HW Packet

a. Air pollution, Depletion of soil, Water deterioration, Climate changes, Destruction of Natural habitats, Emissions from vehicles, Destruction of the ecosystem, and Extinction of wildlife
Environmental Science- a branch of science that deals with the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment and their effect on organisms. The field of environmental science is important because it helps us find ways and means to maintain the ecological balance of the world.

b.Humans have altered the environment, and continue to alter the environment by a rapidly growing population, cutting down forest, emitting pollutants, spilling oil, dumping garbage in oceans, and exponential growth of factories.

c.The concentration of the ozone, the number and diversity of organisms in a stream, greenhouse gas emissions, and the global temperature

d.Sustainability- the capacity to endure. It describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. Sustainability can be measured by keeping track of one’s ecological footprint. That means being conscious of how much water, electricity and fuel we use daily.

e.The exponential growth of the human population in the past 100 years has resulted from a sharp drop in death rates.

f.If a poor family has a large number of children they will have more people to work for food and money.

g.N/A

h.Hunters and gatherers are roles in hierarchal societies. These hunters and gatherers obtain almost all their food from animals and plants. Their impacts are most times negative because they deplete their camp area of its resources.

i.The agricultural revolution was the gradual transformation of the traditional agricultural system that began in Great Britain in the 18th century. New farming tools and methods helped increase harvest yields, but lead to excessive farming, that ultimately created land that could no longer be used for crops or any other plants.

j.Slash and burn cultivation is an agricultural technique which involves cutting and burning forest or woodlands to create fields. Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, and then abandoned. These agricultural techniques are sustainable because it forces succession, but is only acceptable where there is a very little animal and people population, and a lot of land.

k.The industrial revolution was the rapid development of industry in Britain in the late 18th and 19th centuries, which was brought about by the introduction of machines. The environmental drawbacks were air pollution, water pollution, and depletion of natural resources.

l.The scientific method is a research technique which consists of steps to develop an experiment, and find a conclusion. This method has been applied to various environmental issues to help diminish the effects of pollution, and overall create a more sustainable environment.

m.N/A

n.Systems thinking is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole. In nature systems thinking examples include ecosystems in which various elements such as air, water, movement, plants, and animals work together.

o.Matter is anything that has mass or volume. An atom is the basic unit of matter. An Ion is a charged atom. A molecule is an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held together by a covalent bond. An isotope is an element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. A proton is a positive subatomic particle. An electron is a negative subatomic particle. A neutron is a subatomic particle without a charge. Three states of matter are liquids, solids, and gases.

p.A chemical formula is a representation of a substance using symbols for its constituent elements.
q.Inorganic compounds do not have a biological origin and lack carbon atoms. Organic compounds contain hydrogen and carbons atoms. Carbon dioxide and methane are organic compounds. Water and salt are examples of inorganic compounds.

r.N/A

s.First law of thermodynamics-in a physical or chemical change, we can change or convert energy from one form to another and energy input equals energy output. But, the Second law of thermodynamics tells us that when energy changes from one form to another, some of the useful energy is always degraded to lower-quality, more dispersed, less useful energy. It cannot be recycled.

t.Energy is the ability to do work on another object. Kinetic energy is energy in motion while potential energy is stored energy. High quality energies are found in the sun, electricity, coal, gas, and uranium-235. Low quality energies are dispersed into the atmosphere or ocean and have little ability to do useful work

u.N/A
v.N/A
w.N/A

Name Droppers: "A Duck's Best Friend"

Jay N "Ding" Darling

A. Jay Norwood Darling was a Pulitzer Prize winning American cartoonist, who was known for his political and conservation cartoons. He was also a very important figure in the conservation movement.

B.    
•He was appointed by President Roosevelt as the First Head of US Biological Survey which was the forerunner of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
•He founded the National Wildlife Federation in 1936, which is now the largest non-profit conservation organization in the U.S.
•He used satire to promote the issues of conservation which  brought national attention to environmental concerns.
• Conceived the idea for the Federal Duck Stamp Program and drew the first stamp design( these stamps helped raise money for buying wildlife habitats)
•Darling increased the enforcement of game laws that restrict hunting of animals that are becoming extinct. In 1937 he helped pass a law putting a tax on guns and ammunition, and the money from these taxes went to wildlife conservation.

C. Jay Darling fits in the Environmental Science aspect of environment and society. Darling helped pass various laws and regulations that facilitated the conservation of numerous forms of wildlife, especially birds.

Eco Pic Contest Submission

Do the Math: “Rates of Forest Clearing

One acre is equal to 0.40 hectares and there are 31,536,000 seconds in one year.

Estimate 1: 0.40 x 31,536,000= 12,614,400ha

One acre is equal to 0.40 hectares and there are 365 days in one year.

Estimate 2: 0.40 x 365 x 80,000= 11,680,000ha

One acre is equal to 0.40 hectares and there are 365 days in one year.

Estimate 3: 0.40 x 365 x 32,000= 4,672,000ha

Winged Refugees

Landscaping in Urban Areas Can Help Native Birds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120822184134.htm

August 22, 2012

You would think that urban landscaping has nothing to do with helping birds because they predominately live in trees, but in reality it does. A recent study by the University of Massachusetts of residential areas and the native bird population has shown that yards imitating natural vegetation offer birds “mini refuges”.  These yards provide a mini oasis which help offset the loss of biodiversity in cities. The study showed that birds that lived in the “refuges” had more available resources such as seed, shelter, and lived longer but birds that lived in a more natural habitat had more alternative food resources and had a higher death rate. The researcher’s method of observation and experimentation also allowed them to separate some of the effects of bird community composition and density of competitors, and how these factors affect foraging decisions between two different landscapes. I believe that the researchers from the University of Massachusetts carried out a thorough experiment. Their data has opened my mind to what I can do to help conserve certain species that ultimately make my world a better place by eating insects. If we all just put in a little work by making our yards a little nicer, we will be providing a better habitat for not only birds but other species as well. 

Check out this "bird refugee" I made using Microsoft Paint and a picture.
I know  it looks more like a hobo, but you get the idea.

3,2,1

3: I actually learned a lot during my first week in AP Environmental Science. I learned the difference between environmental science and environmentalism. Environmental science is the unbiased study of the environment, while environmentalism is a movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and preservation. I also learned about an effective method to reduce the amount of paper towels we waste every year. The method created by Joe Smith is called the shake and fold method, which consist of shaking your hands twelve times and only using one paper towel to dry them off. The last thing I learned about was how to convert hectares into square feet. One hectare which is an area that is 100 meters by 100 meters is equal to 107,639ft2.

2: I would like to know more about human intervention on wildlife, and what we can do to prevent the extinction of some endangered species. I would also like to know more about alternative forms of energy, and the forms that are the most beneficial for our environment.

1: One thing I feel confident about teaching to the class is the difference between environmental science and environmentalism.

"Old Spice body wash"

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products. It is used for its cleansing and emulsifying properties. They behave similarly to soap.
• Sodium Sulfate is the sodium salt of sulfuric acid which is mainly used for the manufacture of detergents.
• Cocamidopropyl betaine is a synthetic surfactant derived from coconut oil. It is a pale yellow liquid used as a surfactant in bath products such as shampoos and hand soaps, and in cosmetics as an emulsifying agent. It also has antiseptic properties that make it suitable for personal sanitary products.
• Sodium lauroamphoacetate is an amphoacetate used in moisturizers and other various skin care products.
• Citric Acid is a weak organic acid. It can also be used to soften water, which makes it useful in soaps and laundry detergents. It is the active ingredient in some bathroom and kitchen cleaning solutions and can even be used in shampoos.
• Polyquaternium is the international nomenclature for cosmetic ingredients that are used in the personal care industry. They are positively charged, so they neutralize the negative charges of most shampoos and help hair lie flat. Their positive charges also ionically bond them to hair and skin and some even have antimicrobial properties.
• Disodium EDTA is polyamino carboxylic acid and a colorless, water-soluble solid. It is a chelating agent that helps bind impurities, which allows the major ingredients in detergents to work effectively and consistently.
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone is a preservative with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Methylchloroisothiazolinone is found in many water based personal care products and cosmetics.
• Methylisothiazolinone is a biocide that deters harmful organisms. It is commonly used in shampoos and body care products.
• Yellow-10 is a synthetic dye.
• Green-3 is a synthetic dye.
• Water is used as a solvent.
• Fragrance is used to add a pleasant scent.

What is a hectare?

A new renewable energy project was proposed in New England, which will produce electricity by harnessing the power of the sun. There is a 20-hectare solar energy park proposal for a farmland in Lincolnshire. The actual panels will take up just 19.5 hectares and that the land underneath will provide significant sheep grazing.

20 hectares= 2,152,782ft^2

1 hectare= 107,639ft^2

The Infamous Five

Paper Towels- Wasting paper towels seems insignificant but when millions of them are wasted everyday they really make a detrimental impact. If we use the “shake and fold” method we saw in class then we can save millions of trees, and ultimately the environment.

Thermostat-People waste entirely too much electricity using their thermostats. Most people, including me turn their thermostats up too high, or too low. If we keep our thermostats at a moderate temperature of 68 to 72 degrees, then we can save a lot of power.

Air Fresheners- Various air fresheners have been found to contain carcinogens which can cause lung cancer, and even contribute to ozone depletion. Aerosol cans are inefficient and often times over used. We can diminish the amount of carcinogens we emit by using something as simple as scented candles.

Plastic Bags- Only 5% of plastic bags are recycled. They are most times littered or spend time decomposing in landfills or on the side of the road. If we use reusable grocery bags we will be able to save the environment from sea and land pollution.

Soda Pack Rings- Soda rings strangle animals all the time. Most birds and fish get their heads stuck in a ring and are choked to death. We can simply prevent this by cutting the rings before we dispose of them, properly! 

TED Talk Reflection

    Wasting paper towels is on my list of shameful and casual habits that could be improved upon, and today in class I was forced to face the reality of my careless hand drying methods. In this short TED talk video, a man named Joe Smith explains how to dry your hands with only one paper towel. He gives a demo which consists of two crucial steps: shake your hands twelve times and fold the paper towel in half. This method may seem simple but if the staggering numbers he gave are true, then we can all risk looking a little silly shaking our hands twelve times. I believe Mr. Smith’s method of conserving paper towels is thorough and effective. Everyday people waste millions of paper towels, and I’m even a habitual offender. Most people don’t realize that their profligate disposal of paper towels affects the environment in numerous ways. Thousands of trees are sacrificed for the production of paper towels, the plastic they are packed in harms the environment, and the most detrimental pollution comes from the factories that produce the paper towels themselves. Joe Smith’s technique is effortless and efficient, you wash, shake, fold, and your dry! His method is not only working towards preservation for a better environment and future, but it is fun as well. So the next time you wash your hands don’t forget to shake and fold!

Environmental Autobiography

    When I was younger the backyard creek was our everyday play place and a new world in itself. It was in this place where, my brother, friends and I created imaginary and whimsical worlds in which we relished in the creek’s natural beauty and wildlife. The creek epitomized everything that I loved, it had an abundance of animals, the water was pristine, and its solitary location allowed the sounds of nature to resonate through the air. We often journeyed down to the creek to explore its streams and catch craw fish, newts, tadpoles, and minnows, but, this all ended a few years ago. The once intriguing and vibrant creek became murky and polluted. The animals that called this creek home were now scarce and trash was scattered across the water’s banks. As the years progressed the beauty of the creek slowly diminished, and even now it is nothing more than a muddy and shallow stream of water, that no longer flows vigorously, but trickles lazily. I love the creek and, it is and will always be a vital location in my life. Exploring the creek and the nature that it harbors has fostered my great love for animals. The diverse wildlife ignited the passion I have for all creatures, especially reptiles, so the dilapidation of this iconic location has made me realize what we are doing to our planet, and maybe even what I can do to help. I guess it is true what they say, “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”

Environmental Science Table

Environmental Topic	Date	Source	Content of Story
Climate	7/3/12	CBS News(television)	The report was about how record breaking heat waves during the summer have raised scientist’s awareness about detrimental climate changes.
Evolution	8/6/12	CBS News( television)	The story was about how the evolution new dinosaur species may have dramatically increased due to the rise of Rocky Mountains.
Weather	8/11/12	The New York Times (newspaper)	The article was about how this summer’s weather, especially in July has caused a great deal of concern. The blistering heat of the summer has caused numerous droughts and may be one of the effects of Global Warming.
Food Webs	8/12/12	Shark City (television)	The documentary follows two sharks as they age and move up in the food chain. The documentary also depicts various predator prey relationships that exist in the ocean.
Succession	7/26/12	NY Daily News (news)	The story was about a volcano that erupted in Japan. The story made me realize that the destruction that the volcano caused will lead to primary succession.
Urbanization	5/26/12	Pom Poko(movie idea)	This summer I saw Pom Poko. Pom Poko is a fictional animated tale about shape shifting tanuki combating urbanization in Tokyo by playing mischievous pranks on construction workers.
Toxicity	7/29/12	The State( newspaper)	The article is about how Easy Street, a small community in South Carolina could be polluted with toxic metals such as lead and arsenic.
Air Pollution	6/20/12	The New York Times (newspaper)	The article discussed London’s attempts to purify their air in preparation for the Olympic games.
Plate Tectonics	7/18/12	Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (movie idea)	I saw Ice Age 4 this summer. Ice age 4 follows four arctic animals as they try to survive the splitting of Pangaea.
Natural Selection	6/24/12	The New York Times (newspaper)	The article is about how natural selection may help women live longer due to mitochondrial DNA passed down from most mothers.
Biomes	6/15/12	Nature (television)	This episode of Nature depicts the hardships of bears as they try to thrive in their arctic biome.
Nutrient Cycling	5/28/12	Wife Swap (television)	In this episode a family was very conscious of the environment, and used their compost heap frequently.  Composting is a great example of nutrient cycling.
Population Dynamics	8/11/12	USA Today (newspaper)	The article reviewed a record low of babies born in Japan.
Agriculture	8/7/12	CNBC (television)	The story was about how the world is depleting underground water reserves for agriculture faster than they can be replenished.
Soil Pollution	7/31/12	USA Today( newspaper)	The story was about how the city of Tucson is taking legal action to immediately test the soil for dangerous waste
Water use	8/9/12	NPR(radio)	The broadcast reviewed the effects of the drought which was brought on by the blistering heat of July. They say the drought may force tougher water restrictions throughout the entire country.
Loss of Biodiversity	6/22/12	Whale Wars(television)	I saw an episode of Whale Wars this summer. The episode made me realize that if whale hunting continues then the biodiversity of the species will diminish significantly.
Solid and Hazardous waste	6/5/12	Equities (website)	The post was a notice about how residents are encouraged to discard household hazardous waste at a Clermont collection event.
Interspecific relations	6/4/12	Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom (television)	In this episode a cheetah mother struggles to raise three cubs in Tanzania’s Serengeti. She teaches them how to hunt, hide and overall how to be independent.
Mineral Resources	5/29/12	Stockhouse (blog)	The post was about how the Wildcat Silver Corp. said it has further increased the total mineral resource for its Hermosa project in Arizona
Human Population Growth	7/16/12	The Baltimore Sun (blog)	The post was about how the rapid growth of America; nearly 80 million people born a year, and immigration threatens the United States’ prosperity.
Ozone Depletion	7/5/12	USA Today (newspaper)	The article was about how the ozone layer faced a record loss over the arctic this summer. Scientist speculate it may be due to the various effects of global warming
Renewable Energy Sources	8/10/12	USA Today (newspaper)	The article was about how 100% renewable energy is actually attainable. The report suggested that Scotland’s ambitious attempt to generate all of its electricity from renewable resources could be possible by 2020.
Nonrenewable Energy Sources	5/30/12	National Geographic (television)	The article gave and discussed the pros and cons of numerous non-renewable resources, including petroleum, natural gas, and coal.
History of Earth	8/10/12	Prehistoric Monsters Revealed (television)	The documentary discussed prehistoric animals, and their evolution as the world progressed and its landscape changed.
Geological Process	7/24/12	USA Today (newspaper)	The article speculated what strange geological process may have created Titan’s oddly smoothed surface. Scientist think that Titan’s surface may have been shaped by erosion.
Energy Flow	6/13/12-7/15/12	The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind(book)	The book provided an explanation on how energy can be transferred and exists in numerous mediums, such as water and air.
Deforestation	7/11/12	The Lorax (movie idea)	I saw the Lorax this summer, which is an animated story that alludes to the effects of deforestation. The Onceler is the antagonist of the story who begins to cut down all of the truffula trees; much to the dismay of the Lorax.
Energy	6/13/12-7/15/12	The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind(book)	Throughout the summer I read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. The book focuses on the achievements of William Kamkwamba who learns how to provide electricity, which is a form of energy for his village.
Pesticides	7/31/12	CBS News (television)	The story focused on how the fear of the West Nile has prompted some cities and companies to step up pesticide attacks on mosquitoes.
Global Warming	6/8/12	The Day After Tomorrow(movie idea)	I watched The Day After Tomorrow on TV this summer. The Day After Tomorrow is a science fiction disaster film that depicts the disastrous results of global warming, whose effects usher in a new ice age.
Water Pollution	6/7/12	Dawn commercial (television)	The commercial reviewed the effects of oil spills on marine life, including animals, and the ocean itself.

La vida silvestre de Costa Rica

Just a lazy lizard lounging in the sun

A Howler Monkey showing his stuff

Believe it or not, this White Faced Monkey is notorious for bullying iguanas.

Can you spot the camouflaged creature?  What is it?

Another iguana basking in the sunlight

A creepy crocodile peering from under the water trying to spot a potential meal!

Ugly on the outside, beautiful in the inside!

Magic in Malawi; an Oral Tradition

  The boy who harnessed the wind is an autobiographical tale about an inquisitive young man named William Kamkwamba who eventually learns how to provide electricity for his village by utilizing the power generated by windmills. William grows up in a small village in the land locked country of Malawi. His small village is shrouded in a veil of witchcraft, magic, and tradition, where technology is very scarce. Despite a lack of knowledge of engineering concepts William manages to transcend cultural boundaries and is able to create efficient windmills that drastically improve the lives of the people in his community.

   Magic played an integral role in William’s life growing up. The story begins with William praising his father’s story telling abilities, which he views as precautionary lessons and as entertainment. The children of the village have grown accustom to hearing stories about witches, wizards, men with super human abilities, and animals that could talk. Even William believed in the stories his father had told him, and elements of the supernatural became a part of everyday life. He even once stated “Before I discovered the miracles of science, magic ruled the world.” Magic was integrated into virtually every way of life for Malawians. It was even used as a scapegoat in times of despair and tragedy, such as a death or famine. Like most villagers, William feared the ambiguity magic, but found it intriguing as well. William first encountered magic when he meets Mr. Phiri, a man who worked on his Uncle John’s farm. Mr. Phiri was infamous for his temper, and superhuman strength which many people believed he acquired from mangolomera. William idolized Mr. Phiri’s strength, and saw magic as an opportunity to attain dominance in his village, so when Shabani, Mr. Phiri’s nephew offered him mangolomera, he decided to agree. Shabani cut William’s knuckles and rubbed the remedy into the newly opened wound. William then imagined how his life would be with the magic medicine now coursing through his body. Days later, William decided to test out his powers, so he got into a fight. He successfully found an opponent, but he wasn’t very successful at winning. This was the point in William’s life where he discovered magic wasn’t something he could rely on, and later found the wonders of science.

   Despite not relying on magic, William stilled feared it. Throughout his childhood, and even into his teenage years William feared the power of witches and witchcraft. The generational transfer of stories he heard from his father and grandfather not only served as amusement, but taught him how to navigate through the world around him. The stories of magic that were passed down to William helped him determine good from evil, and even established many of the things he feared in life. When he was younger he constantly feared witches, their invisible planes, and young demon boys who would steal heads in the cover of darkness and use them to compete in demon soccer matches. The oral tradition of sharing magic folktales exists within almost every Malawian family in William’s village. Most of the villagers were unaware of the benefits science could provide, so they turned to magic to offer explanations for the unknown. As previously stated, magic was habitually blamed for the causes of death and famine, especially during the blistering famine of 2002 and even when William first erected his windmill. Magic fostered the existence of fear and vice versa. The supernatural was everywhere in Malawi and deeply rooted in society. Even William, a pursuer of science, had interactions with magic in his youth, and has even feared it.

   All in all magic is how Malawian people find answers. Most of Malawi lives in poverty and lack an education, so most of them must turn to the supernatural to attain answers for the unexplained aspects of life. In Malawi magic is more of a religion than just a cultural fear. It dictates many of the decisions Malawian people make. As long as most of the country lacks a formal education, magic will retain its significant hold in Malawi, and the tradition will continue to be passed down orally. Just as William was told stories of mysterious creatures and occurrences, children after him will be told magical folktales as well. Because most of the country cannot read and write, they can only pass down their customs verbally; therefore oral traditions play a major role in preserving and conserving Malawi’s cultural and natural resources. I feel that the magic motif of the book is vital towards the understanding of its characters and tone. The book is not only about William’s phenomenal achievement of providing electricity for most of his village, it is also about a country and its people. Magic provided that common medium between America and Malawi that allowed me to better understand not only William but his culture as well.

Word Count: 812