Consequence of Global Warming on weather patterns

Higher temperatures could lead to increased droughts and wildfires, heavier rainfall and a greater number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes.

More Powerful and Dangerous Hurricanes

Warmer water in the oceans pumps more energy into tropical storms, making them stronger and potentially more destructive.

Warning signs today:

• The number of category 4 and 5 storms has greatly increased over the past 35 years, along with ocean temperature.
• The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, with a record 27 named storms, of which 15 became hurricanes. Seven of the hurricanes strengthened into major storms, five became Category 4 hurricanes and a record four reached Category 5 strength.
• Hurricane Katrina of August 2005 was the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

Drought and Wildfire

Warmer temperatures could increase the probability of drought. Greater evaporation, particularly during summer and fall, could exacerbate drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires

Warning signs today:

• The 1999-2002 national drought was one of the three most extensive droughts in the last 40 years
• Warming may have lead to the increased drought frequency that the West has experienced over the last 30 years.
• The 2006 wildland fire season set new records in both the number of reported fires as well as acres burned. Close to 100,000 fires were reported and nearly 10 million acres burned, 125 percent above the 10-year average.
• Firefighting expenditures have consistently totaled upwards of $1 billion per year.

Intense Rainstorms

Warmer temperatures increase the energy of the climatic system and can lead to heavier rainfall in some areas.

Warning signs today:

• National annual precipitation has increased between 5 and 10 percent since the early 20th century, largely the result of heavy downpours.
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that intense rain events have increased in frequency during the last 50 years and human-induced global warming most likely contributed to the trend.
• According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Northeast region had its wettest summer on record in 2006, exceeding the previous record by more than 1 inch.

Global Warming Consequences?

Each year from 1998 through 2007 ranks among the top 25 warmest years on record for the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Scientists say that the earth could warm by an additional 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit during the 21st century if we fail to reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. This rise in average temperature will have far-reaching effects on the earth's climate patterns and on all living things. Many of these changes have already begun.

• Weather Patterns.


• Health.


• Wildlife.


• Glaciers and sea levels.

What can I recycle?

"Thrift, saving, and re-use are habits earlier generations of Americans knew well. Recycling is simply a modern version of these character traits, helping us make the best use of our planet's limited natural resources. Recycling your daily newspaper, plastic bottles and other items is a great way to help."

Papers and cardboards:

• Magazines
  
• Paper and Cardboard
  
• Office Paper


• News Paper


• Juice Cartons


• Unsolicitated Direct Mail


• Phone Books

Metals:

• Aluminium Cans


• Aluminium Foil and Bakeware


• Steel cans and tin cans

Glass:

• Clear(flint) Glass


• Brown(Amber) Glass


• Green(Emerald) Glass

Thinking Green?

Thinking Green, is a movement now seen all over the world in which people has began to think more in how the things they do affect our planet, and start wondering what can they do to help?

First of all the people of Thinking Green wants you to "Reverse the Way You Think About Waste",

"What is waste in reverse? It is waste given a renewed purpose as a resource. It is a recycled aluminum can that can power a laptop. It is a pear that turns into energy as it biodegrades. Putting the four R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover the resource into action is what Waste Management and this site are all about. Join us and let's Think Green®."

It means that we should think further than what we see in waste, we should think more in what could happen if I recycle this waste?, how could this help the planet I live in?, etc.

If you don't know the effects of recycling check the web page, were they explained everything to you in an interactive video.

Link: http://www.thinkgreen.com/recycle-world

Basic Explanation of Global Warming.

The link from the tittle takes you to a video in YouTube, where you'll see Al Gore's explanation of Global Warming, it's really good and simple for those who still doesn't get it.

People it's important for us to whatch this things and get informed, Global Warming is happening, and it's happening now, so what are we going to do about it? A lot of countries already started different movements to reduce the causes of Global Warming, What are we waiting for? Venezuela is part of this world too and we'll suffer the Global Warming consequences as well if we don't do something NOW!

So any ideas you have that can help us to take better care of our world will be well received, remember even the smallest things can mean a lot.

"Greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act: U.S. policy on global warming today "

The Supreme Court ordered the federal government today to take a fresh look at regulating carbon dioxide emissions from cars. In a 5-4 decision, the court said the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from cars. Greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the landmark environmental law, Justice John Paul Stevens said in his majority opinion. The case is Massachusetts v. EPA, 05-1120.Greenhouse gases, flowing into the atmosphere and oceans at an unprecedented rate, are leading to larger extreme climatic events, rising sea levels and other marked ecological changes.The politics of global warming have changed dramatically since the court agreed last year to hear its first global warming case. Business leaders are saying they are increasingly open to congressional action to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, of which carbon dioxide is the largest. Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas are burned.The court had three questions before it.
Do states have the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision?
Does the Clean Air Act give EPA the authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases?
Does EPA have the discretion not to regulate those emissions? The court said yes to the first two questions. On the third, it ordered EPA to re-evaluate its contention it has the discretion not to regulate tailpipe emissions. The court said the agency has so far provided a "laundry list" of reasons that include foreign policy considerations. The majority said the agency must tie its rationale more closely to the Clean Air Act.The decision also is expected to boost California's prospects for gaining EPA approval of its own program to limit tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases. Federal law considers the state a laboratory on environmental issues and gives California the right to seek approval of standards that are stricter than national norms.

"Electric Cars as Barack's NEW Strategy for Transportation fuels "

Plug-in hybrids (and electric cars) are an essential climate strategy. The U.S. has just enacted the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 as part of the bailout of the U.S. financial system. The law provides tax credits for purchases of plug-in hybrid vehicles until less than a year after the first 250,000 are sold, worth $2,500 plus $417 for each kilowatt-hour of battery capacity over 4 kilowatt-hours, up to $7,500 for cars under 10,000 pounds (4536 kg), or more for larger vehicles.

BYD Auto is the Chinese company that last fall launched the very first mass-production plug-in hybrid in the world. It will display both its F3DM plug-in hybrid sedan, and a new E6 electric crossover vehicle. Executives will describe its lithium iron phosphate cells, and the Dual Mode plug-in hybrid system. BYD might be dismissed as just another Chinese car company (there are several dozen), except that famed investor Warren Buffet acquired a 10-percent stake in its parent company last September. The car company is a subsidiary of BYD Company Ltd., the world's second largest producer of rechargeable batteries—unlike GM, which has to buy its cells from other companies.