding.

References

http://geology.com/sea-level-rise/venice.shtml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10143146/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/venice/solutions.html

http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000000543C.htm

A word about biofuels

2008-03-12T20:20:00.001-03:00

From Avaaz.org:

EU and US demand for biofuels is pushing up world food prices and increasing climate emissions. We should feed people, not cars--so join the call for global standards to clean up the biofuels industry:
Click here nowEach day, 820 million people in the developing world do not have enough food to eat1. Food prices around the world are shooting up, sparking food riots from Mexico2 to Morocco3. And the World Food Program warned last week that rapidly rising costs are endangering emergency food supplies for the world's worst-off4.How are the wealthiest countries responding? They're burning food.Specifically, they're using more and more biofuels--alcohol made from plant products, used in place of petrol to fuel cars. Biofuels are billed as a way to slow down climate change. But in reality, because so much land is being cleared to grow them, most biofuels today are causing more global warming emissions than they prevent5, even as they push the price of corn, wheat, and other foods out of reach for millions of people6.Not all biofuels are bad--but without tough global standards, the biofuels boom will further undermine food security and worsen global warming. Click here to use our simple tool to send a message to your head of state before this weekend's global summit on climate change in Chiba, Japan, and help build a global call for biofuels regulation:http://www.avaaz.org/en/biofuel_standards_now/9.php?cl=60571227Sometimes the trade-off is stark: filling the tank of an SUV with ethanol requires enough corn to feed a person for a year7. But not all biofuels are bad; making ethanol from Brazilian sugar cane is vastly more efficient than US-grown corn, for example, and green technology for making fuel from waste is improving rapidly.The problem is that the EU and the US have set targets for increasing the use of biofuels without sorting the good from the bad. As a result, rainforests are being cleared in Indonesia to grow palm oil for European biodiesel refineries, and global grain reserves are running dangerously low. Meanwhile, rich-country politicians can look "green" without asking their citizens to conserve energy, and agribusiness giants are cashing in. And if nothing changes, the situation will only get worse.What's needed are strong global standards that encourage better biofuels and shut down the trade in bad ones. Such standards are under development by a number of coalitions8, but they will only become mandatory if there's a big enough public outcry. It's time to move: this Friday through Saturday, the twenty countries with the biggest economies, responsible for more than 75% of the world's carbon emissions9, will meet in Chiba, Japan to begin the G8's climate change discussions. Before the summit, let's raise a global cry for change on biofuels:http://www.avaaz.org/en/biofuel_standards_now/9.php?cl=60571227A call for change before this week's summit won't end the food crisis, or stop global warming. But it's a critical first step. By confronting false solutions and demanding real ones, we can show our leaders that we want to do the right thing, not the easy thing.As Kate, an Avaaz member in Colorado, wrote about biofuels, "Turning food into oil when people are already starving? My car isn't more important than someone's hungry child."It's time to put the life of our fellow people, and our planet, above the politics and profits that too often drive international decision-making. This will be a long fight. But it's one that we join eagerly--because the stakes are too high to do anything else.With hope,Ben, Ricken, Iain, Galit, Paul, Graziela, Pascal, Esra'a, Milena -- the Avaaz.org team

SOURCES:[1] World Food Programme. "Hunger Facts." Accessed 10 March 2008. http://www.wfp.org/aboutwfp/facts/hunger_facts.asp[2] The Sunday Herald (Scotland). "2008: The year of global food crisis." 9 March 2008. http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.2104849.0.2008_the_year_of_global_food_crisis.php[3] The Australian: "Biofuels threaten 'billions of lives'" 28 February, 2008. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23336840-11949,00.html[4] AFP: "WFP chief warns EU about biofuels." 7 March 2008. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hpCFf3spGcDQUuILK5JFV-6NL1Dg[5] New York Times: "Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat." 8 February 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html[6] The Times: "Rush for biofuels threatens starvation on a global scale." 7 March 2008. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3500954.ece ... also see BBC: "In graphics: World warned on food price spiral." 10 March 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7284196.stm[7] The Economist: "The end of cheap food." 6 December 2007. http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10252015[8] See http://www.globalbioenergy.org, http://cgse.epfl.ch/page70341.html, and http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3489640.ece.[9] Government of Japan. "Percentage of global carbon dioxide emissions (FY 2003) contributed by G20 nations." http://www.env.go.jp/earth/g8/en/g20/index_popup.html

Terra Daily

2008-03-12T20:10:00.002-03:00

How about an online newspaper dedicated to news about the Earth! It exists and is called Terra Daily. Why don't you bookmark it and continue to read about the planet you live on well after the course is over!

Nova Scotia and Sea Level Rise

2008-03-11T20:23:00.002-03:00

Red = high risk
Orange = moderate risk
Green = low risk
The purple dashed lines = areas that are presently submerging

Source: Atlas of Canada (You can view the entire map of Canada here).

Canada and Climate Change

2008-03-10T20:47:00.001-03:00

There is a new report just out from Natural Resources Canada entitled "From Impacts to Adaptation:Canada in a Changing Climate 2007". It is really worth a look....

Climate Change

2008-03-06T10:07:00.001-04:00

Climate Change - The Physical Science Basis

From: sustenergy, 5 months ago

| View | Upload your own

"Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis", assesses the current
scientific knowledge of the natural and human drivers of climate change,
observed changes in climate, the ability of science to attribute changes
to different causes, and projections for future climate change.

The report was produced by some 600 authors from 40 countries. Over 620
expert reviewers and a large number of government reviewers also
participated. Representatives from 113 governments reviewed and revised
the Summary line-by-line during the course of this week before adopting
it and accepting the underlying report.

“Climate Change
2007: The Physical Science Basis”, assesses the current scientific knowledge of
the natural and human drivers of climate change, observed changes in climate,
the ability of science to attribute changes to different causes, and projections
for future climate change.
The report was
produced by some 600 authors from 40 countries. Over 620 expert reviewers and a
large number of government reviewers also participated. Representatives from 113
governments reviewed and revised the Summary line-by-line during the course of
this week before adopting it and accepting the underlying
report.

SlideShare Link

IPCC

2008-03-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

If you ever have a quesiton about pretty much anything related to climate change, you can find it at the enormously impressive "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change" web site.

The Video we wanted to see today...

2008-02-28T21:04:00.000-04:00

Turns out the audio cable was unplugged from the wall (I sense a conspiracy...).

Have a happy weekend, folks.

Climate Change and Human Rights

2008-02-28T21:02:00.001-04:00

There is a conference on the title topic going on this week in Geneva. Read a bit about it here.

Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake strikes in Nevada!

2008-02-21T10:33:00.002-04:00

See where it happened here.

This was a very shallow earthquake (about 10 km in depth): there are no reports yet, but this earthquake might have caused damages in the area.

MAgnitude 7.5 Earthquake hits near region that triggered the 2005 tsunami

2008-02-20T07:12:00.002-04:00

Read about it here and here. Thankfully, it appears that there isn't a tsunami potential with this one.

6.7 magnitude earthquake in southern Greece

2008-02-14T07:40:00.000-04:00

Read about it here and here.

Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake!

2008-02-12T09:33:00.000-04:00

First reports coming out....I'l keep you posted. The National Earthquake Information Centre is still reporting it as a 6.4.

Tungurahua Volcanic ash plume today...

2008-02-06T21:39:00.000-04:00

Read more about what has been recently going on here or here.

Global Volcanic Activity

2008-01-29T22:54:00.000-04:00

I provided a link in class to Volcano World. I wanted to provide you with another useful and interesting link. The Smithsonian Institute has an amazing program called the Global Volcanism Program with an equally amazing web site.

Hello Anthropocene Epoch...

2008-01-28T20:17:00.000-04:00

Someone in your class e-mailed this link to me. Take a look at the article: it's short, and interesting. Unfortunately, I think it is also quite true.

Halifax: Sunrise and Sunset times

2008-01-21T09:35:00.000-04:00

Here is a useful site to see how many hours of sunlight Halifax receives throughout the year.

Galeras Volcano Erupts in Colombia!

2008-01-18T08:18:00.000-04:00

A volcano erupted in southwestern Colombia on Thursday night, prompting authorities to order the evacuation of about 8,000 people. Read more about it here, here and here!

Read more about the Galeras Volcano here.

Tropical Storm Funa is in the Pacific

2008-01-16T19:23:00.001-04:00

Mercury!

2008-01-15T21:39:00.001-04:00

Although we won't be spending time in class talking specifically about this planet, I thought I would post a great link to learn more about it.

"Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are terrestrial (rocky) planets. Among these, Mercury is an extreme: the smallest, the densest (after correcting for self-compression), the one with the oldest surface, the one with the largest daily variations in surface temperature, and the least explored. Understanding this "end member" among the terrestrial planets is crucial to developing a better understanding of how the planets in our solar system formed and evolved. To develop this understanding, the MESSENGER mission, spacecraft, and science instruments are focused on answering six key outstanding questions that will allow us to understand Mercury as a planet. " Read more HERE and take a look at the amazing new images of this planet!

Snow event for Monday-Tuesday

2008-01-13T22:09:00.000-04:00

The forecast models are indicating that the system that will eventually impact us will stall around Cape Cod, and then move quickly past Nova Scotia. If this is true, then we would expect a delayed start to the snow tomorrow (perhaps beginning mid-afternoon) and less accumulation that originally thought. If we are to believe this graphic, we might expect 8 cm. Time will tell...

Rare snow event in the Middle East

2008-01-12T21:06:00.000-04:00

Some Perspective...

2008-01-10T21:22:00.000-04:00

A useful video to watch for Assignment 1

2008-01-07T12:47:00.001-04:00

Welcome to GEOG 1203.2 Winter, 2008!

2008-01-03T10:31:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone!
I will be using this blog as a site to post links related to lectures and course content. I hope you have a great semester!
Cathy

That's all for now...

2007-04-17T20:24:00.000-03:00

I won't be posting on this blog again until GEOG 1203 is offered again. I am going to continue to post on the Ocean Use and Management site, though. So you can keep on dropping by there periodically to see what I post if you would like!

April 6 IPCC Report

2007-04-06T22:22:00.000-03:00

The IPCC is escalating its call for urgent action on global warming with the April 6th release of its Working Group Two report “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.” Warnings for Canada include: • More forest fires and a decline in northern forest cover • Lower water levels in the great lakes, affecting navigation and water quality • Earlier sea ice break up, significant water temperature rise, earlier spring snowmelt • More heat waves and smog in urban areas

Severe Canadian Weather

2007-03-12T19:35:00.000-03:00

Not just a talk about bad winter weather.

Tuesday, March 13 8pm

SMU Art Gallery

Dr. C. Conrad

Talk Tonight

2007-03-05T14:54:00.001-04:00

Classroom 3 (King's A&A Building, lower level), Ondaatje Hall (Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building, 6135 University Avenue), 7:00 pm The School of Journalism at the University of King's College, in partnership with the Dalhousie Student Union, are proud to host renowned Canadian journalist and military historian Gwynne Dyer on Monday, March 5. He will present "The Climate Wars," a talk on global warming. Free and all are welcome.

March 3 Lunar Eclipse

2007-03-04T19:45:00.000-04:00

Canadians for Kyoto

2007-02-18T15:37:00.001-04:00

Nation-Wide Kyoto Rally Sunday March 11th Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Canadians for Kyoto Rally is an independent initiative whose ultimate goal is to have Canada recommit to the Kyoto Protocol. It will be taking place simultaneously across the nation. http://www.canadiansforkyoto.com

If you are willing to dedicate time, energy or resources to this cause,contact us immediately. Leah Boutiller Email : LDBOUTIL@DAL.CA
Ryan Timoffee Email: canadiansforkyoto@hotmail.com

The Climate Action Network

2007-02-18T15:14:00.001-04:00

This is a great network to follow and their web site is full of interesting and meaningful information and links. I particularly like their "adopt an MP" program. I've adopted McGuinty. Poor man...

Climate Science Blog

2007-02-12T21:45:00.000-04:00

This is one of the best blogs on Climate Science, with leading atmpospheric researchers regularly contributing to it. Take a look. Hopefully you'll continue to regularly read it.

Two great documentaries

2007-02-11T14:00:00.000-04:00

"Who Killed the Electric Car?"
and
"The Great Warming"

‘Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world!’ -Joel Barker

Here's one way to become a millionaire.

2007-02-10T19:44:00.001-04:00

British airline tycoon Richard Branson announced on Friday a $25-million prize for the first person or group to find a way to remove billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Go here to find out how to enter the contest!

Mark this on your calendar.

2007-02-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

What can YOU do about Climate Change?

2007-02-03T22:59:00.000-04:00

Global Warning

2007-02-02T09:32:00.000-04:00

So the IPCC report came out today. And the media around the world is reporting the results. Let's move forward from the science and think about, discuss, and use our imaginations to effect change. It begins now.

Listen to the summary from the co-convenors of the IPCC meeting here, which can be accessed from the main IPCC web site (look at the right-hand-side bar). I will be summarizing the findings of all the reports next week.

You can start to think about what actions you can take; here is a good palce to start.

Assignment #2

2007-01-28T19:28:00.000-04:00

Your resposne in Question #11 should be compared to that of Question #9 (not #7).

Your response in Question #12 should be compared to that of Question #10 (not #8, as it incorrectly reads).

The link to the Global Plate Motion Calculator can be found here.
When you are entering your values, make sure you enter a negative sign in front of your longitudinal value.

Assignment #2

2007-01-23T10:28:00.000-04:00

Jules Verne Voyager Jr. website

Completed Worksheets 2 & 3 for Assignment #1

2007-01-18T20:42:00.000-04:00

Magnetic Reversals

2007-01-17T20:28:00.000-04:00

A number of you were intersted in magnetic reversals in class today. I wanted to supplement our discussion with some more comprehensive material. Click here for a really good question and answer site on the topic. It turns out that the British Geological Survey states that there is no concern for life on Earth when reversals occur. This contradicts earlier findings, but I will go with the BGS!

Assignment #1

2007-01-17T14:24:00.000-04:00

To benefit those who check the blog...here is a hint for #5 in assignment 1...
you should be thinking about perihelion and aphelion.

To see the coloured maps, scroll down.
Cathy

January 14-16 weather: Winter Storm Watch Issued

2007-01-14T16:10:00.000-04:00

Keep your eye on the weather forecast tonight and into tomorrow morning. We could be having some really bad weather by tomorrow afternoon.
(Scroll down if you are looking for the Assignment 1 maps)

Assignment 1 Resources

2006-12-13T10:46:00.000-04:00

Introducing Physical Geography

2006-04-27T08:49:00.000-03:00

This site will serve as the official GEOG 1203 companion course site for Dr. Conrad's Introduction to Physical Geography course. You will be expected to check the site before every class and to use it as a study guide and resource to accompany the course.

Part One: A Global Perspective
1. Introducing Physical Geography