Scientists have made an important discovery about the state of our planet’s climate.  The recent melting and breaking down of glaciers in Antarctica has created areas of open water where phytoplankton, which are tiny marine plants, can live and thrive.  The large colonies of these plants that have sprung up around the Antarctic Peninsula are having a positive impact on our planet’s climate, even though the reason they have room to flourish is due to the retreat of Antarctic glaciers.  They are having a positive impact on the environment because when they die the blooms of phytoplankton sink to the sea floor and can store carbon for thousands of years.  According to scientists at the British Antarctic Survey, 3.5 millions tons of carbon can be stored by these “sinking” blooms of phytoplankton yearly.  While this may be a small amount of carbon compared to global emissions of greenhouse gases, it is a positive discovery about the state of our climate.  In the words of lead author Professor Lloyd Peck, “It shows nature’s ability to thrive in the face of adversity.”  The blooms of phytoplankton, according to the authors of this report, are the second largest factor against climate change discovered on Earth.  Only new forest growth in the Arctic has combated climate change more.

This article shed shows that there is some positive news about the state of our climate.  While it’s obvious that this natural phenomenon is not the answer to our planet’s climate problems it was encouraging to see that once again nature has way’s of evening things out.  It is a concern that these blooms of phytoplankton were created only because of the rapid melting of Antarctic glaciers, but it’s encouraging to hear that some of the damage being done by carbon and other green house gases is being somewhat neutralized.  Most people don’t realize how serious our planet’s climate situation is, mostly because they don’t see it as a problem that will directly affect them.  However, there is evidence that if our climate continues to go in the direction it has at the rate that it has, we may see negative affects in our lifetime.

Source

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/11/09/antarctica_glacier_retreat_creates_new_carbon_dioxide_store.html

by James G

Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the air have serious repercussions on the world’s oceans, which absorb roughly one third of the air-born carbon dioxide emissions resulting from human activities. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid, thus increasing the acidity level of the water. Furthermore, recent studies confirm that seawater is increasing in acidity at a rate much faster than what climate predictions had initially suggested.
This increase in the oceans acidity may have negative effects on marine life. Seashells, coral reefs, and large-shelled animals are in particular danger because they contain calcium carbonate, a substance that dissolves in acidic water. The rise in acidity may not be completely linked to increases in carbon dioxide in the air however. Researchers acknowledge that their findings may be somewhat influenced by nearby swells of deep ocean water loaded with carbon, indicating that their findings may not represent the oceans as a whole.

Questions:
1) Does this rise in the oceans acidity pose any dangers to human’s that have direct contact with it?
2) Considering that carbon dioxide can be absorbed by all water and not necessarily salt-water, can increases in carbon emissions have detrimental effects on fresh water organisms, and reserves for drinking water?

Sources:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=ocean-acidification

Studies done by biologists from the University of California, Berkeley, are now showing that salamander populations have been significantly declining over the years.  Biologists compared Central America salamander populations between the years of 1969 through 1978 to populations existing now in present time, 2009, and the results have shown that the common salamander population has drastically plummeted.  The article states that two of the three most common salamander species existing near the Tajumulco volcano (West Coast of Guatemala) have completed vanished, while the third was hardly visible.  Study leader and professor, David Wake, says that this is the first time that there is solid evidence proving the extreme decline.  Wake also believes that global warming is the main reason behind this.  These salamanders are being forced to change their habitat to higher and less suitable elevations due to global warming.  High elevations are not the type of habitat salamanders can survive in.  This notable decline in the salamander population also demonstrates that global warming can and is affecting all types of species, even the little guys.

Source: Science Daily

This story comes from my co-teacher, Mr. Wolsko:

Scientists at Cambridge University have discovered that serotonin, a chemical that affects people’s moods also can transform easygoing desert locusts into terrifying swarms that ravage the countryside, in many parts of the world.

Locusts, a member of the grasshopper family live an interesting life.  Sometimes they live solitary lives.  Other times, they can be found in swarms of billions.

In her 1937 novel On the Banks of Plum Creek, Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote of a “glittering cloud” of locusts so large it blocked out the sun as it approached. The swarm descended upon her family’s farm near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, destroying a year’s wheat crop and stripping the prairie bare of all vegetation.

Though no longer a problem in the United States, Locusts still plague many parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Dr Swidbert Ott,  one of the co-authors of the article, said:”Serotonin profoundly influences how we humans behave and interact, so to find that the same chemical in the brain is what causes a normally shy antisocial insect to gang up in huge groups is amazing.”

People throughout the world once used dangerous pesticides, like DDT, to combat the threat of locusts.  Based on this new discovery, people could instead spray a compound on the gathering locusts that blocks their serotonin receptors and thus prevents them from swarming.

Source:
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2009013001

Related Stories
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/090129-locusts-swarm.html?source=rss

• Global ground surface temperature
• Soil temperatures
• Ocean surface temperature
• Average snow coverage (decreased)
• Permafrost coverage
• Glacial ice melt
  and more.

The top ten warmest years on record all fall in the the last 13 years.

Source: National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (2009, January 19). 2008 Global Temperature Ties As Eighth Warmest On Record. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 19, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090116163206.htm

Related sites: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2008/2008-12-18-02.asp

by Kyle T

    The Midwest and northern Rocky Mountain Grey wolves are being removed from the endangered species list.  They would still be protected in Wyoming, but not in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Idaho and Montana.  Environmental groups hope that the new President, Barack Obama will reverse this decision and put the wolves back on the list.  The wolves’ biggest enemy is the ranchers who lose livestock to these predators. 

 When reading this article, several questions came to mind. 

1-How can an animal be endangered in 1 state, but removed from others.

2-what constitutes recovery for the population?

3-If an animal is endangered, but there is a large group of people who want them gone, who is right and who should win?

4-Even if an animal is considered dangerous, should it be considered endangered and therefore protected?

Recently, Bill Gates has begun to invest in algae based fuels. This a new alternative fuel source for transportation in our everyday lives. Algae fuels are based on the same concept that surrounds the use of corn and soy as fuel products. The benefit of algae fuels is that algae grows more rapidly then corn or soy. Therefore, it allows for a more rapid production of fuel. The only down side to this is that the cost per gallon of algae based fuels is still much higher than that of petroleum based fuels.

My hope is that with Bill Gates’ investment in this new and upcoming technology they will be able to develop a system of refinement that can make the cost comparable to that of modern oil refinery. If this could be implemented, even a little, then it could greatly reduce or dependence upon foreign oil. This would allow the United States to take a big step forward in obtaining energy independence.