sday, 15 March 2012

Global Warming
Global Warming
Throughout its long history, Earth has warmed and cooled time and again. Climat
e has changed when the planet received more or less sunlight due to subtle shift
s in its orbit, as the atmosphere or surface changed, or when the Suns energy var
ied. But in the past century, another force has started to influence Earths clima
te: humanity.
How does this warming compare to previous changes in Earths climate? How can we b
e certain that human-released greenhouse gases are causing the warming? How much
more will the Earth warm? How will Earth respond? Answering these questions is
perhaps the most significant scientific challenge of our time.
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earths average surface temperat
ure over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released as peop
le burn fossil fuels. The global average surface temperature rose 0.6 to 0.9 deg
rees Celsius (1.1 to 1.6 F) between 1906 and 2005, and the rate of temperature in
crease has nearly doubled in the last 50 years. Temperatures are certain to go u
p further.
Earths natural greenhouse effect
Earths temperature begins with the Sun. Roughly 30 percent of incoming sunlight i
s reflected back into space by bright surfaces like clouds and ice. Of the remai
ning 70 percent, most is absorbed by the land and ocean, and the rest is absorbe
d by the atmosphere. The absorbed solar energy heats our planet.
As the rocks, the air, and the seas warm, they radiate heat energy (thermal infrar
ed radiation). From the surface, this energy travels into the atmosphere where m
uch of it is absorbed by water vapor and long-lived greenhouse gases such as car
bon dioxide and methane.
When they absorb the energy radiating from Earths surface, microscopic water or g
reenhouse gas molecules turn into tiny heaters like the bricks in a fireplace, th
ey radiate heat even after the fire goes out. They radiate in all directions. Th
e energy that radiates back toward Earth heats both the lower atmosphere and the
surface, enhancing the heating they get from direct sunlight.
This absorption and radiation of heat by the atmospherethe natural greenhouse eff
ectis beneficial for life on Earth. If there were no greenhouse effect, the Earths
average surface temperature would be a very chilly -18C (0F) instead of the comfo
rtable 15C (59F) that it is today.
The enhanced greenhouse effect
What has scientists concerned now is that over the past 250 years, humans have b
een artificially raising the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
at an ever-increasing rate, mostly by burning fossil fuels, but also from cutti
ng down carbon-absorbing forests. Since the Industrial Revolution began in about
1750, carbon dioxide levels have increased nearly 38 percent as of 2009 and met
hane levels have increased 148 percent.
Ways to Stop Global Warming:
People should reduce the usage of electrical appliances which emits green ho
use gases. For e.g. the refrigerator releases chlorofluro carbon (CFC) and the i
ncandescent light lamp emits 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. This can be re
placed by a compact fluorescent light bulb which saves much energy.
Follow RRR - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. People should not dump waste products o
n the ground. Plant products, food waste, vegetable dump undergoes anaerobic dec
omposition i.e. they break down to produce methane, a green house gas instead of
oxygen. Hence the product usage and wastage should be reduced or recycled for a
healthy atmosphere.
Trees absorb a large amount of carbon dioxide. Many trees should be planted
since they involve in photosynthesis, food preparation with the help of sunlight
. During this process, trees absorb carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Also, exis
ting forests should be saved and usage of plant byproducts shouldn not be wasted
.
Usage of green power prevents 300 kg of carbon dioxide to be emitted into th
e atmosphere. The electricity obtained from the renewable resources like wind an
d water is called green power. The cost is also low in case of green power.
Posted by Sanjay at 04:55 1 comment:
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Corruption
CORRUPTION
In philosophical, theological, or moral discussions, corruption is spiritual or
moral impurity or deviation from an ideal. In economy, corruption is payment for
services or material which the recipient is not due, under law. This may be cal
led bribery, kickback, or, in the Middle East,baksheesh. In government it is whe
n an elected representative makes decisions that are influenced by campaign cont
ributions rather than their own personal beliefs. In government, when an elected
representative makes decisions based on creating jobs or distributing money whi
ch raises support/votes in their district using tax money raised in someone else
's district.
Politics
Political corruption is the abuse of public power, office, or resources by elect
ed government officials for personal gain, e.g. by extortion, soliciting or offe
ring bribes. It can also take the form of office holders maintaining themselves
in office by purchasing votes by enacting laws which use taxpayer money. Systemi
c corruption, the complete subversion of a political or economic system. Governm
ental corruption of judiciary is broadly known in many transitional and developi
ng countries because the budget is almost completely controlled by the executive
. The latter undermines the separation of powers, as it creates a critical finan
cial dependence of the judiciary. The proper national wealth distribution includ
ing the government spending on the judiciary is subject of the constitutional ec
onomics.
Police
Police corruption is a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain fin
ancial benefits, other personal gain, and/or career advancement for a police off
icer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an inves
tigation or arrest. One common form of police corruption is soliciting and/or ac
cepting bribes in exchange for not reporting organized drug or prostitution ring
s or other illegal activities. Another example is police officers flouting the p
olice code of conduct in order to secure convictions of suspects for example, th
rough the use of falsified evidence. More rarely, police officers may deliberate
ly and systematically participate in organized crime themselves. In most major c
ities, there are internal affairs sections to investigate suspected police corru
ption or misconduct.
How You Can Support
Everyone can make an impact on curbing corruption .
By becoming actively involved
By contributing his or her time
By suggesting changes to improve the system
Posted by Sanjay at 04:42 1 comment:
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