http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/09/130924-global-warming-climate-change-thunderstorms-tornadoes/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20130924_rw_membership_r1p_w#finished
This article describes studies that are beginning to be done to test if global warming will increase the severity of thunderstorms. Models have been created to test the effects of global warming on the amount of thunderstorms that occur. Convective available potential energy(CAPE) is one of the two components necessary to cause thunderstorms. This occurs when the temperature of the lower atmosphere rises, so global warming makes CAPE present much more often than it would be. On the other hand, global warming seemed to decrease vertical wind shear, they other component for thunderstorms, however the only time the wind shear was decreased was on days that CAPE was low. This means that there are high amounts of wind shear on days with high CAPE which increases the chance of thunderstorms. Unfortunately the models are unable to show if the thunderstorms will become more severe, but they show us that the amount of thunderstorms does increase greatly.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Does fracking contribute to "global warming"(climate change)?
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/new-study-says-fracking-doesn-t-contribute-to-global-warming-20130916
This article by Coral Davenport, discusses a study done on the effects of fracking, or lack there of, on climate change. Cornell released a study of the effects of fracking on the environment in 2011 which showed that methane was released while fracking was ongoing, however the study was based on previously collected data not a live study. The University of Texas decided to commit to a year long study on fracking and the results of the studies showed that fracking does not actually increase climate change. The $2.3 million study was paid for by both energy companies and an environmental group, the Environmental Defense Fund. More studies are desired to be seen on the methane emissions from fracking, and many of these studies will be paid for by the Environmental Defense Fund in the future. The article shows how fracking is better for the environment than coal as an energy source because it doesn't contribute as much to global warming, however they overlooked talking about the leaking of the chemicals into groundwater. When fracking occurs, it negatively impacts the environment because it releases chemicals and gasses into the fresh groundwater used by towns, contaminating the water. Fracking has such a bad effect on the water table that people are often able to light their water on fire in areas that fracking occurs.
This article by Coral Davenport, discusses a study done on the effects of fracking, or lack there of, on climate change. Cornell released a study of the effects of fracking on the environment in 2011 which showed that methane was released while fracking was ongoing, however the study was based on previously collected data not a live study. The University of Texas decided to commit to a year long study on fracking and the results of the studies showed that fracking does not actually increase climate change. The $2.3 million study was paid for by both energy companies and an environmental group, the Environmental Defense Fund. More studies are desired to be seen on the methane emissions from fracking, and many of these studies will be paid for by the Environmental Defense Fund in the future. The article shows how fracking is better for the environment than coal as an energy source because it doesn't contribute as much to global warming, however they overlooked talking about the leaking of the chemicals into groundwater. When fracking occurs, it negatively impacts the environment because it releases chemicals and gasses into the fresh groundwater used by towns, contaminating the water. Fracking has such a bad effect on the water table that people are often able to light their water on fire in areas that fracking occurs.
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