Kaylee+Brown

Kaylee Brown -

I'm kaylee :) I'm 18 years old and I'm turning 19 in June. when I'm not at school I enjoy hanging out with friends, cooking, listening to music, watching movies, and sleeping. I also recently got a job at Maplewoods in Newtown which is a retirement home. I'm working there as a waitress and so far I like it. I will also be going to Tunxis community college in the fall.


 * __Assignment #1__ **

The science topic that I see and hear the most about is probably global warming. It has become perhaps the most complicated issue facing world leaders. I hear about it a lot on the news and read about it online sometimes.
 * **What science topics do you see and/or hear most about - where do you see/hear about this? **


 * **Explain why you think the science topic you mentioned is so popular? **

With impact it can cause more devastating and powerful storms and it can also destroy some farm land and inhabitable areas while opening up some new ones forcing migration. I think the reason the issue is so popular is that it's become perhaps the most complicated issue facing world leaders.

﻿ The goal of this science communication is to find new ways to lessen the issue. It may be too late to stop it without geo engineering but there is still time to slow it down. If we limit the amount of CO2 and look deeply into the things we do on a daily basis, it could really help.
 * **What is the goal of this science communication/message? **

media type="youtube" key="oJAbATJCugs" height="380" width="460"

**__Assignment # 2 __**
1. The difference between renewable and non renewable resources are that renewable resources are those that are replaced in nature at a rate close to their rate of use. Nonrenewable resources exist in fixed amounts or are used up faster than they can be replaced in nature.

2. Fossil fuels consist of deposits of once living organisms. The organic matter takes centuries to form. Fossil fuels principally consist of carbon and hydrogen bonds. There are three types of fossil fuels which can all be used for energy provision; coal, oil and natural gas. **Coal** is a solid fossil fuel formed over millions of years by decay of land vegetation. When layers are compacted and heated over time, deposits are turned into coal. Coal is quite abundant compared to the other two fossil fuels
 * Oil** is a liquid fossil fuel that is formed from the remains of marine microorganisms deposited on the sea floor. After millions of years the deposits end up in rock and sediment where oil is trapped in small spaces.
 * Natural gas** is a gaseous fossil fuel that is versatile, abundant and relatively clean compared to coal and oil. Like oil, it is formed from the remains of marine microorganisms. It is a relatively new type of energy source.

3. Fossil fuels take a long time to form. If we go back in geological history, we find that it took millions of years for our fossil fuels to come to be. Because of the time needed to form these fuels, and because the conditions for formation must be just right, most geologists feel that little or no new fossil fuel is being produced. For this reason, we call fossil fuels "nonrenewable."

4. Examples of renewable resources are water, oxygen, timber, fruit & vegetables and meat from animals. Because renewables are typically small, modular, and require short lead times for installation, they can benefit electricity companies' planning. Companies using modular technologies can add capacity in small increments as needed, rather than planning large power plants many years in advance, only to find that they may not be needed when they finally go online

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/public-benefits-of-renewable.html

http://www.lenntech.com/greenhouse-effect/fossil-fuels.htm

__//**Time-stamp: Friday 4-15-11, (10:30pm) Kaylee has completed lesson #1 and lesson #2 on this wikispace.**// __

__**Assignment # 3- Global Warming & Climate Change**__




 * Why should we care about Global Warming? **

- leads to increased human illnesses and deaths, worsening erosion of beaches, and extinctions of animal and plant species. - higher temperatures contribute to the melting of glaciers and expansion of ocean water as it heats up, both of which cause sea level to rise. Higher sea levels erode beaches, increase storm surges, lead to a loss of wetlands, and can compromise freshwater supplies by introducing saltwater. - Climate change also is likely to increase the number of species listed as threatened or endangered. - The effect of climate change on agriculture may be varied. Yields are projected to increase in some regions for some crops and decrease in others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phy1jrcYG1g&feature=related - Video clip showing the effects global warming can have on animals.

Climate Change - Our weather is always changing and now scientists are discovering that our climate does not stay the same either. Climate, the average weather over a period of many years, differs in regions of the world that receive different amounts of sunlight and have different geographic factors, such as proximity to oceans and altitude.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

**Top 4 Effects On Global Warming:** 1.Economic Consequences

The costs associated with climate change rise along with the temperatures. Severe storms and [|floods] combined with agricultural losses cause billions of [|dollars] in damages, and money is needed to treat and control the spread of disease

2. Conflicts and War Declining amounts of quality food, water and land may be leading to an increase in global security threats, conflict and war..

3. Loss of Biodiversity Humans also aren't immune to the threat. Desertification and rising sea levels threaten human habitats. And when plants and animals are lost to climate change, human [|food], fuel and income are lost as well.

4.Destruction of Ecosystems

Changing climatic conditions and dramatic increases in carbon dioxide will put our ecosystems to the test, threatening supplies of fresh water, clean air, fuel and energy resources, [|food], medicine and other matters we depend upon not just for our lifestyles but for our survival.

These reasons affect me because earth is not only my home but it is home to everybody else. Some people believe that the world can possibly end in 2012. Although I haven't been a firm believer myself, with all of the natural disasters that has happened in the past several years, the world isn't looking that much better. I think that's why people tend to believe all this baloney about how the world will end. It will also cause many animals to die and I love all animals so it breaks my heart reading about that.

__ **Assignment # 4** __

How is the balance of carbon cycle affected?

Like all other animals, humans participate in the natural carbon cycle, but there are also important differences. By burning coal, oil, and natural gas, humans are adding carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere much faster than the carbon in rocks is released through natural processes. And clearing and burning forests to create agricultural land converts organic carbon to carbon dioxide gas. The oceans and land plan

I'm not sure how to put a picture on this page but here is a website with a picture that illustrates human impact on the carbon cycle. []

A greenhouse works by taking in sunlight and heating it up. This process is the conversion of solar energy (sunlight) to thermal energy (heat). Greenhouses are designed to allow sunlight to filter through the walls and ceiling. The sunlight warms the trapped air inside, creating chemical reactions

<span style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: #000000; display: block; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> Read more: [|How Does a Greenhouse Work? | eHow.com] []

5

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica;">A. Deforestation occurs in many ways. The majority of rain forest cut down is cleared for agricultural use such as the grazing of cattle, and the planting of crops. Poor farmers chop down a small area (typically a few acres) and burn the tree trunks, a process called "slash and burn" agriculture. Intensive, or modern, agriculture occurs on a much larger scale, sometimes deforesting several square miles at a time. Large cattle pastures often replace rain forest to raise beef for the world market.

B. The burning of fossil fuels by human affects the carbon cycle because burning of fossil fuel will release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere causing the carbon dioxide rate to increase; Which eventually will create greenhouse effect, leading to global warming. <span style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: #000000; display: block; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">

__**Assignment # 5**__

"A **carbon footprint** is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc." - Direct Quote from this site:

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbonfootprint.html


 * Here are my results that I've received from the carbon footprint quiz. I wasn't exactly sure how to publish the results so I just decided to record them instead. Hope that's okay!**

Carbon Footprint Quiz- I am going to need 4.9 planet earths to provide enough resources. Percentage Area for Ecological Footprint: Services- 41% Food- 22% Shelter- 13% Mobility- 13 % Goods- 12 %

Three lifestyle habits that could have a negative impact towards my carbon footprint would be consuming animal products a few times a week, Using services such as gas, heat and fuel, and purchasing products that use a lot of packaging. These three habits of mine are not good choices because it can take up a lot of energy, especially using services. Services alone such as flying or bus can take up a lot of earths energy. Too many biological wastes are being generated within a year.

In order to change these habits and take action I am going to reduce the number of animal products I eat by half. I am also going to pledge to purchase products using less packaging and are made out of 100 percent post-consumer recycled content material and instead of taking a vacation somewhere far for a change I will try to find a place to go that is much closer so I don't use too much gas and energy to get there.

// HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE? //

I believe that one person can make a difference because while the energy savings of just one person turning off the lights, unplugging switches, or even switching from a gas-guzzling SUV to a more energy efficient hybrid may seem insignificant in the big picture, if thousands of people all take the action, then the positive affect would be enormous. If millions do, then it could change the earth

If one person asked me if they can make a difference because they are only person I would definitely tell them yes you can, it all depends on how badly you really WANT to make a difference and the amount of effort it takes for you. A little help can go a long way in the future. If every person in the world did one thing each day to help make a difference I personally believe that the world would be a better beautiful place. (Not that it already isn't) but with more help we can make it even more beautiful! :)