• The Environment

    Sea Level Rise May Be Smaller Than Predicted

    By Sam Barrett Posted on 9.5.2008 6 Comments

    A new study released by the University of Colorado at Boulder claims that a global sea rise of more than six feet by the year 2100 is nearly impossible. The researchers used conservative, medium, and extreme scenarios for Greenland, Antarctica, and the world's smaller glaciers and ice caps. Each scenario produced a result from two feet of sea rise to no more than six feet of sea rise. When factoring in thermal expansion due to warming waters, the team concluded that the most plausible scenario would result in a total sea rise of roughly three feet to six feet by 2100.

    10.24.2008 at 07:30pm - Comment by mioffe_2000

    “A new study released by the University of Colorado at Boulder claims that a global sea rise of more than six feet by the year 2100 is nearly impossible.” I will advise scientists from University of Colorado instead to write Hallowin style article put their efforts to understand reality in global warming. Al Gore is good author but bad scientist. His information about global warming missed a lot of things. You as scientists must knew, what he missed. Read more: www.ductworkinstallation.com/EnergySaving/EnvironmentPage/tabid/89/Default.aspx

  • The Environment

    Ole! Spanish Greenhouses Make Climate Less Caliente

    By Rachel Durfee Posted on 10.14.2008 2 Comments

    The southern coast of Spain is known for hot parties, hot food, and hot people. But one thing it may soon be known for is cooling the climate. The southeastern region of Almeria is home not only to paella and flamenco but also to the world's largest expanse of greenhouses. The roofs on these "hot houses" reflect incredible amounts of sunlight – so much, in fact, that scientists now say they could be responsible for lowering the local temperature.

    10.24.2008 at 06:59pm - Comment by mioffe_2000

    1. Clouds reflect huge parts of solar energy back to space: thick clouds-75-90%, thin clouds-30-50%; 2. Forests contain much more carbon than does grass and they also absorb more sunlight and produce more water vapor, which affect cloud formation. 3. Water vapor is one of the lightest gases and has tendency to go up to cloud level. Water has another properties it takes a lot of energy to evaporate water. Evaporation of water will cool air temperature. Despite that water vapor is greenhouse gas, it tendency to go up bring them on cloud level, where distances between molecules bigger and heat will go to space more easily than on ground level. No others greenhouse gases have these properties. Of course, reduction of carbon dioxide in the air will cool the Earth. Water vapor will also cool the Earth. We need increase evaporation of water. It is significantly cheaper then efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. 4. Sun is the best source of energy to evaporate water from growing trees, and not only will cool the air of Earth but also produce the cheapest, really “green” source of energy, which can be used in any time during hundreds of years. 5. White fresh snow reflects to space 75-95% of Sun radiation. White cars, houses, roads will do the same. Tim Flannery wrote that only new forests collect carbon also absorbing sunlight to grow and produce water vapor. Trees are the best and cheapest pumps in the world. They use Sun energy to evaporate huge amount of water. It is the cheapest way to cool the air of the Earth. Drop of rain on cloud level is the cleanest and the best solvent of carbon dioxide. Increasing of evaporation of water will do more to reduce carbon dioxide in the air than any attempt of conservation energy. Read more: www.ductworkinstallation.com/EnergySaving/EnvironmentPage/tabid/89/Default.aspx

  • The Environment

    Thinking Beyond the Windmill

    By Lisa Katayama Posted on 10.10.2008 8 Comments

    Lily Pads as Power Outlets

    Solar panels don’t have to be eyesores. The city of Glasgow is considering the installation of giant, glowing solar "lily pads" on the River Clyde. Designed by Scottish firm ZM Architecture, the circular floats are made of steel and recycled rubber and range in diameter from 15 to 45 feet. Motorized disks covered with solar panels track the sun and angle themselves for maximum exposure. Once panels soak up enough rays, the energy is converted to AC/DC power and transferred to the city’s grid, where it will help offset Glasgow’s electrical bills.

    10.24.2008 at 06:40pm - Comment by mioffe_2000

    Of cource energy need to be as cheap as possible. What about need to be environmentaly friendly? We need reevaluate our knowledge and do not forget that knowledge and information are different things. About global warming we can found millions of articles. Each of them is information with knowledge what author thinks about global warming. Usually most of that authors, even if they are Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Mihail Gorbachev, McCain, Obama and many-many others authors in the world – all of them repeat mistake of Al Gore that only carbon dioxide responsible for global warming. In this case conservation of energy is only one choice. Fortunatelly it is not true. Read more: www.ductworkinstallation.com/EnergySaving/EnvironmentPage/tabid/89/Default.aspx

  • The Environment

    Green Collar Jobs

    By Rachel Durfee Posted on 10.23.2008 4 Comments

    The economy is down and global warming is up. Instead of tackling the two problems individually, some lawmakers are looking to link the two activities together in what is proving to be an opportunity to fix both. In California, they are killing the two proverbial birds with one law, or in this case, many energy-efficiency policies.

    10.24.2008 at 12:11pm - Comment by mioffe_2000

    Article of Rachel Durfee is the best example that information about global warming in the world is wrong and only informs what politicians are thinking about it. That brings us to dangerous situations when even McCain, Obama and many others policymakers create more problems than solutions. Please read my attempt to reevaluate their information and bring back science. I found interesting that mass media speaking about global warming: 1. Forget that “ Forests contain much more carbon than does grass, and they also absorb more sunlight and produce more water vapor, which affects cloud formation”. Mature forests don’t take in much CO2 for they are in balance, releasing CO2 as old vegetation rots, then absorbing it as new grows. 2. Mention only that greenhouse gases absorb heat in the atmosphere. 3. Absolutely misunderstand role of water vapor in cooling of the Earth. 4. Misunderstand that any source of energy – nuclear, wind, hydro, solar cells, hydrogen, geothermal in condition when greenhouse gases anyway will increased by others processes will heat the atmosphere as heat pollutant. 5. Misunderstand possibility of conservation of energy and its limits. If we will increase efficiency of our motors, equipment, appliances, home heating and cooling systems, etc. from average 25% right now to impossible 100% it will mean only that four times more people will live on the same level as middle class in USA today. It is not enough even for USA population, not mention all countries in the world. Conservation of energy is always good direction but not enough. Read more: www.ductworkinstallation.com/EnergySaving/EnvironmentPage/tabid/89/Default.aspx



Download Our iPhone App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed



Become a Fan On Facebook

Share links with friends, comment on stories and more


December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

Check out the best of what's new here.

Popular Science Photo Pool


Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
tags_sprite.png
POP_embeddedForm_cover_May09.jpg