Equipped
with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the
adventure Science.
My insights and reflections on "Confronting Climate Change"
Online Learning:
1. I learned that Climate change denial is the term used to describe how individuals
According to IPCC 2007 AR4 report, it is predicted that by the end of the 21st century, climate change will result in:a probable temperature rise between 1.8 °C and 4 °C, with a possible temperature rise between 1.1 °C and 6.4 °C; a sea level rise most likely to be 28-43 cm; arctic summer sea ice disappearing in second half of century;an increase in heat waves being very likely;and a likely increase in tropical storm intensity.
There are also different DATA IN CLIMATE CHANGE ANALYSIS like rainfall, rainy days, typhoons, maximum temperature, flooding, Ground Water Potential (GWP), humidity, and cloudiness.
The impacts of climate change may persist for more than 1000 years, even after human-induced emissions of CO2 stop completely. New studies find that warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation caused by CO2emissions from human activity are largely irreversible.
It is US that is really affected by Climate Change. And it is US that can control/lessen its effects. We do not want to suffer more in the future. Neither do I. That's why we REALLY need to ACT. SAVE OUR PLANET!
1. I watched a video about Confronting Climate Change that really helps me understand what will happen if we didn't act now.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by sharing my knowledge about this and doing something to help save our planet.
My insights and reflections on "Climate Change: The Global Scenario"
Online Learning:
1. I learned that all of the events of the past decade, all of our memories have something in common. They all took place during the hottest decade ever recorded since humans begin keeping temperature records about 150 years ago.And I can say that the principle,"Everything is connected with everything else", is true.
In the last decade, the earth's temperature raised roughly a third of the degree Fahrenheit since 1880. It's risen about 1 1/2 degrees. You might say the Earth's having a fever and science has predicted that it's going to be much worse.
Majority of climate scientists say evidence are human-caused warming quicker but less understood is exactly how this warming could change the complex interactions between our planet's land, water, sky and the different organisms we have in our world.
Further complicating issue is that water vapor is actually the world's most abundant greenhouse gas, the same molecules that might cool the planet in cloud for actually warm even in the form of gas.
As the planet warms, more water evaporates from the ocean. Creating more of these heat-trapping greenhouse gas.
Carbon dioxide is the second most abundant greenhouse gas, and our biggest contribution to global warming. Fossil fuels burning releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. NASA satellites capture the infra-red signature of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere. NASA also monitors other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide, and CFCs.
Greenhouse gas is most likely the main contributor to current global warming. It's the key piece to the temperature puzzle, and it unlock the door in higher and higher temperatures.
2010. It marks the hottest decade ever recorded so far. What will the next 10 years become for our planet? Computer models predict even warmer temperature, extreme weather, less ice, and higher seas.
The severity of those changes will depend partly on how our planet's complex system responds and more importantly,ON WHAT CHOICES WE MAKE.
1. I watched a video about the Climate Change: A Global Scenario that is developed by NASA.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by watching more videos about climate change, making myself more aware of the present condition of our planet and sharing facts and my thoughts to social networking sites.
My insights and reflections on "Climate Change: The Local Scenario"
Online Learning:
1. I learned that climate change is really one of the major tribulations of the world today and HUMANITY (us) has a lot to do with the recent warming of the Earth's atmosphere. It's because a lot of man's activities release greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and this causes the rise in temperature of the world. Some of the types of greenhouse gases are the following: carbon dioxide (which comes from the emissions of gasoline by vehicles and from various industries; it also can be from humans and animals which inhale oxygen and release carbon dioxide), methane (that comes from agriculture and decaying trash), nitrous oxide (that comes from biomass burning, intensive agriculture, industrial activities), hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.
I also learned the many effects of climate change on our health, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, water resources, industry and energy, and on the coastal areas. The temperature on the Philippines also rises from 1910 compared to 2000 which was 25.4-26.2 degree Celsius on the Philippines. Typhoons, El Nino Southern Oscillation, erosion, floodings in coastal areas, seas wil increase salinity, coral bleaching, and red tide are the some effects of climate change that really destruct not just the Philippines but the whole world.
Climate change is really happening. We cannot escape from the reality that we cannot stop it. But we can do something. It's never too late. With our little efforts, we can make a big difference.
Online Activities:
1. I watched a video about climate change discussing greenhouse gases, the effects of climate change and the things concerning us and climate change.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by watching more videos about the topic Climate Change: The Local Scenario. And I can say that if only we do something about the continuous warming of the Earth earlier, we can lessen its effects. But I am not saying that we cannot do something about it. We can. We really can. We can save our planet Earth. Together. We can control Climate Change!
My insights and reflections on "Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation"
Online Learning:1. I learned that the terms “adaptation” and “mitigation” are two important terms that are fundamental in the climate change debate since climate change is present in our planet.
Climate mitigation is any action taken to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate change to human life, property.
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines mitigation as: “An anthropogenic intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.” Climate Mitigation and AdaptationClimate adaptation refers to the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.
While mitigation tackles the causes of climate change, adaptation tackles the effects of the phenomenon. The potential to adjust in order to minimize negative impact and maximize any benefits from changes in climate is known as adaptive capacity. A successful adaptation can reduce vulnerability by building on and strengthening existing coping strategies.
In general the more mitigation there is, the less will be the impacts to which we will have to adjust, and the less the risks for which we will have to try and prepare. Conversely, the greater the degree of preparatory adaptation, the less may be the impacts associated with any given degree of climate change.
For people today, already feeling the impacts of past inaction in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation is not altogether passive, rather it is an active adjustment in response to new stimuli. However, our present age has proactive options (mitigation), and must also plan to live with the consequences (adaptation) of global warming.
The idea that less mitigation means greater climatic change, and consequently requiring more adaptation is the basis for the urgency surrounding reductions in greenhouse gases. Climate mitigation and adaptation should not be seen as alternatives to each other, as they are not discrete activities but rather a combined set of actions in an overall strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The issue of climate change is not just anyone's problem. It is indeed big deal. Our future is in stake. Whether we like it or not, our Earth is alarmingly warming. What I can say is, these things need everyone's(meaning EVERY one of us) attention. Everyone MUST unite. Together, we can make a difference.
Online Activities:
1. I watched a video about the things about climate change mitigation and the different adaptations that strive to save our planet.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by keeping in mind, cooperating, and applying those mitigations adaptations, not just thru online but also in my everyday life.
My insights and reflections on "Climate Change: A Look Into the Future"
Online Learning:
1. I learned that climate change in our country is,admit it or not, INEVITABLE. It is a part of our life that we cannot change. It is a phenomenon that changed, changing and will change our whole planet. Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing humankind, and as the stakes are raised, many are proposing ambitious solutions – from pumping dust into the atmosphere to escaping to space.
But what if instead of trying to fix the world, we fixed ourselves? That’s the question posed
by Matthew Liao, director of the Bioethics Programme at New York University, and his colleagues. “We tried to think outside the box,” says Liao. “What hasn’t been suggested with respect to addressing climate change?”
Instead of waiting for a miracle to happen, people must do something to lessen the severe effects of the climate change. Not just for ourselves, but also for all the things, living and non-living, that exist here in our planet.
What's not good in trying? We, as one, must unite in one goal. That is to save our planet. Not just for today but specially for the future. We don't want our children to not experience playing on the trees, grass fields and enjoy the Mother Nature. It's never too late. Act now and never regret a thing.
Online Activities:
1. I watched a video about what our future looks like with the increasing rate of climate change in the planet. And then I realized that all those things, little or big, that we are doing can affect the planet a lot. With that, we should not waste any time and save our Mother Nature.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by sharing the facts that I share in my social accounts.
My insights and reflections on "It's All About Carbon"
Online Learning:
1. I learned that Carbon is very important in our everyday lives. It is the building block of life. It is found everywhere on Earth.Carbon makes the plants and the animals and Carbon is also stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and crust of the planet. A Carbon atom can spend millions of years moving through the Earth in a complex cycle. Understanding the Carbon cycle and how it is changing is key to understanding the Earth changing climate. That's why we need to understand the Carbon cycle carefully. And the issue is that, in the past two centuries, humans have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by more than 30% by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forest. The Earth has not experience carbon dioxide levels this high for the past several million years.
I also learned that the amount of heat-trapping pollution the world spewed rose again last year by 3 percent. So scientists say it's now unlikely that global warming can be limited to a couple of degrees, which is an international goal.The overwhelming majority of the increase was from China, the world's biggest carbon dioxide polluter. Of the planet's top 10 polluters, the United States and Germany were the only countries that reduced their carbon dioxide emissions.
With all these facts, we must be alarmed about the present condition our own planet. And with the present condition of our planet Earth, we must ACT. Not later. Not tomorrow. But NOW.
I also learned that the amount of heat-trapping pollution the world spewed rose again last year by 3 percent. So scientists say it's now unlikely that global warming can be limited to a couple of degrees, which is an international goal.The overwhelming majority of the increase was from China, the world's biggest carbon dioxide polluter. Of the planet's top 10 polluters, the United States and Germany were the only countries that reduced their carbon dioxide emissions. With all these facts, we must be alarmed about the present condition our own planet. And with the present condition of our planet Earth, we must ACT. Not later. Not tomorrow. But NOW.
Online Activities:
1. I watched a video about how important carbon in our life and the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by applying those I learned in my life and sharing to others my knowledge about this subject matter. And I can say that just like we did in our second year, we must continue our Low Carbon Diet even it is not required in our school.
My insights and reflections on "Know your Earth"
Online Learning:
1. I learned that our planet, which is obviously the Earth, is breathtakingly amazing. It is just simply perfect. And National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA also studies the Earth and not just the space and other planets. They have lots of satellites that observe our planet to get a global view of our changing world. They conduct studies dealing with air, water, land and ice.
NASA helps us to understand our unique planet. Knowing it could be of great importance in order for us to help save the Earth. Earth is our ONLY planet. Protect it.
OUR PLANET. OUR FUTURE. OUR MISSION.
I also learned the following facts; greenhouse gases act like a blanket trapping solar energy and without atmosphere our planet would be frosty with a temperature of zero degree Fahrenheit; sea levels has gone over 10 inches and risen over 12 inches in the last 15 years; satellites of NASA can also detect large fires and they have recorded an average of 10,000 forest fires happening everyday and therefore we should plant trees in order to replace those trees that are burned whenever there is a forest fire; and lastly, over 150 billion tons of ice melt in Greenland enough to fill 2,000 earth movers every minute.
OUR PLANET. OUR FUTURE. OUR MISSION.
Online Activities:
1. I watched videos about knowing my planet, Earth, more that really amazed me. I saw how our planet is perfectly made.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by making myself more aware about our planet and sharing the videos that I have watched to my social accounts.
My insights and reflections on "Climate Change for sustainable development"
Online Learning:
1. I learned that climate change is inevitably happening. The evidence is clear. Rising global temperatures have been accompanied by changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves. The planet's oceans and glaciers have also experienced some big changes - oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising. As these and other changes become more pronounced in the coming decades, they will likely present challenges to our society and our environment.
Online Activities:
1. I watched a video about climate change, its causes(which are mainly OUR activities), and its terrible effects on everybody in this world.
Online Collaboration:
1. I participated in the online discussion by being aware of what's happening with my surroundings, not ignoring the fact that our Earth is warming abnormally and making an action, in my own very little ways (Eg.: Sharing the awareness and knowledge to others thru social networking sites).
Climate change is happening
Our Earth is warming. Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.4°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 2 to 11.5°F over the next hundred years. Small changes in the average temperature of the planet can translate to large and potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather.
The evidence is clear. Rising global temperatures have been accompanied by changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves. The planet's oceans and glaciers have also experienced some big changes - oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising. As these and other changes become more pronounced in the coming decades, they will likely present challenges to our society and our environment.
Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer.
Factors affecting Climate
> Distance from the sea (Continentality)
The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea.
> Ocean currents
Ocean currents can increase or reduce temperatures.
> Direction of prevailing winds
Winds that blow from the sea often bring rain to the coast and dry weather to inland areas. Winds that blow to Britain from warm inland areas such as Africa will be warm and dry. Winds that blow to Britain from inland areas such as central Europe will be cold and dry in winter.
> The shape of the land ('relief')
Climate can be affected by mountains. Mountains receive more rainfall than low lying areas because as air is forced over the higher ground it cools, causing moist air to condense and fall out as rainfall.
> Distance from the equator
The distance from the equator affects the climate of a place. At the poles, energy from the sun reaches the Earth's surface at lower angles and passes through a thicker layer of atmosphere than at the equator. This means the climate is cooler further from the Equator.
> El Niño
El Niño, which affects wind and rainfall patterns, has been blamed for droughts and floods in countries around the Pacific Rim. El Niño refers to the irregular warming of surface water in the Pacific. The warmer water pumps energy and moisture into the atmosphere, altering global wind and rainfall patterns.
> Human influence
The factors above affect the climate naturally. However, we cannot forget the influence of humans on our climate. Early on in human history our effect on the climate would have been quite small. However, as populations increased and trees were cut down in large numbers, so our influence on the climate increased. Trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. A reduction in trees will therefore have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Different places also have different types of climate. We have 4 types of climate here in the Philippines. In Bulacan, the climate is Type II, in which there are two pronounced seasons, dry from November to April, and wet during the rest of the year. Maximum rain period is from June to September.
Typhoon Rammasun, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Glenda, was a powerful tropical cyclone that had destructive impacts across the Philippines, South China, and Vietnam in July 2014. It was the seventh storm of the season to be named by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Typhoon Glenda is a strong tropical cyclone that has destructive impacts around some areas. While Typhoon Matmo (locally known as Henry), an International Convergence Zone (ITCZ) formed another tropical disturbance but due to typhoon Glenda being nearby, the disturbance started to weaken. On the other hand, Typhoon Inday has been first spotted by PAGASA east of Bicol as a tropical cyclone. But later on, it intesified into a storm.
Foreign Chemists
Democritus (460-370B.C.)
-Greek philosopher, Developed atomic theory, -Elaborated idea that matter consisted of atoms having physical size and shape which constantly moved in a void and interacted in different ways
Daniel Rutherford (1749-1819)
-Discovered Nitrogen through experimentation with a mouse, a candle, and burning phosphorus
Robert Boyle (1627-1691)
-English physicist and chemist, Experimented in pneumatics (the study of mechanical properties of air and other gases), Through research he rejected the accepted definition of matter, -Proposed Boyle’s Law (1662)
Henry Canvendish (1731-1810)
-English physicist and chemist, Discovered hydrogen (1766), Discovered nitric acid
John Dalton (1766-1844)
-English chemist and physicist, Professor of mathematics and natural philosophy (1793), Developed atomic theory, His theory (1805) accounts for the law of conservation of mass, law of definite proportions, and law of multiple proportions, Produced the first table of atomic weights
Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1856)
-His hypothesis stated that equal volumes of gases, at the same temperature and pressure, had the same amount of molecules, Avogadros number is 6.022e23, meaning that exactly 12 grams of carbon 12 has exactly 6.022e23 carbon atoms
Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac (1778-1850)
-French chemist and physicist, Developed the law of volumes concerning the combination of gases, Discovered Boron
Robert Wilhelm Bunsen (1811-1899)
-German chemist, Helped develop the spectroscope, Introduced the Bunsen burner that was actually developed by his laboratory assistant, Peter Desaga, Discovered elements Cesium and Rubidium
Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev (1834-1907)
-Russian chemist, Developed the periodic table by placing the elements in order of increasing atomic weight (1869), Predicted the existence and properties of elements that would fill the gaps left in his chart (1871), These elements were discovered between 1875 and 1885
Joseph John Thomson (1856-1940)
-English physicist, Researched atomic structure, Discovered that atoms contained particles which he called "electrons" by testing the ratio of cathode ray particles to their mass and found out that they were always the same. The tube was full of negatively charged particles eventually from his name called electrons., Developed the "plum pudding" or "raisin muffin," model of the atom which consisted of electrons embedded in a positive sphere of matter (1904), Received Nobel Prize for physics (1907), Developed the mass spectrograph with Francis William Ason (1919)
Robert Andrews Milikan (1868-1953)
-American physicist, Succeeded in measuring, quite accurately, the minimum electric charge that could be carried by a particle (1911), Found charge of an electron through oil-drop experiment, Made an apparatus that allowed drops of oil to fall between two electrically charged plates, He monitored the drops and measured how the voltage affected their rate of fall, From this, he calculated the charges on the drops, which were always multiples of 1.60E-19C, This number, he found, is the charge of one electron
Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937)
-British physicist from New Zealand, Discovered several radioactive isotopes with colleagues (1899-1905), Classified forms of radiation as alpha, beta, and gamma; received Nobel Prize for chemistry (1908), Worked on submarine detection during WWII, Developed atomic theory (1911), Researched Transmutational effects of alpha particles on gases (1919) and other elements, Performed the "gold-foil" experiment which he used piece of gold foil and shot positively charged particles at it to find other parts of the atom, Almost all of the particles shot through the foil but some "larger particles" shot back, He called the central part of the atom the nucleus
Gilbert Newton
-American physical chemist, Developed atomic theory, Proposed the octet rule and the electron dot method of showing valence electrons, Important contributor to acid-base theory and thermodynamics,
Niels Henrik Bohr (1885-1962)
-Danish physicist, His model of atomic structure (Bohr Model) proposed that electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed orbits that are discrete energy states, Received the Nobel Prize for physics for his work in atomic structure and radiation (1922),
Henry Moseley (1887-1915)
-English physicist, Discovered Moseley's law of characteristic X-ray spectra of elements (1913), Demonstrated that the number of electrons in an element is the same as the atomic number, establishing the significance of the atomic number
Erwin Schroedinger (1887-1961)
-Austrian physicist, Developed atomic theory of wave mechanics (1926)
-Shared Nobel Prize for physics with P.A.M.Dirac (1933)
James Chadwich (1891-1974)
-English physicist, Discovered the neutron, Received the Nobel Prize for physics for this discovery (1935),
Louis-Victor de Broglie (1892-1958)
-French physicist, Demonstrated mathematically that electrons and other subatomic particles exhibit wavelike properties, Received Nobel Prize for physics (1929)
Linus C. Pauling (1901-1994)
-American biochemist, Applied X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and quantum mechanics to chemistry, Developed theories of rare gas compounds; developed mechanistic theory of enzymes (1946), Determined the physical structure of proteins as helical (1951), Developed and applied some of the laws of structural chemistry in work with proteins, Researched the structure of DNA, Received Nobel Prize for chemistry (1954) for research of the nature of chemical bonds, Received Nobel Prize for peace (1962) for work in banning nuclear weapons testing, Received National Medal of Honor (1975), Shared in the quantum mechanical development of valence and resonance theory, Introduced concept of electronegativity, Founded the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine (1973), Researched Vitamin C and nutrition
MECHANICS: We Study the forces which are acting on matter
(bodies) as well as the motion and least of bodies.
ELECTRICITY: In
this branch we study about the motion and least of electric charge.
ELECTROMAGNETISM: It is concerned
with the production and effects of magnetism through electricity and
electricity through magnetism.
FIELD THEORY: It explains the
origin, nature and properties of fields such as gravitational field,
electromagnetic field, nuclear field etc.
SOLID STATE PHYSICS: It is concerned with
the matter having crystalline structure substance particular arrangement of
atoms.
ATOMIC PHYSICS: It deals with the
structure and properties of atom of different elements determined by their
electrons.
NUCLEAR PHYSICS: It deal with
structure properties forces and physical reaction between the nucleus of
elements and also with energy and elementary particles of nucleus.
PLASMA PHYSICS: It deals with the
characteristics of the fourth state of matter 'Plasma' which compressor highly
ionized nuclear particles and electrons.
MOLECULAR PHYSICS: It explain the
structure of matter on the basis of molecules.
ASTOR PHYSICS: It concerned with the
location, motion and other physical properties of planets, stars etc. with the
application of laws of modern physics.
GEO PHYSICS: It is related to
the structure, properties and the motion (with function) of the earth.
BIO PHYSICS: It is related to
the structure and function of living organism by applying physical laws.
Insights and Reflections about Cold Front
- Today, I learned that a cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing (at ground level) a warmer mass of air, which lies within a fairly sharp surface trough of low pressure. It forms in the wake of an extratropical cyclone, at the leading edge of its cold air advection pattern, which is also known as the cyclone's dry conveyor belt circulation.
- I will apply my learnings about this phenomenon in a way that when we are experiencing a cold front, I know a little bit about it.
- Learnings about this phenomenon are important because it is a natural phenomenon which we are experiencing often.
- On a larger scale, I will share my learning about this phenomena to help other people be more aware on different circumstances that happen in our environment.
- I need to know more about how can we not be much affected when this phenomena is happening.
Insights and Reflections about Low Pressure Area
- Today, I learned that a low-pressure area, low or depression, is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of surrounding locations. Low-pressure systems form under areas of wind divergence which occur in upper levels of the troposphere. The formation process of a low-pressure area is known as cyclogenesis.
- I will apply my learnings about this phenomenon in a way that when a low pressure area hits our country, I know a little bit information about it and how can it affects us.
- Learnings about this phenomenon are important because it is a natural phenomenon that hits our country often.
- On a larger scale, I will share my learning about this phenomena to help other people be more aware on different circumstances that happen in our environment.
- I need to know more about how can we not be much affected when this phenomena is happening.
Insights and Reflection about "First things first."
What are "first things?" First things are those things you, personally, find of most worth. If you put first things first, you are organizing and managing time and events according to the personal priorities you established.
To live a more balanced existence, you have to recognize that not doing everything that comes along is okay. There's no need to overextend yourself. All it takes is realizing that it's all right to say no when necessary and then focus on your highest priorities.
This is an attitude that every individual must follow to be organize on what he will do. Keeping this quotation in mind will keep you more focus on what your priorities are. This means that do things in the proper order. Do first the things that are important before some unnecessary stuffs. Do not skip things that you should do first to avoid cramming.
As a science class student, I should know my priorities. I should also how to make things well-organized. We should use our time wisely. We should avoid the things that are not needed in our daily lives. We should avoid the things that distract us on doing our duties or tasks. ♥
ENERGY
In the late 1970s, Resources for the Future produced a set of landmark studies on America’s energy situation. Many of the studies’ major points remain as cogent today as they were then, including the dangers of “picking winners” among competing energy technologies, the need to take into account the full costs associated with different technology options, and the importance of the right price signals.
High prices, the climate challenge, and concern about geostrategic implications of U.S. dependence on oil, have placed energy once again near the top of the public agenda. RFF research on energy focuses on key sectors, including electric power, transportation, and agriculture, as well as evaluating policy options to promote the development and implementation of new technologies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
Analysis of regulations cuts across Resources for the Future, whether looking at regulations to address energy use, air and water quality, fisheries management, transportation, or energy use, among many other issues.
RFF research has made significant contributions to the development of incentive-based regulatory approaches and improved techniques for measuring the costs and benefits of regulation. In applied settings, RFF scholars have analyzed the performance of specific regulatory programs and performed comparative studies of different regulatory approaches, as well as alternatives to regulation like voluntary programs and public disclosure efforts.
Function Discontinuity Detection and Location
Graphics systems do not generally provide primitives for drawing general smooth curves. The most commonly used technique is to approximate the curve by a connected piece wise straight-line "polyline".
In R the curve defined by the function f over the interval [a,b] could be drawn as follows.
x = seq(a, b, length = 1000)
y = f(x)
plot(x, y, type = "n")
lines(x, y)
y = f(x)
plot(x, y, type = "n")
lines(x, y)
If the function f is discontinuous this approach fails (e.g. consider the function f(x) = 1/x on the interval [-1,1]).
The purpose of this topic is to explore techniques for automatically detecting and locating function discontinuities and drawing the function over the intervals between the discontinuities.
The project could be taken further by developing methods for detecting and locating sharp "corners" in a function's graph. This amounts to finding the discontinuities in the derivative f'(x).
To take on this project you will need to be a competent R programmer (i.e. have completed or be doing 782) and be familiar with notions like "discontinuity", "derivative", "smooth" etc.
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