The origin of hurricanes and predictability of hurricane tracks

Low pressure systems form at mid latitude temperate zones as a result of the convergence of warm and cold air masses. Low pressure systems generally form over the polar front where the polar maritime air (a cold air mass) and tropical maritime air (a warm air mass) meet. Air currents in this area within the Northern Hemisphere will flow counter-clockwise due to the rotation of the earth and surface friction. Air flows accumulate at the centre of the system, and the warm air rises because it is less dense, leading to low pressure at the surface.

It contains more moisture than the polar maritime air and as a result, when it ascends, it condenses and produces clouds and rain. Cirrus type clouds are the first clouds that are usually created at this point. A circulation of air rotates in an anticlockwise motion due to the coriolis effect. The tropical maritime air swirls around the polar front, the system matures and eventually a warm and cold front is created.

At the warm front, the warm air rises over the cold air, the cirrus clouds develop to be cirrostratus, altostratus and nimbostratus clouds which eventually will lead to heavy rain because of the condensation of the warm air. Towards the edge of the warm front, conditions are more stable and pressure stops decreasing as much. No longer is there so much condensation and therefore there is less rain. Polar maritime air is fast, dense, and strong. Eventually the air pushes in and forces the warm air off the ground, creating instability.

The pressure increases, as the air ascends rapidly, cumulonimbus clouds form bringing in heavy rain and storms[1]. The cold front consists of heavier and denser air and displaces the warmer and lighter air, because of this, it moves faster than the warm front and it will ultimately catch up with it. Warm air is forced off the ground by the cold air, and once this happens, an occlusion is created. Uniform air begins to fill the gap between the warm front and the cold front and this is where the low pressure system begins to die away.

At tropical latitudes, if sea surface temperatures are above 27 degrees c[2], then the low pressure system will grow. If the conditions are right, tropical thunderstorms may develop to become a hurricane. Low pressure systems often begin to rotate around a central area of low pressure. This is known as a tropical depression, if the depression increases in intensity so that winds reach at least 39 mph, it’s categorised as a tropical storm. If wind speeds reach and average of 74 mph[3], it known as tropical cyclone or hurricane.

Hurricanes/ tropical cyclones mainly develop in the region between 10 and 20 degrees North of the equator (Goldenberg, 2001). When a storm grows to become a hurricane/tropical cyclone, it is described as a non-frontal low pressure system[4] and can reach up to 340 miles across in diameter[5]. Hurricanes absorb energy from the warm water of the ocean, and a thunderstorm will continue to grow so long as there is a fuel source i. e a supply of moist air and heat.

This source is normally found above the water in tropical waters. When the heat supply is cut off i. when the hurricane begins to migrate northwards (or southwards), over colder water, it will weaken and die away. Heat from the oceans is the primary source of energy for hurricanes, [6]and so, the greater the heat of the SST [7]the more intense and frequent hurricanes in that area will be (Goldenberg, et al, 2001).

Hurricanes don’t usually develop far inland due to the lack of moisture. [8] If there is no moisture, then clouds are not likely to form. Cloud formation results in the generation of latent heat. Latent heat is the heat needed to initiate a change of phase i. to a state of higher energy, e. g. from solid to liquid, or liquid to gas, in this context though, it’s from liquid to a gas. As clouds are not generated as much, then not much latent heat is released. the majority of hurricanes originate and stay within the oceans, though they do occasionally travel inland, and the effects they can have on the environment, society and on the economy of the affected area are potentially devastating. The coriolis effect, which is a product of the earth’s rotation is the reason that storms rotate and why a hurricane has a typical swirling formation.

The rotation of the storm causes air to be drawn into the extreme low pressure at the centre (eye) of the storm. As the air rotates, the air ascends. The rising air is very moist, the higher the altitude, the colder the temperature, and so, it condenses forming clouds. Hurricanes aren’t found within 0-5 degrees north and south of the equator ((300 miles (500 kilometers)) of the equator because the coriolis effect is at its weakest at this point, so the storm doesn’t have enough spin, and there isn’t enough force to maintain low pressure in the centre of the system.

Meteorologists can predict hurricanes in two main ways : through the use of seasonal probabilities and tracking of hurricanes that are in existence at a current point of time using modelling techniques[9]. Annually, scientists work out how many storms are likely to develop into hurricanes/tropical storms and they also calculate how many are likely to make landfall. Using statistical techniques such as CLIPER[10], past data, and by sending aeroplanes into the centre of storms they can determine wind speeds, temperatures and can predict the intensity of a hurricane, and how many people it is likely to affect.

Many scientists try and determine the paths of hurricanes, and it’s a difficult duty because not all hurricanes have defined paths, however; the typical characteristics and properties of the weather and ocean in a specific area allow scientists to have a rough idea to which path a hurricane is likely to follow. If the path is predicted then warning and protection can be provided for those that could potentially be affected and this is the best way to prevent a social, economic and environmental disaster from happening.

Hurricanes form in various areas depending on the various times of the hurricane season (Reading, 1990). Tracks can be predicted efficiently however, accuracy seems to be an issue in many cases. Models have become more accurate (NOAA,2004) and prediction techniques have improved (Aberson,2001), however there is still a large uncertainty and error is still an issue. It is easier to predict exactly where a hurricane is going to make landfall the closer to landfall the storm is.

So the further the hurricane is away from land, the more error there is when trying to work out its path (NOAA,2004). This is mainly due to natural changes in the storms physical characteristics. It has been determined by NOAA, that, 5 days before landfall there is an average of 350 miles of error, and one day before landfall there is a 100 mile error, [11]which is a major problem because a difference of that mileage could determine whether or not whole cities or villages need to be evacuated or not, and if there is an error, it could be devastating.

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Global Warming: Effects and Impacts

Table of contents

 Introduction

Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. In principle, global warming is neutral as to the period or causes, but in both common and scientific usage the term generally refers to recent warming and implies a human influence.

Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations, which leads to warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect caused by gases which are released by activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, and agriculture. The predicted effects of global warming for the environment and for human life are numerous and varied.

The main effect is an increasing global average temperature. From this flow a variety of resulting effects, namely, rising sea levels, altered patterns of agriculture, increased extreme weather events, and the expansion of the range of tropical diseases. In some cases, the effects may already be occurring, although it is generally difficult to attribute specific natural phenomena to long-term global warming.

Examples of projected climate changes include, significant slowing of the ocean circulation that transports warm water to the North Atlantic, large reductions in the Greenland and West Antarctic Ice Sheets, accelerated global warming due to carbon cycle feedbacks in the terrestrial biosphere, and releases of terrestrial carbon from permafrost regions and methane from hydrates in coastal sediments. Global warming controversy The global warming controversy is a debate about the causes of observed global warming since the mid-20th century, as well as the expected magnitude and consequences of future warming.

A major part of the debate centers around what actions, if any, society should take in response to the prospect of future warming. Some of the main areas of controversy include:

  1. Whether the climate is changing beyond natural variations in the historical temperature record
  2. Whether human/industrial activity is responsible for the change and if so, to what extent
  3. The effect of predicted depletion of fossil fuels, both individually as e. g. oil runs out and users turn to the higher polluting coal and overall as to whether there are sufficient available reserves to cause the more extreme climate change scenarios
  4. The effectiveness of policies to reduce CO2 emissions
  5. The size of future changes in climate
  6. The regional effects of climate change
  7. The consequences of climate change

Among climate scientists there is little disagreement that global warming is primarily anthropogenic, but the debate continues in the popular media and on a policy level. Questions include whether there is a scientific consensus on the extent and rate of anthropogenic global warming, and in particular whether there is sufficient evidence to justify immediate and far-reaching actions to ameliorate its effects.

Those who believe such a consensus exists express a wide range of opinions: some merely recognize the validity of the observed increases in temperature, while others support measures such as the Kyoto Protocol which are intended to reduce the magnitude of future global warming. Still others believe that environmental damage will be so severe that immediate steps must be taken to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions, even if the precise results are unknown, and even if there are substantial economic costs to doing so.

One example of an attempt to force action is the Sierra Club suing the U. S. government over failure to raise automobile fuel efficiency standards, and thereby decrease carbon dioxide emissions. Most of the consequences of global warming would result from one of three physical changes: sea level rise, higher local temperatures, and changes in rainfall patterns. Sea level is generally expected to rise 50-200 cm in the next century. Erode recreational beaches 100-200 meters, exacerbate coastal flooding and increase the salinity of aquifers and estuaries. o enhance beneficial impacts, but will incur costs and will not prevent all damages. Extremes, variability, and rates of change are all key features in addressing vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, not simply changes in average climate conditions. Human and natural systems will to some degree adapt autonomously to climate change. Planned adaptation can supplement autonomous adaptation, though there are more options and greater possibility for offering incentives in the case of adaptation of human systems than in the case of adaptation to protect natural systems.

Poorer nations

The ability of human systems to adapt to and cope with climate change depends on such factors as wealth, technology, education, information, skills, infrastructure, access to resources, and management capabilities. There is potential for developed and developing countries to enhance and/or acquire adaptive capabilities. Populations and communities are highly variable in their endowments with these attributes, and the developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, are generally poorest in this regard.

As a result, they have lesser capacity to adapt and are more vulnerable to climate change damages, just as they are more vulnerable to other stresses. This condition is most extreme among the poorest people. Historic adaptation Some of those who argue for adaptation to global warming do so with the perspective that human civilization has proven to be highly adaptable to climate change in the past and therefore will likely be able to adapt to climate change in the future.

The counterargument to this perspective is that the costs of adaptation are much higher than in the past due to the greater investment in urban and industrial infrastructure. In the past, cities could be relocated largely by having the populace pack up their possessions on their backs, on pack animals or wagons and relocate. Modern cities the size of Bristol or Liverpool cannot be relocated easily even with the use of truck, air and rail transport. The damage suffered by New Orleans by hurricane Katrina provides some perspective as to the potential damage that can be caused by a rise in sea level.

Far more technology and resources are available today. Our organizational and communication Adaptation mechanisms The following 9 fundamental principles can be considered when designing adaptation policy.  The effects of climate change vary by region.  The effects of climate change may vary across demographic groups.  Climate change poses both risks and opportunities.The effects of climate change must be considered in the context of multiple stressors and factors, which may be as important to the design of adaptive responses as the sensitivity of the change.

Adaptation comes at a cost. Adaptive responses vary in effectiveness, as demonstrated by current efforts to cope with climate variability. The systemic nature of climate impacts complicates the development of adaptation policy.  Mal-adaptation can result in negative effects that are as serious as the climate-induced effects that are being avoided. Many opportunities for adaptation make sense whether or not the effects of climate change are realized. Methods of adaptation Agricultural production. Agriculture of any kind is strongly influenced by the availability of water.

Climate change will modify rainfall, evaporation, runoff, and soil moisture storage. Changes in total seasonal precipitation or in its pattern of variability are both important. The occurrence of moisture stress during flowering, pollination, and grain-filling is harmful to most crops and particularly so to corn, soybeans, and wheat. Increased evaporation from the soil and accelerated transpiration in the plants themselves will cause moisture stress; as a result there will be a need to develop crop varieties with greater drought tolerance.

The demand for water for irrigation is projected to rise in a warmer climate, bringing increased competition between agriculture already the largest consumer of water resources in semiarid regions–and urban as well as industrial users. Falling water tables and the resulting increase in the energy needed to pump water will make the practice of irrigation more expensive, particularly when with drier conditions more water will be required per acre. Crop development models In order to further study effects of global warming on agriculture, other ypes of models, such as crop development models, yield prediction, quantities of water or fertilizer consumed, can be used. Such models condense the knowledge accumulated of the climate, soil, and effects observed of the results of various agricultural practices. They thus could make it possible to test strategies of adaptation to modifications of the environment. Because these models are necessarily simplifying natural conditions (often based on the assumption that weeds, disease and insect pests are controlled), it is not clear whether the results they give will have an in-field reality.

However, some results are partly validated with an increasing number of experimental results. Other models, such as insect and disease development models based on climate projections are also used (for example simulation of aphid reproduction or septoria (cereal fungal disease) development). Urban areas One strategy involves adapting urban areas to increasingly severe storms by increasing domestic, unpaved gardens etc and increasing the capacity of storm water systems (and also separating storm water from black water so that overflows in peak periods do not contaminate rivers).

Weather Control Also there are methods like seeding of the sulphur in the clouds to have rain when it is required. The control can be better enhanced by adopting genetical methods of agriculture, green roofs in urban areas etc where the fewer fertilizers and less water is used and at the same time the food production is increased thereby increasing the greenery and thus bettering the CO2 sink capacity. Conclusion As discussed in the paper we will like to again focus on the to global warming as a very strong factor.

It is essential that the mitigation efforts continue towards solving the problem but for practical purposes we all very well know that it alone can never accomplish this feat even if it had very large financial resources at its behest. So the best way to survive in nature is to accept it since Charles Darwin rightly said that it’s only the fittest and most adaptable whom the nature will select to stay along with. Hence it will be good if we understand the fact that its we who need to adapt to the nature, much sooner than later rather than expecting the reverse by putting in huge sums of money in terms of technological measures.

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What Factors affect Britains climate?

Weather is different in every country even city. Climate is the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place. Through climate we can judge the type of fruit or vegetables that grow in a certain area. The Mediterranean climate is good for growing citrus fruits and grapes. Where as the American climate is good for growing bananas and Indian and Pakistani climate is perfect for mangoes.

Britain is an island country and is surrounded by sea which gives it a varied climate. We never actually know what the weather will be like, one day it might be sunny the next there might be rain. As we have such a variable climate its hard to predict in general we have warm summers and cool winters our summers our cooler than other countries because we are surrounded by sea but our winters are milder. The main influence on Britain’s climate which are important are latitude , altitude ,distance from the sea, ocean currents and the prevailing winds.

Latitude:

Latitude is the position north or south of the equator measured from 0� to 90�. If you are on the equator then your latitude would be zero. If you are near the north pole your latitude would be nearly ninety degrees north and if you are more to the south pole your latitude would be almost 90 degrees south. The further away from the equator you are the colder it is. Therefore when we compare the UK with a country such as

Egypt, Egypt is always hotter because its more nearer to the equator than UK. As you can see on the diagram Egypt is more nearer to the equator than Britain and is therefore more warmer.(the diagram is not accurate jus a rough estimation of where the two countries may be) as one gets above tropic of cancer or Capricorn, the climate becomes milder, with warm summers and cold winters. This is known as temperate climate and this is what the UK climate is referred as. At points furthest away from the equator, the climate is colder and is called polar.

Altitude:

Altitude is the height above sea level, the higher we go the colder it gets altitude may be measured in units such as metres or miles but is usually measured in feet. When I say the higher you go the colder it gets a mere example is on top of mountain peeks, the peeks are way high up and it is much much much colder there and therefore the air there freezes into ice or snow. In Britain there are a few mountains but we are surrounded more by the sea and therefore the mountains don’t have a lot of effect in Britain. Other countries such as Nepal that have a lot of mountain ranges are very cold and I personally think its because of the mountains. The temperature falls by about 1 degrees for ever 100 metres above sea level.

Distance form the sea:

The sea is cooler than land during summer and warmer in winter because it conducts heat slower than land and cools down slower than land in winter. Land heats up faster than sea because its denser and has a bit of metal in it which is a very good conductor heat. The centre of continents are subject to a large range of temperatures. In the summer, temperatures can be very hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it reaches the centre of the continent. Distance from the sea has a great effect on Britain as you can see on the map that Britain is surrounded by water an therefore makes our summer cooler and our winters are much milder.

Prevailing wind direction:

prevailing wind direction means the direction wind comes from. 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 (a warm hot area) will be warm and dry. Winds that blow to Britain from inland areas such as the Netherlands (cold region) will be cold and dry in winter. Britain’s prevailing winds come from a south westerly direction over the Atlantic. The winds are cool in the summer and mild in the winter.

Because Britain’s wind comes from the south west this means it brings fairly warm air because it comes from near the equator. It also brings water vapour from the ocean(as it comes over the Atlantic ocean)- and that means more rain!

Ocean currents:

The North Atlantic Current (North Atlantic Drift and the North Atlantic Sea Movement) is a powerful warm ocean current that continues the Gulf Stream northeast. Ocean currents can have a great effect on tempratures either reduce it or increase it. The main ocean current that affects UK is the gulf stream. The gulf stream is a warm ocean current in the north atlantic flowing from the gulf of mexico. The gulf of mexico has a higher temprature than uk because its more closer to the equator where as uk is more futher away near the north pole.

This means that the air coming from the Gulf of Mexico to Britain is also warm. However, the air is also quite moist as it travels over the Atlantic ocean. This is one reason why Britain often has wet weather.

Some local factors affecting climate:

There are some local factors which don’t have a major affect but do in a way affect all climate such as the two following;One place may be warm and dry because it is sheletered by hills whereas another place may unmasked to wind and rain. Also electronic things, cars leting of gas and central heating also give out heat. So therefore the city is made to be more warmer than the countryside.

Air mass

Some part of the world is hot some is cold. The result is that the air moves around- like the air in a cold building when you turn on the heater or even the cooker in the kitchen. The air moves around the world in huge blocks known as air masses. An air mass can be thousands of km across. It can be warm or cold or any temperature but depending on where it came from. If for example an air mass comes from the north pole and moves over to the UK there will be cold and dry weather if an air mass coming from the equator (a warm dry place) there will be warm weather.

Often two different air masses will meet and clash over the UK which causes sudden changes in weather. Many different air masses cross Britain. That’s why our weather changes so fast but if an air mass stays very slow or stays in one place the weather stays the same for days. The weather does not change from day to day at the tropics and poles because they have the same type of air mass all year round.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, although many factors affect Britain some are more imporant than others. Like the direction in which the suns ray hit the earth (equator). How far away a place is from the equator (latitude) the height above sea level (altitude), the distance from the sea, the direction the winds come from and the ocean currents. But all of these are based on one major factor which I didn’t mention the SUN. How the sun affects us is affected by the rotation of the earth, latitude and cloud cover. Cloud cover is affected by the wind, another important factor, and the wind is affected by what it has passed over and altitude. Mountains redirect wind or force it up to form clouds if the wind has passed over a warm sea it will warm and wet, and if it has passed over a cold land mass it will be cold and dry. The sea have a huge impact on the land masses.

Minor factors such as how built up a place is can have a big impact but in small areas, and lastly the ocean currents also is realted to which sea it came from then where about the sea is(maybe near the equator). So the sun to me is main factor which affects all climste including Britain’s but Britains climate is more or less linked with the factor; the distance from the sea which is as I mentioned before is realated to the sun in all ways. Where we live in britain (england) the temprature in winter is not much less than 0�C and in summer not much higher than 32�C in the summer.

Also the weather her is damp and there may be lots of sudden changes. Rain is fairly well distributed throughout the year, with February to march being the driest period and October to January the wettest. The Lake District is England’s wettest region, receiving and average of 130 inches (330 centimetres) of precipitation( different forms of water falling from the sky) each year.

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Enviromental Issues

These are a few of many environmental issues that are faced in the Coastal Plains, the Western Cordillera, and the Arctic today. The Coastal Plains has many issues that need to be addressed. The Coastal Plains is a flat, low-lying area of land which is beside the sea coast.

It stretches smoke along the Ignited States and Mexico. It varies in climate depending on the region. For example in the north, it is defined by snowy and cold winters although in the summer it is hot and humid. In the southern part of the coastal plains it is sub-tropical, which means the winters are usually mild and warm. One of the many environmental issues in the Coastal Plains is urban sprawl (overpopulation). The Texas plains has expanded in population by 1 19% from 1970-90. The consequences of this are a large amount of carbon oxide being emitted into the atmosphere caused by cars and factories.

This also contributes to the climate change in the planet and global warming. Along with this, sea levels are rising and tropical storms/hurricanes are becoming more apparent. A solution to this issue is less usage of cars. If we could use fewer cars and start using more public transportation such as bikes and buses, we could put less carbon dioxide into the environment. We can’t fix the overpopulation issue but at least bringing awareness could possibly make a difference. Overall, the Coastal Plains is a beautiful area that needs to have these issues fixed or bringing more awareness to the public.

The Western Cordillera is a region in North America with environmental issues that can affect us greatly in the future. The Western Cordillera goes along the west coast of North America. It contains numerous mountains that haven’t been worn down by erosion. The climate is usually mild but mostly it is very wet. The issues the Western Cordillera is climate change and clear cutting. Climate change affects this region by impacting future water resources. The jack of snow caused by climate change could make water more scarce in the future.

Clear cutting is also a severe issue. Clear cutting is when you cut down an entire forest until nothing is left. Consequently, salmon bearing streams are also affected too. The solutions the water issue is less uses of personal transportation. By using fewer cars we can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases and which equals slower effects of global warming. The clear cutting issue can be fixed by regulating what trees can be cut. Cutting the old trees instead of the new growth could help the environment.

However, the economy situation would make these possible solutions a challenge to follow. The Arctic could negatively change the Earth if we don’t fix the severe issues that are happening at this moment. The Arctic region is a combination of lowlands and mountains. The climate is very severe since because it is not close to the equator. Summers are very short and winter dominates most months. Iron socially, the arctic is a desert because of the little amount of precipitation. The Arctic has been very vulnerable to effects of global warming.

The Arctic temperatures were raised more than twice than usual over the past century. This can lead to higher sea levels which could possibly be a disaster. Another thing that can happen is the extinction of Arctic animals. With less ice in the region, polar bears have a harder time finding food to eat and then they unfortunately die of starvation. The solution to this issue isn’t really possible. Again, using less fossil fuel could possibly help. Possibly bringing awareness about the issue could bring public pressure to the government to do something.

However, until that would happen, we can only see the effects climate change has on this region In conclusion, the Coastal Plains, the Western Cordillera, and the Arctic have serious environmental issues that can permanently change the world. The one thing that all of these regions have in common is that they are all effected by climate change/global warming. We can’t necessarily stop it but we can do our part to help these regions by not overly using personal transportation and emitting a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Overall, these regions can negatively affect us unless we do something to change it.

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Climate change

This documentary tells us about how climate changes exist nowadays. How Global Warming keeps on bursting as years goes by. How these pandemic greatly affect our lives. How these worldwide pandemic can be very deadly. It helps us to be open minded of the things happening around us. On what would be its greatest effect for the future generations and what could we do for our Mother Earth. Global warming and climate change has been the most pandemic kind Of problem in today’s generation as technology rises.

NO one r anybody could tell how these pandemic can be stopped. But we humans, can make a difference and control these pandemic for the future generations. We have the power to control these if we only have enough knowledge about these pandemic. Since most of us have not been informed with the rapid increase of water and temperature and as the climate is not behaving accordingly to its normal form, most of us are seemingly doing the things to be done in an easy way as we live everyday. We take everything for granted. We do not mind the pandemic that may kill us anytime.

We even ignore the rises of other people who want that all of us should unite and make a difference for this world. Many specialists are really bothered of the rapid increase of the behavior of the pandemic. We do need to be really informed by these things, we should be responsible to be open minded and take action to it. Each one of us owns this world; we must protect it and care for it. Let us just not take everything for granted and leave these problems to the higher ones, let us take a step and do a difference even though in our own simple way. Simple things can surely make a difference for our Mother Earth.

As early as possible, we should take action in our own simple ways to ease these pandemic. It is not only for us, but also for all humankind. We should take action for the future generations, for our children and grandchildren to be. If we do not act now, then when? Do we need to wait for the true calling of Mother Earth, which is the day that we are suffering to save our lives?

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United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland

Great Britain is made up of three countries, England, Scotland and Wales. It is an island off the coast of north–west of Europe. Britain is part of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital is London.

There are many different landscapes in Britain, from high mountains to rolling hill sand valleys. Places like Wales, the Lake District and northwest Scotland have high mountains and steep slopes made out of solid rocks.

This landscape was made millions of years ago during the ice ages, when moving glaciers of ice made deep valleys, steep mountain slopes and long lakes. The southern and eastern parts of Britain are made up of smaller rocks that have weathered and become fertile farmland.

The highest point is Ben Nevis – 1343 metres above sea level and the lowest point is Holme Fen – 3 metres below sea level. The population is 57,970,200 people, the population density at 239 people per square km.

92% of British people live in urban areas while only 8% live in rural areas.

Great Britain is completely surrounded by sea, isolating it from the rest of Europe. No part of Britain is far from the sea, which is an important resource for fishing, tourism and ports.

Britain”s rivers provide drinking water for towns, and irrigate farmers” crops. However rivers can cause floods.

The northern and western portions are mountainous. The highlands – the Pennine Chain, forms the backbone of northern England. Rolling plains occupy most of central and eastern England. The western part of the central region is known as the Midlands. To the east lies The Fens, a marsh area. To the south, an elevated plateau slopes upward.

The terrain of Scotland is mountainous but is divided into three regions, from north to south: the Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands. The Highlands occupy more than a half of Scotland, the most rugged region on the island of Great Britain.

Wales has an irregular coastline and many bays; the biggest is Cardigan Bay. Except for narrow and low coastal areas, mainly in the south and west, Wales is mostly mountainous.

Great Britain has quite cool summers and mild winters. The weather changes from day to day. The climate is temperate – the country does not have long periods when it is hot or cold.

Western parts of Britain receive more rain and snow during the year than south and east. This is because southwesterly winds bring water from the Atlantic Ocean to the west, which falls as rain where it meets the mountains on land. There are large amounts of water in this area and a shortage in the south and the east.

Britain”s climate is getting warmer. Average temperatures have risen 0.5°c since 1850. This is enough to start the polar ice caps melting. If the ice caps continue to melt, large areas of southern and eastern England will be permanently flooded.

The mean annual temperature ranges between 11.1°c in the south and 8.9°c in the northeast.

Fogs, mists, and overcast skies are frequent, particularly in the inland regions.

Like the climate of the rest of Great Britain, Scotland is influenced by the surrounding seas. As a result, extreme changes are rare and temperate winters and cool summers are the major climate features. Low temperatures are common in the winter season. Precipitation ranges from about 3810mm annually in the western Highlands to about 635mm annually in eastern areas.

The climate of Wales, is a lot like England”s, it is mild and moist. Annual rainfall changes with elevation, ranging from about 762 mm in coastal regions to more than 2540 mm in the Snowdon massif.

As a result of the relative warmth of the nearby seas, England has a moderate climate. Precipitation is heaviest during October, it averages about 760 mm annually in most of England.

England has some agricultural and mineral resources but must rely on imports of both. Approximately two-fifths of the land area is arable, and the richest soils are found in the east.

The soil is generally rocky and infertile, except for that of the Central Lowlands.

Much of the soil of Wales is of infertile rocky or leached types. The most fertile soils are in the southeast and in a few coastal areas.

Only about 8.5% of Britain land is forested, and half of this was planted forty years ago. Britain”s natural forest cover has been cut down over hundreds of years, especially in the 18th and 19th century.

The most common species of trees indigenous to Scotland are oak and conifers mainly fir, pine, and larch. Large forested areas are rare, and woodlands are in the southern and eastern Highlands. Vegetation in the elevated regions consists largely of heather, ferns, mosses, and grasses. Practically all of the cultivated plants of Scotland were imported from America and Europe.

More than 3/4 of the land is used for agriculture; farming and grazing occupy the same amount of land. The most important crops are wheat, oats, and potatoes. Other crops include barley, turnips, and fruit.

Wales has ferns and mosses in low-lying, wet areas. Grasslands are mainly at higher elevations. Crops include barley, oats, potatoes, and hay. Less than 10% of the land is under cultivation, and about 40% are in grazing land. Forests cover only about 4% of the land, but government reforestation programs are increasing in the area.

England used to be heavily forested, mainly oak and beech in the lowlands and pine and birch in the mountains. Woodlands now make-up less than 4% of the total land area. Many types of fruit trees grow in England, including the cherry, apple, and plum trees. Gorse is a common shrub. Many varieties of wildflowers also grow here.

During the eighteenth century, Britain gained an empire by colonising parts of North America, Africa and Asia. By the nineteenth century, England was bringing back much wealth from these colonies. The trade in slaves and other goods from the colonies supplied the money to build the factories and the machines of Britain”s Industrial Revolution. The country developed heavy industries like coal mining, iron and steel manufacturing, engineering and shipbuilding. However in the twentieth century other countries revolutionised and began to compete with Britain in the overseas markets – so British exports declined.

From the 1950″s on, many former Britain colonies in Africa and Asia became independent and made their own industries, this affecting Britain”s imports and exports. All over Britain factories, mills etc closed.

By the 1990″s the worst of the decline had finished and Britain began to concentrate on new hi-tech and service industries.

In the last 25 years, microelectronics has become one of the fastest growing sectors of Britain industry. It is a new phase of industrial growth which scientists call re-industrialisation. The future for Britain as a manufacturing nation looks good and it depends on whether it can develop and specialise in hi-tech industries such as aerospace, computers, electronics, telecommunications and biotechnology.

The private car is the most popular form of transport for most British people. The British rail company is becoming more modernised – with new high-speed rail services. Air transport in Britain is also important and very popular. The British industry is now more efficient and competitive in the world markets because of the government”s actions of new industrial growth in depressed areas and growth of service industries – in financial, shopping and transport.

Telecommunications are administered by British Telecom. 29.5 million telephones were in use in the mid-1980s, giving Britain one of the world’s largest telecommunications systems.

In the 1980s 15 commercial program companies gave the television on a basis; satellite-broadcasting services have also been introduced. Four television channels are broadcasted at the moment and soon a fifth. 50 commercial firms in the main cities run local radio stations.

124 daily and Sunday newspapers and more than 1000 weekly newspapers are published in Great Britain. 15 London newspapers circulate nationwide, and 6 of them have daily circulations of more than 1 million.

Britain is a constitutional monarchy – the queen is the head of the state but politics is controlled by their parliament. There are two houses of Parliament – The House of Commons – who are elected by the public and The House of Lords – made up of peers.

The main British political parties are Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat. There are also Welsh and Scottish parties who want to be separate from England.

The political party system has existed since the 17th century. Several parties win seats in Commons, but Great Britain has worked as a two-party system for more than a century. The majority party forms His or Her Majesty’s Government, and the second party is officially known as His or Her Majesty’s Own Loyal Opposition. The opposition leader is paid a salary from public funds for that role.

Britain has a long history as a great political and powerful country. Britain is trying to rebuild its economy by regaining its political importance.

Great Britain is primarily an industrial and commercial nation. It has major industries like transportation, communications, steel, petroleum, coal, gas and electricity. It is a world leader in international trade, it imports foodstuffs and materialism, and exports finished and manufactured goods.

Gross Domestic Product – $1,018,000,000,000 (US)

Gross Domestic Product per capita – $17,690 (US)

Money – pound sterling. One pound = 100 pence.

Chief Economic Products – agriculture, fishing, mining, manufacturing.

Employment Breakdown – 58% Trades and Services

2% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing

Education is very important to everyone in Britain. All children have to go to school once they turn five, and must attend till they turn sixteen. Two education systems exist – one is free and funded by the government and the other is private where parents pay school fees for children”s education. Students can continue their education at colleges at higher levels or universities – there are 46 universities. The government is trying to encourage more students to go into higher education.

Religion – The Church of England has the most members, 54%, in Great Britain. Most members, however, live in England. The second biggest religion, is the Roman Catholic Church (13%). Catholics are spread throughout the country. Other religions include Protestantism (which includes the religions of Wales and Scotland), Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.

Health – General physicians in Great Britain are part of the National Health Service, although some also have private patients. The service provides full, free medical care to all people.

Family Life – Most British people live in houses and 15% live in flats. In the last five years many people have been moving out of towns and cities to live in the countryside because of the urban problems like crime, traffic and air pollution.

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Will We Save the Earth in Time?

The Earth’s atmosphere has changed from the beginning of time. Just over the most recent 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of chilly development and withdraw, with the sudden end of the last ice age around 7,000 years back denoting the start of the advanced atmosphere period — and of human progress. While different planets in Earth’s close planetary system are either searing hot or intensely frigid, Earth’s surface has generally placid, stable temperatures.

Earth values these temperatures on account of its environment, or, in other words layer of gases that shroud and ensure the planet. The atmosphere has changed when the planet got too much daylight because of unobtrusive moves in its circle, as the climate or surface changed, or when the sun’s vitality shifted. However, in the previous century, another power has begun to impact Earth’s atmosphere: mankind. The vast majority of these atmosphere changes are ascribed to little varieties in Earth’s circle that change the measure of sun-based vitality our planet gets.

The present warming pattern is of specific caliber in light of the fact that the vast majority of it is to a great degree likely to be the after effect of human action since the mid-twentieth century and continuing at a rate that is extraordinary over decades to centuries.

“Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological advances have enabled scientists to see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate on a global scale. This body of data, collected over many years, reveals the signals of a changing climate” (Callery).

Raw data collected over the years and we can tangibly see. One is the data in which the NASA representative, Sellers, shows Leonardo DiCaprio at one hour and eighteen minutes. He’s shows DiCaprio a model simulation of the earth via satellites that have taken renders of the Earth over the years in different aspects. Clouds, sea surface temperature, carbon dioxide. All of these plugged into seeing the change in climate of the Earth as a whole.

The warmth catching nature of carbon dioxide and different gases was shown in the mid-nineteenth century. Their capacity to influence the exchange of infrared vitality through the environment is the logical premise of numerous instruments flown by NASA. There is no doubt that expanded levels of ozone depleting substances must be the reason for the Earth’s warming.

The trading of approaching and active radiation that warms the Earth is frequently alluded to as the greenhouse effect in light of the fact that a greenhouse works similarly. The documentary talks about the rain forests and the way they are being burned and destroyed, causing harm to our climate and our planet. Lindsey Allen, at forty-six minutes, explains what happens to trees when they are burned.

The carbon that they gather from other creatures such as humans is stored within the tree and when those trees burn, all of the carbon is released into the atmosphere, setting off a chain reaction of greenhouse gases. At forty-six minutes and twenty seconds she states, “It acts like a carbon bomb and releases massive carbon emission back into the atmosphere” (Monroe). The greenhouse effect, joined with expanding levels of ozone harming substances and the subsequent an unnatural weather change, is relied upon to have significant ramifications, as indicated by the close general agreement of researchers.

“Currently, some scientists are investigating how to re-engineer the atmosphere to reverse global warming. For example, theories published in the journal Science in July 2017 by lrike Lohmann and Blaž Gasparini, researchers at the Institute of Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, proposed reducing cirrus clouds that trap heat.” (Lallalina) During the conversation that DiCaprio had with President Barack Obama he states at one hour and twelve minutes that the Paris treaty is creating the architecture that allows us to finally start dealing with this problem in a serious way.

However, it does not matter if every country does not actually do it and within the slim time limit that the earth has. Numerous researchers concur that the harm to the Earth’s air and atmosphere is past the final turning point or that the harm is close to the final turning point. “I agree that we have passed the point of climate change,” Josef Werne, a partner teaching at the division of geography and planetary science at the University of Pittsburgh disclosed to Live Science.

The impact of accrued surface temperatures is critical in itself. However, heating can have further, comprehensive effects on the earth. Warming modifies downfall patterns, amplifies coastal erosion, lengthens the season in some areas, melts ice caps and glaciers, and alters the ranges of some contagious diseases. A number of these changes are already happening though. that of Greenland’s top layer melting away completely.

The guide and representative that showed DiCaprio around the surface of Greenland states at eighteen minutes, “This was a hose that went down thirty feet, and now it’s melted out” (Monroe). All within five years an entire thirty-foot layer melted away from Greenland as a whole. The climate isn’t the sole factor global warming will impact: rising ocean levels will erode coasts and cause a lot of frequent coastal flooding. Some island nations will vanish.

The matter is severe since up to ten percent of the world’s population lives in defenseless areas less than ten meters higher than sea level. “Between 1870 and 2000, the sea level increased by 1.7 millimeters per year on average, for a total sea level rise of 8.7 inches. And the rate of sea level rise is accelerating. Since 1993, NASA satellites have shown that sea levels are rising more quickly, about 3 millimeters per year, for a total sea level rise of 1.89 inches between 1993 and 2009.” (Levy) As temperatures rise, ice will soften all the more rapidly.

Satellite estimations uncover that the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets are shedding around 125 billion tons of ice for every year—enough to raise ocean levels by 0.01 inches every year. In the event that the liquefying quickens, the expansion in ocean level could be altogether higher.

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