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Environment Final Project Interview Project Issues in Science Science Communication

The Lower Fraser Valley Warms Up to Ozone – The Warning of the Global Warming

In Dr. Down Steyn’s research paper, “Impact of Climate Change on Ozone Pollution in the Lower Fraser Valley, Canada,” he analyzed climate patterns to determine which types led to elevated levels of ozone. His analysis allowed him to predict if there would be an increase in episodes of elevated ozone levels in the future (2046-2065). Dr. Steyn used different statistical techniques to capture the climate pattern, and applied these to forecast the future of air quality in the Lower Fraser Valley. According to Dr. Steyn, episodes of elevated ozone levels will increase to a dangerous amount due to global warming, and as such actions must be taken to address this problem. 

 

Environmental Canada: The image of Lower Fraser Valley

 

Air quality and Health affects

Ozone is a molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. Despite its benefits in the upper atmosphere as a shield to harmful UV radiation, it is a pollutant in lower atmosphere. Addressing such a study is important because ozone is damaging to plants and poses certain health risks to humans. Such risks include lung inflammation, lung diseases, premature death, heart attack, and stunting the plant growth.

 

What affects the air quality?

There are three components to look at: temperature, wind, and pressure.

William M. Connolley: the image of atmosphere pressure pattern

1) Temperature has a significant relationship with the production of ozone. Ozone is generated by a chemical reaction and the rate of this reaction is temperature dependant. Thus, higher temperatures equate to abundance in ozone.

 2) The wind is what mixes the atmosphere. Mixing causes dilution and as a result, lowers the amount of pollution.

 3) In summer, a high pressure system develops in the Lower Fraser Valley. High pressure makes the atmosphere heavy, resulting in the sinking of the whole atmosphere. This sinking then causes the increase in temperature with its height and the vertical mixing is reduced.

 High Temperature + Light Wind + High Pressure System

= Pollution level ↑

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Y0juwbHcU

How was the study conducted?

In order to analyze the climate pattern, Dr. Steyn used different statistical techniques and the following podcast will explain the specific tools used to analyze the pressure patterns such as:

–       Canadian Climate Model

–       Program for atmospheric pressure pattern

–       Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decomposition

–       Clustering (grouping of pressure patterns in six dimensions)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 

Dr. Steyn concluded that in the future, the weather types are going to be the same while the temperature will be warmer due to global warming. In other words, global warming is the main factor in increasing ozone level.

 We thank Dr. Steyn for giving us an interview and explaining his research. We also would like to thank our SCIE 300 instructors for designing the science outreach project.

 

Categories
Biological Sciences General Issues in Science Science in the News

After the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster- The Effect of Radiation on Human Health

 

  There was Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster on March 15th 2011 which released radioactive materials due to equipment failures and nuclear meltdown. Concern remains over the potential effect on human health from radiation leaks at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

 

What is radiation? 

Thinkstock: radiation sign

  Radiation is a process in which energetic particles or waves travel through a medium or space. The energy comes from a source and travels through space and may penetrate various materials. Iodine and cesium are examples of radioactive elements. There are two types: ionizing, and non-ionizing. Both types can be harmful to organisms while ionizing radiation is more harmful as it can cause DNA damage.

   We are all naturally exposed to background radiation from radon (Rn), colourless, odorless chemical gas found in soil, water and air.  We are also exposed to unnatural sources such as X-rays which deliver about 10days’ worth of naturally occurring radiation.

 

  Symptoms

 Symptoms of radiation sickness occur when the body is damaged by a very large dose of radiation over a short period of time. The more radiation a person absorbs, the sicker one will get. The best way to prevent harm is to prevent exposure. The strength of the radiation itself and distance from it are key factors in the severity of radiation sickness. 

 Nausea and vomiting often begin within hours of exposure, followed by diarrhea, headaches and fever. Since radiation destroys infection-fighting white blood cells, the greatest short-term risk after exposure is infection and the spread of infectious diseases.

 

 Human impacts 

abcnews: radiation and the body

 Ionizing radiation damages the body’s internal chemistry. Our bodies are able to repair effects of radiation on tissues, but too much radiation can cause DNA damage that the body can’t repair, leading to cancer. 

Vulnerable areas include:

  • -Thyroid gland
  • -Bone marrow
  • -Cells lining the intestine and stomach

  Babies and young children are more sensitive to radiation exposure because their cells typically divide faster than adults; increasing their risk of developing a radiation-related cancer later in life.

 

 

 Treatment

  Drugs can stimulate the growth of white blood cells and help people fight off infections. Exposed individuals can also be given capsules containing a dye that binds to thallium and cesium and helps the body get rid of these radioactive elements.

 Potassium iodide tablets are often given out to people at risk of contamination. The compound prevents or reduces absorption of radioactive iodine, through the thyroid gland, which uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones. But potassium iodide cannot prevent radioactive iodine from entering elsewhere in the body and does not affect the absorption of other radioactive elements, such as cesium, which stays in organs, tissue and the environment much longer than iodine.

  We must watch out our nuclear plant cells since one disaster may cause series of problems. There are many nuclear plants that can potentially become  problems and we should find ways to minimize or avoid further disasters.

Categories
Issues in Science Science Communication Science in the News

Where Do Satellites go when they die? -Another Dead Satellite to Fall This Weekend

 

Illustration courtesy DLR: An artist’s impression of ROSAT in orbit.

Dead Satellites are being ‘unwelcome guests’ recently. The 6-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) satellite has entered the Earth’s atmosphere early morning of September 24th 2011, but where it has crashed remains unknown. According to NASA, debris would likely have fallen in Ocean, and it may never be found.

     Another defunct German satellite called ROSAT is headed straight for the earth this weekend and there is a higher chance(1 in 2,000 while UARS’ has been 1 in 3,200) that a piece of space debris could hit someone.
European Space Agency : The Earth

Usually satellites’ lifespan depends on their sizes; life span is determined by how much liquid fuel they carry aboard. A satellite that has exceeded its useful purpose has several final resting places. These depend on the amount of fuel available on the satellite, and whether ground control is still able to manoeuvre it. One method is to move the satellite into a ‘graveyard orbit’ (geostationary orbit), which is higher in orbital band and no other satellites are orbiting. Dying satellite can be left to degrade over time, but as it breaks up and potentially shifts in orbit, this could still prove dangerous to other satellites.

 

European Space Agency: Red dots= debris, White dots= operating satellites, Outer ring= satellites in geostationary orbit

    Some satellites are merely left in their current orbits if uncontrollable. Other satellites are purposely moved lower into the atmosphere so they burn up and hopefully disintegrate before reaching the Earth. While this is usually the case there have been some notable exceptions, including NASA’s Skylab station  in 1979, NASA’s UARS and ROSAT as mentioned earlier.

 According to the Federal Communications Commission, any satellite with altitude in geostationary orbit, meaning that satellites just below 36,000 km, must be moved farther away from the Earth at the end of its useful life.

    Satellites fall because of frictions and resistance of the atmosphere. In theory, if satellites’ centrifugal force and the Earth’s gravity balance, satellites can circulate the orbit without falling. Scientists probably have worked on different calculations on how satellites work; however, such recent events may appear as lack of preparation and carefulness. There are no clear back-up plans suggested if their expectations are not met. Our lives certainly have become more convenient with satellites, but if what we sent out in the past can come back to hurt us, how meaningful are those techniques? We have to look out for the safety of satellites rigorously.

European Space Agency: Computer-generated image of the Earth

    Not only that, there is a real danger. Concerning that we are sending the dead satellites to outer orbit and keep sending new satellites without proper disposal methods, our planet is turning into the largest dumping ground. Is this what you expect our planet to look like? Would this be what aliens expect the earth to be? They will have problems figuring out whether this Saturn-like planet is the earth!

 

Categories
Issues in Science New and innovative science Science in the News

“We know what is in your mind” – The Development of ‘Mind-Reading Technology’

 

   In our society, people probably have wondered about what is in one’s mind. We are always curious about what others think; but we cannot just dissect their brains to figure out. Now there is an alternate way to do this. The ‘mind-reading machines’ have been developed. Scientists have developed a computerized mind-reading technique which lets them accurately predict the images that people are looking at by monitoring brain activity.

MRI scan

   Scientists at the University of California have developed a computational model that uses functional MRI (fMRI) data to decode information from an individual’s visual cortex – the part of the brain responsible for processing visual stimuli.  

 

3 images of fMRI scan   The scientists have tested three of their members in fMRI to watch videos and they have figured out that blood is gathered at a certain part of the brain when members watched a specific video. For example, the scientists compare the different signals of brain when two different images of a hammer and ball are watched. Based on the database, they have developed a computer program that selects the most similar image of the actual image. This computer program also selects number of the most similar videos and engrafts them into one video. The scientists say that the study raises the possibility in the future of the technology being harnessed to visualize scenes from a person’s dreams or memory.

Mind Reading on Youtube

  Furthermore, there is a similar machine developed in Korea in 2009. The team has made a motion detecting system that expresses a delicate face expression into an exaggerated face motion. This technology allows a machine to read a very detail change on face and possibly detect expressions of people. This technology is similar to a recent digital camera mode which automatically takes picture once people smile. There has been 88% of successful reading of the face when Dr. Kim’s team has tested on 20 people.

  Moreover, United States also has a system that is much like a movie, “Minority report” which introduces a system that predicts crimes and prevents them beforehand. The cameras and sensors check people’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature to find out people with intention of committing crimes.

Electric Shock Lie-Detector7

 

   There have been different approaches to sort out liars through lie-detecting machine. Even though this machine is not reading one’s mind, it could be seen as application of detecting a change in mind state; breathing rate, blood pressure, and heartbeat will likely be different if one is telling a lie, and feel nervous.

 

 

   Unfortunately, we cannot just accept and apply this continuous development of new techniques to our lives. Even though these machines could make our lives convenient, there is a risk. It has potential to disrupt individual’s private rights and result in  moral violation. We should be aware  that there is no scientific evidence about the accuracy of  machines. Therefore, communicating skills to deal with this dilemma, further supports to provide evidences, and enough discussion on pros and cons of ‘the new’ are required for accepting new technology in science.

 

Resources

Mind-reading Machines

Mind-reading with a brain scan: Nature News

fMRI and its background(how it works)

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