Transcript Climate Change Project

Climate Change Project
Jessica Jang + Khyla
Granstrom
Main Question: How are
humans using technology to
deal with climate change
concerns?
1) What are some ways in which
technology is being used to avert global
warming?
Energy efficiency technologies are capable of using
the same amount of energy we normally would, but
in reality, using less resources. Examples of these
types of energies are used to provide power, heat, and
cooling systems.
[image source]: http://doubledt.com/news/energy-efficienttechnologies-for-us-lighting-market.html
Researchers are also looking into creating low-carbon
technologies in order to bring down the emissions of
carbon, which is a cause of global warming, along
with methane and nitrous oxide.
[image source]:
http://www.iopblog.org/lowcarbon-technologiesquickfix-researchers/
Using less fossil fuels is always a good way to help
reduce the risk of global warming. By not adding any
coal-burning (mainly coal mostly consisting of
carbon) power plants, there will be less carbon
emitted into the atmosphere.
[image source]:
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681901/justbecause-we-have-fossil-fuels-doesnt-mean-wecan-burn-them
Reusing sources of energy such as solar power, wind
power, and others is also a good way to help reduce
the amount of pollution in the air. Renewable sources
of energy is an effective technology to help prevent
this.
[image source]: http://www.michellehenry.fr/energy.htm
[image source]: http://george-scott.net/
[image source]:
http://evauthority.com/forecasting-lowcarbon-emission-vehicles/
As for vehicles and
methods of
transportation, by using
low-carbon fuels, that
can be a good way to
help reduce the
emission of carbon into
our atmosphere. Also
by relying less on
methods of
transportation to go
places and using less of
this energy, that could
also contribute to help
solving the problem of
releasing carbon into
the atmosphere.
2) Describe some high-tech solutions
that have been suggested to deal with
the effects of climate change.
Large vertical pumps
were to be used to
transfer cold ocean water
from the deep to the
surface. Drawn up by
Chris Rapley and James
Lovelock, the scheme is
based on the hypothesis
that colder water absorbs
more carbon dioxide.
[image source]:
http://i2.wp.com/davidbrin.files.wordpress.com/201
3/06/ocean-pipes-1.jpg?resize=300%2C300
American physicist, Lowell Wood, believes in
launching giant mirrors into orbit to block out
sunlight. The mirrors would not completely block it
out, but would filter harmful infrared radiation.
[image source]: http://www.livescience.com/22202-spacemirrors-global-warming.html
Paul Crutzen proposed using sulphur rockets to
create clouds to block out the sun. The idea is based
on evidence that volcanic explosions accompanied by
massive clouds of sulphur helped cool the Earth's
temperature by 0.6C.
[image source]:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/6369971.stm
3) What are some simple technologies or
low-tech solutions that could minimize
the effect of human activities on the
environment?
[image source]:
http://www.gatewaygreen.org/white-roofs-a-newsustainable-direction-for-cities/
[image source]:
http://charlesandhudson.com/white_roofs_can_r
educe_energy_costs/
One of many solutions
is by painting roofs
white, the sunlight
could better reflect off of
them instead of having
it being absorbed, thus
sending away some of
the carbon dioxide
emissions out of our
atmosphere. Though we
would need several
white roofs to actually
have a noticeable effect
on this climate change,
it is one of many lowtech solutions that we
as humans can do.
Of course, another solution is to plant more trees.
Deforestation is a big cause to greenhouse gases
being emitted, and by planting more trees and
cutting down less, this could help further solve the
problem and help reduce the risk of any negative
climate change.
[image source]:
http://www.howtoprevent.com/en
viroment/how-to-preventdeforestation/
[image source]:
http://www.cardiffmiller.com/press/press_restric
ted.html
[image source]:
http://commons.bcit.ca/update/2011/06/bcitreduces-electricity-use-by-9-7/
Another solution is our
use of electricity. By
using less electricity,
greenhouse gas
emission can be further
prevented. By simply
unplugging devices
when they are not in
use could make a really
big difference in the
amount of greenhouse
gases being emitted
and released into the
atmosphere.
Our Opinion:
It is evident that climate change is becoming more of
an issue than it was before, and that is all the more
reason for more people to be taking action in
preventing these negative changes. Even by changing
how we live in the simplest ways possible (ie:
unplugging devices when they’re not in use, using
low-carbon fuel, etc.), it can make a bigger difference
if more people contribute.
[image source]: https://climatechange.mit.edu/resources
[image source]:
http://www.jesusjazzbuddhism.org/processphilosophy-and-global-climate-change.html
Lower-tech solutions can
be easy, though it would
be more effective if more
people had a better
understand as to what is
going on with Earth’s
climate. If we start to
make changes in our
lifestyles to help improve
our environment and
climate now, we could be
setting an example for
future generations. We
could be nearing a society
in which we have less
environmental issues
than we have right now.
Info Sources:
http://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-solutions/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/six-low-tech-solutions-climatechange
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/10-solutions-for-climate-change/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/3309657/High-techsolutions-for-climate-change.html