Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Final Thoughts

In conclusion to this investigation, these points have been made supporting our theory on why carbon dioxide is building up in our atmosphere.

1) The industrial revolution began in 1760, as the threat of global warming only began in the last 100 years. The times for each do not match up, as deforestation on planet earth began immensely in the beginning of the 20th century, this matches the threat time of global warming.

2)Trees act as one of the few carbon sinks on planet earth, it is obvious that the elimination of this carbon sink is on the rise, the trend of carbon dioxide increase in our atmosphere is on the rise as well.

3)Humans do not emit near as much carbon dioxide as the earth itself. We are only responsible for 9 tons of carbon dioxide entering our atmosphere each year. So global warming cannot be caused by human pollution.

4)The study of Brazils amazon and the study of greenhouse emissions in Brazil do have a pattern, as Brazil has 48% of the worlds deforestation, the carbon dioxide in the air is also on the rise, therefore proving that the lack of carbon sinks in Brazil is affecting the atmosphere.

The connection is that humans, take down trees in our forests, for example, to make room for more housing because the human population is getting larger everyday. This removal of trees then eliminates carbon sinks, which gets rid of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere becuase of the process called photostnthesis. This process takes sunlight energy, water and carbon dioxide and turns it into oxygen and charbohydrates. This process makes trees, carbon sinks. Now that there is a lack of trees, carbon dioxide can buildup in our atmosphere. The carbon dioxide building up in our atmosphere comes from many things, but for example, humans drive their cars and release carbon dioxide right into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide then sits in the atmosphere, then sunlgith comes down to the earth as UV rays, some is reflected because of different albedo's on earth, and some is absorbed by the earth. The UV rays that are reflected into outer space as infared rays. When the infared rays hit our atmosphere they then collide with the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide absorbs the infared rays and then re-emits it in all directions. Some rays going to space and some coming back down to earth. This then causes the warming in the earth.

In conclusion, at the end of this investigation it is believed that the hypothesis posed at the beginning, "Deforestation is the main cause of global carbon dioxide increase". The points above prove this theory correct and also prove the theory of "consumption of fossil fuels result in atmosphere carbon dioxide increases".

Final video!

Heres the final video we have made. It gives the basics on deforestation, some facts about it, and why we think deforestation is the main cause of increasing carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG003_L5cHQ

Monday, April 12, 2010

Vocabulary Learned!

Deforestation- To cut down and clear away the trees or forests in an area.

Carbon Dioxide- a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas CO2, present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration, usually obtained from coal, coke, or natural gas by combustion, from carbohydrates by fermentation, by reaction of acid with limestone or other carbonates, or naturally from springs: used extensively in industry as dry ice, or carbon dioxide snow, in carbonated beverages, fire extinguishers, etc.

Tree- a plant having a permanently woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerable height, and usually developing branches at some distance from the ground.
Deciduous: shedding the leaves annually, as certain trees and shrubs.

Coniferous- Any of various mostly needle-leaved or scale-leaved, chiefly evergreen, cone-bearing gymnospermous trees or shrubs such as pines, spruces and firs.

Rainforest- a tropical forest, usually of tall, densely growing, broad-leaved evergreen trees in an area of high annual rainfall.

Gymnospermous- a plant such, as a cycad or conifer, whose seeds are not enclosed within an ovary.
Emission- an act where a substance of some sort is emitted. For example carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere

Biomass- The number of life living in a certain habitat, expressed as the volume of organisms per volume of habitat, or as the weight of organisms per unit area.
Swidden Agriculture- A specific area that is completely cleared for temporary planting and plowing (cultivation) and then burning the vegetation
Biotic/Biota- the animals, plants, fungi, etc., of a region or period, pertaining to life.
Photorespiration- the oxidation of carbohydrates in many higher plants in which they get oxygen from light and then release carbon dioxide, somewhat different from photosynthesis
 
Forest degradation- the act of degrading and forest. Also can be natural effect as land can wear down due to weather, sort of like erosion.
 

Summary

Humans have impacted the environment in so many ways over the last 100 years. As green house gases have increase in the world we have no come to believe that the world is getting warmer, global warming. A green house gas frequently discussed is carbon dioxide. Trees act as carbon sinks. A carbon sink is something that absorbs carbon dioxide out of the air. An example of a carbon sink in Canada is the Boreal/Taiga forest. Environments in places such as Brazil are proof that the lack of carbon sinks, or trees in general is greatly effecting the endearment of the world. Brazil has lost over 600,000 km of trees and statistics show that the carbon dioxide emissions in the air is rising. Deforestation in the tropics accounts for nearly 20% of the total greenhouse emissions because of human activities. Some specific scientists from science daily that support this theory are Raymond E. Gullison, Peter C. Frumhoff, Josep G. Canadell, Christopher B. Field, Daniel C. Nepstad, Katharine Hayhoe, Roni Avissar, Lisa M. Curran, Pierre Friedlingstein, Chris D. Jones, and Carlos Nobre. The UN has also headed on board to discussing deforestation in a new global warming treaty. Though consumption of fossil fuels seems to be a reason for the world to have the greenhouse effect, the global warming did not start appearing until about the 20th century, but the Industrial Revolution began in 1760, a decade or so before. True deforestation did not commence until the early 20th century. Seeing the relationship? So, at the end of this investigation it is still believed that deforestation is the main cause of global carbon dioxide increases. Another fact to prove this is 186 billion tons of carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere every year, only 6 billion are from human activity. The other 180 billion tons is from ocean activity, and biologic activity on human earth. The earth itself is releasing more carbon than humans every year, so why are humans noticing global warming now? It is believed because the carbon sinks of the world are being destroyed everyday, therefore leaving carbon in the atmosphere. By observing patterns in Brazil, a not so industrialized country, the conclusion can also be drawn that deofrestation is causing carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere to rise.

In conclusion, it is still believed that deforestation is the main reason carbon dioxide levels are on the rise.

Another New Video!

Heres another new video! All about Brazil and the deforestation occuring there. A real eye opener, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m15dxMOCTTU

New Video!

Heres a new video on carbon dioxide! Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78cS6GWkF2Y

Sunday, April 11, 2010