How the world responds to man-made climate change involves a very complex, expensive, and politically divisive array of potential solutions and lifestyle adjustments. However, one natural process of which you may have been unaware involves the largest mammals in the world: whales.
As explained in the excellent video below, whales play a primary role in the ecology of the oceans, and, as a result, the world as well. Just like the rest of us, they need to eat to survive, and, well, they need to relieve themselves afterward too.
So why is this important one may ask?
When their waste products are released into the ocean, they provide vital nutrients for algae and plankton growth in the upper reaches of the ocean. In addition to providing a source of food for ocean fish and animal life, plant plankton also adsorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, thus providing a sink (or removal process) for CO2 emissions as well.
Scientists have estimated that before whaling populations were decimated by decades of hunting, whales were indirectly responsible for removing tens of millions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. Therefore, efforts by environmental groups and governments to stop whaling activities will not only lead to a resurgence of whale populations, but also result in more CO2 being removed from the atmosphere.
Environmental news from a California perspective. Comments appreciated but keep it civil. Otherwise, expect to be banned.
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Thursday, September 29, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
NAS scientists blast Trump's climate change ignorance
"Human-caused climate change is not a belief, a hoax, or a conspiracy. It is a physical reality. Fossil fuels powered the Industrial Revolution. But the burning of oil, coal, and gas also caused most of the historical increase in atmospheric levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. This increase in greenhouse gases is changing Earth’s climate."
The above is the first paragraph from an open letter signed by 375 National Academy of Sciences scientists, including 60 Nobel Prize winners. The letter is meant to emphasize the urgency of taking measures now to address the consequences of man-made climate change.
The letter also calls out the ignorance of the Republican nominee for President of the United States, Donald Trump, for his stated plans to remove the USA from previous international agreements to address this worldwide issue.
The letter states, "Thus it is of great concern that the Republican nominee for President has advocated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord. A “Parexit” would send a clear signal to the rest of the world: "The United States does not care about the global problem of human-caused climate change. You are on your own." Such a decision would make it far more difficult to develop effective global strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The consequences of opting out of the global community would be severe and long-lasting – for our planet’s climate and for the international credibility of the United States."
Trump has previously expressed his opinions on climate change, including a much ridiculed tweet from several years ago that it is a Chinese conspiracy. In fairness, he later claimed that this tweet was a joke, however, he has on numerous other occasions publicly stated that he does not believe in man-made climate change.
You can view the entire letter at this link: Open Letter on Climate Change
The above is the first paragraph from an open letter signed by 375 National Academy of Sciences scientists, including 60 Nobel Prize winners. The letter is meant to emphasize the urgency of taking measures now to address the consequences of man-made climate change.
The letter also calls out the ignorance of the Republican nominee for President of the United States, Donald Trump, for his stated plans to remove the USA from previous international agreements to address this worldwide issue.
The letter states, "Thus it is of great concern that the Republican nominee for President has advocated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accord. A “Parexit” would send a clear signal to the rest of the world: "The United States does not care about the global problem of human-caused climate change. You are on your own." Such a decision would make it far more difficult to develop effective global strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. The consequences of opting out of the global community would be severe and long-lasting – for our planet’s climate and for the international credibility of the United States."
Trump has previously expressed his opinions on climate change, including a much ridiculed tweet from several years ago that it is a Chinese conspiracy. In fairness, he later claimed that this tweet was a joke, however, he has on numerous other occasions publicly stated that he does not believe in man-made climate change.
You can view the entire letter at this link: Open Letter on Climate Change
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
APCD issues health warning due to smoke from fires
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District today issued a "health cautionary" statement for residents of the Valley because of wind blown smoke from fires outside the area.
Smoke from two fires in Monterey County (Soberanes Fire) and Santa Barbara County (Canyon Fire) is blowing into the Valley via wind currents. Particulate matter and other pollutants from those fires may cause respiratory problems and other health issues, including an increased risk for stroke and heart attacks.
The full alert can be found at this link: APCD Smoke Advisory
Soberanes Wildfire
Photo Credit: By TJRC (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Smoke from two fires in Monterey County (Soberanes Fire) and Santa Barbara County (Canyon Fire) is blowing into the Valley via wind currents. Particulate matter and other pollutants from those fires may cause respiratory problems and other health issues, including an increased risk for stroke and heart attacks.
The full alert can be found at this link: APCD Smoke Advisory
Thursday, September 15, 2016
2017 Healthy Air Living Kid's Calendar contest
Hey, do you know a kid in Kindergarten through high school that has a talent for art and an interest in the environment? It's time for the annual Healthy Air Living Kid's Calendar for 2017, sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
Twenty-thousand copies of the calendar will be printed and distributed for free to schools, churches, non-profits, community groups, and healthcare facilities. Here's a link to last year's calendar: 2016 Calendar
The entry deadline is Oct. 3, 2016. Click here for more info: 2017 Calendar Rules
Twenty-thousand copies of the calendar will be printed and distributed for free to schools, churches, non-profits, community groups, and healthcare facilities. Here's a link to last year's calendar: 2016 Calendar
The entry deadline is Oct. 3, 2016. Click here for more info: 2017 Calendar Rules
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