What Are The Concepts Of Geoengineering Environmental Sciences Essay

What Are The Concepts Of Geoengineering Environmental Sciences Essay Climate change is already affecting the inhabitants, economies, and environment of all regions of the world. Scientific evidence now clearly indicates that human activities such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation have initiated significant climatic change. These anthropogenic activities produce greenhouse gases emissions into the atmosphere, which heat up the atmosphere causing global warming. The impacts of global warming, which are mostly linked with extreme climate events, are mostly dangerous and are expected to continue and intensify in the future. Today, climate policies for global warming are mostly focused on the mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions through regulation. Yet, concerns regarding the slow progress on achieving global emission reductions and uncertainties as to whether regulation can solve global warming, have led some of the worlds scientific and political groups to suggest the possibility of directly manipulating the Earths climatic feedback system (Ra lston, 2009). Such a deliberate, large-scale manipulation of the environment is called Geoengineering (Greencarcongress.com, 2009). The idea of geoengineering is to mitigate the effect of fossil fuel burning on the climate through high-efficiency technologies whether by removing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, or by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. The proposed projects include capturing carbon dioxide from ambient air, enhancing weather system, injecting sulphate aerosol into the stratosphere, locating sunshades on the Earths surface, and launching reflective materials into the atmosphere, just to name a few (The Royal Society, 2009). Despite the hopeful sound of these geoengineering proposals, scepticism about whether they are scientifically possible, politically feasible, and ethically justifiable remains. Although there still remain the potential of devastating risks, such as drought in Africa and Asia, ozone depletion, and other unexpected consequences, the deployment of geoengineering presents scientific, political, and ethical challenges to addressing climate change. One of the most significant challenges posed by geoengineering is the scientific issue. While not all scientists agree with the concept of geoengineering, there is the challenge as to whether developing and deploying geoengineering projects on a massive scale are scientifically practicable. Although there are some current technologies that allow these projects, most of them are technically unproven and potentially dangerous to the environment. Given such uncertainties, the scientific soundness of geoengineering has been brought into question. Its not only ethicists and policy makers who question its practicability but also scientists themselves dismiss this idea as infeasible and risky given the scale at which most projects must be instituted and the associated catastrophic consequences. Many still doubt its applicability. For example, the National Academy of Sciences committee on science, Engineering, and Public Policy commented that engineered countermeasures on climate change must first be evaluated before implementation and clear cut understanding on the direct effects and potential side effects, risks and ethical issues must be sought. Some scientists have argued that some of the effects of these technologies are short-term and may be turned-off but others may have long-term effects yet we still cant rely on our current range of scientific experience. Economists in various parts of the globe are working hard to develop least-cost and optimal paths in geoengineering development. Some of their attempts have minimal scientific interest with limited policy and practical value. The main reason for it is because today we have inadequate knowledge on geoengineering risks and costs. It transpires that outputs of cost modelling developed by economists end up being determined by uncertain input assumptions. There is limited cost-benefit climate impact assessment that is simple and economically focused that can provide results relevant to the current policies. Economic analysis on whether to do emissions mitigation or geoengineering is inappropriate (Barret, 2007). This clearly means that more economic research is required so that policy decisions on geoengineering can be made. It is estimated that costs of conventional mitigation may be 1% or 2% of the global GDP and this is almost 1 trillion annually. This is the amount of money that is re quired to avoid risks of current emissions approaching 10GtC/yr. the carbon price corresponding to this is $100 per tone. Costs of SRM (solar radiation management) methods require 1 trillion annually in order to be affordable. CDR (carbon dioxide removal) methods costs would be comparable to carbon mitigation costs of $100/tonne of carbon. Its difficult to establish estimates of costs for geoengineering technologies. There are only tentative estimates available for the methods to be applied (Robock, 2009). Greatest challenge in deployment of geoengineering methods is the political and legal issues associated with governance but rather not in technical and scientific issues. Pre-existing national mechanisms may be sufficient for some of the methods like ambient air capture. For others like ocean iron fertilisation current international mechanisms though relevant still require modification. Some of the methods requiring trans-boundary activity and have trans-boundary effects require nations to have new international mechanisms. One method requiring new international mechanisms is space-based mirrors and stratospheric aerosols. Before deployment of such methods such as solar radiation management and carbon dioxide removal, there must be appropriate governance mechanisms and this call for analysis to determine whether existing national, regional and international mechanisms are appropriate to manage geoengineering. Ethical considerations are a must even if we have to seek ways to minimize risks of global warming. There are debates whether geoengineering is warranted ethically and some arguments of this seek to extend moral concern towards nonhuman environment. For example, people have to conquer natural forces threatening their survival. Adaptation to effects of global warming like mega-storms and rising sea levels shows that nature is the victor in the man-nature struggle. Geoengineering projects apply technology to overcome nature and to convert natural environments to built environments. Some have argued that it is a moral imperative to conquer nature. There is an ethic of control requiring humans to manage natural environment while treating soils, fauna, atmosphere and flora as resources for use. Those who are for ethic of restraint however resist temptation of natural environment exploitation. Geoengineering methods are though to be aligned with an ethic of control but not merely that of r estraint. On ethical matters, there appears to be a conflict between the present and the future generations. Some of the projects favoured by current generations with idea that they will not affect the future generations are however not aligned with interests of these projects. There is insufficient scientific certainty that may prevent adoption of cost effective measures to evade causing harm to future generations and degradation of environment. Anthropogenic GHG emissions continue to rise since rich nations undertake projects without consent of poorer ones while the poorer nations with a right to development may initiate their projects. The debate remains on collective actions while the levels of emissions are still increasing (Robock, 2009). Geoengineering technologies may slow down the global hydrological cycle (Hoffman, 2010). Several studies have proposed geoengineering schemes that will reduce amount solar radiation that is absorbed by planet earth. From sunshade geoengineering schemes, it has been reported that global warming as a result of increasing concentration of carbon dioxide can be mitigated intentionally through manipulation of amount of sunlight absorbed through the climate system. Insolation reductions aimed at offsetting the global temperature increase usually lead to a decreased global average precipitation. This happens because solar forcing more effectively drives global mean evaporation changes compared to amount of carbon dioxide forcing which is of the same magnitude. Insolation changes come with larger changes in surface radiative fluxes and this is compensated by larger changes in sensible and latent heat fluxes. Hydrological cycle is so sensitive to temperature adjustment through the changes in insolation. This is a clear indication that geoengineering technologies through alteration of solar forcing offsets hydrological and temperature changes. Geoengineering technologies have serious effects on ecosystems. The mitigation effects are somehow ineffectual in reduction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Coral reefs are one of the most sensitive ecosystems to climate change. They are two groupings of solar radiation; long-wave carbon dioxide removal and shortwave solar radiation management. Some of these techniques only reduce some of the effects but create other problems. They dont affect carbon dioxide levels and thus rarely address its side effects like ocean acidification that is important for coral reefs. Solar radiation is important for survival and growth of coral, therefore solar radiation management is not appropriate for coral reefs ecosystems (Royalsociety.org, 2009). Calcifying marine organisms like crustaceans, corals, and molluscs are adversely affected by these technologies. Marine life ahs millions of lives that can be destroyed through the current technologies aimed at checking the climate change. Thoug h they are good remedies to reduce effects on humans, marine life has been put at risk. Even iron filings that are used to enhance growth of phytoplankton are still not good to marine life 100%. Aerial spraying, aerosol emissions, chemtrails or the so called cirrus clouds have been created through geoengineering technologies. These chemicals have heavy metals that may cause dementia symptoms associated with Alzheimers disease. Chemtrails affect localized weather where a clear blue sky may be turned into a hazy overcast. Some of the chemicals from chemtrails have high concentrations of Lead (8.2 ppm) and Barium (6.8 ppm). There are traces of other elements such as selenium, cadmium, chromium and arsenic which are so toxic. Exposure to Barium can cause chest and stomach pains and weakening of the human immune system (Robock, 2009). Barium causes asthma and its a powerful suppressant of the immune system. This is weather modification that has also affected the water supplies and agricultural crops. Weather modification using geoengineering technologies may in the long run affect all ecosystems through reduction of water supplies, crop production, water availability and changing the agricultural crops production cycles. Due to the increasing effects of global warming and the greenhouse gases, use of geoengineering technologies is a great idea. This is because even if there are side effects we cant just ignore the new inventions by our scientists as we continue to suffer. Its one of the methods that we can apply in minimizing the high concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. We cannot however use it as a substitute but we need to have it as a preventive measure when the concentrations of carbon dioxide are so high in the atmosphere. We should use geoengineering when we have to reduce adverse effects of climate change. It is important that we use geoengineering in controlling greenhouse gases like harmful methane which is capable of staying in the atmosphere for a very long period of time. Reduction of such gases in the atmosphere is less painful than reduction of carbon dioxide. Technologies to perform such prevention measures are already in existence and are economically and politically ea sy to handle. Personally, I believe we need to have more research on this topic before we decide to use it on the large scale (Schwartz, 2009).

Chaucers Canterbury Tales - Character Sketch of Chaucers Knight in General Prologue :: Canterbury Tales Essays

A Character Sketch of Chaucer's Knight in General Prologue Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in approximately 1385, is a collection of twenty-four stories ostensibly told by various people who are going on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral from London, England. Prior to the actual tales, however, Chaucer offers the reader a glimpse of fourteenth century life by way of what he refers to as a General Prologue. In this prologue, Chaucer introduces all of the characters who are involved in this imaginary journey and who will tell the tales. Among the characters included in this introductory section is a knight. Chaucer initially refers to the knight as "a most distinguished man" (l. 43) and, indeed, his sketch of the knight is highly complimentary. The knight, Chaucer tells us, "possessed/Fine horses, but he was not gaily dressed" (ll. 69-70). Indeed, the knight is dressed in a common shirt which is stained "where his armor had left mark" (l. 72). That is, the knight is "just home from service" (l. 73) and is in such a hurry to go on his pilgrimage that he has not even paused before beginning it to change his clothes. The knight has had a very busy life as his fighting career has taken him to a great many places. He has seen military service in Egypt, Lithuania, Prussia, Russia, Spain, North Africa, and Asia Minor where he "was of [great] value in all eyes (l. 63). Even though he has had a very successful and busy career, he is extremely humble: Chaucer maintains that he is "modest as a maid" (l. 65). Moreover, he has never said a rude thing to anyone in his entire life (cf., ll. 66-7). Clearly, the knight possesses an outstanding character. Chaucer gives to the knight one of the more flattering descriptions in the General Prologue. The knight can do no wrong: he is an outstanding warrior who has fought for the true faith--according to Chaucer--on three continents. In the midst of all this contenton, however, the knight remains modest and polite. The knight is the embodiment of the chivalric code: he is devout and courteous off the battlefield and is bold and fearless on it.

Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball

Baseball is an international sport played by young and old, amateurs and professionals. After Team USA failed to win the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics, Barry Bloom wrote in March 2009, â€Å"And now it can't be ignored: The U. S. is no longer the undisputed leader of the game that was invented on its own soil. † (Bloom, 2009) The World Baseball Classic, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and supported by professional baseball leagues from around the world, is the first international baseball tournament to feature players from major leagues around the world (International Baseball Federation, 2010). The inaugural World Baseball Classic was played in 2006. The second was held in 2009, with tournaments to be held every four years (International Baseball Federation, 2010). Team Japan, Nippon Professional Baseball, won the first two World Baseball Classics while Team USA, Major League Baseball, finished sixth in 2006 and fourth in 2009. The basic objective in baseball is to win by scoring more runs than your opponent. Rule 1. 1 of Official Baseball Rules states, â€Å"Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under direction of a manager, played on an enclosed field in accordance with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires. † (Major League Baseball, 2010, p. 1). The infield is a 90 foot square and the pitchers mound is 60’6† from home plate. The ball is round and â€Å"formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. † (Major League Baseball, 2010, p. ). The bat, one piece of solid wood, is a â€Å"smooth, round stick not more than 2. 61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. † (Major League Baseball, 2010, p. 6). While the rules and objectives are generally the same, just what differences exist between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball? Major League Baseball is divided into two leagues with a total of thirty teams. The National League is comprised of sixteen teams and the American League is comprised of fourteen teams. The thirty teams play a 162 game schedule and compete for eight post-season playoff spots and teams are named after the city or state they represent. In contrast, Nippon Professional Baseball is divided into two leagues with a total of twelve teams. Six teams comprise both the Central and Pacific Leagues. The twelve teams play a 144 game schedule and compete for six post-season playoff spots and the teams are named after the company that owns them. Major League Baseball games are scheduled for nine innings. If the score is tied at the end of nine innings, play continues until a winner is determined; no matter how long it takes (Major League Baseball, 2010, p. 37). However, tie games are a possibility in Nippon Professional Baseball games. Similar to Major League Baseball, Nippon Baseball games are scheduled for nine innings. In contrast, if the score is tied at the end of nine innings, the teams play three additional innings. If no winner is determined, the game is called a draw (Williams, 2009). Major League Baseball players and managers place an emphasis on home runs and pitching. Former Baltimore Orioles Manager Earl Weaver said, â€Å"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers† (Baseball Almanac, 2011). By contrast, Nippon Professional Baseball managers place less emphasis on home runs. Instead they focus more on the fundamentals of bunting, base running and fielding. Because of these differences, Nippon baseball games typically have closer and lower final scores (Hardcastle, 2006). Major League stadiums are standardized (Major League Baseball, 2010, p. 2). Infields and outfields are well-groomed grass or synthetic turf. Nippon Baseball stadiums, on the other hand, are smaller and irregularly shaped. The outfields are grass while almost all of the infields are dirt (Yates, 2005). While the rules are generally the same, Major League Baseball has more teams, plays more games, games do not end in a tie and teams are named after the city or state they represent. Players and managers focus on home runs and pitching and the stadiums are standardized and infields well-groomed. On the other hand, Nippon Professional Baseball has less teams, play less games, allows ties and the teams are named after the company that owns them. The focus is on bunting, base running and fielding and the stadiums are smaller and most infields are dirt. No matter the similarities and differences, both Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball have the same objective. Score more runs than your opponent!

Paid Time Off ( Pto ) - 1443 Words

Introduction Paid time off (PTO) is the system accumulate all kinds of identified leaves and specify as a bulk number for everyone, as sick leaves, vacation leaves, and personal leaves, this policy prevails in the USA as such no legal obligation for a minimum number of paid vacation days. The PTO works best in the culture and accountable employee’s environment existing. US companies commonly regulate the amount the pay day off that will be allocated to each employee. in addition, The PTO approach govern, the whole lot from planned leaves to sick leaves. without differentiate any type of leaves, all treats as sum lump. research show that maximum the businesses begin using the PTO approach before the year 2000. The PTO system allowed employees to take time off without any restriction imposed through traditional time off policies. the tactic provides employees with countable days that assign individually in the system, upon usage of the leaves, the system automatically reduces the remaining balance day. employees can employ their allocated days in their own personal, using the leave paid off leave system, without having to specify any reasons. employers can advantage from PTO asking the employees to determine their leaves in advance and employer can plan for lost workdays and creating a family environment through the organization. Corporations usually provide variety of leaves (personal, sick, maternity, veteran) as privilege that employees respect, although it’s notShow MoreRelatedPaid Time Off ( Pto ) Essay1625 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Paid time off (PTO) is the employer pools sick days, vacation days, and personal days that allows the employees to utilize upon need. this policy pertains mainly in USA as such no legal requirement for minimum number of paid vacation days. the PTO works best in the culture and accountable employee’s environment existing. US companies determine the amount off the pay day off that will be allocated to each employee. In general way PTO system cover, everything from planned vacation toRead MorePaid Time Off (Pto) Policies1726 Words   |  7 PagesTraditional leave systems separate time off into vacation, sick leave, personal leave, and other types of leave. 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US company’s regulator the amount off the pay day off that will be allocated to each employee. a general way, PTO system coverRead MoreEssay On Paid Time Off1484 Words   |  6 PagesIt is apparent that paid time off can offer many benefits to employees and employers aside from just simply reducing occurrences of unscheduled time off, likewise, a paid-time-off (PTO) policy has other benefits such as PTO, makes employees more productive, increases retention rates, makes the company more attractive to new hires, and helps prevent people from feeling guilty about taking time off. All in all, incorporating PTO can a ppear as a frightening challenge, although the process will differRead MoreBenefits Of Paid Time Off Essay1547 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Æ' Introduction Paid time off (PTO) is system employer use to accumulate all kinds of leaves as sick days, vacation days, and personal days that allow the employees to use upon need. this policy works mostly in the USA as such no legal obligation for a minimum number of paid vacation days. the PTO works best in the culture and accountable employee’s environment existing. US company’s regulator the amount the pay day off that will be allocated to each employee. a general way, The PTO system cover,Read MoreA Brief Note On Hansen Mechanical Contractors ( Hmc )1515 Words   |  7 Pagesway sick time and personal time off (PTO) is paid and taken. In past years (up until 2013) sick time was only able to be taken in the calendar year and if not taken would be lost. Each employee was given seven sick days per year. 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Along with duties and responsibilities, Employee shall comply with all Employer procedures, policies, and rules and regulationsRead MoreUniversity Health Systems Is The Leading Trauma Center For South Texas1671 Words   |  7 Pagesthis organization offers employees. They do offer a large PTO amount each payday; however that is used for everything such as, sick leave, holiday pay, and vacations. If one of the departments is closed for the holiday then you are forced to take PTO even if you do not want to. During the first year of employment, full-time staff accrues 28 days at the rate of 8.62 hours every two weeks. The accrual rate increases with each year of full-time service, up to a rate of 38 days per year (University Health