APES Current Events

Over the span of 2019 so far, the polar ice caps have dwindled in size at an alarming rate to humankind. The caps have just undergone their 2nd most destructive summer in recorded history and the rate at which they are melting is dangerous. If nothing is changed soon, the Earth will run out of its Carbon Allowance, which will result in more damage and melting to the ice caps, but near irreversible by that point. The caps will melt, sea levels will rise, and the Earth will undergo extremely dangerous and abnormal shifts in the polar jet streams. I believe that what is happening with the climate and polar ice caps is extremely alarming to anyone who can grasp the concept of the Earth dying. The polar ice caps play huge roles in the maintenance of our weather patterns as well as our global temperatures, and if nothing is done to prevent their destruction, then the Earth could be looking at some major issues in the very near future. https://earthsky.org/earth/climate-change-warming-arc...

Summary: The article, written by Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, a representative for the African Indigenous Peoples Committee, explains a somewhat intuitive idea: that the people who spend the most time with nature have an extraordinary insight into it. She writes that a more accepted inclusion of indigenous people into the climate change conversation would be beneficial. Indigenous people would be able to provide a rawer perspective based on their understandings of the balance of nature (as their lives, without many modern conveniences, are controlled by the temper of Earth). Response: I agree with Ibrahim on a basic level. I think indigenous people reflect a sort of essential level of humanity. Without pressures and constraints imposed by modern society, there must certainly be some wisdom (at least in the form of a change in vantage point on the issue) that would prove to be beneficial. I also think that a more widespread inclusion of indigenous people into the conversations surrounding ...

The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) made an announcement that Gabon will be paid $150 million to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight against deforestation. The CAFI consists of a partnership between the UN Development Program, FAO, the World Bank and other donors.  80% of Gabon is covered in rain forests and CAFI believes 98% of that can be saved with this partnership. This partnership is seen as a way to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, which will help with global climate change. https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/africa/gabon-paid-to-fight-deforestation-intl/index.html It is interesting to me how different countries are taking different approaches to reduce emissions and greenhouse gases.  I have never heard of any of the organizations involved in this article before so I definitely learned something new.

Corals species typically reproduce at the same time at some mass egg release at certain times of year, but as of lately that has not been the case. The corals have cues that allow them all to be aware to release their eggs at that time, but because of climate change and the increase in water temperature the coral are not aware and it seems the number of younger coral is much smaller than it typically is. Not only is the warmer water stop some reproduction, but it also can cause the coral to die. This is not anyone's main point when it comes to why climate change is bad, but this is certainly another point. Coral reefs are an important part of the environment, offering protection to shorelines and a home to marine life. Coral do tend to live for thousands of years, but if they die off because of warm temperatures, and they also can't reproduce because of those temperatures, eventually a small number of them would exist, which may spell trouble for a multitude of species. lin...

Many scientists are greatly concerned that greenhouse gas emissions are becoming threatening to the environment. They say that these emissions could lead to "catastrophic circumstances" all over the world if we do not change the amount of green house gasses we emit. These green house gasses mainly effect climate change. Climate change has already affected everything from food supply to the existence of island nations. Because of green house gasses heatwaves are intensifying in North America and Europe. Underwater heatwaves are also killing deep water habitats and coral reefs. Adding to that, insect populations are declining which is changing the food chain in many ecosystems. Another devastating affect of climate change is forest fires. The fires have killed more than 100 people in California since 2017, and continue to destroy ecosystems and communities around the world. The U.N. is trying to take action to stop climate change. They have invited world leaders to cut their...

The recent five-year drought in California has caused over 129 million trees to perish.  Those trees that survived however, are being closely studied for they may bring hope of stopping climate change.  Scientists believe that if the trees could survive the intense heat there would have to be some type of coping mechanism the trees use in severe circumstances.  Scientists have also being experimenting with coral that can withstand high temperatures because the ocean's are warming causing the reefs to perish.  I believe that if we continue to make discoveries like these ones we could prevent climate change from happening.  By experimenting and finding solutions to keep out ecosystem alive, we will be able to keep the Earth from massive destruction.   Link to Article

Scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory have found that nitrate stimulates the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In their study, the scientists have found that the abundance of nitrate among salt marshes decreases their ability to store carbon. The scientists suggest that if we, mankind, wish to rely on salt marshes for and carbon systems for the storing of carbon, that we must better understand the abilities of nitrate and it's effects on salt marshes. Without the salt marshes ability to hold carbon, due to the nitrate pollutant, our Earth will become further polluted and the carbon and respiration cycles with find struggles to come. The scientists are further looking into the nitrate and it's effects on the salt marshes as well as the carbon emissions in the salt marshes. I believe the article was informative and described what and how the nitrate is as well as the possible side effects of too much carbon in a salt marsh ecosystem. Link to the article