Layer after layer of plant debris that has not yet decomposed lies trapped in arctic and subarctic permafrost. As global temperatures rise and this perennial ice begins to melt, previously frozen organic matter will thaw out and decompose, releasing huge quantities of greenhouse gases into our already saturated atmosphere.
This may not seem like such an earth-shattering phenomenon, but scientists are deeply troubled since there’s a strong chance that methane (CH4) will be released – as it does in anaerobic wetland conditions – which does not bode well for planetary warming since it is 21 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2).
Nearly 1/4 of the northern hemisphere is underlain by permafrost that contains twice as much carbon as the entire atmosphere, wrote The New York Times. This amounts to nearly 2 trillion tons of carbon in soils of the northern regions, 88 percent of which is “locked in permafrost,” according to Canadian scientist Charles Tarnocai and colleagues.
Meanwhile, Yahoo news reports that Russian scientists have discovered “hundreds of plumes of methane gas, some 1,000 meters in diameter, bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean.” Igor Semiletov of the Russian Academy of Sciences told the UK Independent that thousands more of these giant gurgling methane pots could be lurking in the ice between the Russian mainland and the East Siberian Arctic Shelf.
Having more heat-trapping greenhouse gases in our atmosphere will exacerbate many of the climate change problems we are already beginning to face, include rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, drought and famine, water scarcity, and an upsurge in the expense and intensity of certain natural disasters.
But here’s the good news: if we can scale back human-caused carbon emissions and therefore reduce the rate at which the planet is heating up, most researchers believe we can slow down the rate at which this methane will be released into the atmosphere.
(greenprophet.com)
Tampilkan postingan dengan label sains. Tampilkan semua postingan
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Senin, 19 Desember 2011
Sabtu, 17 Desember 2011
Soyuz launches sharp-eyed Pleiades satellite
A Russian Soyuz rocket has launched from French Guiana - only the second such vehicle to fly out of the territory's new Sinnamary spaceport.
The Soyuz put six satellites in orbit, including France's new Pleiades-1 high-resolution imaging spacecraft.
This satellite is designed to take pictures that resolve features on the ground as small as 50cm across.
The capability will put it on a par with the leading US commercial systems operated by GeoEye and DigitalGlobe.
Lift-off occurred on schedule at 23:03 local time, Friday (02:03 GMT, Saturday), with Pleiades-1 being dropped off in its 700km-high polar orbit some 55 minutes later.
The 970kg satellite is the result of a near-decade-long programme in the French space agency (Cnes) to develop one of the most powerful Earth observation systems in the world.
The spacecraft's sensor actually has a resolution of 70cm, but image processing will recover detail that is around the half-metre mark.
Pleiades carries gyroscopes that allow it to swivel its telescope in quick time, enabling it to acquire a strip, or mosaic, of images around its target in a single pass overhead.
The Pleiades spacecraft has been assembled by Astrium, Europe's largest space company, with its instrument supplied by Thales Alenia Space (France).
It will have both a civilian and military role, and a number of European countries (Austria, Belgium, Spain and Sweden) have part-funded the project to get access to its pictures.
Pleiades-1 will be followed by Pleiades-2 on a separate Soyuz launch in 2012.
"The fact that we will have two, twin satellites operating in a phased orbit separated by 180 degrees will give us something very powerful - a daily re-visit capacity. It means we will be able to gather information every day on any part of the globe," explained Charlotte Gabriel Robez, Pleiades project manager with Astrium Geo-information Services.
"This is key because it allows us to tackle applications such as rescue or crisis management, in the aftermath of an earthquake for example," she told BBC News.
The commercial market for very high resolution imagery has become dominated in recent years by the American companies GeoEye and DigitalGlobe, which benefit from multi-billion-dollar contracts with the US intelligence agencies.
Astrium Geo-information Services is hoping these agencies' voracious appetite for pictures will leave a productive hole in the market for Pleiades' products.
The Soyuz rocket flew its inaugural mission from Europe's Sinnamary spaceport in October. A dedicated new launch pad has been constructed in the Guianese jungle for the Russian vehicle.
By operating closer to the equator, the rocket receives a bigger boost from the Earth's rotation, meaning it can lift nearly double the mass of a comparable payload at its traditional home in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz' five other "passengers" included a high-resolution imaging satellite for the Chilean military called SSOT; and four radar eavesdropping spacecraft developed for the French military. All six satellites were manufactured by Astrium.
(bbc.co.uk)
The Soyuz put six satellites in orbit, including France's new Pleiades-1 high-resolution imaging spacecraft.
This satellite is designed to take pictures that resolve features on the ground as small as 50cm across.
The capability will put it on a par with the leading US commercial systems operated by GeoEye and DigitalGlobe.
Lift-off occurred on schedule at 23:03 local time, Friday (02:03 GMT, Saturday), with Pleiades-1 being dropped off in its 700km-high polar orbit some 55 minutes later.
The 970kg satellite is the result of a near-decade-long programme in the French space agency (Cnes) to develop one of the most powerful Earth observation systems in the world.
The spacecraft's sensor actually has a resolution of 70cm, but image processing will recover detail that is around the half-metre mark.
Pleiades carries gyroscopes that allow it to swivel its telescope in quick time, enabling it to acquire a strip, or mosaic, of images around its target in a single pass overhead.
The Pleiades spacecraft has been assembled by Astrium, Europe's largest space company, with its instrument supplied by Thales Alenia Space (France).
It will have both a civilian and military role, and a number of European countries (Austria, Belgium, Spain and Sweden) have part-funded the project to get access to its pictures.
Pleiades-1 will be followed by Pleiades-2 on a separate Soyuz launch in 2012.
"The fact that we will have two, twin satellites operating in a phased orbit separated by 180 degrees will give us something very powerful - a daily re-visit capacity. It means we will be able to gather information every day on any part of the globe," explained Charlotte Gabriel Robez, Pleiades project manager with Astrium Geo-information Services.
"This is key because it allows us to tackle applications such as rescue or crisis management, in the aftermath of an earthquake for example," she told BBC News.
The commercial market for very high resolution imagery has become dominated in recent years by the American companies GeoEye and DigitalGlobe, which benefit from multi-billion-dollar contracts with the US intelligence agencies.
Astrium Geo-information Services is hoping these agencies' voracious appetite for pictures will leave a productive hole in the market for Pleiades' products.
The Soyuz rocket flew its inaugural mission from Europe's Sinnamary spaceport in October. A dedicated new launch pad has been constructed in the Guianese jungle for the Russian vehicle.
By operating closer to the equator, the rocket receives a bigger boost from the Earth's rotation, meaning it can lift nearly double the mass of a comparable payload at its traditional home in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz' five other "passengers" included a high-resolution imaging satellite for the Chilean military called SSOT; and four radar eavesdropping spacecraft developed for the French military. All six satellites were manufactured by Astrium.
(bbc.co.uk)
Senin, 12 Desember 2011
Why Fewer Women (And Me) Would Choose Breast Reconstruction After A Mastectomy
According to a new study, fewer women today are choosing to undergo breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, mostly due to insurance reasons, but even if my insurance covered it, I wouldn’t opt for it based on what I have seen.
Revealed at the recent Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, the findings showed that women with an earlier stage of breast cancer were more likely to have breast reconstruction, while those with a more advanced stage were less likely to undergo the surgery. In fact, fewer than one in four women with invasive cancer now opts for reconstruction, while more than one third with early stage cancer chooses the procedure.
Those who choose reconstruction tend to be younger, urban women. Females over 50, along with blacks and rural residents were less likely to undergo the surgery. Not surprising, insurance also plays a big role in who gets reconstruction. Those most likely to get it were covered under their commercial health insurance. The procedure is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, although there is sometimes a co-pay which can deter women from doing this. And with the cost of reconstruction tripling over the last decade, this can leave many women without a choice.
But, even if my insurance did cover this, based on watching two close friends undergo this procedure during the last year, it’s not something I would agree to do. True, past studies have shown improved psychological advantages with having breast reconstruction, and this is certainly something that is a very personal for women. Some women say their breasts are very important to them and their sexuality and the way they feel about themselves, and that’s definitely understandable. Other said they feel more empowered and “whole” once their breasts are reconstructed, which is also important. But all of this comes with some pretty big risks.
One friend who underwent a double mastectomy endured months of painful complications before and after her bilateral surgery. She suffered from infections and allergic reactions to the medications and was out of work for three months. Even after the surgery was completed and she was feeling somewhat normal again, she admitted that if she had to do it all over, she would not have chosen the surgery. My other friend, who has two young children, was in and out of the hospital three times after her procedure due to tissue breakdown and then an implant rupture. She had to have a second surgery to replace the ruptured implant, all of which added several weeks to her recovery (something that was really difficult for her while trying to be a mom). In addition, both women had bruising and pain that lasted longer than expected and left them housebound–not to mention self-conscious about the skin surrounding their new breasts.
Maybe it’s because I’m pretty small-busted to begin with, but after facing months or years of breast cancer treatment (which I am watching my mother go through now), I would not choose to extend the amount of time in recovery. Breasts are just not that important to me. But that’s just me. What would you do?
(blisstree.com)
Revealed at the recent Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, the findings showed that women with an earlier stage of breast cancer were more likely to have breast reconstruction, while those with a more advanced stage were less likely to undergo the surgery. In fact, fewer than one in four women with invasive cancer now opts for reconstruction, while more than one third with early stage cancer chooses the procedure.
Those who choose reconstruction tend to be younger, urban women. Females over 50, along with blacks and rural residents were less likely to undergo the surgery. Not surprising, insurance also plays a big role in who gets reconstruction. Those most likely to get it were covered under their commercial health insurance. The procedure is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, although there is sometimes a co-pay which can deter women from doing this. And with the cost of reconstruction tripling over the last decade, this can leave many women without a choice.
But, even if my insurance did cover this, based on watching two close friends undergo this procedure during the last year, it’s not something I would agree to do. True, past studies have shown improved psychological advantages with having breast reconstruction, and this is certainly something that is a very personal for women. Some women say their breasts are very important to them and their sexuality and the way they feel about themselves, and that’s definitely understandable. Other said they feel more empowered and “whole” once their breasts are reconstructed, which is also important. But all of this comes with some pretty big risks.
One friend who underwent a double mastectomy endured months of painful complications before and after her bilateral surgery. She suffered from infections and allergic reactions to the medications and was out of work for three months. Even after the surgery was completed and she was feeling somewhat normal again, she admitted that if she had to do it all over, she would not have chosen the surgery. My other friend, who has two young children, was in and out of the hospital three times after her procedure due to tissue breakdown and then an implant rupture. She had to have a second surgery to replace the ruptured implant, all of which added several weeks to her recovery (something that was really difficult for her while trying to be a mom). In addition, both women had bruising and pain that lasted longer than expected and left them housebound–not to mention self-conscious about the skin surrounding their new breasts.
Maybe it’s because I’m pretty small-busted to begin with, but after facing months or years of breast cancer treatment (which I am watching my mother go through now), I would not choose to extend the amount of time in recovery. Breasts are just not that important to me. But that’s just me. What would you do?
(blisstree.com)
Minggu, 11 Desember 2011
Total lunar eclipse is a rare treat
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Moon watchers in the western U.S., Hawaii and elsewhere across the globe were treated Saturday to a rare celestial phenomenon: a total lunar eclipse.
For 51 minutes starting at 6:06 a.m. PST, the Earth's shadow completely blocked the moon.
The moon took on a reddish glow, as some indirect sunlight continued to reach it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere. Since the atmosphere scatters blue light, only red light strikes the moon, giving it a crimson hue.
David Sayre, who runs a public relations firm in Hawaii, said it had been cloudy and rainy around his house on Oahu, but the weather cleared just in time for the eclipse.
He awoke, as he usually does, around 3 a.m. and remembered to step outside the house in time to catch the eclipse about a half hour later. No one else in the neighborhood was up.
"Sure enough it was turning that orangy-red color," Sayre, 47, said. "I said, 'Gosh I better grab a camera.'"
He added, "To be able to see it just right outside our house was really cool."
At the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, some 300 people, many clutching coffee cups in the frigid morning air, sat with blankets and chairs on the observatory's great lawn.
"It's a celestial festival out here," Capm Petersen, 39, told the Los Angeles Times as he set up his camera.
Perched on a slope north of downtown near the Hollywood sign, the property offers clear views of the sky. Observatory officials alerted the crowd when the eclipse began and spontaneous applause erupted when the celestial event ended.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon goes through the long shadow cast by the Earth and is blocked from the sunlight that illuminates it.
The last total lunar eclipse was on June 15 although that was not visible from the U.S. The next one is on April 15, 2014, and will be seen in the U.S.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
For 51 minutes starting at 6:06 a.m. PST, the Earth's shadow completely blocked the moon.
The moon took on a reddish glow, as some indirect sunlight continued to reach it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere. Since the atmosphere scatters blue light, only red light strikes the moon, giving it a crimson hue.
David Sayre, who runs a public relations firm in Hawaii, said it had been cloudy and rainy around his house on Oahu, but the weather cleared just in time for the eclipse.
He awoke, as he usually does, around 3 a.m. and remembered to step outside the house in time to catch the eclipse about a half hour later. No one else in the neighborhood was up.
"Sure enough it was turning that orangy-red color," Sayre, 47, said. "I said, 'Gosh I better grab a camera.'"
He added, "To be able to see it just right outside our house was really cool."
At the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, some 300 people, many clutching coffee cups in the frigid morning air, sat with blankets and chairs on the observatory's great lawn.
"It's a celestial festival out here," Capm Petersen, 39, told the Los Angeles Times as he set up his camera.
Perched on a slope north of downtown near the Hollywood sign, the property offers clear views of the sky. Observatory officials alerted the crowd when the eclipse began and spontaneous applause erupted when the celestial event ended.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon goes through the long shadow cast by the Earth and is blocked from the sunlight that illuminates it.
The last total lunar eclipse was on June 15 although that was not visible from the U.S. The next one is on April 15, 2014, and will be seen in the U.S.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For more information about reprints & permissions, visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.
Selasa, 06 Desember 2011
One Planet in the Habitable confirmation
CALIFORNIA, Kepler spacecraft made a surprise return. NASA announced on Monday (5/12/2011) that one of the candidate planet Kepler 2.326 findings have been confirmed as a habitable planet. ' This phenomenal discoveries. This proves that Homo sapiens is getting close to our achievement in the universe to find the planet that remind us of the House. We are almost there, '' said Geoff Marcy, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, was quoted as saying AP, Tuesday (6/12/2011).
The habitable Planet confirmed that named Kepler 22b. The Planet is orbiting a Sun-like stars named Kepler 22 and approximately 600 light years from Earth. Kepler has some similarities with the 22b. The earth around the Sun over the past 365 days, whereas Kepler 22b around its parent star within 290 days. Just different thin.
The temperature of the Earth and Kepler 22b not differ greatly. Mentioned that if the greenhouse effect works in Kepler 22b, then the planet's temperature at about 22 degrees celsius. Difference encountered in size. Kepler 22b-sized 2.4 times greater than Earth 's. While its mass is unknown so it is difficult to estimate whether Kepler planet rocks or 22b is a gas giant. If it is a gas planet, then by all means it is difficult for humans to live there. Although confirmed habitable, it is still difficult for humans to go to Kepler 22b. One light-year is equivalent with 9,65 trillion kilometers. It took 22 million years to get there with the technology that exists today. Technology was the one who will be answering is go to Kepler 22b will be a dream or reality.
In addition to the discovery of Kepler 22b, NASA also announced that Kepler had now has a habitable planet 2.326. This increased amount of 1,103 announcement in February 2011 and then stating that there are 1,267 candidate planet habitable. Of the total 2.326 candidate planets, 207 of whom have the equivalent size of the Earth. While the other is greater than 680 Earth. The number of planets in the habitable zone itself there are 48 pieces. Still it takes research to confirm whether the planets are habitable.
The habitable Planet confirmed that named Kepler 22b. The Planet is orbiting a Sun-like stars named Kepler 22 and approximately 600 light years from Earth. Kepler has some similarities with the 22b. The earth around the Sun over the past 365 days, whereas Kepler 22b around its parent star within 290 days. Just different thin.
The temperature of the Earth and Kepler 22b not differ greatly. Mentioned that if the greenhouse effect works in Kepler 22b, then the planet's temperature at about 22 degrees celsius. Difference encountered in size. Kepler 22b-sized 2.4 times greater than Earth 's. While its mass is unknown so it is difficult to estimate whether Kepler planet rocks or 22b is a gas giant. If it is a gas planet, then by all means it is difficult for humans to live there. Although confirmed habitable, it is still difficult for humans to go to Kepler 22b. One light-year is equivalent with 9,65 trillion kilometers. It took 22 million years to get there with the technology that exists today. Technology was the one who will be answering is go to Kepler 22b will be a dream or reality.
In addition to the discovery of Kepler 22b, NASA also announced that Kepler had now has a habitable planet 2.326. This increased amount of 1,103 announcement in February 2011 and then stating that there are 1,267 candidate planet habitable. Of the total 2.326 candidate planets, 207 of whom have the equivalent size of the Earth. While the other is greater than 680 Earth. The number of planets in the habitable zone itself there are 48 pieces. Still it takes research to confirm whether the planets are habitable.
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