Learning from feedback mechanisms it makes sense that the polar regions of Earth have warmed much more than the tropics because, in the tropics there is more water and heat which can in turn cause weathering because the rocks are exposed to the water causing chemical and physical changes. Which is a negative feedback that causes the atmosphere to cool because when the rocks undergo these changes their minerals are dissolved which is what gives the atmosphere carbon dioxide, if this is taken away it will weaken the greenhouse gas effect which will in turn cause the earth to cool, the hotter it is, the faster this reaction will happen causing warmer and wetter areas (tropics) to cool faster than polar areas.

Environmental groups are becoming concerned with continuing coal production in western states and decided to file a lawsuit against the government. The group’s fear is that the coal burning is going to heavily impact climate change over the upcoming years. The federal government has decided to try and settle the lawsuit rather than fighting it in court. According to the NY Times article, “APNewsBreak: Feds Seeking Settlement in Coal Mining Lawsuits,” the projects that the environmental group are targeting involve more than 600 million tons of coal in western states. The specific plant that the environmental group is targeting is the Arch Coal, Inc.’s Black Thunder Mine in Wyoming. The mine is one of the largest coal mines in the world. This issue relates to the climate change because coal mining and emission negatively affects climate change.

After doing further research, Wyoming is the leading state for production in the United States, so it makes sense that it is the focus of a large lawsuit. According to U.S. Energy Information Association, Wyoming has 39% of the total coal production in the United States. That is a leading factor that a group has a large lawsuit out against a company in the state that is leading the U.S. in coal production. This article is a big issue because coal is a big issue with climate change, so it will be interesting to see how different environmental groups treat the issue of coal emissions. It will also be interesting to see how the federal government reacts to this issue.

References:

“APNewsBreak: Feds Seeking Settlement in Coal Mining Lawsuits.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 2016. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.

“U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Which States Produce the Most Coal? Web. 07 Feb. 2016.

This article was about two studies that showed how altering the densities of forest can change the temperature in that area and the carbon cycle. To get a full scope on the temperature change timeline, Kim Naudts, a scientist who studies climate change gathered 250 years of data on forest management. In addition, she gathered data on different tree species and where they are located around the world. What she found was that when you convert broad-leaved forests into coniferous forest, you can see large changes in evapotranspiration and albedo.  Therefore, the author concludes for the first study that “climate framework should account for land management practices in addition to land cover when trying to mitigate warming”.

The second study was focused on global forest and how they affect fluxes of energy and water between planet earth and the atmosphere. This study used satellite data of surface temperatures and variations in forest coverage around the planet. Their analysis showed that deforestation is causing an increase in maximum and average land temperatures. The only outlier that did not seem to match this trend was the forest in the northern latitudes. In conclusion, these two studies showed how global forest affect carbon cycles and global temperatures.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204150713.htm

A common point of view in America is addressing Global Warming is going to require major political changes.  On the right they believe the economy will be majorly effected by a switch to renewable energy.  On the left the view is that politicians including Obama are doing to little to address environmental issues specifically global warming and there is need for major changes in government to address global warming.   Depending on the results of the 2016 election these views could be completely wrong.  Through tax credits for using renewables and the Clean Power Plan which will help move away from coal the most dirty carbon based fuel.  Both of these plans led by the Obama administration will help lead a energy revolution but will not cause a major shift in the economy as the right fears.  The plan would also not require a political revolution as many on the left believe. The 2016 results are important because they will determine whether we continue the Obama administrations policies or remove them completely as many of the political right would prefer.  Although global warming is a world issue, hence the USA’s policies will not change all issues many other countries are adopting similar policies.  Meaning renewables are becoming more validated and popular world wide.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/01/opinion/wind-sun-and-fire.html?ref=topics

As anyone who follows climate news knows, Greenland’s ice sheet is melting at a rate faster than ever. While this is a problem in itself, it may also be causing damage to the ocean circulation. Cold, fresh water from the ice sheet mixes in with the warm, salty ocean just south of Greenland. This is normal and has been driving ocean circulation for centuries, but with freshwater being lighter than salt water, the oceanic circulation can be disrupted with a higher level of cold fresh water. This can mean cooler summers and winters in the North Atlantic along with higher sea levels over North America.

As ocean circulation is one of the main drivers for climates around the world, this can also have serious side effects across the whole world. Cooler fresh water can decrease the strong currents circulating deep in the ocean and may cause warm water to rise and cool water to sink in different places across the world altering local climates. This would have serious consequences for anyone who makes a living off the ocean like fishermen and sailors. In addition, farmers would suffer as the climate becomes unpredictable and planting and harvesting times become disrupted.

If the melting continues at this increased rate, scientists will have to work overtime to determine exactly what the effects will be globally. As climate change continues, the world may reach a tipping point it cannot come back from.

Resource:

http://www.newsweek.com/greenland-meltwater-could-mess-ocean-circulation-418976

The Obama administration will make a bold move by proposing, in the 2017 federal budget, a tax on oil-producing companies by charging them $10 for every barrel of oil produced. The move is bold because the proposed tax must pass through a Republican-controlled Congress, unlike the Clean Power Plan, and most of the administration’s other climate-change efforts. The revenue would be recycled into green infrastructure programs, renewable energy R&D, and, what I’m most excited about, grants and other financial incentive programs allocated to states that invest in low-carbon public transportation, as well as urban planning intended to reduce GHG emissions. Given that many states (the ones that aren’t already ahead of the game) will have to eventually implement energy infrastructure plans that comply with Clean Power Plan mandates, the incentives outlined in the budget proposal will make implementing holistic climate change plans more appealing to states. Additionally, since some of the barrel-tax costs will be passed onto the consumer, states will face additional incentives to reduce their oil consumption.

Of course, the budget proposal will have to include measures that are highly appealing to Republican Congress members in order to have any chance of passing. I’m not sure how the Obama administration will go about this.

I’m also worried that, since some of the costs will, indeed, be passed onto consumers, that poor people will face disproportionate short-term economic burdens. I haven’t read anything that says that some of the revenue-recycling will be earmarked to offset this burden. This is disheartening, and worrisome. Any efforts to address climate change should simultaneously address climate justice, and this proposal may set a federal precedent to ignore climate justice altogether.

http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/02/05/stories/1060031881

During this weeks module we learned about the climate system and its effect across the world.  We, as a human race, have recognized that the globe is in fact getting warmer and that the climate is being effected by humans.  The primary cause of humans impact on climate is through the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases into the air, which then traps the heat emitted by the sun and earth.  However, countries such as Morocco are making great strides in reducing their carbon emissions by implementing alternative forms of energy for the population.

The article I have chosen to blog about is titled “Morocco Unveils Massive Solar Plant” by the New York Times.  It states that Morocco introduced one of the world’s biggest solar plants this past Thursday.  Morocco spent nearly $3.9 billion on the project and the plant is projected to supply nearly 1.2 million people with power.  The country has decided to take advantage of the “Sahara sunshine” and will even be storing power when the sun isn’t shining.

In my opinion, this is a great stride in energy conservation for the world and I am hoping other countries are willing to consider the use of solar energy for the future.  The world needs to diminish their carbon emissions and solar energy is a viable solution to this problem.  It will be interesting to follow this project and see the impact it has on Morocco’s environment and emissions.

“Morocco Unveils Massive Solar Plant.” The New York Times. The Associated Press, 4 Feb. 2016. Web. 4 Feb. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/02/04/world/middleeast/ap-ml-morocco-solar-plant.html?_r=0>.

For Module 3’s blog I have decided to find an article written in the past, about an event that took place 200 years ago. The event that my article is about is the eruption of Mount Tambora, which is now located in Indonesia. This eruption took place in April of 1815. The article goes into great detail discussing the global effects of the volcanic eruption that was 100 times greater than that of Mount St. Helens. The eruption killed 100,000 local people of Sumbawa, but the effects did not stop there. The following two years were cold ones for the rest of the world. The Germans called it “the year of the beggar,” while the New Englanders coined it “eighteen hundred and froze to death”. The particles from the eruption were transported well above rain carrying clouds, and therefore acted as a reflector for the sun. The cloud of ash reflected large amounts of sunlight that were trying to reach the Earth’s surface, which created a global cooling to occur in the years to follow.

The effects of the eruption were not only seen in the climate but also in the art during the time period. During the year of 1816, Mary Shelley concocted the story of Frankenstein which was the published in 1818. Vampires also became increasingly popular in literature and stories as well as darker themed stories. There were many paintings that focused on the brilliant sunsets during the time, but little did the artists know that those sunsets were a product of the clouds of ash miles above.

The severe climate changes included, a change in the monsoon of 1817 and extensive rains that led to a cholera outbreak in India which then spread to the Dutch East Indies. This epidemic killed hundreds of thousands. Summers were cooler all over the globe, resulting in a shortage of crops and an increase in hunger. This volcanic eruption did not just effect one area, it produced a domino-effect of global issues for nearly two years. These outcomes can help scientists further predict how change in climate will, in fact, change humanity as well.

References:

Broad, William J. “A Volcanic Eruption That Reverberates 200 Years Later.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 Aug. 2015. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/science/mount-tambora-volcano-eruption-1815.html>.