Want to Know it? Answers to life's questions » environment

Why Is Logging Bad For The Environment

Want to know it — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:37:45 +0000

Logging is the act of cutting down trees to be transported and processed for use in many different timber products. Traditionally logging was a slow process that was completed by hand, but modern techniques mean that trees can now be felled, transported and processed faster than ever. It is a controversial practice because of the environmental effects that are caused by removing trees from the natural environment. Let’s take a look at why logging is so bad for the environment.

Why is logging bad for the environment?
Trees are one of the most important parts of Earth’s ecosystem. They filter many pollutants from the air as well as absorbing carbon dioxide to convert it into oxygen. By removing trees we are reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that is being absorbed. Excess carbon dioxide is linked with global warming/climate change.

Unfortunately a large portion of logging occurs in old growth forests and rainforests. These habitats are fragile and take many years to regrow if logging takes place. They are also home to many species of plants and animals, which can die or be displaced by some aggressive logging tactics like clearcutting. Clearcutting also causes the land to be susceptible to erosion and landslides.

Is all logging bad?
No, there are many types of logging that have a minimal or no effect on the environment. Today, there are many tree plantations that have been grown especially for logging. There are also many responsible logging companies that replant new trees. Responsible logging is actually an essential part of providing a sustainable product (timber) for a wide variety of uses.

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What Is E-Waste and Why is it a Problem

Want to know it — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:22:22 +0000

E-Waste, also called electronic waste, is any discarded electronic/electrical devices. The includes, but is not limited to, computer components, cell phones, batteries, televisions, fax machines, printers and photocopiers. Unlike most other waste, these items are often discarded because the technology is obsolete and not because it is broken. E-Waste is often sent to developing countries for processing.

Why is E-Waste such a problem?
The first problem with E-Waste is that there is so much of it due to the advances in technology. More worryingly is that a lot of E-Waste contains hazardous materials like mercury, lead, sulfur and cadmium. This means that if the E-Waste is not properly processed these materials may leech into the environment and cause health problems. Sometimes the waste may be improperly processed on purpose, such as burning computer cables and components to obtain the sort after copper, which also causes toxic substances to be released into the environment. Improper processing can also cause health problems for the workers at these plants.

The following video shows E-Waste being incorrectly processed in Ghana:

Did you know?
It is estimated that over 80% of E-Waste is simply thrown in the trash even though it is possible to safely recycle most of the components. Of the 20% that is sent to be recycled much of it is sent to developing countries for processing.

The Basel Convention is a UN treaty designed to prevent hazardous waste being shipped to developing countries. However, the United States has not ratified the agreement. Some countries avoid breaking the treaty by listing their E-Waste as “second hand goods” and not waste.

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What Causes a Landslide

Want to know it — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:41:40 +0000

Landslides are a natural or manmade event that occurs when a slope becomes unstable and shifts in a significant manner. They can be quite dangerous when they occur near human habitation and have caused countless deaths around the world. The worst landslide in history occurred in Kansu, China in 1920. It destroyed over 100 cities, many villages and over 180,000 people lost their lives. Let’s take a look at what causes a landslide.

What causes landslides?
Generally speaking gravity is the force that is occurring in a landslide, but there are a variety of factors that can make a slope unstable. These causes of landslides that can be broadly broken up into natural and manmade causes. Some of these causes are enough to cause a landslide by themselves, but is many instances a combination of these causes is common. The following are some of the most common causes of landslides.

Natural causes

The pressure of groundwater on a slope can cause a landslide.
Loss of vegetation, soil structure and nutrients can make the soil more prone to movement.
Erosion of the slope can make it unstable. This can be caused by rivers or waves. Slopes can also weaken rapidly with heavy rain and when glaciers or snow melt.
Earthquakes can weaken slopes and can cause soil liquefaction. This occurs when the soil loses strength and behaves like a liquid.
Volcanic eruptions are also a common cause of slope instability.

Manmade causes

Deforestation (logging), agriculture or anything that removes deep rooted vegetation can cause slope destabilization.
Anything that changes the loads placed on a slope, such as earthwork or blasting, can cause a landslide.
Vibrations from traffic, machinery and construction can cause slopes to become unstable.
Certain types of mining can cause a landslide.

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What Causes Beach Erosion

Want to know it — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:09:09 +0000

Beach erosion, also called coastal erosion, causes wearing of the land around coastal areas. It is not only a problem for animals and plants that rely on this habitat, but it is also a major problem where population centers are located near the ocean. In fact, whole houses in certain parts of the world have collapsed into the sea because of erosion. There are both natural and human causes for beach erosion and these causes to differ depending on the location.

What causes beach erosion?
There are a variety of causes beach erosion. The following are some of the most common causes.

Natural causes
The most common cause of natural beach erosion is from the action of the wind and waves. Over long periods of time these can erode the coastline, but this process may occur faster if a significant weather event, such as a hurricane, impacts the area. It is also believed that rising sea levels may cause erosion by creating alternative tidal patterns.

Human intervention
The dredging and/or widening of rivers, creation of manmade ocean features (such as jetties and rock walls) and construction along the coastline, are some of the most common manmade causes of beach erosion. Each has a different impact on the area, but many human causes of coastal erosion disrupt the natural flow of water and can create irregular sediment deposition. Unfortunately, even some attempts to fix beach erosion can actually make the problem worse.

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Which Country Has the Most Tornadoes

Want to know it — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:52:23 +0000

Tornadoes are one of the most fascinating natural disasters. Many devote their life to chasing tornadoes in order to learn more about their formation and patterns of behavior. In the United States alone there are an average of over 1000 per year, but these devastating storms do occur worldwide. It is thought that tornadoes form when large masses of cold air meet hot air. The cold air falls as the hot air rises creating a rotating tunnel of wind. This is particularly likely to happen during the spring and summer months when large storm fronts develop. When they form over water they are known as waterspouts and they tend to be weaker than land based tornadoes. You might be wondering which country sees the most tornadoes? Read this article to find out.

The Country with the Most Tornadoes
The United States experiences the most tornadoes per year with over 1,000 per year occurring in the country. Most of these tornadoes occur in Tornado Alley, a region of the United States between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. No US state is immune from tornadoes, but most occur in the states that are between these mountain ranges. Many of the tornadoes that form in the US are powerful and cause a lot of damage. Certain areas of the country experience more large and destructive tornadoes that others. The United Kingdom is considered to have the most tornadoes per year per land size, but most of them are very weak. Each year the UK records around 33 tornadoes.

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What Causes Ocean Pollution

Want to know it — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:05:55 +0000

Pollution can come in many forms, but is nay substance that is introduced into a natural environment that is harmful or poisonous. It can be chemical substances or energy such as noise, heat or light. One of the most polluted environments on the earth is the ocean. Every year thousands of marine creatures die because of pollution and even more are damaged or made sick due to it. So what causes the oceans to be polluted?

Causes of Ocean Pollution

The main cause of any type of pollution is humans. Our activities and carelessness is what produces the pollution that litters our oceans. Some of the major causes of ocean pollution are things such as oil spills, dumping toxic industrial waste, incorrect disposal of garbage, waste water and sewage, run off from agricultural endeavors and ocean mining. Each of these activities causes the oceans to become polluted.

Oil spills occur when crude oil is transported across the ocean to refineries or directly for ocean oil stations. In some cases the oil spill is accidental, but sometimes the ship or station needs to dump some of the waste oil. Statistics show that 45 percent of ocean water pollution is caused by marine transportation, while 32 percent is caused by loading, discharging, and flushing of oil tankers.

The dumping of toxic industrial waste into the ocean is common practice in many countries around the world. Many major industrial companies have outlets that run directly into the ocean. There has even been nuclear waste dumped into the oceans as a way of getting rid of it.

Waste water, sewage and water runoff are also major cause of ocean pollution. Many countries treat and then dump their sewage into the ocean rationalizing that the treatment of the sewage makes it a safe thing to do. Power plants often direct their waste water into the ocean. This water is often full of heavy metals. Runoff from farms can also cause problems in the ocean. Mush of the runoff includes pesticides and herbicides that can cause the death of some marine species and the overgrowth of other aquatic plant species such as blue green algae.

The incorrect disposal of garbage is defiantly a major contributor to ocean pollution. Much of the garbage that is found in the streets will eventually end up in the ocean especially in coastal towns. There are large garbage patches in all of the gyres of the oceans of the world. It is estimated that there is a staggering 315 billion pounds of plastic in the oceans right now.

Videos showing ocean pollution:

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Advantages of Renewable Energy

Want to know it — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:21:53 +0000

Renewable energy is a form of energy that can be produced without depleting natural resources such has fossil fuels and wood. It does not rely on the burning of a fossil fuel to create electricity. Some forms of renewable energy include sunlight, wind, tides, water and geothermal heat. The use of biomass is also considered to be a renewable energy source. This type of energy is sustainable as it is derived from sources that do not run out.

Advantages of Renewable Energy

It is highly sustainable as it is derived from sources that are inexhaustible.
It does not emit any greenhouse gases or toxic waste making the world a cleaner and safer place.
It is highly cost effective as fuel does not need to be brought to sustain the electricity plant.
It is also cost effective as less labor is needed to operate a renewable energy station and they require less maintenance.
They may bring economical benefits to remote communities, as many renewable energy plants are situated away from large cities.
Renewable energy generators such as solar power can be applied to existing buildings making them more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
Some forms of renewable energy such as geothermal steam plants take up less area than larger conventional power plants and can be run day and night.
Hydroelectrical power stations can be controlled to produce more power at peak times and be inactive during lulls in power usage.
Biomass energy helps cut down on the amount of rubbish that is transported to landfills.
In most cases if an individual has a renewable energy source, such as solar power, attached to their home or business they can sell any excess power back to the grid reduce the overall amount of homes or businesses being powered by fossil fuel plants.

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What Causes Coral Bleaching

Want to know it — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:46:57 +0000

Coral is a collection of living, breathing organisms called polyps. These polyps clump together and form a colony. Polyps are very similar to anemones and have a small mouth and many tiny tentacles. Each polyp secretes a cap of limestone around itself as a skeleton. As it grows it divides and the coral expands. Polyps catch their food by injecting small creatures with the stinging cells on their tentacles. The tentacles then bring the food into the stomach to digest. Coral comes in many different colors and types.

What is Coral Bleaching?
Coral or polyps live in symbiosis with another organism known as zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae is an algae that escapes being eaten by living inside of the polyps tissue. The zooxanthellae is what give the coral its color. In return for a safe place to live the coral gets up to 90% of its food from the zooxanthellae. Coral bleaching is when the polyps expel the zooxanthellae living inside of it. This causes the polyps’ tissue to become transparent and the white limestone skeleton to show through giving the coral a white or bleached look. Most corals begin to starve after they have expelled their zooxanthellae and they die.

What Causes Coral to Become Bleached?
Coral are very sensitive to certain factors within their environments. This include things such as water temperature, ultraviolent radiation, salinity, opacity and nutrient quantities. Coral bleaching occurs when the environment that is necessary for the coral to sustain its zooxanthellae colony changes in some way or no longer exists. Some of the triggers for the expulsion of the zooxanthellae include:

Increase in the water temperature (sometimes a decrease will trigger a release also)
Increase in ultraviolent radiation (from hole in the ozone layer or lower sea levels)
If the water pH becomes too acidic
Starvation due to less food in the area
Change in salt levels in the water
Disease
Damage (by cyanide fishing or people walking on the reef)

Temperature change is the most common cause of coral bleaching and widespread bleaching has been noted over the last century. Many marine scientists blame global warming for coral bleaching as it not only warms the water and increase overall temperatures, but adds more water making the salinity level drop.

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Which Country Owns Antarctica

Want to know it — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:12:22 +0000

A little bit about Antarctica
Antarctica is the most southern continent on the planet Earth. It can be located below the country of Australia in the Antarctic region of the southern hemisphere. It is the fifth largest continent in area on the planet. Approximately 98% of Antarctica is covered with ice that in on average is 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) thick. Antarctica is considered to be a desert as it only gets a small amount of rain per year. It is inhabited by cold climate wildlife such as penguins, seals, roundworms and mites. Anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside in Antarctica yearly in the research stations and science facilities that are spread across the continent. Antarctica is the highest, driest, coldest and windiest continent on the planet.

Who Owns Antarctica?
No country owns Antarctica. It is governed and protected by the Antarctic Treaty. The country is considered politically neutral and it is looked after by the 12 countries that have signed the Antarctic Treaty, including the Soviet Union (and later Russia), the United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and the United States. The purpose of this treaty was to set Antarctica aside as a scientific preserve. This allowed various countries to study the wildlife and climate of this continent. The treaty allowed for freedom of scientific investigation and environmental protection. It also banned any military activity on the continent. The treaty was later amended to include a ban on mineral mining. Antarctica is divided into Antarctic divisions that are looked after by various countries. Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom have the main territorial claims in Antarctica. Most of these countries recognize each other claims, but there has been some friction between Argentina, Chile and the United Kingdom as their claimed territories overlap. Currently, Australia claims the largest territory of Antarctica.

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How is Acid Rain Formed

Want to know it — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:06:27 +0000

What is acid rain?
Acid rain is classified as any form of precipitation (rain, snow, fog, hail) that has a pH of 4 or lower. It is primarily a result of air pollution. Particular gases released into the atmosphere react with the water particles in clouds and combine to make a very weak form of acid. Acid rain can have harmful effects on plant life, water supplies and aquatic life and some forms of infrastructure. Acid rain is not acidic enough to burn your skin upon contact. The acid that is formed in the atmosphere can also fall as acidic dust and pollute the soil many thousands of kilometers from the source of the pollution.

How is acid rain formed?
There are three main causes of acid rain, but both are due to the same gases being released into the atmosphere. Acid rain is caused by the two main air pollutants, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. When these gases come into contact with the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in water they combine to form a weak acid. The major cause of acid rain is air pollution by burning fossil fuels, smelting metals and motor vehicles. Acid rain can also be caused naturally by the eruption of a volcano. When a volcano erupts it produces a large amount of sulfur dioxide and it is not uncommon to have acid rain. Acid rain can also be caused by lightning strikes as these naturally produce nitrogen oxide.

How does acid rain effect the environment?
In the 1970’s the effects of acid rain were at their worst. Many forests the world over were dying and there were many cases where marine life in lakes and rivers died out or became mutated. Governments the world over worked to lower the amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that they were adding to the atmosphere. Acid rain is often felt in countries many thousands of kilometers from major air pollution. Mountainous regions are more likely to suffer from greater acid rain fall due to the higher rainfall received in these areas.

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