By Charles Kirby General Information About Sea TurtlesSea turtles are air-breathing reptiles that are native to tropical and subtropical seas across the globe. They have excellent senses of smell, internal eardrums that are best at hearing low frequencies, modified beaks perfect for their omnivorous diet, good underwater vision, and large flippers that can propel their streamline bodies through water at up to 20 miles per hour. There are many different species of sea turtle, ranging in size, color and build. The five kinds that are indiginous to the United States Coast are: the leatherback turtle (large/black), the loggerhead turtle (medium/green), the green turtle (medium/green), the hawksbill (small/brown), and the olive ridley turtle (small/white). Sea turtles grow slowly, taking between 15 to 50 years to sexually mature. Males sea turtles rarely return to land after they are born, but female sea turtles return to shore every two years or so to nest. After the female digs a hole in the sand, she typically lays around 110 eggs which will hatch about two months later. The sexes of these baby turtles are dictated by the temperature of the sand around them--if it is colder most of the hatchlings become males and if it is warmer most of the hatchlings become females. Unfortunately, most of the newborn sea turtles never actually make it to the water, because they are picked off by birds and other predators. One intriguing fact is that most sea turtles lay their eggs at the exact beach where they were born. Scientists have struggled to explain this phenomenon, but some believe that sea turtles are able to sense the earth’s magnetic fields and use that as a sort of GPS. *Lilly, a Loggerhead at The Sea Turtle Center in Marathon, Florida. Her favorite snack is squid! So, what is the problem?Over the past two centuries, the population of these ancient mariners has been under threat from humans. Although it is less common today, sea turtles were often slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin and shells. During the late 1800s, turtle meat was sought as an exotic delicacy in many high-end restaurants throughout Europe and the United States. Entering the 1900s, as entrees like turtle-soup became more mainstream, Key West, Florida established itself as the leading center for turtle meat canning. One of the largest operations in Key West, the Turtle Kraals and Soup Cannery, only just closed in 1971. During current times, the turtle population faces much different challenges than it did during past centuries, like: habitat destruction, accidental capture (bycatch), and global warming. The virgin waters that sea turtles once inhabited are now full of litter. Many sea turtles die each day from being tangled in or digesting plastic littering. This habitat destruction is not only limited to the seas. As discussed before, female turtles often return to the same beach where they were born to lay their eggs. However, in recent years, many turtles have been returning to coastal areas that were available as nurseries decades before when they were born, but are now developed areas that are not suitable for nesting. Some organizations have tried to solve this problem by transplanting unhatched eggs from hazardous areas to safer, more secluded beaches. In addition, one of the greatest threats to sea turtles is accidental capture in fishing gear. Many of the warm-watered areas that sea turtles populate have large commercial fishing industries because of the rich variety of marine life. Trawls, or large nets that boats tow through the water to catch fish, are one of the gravest hazards for sea turtles and other marine creatures; it is estimated that trawls catch 20 pounds of bycatch for every pound of target species. One other, longer term threat to sea turtles is global warming. As stated above, a sea turtle’s sex is determined partially by its temperature when it is incubating. If global temperatures continue to increase as they have during the past few decades, then the sea turtle population may come to consist of mostly females. Since female turtles require a mate to fertilize their eggs, this sex-disproportionality could be devastating for the species. *An image of me after touring The Sea Turtle Hospital's Sea Turtle Center in Marathon, Florida. It was awesome! What can you do to help?
Sources:
https://www.conserveturtles.org/information-about-sea-turtles-an-introduction/ https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sea-turtle https://www.24northhotel.com/blog/turtle-cannery-kraals-key-west/ https://www.seeturtles.org/fisheries-bycatch
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By Ansh Motiani Following our success in the COVID-19 Data Challenge, my team and I wanted to create a data science project of our own. Most of my previous work had been in the environmental and sustainability space, so I decided to stick with my passion. After two weeks of brainstorming and determining the viability of each of our ideas, we settled on a project that really encapsulated our passions, ideals, and mission: water quality of Native American communities in California. It hit the things we wanted to address: environmental issues and social injustices. It gave us the chance to really give a voice to a suppressed population using our unique talents and skills.
In my research, I had read an article about the situation of Native Americans in California, and their water quality issue caught my eye. I thought California’s water quality was bad in general, but learning that Native Americans in the state are at a 30% higher chance of a water quality violation really opened my eyes. I brought it up with my partner, and we set out to find resources that would help with our data-storytelling. Our project revolved around EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Reports for Native American and Non-native areas. This outlined water quality violations for each location and provided insightful data that we used to create our interactive map and visualizations. We utilized web-scraping and their API to get access to the information we needed. With our interactive tool, we hoped to raise awareness for the major water quality issues present in Native American communities. The ability to compare Native American water quality with nearby non-native communities (with our relative ranking function) highlighted the growing divide in access to clean water. Even when they are in the same geographical areas, Native American communities often have poorer water quality than Non-native communities. We wanted to bring this often overlooked issue to the fore. To do so, we used Python and its many data-oriented libraries such as Pandas, Numpy, and Plotly. My friend was really good at solving problems and writing functions, and I was skilled at data work and visualization. We combined our skills and pushed on! Being high school students, one of the biggest problems was finding time to work on this project. In between all the tests and quizzes, we pulled all-nighters to turn our idea into a reality, and it was definitely worth it. Along with that, we also lacked major experience in the field of Data Science. While we had taken courses and done research internships focused on Data Science, we had never gone out and done a project on our own, without any guidance from mentors or teachers. It was both a blessing and a curse: we learned to become independent and picked up skills that will last a lifetime, but also went through hours and hours of Stack Overflow and hectic Google searches :). Almost everyone we talked to about our idea told us that we should try something simpler and that this idea was too ambitious, but I’m particularly proud of our team’s determination, communication, and work ethic that made it possible to prove them wrong. Whether it was me or my partner, Adi, working with the data or our friend Samhith working on the website, each one of us played a critical role to produce the final result. Lastly, a lot of crucial data was missing, so we had to manually input it. In situations where web-scraping wasn’t an option, we opened up the data sets ourselves and combed through each and every row to make sure we had as much quality data as possible. Our process involved a lot of tedious data cleaning and improvement, but it made for an amazing final result. We outlined and displayed all of the statistics and figures we could find in the data and included many interactive visualizations. To inspire and fuel actions to protect these disadvantaged Native American communities, we submitted our project to the California Water Data Challenge, where it is currently being looked at by judges from various fields and industries. We also plan to make our cleaned data sets available on our website so others can use this data to bring further insight into this topic. Link to website: https://purify-16131.web.app/ by Charles Kirby During recent years, in response to a population that is growing annually by 70 million, more pesticides are being used on crops to increase yield of produce and meet regional demands. A pesticide is a chemical compound used in the agricultural industry to destroy organisms that can be harmful to crops. Pesticides can be grouped into four major kinds based on the type of pests that they protect against: insecticides (insects), rodenticides (rats and mice), bactericides (bacteria), and fungicides (fungi). However, one must wonder, if these chemicals are meant to kill living things, how do they affect those who consume produce and how do they affect the environment?
When people ingest or come in contact with toxic pesticides there are both short-term and long-term side effects. Examples of acute (short term) health effects include stinging eyes, rashes, blisters, blindness, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and, in extreme cases, death. Those with asthma can have particularly severe reactions to carbamate pesticides. All of these temporary symptoms often mimic that of the common flu, causing pesticide-poisoning cases to rarely be reported and often misdiagnosed. Longer term exposure, like sourcing one’s water from a contaminated reservoir, leads to much more serious and permanent health problems. These include cancerous tumors, brain and nervous system damage, reproduction problems, and damage to the liver, kidneys and lungs. Furthermore, scientists have determined that pesticides contain endocrine disruptors, which are chemicals that wreak havoc on one’s body by mimicking and blocking hormones (the chemical messengers in blood that regulate important bodily functions). Pesticides have equally destructive effects on the environment. A field’s fertility can often be directly associated with its concentration of earthworms in the ground. By decomposing organic matter and aerating soil, earthworms help to improve nutrient levels and water drainage in an area. Excess use of pesticides poisons earthworms with carbamate and other toxic chemicals that can be lethal for them. One would think that farmers, who know that earthworms are a powerful and natural way to improve crop yield, would lessen the amounts of pesticides that they use in order to allow more worms to populate the soil, but that has not been the case in recent years. In addition, these pesticides can collect in runoff water reservoirs and be toxic for a host of other organisms, including birds, fish, beneficial insects and non-target plants. Overall, pesticides are detrimental to both our bodies and the world that we live in. You may be wondering what you can do as an economic consumer to help mitigate these problems. The biggest help is for people to try to purchase more organic produce, because organic foods are grown in the presence of natural FDA Organic pesticides that are less harmful to our bodies and to the environment. By Ben Yurovsky Leonardo DiCaprio. Oscar winner. A-list actor. His awards and accomplishments go on and on. However his most notable accolades are those that deal with the environment. Many people know Leonardo DiCaprio the actor, but very few know Leonardo DiCaprio the environmental activist. DiCaprio has gone above and beyond in terms of benefiting the environment including creating his own foundation. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation In 1998 DiCaprio set sail into new territory by establishing his own foundation in order to tackle the world’s most dangerous environmental issues. The organization stretches into all areas, from global warming all the way to wildlife conservation. The group has given out close to $100 million to various smaller organizations in an effort to make his message heard in all corners of the earth. DiCaprio has organized the goals of his group into six sections: Wildlands Conservation, Oceans Conservation, Climate Change, Indigenous Rights, Transforming California, and Innovative Solutions. Each of which is working hard everyday towards their goals. Due to DiCaprio’s worldwide influence he is able to become connected with many of the world's top organizations in a certain aspect of the environment. He also has a grant program set in place that gives smaller, growing foundations a chance to explode in growth. This is extremely generous of him as most of this donated money comes straight out of his pocket. The foundation also has a blog and newsletter so that people worldwide can read about and educate themselves about the environment and how Leonardo DiCaprio is trying to better it. Social Activism DiCaprio has also taken to the internet to share his beliefs on the environment and how it should be bettered. To begin, DiCaprio promotes and shares countless organizations on his various social media platforms. Not only do these organizations gain traction and grow their influence, but the millions of people that follow Leonardo on Instagram and Twitter learn about these organizations and thus take action to help the environment. He also goes to various events where he speaks about his environmental goals. Not only does he do live speaking, but he also makes films about our planet. His most notable is the documentary “Before the Flood”, which was one of the most watched documentaries ever. DiCaprio has also made notable investments into a plethora of vegan companies including Califia Farms and Beyond Meat, both of which have won awards for their efforts and influence. DiCaprio has launched a vegan clothing line in partnership with the various organizations he associates with. Lastly, DiCaprio partnered with the Amazon Watch organization in order to preserve and better the land of the Amazon tribe. Sources:
https://www.livekindly.co/how-leonardo-dicaprio-saving-planet/ https://www.leonardodicaprio.org/about/ Images: https://depositphotos.com/stock-photos/leonardo-dicaprio.html https://www.gettyimages.ie/photos/dicaprio-foundation?mediatype=photography&phrase=dicaprio%20foundation&sort=mostpopular https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/before-the-flood?family=editorial&phrase=before%20the%20flood&sort=mostpopular By Charles Kirby Overview The Earth is made up of three main layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core. Both heat and pressure of the ground generally increase with depth. The outer portions of the mantle are about 7000 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermal energy radiates from the mantle and heats the crust above it. There are massive amounts of energy within the earth, as is demonstrated by the geysers and hotsprings that are common in geologically active areas, like subduction zones between tectonic plates. Geothermal power solutions offer humans a way to harness earth’s energy in a sustainable and green way. Recreational Geothermal Energy Geothermal systems make up about only one percent of the private green energy market. At its peak, an estimated 40,000 units were installed in US homes per year. However, that is not to say that geothermal energy is not useful or ‘worth it’. Geothermal systems are up to five times more efficient at heating homes than gas or oil. Thus, especially for people living in a cooler climate like New England, where a lot of energy is spent heating one’s home during the winter, geothermal systems are especially valuable. There are two general ways that at-home geothermal structures are built: horizontally or vertically. Horizontal systems consist of long pipe loops that are about six feet underground. By getting beneath the permafrost layer, water can be run through these pipes even during the winter and still heat water to a temperature equivalent to an area's average annual temperature. That also means that during the summer months when the temperature is higher, a horizontal pipe system can also be used to cool down one’s house! Vertical systems are more expensive to build, because they stretch straight down up to 600 feet deep. These pipe structures are in much deeper areas where temperatures range between 130 degrees Fahrenheit and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. As water cycles through either loop, it is heated by the ground. Upon completing a run through the pipe, water is flows into a geothermal heat pump that extracts heat from the water and distributes it throughout one’s home. In the end, a geothermal system typically pays for itself in the first five to ten years of owning it, so it is both environmentally friendly and an economic investment. Industrial Geothermal Energy Larger scale geothermal power plants are usually built in areas that are very geologically active, like Iceland or along California’s San Andreas Fault. They use heated water between the temperatures of 300 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit to make steam that turns massive turbines that generate electricity. There are three primary ways that industrial geothermal plants are designed: dry steam plants (which use steam directly from an underground geothermal reservoir), flash steam plants (which take highly pressurized hot water from deep within the earth and convert it into steam within a ‘flash tank’), and binary cycle power plants (which transfer heat from geothermal hot water into another liquid causing that liquid to turn into steam). While flash steam plants are most common, all of them are very useful in certain environments. The largest grouping of geothermal plants in the world is 22 plants located near each other in California. The USA, primarily due to this concentration of gear in California, generates the most geothermal energy in the world, producing 16.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2018 alone. That being said, the USA still has a lot of room to grow as a renewable energy producer before it can be compared to a nation like Iceland that is completely carbon neutral. Sources: https://www.irena.org/geothermal#:~:text=Geothermal%20energy%20is%20heat%20derived,harnessed%20to%20generate%20clean%20electricity. https://www.saveonenergy.com/how-geothermal-energy-works/ https://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2012/08/going-deep-for-the-heat https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/geothermal/geothermal-power-plants.php https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/education/our-planet-earth/Pages/The-Earth-structure.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8BThe%20earth%20is,the%20mantle%20and%20the%20core.&text=This%20is%20the%20outside%20layer,of%20crust%3B%20oceanic%20and%20continental. by Charles Kirby Private jets offer flexible flights that are quicker and more hassle free than the public and sometimes delayed commercial planes. These advantages draw many celebrities, large companies and other wealthy individuals to charter private jets rather than purchasing seats on commercial airliners. However, in recent years people have begun to highlight some of the negative effects that private jets have on the environment. One way that people are currently combating global warming is by taking responsibility for their own greenhouse gas emissions, often labeled their “carbon footprint”, and trying to reduce them. If every person holds themselves to higher standards, then eventually the world will follow in suit. According to the United Nations, the aviation industry accounts for about 2% of annual greenhouse emissions. While private jets are accountable for only a fraction of these emissions, the carbon footprint of each passenger on a private jet is roughly 20 times higher than that of a passenger on a commercial plane. The average American emits 19 tons of carbon into the atmosphere per year. An average private jet emits 21 tons of carbon in a single flight, while transporting much less people. The responsibility falls on those who are chartering or even purchasing private jets to each acknowledge their own carbon footprint and do something about it. Some government officials and other important people are known to take up to 50 private jet flights per year. The numbers add up quickly. So, what can one of these people do instead? To lessen one’s carbon footprint, one can purchase carbon offsets, or certificates that reduce an individual’s or corporation’s emissions. These credits can be purchased and sold between parties, but are usually given to those who donate to climate-friendly associations that are supported by the government. However, does throwing money into various charities really undo the harmful effects that private jets have on the Earth? Instead of offsetting carbon footprints, the only way to really offset a person’s carbon emissions is by reducing them in the first place. Private jet users have to exercise more awareness and, if flying commercial is not not an option, at least bring a few others aboard so that more people are benefiting from the set amount of greenhouse gasses that are emitted. Sources: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-22/can-you-own-a-private-jet-if-you-care-about-climate-change#:~:text=Private%20air%20travel%20represents%20only,a%20private%20jet%20charter%20company. https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/carbon-offsets/ https://www.quora.com/How-much-carbon-is-emitted-for-taking-a-private-jet-ride-as-compared-to-what-the-average-American-emits-in-a-year#:~:text=Average%20American%3A%2019%20tons%20of%20carbon%20per%20year.&text=Average%20coast%20to%20coast%20flight,does%20in%20a%20whole%20year. https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/new-flight-charters-empty-legs-2883859/ https://media.cntraveler.com/photos/5ea105b39fc81500085a4f0d/3:2/w_3981,h_2654,c_limit/PrivatePlane-CharteringPlanes-2020-GettyImages-523476302.jpg By Ben Yurovsky Genetically modified organisms are organisms that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering. In most cases DNA from other organisms is transferred to the GMO in order to alter it. These organisms are known as transgenic organisms. GMO’s are most notably present in foods in order to increase flavor or size. Many people are busy questioning their safety when they should be researching the environmental benefits they produce. Are GMOs Safe? This is a question asked by millions of people every day. Scientists worldwide have come to the consensus that GMOs pose no health concern to humans. The highly regarded National Academies of Science came to the conclusion that, after countless hours of research and testing, there is no identifiable difference in safety between genetically engineered and non genetically engineered foods. This should rightfully end all arguments of whether or not GMOs pose danger to humans as one of, if not the top institutions came to an agreement that there are no differences in the quality of the foods. The issue that citizens should be debating about now should be whether or not genetic engineering actually enhances flavor and size. This is a topic in which there is varying opinion among experts. GMOs = Better Environment? A topic that is rarely touched by mainstream media is how GMOs affect the environment. As a matter of fact they are extremely beneficial to the environment. GMOs have immensely helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The amount of gas that was saved is equivalent to the yearly output of 13 million cars. Genetic engineering also helps by repelling pests that would eat away at the produce. This saves millions of pounds of produce every day. GMOs increase food production while decreasing land needed. This enables farmers to use more land to cultivate different plants and animals. More crop yield means more people are fed and thus there is less stravations and thus less poverty. Biodiversity is also increased meaning that each crop plays a larger role. Biodiversity enables a variety of foods and ensures natural sustainability for all forms of life. Although many scientists disagree on whether or not genetic engineering enhances flavor, most believe that it does and enables a more pleasurable eating experience. All of these factors contribute to creating more of a market for this type of produce and, as a result, prices are bound to be driven down due to competition, benefiting the consumer. Sources:
https://www.livescience.com/40895-gmo-facts.html https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2016/05/gmo-safety-debate-is-over/ https://modernag.org/innovation/gmo-solutions-benefit-environment/ Images: http://www.voicesinbioethics.net/features/2015/02/15/gmo-part1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4ZHcBi2cDo https://massivesci.com/articles/gmo-excerpt-environmental-damage/ By Charles Kirby There are three kinds of right whale: the North Atlantic right whale, the North Pacific right whale and the Southern right whale. Between the three species, there are 12,000 Southern right whales remaining, 350 North Pacific right whales remaining, and 400 North Atlantic right whales remaining. The North Atlantic right whale is one of the largest species on earth, growing up to a whopping 52 feet long and weighing up to 140,000 pounds. Unlike other large baleen whales which first gulp large amounts of water and then squeeze it out while filtering microscopic crustaceans, like krill and zooplankton, the North Atlantic right whale scims its open mouth along the water and actively filters food through angled baleen which the water flows past.
Although in its great size the right whale may seem invulnerable to any threat, the North Atlantic right whale was hunted during the 19th century for its oil-rich blubber that served as fuel for lamps before electricity was mainstream. During this period, right whales were considered the easiest whale to hunt because of their relatively slow speeds and were targeted for this reason. The North Atlantic right whale population was brought to near extinction in the late 1800s. Only in 1935 did the United States prohibit the hunting of right whales. In 1970 further legislation was passed to protect right whales under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Since then, the North Atlantic right whale population has made a comeback, but its numbers have again begun to decrease with 30 North Atlantic right whales dying in the past three years. Female right whales take nine years to sexually mature, and, as marine mammals, have a gestation period of one year before giving birth. They usually give birth to a single calf every three years. When a sexually active female right whale dies, it is especially devastating to their population because it takes a long time for another female to mature and begin to mother calves. As of 2019, of the approximately 400 remaining North Atlantic right whales, only a quarter of them are females (NOAA). The paucity of remaining females in combination with their delayed sexual maturity makes it very challenging for the North Atlantic right whale population to bounce back. Although it varies, North Atlantic right whales generally migrate south to calving grounds outside Florida and North Carolina between the months of March and December and work their way up along the New England coast into the rich feeding grounds of the Northern United States and Canada during the winter. Their tendency to travel very close to shore makes the North Atlantic right whale prone to being hit by underway vessels and getting tangled in fishing gear. Studies show that 90% of right whale deaths are caused by entanglements in commercial fishing gear (NOAA). If their numbers keep decreasing at this rate, there may soon be a day when the majestic North Atlantic right whale is just a memory found in a history book. On May 1st of 2020, the Federal court ruled that Massachusetts’s commercial lobstering industry was in violation of the Endangered Species Act due to their standing buoy lines. Massachussetes fishery officials now are required to reassess the industry and some have considered converting to lineless lobster traps. A similar lawsuit is currently facing Maine and its 385 million dollar lobstering industry. While Federal and State governments have made great strides in favor of the preservation of the North Atlantic right whale, much remains to be done on an individual level. What can you do to help? Don’t litter, especially near beaches! Organize a beach clean up in your town! Dispose of used fishing line properly! Don’t go towards a whale if you see one while you are boating! Report all right whale sightings from Virginia to Maine at (866) 755-6622! Sources: https://oceana.org/marine-life/marine-mammals/north-atlantic-right-whale https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/01/metro/another-significant-ruling-right-whales-federal-judge-rules-that-massachusetts-is-violating-endangered-species-act/ https://people.com/pets/north-atlantic-right-whale-close-to-extinction/ Ocean Dead ZonesBy Benjamin Yurovsky An ocean dead zone is a more common term used to define the phenomena known as hypoxia, which are reduced levels of oxygen in certain areas of water. These sectors of water are known as “dead zones” because most marine life that inhabits that area either dies or just makes it out. This area that would otherwise be filled with all sorts of aquatic life just become abandoned and wasted. These zones are typically found near the coast of nations and can go on for miles. The main reason why these dead zones occur so close to land is because nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff seeps into these bodies of water and infects them, making them inhabitable. Eventually, algae blooms and consumes all of the oxygen that the other aquatic life needs to survive. In fact since 1960, dead zones have become more widespread, doubling in area each decade. A recent study discovered that over 350 of these zones exist worldwide and will continue to multiply exponentially. The world's largest dead zone spans over 64,000 square miles in the Arabian Sea. It was there where scientists recorded the lowest oxygen levels ever present on Earth. Reversing Dead ZonesFortunately, these lethal ocean dead zones can be undone. For example, in the 1990’s once the Soviet Union fell apart, a ginormous dead zone that was present in the Black Sea disappeared. This was primarily due to huge increases in prices of chemical fertilizers, thus making it more of a financial burden to purchase these preservatives. This move by these chemical companies wasn’t done on purpose but it has been noted by renowned scientists worldwide. As a society, if we want to get rid of most dead zones we must be willing to take the steps necessary to do so. Just as the Gulf of Mexico Water Nutrient Task Force has been doing, we must monitor our waters and put measures into place that will minimize the amount of fertilizer and chemicals that can be put into our waters. It would also be a good idea to build water treatment plants in order to prevent human and animal waste from entering our precious waters. Laws must be put in place to significantly reduce the amount of dangerous materials that are thrown into our ocean, rivers, and streams. We must realize that this is in our hands and that we can and must prevent ocean dead zones from forming. Sources:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/deadzone.html https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/oceans/dead-zones/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ocean-dead-zones/ Images: https://inhabitat.com/dead-zone-near-african-coast-shows-lowest-oxygen-levels-ever-recorded/ https://www.thenational.ae/uae/world-s-largest-marine-dead-zone-may-reach-uae-s-shores-1.875224 By Benjamin Yurovsky At 1:23 in the morning, on the 26th of April 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant experienced explosions and eruptions which caused a huge discharge of nuclear radioactive material into outer space. The Ukrainian plant was running an ordinary test to see how the site would operate if it lost power. The administrators at the time had made a few mistakes leading into the experiment but figured that these errors would have minimal effect on the outcome. These flaws, however, created a dangerous and toxic environment. The operators shut off the safety system that would have typically been employed during a power outage, which included a turbine system that would cool water. This water, with nothing to keep it at optimal temperature, began to boil and eventually turned into steam. The operators tried to reinsert and restart these turbines to help cool the water, but yet another design flaw caused them to jam. It is highly probable that a large amount of steam was the main facilitator in the explosion of the power plant. The Effect of RadiationAs a result of the Chernobyl explosion, an astronomical amount of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere. There were immediate, harmful effects on plants and animals within a 20-30 kilometer radius of the power plant. According to a study in Biological Conservation from 2001, the disaster caused an increase in genetic mutations in plants and animals by a factor of 20. The 30-mile zone is referred to as the “exclusion zone” by experts. Through their observations of various organisms, experts have concluded that the explosion caused a huge spike in the mortality of coniferous plants, soil invertebrates and mammals. Additionally, they have observed a significant decrease in reproductive capabilities in both plants and animals. However, as soon as three years after the accident, plant life began to reappear again and continued to thrive. But why? To truly answer this question one must first fully understand how radiation from nuclear plants affects living cells. Most pieces of a cell are replaceable if damaged, however, with DNA this isn’t the case. As the amount of radiation increases, DNA becomes jumbled together and consequently, the cells die at a much faster pace. In animals, this is typically fatal, as their cells are highly specialized and unadaptable. Plants, however, can adapt with much more ease and speed. This is largely due to the fact that unlike animals and humans, they are immobile. Thus they are forced to adapt to the circumstances they are placed in. This is the main reason why plants in Chernobyl were able to rebound so quickly. As a result of the Chernobyl accident, the nearby waters became contaminated with the emitted radioactive material. A multitude of radionuclides, atoms with excess nuclear radiation, were released from the nuclear power plant and began to seep into bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. The most notable nearby reservoir was the Kyiv Reservoir and, as a result, the nearby residents became more anxious with the quality of water they were receiving. Humans knew the possible effects of the explosion such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and mental defects, and due to these concerns, many people relocated to be as far away from this site as possible. Unfortunately, aquatic life could not migrate like humans. Initially after the accident, fish absorbed radioactive iodine at an outrageous rate. Bioaccumulation caused a great concentration of this substance in bodies of water as far as Norway and Finland. To this day rivers and streams remain infested by runoff of Strontium-90 and Caesium-13. Although at low levels, the presence of these elements still pose danger to all forms of life. Some bodies of water, although closed to the public, in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine will remain contaminated with these toxic elements for years to come. What We Can Learn From ChernobylThe events that took place in the early morning on the 26th of April 1986 are still relevant to this day. Locally, the town of Chernobyl and any town within a 30 kilometer radius became instantly inhabitable to humans and animals. This area will remain a dead zone for about the next 24,000 years. Since nuclear energy had only been around for a few decades prior, this explosion set the precedent for how disastrous a nuclear accident could be. Since the incident, nuclear power plants around the globe have put in place a set of safety guidelines and procedures to avoid a catastrophic accident such as the one in Chernobyl. We are now aware of the awful effects a nuclear explosion can have on all organisms and we can now, as a result, take the necessary precautions to prevent life from hypothetically interacting with the toxic radiation that could be emitted from a nuclear power plant.
Sources: https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/april-26-1986-explosion-at-chernobyl-nuclear-plant/ https://www.greenfacts.org/en/chernobyl/l-2/3-chernobyl-environment.htm#0 https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/586059/chernobyl-animal-facts https://www.livescience.com/65816-why-chernobyl-radiation-didnt-kill-plants.html https://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/chernobyl/backgrounder/en/ Images: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7366338/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/586059/chernobyl-animal-facts https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/photo-gallery/46197222/image/46197193/Chernobyl-Pictures-2019 by Ansh Motiani OverviewWith the ongoing climate crisis, an existential threat, automakers are looking into alternatives to fossil-fuel powered vehicles. Within the last 10 years, we have seen the rise of electric cars. Once deemed unviable and too costly to implement, they are now paving the road for the future of the automotive industry. This revolution has redefined the boundaries of transportation and inspired research into additional alternatives to power vehicles. An emerging technology that is being actively researched and developed is that of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell. What is a hydrogen fuel cell?A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical power generator that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat. Essentially, hydrogen fuel cells produce energy that can power anything from a microwave to a car, with water and heat as its only by products! They offer a clean and reliable alternative energy source to virtually every industry. How does it work?A fuel cell is composed of three main components: a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte membrane. At the anode side, hydrogen gas is split into two H+ ions and two electrons by a catalyst. The electrons are forced through a circuit, generating electricity and heat, while the hydrogen cations are sent through a proton exchange membrane (PEM). The electrons and hydrogen cations are then united with the waiting oxygen gas on the cathode side, bonding to create water. Notable AdvantagesZero Emission Power Source: Since its only products are electricity, water, and heat, Hydrogen Fuel Cells are zero-emission sustainable power source. Hydrogen is readily available in the environment around us, specifically in water. By electrolyzing water, we can produce both hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Solar, wind, or hydro power can easily be used to accomplish this task. The oxygen needed for a fuel cell to work is readily available in the atmosphere and does not need to be stored anywhere. Reliability: Since fuel cells have no moving parts, they are far more reliable than a typical combustion engine. Efficiency: Hydrogen fuel cells directly convert chemical energy to electrical energy, avoiding the “thermal bottleneck” that combustion engines face as they must convert chemical energy to heat before mechanical. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, hydrogen fuel cells are around 40-60% efficient, a significant advantage over 25% efficient combustion engines. In combined heat and power systems (CHP), efficiency is increased to 85-90% as the heat produced in the reaction is utilized for further tasks. IssuesCost: Hydrogen, although readily available in water, is expensive to extract. This is one of the main reasons the technology hasn’t really taken off yet. However, if less resource and energy intensive methods to extract hydrogen were achieved, hydrogen fuel cells would prove to be an extremely viable technology. Storage and Portability: While oil can be sent through pipelines, and coal can be transported on trucks, hydrogen must remain pressurized during both transport and storage, making the task both difficult and expensive. Flammability: Hydrogen gas is highly flammable, making it dangerous in the event of an accident or malfunction. However, experts say that since the hydrogen is pressurized, in the event of a puncture, the gas should dissipate into the atmosphere without causing an explosion. SourcesResearch:
https://www.plugpower.com/about-us/fuel-cell-benefits/ https://greengarageblog.org/11-big-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-hydrogen-fuel-cells https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53ab1feee4b0bef0179a1563/t/59888ae26a4963b1c402565a/1502120674831/FCHEA_FCVs-Compromise_Factsheet_WEB.PDF https://www.hydrogenics.com/technology-resources/hydrogen-technology/fuel-cells/ https://www.computerworld.com/article/2852323/heres-why-hydrogen-fueled-cars-arent-little-hindenburgs.html Images: https://energyeducation.ca/wiki/images/thumb/3/3e/Fuelcell.png/300px-Fuelcell.png https://www.extremetech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Hyundai-ix35-FC-engine.jpg https://www.bmw.com/content/dam/bmw/marketBMWCOM/bmw_com/categories/Innovation/wasserstoff/wss-02-media-hd-en.jpg.asset.1574089457296.jpg By Ansh Motiani For many years, Dunkin’ Donuts locations throughout the world have been throwing away countless tons of food, disregarding the crucial work being done to counteract the repercussions of food waste and climate change. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, landfill gases comprise 18 percent of U.S. methane emissions and in 2011 accounted for 103 million metric tonnes of carbon equivalent released into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, 40 million Americans struggle with food insecurity. Every evening, Dunkin’ Donuts franchises are left with perfectly good food that will not be sold. Since employees are not allowed to take the goods home with them, this food ends up in a landfill, contributing to climate change when it could be feeding millions. There are more than 12,000 Dunkin Donuts franchises in the world. If each of them throws away 100 baked goods every day. That’s 1,200,000 baked goods wasted on a daily basis. Dunkin' Donuts, being such a large brand, is a leader in the fast food industry that other fast food chains look up to. If they do not actively work to reduce food waste, how can we expect others to do so? Too many times, I have walked into a Dunkin Donuts restaurant, the employee giving me a free donut because “it’s going to be thrown away anyways.” Something must change, and it must change soon.
By Charles Kirby BENEFITS:
Nuclear power plants harness nuclear fission to create a potent, cheap, consistent and clean alternative to traditional power plants that run on coal or natural gas. Since almost all of an atom’s mass is in its nucleus, and energy and mass are proportional, nuclear reactions yield much more energy than chemical reactions. One gram of uranium during fission holds the same energy as two million grams of oil and three million grams of coal. Since much less fuel is required to create the same amount of energy at a nuclear power plant, it is much cheaper to operate than traditional power plants. Nuclear power costs two cents per kWh, much less than coal and natural gas plants, which cost between seven and ten cents per kWh (MIT Energy Initiative). In addition, nuclear power is fully sustainable energy, emitting only steam rather than the greenhouse gasses produced by coal and natural gas. Lastly, the supply and price of Uranium-235, the most common fuel for nuclear power, are much less volatile than those of coal and natural gas, making nuclear power plants a stable and dependable source of energy. DRAWBACKS: On April 26, 1986 a power surge caused the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine to erupt in flames. Due to poor designs and inadequately trained staff, significant amounts of radioactive material were released into the surrounding area. There were over 6000 regional cases of Thyroid cancer diagnosed in the years following. Although today’s regulations are supposed to prevent this from happening again, nothing is absolute. The power derived from nuclear fission is so great that any mishap could have devastating effects. Even modern nuclear plants have not yet found good ways of disposing of the nuclear waste produced in the reactors, which can remain radioactive for thousands of years. Various ways of disposal include temporary spent fuel pools, temporary dry cask storage, long-term burial, sending to space, and dumping in the ocean (University of Oregon). However, none of these methods are ideal and some can be very expensive. Another fear associated with the global promotion of nuclear power is that it may lead to wider availability of enriched Uranium, which can be easily weaponized. When a nation is given access to such a powerful and versatile tool, there is no knowing if they will use it responsibly. SO DO WE PURSUE IT? Greenhouse gasses—carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen dioxide and water—are produced when fossil fuels, the geological remains of dead living things, are burnt. Once released into the atmosphere, greenhouse gasses act as a blanket, preventing thermal energy from reflecting off the earth and returning to space. This process is called global warming, and it is not just a prediction of the future, it is happening. Over the past 50 years global temperatures have risen faster than ever before in earth’s history, at the rate of 0.15 to 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade. Energy production in coal and natural gas power plants account for an astounding 25% of these global greenhouse gas emissions (University California Carbon Neutrality Initiative). Therefore, transitioning to fully clean nuclear power could eliminate a quarter of earth's greenhouse emissions. If humanity has any investment in the planet, we should be able to recognize that the benefits of nuclear power overwhelmingly outweigh the drawbacks. Sources Ballish, Sydney. “Nuclear Energy.” The Safety Culture of Nuclear Power, 4 Aug. 2015, u.osu.edu/engr2367nuclearpower/2015/07/30/nuclear-power-plants/. “Down to Earth Climate Change.” Down To Earth Climate Change - Resources, UCR, NASA and RUSD, globalclimate.ucr.edu/resources.html. “Menu.” ENVS 202 Nuclear Power, blogs.uoregon.edu/envs202nuclearpower/cons-of-nuclear-power/. Moniz, Ernest. “Why We Still Need Nuclear Power.” Main, 2 Nov. 2011, energy.mit.edu/news/why-we-still-need-nuclear-power/. “Where Do Greenhouse Gas Emissions Come from?” University of California, 17 Apr. 2017, www.universityofcalifornia.edu/longform/where-do-greenhouse-gas-emissions-come. By Andrew Vittiglio You have most likely seen NEYO’s or another non-profit’s focus on food waste in the United States or internationally. Whether it be on our website, a news article briefly describing the issue, or with someone in person, the message is generally the same in regards to misuse of extra meals: There is too much food waste and we must make major efforts to limit it. While you can phrase that a million ways, I think it is extremely important to understand the reasoning as to why organizations and people are saying this. Without understanding the “why”, there is little incentive for people to actually contribute. Harvard social psychologist, Ellen Langer, studied human behavior for decades, coming to the respected conclusion that people simply like to have reasons for what they do, and they will be more successful if provided a reason. This article is not meant to provide you with said reason (although it is a little argumentative), but it is rather an informational piece that hopefully provides you with the fundamental statistics of this food crisis.
The Numbers Forty percent (40%) of the food produced each year in the United States ends up in a landfill or is left to rot in the field (thirty percent (30%) globally). This is one of the most frightening realities of society today; out of all the food produced in our country, almost half of it will be thrown away. Almost 1.4 billion hectares (about the size of China) of land were used to produce food not consumed. Think about it: Have you ever thrown away packaged foods simply because it was past the “best by” date? Have you ever seen excessive amounts of food at the grocery store and wondered where it goes when it goes unused? Have you ever had fruit or vegetables grow moldy in the refrigerator because you forgot they were there? It all goes to waste, forgotten forever like it was never even there. This is difficult to believe, especially since 40 million Americans face hunger everyday. Considering the amount of food wasted and the people left hungry, organizations decided to try to limit this waste. It is estimated that all the world’s nearly one billion hungry people could be fed on less than a quarter of the food that is wasted in the US, UK and Europe. Organizations, like NEYO, hope for a future that eliminates hunger, and we feel the most efficient way to do so is through what will be thrown away. Not only does food waste have a humanitarian cost, but it also has an immense economic effect. The annual value of food wasted globally is $1 trillion, and it weighs 1.3 billion tonnes. Supermarkets also take a hit with the USDA estimating that supermarkets lose $15 billion annually in unsold fruits and vegetables alone. This is purely due to quality standards that prioritize and over-emphasize the appearance of foods. In homes, food waste on average is worth $2,275, which collectively adds up to around $16 billion per year. The waste in money, time, effort, and food itself has a massive on national economies. Food losses during harvest and in storage translate into lost income for small farmers and into higher prices for poor consumers. If the problem was fixed, certain struggling economies could be greatly improved. In developing countries food waste and losses occur mainly at early stages of the food value chain and can be traced back to financial, managerial and technical constraints in harvesting techniques as well as storage and cooling facilities. Strengthening the supply chain through the direct support of farmers and investments in infrastructure, transportation, as well as in an expansion of the food and packaging industry could help to reduce the amount of food loss and waste. Addition Links: A very quick and concise article on the environmental effects: https://www.moveforhunger.org/how-food-waste-is-harming-our-environment/ Article about the effects of organic composting: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2008/apr/18/compostorganicwaste Extra Facts: https://stopwastingfoodmovement.org/food-waste/food-waste-facts/ Citations: http://www.fao.org/save-food/resources/keyfindings/en/ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/01/150122-food-waste-climate-change-hunger/ http://feedbackglobal.org/food-waste-scandal/ http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/nr/sustainability_pathways/docs/Factsheet_FOOD-WASTAGE.pdf https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf by Ansh Motiani Petroleum-based plastic has been a daily part of human life for more than 70 years. It has brought convenience, protection, and is present is almost all aspects of our lives. It is in our phone cases, water bottles, toys, containers, the list goes on and on. However, it is now inflicting serious damage to the Earth. It has gotten to such a point that the toxic chemicals that leak out of plastic are found in the blood and tissue of nearly all of us, causing cancer, birth defects, and other ailments. The chemicals of plastic sitting in landfills, seep into the ground, contaminate the groundwater, and flow downstream into lakes and rivers. Plastic pollution also poses a major threat to wildlife. Often times, animals become entangled in plastic or mistake it for food and choke. Current figures estimate that there are currently about 150 million tons of plastic waste drifting through out oceans, rising about eight million tons each year, posing a severe threat to marine life. However, modern engineering and science has found what they think is a solution: biodegradable plastic. What is biodegradable plastic and how is it made?Biodegradable plastic is plastic that decomposes naturally in the environment. This is achieved as a result of when microorganisms metabolize and break down the structure of the plastic. Often, it is made of bio-plastics, which are plastics made from natural plant materials. These includes corn oil, orange peels, starch, and plants. The fabrication process begins with the melting of these plant materials. The mixture is then poured into molds of various shapes like water bottles or containers. Traditional vs Biodegradable PlasticTraditional plastics are made with chemical fillers that release toxic chemicals when they are melted down, but biodegradable plastic does not contain these chemicals and is entirely natural. After formation, regular plastics also hold carbon, methane, and other pollutants that are released when they begin to decompose or are melted. However, this is not the case with biodegradable plastics as they do not contain these polluting materials and are able to be broken down by naturally occurring bacteria. Essentially, biodegradable plastics are a great alternative to traditional environment polluting plastics. They do not harm the environment, yet still have the same function as traditional plastics. Drawbacks of Biodegradable PlasticUnfortunately, nothing's perfect, and like everything, biodegradable plastic does have its drawbacks. First of all, they do not decompose unless they are disposed of properly, meaning they would have to be treated, essentially, like compost. Natural breakdown simply would not occur if it was tossed into a landfill with other trash, forcing those that use this plastic to be mindful of where it is thrown away. In addition, some biodegradable materials contain small pieces of metal, causing concern. Scientists fear that when biodegradable plastics break down, those metals will be released into the environment, but to date, there is no evidence that this has caused any significant issues. Last, but not least, biodegradable plastics cost more than traditional plastics, about 1.5 cents per unit versus a 1.2 cents per unit. However, comparing this to the toll traditional plastics are taking on the environment, is the price that big of a deal? The benefits seem to outweigh the cons, but whether or not biodegradable plastics should replace traditional plastics is still up for debate. Biodegradable plastic in JapanJapan is making a switch to biodegradable plastics in an effort to combat marine plastic pollution. Among the various candidates, Japan's Michio Komatsu believes that the entirely plant based, biodegradable polylactic acid is the most ideal for future use as an eco-friendly plastic that is harmless and non-toxic. It's raw ingredients are starch and lactic acid bacteria extracted from plants, such as corn. It is able to be decomposed by microorganisms in the soil or seawater, and if disposed in compost, it will decompose to water and carbon dioxide in several months. Still, Komatsu says, development of the plastic has not been easy. It is expensive, has low heat resistance, and injection molding is difficult due to its poor fluidity. “Always short of funding, I managed to continue my research and development by applying for competitions. I kept persevering by holding on to the simple belief that we had to start using polylactic acid to begin combating pollution of the ocean,” explains Komatsu. Already, his technology is gaining popularity globally as "eco-friendly and safe for babies" and products are being exported throughout the world. As product development advances, the possibilities for the new plastic are rapidly expanding. Polylactic acid plastic from Japan may soon revolutionize the very concept of plastic. Michio Komatsu (left), the Director of Japan Society of Plastics Technology, with Takahiro Miwa (right) Sources:
http://www.pepctplastics.com/resources/connecticut-plastics-learning-center/biodegradable-plastics/ https://plasticpollutioncoalition.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/222813127-Why-is-plastic-harmful- https://www.japan.go.jp/tomodachi/2019/winter2019/new_biodegradable_material_reduces.html Images: https://www.amazon.com/Biodegradable-Plastic-Bags-Case-1000/dp/B00O55MWDY https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/ https://www.japan.go.jp/tomodachi/2019/winter2019/new_biodegradable_material_reduces.html by Ansh Motiani What is Carbon Capture Technology? Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an emerging emission reduction technology that captures carbon carbon dioxide emissions from sources and either reuses it or stores it, preventing it from entering the atmosphere. Areas of storage include oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams, any structures that have stored crude oil, natural gas, brine, and carbon dioxide over millions of years. The concept of carbon capture has been in use for years in the oil and gas industries as a way to enhance oil and gas recovery. It has only recently been utilized for environmental reasons. Currently, most research focuses on carbon capture at fossil fuel-powered energy plants, the majority of the contributors to man-made CO2 emissions. Some researchers propose the idea of a future in which all new power plants employ this carbon capture technology. How does it work? There are three main steps to CCS: trapping and separating theCO2 from other gases, transporting it to a storage location, and making sure it stays far away from the atmosphere. A fossil fuel power plant generates power burning fossil fuels to generate heat that turns water into steam. As a result, the steam turns a turbine connected to an electricity generator in a process called combustion. Carbon is extracted from this process in three basic ways: post-combustion, precombustion, and oxy-fuel combustion. Post-Combustion In post-combustion capture, CO2 is extracted after the fossil fuel is burned. The burning of these fossil fuels creates substances known as flue gases that include CO2, water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. In this process of carbon capture, the CO2 is captured and separated from the flue gases. This is the process that currently in use to remove CO2 from natural gas due to its ease of implementation. Older power plants can be fitted with filters that help trap CO2 as it travels up a chimney or smokestack. Generally, this filter is a solvent that absorbs carbon dioxide. It can later be heated, releasing water vapor, leaving behind a concentrated stream of CO2. This method of carbon capture can reduce power plants’ carbon emissions by 80 to 90 percent. However, this process requires a large amount of energy to compress the gas enough for transport. Pre-Combustion In pre-combustion carbon capture, CO2 is trapped before the burning of fossil fuels where it is diluted by other flue gases. The process starts when coal, oil, or natural gas is heated in pure oxygen, creating a mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This mixture is treated in a catalytic converter with steam, producing more hydrogen and carbon monoxide. These gases are sent to the bottom off a flask where they naturally begin to rise. A chemical known as amine is poured onto the top, binding with the CO2 and making it fall to the bottom of the flask, while the hydrogen continues to rise out of the flask. After this, the amine/CO2 mixture is heated, separating the two, allowing the CO2 to be collected and stored This method of carbon capture is already in use for natural gas and provides a much higher concentration of CO2 than post-combustion. Although it is lower in cost, precombustion cannot be retrofitted to older power plant generators. Like post combustion, it also reduces emissions into the atmosphere by 80 to 90 percent. Oxy-fuel Combustion In oxy-fuel combustion carbon capture, the power plant burns fossil fuels in oxygen, resulting in a gas mixture comprising of steam and CO2. The two are then separated by cooling and compressing the gases. Although the current cost of this method is high due to the necessity of oxygen, researchers are exploring new techniques to reduce the cost. This method can reduce emissions into the atmosphere by 90 percent. Transporting the Carbon Dioxide Following the separation and capture of CO2, it must be transported to a storage site. Currently, the method of transporting CO2 is through a pipeline. There are more than 1,500 miles of CO2 pipelines in the US today, mostly used to enhance oil production. Although the pipelines can transport CO2 in their gaseous, liquid, and solid states, pipelines generally transport it in its gaseous state as this is the most cost effective. Compressors throughout the pipe push the gas through. It is also possible to transport CO2 in its liquid form using ships or tankers, but the cargo tanks must be pressurized and refrigerated. CO2 pipeline under construction Tanker specialized for transporting liquid CO2 Carbon Storage There are two places where carbon is stored: underground and underwater. Estimates project that the planet can store up to 10 trillion tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to about 100 years of storage of all human-created emissions. Underground Storage Also known as geological sequestration, underground storage is a popular way to store carbon. Due to the high pressure deep underground, CO2 behaves more like a liquid than gas. Because it can seep into porous rocks, a great amount can be stored in a small area. Basalt formations, also known as volcanic rock, are the most suitable for storing CO2. Basalt is one of the most common types of rock in the earth’s crust. After CO2 injection, the basalt eventually turns into limestone, another type of rock. Generally, rocks found in oil and gas reservoirs are best for geological sequestration because they have overlying rocks that form a seal, keeping the gas contained. Underwater Storage
The ocean is also a viable option for CO2 storage. Experts claim that if the CO2 is released at depths greater than 11,482 feet, the CO2 will compress and fall to the ocean floor. This method is mostly untested, and there are many concerns about the safety of marine life and the permanent storage of the carbon. Sources: https://www.energy.gov/carbon-capture-utilization-storage https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/carbon-capture4.htm https://www.theguardian.com/environment/interactive/2008/jun/12/carbon.capture https://www.greenfacts.org/en/co2-capture-storage/l-2/3-capture-co2.htm#1 Images: http://www.directindustry.com/prod/asco-carbon-dioxide/product-38377-1636862.html https://www.icb.csic.es/en/gi/co2-capture-oxy-fuel-combustion/ http://www.fossiltransition.org/pages/post_combustion_capture_/128.php https://www.pnnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.asp?id=537 http://www.directindustry.com/prod/asco-carbon-dioxide/product-38377-1636862.html By Andrew Vittiglio and Ansh Motiani The world’s population is predicted to grow to 9.7 billion by 2050, a drastic increase from the current 7.3 billion, and feeding could possibly be the biggest challenge of the century. UN data suggest we'll need to produce 70 percent more food by 2050 to meet increased global demand. This statistic even reduces food waste by nearly 10 percent, which can be seen by some as a drastic curve or flaw in the data. The number of farms has steadily declined over the past eight years by what is estimated to be 117,500 farms. With the declination of total farms, farmers around the world are forced to compensate as seen by the average farm size increasing by 20 acres. This indicates that there is some consolidation, so fewer total farm owners with larger farms. “This is a trend that has been ongoing since World War II, but as the average farm size grows, it also becomes that much harder for a young family to get started with a farming operation,” says Doug Mayo, Jackson County, Missouri Extension Director. Additionally, scientists say that the Earth has lost a third of its arable lands over the last 40 years, mainly due to expansion and urbanization. This poses an immense problem as the world will see increasing food demands due to a growing population along with ever decreasing arable lands. So what is the overarching solution that will save humanity from our own internal collapse? Vertical farming, a fairly new and unknown method of farming, is seen as a very practical way to do just that. What is vertical farming? Vertical farming isn’t just the practice of producing food on vertically inclined surfaces. Picture it as a skyscraper, but on every floor, a farmer produces food in vertically stacked layers commonly integrated into other structures. The idea of vertical farming is actually quite old. Indigenous peoples used vertically layered growing techniques like the rice terraces of East Asia. The term itself was coined by American geologist Gilbert Ellis Bailey in 1915. However, it was popularized in 1999 by a professor at New York’s Columbia University, Dickson Despommier, who built upon the idea with his students. Vertical Farming is a type of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology uses modernized farming techniques to artificially control the light, gases, humidity, and temperature, making the production of foods indoor possible. The primary goal of the vertical farming method is to produce the most food as possible in a limited amount of space. There are many other advantages besides the most obvious land issues: Increased Production: Vertical farming allows for the production of more crops from the same square footage of growing area. According to TheBalancesMB, “1 acre of an indoor area offers equivalent production to at least 4-6 acres of outdoor capacity...a 30-story building with a basal area of 5 acres can potentially produce an equivalent of 2,400 acres of conventional horizontal farming”. Less Use Of Water: Vertical farming produces crops with up to 95 percent less water than required for normal cultivation. It uses a method known as hydroponics, which is a system of growing plants in a water based, nutrient rich solution, that requires no soil at all. With the proper setup, plants can mature 25% faster and produce up to 30% more produce than the same plants grown in soil. Since the system is enclosed, less water is evaporated and the solution that is not used by the plants can be recycled and reused again. Ease of Farming: Crops in a field most often are affected by natural disasters (flooding or severe droughts); indoor vertical farms are much less likely to even be slightly affected by any unfavorable weather, providing greater certainty of harvest output. What are the Disadvantages of Vertical Farming? Cost Efficiency: The financial practicality of the new farming method is still uncertain. Major costs, such as the physical building of skyscrapers for farming, heating, lighting, and labor cost, can easily outweigh the benefits we can get from the output of vertical farming. The building cost for a 60-hectare farm can be well over $100 million. With a heavy concentration in urban cities, labor costs can be exponentially high due to a general higher wage in a skilled labor job. Manual pollination, one of the most difficult and challenging pieces of vertical farming, may become one of the more labor-intensive functions in vertical farms. At Work: Singapore With an area of 279 square miles and a population of five million, Singapore is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. With most of the land set aside for urban development, the mere 250 acres of farmland are not enough to feed the growing population. As a result, more than 90% of Singapore’s food demand is fulfilled by imports from over 30 countries. The dependency on the external world makes the country highly vulnerable to turbulence in food supply and prices. The way out of this problem is for the city is to produce food themselves, but with high real estate prices and where land is premium, the only viable option is to go vertical and take advantage of the limited amount of land they have. Entrepreneur Jack Ng, with the help of Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), has come up with one of the world’s first commercial vertical farms. Although this is a soil based vertical farm, it still produces one ton of vegetables every other day and is five to ten times more productive than a regular farm. It is the first low carbon hydraulic water-driven vertical system in the world to grow tropical-vegetables vertically which gives significant yield and uses less water, energy and natural resources, to achieve a sustainable green high-tech farm. Ng’s system, known as “A-Go-Gro” technology grows plants in 6 meter tall, A-shaped towers. Each tower consists of 22 to 26 tiers of growing troughs, which are rotated around the aluminium tower frame at a rate of one millimeter per second to ensure uniform distribution of sunlight, good air flow and irrigation for all the plants. It is powered by a unique gravity aided water-pulley system that uses only one litre of water, collected in a rainwater fed overhead reservoir. The energy needed to power one A-frame is the equivalent of illuminating just one 60-watt light bulb, its carbon footprint almost nonexistent. The water powering the frames is recycled and filtered before returning to the plants. All organic waste on the farm is composted and reused. The small amount of energy and water needed to grow vegetables, and the close proximity of the consumer potentially reduces transportation costs, carbon dioxide emissions and risk of spoilage. The vegetables are harvested everyday and delivered almost immediately to retail outlets.
Sources: http://cea.cals.cornell.edu/about/index.html http://www.fao.org/sustainable-food-value-chains/library/details/en/c/265952/ https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/08/14/vertical-farming-future https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/02/arable-land-soil-food-security-shortage https://thewaternetwork.com/_/sustainable-agriculture/article-FfV/vertical-farm-95-less-water-and-no-soil-zsP9I_Vwv-LLvzMOK1tSeg https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9b2d/86d017d9d1d73c8574de9537b1457a1c159b.pdf https://permaculturenews.org/2014/07/25/vertical-farming-singapores-solution-feed-local-urban-population/ https://www.fullbloomhydroponics.net/hydroponic-systems-101/ Images: https://permaculturenews.org/images/Vertical_Farming_VF_illustration_large.jpg https://permaculturenews.org/images/Vertical_Farming_2_skygreens_vertical_farm.jpg https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/files/2016/03/USDA-Farms-Land-in-Farms-2015-Summary.png https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2600/0*34MJeWQCz8JIgxD5 |
Details
AuthorsAnsh Motiani, Andrew Vittiglio, Charles Kirby, and Benjamin Yurovsky
Chernobyl Disaster
Hydrogen Fuel Cells Nuclear Power Food Waste Biodegradable Plastics Carbon Capture Vertical Farming Archives
April 2021
CategoriesEnvironmental Tech
Environmental Concerns Environmental History |