New Blog Analysis 

Throughout these eight months, I have taken what I have learned in the classroom and have seen these problems in real life situations. I have chosen about 32 articles to read and write a summary about the articles that I have found. Out of all of these articles, I then chose three that I was really interested in and I wanted them to connect to an overall problem that we have on our Earth.  

The first article that I chose, I read in November. The title of this article was ‘Forest Giraffe’ Now Endangered: Okapi Populations Drop 50 Percent in 18 years. In this article, John Platt reported that a new animal has been put on the endangered species list by the International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources. This animal was a mix of a zebra and a very large deer. There have been arguments about this for about five years now. After looking at statistics from 1995, this species’ population has decreased 50% over that time. This species has also been listed under the Red List category. When looking into this species more, the Okapi lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Platt). With this in mind, there is so much violence evolving in this environment, which makes the Okapi’s living conditions even worse. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been remaining in civil conflict and suffering from extreme poverty. (Platt). The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been placing laws over this rare species but it just seems like its really not having a huge effect. Because of all of these problems and conflicts, the Okapi Conservation Project was created, which facilitated that this species is so important and there has to be specific changes made in order to help these endangered animals. Overall, species like the Okapi are one of many that have the same problems and animals need to be payed more attention to. (Platt). 

The second article is called, “Focus on Ocean’s Health as Dolphin Deaths Soar”. Throughout this article, Lizette Alvarez had reported that dolphins have been turning up off of coasts completely deteriorated in Miami. In addition to the ocean, we also need to be more aware of the marine animals in these oceans that are also being greatly affected. The reports going all of the way back to June until January have told us that these dolphins have been ending up on coasts going all the way down the east coast of the country. (Alvarez). In June, this started in New Jersey and New York and has reached Florida, passing Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. The report has shown that about 1,000 bottle nose dolphins have washed up on these shores dead. (Alvarez). When looking more into these dolphins’ deaths, we see that most of them suffered from the morbillivirus and predictions say that it is only going to get worse. After doing more research, it is said that the residue from the oil spill in 2010 is really affecting them. Again, look at what is happening to these animals. They are suffering all over the world. (Alvarez).

This last article is called, “For Already Vulnerable Penguins, Study Finds Climate Change is Another Danger”. Here, Henry Fountain had reported that Magellanic penguins have not only been struggling with staying a live, they are now dealing with climate change on top of that. (Fountain). After doing a study in Punta Tombo, Argentina, all of the intense storms, habitat loss, a difficulty to find food is so concerning for these penguins. When analyzing these storms, we have seen that the release of all of the greenhouse gases into our atmosphere is essentially causing for the intensity of storms to increase. This is a big concern to a lot of species, after seeing this story come alive. Overall, these three articles have all dealt with animals and species that are struggling to stay alive. We need to think that our actions are not only affecting us, but all of these species. (Fountain). These articles mainly interested me because I really think that animals are never looked up to as first priority and I think after reading these articles, every animal on the endangered species list or even close to it needs to be watched very carefully. 

Hopes Fade as 25th Body Found in Washington State Mudslide 

By: Jonathan Kaminsky

After this tragic mudslide, 90 people are still missing and there are doubts that they not may ever be found. (Kaminsky). In Darrington, it has been said that 25 people were declared dead, when the mudslide hut homes. People are helping as much as they can. People are asking for donations, giving out free food to rescuers and the Arlington middle school was turned into a red cross rescue center. "A rain-soaked hillside collapsed near the tiny town of Oso, about 55 miles northeast of Seattle last Saturday, cascading over a river and a road into homes, blanketing about a square mile in muck and debris." (Kaminsky 1). People have been working 24/ 7 to look for bodies, using dogs, small cameras, and other devices.

To help with the relief efforts, "President Obama had signed an emergency declaration ordering U.S. government assistance to supplement state and local relief efforts."(Kaminsky 1). Many people are being cared for and more than 100 houses were completely destroyed by the mudslide. People are sadly loosing hope but people aren't giving up. (Kaminsky).



http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hopes-fade-as-25th-body-found-in-washington-state-mudslide/

Pollution Sours Pacific Ocean More Than Expected 

By: Stephanie Paige Ogburn and ClimateWire

There are so many concerns about the Pacific Ocean because of the high carbon dioxide levels that are being absorbed. (Ogburn). According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington, over the past, 14 years, this ocean is becoming more and more acidic and becoming that faster than expected. Adrienne Sutton, a research scientist with NOAA's Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean at the University of Washington, the cause of this quick carbon dioxide build up is from natural variability and human-caused emissions in the atmosphere. "Measurements by atmospheric scientists at NOAA show that atmospheric CO2 is increasing at a rate of about 2 parts per million per year. But in parts of the tropical Pacific, the rate of change in CO2 concentrations measured by the researchers reached 3.3 ppm per year." (Ogburn 1). With this highly acidic body of water, shellfish and coral are also highly at risk. With shellfish, these animals will then have a problem building their shell and coral reefs will have problems building their skeletons because the water is acidic. Overall, scientists' main goal is to figure out what part of the carbon dioxide is coming from human emissions and then whats coming from natural oscillations. (Ogburn).



http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pollution-sours-pacific-ocean-more-than-expected/

Britain's Greenhouses Gas Emissions Down 1.9% in 2013

By: Susanna Twidale

From a report in London, England, gas emissions were down 1.9% overall in because of the decline in fossil-fuel power generation. (Twidale). "Output of the heat-trapping gases in Europe's second-largest emitter dipped to 569.9 million metric tons compared to 581.1 million metric tons in 2012, data from the Department of Energy and Climate Change showed." (Twidale 1). When looking more into it, carbon dioxide was the main gas that was blamed because it took up 82 percent of the emissions. Also, the DECC said that the electricity generation was irregular.

"British utilities are major buyers of carbon permits under the European Union's Emissions Trading System, which requires big emitters to surrender one permit for every tonne of carbon dioxide they emit each year." (Twidale 1). In the beginning of April, the European Commission will have the chance to go look more into the CO2 figure for 2013. In addition, with this release, it also gives them a look on the overall demand-supply balance for EU emission permit. Overall, since 1990,UK emissions have fallen 21%. (Twidale).



http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/britains-greenhouse-gas-emissions-down-19-in-2013/

Global Warming Hurts Rural Communities Most 

By: Elspeth Dehnert and ClimateWire

There have new information about farmers and that they will have a difficult time dealing with climate change. (Dehnert). "A new report aims to put a human face on what it says are some of the communities hardest hit by global climate change, whose effects will be highlighted in the forthcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings" (Dehnert 1). There were seven different stories that were documented on the impacts of climate change. These seven stories come from the countries, El Salvador, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kenya, Malawi, Bolivia and the Philippines. People think that by displaying these personal stories, it will show that there is an urgent need for decisive action on global climate policy. The one thing that people need to understand that we need to act now, we can't wait for something or somebody to be ready. Also, poor countries are being destroyed, which then forces them to adapt to all of these weather changes. Asia has been suffering from coastal flooding, sea-level rise, and storm surges. This causing so much economic loss. (Dehnert). In addition, because of the constant melting glaciers, water supply is completely changing. (Dehnert). "I was born here. I wmet away for a number of years because we have problems with our droughts, and landslides when the waters do come. We don't have enough water to grow our crops. (Dehnert).



http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/global-warming-hurts-rural-communities-most/

Portion of Mississippi reopened after oil spill; ships still stuck 

By: Molly Hennessy- Fiske

After a devastating oil spill, the Mississippi River was closed for 65 miles. (Fiske). This oil spill had occurred at the beginning of the weekend and part of the river was still closed until Monday. The U.S. Coast Guard had said that there were 29 ships stuck because of this conflict. "Officials had closed a 65 mile stretch of the river and the port of New Orleans after 31,500 gallons of light crude oil spilled from a barge that ran into  a towboat Saturday about 50 miles west of New Orleans." (Fiske 1). They had kept this river closed for so long because of the risk that that would cause more pollution. People with the Environmental Safety & Health was urging people to be cautious with the use of water. "As of Monday, there are no reports of contamination to drinking water. (Fiske 1).

The spill had occurred by the town of Vacherie in St. James Parish and then reported that there was no contamination spreading from the river. (Fiske). There is a threat to so much when their is an oil spill. They are worrying about people, animals, vessels, and anything in the river. There is so much to take into consideration and people need to take caution. Overall, this has not been the longest time that a major river like this has been closed for a couple of days, but even with the river closed for a couple of hours, it affects to many people. (Fiske).



http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-mississippi-oil-spill-20140224,0,423160.story#axzz2uHQSGHFc

For Already Vulnerable Penguins, Study Finds Climate Change Is Another Danger

By: Henry Fountain


With the difficult lives that Magellanic penguins already have, they are in for another surprise. (Fountain). With their struggles with predation and starvation, now they are dealing with climate change. This study has been going on for many years, looking at these birds in Punta Tombo, Argentina. Here in Argentina, there are huge storms, damaging habitat, and making it even more difficult to find food. In addtion, with the harsh warm temperatures, these penguins are having a very hard time. "Rainfall is killing a lot of penguins, and so is heat," said P. Dee Boersma, a University of Washington scientist and lead author of the study. "And those are two new causes." (Fountain 1). Another component that is contributing to these intense storms is the release of greenhouse gases.

"For this study, the researchers compiled data on nearly 3,500 chicks that they meticulously tracked by checking nests once or twice a day throughout the six-month breeding season, which starts in September." (Fountain 1). In a result of this, they had discovered that most of these birds died from the intense storms. When these penguins first hatch, they are so vulnerable and are protected by their parents the first week of being born. "Since 1987, the number of breeding pairs in the colony has declined 24 percent, said Dr. Boersma." (Fountain 1). There is so much that these penguins experience the first weeks of being born and now they have to survive throughout warm temperature and harsh storms. (Fountain).



http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/science/earth/climate-change-taking-toll-on-penguins-study-finds.html

Tests Said to Find Formaldehyde in West Virginia Tap Water 

By: Michael Wines


In Charleston, West Virginia, a chemical spill had occurred which ended up affecting more than they thought did. (Wines). About a week after the chemical spill, tests that were taken showed traces of formaldehyde. This was occurring in the city's water system which meant bad news. At this point, the city is still unsure will all of the affects from this spill and what is next for the future. Scott Simonton, a member from the Environmental Quality Board, told the news that people were reporting that they could smell the formaldehyde while taking a shower. Simonton had "said the formaldehyde was a product of the breakdown of the leaked coal-washing chemical, commonly known as MCHM." (Wines 1).

"The secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection, Randy C. Huffman, said the government did not know whether the formaldehyde was related to the chemical spill or whether it was an isolated instance linked to the restaurant where it was found." (Wines 1). Many other people have also been saying that this has been a reoccurring problem that has been going on and that there was more than one chemical spill in this city. As a result of this spill, people in the city are starting to panic and are lacking patience for more information from the government. They have their health to worry about, along with their children and other family members. In the end, "Governor Earl Ray Tomblin ordered the company responsible for the spill, Freedom Industries, to remove the cluster of aboveground storage tanks on the banks of the Elk River, where the spill occurred." (Wines 1).



http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/us/tests-said-to-find-formaldehyde-in-west-virginia-tap-water.html

A Natural Gas Power Plant with Carbon Constraints- and an Expiration Date 

By: Nathanael Massey and ClimateWire


Besides coal plants, there have been a new creation passed, a new natural-gas-fired power plant. Last week in Massachusetts, the construction was cleared to begin work. (Massey). The condition was that they needed to agree to reduce emissions of carbon each year before 2050. Back in 2012, there was a conflict when the Conservation Law Foundation and the Salem Harbor natural gas facility both went at it. "The law in question, the Global Warming Solutions Act, mandates that the state lower its emissions to 25 percent below 1990s levels by 2020 and 80 percent below those levels by 2050. CLF says those goals would be impossible if the plant were to run indefinitely on a business-as-usual basis." (Massey 1). People have explained that this could be a crucial turning point for the United States. Prices have been lowered for these natural gas power plants and is spreading throughout the country of the U.S. Even though this has many advantages, the Conservation Law Foundation have told people to be cautious because of the possible chance of methane leakage. Another negative argument is that even though this reduces our carbon footprint, these plants still release so much carbon dioxide into our air. (Massey).

"This agreement is forward-thinking as it not only ensures electricity reliability for the region but requires GHG reductions," said Richard Sullivan, chairman of the state Energy Facilities Sting Board." [Massachusetts] has some of the most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets in the nation, and today's decision will help us achieve those targets." (Massey 1). Overall this is a big step, but its whether we take these chances and go for it or not. (Massey).



http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-natural-gas-power-plant-with-carbon-constraintsand-an-expiration-date/

Attack of the Lionfish: Can they be Stopped?

By: Deborah Netburn

These animals are not your typical friendly, beautiful fish. "They are invading coral reefs and devouring native fish throughout the Caribbean. They are lionfish, and they are multiplying like crazy."(Netburn 1). These fish are completely unstoppable and we don't know if there is any hope for the coral reef.  These fish will eat anything that they can get into their mouths and their spikes are very dangerous so it is very difficult to fight them off. This is whats called "gape-limited". They just eat and eat constantly and they grow so quickly. Ideally, the only way to kill these fish is to get in the water and kill them with a spear or use a net to catch them. "Eradication seems impossible, but a new study published in the journal Ecological Applications finds that you don't have to remove every last lionfish from a reef in order for native fish populations to return-- you just have to remove most of them." (Netburn 1). In the Bahamas, research has been done which tells us that 75% to 95% of lionfish has been removed on one reef and it takes a lot of time to catch these animals. It is hopeful in the future that fishermen and divers will work together to help to make lionfish free zones, in order for fish and coral reefs to stay protected. More and more research is being developed to discover where else these fish are and really their native range goes from the coast of Africa all the way to Australia. (Netburn). Overall, these fish spread so quickly and more action needs to be taken to prevent from the coral reefs from suffering. These fish might will give you a new impression of them, after seeing how much they are affecting things in our ocean. (Netburn).


http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-war-on-lionfish-20140123,0,5512010.story#axzz2rXh11DDF

The Flood the Next Time 

By: Nicole Bengiveno 


"Scientists have spent decades examining all the factors that can influence the rise of the seas, and their research is finally leading to answers. And the more the scientists learn, the more they perceive an enormous risk for the United States."(Bengiveno 1). The country's main focus right now is the East coast because the issues of the storms and devastations. Scientists have been searching through new ideas, like looking at the ancient ice sheets and the effect of the giant meteor. But, when researching, the scientists have observed that the tide are one of the most important things. "The best calculation suggests that from 1880 to 2009, the global average sea level rose a little over eight inches. (Bengiveno 1). Even the smallest change, can dramatically affect the tides and the sea level. This accelerated rise in sea level is really affected from the greenhouse gases in the air. These gases are heating the planet and this heat is traveling into the oceans. (Bengiveno). 

"Scientists say the East Coats will be hit harder for many reasons, but among the most important is that even as the seawater rises, the land in this part of the world is sinking. And that goes back to the last ice age, which peaked some 20,000 years ago." (Bengiveno 2). Another issue that scientists need to look more into is sinking. There has been sinking occurring throughout the areas of Maine, all the way down to Florida. Furthermore, when looking at the Chesapeake Bay region, you can see that there was a population of 400, but now it has completely disappeared. There were homes, stores, buildings, that were completely left and the island eroded. (Bengiveno). This is so concerning. When everything started to disappear, there was only one house that remained and in 2010, that completely went down. Overall, all of these numbers are going and this will soon affect town like the community on the Chesapeake Bay region. There have been so many changes and the question is now how are we going to solve this? What is our plan for the future? (Bengiveno).  



http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/14/science/earth/grappling-with-sea-level-rise-sooner-not-later.html?ref=oceans

Focus on Ocean's Health as Dolphin Deaths Soar 

By: Lizette Alvarez 


Even though we really need to focus on the ocean, we also need to pay attention to the marine wildlife. (Alvarez). Dolphins have been turning up off of coasts completely deteriorated in Miami. Looking back in June, they first started showing up on the coast of New Jersey and will soon turn up in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. This is a huge concern for this animal. "So far this year, nearly 1,000 bottlenose dolphins- eight times the historical average- have washed up dead along the Eastern Seaboard from New York to Florida, a vast majority of them victims of morbillivirus. Many more are expected to die from the disease in the coming months". (Alvarez 1). Because the high numbers of death over the last 25 years, scientists are really concerned. Dr. Greg Bossart, a veterinary pathologist has said that bottlenose dolphins usually stay near and close to shore lines, so whatever happens close to shore, will affect them also. (Alvarez). 

It has been hard to identify the complete cause of death because all of these dolphins are near and experience different things. (Alvarez). Research also tells us that these dolphins have to fight disease, infection, and the residue from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. "It is alarming when you see so many different die-offs of marine mammals going on at once," said Erin Fougeres, a marine mammal biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries service, which is tracking and investigating the deaths. "We can't say they are linked. But it says there are a lot of challenges that marine mammals are facing." (Fougeres). In addition, more and more dolphins are going to unfortunately die because they spreading it through one another. Overall, dolphins are really suffering throughout the coat and this is only the beginning. (Alvarez). 


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/23/us/focus-on-oceans-health-as-dolphin-deaths-soar.html?ref=oceans

Beijing's Bad Air Would Be Step Up for Smoggy Delhi

By: Gardiner Harris


Very recently, Beijing has been having problems with the air. People are having urgent health issues because of this and the air is so polluted. (Harris). All of this madness has resulted in four major highways being closed for people's safety. Because people are having trouble breathing, people are determined to get face masks and purchasing air filters to help. Many studies have been done and it they have most recently have said that Beijing's air is the most polluted out of every city in the world. But, with these new studies, it has been discovered that New Delhi's air is even more dangerous and polluted. "Lately a very bad air day in Beijing is about an average one in New Delhi." (Harris 1). When Beijing were having these big issues in the beginning of January, "The United States Embassy in Beijing sent out warning, when a measure of harmful fine particulate matter known as PM 2.5 went above 500, in the upper reaches of the measurement scale, for the first time this year. This refers to particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, which is believed to pose the greatest health risk because it penetrates deeply into lungs." (Harris 1).

When looking at the graph below, you can see that New Delhi's average daily peak is twice as high, when compared to Beijing's. (Harris). New Delhi's number was 473, while Beijing's was only 227. That is a significant difference. In addition, new studies have shown that Indians have the weakest lungs. Furthermore, India has the highest death rates and these people are really paying for it because of the pollution in the air. After interviewing people in India, they have said that they are treated for asthma twice a day, but when they had moved out of India, their breathing has gotten progressively better. (Harris).

MICROGRAMS PER CUBIC METER

800

New Delhi

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

Beijing

0

Jan. 1

7

14

21

By The New York Times

Sources: Delhi Pollution Control Committee; U.S. Embassy in Beijing

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/world/asia/beijings-air-would-be-step-up-for-smoggy-delhi.html?ref=science