Abstract An essay which explores global warming from two different angles--the political and the scientific . It defines the greenhouse effect and how it is connected with global warming. Additionally, it shows the arguments of those advocating or opposing the global warming theory.
Table of Contents
The natural greenhouse effect
The enhanced greenhouse effect
Global warming ? a controversial issue
Global warming ? the political debate
From the Paper "Global warming is a highly controversial subject. While the basics of the greenhouse effect are quite well understood predicting what might happen if greenhouse gases continue to be released in the atmosphere is unclear. Owing to the fact that there is no consensus over global warming among scientists it is of great importance to look at global warming from an objective point of view. This essay is based upon information given in various publications. However, most publications provide biased information."
Abstract The paper defines the term ecosystem as an area which includes all the living organisms, their physical surroundings, and the natural cycles that sustain them. It also gives several examples of ecosystems such as forests. The paper then studies the ecosystem of Mono Lake in California. It covers issues such as tools used to study the ecosystem, the biogeography of the area, plants and animals of the area, the food web, water recycling and the human impact.
From the Paper "For at least the last 5,500 years, Paiute Indians have lived off the land and waters of the Mono Basin. Using shallow skimming baskets, Kutzadika"a Paiute women collected kutsavi, the pupae of alkali flies"an excellent source of protein. The arrival of miners and those who supplied them with food, clothing, and other goods brought the peaceful coexistence of the Kutzadika?a with their surroundings to a rapid end.
Settlements of gold miners came and went quickly in the last half of the 19th century. With the collapse of mining in the 1880s, Mono Lake began its irregular career as a resort destination. As late as the 1930s, hotels attracted tourists to the lake by claiming its waters had healing properties. Until the 1950s, excursion boats sometimes ferried tourists to the islands for hiking and picnics."
Abstract This paper presents an in-depth discussion about mold and its potential health hazards. This problem came to light following the discovery of the phenomena of "Sick Building Syndrome". The dangers of mold are presented and linked to cases of this syndrome. The paper shows how mold has been ignored as a potential pollutant and cause of disease. The organic structure of this fungi is also discussed.
From the Paper "In the past decades, the quality of indoor air has received and increasing amount of attention, including a large amount of discussion about sick building syndrome, which has been recognised since the 1970's. Certainly, most North Americans spend the majority of our lives indoors, and the quality of our indoor air environment has been shown to play a huge role on our health. A wide variety of indoor pollutants can have an effect on human health, including environmental tobacco smoke, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and biological pollutants. Biological indoor pollutants include dust mites, cockroaches, effluvia from pets like birds, rodents, dog and cats and mold."
Abstract The writer of this paper outlines a background to wolves in general and to their presence in the U.S.A. in particular. The paper raises the argument of those for and against the reintroduction of the wolf into the wild. It discusses the issues of their part in the natural eco system as well as their wildness and man's fear thereof.
From the Paper "Wolves (Canis Lupis) have always sat on the threshold of man's life, from the earliest times man and wolf came together and soon the wolf was domesticated into the dog, however there has always been the wolf, that strong noble creature that runs in packs and is the legend of nightmares for farmers, hunters and travellers alike. Yet despite the bad press wolves have had since man became civilized and stopped feeding the wolves his scraps, they have continually been present within our lives, sadly this presence has been diminished."
A discussion on the effect of acid rain on forests and the way in which the deposition of acid rain and particles make plants and trees more susceptible to disease.
Abstract The following paper examines why environmental scientists are concerned that the level of acidity in rain and snow has increased beyond its normal levels in the United States. The writer discusses the ways in which this has had a serious impact in several areas, including forests in the northeast and many of the country's most valued monuments.
From the Paper "Munton (1998) expresses the same concerns. He notes that emissions have already been reduced by 50%. That is an impressive improvement, but perhaps still more than delicate ecosystems can stand. He suggests that we may need even more restrictive interventions in place, and points out that modern society's effects on the atmosphere goes beyond acid rain, which may also affect human health, but to breathable particulates, effects on the ozone layer, and regional haze making particular areas periodically more vulnerable to the effects of airborne pollutants.
"In conclusion, it may be too soon to be satisfied with our efforts so far. Given the tremendous amount of pollution released into the air, a 50% reduction may be a result that looks good on paper but that is still significantly damaging to our environment."
Abstract The treatment of wastewater is divided into three main categories: Primary treatment, secondary treatment and tertiary treatment, where each stage contains several steps. This paper examines this purification and treatment process and explains each stage step-by-step.
From the Paper "The primary treatment stage involves the removal of physical contamination which includes grit, grease and solid particles. The first stage in this is a screening process, which filters our large particles. The next stage is grit removal, this is a settling stage where grit is allowed to settle out of the water under low flow conditions (Manahan 226). The final stage of the primary treatment is grease removal, which is achieved by allowing the wastewater to settle, with the grease materials floating on top. This top layer is then scraped off."
Abstract The paper looks at the influence of the book on the ban of the use of DDT, and how it spurred revolutionary changes in the laws that have been destroying air, land and water of this planet. The initiation of the environmental movement is explored in relation to the book and the development of this movement is traced.
From the Paper "Seldom there have been incidents in the history of mankind that a single book has managed to alter the path of history, but Silent Spring written by Rachel Carson did precisely that. The book forced the ban on the use of DDT, after its publication in 1962, and spurred revolutionary changes in the laws that have been destroying air, land, and water of this planet. The obsessive concern of Carson for the future of this planet and the humanity that has been living for billions of years, echoed forcefully throughout the world, as her expressive book has been influential in the initiation of the environmental movement (2)."
Abstract This paper discusses Daniel Quinn's book "Ishmael" and how the environmental ethics as outlined by Quinn relate to the world and man today. It shows how man, by looking at the damage he has carried out in the name of progress, can help to halt and possibly heal the earth before its destruction is complete.
From the Paper "Ishmael is a book that will slowly draw the reader into an imagery that is almost direct and forthright into new perspectives and answers old questions, it opens up new attitudes and understandings of old mysteries that are so ingrained into the culture of man that they are accepted as truth. Ishmael is a book for those who are disillusioned with the current state that the world is in and the politically correct solutions that are totally ineffective."
An analysis of two books which deal with ecofeminism - "The Death of Nature" by Caroline Merchant and "The Power and the Promise of Ecological Feminism" by Karen Warren.
Abstract This essay provides a critical summary and response of the books "The Death of Nature" and "The Power and the Promise of Ecological Feminism" . The paper summarizes the main argument of each ecofeminism author. The response argues the position that nature is defenseless matter and thus subject to human domination and that women and men should be viewed as complementary of one another rather than oppositional.
From the Paper "The book "The Death of Nature" by Caroline Merchant seeks to explain the historic correlation between the supremacy of nature and women. Merchant asserts that the scientific revolution fashioned a society that perpetuates a mechanistic view of nature rather than an organic view of a feminine natural world that was in existence before the revolution. The former views nature as inert matter that is subject to human domination, while the latter view emphasizes mutual existence between the environment and human beings. (Armitage on Merchant?s; Death of Nature)"
Abstract Ansel Adams was one of America's most famous photographers. This paper introduces and discusses Ansel Adams the man, his innovative photographic techniques, and their impact on traditional photography.
From the Paper "By the mid 20s, Adams began to realize he could make a living with his photography. He decided to concentrate on his photographic work, instead of a career as a concert pianist. This was a turning point in his life, and while he continued to enjoy music throughout his life, photography became his vocation, and his lifelong passion. In 1927, he received the patronage of Albert M. Bender, a wealthy San Francisco insurance magnate, and it changed his life. Bender helped him publish his first portfolio of photographs, but even more importantly, he helped Adams develop his self-confidence and abilities, which allowed him to become more creative and artistic."
Tags: Zone, System, Yosemite, National, Park, Black, and, White, Bulletin
Abstract This paper presents a description of a needed disaster plan in Queens, New York. The writer outlines the need for a disaster plan and then presents a proposed plan for the future. These ideas are based on the response to the Sept 11th terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
From the Paper "As the world watched in horror on September 11, 2002 the planes hit the buildings. From that moment emergency response offices across the country began to re-evaluate their disaster plans and update them. The area of Queens New York should have a disaster plan that is both technologically sound as well as plausible as an action.
"Before one can begin to understand the need for a disaster plan one must have a grasp on what a disaster is. A disaster for the purpose of emergency response offices means something that affects the residents of an area in a negative manner. A disaster can be man made or a natural disaster. Some examples of disasters include tornadoes, fires, earthquakes and floods."
From the Paper "Cities change all the time, growing larger, replacing old buildings, redesigning roadways and connections between buildings and regions, and similar changes as the population shifts, uses change, political leadership is replaced, and other forces are brought to bear. Numerous changes were made in the overall design of the city of Paris after the nineteenth century, absorbing and in some ways altering the original plan for the city and many of the shifts that had taken place since that time.
Paris was a medieval city that grew around the river Seine, and this capital city of France remained much as it had been in the medieval period into the nineteenth century. The Revolution in 1789 had changed this city very little except for the razing of the Bastille. The city at that time was considered an ..."
From the Paper "As human beings, we are masters of our domain. We are the undisputed occupiers of the top rung of the food chain. In this, we have the burden of choice. We must decide where we will be merciful and where we will be ruthless, where we will defend and where we will persecute, where we will commit our attention and where we will be ignorant. We contend that reason and necessity govern our behavior. We believe, at least individually, that we are compassionate beings. And yet today, we are collectively ruthless, we collectively persecute, and we are collectively ignorant regarding those beings which are weaker than we: we are the cruel overlords of the animal kingdom.
At present, on an average day in the United States, 130,000 cattle, 7,000 calves, 360,000 pigs, and 24 million chickens are killed.."
From the Paper "Different regions on earth share similar climatic conditions despite being found in geographically different areas, and when areas have comparable ecosystems, they are categorized as being one of the types of biome. The geographical distribution and the productivity of the various biomes is controlled primarily by the climatic variables of precipitation and temperature. The tundra is an arctic and alpine biome, with a geographical distribution largely poleward of 60 degrees North latitude:
The tundra biome is characterized by an absence of trees,
the presence of dwarf plants, and a ground surface that is
wet, spongy, and hummocky. Soils of this biome are usually
permanently frozen (permafrost) starting at a depth of a..."
Abstract A leading environmental concern today is an ever-growing population and one of the most important aspects of the population problem is over consumption in well-developed countries such as the United States. The paper focuses on the growing number of consumers buying larger vehicles, particularly Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV?s). It shows that implementing some of the ideas of voluntary simplicity, using more fuel efficient vehicles, and utilizing public transportation will help curb the over consumption problems associated with the SUV craze.
From the Paper "Herman Daly's discusses the idea of ?dematerialization,? in his essay, ?Consumption and the Environment.? The concept of dematerialization focuses on "improved resource use" which could make a difference in many ways concerning consumption patterns. Applying "improved resource use" to SUV's and other vehicles is often discussed, but high emission- low gas mileage vehicles are still being manufactured at a fast pace. But improving the vehicles is only one step; drivers need to become less dependent on their vehicles, recognizing that there is not an infinite supply of resources needed to support the vehicles."
Tags: affluenza, dematerialization, Ford, Motor, Company
