Al Gore claimed that because of global warming heating the oceans, the number of catergory 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years. Upon doing some research I found that statement to be true, and even more. I managed to get a list of the category 4 and 5 hurricanes that have hit the U.S. coast since 1900, and then I divided the last 30 years into two 15 year periods and counted the number of hurricanes. After counting the total number, I found out that number was actually worse than Al Gore’s statement! From 1980-1995, there were only 5 major hurricanes to hit the U.S. coast, while from 1996-2010, there were 16 major hurricanes, so that statistic actually tripled in the last 30 years. Well, since this was only off the U.S coast, I couldn’t be sure, so I checked the World Resource Institute, which gave me a graph of the increase of major hurricanes and typhoons from 1975-2004. I checked the trend, and this is what I got:
· In the Indian Ocean, from 1975-1989, there were 24 major typhoons
· In the Indian Ocean, from 1990-2004, there were 57 major typhoons
· In the Pacifc Ocean, from 1975-1989, there were 131 major typhoons
· In the Pacific Ocean, from 1989-2004, there were 187 major typhoons
· In the Atlantic Ocean, from 1975-1989, there were 16 major hurricanes
· In the Atlantic Ocean, from 1990-2004, there were 25 major hurricanes
Now, this does not include the surge of hurricanes in 2005 (yes, stats show that there was a weird surge, which dropped backed down in 2006), so it doesn’t fully show the increase in numbers. It does show that typhoons, in the Indian ocean, did more-than-double in the last 30 years, but, overall and including these last few years, the trend almost did double in the last 30 years.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/history.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Category_5_Atlantic_hurricanes
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs/
http://www.wri.org/chart/change-number-category-4-and-5-hurricanes-ocean-basin-15-year-periods-1975-1989-and-1990-2004
Since we have been warned about global warming, humans have used much technology to reduce carbon emission. We have built thousand of wind farms throughout Europe, and many are starting to be made in N. America too, besides wind energy, there are an increasing number of solar farms and hydro-electric plants. Besides that, many people have turned to more fuel efficient cars, as well as electric cars. Gasoline is now partially made with ethanol, and some cars can fully run on it too. A lot of modern art is now made out of garbage, and, to make popular the idea of resourcefulness, there are now television shows made about treasures that you can find in the trash, and how fix some seemingly “broken” objects. Also, many new high tech solutions have been suggested, like more energy efficient building with solar panels, and community garbage bins. Some low tech solutions have been offered too, like planting more trees, and walking more, and more easy stuff like that.
http://www.wwindea.org/home/index.php
To lower out CO2 footprint we can do many simple things everyday. We can walk to those destinations that are only a few kilometers away, or less. We can eat less meat, and eat local too. We can wear sweaters, and take shorter showers. Society does not discourage any of this; in fact, an eco-friendly lifestyle is encouraged, and valued. Communities and cities can easily help reduce carbon emissions by just turning off some lights, encourage eco-friendly ways of transport, and, for the city, install community garbage bins. Also, we, in Vancouver, have a lot of “gamers” and “noob pwners” that game for at least 2 hours a day. Maybe…ummm… not gaming!!! can save a lot of energy, and I mean a lot of energy. The government does, but should more, encourage eco friendly ways of life. They should also add some small little changes to our society that hints energy efficient ways (ex: shut off the power…and claim it was an accident). All these methods could really help reduce our carbon footprint.
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