...Continental Drift A German geologist and meteorologist named Alfred Wegener introduced a theory in 1915 that the Earth’s crust is slowly drifting using fossil records as his supporting evidence. Wegeners idea was Earth was one big continent 200 million years ago, he called it Pangaea, which means “All earth”. Albert Wegener published a book about this theory in 1915 called, On the Origin of Continents and Oceans. An Austrian geologist named Eduard Seuss was the first to find that there had once been a land bridge that connecting South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica, he named the large piece of land Gondwanaland, the southern part of the huge continent Pangaea after it broke up during the Jurassic period. Seuss’s theory is supported by the fossil plants that are found throughout India, South America, southern Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. Fossils of the first marine reptiles known as Mesosaurus that are even older than dinosaurs were found in South America and South Africa. With the discovery of the fossil in two different locations across water and the study of sedimentation and fossil plant in these southern continents led a South African scientist named Alexander duToit to supporting the idea that at one point all of the continents were once together and have drifted apart like Albert Wegener theorized. In 1960, a theory was made explaining the movement of the Earth’s plates and explains the causes of volcanoes, oceanic trenches, mountain...
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...Introduction Australia has uncertain rainfall and most parts of it have droughts, and has increasing population in large cities in recent years (Legislative Council Secretariat 2015). These conditions pose a threat to water supply. In addition, it is more and more limited and improper to build water pipes to draw water from dams and reservoirs. Due to these facts, seawater desalination plants have been constructed to ensure the water supply in Australia’s large population urban centers. Seawater desalination mainly uses membrane process to desalinate seawater rather than thermal process, because reverse-osmosis (RO) in membrane process consumes less energy, and in the RO desalination, seawater is divided into two streams: one with very high dissolved salts and the other one with less salts (Gary Crisp, E.A. (Bob) Swinton and Neil Palmer* 2010). However, seawater desalination has its drawbacks: energy intensive, generation of greenhouse gases, impacts of desalination discharge on marine environment and its high operating costs. These issues are associated with Australia’s environment and economy (Reza Dashtpour and Sarim N. Al-Zubaidy 2012), therefore it is necessary to cope with these problems with the development and improvement of the membrane process technology. This essay will introduce RO seawater desalination, discuss both advantages and disadvantages, some environmental issues and give policies about how government should regulate seawater desalination plant in Australia. Seawater...
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...changes were due to receiving more or less sunlight from the shifts in the Earth’s orbit. However, scientists have found that over the past century another source has influenced the change of Earth’s temperature: mankind. Scientists from NASA’s Earth Observatory suggests that these significant changes are primarily due to the release of greenhouse gases as people burn fossil fuels, given the fact that the rate of temperature increase nearly doubled in the last 50 years (GlobalWarming, 2014, para. 3). Greenhouse gases allow sunlight to shine into the atmosphere freely. When the sunlight strikes the Earth’s surface, some of it reflects back to space as heat. The greenhouse gases absorbs this heat and traps it in the atmosphere keeping the Earth at a suitable temperature for humans to live in. There are various amounts of greenhouse gases but carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane and nitrous oxide seem to be more dominant (Hunt, 2011, online). However, when too much of the gas is released then too much of the heat gets trapped within the atmosphere. This leads to a warmer planet. Scientists have studied and proven how having a warmer planet leads to drastic climate changes which then leads to changes in weather. ______________________________________________________________________________ There are reasons why the public should be concerned with the drastic climate changes occurring around the world. Climate change is very similar to global...
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...The following report discusses the issues that could occur through the use of renewable energy sources. The impact of energy sources on global warming and climate change is escalating, this creates the debate whether to use renewable energy or not. However, these alternatives come at a cost. In a world that is rapidly industrialising and technologically developing, energy resources will only be more in demand. By the year 2010, 93% of global energy was generated through non-renewable energy sources such as, oil, gas, coal and nuclear power (Bose, 2010). The world’s population uses up an extensive amount of energy each year, causing several environmental, social and economic complications to the world. These sources seem favourable, they still involve several challenges. Renewable resources can change the economy of a country and it does change the pollution around the world. This reports observes the causes of the need of renewable energy, the effects that they have and the recommendations to overcome these issues, Fossil fuels are commonly known to produce gases that cause air pollution and accelerate the global warming effect. Considering these factors, countless nations around the world understand the importance of sustainable energy sources. 1. Fossil fuels are finite. All fossil fuels at some point are going to be completely exhausted or they are going to become too expensive to realistically use. According to Bose (2010), coal is predicted to last only for another...
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...Measuring food by the mile How much of your dinner tonight will have been grown locally? And how much will have travelled several hundred miles - even several thousand miles - to reach your table? Measuring food miles is a complex task but, reports Tim Lobstein, the results make disturbing reading. Living Earth and The Food Magazine An analysis of the materials needed to produce our food can be startling. Ten litres of orange juice needs a litre of diesel fuel for processing and transport, and 220 litres of water for irrigaton and washing the fruit. The water may be a renewable resource, but the fuel is not only irreplaceable but is a pollutant, too. The problem is that fossil fuels, such as petrol and diesel are remarkably cheap. The price of the fuel itself does not reflect the cost of providing the roads on which the vehicles travel. Nor does it reflect the cost of the environmental damage that burning fossil fuel creates. Nor the cost of developing alternatives when the oil wells run dry. All these costs will have to be paid for sooner or later, but they are not added to the price of the food. If they were we might think very differently about whether we wanted to pay the true price for fresh lettuces from California, strawberries from Israel, and flowers from Kenya. Food Miles Madness The real cost of food miles madness are seldom reflected in the price of food,' says SAFE Alliance co-ordinator Hugh Raven, 'It costs in terms of diverting land...
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...Chemistry Research Assignment Part A – The Production of Materials: 1. Use available evidence to gather and present data from secondary sources and analyse progress in the recent development and use of a named biopolymer. This analysis should name the specific enzyme(s) used or organism used to synthesise the material and an evaluation of the use or potential use of the polymer produced related to its properties. a) Name a biopolymer (eg. Biopol) outlining how it’s produced. Biopol: Made in the 1960s In an American company. This biopolymer is a PHA and is produced industrially by growing it in tanks with bacteria such as Alcaligenes eutrophus along with a carbon based food source. It is then isolated from the tank to be purified by various methods such as dissolving the PHB in trichloromethane and then removing all its waste to create Biopol. b) Construct a table, relating its uses/possible uses to its properties. Uses Properties related Act as a carrier for slowly releasing insecticides and herbicides and fertilizers Biodegradable – able to break down in the natural environment Use as containers for plastics as well as shampoo containers and cosmetics insoluble in water and relatively high tensile strength Medical applications Biocompatibility and biodegradable Non toxic c) Evaluate the importance of this biopolymer now and its potential for use in the future based on part b. Biopol is quite an important biopolymer as a future resource because firstly, there...
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...to a place without beauty such as the Great Barrier Reef. In this essay I will prove that through cooperation and drive the people can change Australia’s climate back to the way it used to be. To stay away from the tragedy that is approaching we need to act now with three pro-active measures. By using less energy, finding new ways of transportation, and changing the ways of agriculture Australia is capable of climate change. The greenhouse effect is heating up the earth when burning fossil fuels (Bender et al. 13-14). Most societies depend on electricity. Using electricity more efficiently will lead to reducing the electricity needed made by coal and will help slim down the greenhouse effect (ABC Science). The greenhouse effect is when carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has accumulated and absorbs the radiation that comes to earth leading to higher temperatures around the world (Silver and DeFries 13-14). There are many important ways to reduce how much energy we use. One way is to turn off lights when they are not in need. Another way is to turn off appliances like televisions when we do not use them and to do simple things like taking a shower instead of a bath. “The science is clear: even if global emissions are cut rapidly from today, the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen until at least 2030 and these impacts will be borne most heavily by the world’s poorest countries.” (Hewett). Luster 2 Transportation is another thing that we need in order to thrive. “The...
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...choose from. Wind turbines are one of alternatives (Linzmeier, 2009). Now the question that comes to mind is, is wind energy green? Wind turbines produce cleaner energy & bring no hazardous effects to the atmosphere by giving any pollutant emissions; however, it does come with casualties. As the U.S. energy industry inches away from dependence on fossil fuels, experts have announced various greener technologies, such as ethanol, solar and geothermal power, as choice alternatives. And while each of those options holds recognizable environmental gains over oil and coal, none compare to wind power’s squeaky clean performance (Conger, 2010). Mark Jacobson an engineer at Stanford University states that after compiling evidence of major energy technologies and environmental impact, wind comes out on top. Jacobson and associates from University of California drafted a blueprint for switching 100 percent of the world’s energy to renewable sources. Wind energy was in the forefront due to its minimal carbon footprint compared to energy output. Importantly, wind power will evade the environmentally harmful and unhealthy emissions resulting from those fossil fuel replacements. And the use of wind power will decrease the import of oil and natural gas consequently easing a national security concern and national trade...
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...electricity-related emissions from more than 300,000 homes CCS technology would also significantly reduce emissions from other industrial processes such as gas operations and cement facilities (EPA, 20xx). The world has lost 50 to 70 percent of its original carbon stock. This translates into a huge amount of soil carbon released into the atmosphere. Not long ago, in the 19th century, the US was home to vast tracts of prairie grass with rich, fertile soils. Today only three percent of those prairies are in existence. Current studies on carbon sinks center on soil carbon, how it escaped from the earth and how this process can be reversed. To take the research further, investigators are interested in how this knowledge can be used to slow rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is a known cause global warming. There is hope that carbon can be placed back into the soil in places like the North China Plain, the interior of Australia and the North American prairie (Schwartz, 2014). Without important microbes and carbon, soil can deteriorate into dirt and this process of soil turning into dirt is happening worldwide. Certain agricultural processes can revive the carbon content while reducing atmospheric CO2. These same processes can protect delicate ecosystems from floods and drought while increasing soil productivity. Agroforestry...
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..................................................................................................... 5 C. 2000s Energy Crisis................................................................................................................................... 7 II. III. IV. V. PRESENT COMPETITIVENESS OF BIOETHANOL ............................................................................................ 7 OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUELS ..................................................................................................................... 11 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 12 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................... 13 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Historical inflation adjusted oil price per barrel, (Brent equivalent in 2011$), based on amounts shown in BP’s 2012 Statistical Review of World Energy (taken from High-Priced Fuel Syndrome 2012) ....................................................................................................................... 4 Supply and Demand Curve before the 1973 oil...
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...Framework shows that the financial reporting is present relevant and reliable information. Some experts considered that the insufficient information on financial reporting impact on social reality. Thus, the Sustainability reporting occurs to fix up the fanatical reporting gaps. Introduction Financial reporting is both a reflection and creator of our perception of social reality and consistently evolving. Currently, accounting system is not only focus on the data of how much company earns, it also shift towards to social responsibility. As the dramatic of pollutions, especially that of the developing nations is extremely harmful not only to the surrounding environment, but also to the inhabitants of that country as well. Thus, financial reporting take concern on such problems and create out Sustainability reporting which help to reduce the pollutions. This essay is to discuss the both reflection and creator of financial reporting in reality social and the impact on sustainability in business. It will focus on how the carbon tax will help to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. First, to introduce the background of financial reporting; and then what is carbon tax and affect to society; the last the essay will explain the impact on Delta Electricity which is the particular company is influenced by carbon tax....
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...Technologies for Alternative Energy Climate Change Working Paper No. 7 Ainsley Jolley Climate Change Project Working Paper Series March 2006 Centre for Strategic Economic Studies Victoria University PO Box 14428 Melbourne VIC 8001 AUSTRALIA Telephone +613 9919 1340 Fax +613 9919 1350 Email: csesinfo@vu.edu.au Website: http://www.cfses.com Technologies for Alternative Energy 1. Introduction In Papers 5 and 6 technologies for the main sources of energy consumption were discussed. In Papers 7 and 8 the attention is focussed on technologies that impact on emissions from energy production. Table 1 provides data on the main sources of GHG emissions in the advanced economies for the year 2000. Table 1. Sources of GHG Emissions in the Advanced Economies, 2000 Source of emissions Electricity and heat production Petroleum refining Other energy production (coal and gas transformation) Fugitive emissions (coal, oil and gas) Total energy production All sources of emissions Note: (a) energy production as % of all sources of emissions. Source: CSES (2004). Tg CO2 -e 3831.2 420.7 324.6 441.5 5018.1 13175.3 % of total 76.3 8.4 6.5 8.8 38.1 (a) Papers 7 and 8 focus on emissions from the production of electricity and heat, which represent 76.3% of all emissions related to energy production. The other sources of emissions are not discussed in detail in this report. Coverage of the issues relating to these sources of emissions is given in CSES (2004). Incremental technological...
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... Global warming is not just a scientific concern but also encompasses economies, geopolitics and individual lifestyle. Several policies have been issued throughout the world, with the motive of conserving our nature, and helping reduce its effect on our planet. Other than that, there are also several ways which every individual can follow, which in turn will contribute to fight its cause in one way or the other. Global warming is not just man made but is also a natural cause. There are definitely several man made causes, such as the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants. Most of the power plants are operated by burning fossils, and with the growing technology and new gadgets, we are dependent on using electricity for almost everything. Also, nowadays almost everyone have their own car, and to meet the demands, more and more cars made and used every day with the help of burning fossil fuel. When the gasoline is burnt in the atmosphere, it releases carbon dioxide, which is another cause of global warming. Deforestation, using the forest wood and resources for consumption of humans is leading to global warming, as it is releasing a large amount of carbon dioxide and is also reducing the amount of carbon capture on the planet (Markham, 2009). Nitrous oxide is also a leading greenhouse gas which is affecting the nature deeply. Chemical fertilizers, which contain...
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...unbiased paper, we will not take the Apocalypse theory into account for the fact that there are concrete facts or evidence. Regardless of why we believe something is wrong or changing, it is undeniably fact that the world is changing on many levels. The purpose of this paper is explore and attempt to find the reasons why this is happening, and what we, as mankind, can do to be prepared, and to attempt to mitigate any effect we may have on the acceleration of these changes Pollution and human consumption of fossil fuels, trees and other natural resources have been the scapegoat for “global warming” for several years now. How is it that, specifically, carbon emissions from vehicles allegedly has caused or sped the rate of global warming? Carbon emissions have been in existence since fossil fueled engines have been around, which is roughly between 150 and 200 years at this point. How could something happening in such a very short part of a climate cycle possibly have an effect on how rapidly or slowly the cycle may be changing? 3 “...a sign of global warming -- which most readers presumably took to mean "anthropogenic," or human-caused, global warming. But is that the...
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...An analysis of two of the main environmental impacts of global warming and an evaluation of two recent solutions to this problem. Contents page Introduction- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Causes of global warming- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 Environment impacts- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 Increasing cyclones and flood risks- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 Changing marine biodiversity- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -6 Other impacts- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -10 Latest solutions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -10 CO2 absorption- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 Renewable energies- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11 Other solutions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -12 Evaluate the two latest solutions- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13 Summary- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -13 Reference list- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15 Introduction Global warming has become one of the most challenging problems in the world today. This is the observed...
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