Oil Shale Article
Click on the link above and read the article.  Answer the following questions with thoughtful response in PARAGRAPH format:
1) Summarize the entire article including defining oil shale and where it is being mined in the US.
2) What pollution issues are presented in this article?
3) How does this article relate to what we are learning in class about energy?
4) What impact does "flaring" have on Carbon Dioxide emissions?

Oil Shale Reserve Map for US

Corals moving to more tolerable temperatures

Click here and read this article
Answer the questions below in paragraph format. Then, comment thoughtfully in the form of a question on a peer's post.  Both posts will be graded. They are due Monday, Feb. 13th.

What is the name of the type of coral that has not done well in the Great Barrier Reef but is doing better in the previously cooler waters of Western Australia?

After reading the article, come up with an explanation of why the corals are doing better in their newer location?


Which variable (ocean acidification or temperature) appears to have a greater impact on these types of corals?  Why might it be too soon to tell?


What process (related to corals) is sensitive to changes in pH and temperature?


What does this article show about the scientific process? Does this article dispute the effects of global warming on organisms? Support your answer with evidence.

Gray Wolf Makes a Comeback

Read this article here


Answer the following questions in paragraph format and ask one question about one of your peer's posts in a separate "reply" post.


Where in the United States did the gray wolf traditionally range?


What events led to the gray wolf's demise?


What federal law passed and when did it pass that helped the gray wolf make a comeback?


What states now have stable gray wolf populations and what has happened in terms of their legal status as a result?


What is the California wolf looking for? Will it be successful?


What group of stakeholders is pleased that the wolf has made an entrance into California? Who is against it and why?


Do you think that gray wolves should be protected despite their impact on livestock?

Are we accurately estimating extinction rates due to climate change?

Extinction rates and Climate Change Article


Read the article above and answer the following questions:

What is an extinction rate?


Why do scientists think we may be underestimating extinction rates due to climate change?

What variables need to be considered when estimating extinction rates?


Your thoughts/opinions?

China talks about Climate Change before the UN Summit on Climate Change on Dec. 9th

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1122/China-Economic-woes-no-excuse-for-climate-change-inaction/(page)/2

Read this article also: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/20/rich-nations-give-up-climate-treaty?newsfeed=true

What are the actions that China would like to see taken by developed countries to curb greenhouse gases?  How will the global economic crisis impact the rate of change in terms of curbing greenhouse gases (in your opinion)?  Is the economic crisis a good enough reason to allow countries to continue emitting carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and other greenhouse gases?  Why or Why not?
Who is the number one emitter of these gases? What is their 2020 goal? Is this goal, in your opinion, good enough?

China's One-Child Policy

Watch this video: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14877251

Read these two articles:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1116810/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11404623

Why was the one-child policy implemented in China?

List three positive outcomes and three negative outcomes of this policy?

Sept. 6-9th Carbon Cycle and Global Warming

Read this recent article about a glacier in Greenland: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-14771523

Why do you think the glacier is melting at such a rapid rate? What does this glacier's demise have to do with the carbon cycle?

What other evidence is there for the correlation between carbon dioxide levels and increasing average global temperatures?