RSS

Low Carbon Diet Journal -- July 23-29, 2012

Every creature is better alive than dead, 
men and moose and pine trees, 
and he who understands it aright 
will rather preserve its life than destroy it. 
~ Henry David Thoreau,
from 'Chesuncook' The Maine Woods, 1848 ~





           It's already our exam week this following week. All of us were all busy doing their projects, outputs and reviewing. Me, even though I'm busy, I always remind myself to save energy. Keeping the door of the refrigerator always close is a big help to save electricity. Because I know that the refrigerator consumes too much electricity. I also said to my mother to not use chemical pesticides because it can destroy our environment. I also lessen watching TV, using my cellular phone, and using the computer to save energy and to  finish my school works easier. I also help my mother plant trees in our garden. 
           There are many little ways to help protecting the environment. But with these little ways, we can make our planet a safe place to live.


@babydreamer14

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

El Niño and La Niña

Insights and Reflections

  • Today, I learned that La Nina is described as cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, near the equator off the west coast of South America. While,  El Nino is like La Nina's brother, the totally opposite and attention grabbing brother. This is described as warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the same area of the Pacific Ocean.
  • I will apply my learning about this phenomenon in a way that when these phenomena happens, I can share my learnings to others and be ready for the effects of the both phenomenon.
  • Learnings about this phenomenon are important because we can use it for the future use. And when time comes, we will be readier for its consequences. And we can use it when it is already happening.
  • On a larger scale, I will share my learnings in these phenomena to help others be more aware of the different phenomena in our environment.
  • I need to know more about how can we not be much affected when these phenomena are happening. 
@babydreamer14~

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Tropical Depression




Tropical Depression





Once a group of thunderstorms has come together under the right atmospheric conditions for a long enough time, they may organize into a tropical depression. Winds near the center are constantly between 20 and 34 knots (23 - 39 mph).
A tropical depression is designated when the first appearance of a lowered pressure and organized circulation in the center of the thunderstorm complex occurs. A surface pressure chart will reveal at least one closed isobar to reflect this lowering.




Image provided by TPC
When viewed from a satellite, tropical depressions appear to have little organization. However, the slightest amount of rotation can usually be perceived when looking at a series of satellite images. Instead of a round appearance similar to hurricanes, tropical depressions look like individual thunderstorms that are grouped together. One such tropical depression is shown here.


* A tropical depression is an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined, closed surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of less than 34 knots (39 mph). It has no eye and does not typically have the organization or the spiral shape of more powerful storms. However, it is already a low-pressure system, hence the name "depression". The practice of the Philippines is to name tropical depressions from their own naming convention when the depressions are within the Philippines' area of responsibility.




Insights and Reflections 

  • Today, I learned that a tropical depression is an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined, closed surface circulation and maximum sustain winds of less than 34 knots (39 mph).
  • I will apply my learnings about this phenomenon in a way that when a tropical depression comes, I can share my learnings to others and to be ready.
  • Learnings about this phenomenon are important because tropical depression is a natural phenomenon that we experience often.
  • On a larger scale, I will share my learnings in these phenomena because it is important to know the different phenomena that are country experience. And to be ready when it happens to our country.
  • I need to know more about the formation of this and how can it affect our daily lives.
@babydreamer14~

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Monsoon


Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea. Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally-changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase.
The major monsoon systems of the world consist of the West African and Asia-Australian monsoons. The inclusion of the North and South American monsoons with incomplete wind reversal has been debated.
The term was first used in English in British India (now India, Bangladesh and Pakistan) and neighbouring countries to refer to the big seasonal winds blowing from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in the southwest bringing heavy rainfall to the area. The south-west monsoon winds are called 'Nairutya Maarut' in India.


The English monsoon came from Portuguese monção, ultimately from Arabic mawsim (موسم "season"), "perhaps partly via early modern Dutch monsun".
Monsoons may be considered as large-scale sea breezes, due to seasonal heating and the resulting development of a thermal low over a continental landmass. They are caused by the larger amplitude of the seasonal cycle of land temperature compared to that of nearby oceans. This differential warming happens because heat in the ocean is mixed vertically through a "mixed layer" that may be fifty metres deep, through the action of wind and buoyancy-generated turbulence, whereas the land surface conducts heat slowly, with the seasonal signal penetrating perhaps a metre or so. Additionally, the specific heat capacity of liquid water is significantly higher than that of most materials that make up land. Together, these factors mean that the heat capacity of the layer participating in the seasonal cycle is much larger over the oceans than over land, with the consequence that the air over the land warms faster and reaches a higher temperature than the air over the ocean. The hot air over the land tends to rise, creating an area of low pressure. This creates a steady wind blowing toward the land, bringing the moist near-surface air over the oceans with it. Similar rainfall is caused by the moist ocean air being lifted upwards by mountains, surface heating, convergence at the surface, divergence aloft, or from storm-produced outflows at the surface. However the lifting occurs, the air cools due to expansion in lower pressure, which in turn produces condensation.
In winter, the land cools off quickly, but the ocean retains heat longer. The cold air over the land creates a high pressure area which produces a breeze from land to ocean. Monsoons are similar to sea and land breezes, a term usually referring to the localized, diurnal (daily) cycle of circulation near coastlines, but they are much larger in scale, stronger and seasonal.
Most summer monsoons have a dominant westerly component and a strong tendency to ascend and produce copious amounts of rain (because of the condensation of water vapor in the rising air). The intensity and duration, however, are not uniform from year to year. Winter monsoons, by contrast, have a dominant easterly component and a strong tendency to diverge, subside and cause drought.
Even more broadly, it is now understood that in the geological past, monsoon systems likely accompanied the formation of supercontinents such as Pangaea, with their extreme continental climates.




Insights and Reflections
  • Today, I have learned that Monsoon is a wind system that influences large climatic regions and reverses direction seasonally. It is a wind from the southwest or south that brings heavy rainfall to southern Asia in the summer.
  • I will apply my learning about this phenomenon in a way that when there is a monsoon, I can be ready and I already know what can it bring to us.
  • Learnings about this phenomenon are important because it can help us to be more aware what is happening in our environment.
  • On a larger scale, I will share my learnings in these phenomena to help others to be ready whenever this phenomenon happens.
  • I need to know more about what is the advantage and disadvantages of this phenomenon so I can share it to others. 
@babydreamer14~

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Low Carbon Diet Journal -- July 16-22, 2012

"There is hope 
if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, 
that heartfelt knowledge 
that we are caretakers of this planet. "
~ Brooke Medicine Eagle ~


            A very tiring week. Last week, we undergone many quizzes. All of us were busy. But it won't mean that we already forgot to help Mother Nature. Me, I used my papers wisely. If I'm going to write not so important things, I prefer to write in use papers.
            While ago, me, my daddy and my Ate Wheina watched the movie "2012". It tells us about the 'end of the world'. And from that movie, I realized that our planet is changing.  We need to help it change for the better. There are a lot of things that affect our planet in a bad way but the good news is that everyone can help to reduce them and do their bit for the environment.
  
These are the things I've done this week:

  • Turning off the television,the computer and other appliances when not in use.
  • Not using much electric fan because its cold already due to the cold weather.
  • Using my bike when going to other baranggays.
  • Not using the shower. Instead, I'm using the pail and dipper.
  • Using eco-friendly bag.
        Helping Mother Nature is fun! There are many things that help save the environment. 

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Low Carbon Diet Journal -- July 9-15, 2012

         July 9-15, 2012


                 "Humans are stewards of nature." It is one of the environmental principles. We, as humans, have to give importance what God gave us. We should protect it. We must take care of it for the future generations. We can help protect it in many ways. This week, I lessen the use of plastic bottles. I told my mother that I will bring water everyday. It also saves money. I am also using my cellular phone and our computer when only needed. It helps me to save energy. And whenever I brush my teeth, I'm using glass instead of letting the water flows continuously. I also use dipper when I'm taking a bath to save water. I know that I can help protecting Mother Nature in my own ways. And I promise to keep it a habit. :]

- Hyvi Valerie ;)

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Low Carbon Diet Journal ~ July 2-8, 2012

July  2-8, 2012
"Around the world people are dying, ecosystems are crumbling, and economies face ruin because of climate change, and all Bush and the oil industry can think of is how to maximise their profits and continue business as usual. "
Paul Horsman

          It's been rainy these past few days. It's already cold at night. So, I told my mother that instead of using the air conditioner, we'll only open the windows to let the cold air come into our room. It can save money and it can also lower the emission the CFCs. And every time I saw a candy wrapper or a piece of paper when I'm walking, I'm used of keeping it into my pocket. because I know in my own little way, I can help our Mother Nature. I also turn off an appliance whenever nobody is using it. Because I believe that, "Great things come from small things".

~Hyvi Valerie

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

My Low Carbon Diet Journal -- June 25 - July 1, 2012

June 25 - July 1, 2012

There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.  
                                                                                                                 ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

          A tiring week for me! Last Friday, an election for the different clubs in our campus happened. It was very hot. And me and my classmates decided to buy something to drink. After finishing it, we gave the plastic bottles to the third year students for them to recycle it. This weekend, I attended our practice for our presentation for Music & A.P.. When going to a near place, we decided to walk to help our Mother Nature. Thus, we can also enjoy with the presence of one another. I also lessen the use of my cellphone so that I'll not charge it often. We can help Mother Nature in our little ways. So what are you waiting for? Be one of us! :)

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS

Intertropical Convergence Zone



 Intertropical Convergence Zone

          The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is the region that circles the Earth, near the equator, where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together. Also known by sailors as doldrums. It was originally identified from the 1920s to the 1940s as the Intertropical Front (ITF), but after the recognition in the 1940s and 1950s of the significance of wind field convergence in tropical weather production, the term "ITCZ" was then applied. When it lies near the equator, it is called the near-equilatorial through. The ITCZ appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms, that circle the globe near the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the trade winds move in a southwestern direction from the northeast, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they move northwestward from the southeast.


South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ)

          The South Pacific Convergenze Zone (SPCZ) is a reverse-oriented, or west-northwest to east-southeast aligned, trough extending from the west Pacific warm pool southeastwards towards French Polynesia. It lies just south of the Equator during theSouthern Hemisphere warm season, but can be more extratropical in nature, especially east of the International Date Line. It is considered the largest and most important piece of the ITCZ, and has the least dependence upon heating from a nearby land mass during the summer than any other portion of the monsoon trough.

 

Effects on weather

          It may affect  the amount of rainfall in many equatorial nations resulting on the wet and dry seasons of the tropics. Longer term changes in the ITCZ may cause severe droughts or flooding in nearby area. In some cases, the ITCZ may become narrow, then, it can be interpreted as a front along the leading edge of the equatorial air. Within the ITCZ, the average are slight. Early sailors named this belt of calm "the doldrums" because of the inactivity and stagnation they found themselves in after days of no wind.

 This image is a combination of cloud data from NOAA’s newest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-11) and color land cover classification data. The ITCZ is the band of bright white clouds that cuts across the center of the image.




Insights and Reflections


  • Today, I learned that Intertropical Convergence Zone is also called doldrums. It is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemisphere come together. It is called "Intertropical Front" in 1920-1940. ITCZ appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms that circle the globe near the equator. And it's location varies over time.
  • This information will help me to become more aware of the weather and be ready for it.
  • I would like to know more about ITCZ because I know that these are not all the things we need to know. And it can help us in everyday life.
  • As a science class student, the knowledge I gained about this will help me to be a more science-oriented pupil. And I can share it to people who don't know much about the ITCZ and its effects on us.



















  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS