Kaylas+Journal

=Kayla's Journals =

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Sunday, August 29, 2010 - Chapter 1: "Humankind And Climate" Summary
In today's world, the importance of being able to understand and talk about global warming is growing more and more. Being able to comprehensively understand how the world is heating up and why is something that everyone should learn about. Because before we can make any changes, we need to first understand the basic concepts of what is occurring in out atmosphere. In Chapter 1 of the Global Warming text the key points of understanding the basics of climate changed are discussed. The key points are Chapter 1 is the differences and similarities in weather and climate, climate change forecast, carbon and energy connections to climate change, and calculating the risk from the potential for climate change.

With the rising talk of extreme weather forecast and climate changes, one should take the time to learn the differences and similarities between the two. Weather is the unpredictable day-to-day changes in atmosphere. Because weather is so chaotic and hectic, we cannot forecast very far into the future. This is because over time smaller changes in the forecast add up to huge changes in predictions until it is almost completely different than the original forecast. While weather seems to be very chaotic, the data is still very useful to people. People can then take the weather data, average it, and then they arrive at a less chaotic number that allows them to help predict weather in the future. Although weather and climate are two very different things, they can be used hand in hand to help explain more about the atmosphere around us.

On top of trying to predict the weather, scientist has now developed way to predict climate change. The temperature of the Earth hangs in the balance between energy lowing to the Earth from the sun and energy flowing away from the Earth into space. We can help use this to predict any consequences that may occur due to changes. Today we use simulations to help predict future changes in the atmosphere. These simulations, such as the water in the sink example give in chapter one, take into consideration many factors. Some of these factors include the sun’s energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and many more factors that are both man-made and naturally occurring. Without these basic science concepts we would not understand where the future of the Earth lies with the current rise in climate change.

The most challenging concept for humans today is carbon emissions and its effect on the atmosphere. It is not challenging in the sense that we do not understand it, but more because the carbon emissions produced lie at the center of everything. Although carbon is a deadly output from our economies and daily life styles, people face the dilemma of how to get rid of this. This is because fossil fuels run everything we do from the heating in our houses to factories to our transportation methods. So we are now faced with the question of how to get rid of carbon emissions without destroying everything that our lives and lifestyles are built upon. Although the carbon cycle and a good amount of carbon are needed to fuel life processes, the human race just adds excess by burning the ancient decayed life forms, better known as fossil fuels, coal, and natural gases. This extra carbon dioxide adds to the Greenhouse Effect, which is the cause for the increase in overall climate on Earth.

In order to better understand Global Warming, we need to evaluate the risk from potential climate change. The first step to doing this, is to first decide whether or not there is even an increase in global temperatures, this is done by comparing the history of the world’s temperature with the history of the different reasons why the Earth’s temperature might have experienced change. This leads us to data of times where the temperature rose 0.5°C during medieval times. This rise in temperature is often associated with many droughts in Europe. But, instead of relying on the past to help assess the danger of climate changes, people now largely depend on the use of economics. This now put a price on the overall demise of the Earth and all the diverse life forms found on it. All in all, climate change has slowly become more of a question of profit and loss versus doing what is right for the planet and saving the amazing diversity that it contains.

It has been concluded that overall the Earth is getting warmer, and is only expected to rise more and more. It is predicted that over the next century, the world temperature will increase a total of 2-5°C. As a world community we need to work together to cut down on carbon dioxide emission and remove the price tag that we, as a society, have placed on the survival of an entire planet. This needs to be done as soon as possible in order to prevent further rise in global temperatures and maybe even reduce temperatures to “normal” levels. If we don’t do something soon, this all could spell disaster for Earth and its natural and necessary processes.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010- Habitable Planet Journal Entry
During 2003 Hurricane Isabel hit the eastern coast of the United States. Because I was so young at the time, being only 10 years old, I don’t remember much of what happened during the storm. What I remember most about Isabel was the aftermath. For approximately week and a half, the streets seemed dead in Richmond Virginia. Everything from businesses to schools and even the power and hot water seemed to come to a stand still. People in today’s time often think that storms are only freak incidents that cause mass chaos and destroy the foundations of society. But, today many scientists, such as Pieter Tans and Kerry Emanuel, are working to understand the affects of hurricanes on climate and vice versa.

Both Tans and Emanuel focus on the climate and how its has/will change over time. But, the viewpoints of these two individuals differ greatly. Pieter Tans’ research question focuses on the impact of the human interaction with carbon levels in the atmosphere. Tans believes that because of the burning of fossil fuels, there is an increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. And because CO2 is a Greenhouse gas, this has caused the Earth’s temperature to increase over the past decade. Although this is a statement that many scientists believe to be true, Kerry Emanuel tends to focus more on hurricanes and their affects. Emanuel is out to discover whether or not hurricanes, themselves can cause a shift in Earth’s weather pattern. Emmanuel feels as if hurricanes and their effect on climate change may often be over-looked. Although both scientists seem to be focused on climate change and how this can occur, the means in which they go about answering these questions in also very different.

In order to accurately collect their information, both scientists used observation methods of data collection. In order to collect data, Tans uses CO2 collections from all over the world to accurately describe the CO2 levels world wide. Overall Tans collects over 100 air samples daily. While Tans used a more direct method of data collection, Emanuel used computer simulations to collect his data. These computer models are used to recreate hurricanes and compare them to actual hurricanes that occur. Although these methods seem very different, each of them suits the study they are used for very well. Because air is so easily collected and there is a vast amount of it located throughout the atmosphere, data collection for Tans is very easy. But, on the other hand, computer simulated models allow for quick, easy, and accurate data collections compared to the more dangerous approach to flying into a hurricane.

At first glance these two studies may seem very different. However, when one examines the subject of these studies, the similarity then becomes clear. Both, Pieter Tans and Kerry Emanuel, want to know more about climate change. Understanding the different aspects of climate change, from atmosphere composition and hurricane effects, holds the key to a better understanding of our environment and what we can do to preserve it. And in a world where the future of our ice caps is uncertain, the more research that is done across different fields the better off we will be in the future.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010- First Steps toward Choosing a Research Project: Topic II
** What is the research question being asked by this project? ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This research project will study the materials that NCSSM (maybe other campuses) is made of and the affect this has on the amount of IR that is emitted from these materials back into the Earth's atmosphere. The research question being asked by this project could be one of two things. One question could be: "What are ways to reduce the amount of IR that is being admitted from you campus?" Another question (listed as <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> "A natural extension of this project, particularly if more than one student is interested in it") would be more focused on the overall carbon footprint of your school. This could also possibly include ways to reduce this carbon footprint.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** What are the methods being used to answer those research questions? ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">One method that being used to answer these research questions is by the use of studies of emissions from various building materials.These could be used to compare the materials used in the school's buildings to help determine the emissions from the buildings across various campuses. Here is a link to one of these papers that measures the emissions from different roofing materials that might be used to begin developing a library. Another way to collect data would be to use an IR camera/gun to measure emissions from individual buildings on campus. This would allow me to get precise measurements whereas the method listed above would just be a rough estimation. At this point I wonder if both of these methods could be combined to make a more accurate research project. First, one would get measurements of the school's buildings using an IR camera/gun. This would then lead to compiling a list of materials that could be replaced where there are high IR emissions.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** What data or information has been collected to date? ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">To date there has been a variety of information collection on the topic of materials used in buildings and the amount of IR emitted because of this. One of the websites provided provides a list of different roofing materials and graphs comparing their IR emissions. Another article placed within the Topic II document discusses roof color. This article discusses the benefits of painting roofs white. If a roof is painted white, on a hot day (compared to the original material) the roof has the potential to be 50 to 60 degrees cooler. This not only reduces IR radiation. But, it also cools the building. If the buildings temperature is cooler, then the air conditioner does not need to be run as much or as high. This means that the environmental impact also goes down from running the air conditioner all day. Another plus side to painting roofs white, is that overall the temperature inside the building is not decreased during the winter, this means that the building owners would not have to worry about the cost effect or the environmental effect of having to run the heat even more during the winter months.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** What might the next step, your next step be? ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The next step in this research project would probably be to first pick a specific focus question, and then picking a way to answer the question. For example if I were to pick ways to reduce possible IR admitted from campus, I would use the approach of comparing materials used in the school's buildings to help estimate the emission levels across campus. The next step then would be to do more research on this topic. Such as, starting to compile a list of materials used in the school, and then using this list to research specific materials on it to learn how much IR it emits. As of this point I am really unsure as to what I would specifically focus on because this topic, at the moment, is so broad. In order to move towards narrowing down my decision more, I would need to do more specific research not only on specific research questions that can be asked about this topic, but also methods that could be used to answer these questions.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** Any further questions/remarks: ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Another topic that I was kind of interested in was the Trees and Forest topic (Topic I). Although I wrote about IR Emissions (Topic II), at the moment I am a bit torn between the two. The reason I decided to write about the IR Emissions topic is because we just studied IR Emissions. This made sure that my mind was fresh when reading about it, which allowed me to retain more information in a shorter time period because I didn't have to take time to look back at older information. I also thought it would be interesting to compare my predictions of IR emissions (completed in an earlier assignment) for NCSSM to the actual IR emissions found in the different buildings around campus. Some of the questions I had are. What would be the best way to go about determining what materials would be better at reducing IR emissions? Where would be the best place to search on the Internet to find more comprehensive information about the IR emissions and how they can be reduced by changing building materials? Where can I learn more about the "carbon sink"?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wednesday, October 6, 2010- IR Analyses of Campus and Carbon Footprinting
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Group Members:** Marissa, Kayla, and Gray

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Question:** How would white roofs impact the Heat Island Effect (UHI) in a place like Puerto Rico?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Urban Heat Islands are metropolitan areas in which the overall temperature is higher than that of the surrounding areas. This temperature ranges can range has high as 8 to 10 degrees higher than the surrounding countryside. It is thought that light-colored roofs can minimize these temperature rises and work to even help reduce smog formation. This means that replacing darker colored roofs could help to bring maximum results with the least mount of investment cost. While doing more research on this topic, I found out more about causes for Urban Heat Island Effect. Another large cause of UHI, is the lack of vegetation located in a city. I found this to be very crucial to the research question given to us because it led me to conclude that if a city (affected by UHI, such as Puerto Rico) were to paint all of its roofs white and increase vegetation in various places around the city, then this could lead to decreased temperature rise from UHI. The problem with just planting more vegetation is that although it is a long term solution to decreasing the UHI Effect, it will be constantly challenged in the future with increased demand for development. Alternatively, replacing roads and parking lots would not only be a costly alternative, but proportionately it would have less of an effect on the heat island. It is said that even in some northern climates, the net annual energy savings are typical of that of an area with higher temperatures (such as Puerto Rico). This also helps to make white vinyl roofs a worthwhile investment no matter where you are located. The "cool roofs" tend to have more of an impact on energy cost than energy use. The "cool roofs" can help in cutting consumption during peak power demand when the rates tend to be at there highest. In the paper I read a “winter penalty” is discussed. The article states that, "If there is any "winter penalty" at all, it is minimal because winter days are shorter and cloudier, what sun there is lies lower on the horizon and is less intense than summer sun, and the roof may be covered in reflective snow for long periods." I found this to be particularly interested and thought it should be shared to show how helpful these vinyl roofs could be, although thee location of focus is Puerto Rico (and snow is not much of a concern). The one question I do have about this article, and another subject that I am interested in looking up more, is if white roofs work so well in reducing UHI, then why are we doing more today in an effort to move towards all white roofs everywhere. I read that these roofs could work to reduce cost of air conditioning, because it would help to cool the house. If this is true then why aren't more people switching to white roofs? Especially when UHIs are said to affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Resources:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">http://www.epa.gov/heatisld/ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">@http://www.vinylroofs.org/downloads/continuing-education/aec-cool-roofing-course.pdf

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Wednesday, October 20, 2010- IR Analyses of Campus and Carbon Footprinting
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Group Members:** Marissa, Kayla, and Gray

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> **Question:** How could you measure IR directly on buildings?

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Tuesday, November 9, 2010- Research Question Review

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> ** 1. Which materials used on house roofs emit the least amount of IR? How is this alternative method beneficial to the Earth? To the homeowner? ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Does the question deal with a topic or issue that interests me enough to spark my own thoughts and opinions?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This topic deals with how to choose a roof that will emit the least amount of IR and how this can possibly benefit both the environment and family. For this reason, I am not only very interested in this but, this topic also allows room to let me come up with both my own thoughts and opinions on the subject.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Is the question easily and fully researchable given the time and resources that you will have access to during the spring semester?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This research question is easily and fully researchable given the time and resources that I will have access to during the spring semester because it focuses on one aspect of the house and how to chose a material that emits less IR.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· What type of information do I need to answer the research question?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In order to research this topic I will need many sources on roof materials that emit different levels of IR. I will also need information on the effect of these materials on both the environment and the homeowners.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Is the scope of this information reasonable?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The scope of this information is reasonable due to the fact that I am mostly taking my own measurements.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Given the type and scope of the information that I need, is my question too broad, too narrow, or just right?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Given the type and scope of the information that I need my question is just right.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· What sources will have the type of information that I need to answer the research question. Consider whether you will need to collect data and if so what instrumentation will you need, data that has already been collected, journals, books, internet resources, government documents, other researchers)? <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Can I access these sources? <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Given my answers to the above questions, do I have a good quality research question that I actually will be able to answer by doing research?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For this research question I will need to collect data. In order to collect this data I will need a way to measure IR. This would mean that I will need an IR gun, and another way to collect data over time (such as logger pro). I may also need some other internet resources on different materials and which ones emit less IR. This may lead me to looking at different researcher and the projects that they have completed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I can acess these sources using the Internet and other online resources such as Pro-Quest Platinum and ScienceDirect
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Given my answers to the above question I believe I do have a good quality research question that I actually will be able to answer by doing research.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> 2. Which materials used on house siding emit the least amount of IR? How is this alternative method beneficial to the Earth? To the homeowner? **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Does the question deal with a topic or issue that interests me enough to spark my own thoughts and opinions?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This topic deals with how to choose a siding for a house that will emit the least amount of IR and how this can possibly benefit both the environment and family. For this reason, I am not only very interested in this but, this topic also allows room to let me come up with both my own thoughts and opinions on the subject.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Is the question easily and fully researchable given the time and resources that you will have access to during the spring semester?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This research question is easily and fully researchable given the time and resources that I will have access to during the spring semester because it focuses on one aspect of the house and how to chose a material that emits less IR.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· What type of information do I need to answer the research question?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In order to research this topic I will need many sources on house siding materials that emit different levels of IR. I will also need information on the effect of these materials on both the environment and the homeowners.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Is the scope of this information reasonable?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The scope of this information is reasonable due to the fact that I am mostly taking my own measurements.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Given the type and scope of the information that I need, is my question too broad, too narrow, or just right?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Given the type and scope of the information that I need my question is just right.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· What sources will have the type of information that I need to answer the research question ( Consider whether you will need to collect data and if so what instrumentation will you need, data that has already been collected, journals, books, internet resources, government documents, other researchers)?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Can I access these sources? <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Given my answers to the above questions, do I have a good quality research question that I actually will be able to answer by doing research?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I can acess these sources using the Internet and other online resources such as Pro-Quest Platinum and ScienceDirect
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Given my answers to the above question I beleive I do have a good quality research question that I actually will be able to answer by doing research.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> 3. What materials can be used to build a house that emits lower levels of IR? How do this levels compare to those of the a regular house? **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Does the question deal with a topic or issue that interests me enough to spark my own thoughts and opinions?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This topic deals with how to make a house that will emit the least amount of IR and how this can possibly benefit both the environment and family. For this reason, I am not only very interested in this but, this topic also allows room to let me come up with both my own thoughts and opinions on the subject.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Is the question easily and fully researchable given the time and resources that you will have access to during the spring semester?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This research question will take both a little bit more time and resources than the previous questions. This is because this question focuses on the combination of materials used to find a house that would emit less IR.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· What type of information do I need to answer the research question?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">In order to research this topic I will need many sources on materials used to build houses that emit different levels of IR. I will also need information on the effect of these materials on both the environment and the homeowners.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Is the scope of this information reasonable?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The scope of this information is reasonable due to the fact that I am mostly taking my own measurements.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Given the type and scope of the information that I need, is my question too broad, too narrow, or just right?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The scope of this information is still a bit broad. I need to focus more on the different areas of materials that will be used.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· What sources will have the type of information that I need to answer the research question (Consider whether you will need to collect data and if so what instrumentation will you need, data that has already been collected, journals, books, internet resources, government documents, other researchers)?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">For this research question I will need to collect data. In order to collect this data I will need a way to measure IR. This would mean that I will need an IR gun, and another way to collect data over time (such as logger pro). I may also need some other internet resources on different materials and which ones emit less IR. This may lead me to looking at different researcher and the projects that they have completed.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Can I access these sources?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I can access these sources using the Internet and other online resources such as Pro-Quest Platinum and ScienceDirect

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Given my answers to the above questions, do I have a good quality research question that I actually will be able to answer by doing research?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Given my answers to the above question I believe that with a little bit more research, I could possibly have a good quality research question that I actually will be able to answer by doing research.