Environmental Biology - BIOL 1140

The *Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is touted as the most complete assessment of world resources to date. Initiated by the United Nations to help meet assessment needs of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention to Combat Desertification, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and the Convention on Migratory Species, this landmark study released today "reveals that approximately 60 percent of the ecosystem services that support life on Earth – such as fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water regulation, and the regulation of regional climate, natural hazards and pests – are being degraded or used unsustainably." This site has the full report. The new report create one of the most complete "global snapshot" of ecosystems. More than 1,300 authors from 95 countries participated in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Indications are that environmental conditions will significantly worsen in the next 50 years. (****) -SR Recent Scientific Reports Focus on Potential Climate Change in Europe and California Global Warming Clouds the Future Europe 'must adapt on climate' Technology Already Exists to Stabilize Global Warming Emission Scenarios, Climate Change, and Impacts on California (2004) [pdf] EEA: Impacts of Europe's changing climate [pdf] Union of Concerned Scientists: Global Warming There is significant debate among scientists on the nature of global warming, with some pointing to increased temperatures as being merely indicative of long-range climatic change that has gone on for thousands and thousands of years across the planet. Others point to the disruptive effects that human activity has on the atmosphere, and continue to call for a global effort to mitigate the effects of these actions on the environment. As this debate continues to develop within the scientific community, two new reports were released this week that predict serious climate change in both Europe and California during the next one hundred years. A report issued by the European Environment Agency this week indicates that less than 50 years remain in which a concerted effort can be made by a variety of government institutions in order to mitigate the effects of this changing climate. The report also notes that the 2003 heat wave that struck Europe effectively melted the mass of Alpine glaciers by 10% and that harvests in many southern European countries were down by 30% in some areas. Another related report that was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week dealt with the potential effects of climate change in the state of California. The report was authored by nineteen scientists, who adapted two of the latest computer models of global change to examine how California might be affected under two varying scenarios for emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. In its discussion of various related issues, the report also suggested that under the less-optimistic scenario that such climate change would have a devastating effect on some of California's signature industries, such as wine making and tourism. In terms of temperature change, the report noted that in 50 to 100 years "inland cities would feel like Death Valley does today". The report did not comment on what Death Valley would feel like in 50 to 100 years. [KMG] The first link leads to a news article from this Tuesday's San Francisco Chronicle that offers some discussion of the recent report on the potential effects of global climate change on California. The second link leads to a special online report from the BBC that reviews some of the findings offered by the recent climate study commissioned by the European Environment Agency. The third link, taken from Science Daily, talks about existing technology that could be used to stop the escalation of global warming. The fourth link leads to the homepage of ATMOS Research and Consulting, and contains the full-text of the recent study on the potential emissions scenarios affecting California and the potential long-term effects. The fifth link leads to the webpage of the European Environment Agency where visitors may download and peruse the complete report that discusses the impacts of Europe's changing climate. The sixth and final link leads to some proposed solutions to mitigate the effects of global warming offered by the Union of Concerned Scientists. [KMG]

Complete set of notes for Environmental Science course

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Environmental Fund for Georgia (Envirolink - An Online Environmental Community)

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Population Reference Sites Population Sites Population Reference Bureau Current World Population U.S. & World Population World Population Balance City Populations Plus Environmental Literacy Council Information on Population

Environmentally Oriented Links Emphasizing Energy Banish the confusion about Fusion at this site. After you learn the basics, try a virtual runthrough of a fusion reaction! WWW Virtual Library:Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network: Biofuels Information Network: Home of the Rocky Mountain Institute: Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology: Alternative Fuels Data Center: Biomass Resource Information Clearinghouse: Environmental Protection Agency: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Electric Power Research Institute: Biomass Energy Alliance: Solstice: Fantastic Site dealing with Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Sustainable Living - looking for houses of straw or old tires? - go to section under efficiency - great set of links Alliance to Save Energy

General Ecology Sites Atlas of the Biosphere National Arbor Day Foundation enature.com - sponsored by Nationals Wildlife Organization Environmental Policy and Education See America's National Parks See America.org: Home site of the Travel Industry Association of America National Wildlife Organization: Contains an on-line library + links Rainforest Action Network: Natural Resources Defense Council: EE-Link: Excellent set of diverse links and activities EcoNet: Supports ecological sustainability and environmental justice Virtual Library on the Environment: EPA Site on Water Safety Information aout the Oceans Coral Reef Information from the EPA Water Research Network - freshwater research projects worldwide

Monday, June 5, 2006, was World Environment Day! Last year marked the International Year of Deserts and Desertification - a process aided by both climate change and loss of biological diversity. Recent research reveals how our activities down here on the ground affect the world's environment and atmosphere. Last year, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases displayed near record growth rates. Paul Fraser, from CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, says that carbon dioxide levels grew by 0.54 percent in 2005, the fourth year in a row of above-average growth. Greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere from human activity. Much of what we do, from stomach grumblings to machine rumblings, and even how we get around - on the ground and in the air - produces greenhouse gases. So what exactly pumps greenhouse gas out and up into the atmosphere? * Mostly, greenhouse emissions come from generating electricity. All the bright sparks out there may know that carbon dioxide is released when fuels like coal are burnt for electricity. This accounts for around 35 percent of greenhouse emissions in Australia. * Agriculture, the production of munch-able and crunchable foods, is responsible for 17 percent of Australia's total greenhouses gas emissions. * Transporting stuff and ourselves around releases 14 percent of all Australian greenhouse gases, and industrial processes release 5 percent. * Change of land use, such as land clearing, also releases greenhouse gases. * Even rubbish tips have gassy habits that produce a small percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, mainly as methane - an extremely potent greenhouse gas. So this World Environment Day, ride your bike or get your skates on instead of driving. Perhaps you can make your home more energy efficient by turning appliances off at the wall, buying some energy saving light bulbs, recycling and looking for ways to heat and cool your house using renewable energies and insulation.

More information: * United Nations World Environment Day * Travel Smart * Browse ECOS: towards a sustainable future * CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research * CSIRO climate change science<>

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