http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/world/europe/greenpeace-activists-climb-russian-oil-rig-in-arctic-ocean.html
This article published on August 24th, 2012 details a recent even in which a group of Russian environmental activists climbed an oil-drilling platform, using ropes to support themselves as they displayed a banner reading "Save the Arctic." In order to make them leave, russian workers sprayed cold water on the activists, so they left after 15 hours instead of staying their planned several days. The drilling platform is owned by energy company Gazprom, who claimed they invited the protestors aboard for "a constructive dialogue." Due to warming of the north, companies including Gazprom, Exxon Mobil and Shell are all able to access new areas of the arctic ocean for offshore drilling that used to be icebound. The goal of the activists was to disrupt petroleum drilling in the arctic this summer, as well as to bring attention on oil companies for not having a plan for cleaning up an oil-spill, said to be worse than the BP one in the Gulf of MX in 2010. No punishment has happened yet, but russian law reprimands activists.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Article #4 Global Warming Makes Heat Waves More Likely, Study Finds By JUSTIN GILLIS
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/science/earth/global-warming-makes-heat-waves-more-likely-study-finds.html
This article, published July 10th, 2012 by Justin Gillis explains a study that shows global warming increasing the probability of heat waves. This study, taking only 6 months to be published, is part of the striving for information on human influence on the earth's recent climate problems. The study concludes that the new extremes across the globe prove that the earth is warming as a whole. Some changes include melting sea ice, rising sea levels, fires, floods and storms. Specifically, the warming of the planet increased the likelyhood of droughts in Texas by twenty times compared to the 1960s. However, due to the fact that this study was published with only 6 months of research leads experts to say it isn't exactly reliable, and that rainfall deficits may be unrelated to global warming.
This article, published July 10th, 2012 by Justin Gillis explains a study that shows global warming increasing the probability of heat waves. This study, taking only 6 months to be published, is part of the striving for information on human influence on the earth's recent climate problems. The study concludes that the new extremes across the globe prove that the earth is warming as a whole. Some changes include melting sea ice, rising sea levels, fires, floods and storms. Specifically, the warming of the planet increased the likelyhood of droughts in Texas by twenty times compared to the 1960s. However, due to the fact that this study was published with only 6 months of research leads experts to say it isn't exactly reliable, and that rainfall deficits may be unrelated to global warming.
Article #3 We Could Be Heroes By MARK BITTMAN
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/we-could-be-heroes/
This article from May 15th, 2012 discusses how eating less meat leads to less green house gases, thus, helping slow global warming. In 2007, it was said that raising animals was the cause of 18% of all green house gases. In 2009, an article was published saying that number is actually closer to 51%. Bittman argues that we need to eat less meat in addition to looking at new forms of energy, and that people don't take this seriously enough. The shrinking amount of clean water as well as land on earth is largely impacted by livestock production. Bittman wants people to be aware that while this is a huge problem, it's one that is easier to fix than most huge problems. Eat less meat, and it will give some relief to our resources diminishing every second.
This article from May 15th, 2012 discusses how eating less meat leads to less green house gases, thus, helping slow global warming. In 2007, it was said that raising animals was the cause of 18% of all green house gases. In 2009, an article was published saying that number is actually closer to 51%. Bittman argues that we need to eat less meat in addition to looking at new forms of energy, and that people don't take this seriously enough. The shrinking amount of clean water as well as land on earth is largely impacted by livestock production. Bittman wants people to be aware that while this is a huge problem, it's one that is easier to fix than most huge problems. Eat less meat, and it will give some relief to our resources diminishing every second.
Article #2 Saving the Prairie, and Planting Some New Ones by HOLLIE O’CONNOR
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/us/saving-college-park-prairie-and-planting-new-ones.html?ref=texas
This new york times artical published on August 18th, 2012 discusses the shrinking coastal prairie lands and how Jaime Gonzalez, the community edu director at the Katy Prarie Conservancy wants to preserve it. His idea was "pocket prairies" which are little or big parts of land in houston on which people grow native Houston plants, and provide homes for native animals like butterflies and birds. The droughts we experienced last summer led people to look for landscaping that didn't need to be watered much, and this fit the bill. There are some arguments against pocket prairies, saying that the grasses allow for snakes, or for criminals to hide bodies of victims, but these concerns are more like myths, say the supporters of prairies. Pocket prairies are made possible by seed banks, but a major seed bank, College Park Prairie, may soon be bulldozed for housing.
This new york times artical published on August 18th, 2012 discusses the shrinking coastal prairie lands and how Jaime Gonzalez, the community edu director at the Katy Prarie Conservancy wants to preserve it. His idea was "pocket prairies" which are little or big parts of land in houston on which people grow native Houston plants, and provide homes for native animals like butterflies and birds. The droughts we experienced last summer led people to look for landscaping that didn't need to be watered much, and this fit the bill. There are some arguments against pocket prairies, saying that the grasses allow for snakes, or for criminals to hide bodies of victims, but these concerns are more like myths, say the supporters of prairies. Pocket prairies are made possible by seed banks, but a major seed bank, College Park Prairie, may soon be bulldozed for housing.
Article #1: Heat, still air cause spike in smog By Matthew Tresaugue
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Heat-still-air-cause-spike-in-smog-3668343.php
This article on chron.com published on June 28th 2012 discusses that Houston produced it's worst air quality day in 9 years on the week of the post. The intense heat coupled with the lack of air circulation led to perfect conditions for extremely dangerous smog levels. Houston has long struggled with air quality, and this day proved that much still has to change before Houston is healthy to breathe every day. The smog inflames respiratory illnesses, even to the point of some people being hospitalized. Doctors do expect to see more patients, but there needs to be bad air for consecutive days in order for it to become a very serious problem.
Animals in my yard
In addition to plant life, my backyard is also home to a variety of animals.
It's hard to capture some of the wild life with my camera but i got lucky! i got some really cool pictures of a bee pollinating our basil:
It's hard to capture some of the wild life with my camera but i got lucky! i got some really cool pictures of a bee pollinating our basil:
The third picture is so cool. It was almost hypnotized by the rhythmical way the bee went from flower to flower pollinating each. Fun to see.
This is one of our 2 hummingbird feeders. Impossible to catch one on camera but i assure you, we have a lot of hummingbird visitors each day. They're very territorial so it's entertaining to see them duke it out for a sip of nectar
Bird house where cardinal babies were hatched this past spring
evidence of birds in our yard
See if you can find the lizards and geckos in these pictures. It's like Where's Waldo, except in real life....and with lizards....not a guy in a striped shirt. It's tough to spot lizards in my yard but they are EVERYWHERE. they sun bathe all day long so as soon as you go outside you see them sprint out of view
- This relates to environmental science because it's an example of human's and wild life coexisting, even in a mutually beneficial symbiotic way. We need to coexist because sharing the outdoors isn't exactly a choice :)
Taking care of my backyard!
My father has always had a green thumb that amazes the people who know him well. Whenever a neighbor has a plant they think is permanently deceased (the horror!) they promptly bring it over for my dad to see what he can do. Often, he brings plants back to a healthy and pretty state. I'm not quite sure how he does it -- he just has a knack for nursing plants to optimal health.
His chief way of relaxing, other than listening to old records in his office, is planting plants and nurturing them. Being his main hobby, our backyard is a sight to behold. All of my friends think it's cool. We have a great range of diversity in our plant life in our backyard. Part of what enables us to host such an eccentric family of plants is houston's weather, and the range of shade and sun we have in our back yard. Plants have optimum conditions for them to be happiest in. When you buy a plant at Home Depot or Tall Plants, they most likely will come with a little info card with a picture of the plant in bloom, and a list of how to care for it best. Typically it'll say what type of lighting and moisture are best.
Here are some pictures I took during summer of our variety of plant life:
His chief way of relaxing, other than listening to old records in his office, is planting plants and nurturing them. Being his main hobby, our backyard is a sight to behold. All of my friends think it's cool. We have a great range of diversity in our plant life in our backyard. Part of what enables us to host such an eccentric family of plants is houston's weather, and the range of shade and sun we have in our back yard. Plants have optimum conditions for them to be happiest in. When you buy a plant at Home Depot or Tall Plants, they most likely will come with a little info card with a picture of the plant in bloom, and a list of how to care for it best. Typically it'll say what type of lighting and moisture are best.
Here are some pictures I took during summer of our variety of plant life:
These are some succulents we have potted. They have thicker, fleshier leaves and a waxy feeling outer membrane. Also we have different cacti around our yard and in our house. My mom loves dry climates so having succulents and cacti (plants that can survive drought due to how much water they store) is fun for her.
We grow many types of herbs in our garden that my mom uses for cooking. These two pictures are of basil. We have 3 types of basil in our back yard. We also grow rosemary and thyme.
This trellis is over our back door to the garage, and those are the flowers it grows close up.
These are a berry we grow called the Beauty Berry. We have blue jays in our yard eating them. I think they sort of look like clusters of purple pearls up close. Very pretty.
When you care for your garden and pay close attention to what grows in your yard you will begin to notice a lot of host plants that seemingly come out of nowhere. This little plant (not sure what it's called) usually grows on really damp soil around water, but it found a home around our sprinkler head, where it found the soil conditions that it thrives in. after huge downpours our front lawn is usually covered in creepy mushrooms.
Last picture for this post! This is my favorite flower we grow. The color is so brilliant.
Basically, a lot of my summer days were spent lounging by the pool in our yard, tending to the various plants with my dad. It just feels awesome to plant something and watch it grow.
- this relates to environmental science because i'm learning about how unique plants are, and learning about the immense diversity we have in vegetation. Also learning how to take care of plants teaches me about being careful and observant.
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