Nature

Introduction Living organisms have been classified by humans according to several different characteristics, one of them being the manner in which they obtain nutritive organic molecules (1), in other words, their food. Plants are denominated as autotrophs, organisms that can produce their own food from abiotic sources surrounding them, such as light, carbon dioxide and water (2). Plants use these three factors in photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy, which is then stored until the plant needs it, or used right away (3).

The process of photosynthesis takes place on organelles (substructures inside eukaryotic cells) called chloroplasts, more specifically, on the membrane of the thylakoids inside the chloroplasts, where protein complexes known as photosystems are situated. It’s these complexes that are responsible for the photosynthetic processes. Because this is the main way in which plants obtain their food, and light energy is the base of said process, light is absolutely essential for their growth.

Sunlight contains many different wavelengths which, when isolated, present different colors of visible light. Plants cannot use all wavelengths of light, however, because the different chlorophylls (pigments in the plants’ chloroplasts, also responsible for photosynthesis) absorb and use only certain wavelengths of light ; the rest is reflected back out, unused (4). Exposed to sunlight, plants have available to them, a range of wavelengths wider than the light spectrum visible to us, from which they utilize only a select range for photosynthesizing.

This essay will investigate the effect light color/wavelength has on plant germination and rate of photosynthesis. Cellophane sheets of different colors (red, yellow, blue, green) and clear plastic wrap were used to provide these limited wavelengths . The experiments dealing with germination consisted of different seeds being planted separately from other species and being covered by the different colored cellophane or the clear wrap; they were then watered and monitored for a week, taking note of any growth.

The plants used were the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), brown mustard (Brassica juncea), and common oats (Avena sativa). For the photosynthesis rate experiment, same sized Brazilian waterweeds (Egeria densa) were inserted in eudiometer tubes filled with water and then placed in a beaker half-filled with water. Each test tube was wrapped with a different color, and the volume of oxygen produced, through photosynthesis, by each of the plants was compared. Beans, specifically all the plants under the genus Phaseolus, are amongst the fastest growing plants and are said to germinate within a week.

To make them germinate faster, it’s usually recommended to soak them in water before planting because hydrating the seeds stimulates germination. (5) They also benefit from warm temperatures because they are native to more tropical climates (6). They need to be planted in well drained soil because they aren’t tolerant to water excess. Mustard is also among the fastest sprouting plants, but its growth afterwards is relatively slow as it’s meant to grow flower buds five weeks later.

It does better in cool conditions than warm and can usually withstand short periods of mild drought with little to now consequences. In addition, it too, is not tolerant to water clogging in the soil (7). Oats are native to warm, sub-tropical regions and can manage well in poor soils (8) but they also require good water draining . The Experiments Germination Fifteen equally sized plastic containers (cylindrical in shape, approximately 8cm in diameter and 6cm in height) were filled with the same amount of soil.

Five of them were allotted to each plant species; making sure to add the same amount of seeds in each segment (comparing to the same species, since the size of the beans and oats is much greater than the brown mustard seeds and would therefore be unreasonable to compare their numbers). Each of the containers was covered with cellophane of a different color (red, blue, yellow, green, or clear plastic wrap) and secured with a rubber band so that each species had a sample exposed to each different light color. They were watered with normal tap water, placed next to the same windowpane for a week and monitored every day.

The cellophane secured with the rubber band created a seal that was too tight, preventing excess water from evaporating which overloaded the plants with water and deprived them of enough oxygen. Towards the end of the week, the plants were left covered by the cellophane, but unsecured by the rubber band so that the water was able to evaporate, to provide the dry mass of the samples, which were on average 0. 06g lighter than at the beginning of the week, when they were planted . The mass measured included the seeds, soil and plastic container.

Even though an unknown type of fungus started growing in the containers because of the high humidity and warm temperature, some shoots were visible (Table 1). Cellophane ColorQualitative Data Red Some oat and mustard shoots, fungus growth Yellow Fungus growth, no shoots visible Green Oat and some mustard shoots visible, some fungus growth Blue Some oat and few mustard shoots, fungus growth Clear Fungus growth, no shoots visible

These samples were discarded and a new method was devised: A cardboard egg container was cut into fifteen separate segments (for the five colors for each of the three species) which were to be used instead of the plastic containers to allow excess water to evaporate through the porous walls and bottom of the cardboard. These segments were then loosely filled in with cotton-wool.

After the first experiment, where seeds drowned and fungus started to grow instead because of the excess of water, cotton seemed the best substitute for soil; it would allow for even dispersal of water, a lot of more light would be able to reach the seeds, it would be easier to observe the germination process, and since the cotton didn’t weigh practically anything, it would be easy to measure the change of plant mass on a scale.

The segments were weighed once they had the cotton and seeds in them; their mass was noted down individually. A thin layer of cotton was placed on top of the seeds so they would retain moisture above them as well as below, but still allowing light to reach them. Then, the segments were watered with a handheld sprayer until the cotton was thoroughly moist and then were weighed again. To provide the different light coloring, one sample of each species was placed underneath a handmade cover fashioned out of bamboo and cellophane.

These covers (Figure 1) provided the needed space for the plants to grow, free flow of air, and control of light shining on the plants. The cotton wool wasn’t a good substitute for soil since it retained little water and evaporated too quickly for the plants to take it in; it mostly bled into the cardboard, which, because of its porous nature, allowed for further evaporation of water. The results are shown in the following table: Color of CellophaneQualitative Data

Red Few mustard shoots + very few oat shoots Yellow Very few mustard shoots Green Mustard shoots* + oat shoots ~4cm Blue Mustard shoots* + oat shoots ~3cm Clear Mustard shoots* + oat shoots ~6cm New cardboard segments were cut out and filled in with soil this time. Care was taken to add the same amount of soil (~ 4. 25g) and water (2. 0g) to each container at the beginning of the experiment. The following three days, the amount of water was altered from day to day to find the adequate amount of water that could be retained by the soil without too much bleeding into the cardboard container (since this would weaken its structure and remain unused by the plant); the conclusion was derived that the amount of water should be of the same mass as half of the soil in the container in order to maximize water intake by the plant: about 2. 5g. The results can be seen in Table 3 on the following page. Color of CellophaneQualitative Data Red Mustard sprouts* Yellow No growth Green Mustard sprouts* + oat shoots ~5cm Blue Mustard sprouts* + oat shoots ~8cm Clear Mustard sprouts* + oat shoots ~8cm Photosynthesis Rate The rate of photosynthesis was measured through the volume of oxygen produced in a set amount of time.

To do this, six eudiometer tubes were wrapped with different color cellophane (one was left bare, to be the control) and filled with tap water. Next, six strands of Brazilian waterweeds were cut to the same size, each inserted into an eudiometer tube and then placed in a half filled beaker. The eudiometers were held with clamps on a stand and left next to wide windows to photosynthesize at their own rate. The oxygen produced by the plants floated to the surface creating bubbles that could then be measured and compared to each other.

The sunlight provided was insufficient however, and the oxygen produced was too little to be measured accurately, but there were clear differences between the different samples; the waterweed in the red light was the one the produced most oxygen, followed by the green, then the blue, yellow, and clear. The control, the one without any cover, was the one that produced the least oxygen. After the experimentation, the data collected was reviewed to determine the most beneficial color for plant germination and photosynthesis rate.

Taking the data from each week, the cellophane colors were arranged in order of effectiveness, to make it easier to compare the results (Table 4). Germination Photosynthesis Rate Week 1 Week 2Week 3 Red Green* Clear* Blue* Green Red* Green* Clear* Blue Blue* Blue* Green* Yellow Clear Red Red* Clear YelllowYellow Yellow No cover

National Parks: A Double Edged Sword? Justin Pearly Environmental History Prof. Mark Bishop Newell Tuesday July 21, 2009 Pearly 1 Few places can match the sheer diversity of wildlife and culture that exists in the country’s national park system. Humans, with the future in mind, have “set aside” these beautiful sites of wonder and awe. But at what cost? Do national parks end up being good and bad at the same time? Our national parks are a supposed to be a natural treasure.

Here the unspoiled grandeur and beauty of nature can be appreciated in its most pristine form. However, the amount of people that are visiting these parks has risen to levels that threaten the very beauty and well-being of these paradises. Its now seems apparent that there is a price to pay for allowing humans into an area that did not have many humans before. To understand the present state of the nation’s parks, and ultimately their entire future, it is crucial to first look back at the past. The first national park was Yellowstone National Park.

This sprawling park contains such amazing geological and biological sites that it had been considered a national park long before it was ever officially named one. Its combination of diverse wildlife, and geologic features such as, waterfalls, canyons, geysers, and hot springs made it obvious to any who had experienced it, that this was a place that should be preserved just the way it was. That was why in 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant made it officially the world’s first national park. The only problem being, it was a completely unique creation, the first of its kind.

This means that all ground that they covered would be new. Due to inconsistencies with the way national parks were being governed, and the fact that there were was no central governing body for national parks Congress created a Pearly 2 National Park Service that would operate within jurisdiction of the Secretary of the interior. Signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916, the National Park Service Organic Act created the National Park Service which put the country’s national parks in its jurisdiction.

Wendy Hart Beckman in her book entitled “National Parks in Crisis: Debating the Issues,” states that, “The Organic Act said the National Park Service’s purpose was to ‘promote and regulate the use of the… national parks… which purpose is to conserve scenery and the natural historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. ” When trying to unravel the ethics and issues concerning the parks one must keep referring back to this original mission statement.

The purpose of national parks is to enjoy the scenery and to leave it unchanged for future generations. However, this statement seems somewhat contradictory, when considering the fact that most national parks are areas that did not have native humans for much of their history. One of the first things to consider about this complex issue is: Why do people want to go there in the first place? Why is it important to them? The first and most obvious reason to let people into our national parks is for their own personal enjoyment.

People derive a great deal of pleasure out of leaving their boring, monotonous urban and suburban lives behind even if it is for just a weekend, or merely an evening. People in cites often lead sedentary lifestyles, and need to get outside in a natural setting even if it is just to walk. Some people might even think the air in these preserves tastes fresher! People get a taste of what the earth was like before humans were there. These Pearly 3 can be places of relaxing or exercising. Have a you ever scaled a thousand foot mountain?

Hiking can be quite exhilarating. Parents can, in effect, introduce the next generation of conservationists to these areas. Children that have grown up with these sites in their hearts will never forget how incredibly important they are. People becoming informed and interested in nature is one of the most important functions of a national park besides the preservation of the actual land itself. Even without any previous interactions with nature, or any history or knowledge of the place that you are going to you may find and enjoyment to be effortless.

When people witness something with their own eyes, it is very different from looking at a picture, or reading about something in a textbook. There is a definitive advantage to experiencing things in person. Subtleties stand out. All five senses can be invoked. People who are not familiar with this kind of beauty are usually particularly awestruck. A memory is formed which is nearly impossible to erase or change (although one’s perspective of the event can change). Every time one person gets hooked on nature, that person will usually try to their share its grandeur with other people.

People who appreciate that wonderful wilderness will then go out of their way to help conserve it. There is also a secondary effect in addition to making the individual feel good. Whether or not a reverence for nature existed before their encounters with these sacred sanctuaries does not matter at the point that people start to care about these wonderlands. All that matters then is that people who have visited and enjoyed themselves now feel like they have a vested interest in the parks. Now that they have traveled through the park, they feel the weight of responsibility for their actions.

They also realize that everything they do, can produce an effect which, were they not there, never would have occurred. The more Pearly 4 aware and informed people are, the better the decisions they tend to make. There is even an organization called “Leave No Trace, Inc. ” which tries to inform visitors of ways they can reduce the amount of impact on the ecosystem during visits. The group has even compiled a list of seven “principles” that can help people lessen their impact on the land. 1. Travel and camp on durable surfaces 2. Leave what you find 3.

Plan ahead and prepare 4. Dispose of waste properly 5. Minimize campfire impacts 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be considerate of other visitors While all these principles sound nice on paper, the amount that people adhere to them, and how effective they can be in reducing our footprint remains to be seen. When discussing the concept of “leaving not trace” one must begin to wonder about the impact of human travel. Even a foot-trail through a park is altering the natural landscape. The question of how much altering of the landscape is acceptable is not an easy one.

It has led to intense debate for over a century. Roads are one of the most obvious signs of human interference. While providing a route for visitors to come and enjoy the parks, they also obscure the natural landscape. I think most would agree that a road cutting through even the most pristine wilderness takes Pearly 5 something away from it. So, the parks need people, and people need roads. Or do they? A rather extreme solution might be to restrict road building all together. Access to areas could be achieved by a more “green” method such a bicycles, or walking.

There is also a major issue of dam building. Many a heated debate has occurred when discussing dam building. There are few things that alter the natural landscape like a dam. One would think that national parks would be free from man made structures such as dams. However this is not the case. For example in the 1930’s the federal Bureau of Reclamation proposed putting a dam in Dinosaur National Monument’s Echo Canyon. The purpose of this would be create a clean source of electricity using the power of the water flowing over the dam that would be built.

While many of the locals upstream from the dam liked the prospect of water in their dry canyon, they would be flooding one of the greatest fossil sites of the Jurassic. Let’s consider the interaction between people and animals. This has been a long and curious story. With the intention of making the park safer for visitors, park staff have, in the past, killed animals that were deemed a nuisance. This includes predatory animals such as wolf or bear, but also includes herbivores such as the elk. And while it is no longer legal for anyone to kill these animals, we have accepted a very shaky truce with them.

Humans entering parks are told specifically not to feed the animals. It is a warning that is not heeded as much as it needs to be. When wild animals are fed by humans they get conditioned to expect food from them. Therefore, they are more likely to come around humans hoping for food. This can be very dangerous! While wild animals can seem cute Pearly 6 and harmless they rarely are (harmless of course). Even something seemingly docile like a white-tailed deer can become aggressive and do severe damage, especially to an unsuspecting human. People frequently fail to realize that wild animals are just that; wild.

Wild translates into unpredictable. I’m sure I could get more than a few circus performers to agree with me. The irony of this whole situation is the greatest asset to national parks also happens to be their greatest downfall, Humans, while having the potential to create on a monumental level, also have a similar capacity for destruction. Even more confusing is that fact that the opinions of people on both sides of these issue have well founded, and very convincing arguments. National parks are an important part of American history and need to be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

Debate is good in the sense that any publicity is good publicity. As long as people feel strongly on both sides we are more likely to reach some sort of compromise. Pearly 7 Bibliography De Voto, Bernard. “Shall we let them ruin our national parks? ” Saturday Evening Post, July 22, 1950. Chittenden, Hiram Martin. The Yellowstone National Park Beckman, Wendy Hart. National Parks in Crisis: Debating the Issues (Berkley Heights: Enslow, 2004) Wendy Hart Beckman, National Parks in Crisis: Debating the Issues (Berkley Heights: Enslow, 2004) Beckman 18, 19 Beckman 65-68 Beckman 19, 20 Beckman 14, 15, 53

Once consumers enter the grocery or supermarket, they are instantly greeted by rows of products with different forms, features, appearances, and promotions. Nowadays, companies give an increasing amount of effort in devising new and fresh ideas to make their products known in the market—extending product variety and selection for the consumers. The great expanse of choices that the latter are presented with and how they select among these choices thereby serve significant room of exploration by product companies and firms.

One specific focus of study is the nature of consumer product selection. More particularly, it is beneficial to know the factors that consumers’ consider upon purchasing an item among the innumerable alternatives available. According to Berkowitz, Crane, Kerin, Harltey and Rudelius (1994), such decision-making prior to purchasing is attributable to three bases: personal, psychological, and social. Firstly, personal factors involve a consumer’s demographic and individual background that is unique to him/her.

The sex, race, age, economic status, lifestyle, and educational attainment are the basic components of product selection under this set of factors, yet it also encompasses situational components or moments that vary in terms of time and space that are usually unexpected occurrences. The last mentioned component, for instance, takes emphasis when a consumer is considering which among two types of medicines is best for her mother, hence based on the situation that someone in the family is ill (Kundi, Khan, & Mahir, 2008).

The second basis is defined by psychological factors, or those factors that initiate from one’s subjective preference allocations with regard to products out in the market. Berkowitz et al. (1994) and Kundi et al. (2008) stated that factors such as motives, perception, ability and knowledge (or learning), attitudes, and personality, strongly determine a consumer’s manner of selecting among a wide range of choices.

For example, a housewife’s motives, which, based on Maslow (2007), is directed by a hierarchy of general needs for human survival and perpetuation, may influence her decision between getting a simple door knob with a basic lock or a high-technology lock system with multi-level sensors for their home. This shows a clash between a physiological motive and a safety motive, respectively. Social factors, the final basis, encompass a greater spectrum of consumer product selection because it relates the consumer with the social variables in his/her environment.

Specifically, these social variables include opinion leaders, family of the consumer, social class, reference group, and culture (Berkowitz et al. , 1994; Kundi et al. , 2008). This can be depicted by a teenage girl who is about to shop for a new set of clothes. She may base her selection on a reference group, which may be a popular teenage clique at her school or a set of Hollywood personalities. The nature of referencing to a particular group, however, may vary depending on certain personal and psychological factors, as well.

In order to verify the aforementioned determinants of consumer product selection, a study with a sample in a neighborhood may be questioned and observed. Residents within the age bracket of 16 to 40 years old shall be taken as respondents. This criterion is defined on the since they are the ones known to have optimal purchase activity among the population. The respondents shall be questioned regarding their bases for selecting certain, basic products: food, clothing, home, office, or school supplies, and gadgets or technological devices.

These specificities are rooted on the fact that such products generally and equally cover the buying behavior of the whole range of respondents. From the youngest to the oldest possible respondent, it is feasible that such individuals spend their money in order to provide for the needs that the said products address. The specific variables to be looked into would be the three bases of consumer product selection according to literature obtained: personal, psychological, and social factors.

To respond to the objective of this study, field methods such as questionnaires and interviews may be conducted. Field methods are commonly used to obtain qualitative information in the real-life setting, as opposed to experimental methods that are done within a laboratory or scientific setting. Since the area of study is influenced by the market environment and the different components that are related to it, a field method is necessary for application in this study (Perner, 2008).

Moreover, such particular methods shall be utilized in order to supply rich, qualitative data regarding consumer product selection. These two methods differ in some contexts, in that the former is a form of data collection that is easier to conduct yet relatively impersonal, while the latter is rich in subjectivity but more tedious and costly to execute. Nevertheless, both methods will provide substantial data addressing the research problem (Jones, 2008; Perner, 2008).

The completion of this study shall therefore contribute to both consumers and producers, principally because significant information regarding the bases of product selection shall be thoroughly determined, assessed, and verified. Products and services may then be modified and improved, initiating the modification and improvement of life as well. References Berkowitz, E. , Crane, F. , Kerin, R. , Harltey, S. , and Rudelius, W. (1994). Marketing [4th ed]. Dutton: McGraw Hill. Jones, N. (2008). Market research: Questions and questionnaires.

Retrieved on November 30, 2008, from http://www. training-management. info/market-research/questions. htm Kundi, J. , Khan, F. , & Mahir, M. (2008). Customer buying behavior. Jamia Hamdard University. 6-7. Maslow, A. (2007). Maslow hierarchy of needs. Retrieved on November 30, 2008, from http://www. abraham-maslow. com/m_motivation/Hierarchy_of_Needs. asp Perner, L. (2008). Consumer behavior: The psychology of marketing. Retrieved on November 30, 2008, from http://www. consumerpsychologist. com/

The hockey stick, the most basic piece of equipment, is also the most confounding. While other pieces of gear either fit or don’t fit, the stick defies such a simple categorization. It’s more like buying a pizza. Size is the easy part—options are where things get tricky. Stick technology has come along way from the days when players found a nice piece of hickory and started whittling. Sticks today come in a number of materials that in themselves can be overwhelming. These range from wooden shafts with ABS plastic blades, to traditional wood and fiberglass, to full Kevlar and Carbon Fiber.

Prices can vary by a factor of ten, with a very simple stick costing around $20 and top end exotics surpassing the $200 mark. Today’s stick market has as much variety as the grocery store’s breakfast isle. The three main kinds of sticks are: Wooden Sticks, Two-piece sticks and blades, One-piece composite sticks The Wooden Stick The wooden stick has been around since the inception of hockey. Despite the many improvements in this most basic piece of hockey gear, there are still a few NHL pros using wood sticks. Still the numbers are dwindling from about half the league using wood several years ago, to just a handful now.

Another reason some players still prefer wood might be feel. One thing that technology hasn’t improved is the feel. If you cannot catch a pass, or stickhandle through the defense, there isn’t much point in being able to shoot an extra ten miles per hour. Many Pros are now using a composite shaft with a wood blade as a compromise between the best of both worlds. Beyond the obvious issue of having the plainest stick in the locker room, the negative of a wood stick is simple durability. Even if you are like me and don’t break many sticks, wood will wear out.

Shooting the puck hard requires flexing the shaft and getting a good pop, almost like a bow releasing an arrow. The fibers in wooden sticks break down fairly quickly and the spring that you need in releasing a shot gets weaker. Wooden sticks are the smartest choice for beginning players. The cost of a composite stick balanced against the minimal gain a beginner might get doesn’t make sense. Until beginners learn to shoot, poke check and stick handle and stand up on skates adequately; there isn’t much point in spending big bucks on a composite stick.

Trust me; no one looks any less silly falling down with a $200 stick than they do with a $20 stick. Two-piece Shafts and Blades Two-piece sticks have been around for a while. The blade and shaft, sold separately, are hot-glued together with a heat gun. Originally making its debut in the medium of aluminum, the two-piece shaft is now available in such exotic materials as Carbon Fiber, Graphite and Kevlar. Some lower priced shafts are pure fiberglass making them heavier and more prone to breakage.

Aluminum shafts lasted almost forever and are still a favorite of many players who own one, but they are almost impossible to find. The advantages in a two-piece stick are lighter weight, more consistent performance and longevity. The type of a blade selected can change the weight somewhat, but it will generally weigh less than a wooden stick. This translates into slightly quicker stick handling for the player. One downside to buying a two-piece is the cost. Even an inexpensive shaft and blade will cost twice what a wooden stick goes for.

Realistically, the cheapest shaft on the market will cost about $40 and a low-end blade for it about $25. More likely you will spend over $150 to get a two-piece stick of decent quality. However, since the largest numbers of breakages in sticks occur at the blade, the two-piece is an attractive option after the initial investment. Two-piece shafts and blades are interchangeable between brands. Junior and Senior are the two basic blade sizes. The shafts come in Junior, Senior and Intermediate sizes with intermediate shafts accepting senior blades.

Tapered two-piece sticks are typically the top performing two-piece sticks and priced accordingly. The Modern One Piece Sticks The term one-piece stick used to simply refer to a wooden stick that wasn’t broken. Now it refers to the expensive, featherweight, composite jobs that would make NASA proud. (The price tags are starting to get into the NASA range too). The one-piece stick is the newest of stick options. Easton’s very popular Synergy started the craze and remains among the most popular choices today.

The one-piece is the lightest of the three basic choices available, and widely considered the top performer as well. A one-piece stick will have a very nice, almost weightless feel to it when even the casual player picks it up. The one-piece is made of carbon fiber or Kevlar. One-piece sticks are probably the most hyped up piece of hockey equipment today. Every brand seems to have their own unique design, from holes in the shaft, to a spine on the blade like a two-piece; the one piece is a durable, high performance choice.

The one-piece will give most players many months of quality play. There is little argument that a good player will notice a more powerful shot with a one-piece stick. So perhaps the biggest downside to the one-piece stick is their position as the most expensive option. The price of a one-piece is generally comparable to that of a two-piece initially but does top out much higher. Not only is the initial investment sometimes higher, but in order to keep that same high level of performance, players will need to buy a new stick every time they break one.

As you can see there are a variety of sticks to choose from and not every person will like the same stick. Even with all this information I just gave to you, it still might be hard for you to choose one that you will like. It’s not something your friend can help you pick out because it’s more of your opinion and how it feels in your hands. Hockey is a sport where the gear and theme of the game are both independent, the help of others is useful but at the end of the day, it’s on your shoulders; it’s your choice that makes the final decision.

1. Advantages and disadvantages of landfill sites.

Using Orgreave as a landfill site is a cheap waste disposal option for the local council.

The site will look ugly whilst it is being used for landfill.

Jobs will be created for local people.

Dangerous gases are given off from landfill sites that cause local air pollution and contribute to global warming.

Lots of different types of waste can be disposed of by landfill in comparison to other waste disposal methods.

Local streams could become polluted with toxins seeping through the ground from the landfill site.

The site could be re-landscaped and built on once it has been filled. This has happened nearby in Handsworth.

Once the site has been filled it might not be able to be used for redevelopment as it might be too polluted.

The gases given off by the landfill site could be collected and used for heating.

The jobs created in the local area are likely to be low paid jobs.

Waste transport costs will be reduced, as our waste will only have to travel a short distance to landfill. This will also reduce the amount of pollution caused by transporting the rubbish.

The trucks delivering the waste to the site are very big and noisy. They will spoil the peace and quiet in the area and could also contribute to traffic congestion (traffic jams) in the local area.

Local rubbish will be dealt with locally instead of shifting the problem to another area or country e.g. China.

The gases given off from the site as the waste begins to decompose (break down) will cause the air in the local area to be smelly.

2. Problems of waste disposal

* Waste is being dumped in the wrong culverts: the black and green culverts both have a mixture of food, metal, glass and plastic.

* Animals (e.g. marabou storks and mongooses) get into the culverts and extract food and food contaminated burnable waste.

* There is no separate place for disposal of non-burnable waste (metal and glass) – this is currently mixed with food and burnable waste.

* Some culverts are full and waste is spilling out.

These problems result in a highly unsightly, unhealthy environment for visitors, residents, and wildlife

3. How is waste disposal being improved for the future?

* Sustainable installation and upgrading of waste management facilities

* Extending sewage networks

* Set up agency to monitor waste

* Classification: now classified into inert, non inert non hazardous and hazardous

* The need for a landfill liner and geological barrier on the base and sides of all non inert non hazardous and hazardous landfill sites

* The requirement that all waste is pre-treated before being land filled

* The requirement to have Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) for all land filled waste

* The banning of liquid, explosive, corrosive, oxidising flammable and clinical wastes

* A requirement for a 60-year aftercare provision

Bangladesh is situated either side of the tropic of cancer. India shares its border with Bangladesh. The three main river flows through Bangladesh are the meghna, the Brahmaputra and the Ganges. The north of Bangladesh is the Himalaya Mountains, the highest mountains in the world. To the south is the Bay of Bengal. The Land & People Landforms: Flood Plains Population: 126 Million Delta Population Density: 800 per square kilometer The Land is Under 15 meters above sea levels 230 of rivers in Bangladesh What are Tropical Cyclones? Tropical storm, typhoon or hurricane is a type of low pressure system which generally forms in the tropics.

While they can be highly destructive, tropical cyclones are an important part of the atmosphere circulation system which moves heat from the equatorial region toward the higher latitude. Keyword: Latitude: The distance of a place north or south from the equator (Places that are near to the equator or much warmer than places that are near the north and south poles. ) How Are Tropical Cyclones Formed 1. Formative – clouds start forming over the ocean between 5 and 15 degrees latitude from the equator. 2. Immature – if the conditions are favorable, clouds collect and move with the winds that start rotating clockwise around a low pressure area.

Winds start to increase in strength. 3. Mature – the cyclone reaches its peak of intensity and destructive power. 4. Decaying – the power of the cyclone decreases when it moves over land or pole ward over colder waters. In this decaying stage the winds often decrease rapidly and the cyclone eye and cloud patterns disappear. Long Term & Short Term Solutions These are solution to prevent flooding in Bangladesh, short term meaning for a flood which comes once or twice but long term is when it remains therefore 10-15 years.

The solution which has been listed below will have a key of stars, the solution with the most stars is expensive whereas with not many stars meaning not so much expensive. The other key is on my opinion whether they are good for presentation of floods in Bangladesh or not or whether they are alright, the key would be 3 different smiley faces. 1. Building Embankments along the River Channel – Plan 1-Embankments This would prevent the water from overflowing of the water while the water discharge is taking place. It would have to 7 meter high. These have o be placed along the river not just in the village.

Advantage – preventing mosquitoes carrying malaria and flood Disadvantage – to expensive and restricting fisherman Plan 2-Aid from fishing. 2. Providing emergency in each village and train Villagers in basic health care – The would include particular drug, dressing, water purification tablets, few villagers will be trained and reducing the risk of Plan3-Shelters diseases spreading and provide help for injured people. Advantage – Not many people gaining disease Disadvantage – not preventing the flood 3. Building flood protection shelters in village – Large building able to hold 1000 people on silts.

Also shelter for animals. The shelters have been swept away in the past. Plan 4-Emergeny Stores Advantage – people life saved Disadvantage – not preventing flooding, belongings not saved, risk f still being flooded 4. Provide emergency stores of farm replacement – This will include new seeds, new seedlings and supplies of fertilizers. Advantage – Farmers back to work quicker Plan 5-Proof Sheds Disadvantage – not preventing flooding, loose out on the other crops Low income in the beginning 5. Build flood proof grain storage sheds – Sheds built on stilts, preserve the building with food and water

Advantage – ensure that villagers had food and clean water Plan 6-Tube Wells Disadvantage – have to fill the shed every time after flood, not preventing the flood 6. Sink new tube wells – Build wells which will protect water supply during flood Advantage – safe drinking water and prevent diseases Plan 7- Warning System Disadvantage – Bangladesh still be flooded. 7. Emergency warning system – Trained operators will be provided, to predict the discharge this will tell whether it will be a flood. Advantage – allowing time for evacuation Disadvantages – parts of Bangladesh still flooded and people still cant do much to save there own lives

Today was very productive day. I saw many things that I have never seen before in the Amazon rainforest. It is located in South America and is hugely populated with many different species. It is vast, covering an area of 2,5 million square miles, and we haven’t even got one eight yet. Amazon river is one of the reasons the forest is so tremendously populated. It flows for more than 4,000 miles to discharge its waters in the Atlantic Ocean near Belem, Brazil. Along the way, about 1,100 tributaries latch on. One of the most seen birds was the Toucan. It was bigger then I thought it would be.

Our guide told us that ten million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical forest. As it became dark, we stayed in the undergrowth of the forest where the tree could shade use from the hot sun we were expecting in the morning. The floor of the rain forest was sticky and wet from the rain that had fallen earlier this morning. It was hard to relax because of the weird weather. I could see a rainbow in the sky through the gaps between the canvas of leaves.

As I got up, a spider monkey jumped down from the canopy and tried to grab the fruit we picked. We made a quick dash towards a giant tree trunk that had fallen. Thousands of small insects scattered as we approached it. We made a fireplace here to cook the raw meat we had brought. We fetched water from the Amazon river which was flowing near to camp and put in tablets to clean it. As we filled our bottles, piranhas swam towards our hands in the water. The Amazon river was a very dangerous place.

–Day 2 24.09.10

We woke up at dawn when most of the animals would be sleeping. We saw an anaconda slither by. It was 21 feet long and I saw it choke a Giant Anteater. We were far away and the snake didn’t spot us. A pack of squirrel monkeys passed us and we carried on through. It was getting cooler and there were less animals wandering about. More deadly animals started to appear, such as the poison dart frog. Our guide told us it is very small in size, but poisonous enough as to kill up to 100 people.

It has the most powerful poison known by man, but harmless if left alone. Amazon Indians hunt using its poison in the tip of their arrows.

–Day 3 25.09.10

We were heading towards Manaus, the weather in tropical areas have equatorial climate, found approximately 5 degrees to the North and South of the equator. Like any other tropical rainforest, it’s hot and humid throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of 27�C