Science Fair Report

Introduction:

When you think of global warming, you may not believe in it. You may think it’s a natural occurrence and it’s nothing to get worried about; or you may think humans have nothing to do with it and go on living your normal life. And your beliefs are entirely respected, but I’m here to show you something new and, perhaps, your opinion may change about the topic.

On the other hand, you may be completely clueless about global warming. You might ask something like: “Who makes it?” or “Why is it so hard to get rid of?” or simply, “What is it?” But don’t fret, for I’ve concocted this report to inform you about everything about global warming you need to know about it.

What It Is:

Global warming starts with heat from the Earth exiting in infrared waves. Normally, the rays should bounce into space, but the atmosphere is too thick to do so. When this happens, the hot rays get trapped in the atmosphere, do to the gases (methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor) that, the atmosphere is made up of, which makes the Earth much hotter. Most of these gases are made from human activity, but some are natural.

Yet not all greenhouse gases are bad. Without any, the Earth would be very cold, and uncomfortable to live on. But too much heat could cause severe damage (I’ll explain more on page 6).

Causes:

Global warming is caused by many things we humans do, but one thing in particular that is a major cause to global warming, is over usage of electricity. When we use electricity, it is provided by a power plant, which burns fossil fuels, which are sources of fuel that have been made from living things a long time ago.

Another big cause of global warming is factory emissions. Everything we buy has to be made in them, so there are many around the world, and they’re always running, emitting gas and burning fossil fuels.

Whenever we drive or ride in mostly any vehicles, they are also emitting greenhouse gases.

Deforestation is also a big problem, contributing to global warming. This is when people cut down forests for wood, farmland, and new cities or towns. We need trees, because they breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe oxygen for us to breathe. Without them, the atmosphere would get even worse.

History:

Global warming began in The Industrial Revolution (1750-1850) when people started building big machines and factories to help production of products. This led to growth in industry, agriculture (farming), and transportation.

In the 1930’s chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) was discovered. This was used in mostly aerosols and propellants. It was bad for the atmosphere, but people had no idea back then how bad it was.

But soon, people started to think differently. A man named Professor Revelle was the first to start measuring gases in the atmosphere in 1958. Soon after, he hired a scientist named Charles David Keeling to help him with his experiments. They started by taking measurements on the island of Hawaii each year. Then they’d graph the data, and show it to many people all around the world, for they had realized this atmosphere was not all it was cracked up to be.

More evidence appeared on December 24, 1962 on Apollo 8 (preparation for Apollo 11, the mission to the moon). On that mission, the crew took the first picture of Earth from space. It was coated in clouds. There was so much fog, you could barely make out the continents! This got ecologists thinking about what has happened to Earth that made it this way.

Even after this evidence people still didn’t believe that anything bad was happening. In the 1970’s CFCs were very common in many refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosols.

But this didn’t go for much longer. In 1986, a hole had formed in the atmosphere. This evidence finally made people realize that they had to get together and make a difference.

Effects of Global Warming:

I bet you’re thinking, ‘So what if the Earth gets hotter?’ You probably didn’t know that global warming takes a serious toll on our planet.

For one, heat rise can affect many species of plants and animals that aren’t used to this kind of weather, especially since it took so long for them to adapt to their regular environment.

Many animals try to move to colder places to live, but this makes the ecosystems change. For instance, predators may not have prey to hunt, so they go hungry. Some of the animals that move die because they can’t find anywhere to live. Many of them have become endangered from this, such as the Emperor penguin, the tree frog, and the greater mouse lemur.

Hot weather also attracts troublesome pests like bark beetles, who destroy trees, which makes the problem worse. Some pests, like ticks, lice, and snails carry harmful diseases that can hurt the other animals.

High temperatures start to make the poles and ice caps deteriorate, and turn to water. This water sinks into the ocean to make water levels rise. When this happens, floods become more frequent! Additionally, beaches and islands get smaller when they start getting covered up with ocean water.

How to Stop It:

You may think global warming is impossible to solve, but fear not! There are many ways to reduce the effects of this horrible problem.

For one, you could think before you buy something, so the factory usage will go down. Don’t buy things you don’t need. If you do buy something, make sure it’s durable and useful, like a good pair of headphones, not a pack of gum (Unless, of course, if you have horrible breath). If you have bought too much stuff, don’t just leave it lying around. Sell it online or at a yard sale, give it to someone else who wants it, or donate it to charity (If you can’t think of any charities, research about ones in your area.).

Don’t buy things that have a lot of packaging, like packing peanuts, wrappers, and bubble wrap (yes, I know it is fun, but it’s bad for the environment!).

Reduce riding/driving in a car, van, truck, or any other gas-powered vehicle, for they emit lots of gases. Instead, try riding your bike or walking for short distance trips. When you have to go pretty far, carpool with a friend or neighbor. Or use public transportation, like a bus. These suggestions will help reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

Another huge factor of global warming is over usage of electricity, so cut down a little! Turn off lights when you’re not using them, instead of leaving them on the whole time. And when you are using lights, only use necessary ones. For instance, you don’t need five lights on if you’re just reading a book. Another light tip is to change your incandescent light bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs (Compact Florescent Lights)! These will save plenty of energy needed for other things.

When you use appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, or dishwashers, you’re also using energy, so cut back on those as well. Replace your appliances with energy-efficient ones that use less electricity and water. Instead of using a dryer to dry your clothes, hang them on a clothesline. And when you wash your clothes, use cold water instead of hot whenever possible, so you don’t have to use your hot-water heater as much. The same goes for showers. And keep your showers short, so you don’t waste too much water, but you’ll use even less water if you take showers instead of bathes. Another way to use less water is to fix leaky faucets, so you’re not wasting water without knowing about it. To reduce water washing dishes, wash them by hand instead of using the dishwasher. But if you absolutely must, only run it when it’s full!

Another great way to help the atmosphere is to plant trees and gardens to keep the air clean. These plants will suck up the gases in the air and replace them with oxygen we can breathe! And if you want to be really green, use soil from your compost pile to fertilize it!

What is compost, you ask? Well, it is pretty much organic matter that has been turned to dirt by worms and other creatures. Now I know you’re probably wondering how to make a compost pile, right? Well, all you do is gather up some garden and food scraps and pile them together in your backyard. Maybe put some worms in there to help decompose it. Everyday turn the soil to mix it. You should also water it often to keep it fresh.

Save trees by writing on recycled paper, and use both sides of the paper as well. If you have to make a model of something for class, try using Paper Mache, which is newspaper held together with plaster. It’s a great way to recycle and reuse something for another purpose.

A single change in packing your lunch can reduce trash by a lot too. Use reusable lunchboxes instead of paper bags, which you have to throw out each time. Instead of using plastic bottles for your water, use refillable ones. And cut down on your packaging! You don’t need to wrap everything single thing in plastic wrap! A good alternative is using plastic containers that keep everything separated neatly.

Your heaters and air conditioners are working very hard for you, especially in the winter and summer, so give them a break to reduce energy usage! To keep warmer, where thicker, longer clothing or snuggle up with some blankets or a pet! To keep cool, drink colder beverages, including water and lemonade. Go swimming in a cool lake, beach, or pool! Just make sure to put on your sunscreen!

And, of course, recycle! To keep more out of the landfill, recycle metal, plastic, glass, and paper products that you’ve already used, so less methane can get into the air!

Conclusion:

If you keep working at it, and do all these many things to take care of the environment, global warming won’t be as much of a problem. I know you must think going green is a chore, but it can be a lot of fun!

Be creative with new and inventive ways to save the planet! Maybe you could make a competition to see who in your family recycles the most! Or you could make cool Halloween costumes out of reused material!

Inform people about the problem by forming clubs and groups about ecology and going green. You can discuss important problems and issues in the environment, and try to do something about it! Or make up some fun crafts that are eco-friendly! And make sure every member spreads the word!

To learn more about nature, go explore it! Whether going on hikes in the Adirondacks or swimming in the Hudson River, see the world around you from a whole new perspective!

And no matter what, if we join together, and work with plenty of perseverance, we can solve the epic problem of global warming.

Bibliography:

1. Fact Monster

"Fluorocarbon" Dictionary

<http://dictionary.factmonster.com/fluorocarbon>

2. Fact Monster

"Global Warming" Encyclopedia

<http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0821016.html>

3. 363.7387 GOR

Gore, Albert An Inconvenient Truth

Emmaus, PA; Rodale Books, 2006

4. National Geographic

"Causes of Global Warming" Global Warming

<http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-causes>

5. National Geographic

"Effects of Global Warming" Global Warming

<http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects>

6. National Geographic

"Global Warming Solutions" Global Warming

<http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-solutions>

7. Reference

"CFC" Reference.com

<http://www.reference.com/browse/CFC>

8. Reference

"fossil fuel" Reference.com

<http://www.reference.com/browse/fossil+fuel>

9. PBS Kids

"Air and Water" Eekoworld

<http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/index.html?load=air_water>

10. 363.73 PRI

Pringle, Laurence Vanishing Ozone

New York, NY; Morrow Junior Books, 1995

11. 363.7 WIL

Wilkes, Angela My First Green Book

New York; DK Publishing, 1996

Future Librarian

Hello, everyone! Recently, I’ve learned about YEP (Youth Employment Program) jobs at my school, so I looked at the job postings and selected the one I liked.

In this case, I chose the library to work at. I’d organize books(because many people don’t keep them that way!), dust shelves, and help people find books. I had gotten very excited on that aspect, for I love to read and suggest.

I’m elated about working there, especially since my job starts on Monday! Mrs. Heider (the woman who organizes the whole thing) had informed me that Mrs. Conrow (the librarian and my employer) was very happy I was working for her, since she knew I loved reading and helping out.

It’ll be tough work, and I’m a very busy person, but I know I can manage!

Education

Something that has always been very puzzling to me is why people don’t like school. Sure, it’s a lot of work and school taxes are high, but it’s amazing how you can learn new information and skills everyday! There are also extra-curricular activities which make each day different. And I don’t know about you, but I love coming home everyday and sharing my new knowledge. Schooling has also trained me to be very organized, having to keep up with home and schoolwork, long-term projects, and making sure I keep my grades up. Most of my friends I’ve met through school. I love to learn and socialize with new people.

I love learning new things about technology as well, which makes writing a 5 paragraph essay a lot easier!

All in all, I don’t know what I’d do without school. I’d have no organization, commitment, and social skills without. And you probably would too.

Procrastination

Procrastination is a problem I've suffered with for quite a while, not even noticing I had it. But don't we all? At some time or another we put things off, thinking they're too hard, thinking it's not due for a long time, or we just don't want to do it. This has never happened in school, since I'm a straight-A student, but I put things off at home. I never post on my blog (sorry, by the way), I don't make greeting cars until last minute, and I spend WAY too much time on the computer. It's just...these things suck you in and when you get concious about doing something, the day's almost done. But in a book I read, I got a wonderful idea. Every day I write a daily to-do list to keep track of my task. And the book had said to prioitize and do the hardest items or the items that are due the soonest first. This way, if I didn't have time to do the less important things, I can just save it for tommorow. So I hope all of you followers are learning, right now, as you're reading, and if you have any interesting procrastination experiences, share them! And I promise that I will post at least once a week!

Halloween

Hi everyone! I just wanted to fill you in on Halloween 2010!

I went as Dracula as you can see from the pictures. I went with my frend Abby who was Alice from Alice in Wonderland. We got quite a bit of candy and did some trading. Ariana went as a witch and her friend Ashley was the Grim Reeper.

We also carved pumpkins(Sorry, I don't have any pictures from that.)! Mine was a pirate and Ariana's was a scared person. In short, this was a very fun year! I think I might be a zombie next year...

Harriet the Spy review

Hello followers! I have decided that every book I finish, I will review on here!

Today I just finished Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. You've probably read it since it was published in 1964. Anyway, it's split up into 3 parts. Here they are:

1. Part 1: This part is about getting to know Harriet and what she does(spy on people). She loves to write and since her family is very rich, she goes to private school. Her nanny, Ole Golly(This is just what Harriet calls her. Her real name is Catherine Golly.), takes care of here very well, as proved in one chapter where Harriet's mother wants her to go to dancing school, but Harriet hates the mere thought of it. Then Ole Golly talks to her and says that girl spies have to know how to dance in order to disguise themselves at parties they're spying at. Harriet comes back into the dining room where her parents are and says something like, "I'd LOVE to go!" and Mr. Welsh(Harriet's father) says "That Miss Golly works wonders!" At the end of this part Ole Golly has to leave because as Harriet knows she has a boyfriend who is now her fiance. She wants to move to Montreal with him and thinks that since Harriet is eleven, she doesn't need a nanny.
2. Part 2: I just want warn you ahead of time that this part is good, but is VERY DEPRESSING!!! If you don't think you can handle it, just put the book down and walk away. At the beginning of this part Harriet feels sad Ole Golly is gone. Then she loses her notebook that her class finds and reads. The notebook has lots of mean things about them, they stop being friends with her. They even steal her tomato sandwich she was going to eat at lunch. Later Harriet spies on them and realizes they've started a club against her. She suddenly feels very lonely and skips school for a while. She is forced to come back, but since she doesn't have any friends, she constantly writes in her notebook and doesn't do any work. Mrs. Welsh realizes that she is doing horribly in school(even English!) so she takes her notebook away from her. Harriet doesn't have anyway to express herself, so she becomes a very dull person. Suddenly, all that dullness turns to meanness. She insults people, pinches and trips them, and she even cuts a chuck of one girls hair out! She has to see a psychologist. But he doesn't really act like one. He dresses like a clown and plays Monopoly with Harriet. He likes to take notes like Harriet and gives her a notebook to write in and Harriet gets so immersed in it that before long she has to go. Mrs. Welsh takes the notebook away, but Harriet still feels better.
3. Part 3: Harriet visits her ex-friends to try to make up. Janie still hates her, but Sport(real name: Simon) kind of wants to be her friend. When she spys on the club, which Harriet's rival Marion Hawthorne ruins by making everyone play Bridge, Sport and Janie quit which makes most everyone quit. The rest you'll have to read to find out!

I really liked this book, except Part 2 was a little too sad, but I really liked how the author told us something about the characters at the beginning and mentions it throughout the book, but doesn't take the time to explain every time. I think if you like stories about friendship or like to hear about the main character's thoughts, this is the book for you!

Reading

Before, I didn't like reading. I thought it was just a conversation except only one talker. Now, since my new teacher Miss Cordsen incorporates reading a lot, I've been doing much more. Reading is good for your imagination, trying to figure out what the characters and scene look like, and it's just amusing imagining someone finding the true meaning of something important, or learning something useful. I love books where you root for the characters and when they're struggling you are on the edge of tears. It's like reading opened up a whole new world to me, not only mentally, but I feel stronger on the outside too(especially when I get that tingly feeling after I finish a really good book.). If you feel the way I do or the complete opposite, please comment.