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Happenings
by Elliott Bedows
solid (as ice - try to name another compound that shares this character), it also has the atypical ability to retain gases such as oxygen to a greater extent when waters are cold rather than warm. Thus the cold oceans support most of the earth's biomass because cold water (a very few degrees above freezing) can store more oxygen and therefore support more life-giving organisms such as algae and plankton, than can warm water.
That is also why the largest animals on earth - whales - migrate to the Bering Sea each year to eat nutrient-rich plankton growing in the far northern oceans. In comparison, the warm waters of the southern oceans are nutrient deprived. Plankton and algae are photosynthetic organisms, which means they can take the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, and convert it to oxygen which sustains the natural cycle of the biosystem. But as the oceans continue to warm, the ability to sustain populations of these vital microorganisms diminishes.
A single major oil spill in the Arctic will continue to reduce the ability of the northern oceans to support the organisms that help keep the greenhouse gas effect in check, leading to more warming and its consequences. So all of the theoretical gains that might be realized from drilling in the Arctic quickly become offset by the pattern of major hurricanes that are beginning to occur with greater regularity (a cycle that the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration predicts will continue for nearly twenty more years! And that is without factoring in what a major kill off the Arctic microfauna might contribute.
It really is time to stop being stupid and to think about how the consequences of our collective acts influence the earth's fragile systems. Just another example of how conservation and good planning as our population increases will go a long way to improving our future.
Honestly, now. Why not drill in the ANWR? Of all the reasons given for not touching our Natural Jewel of the North, the Last Pristine Frontier, or any other aesthetic accolade you may prefer, none of these are really the best reason to stay the heck out of our frozen Princess to the North. Rather, the real reason(s) happen to be that going into the Arctic (or Antarctic for that matter) in pursuit of natural resources will seriously compromise the future of life (both human and nonhuman) for decades to come. Let me explain.
No one, except the totally blind and those who refuse to see, can deny that global warming is occurring. But the ongoing debate is this: to what degree are humans responsible for this phenomenon? Is global warming part of a natural cycle, or are we humans to blame? And if so, to what extent? As is almost always the case, the real answer likely resides somewhere between the extremes, but nonetheless, we as human residents of our planet are significantly contributing to global warming. Why?
In the days before bipeds ruled the earth, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and other natural events were more readily absorbed by the earth's natural biological defense systems. Now barrier islands, both domestically and abroad, that once protected coastal regions from the forces of ominous tropical storms, have been developed and no longer provide that natural buffer once enjoyed.
Systems that endured vast plumes of natural volcanic debris pumped into the earth's atmosphere daily were absorbed into sediments, ultimately to be recycled by the earth's natural ability to recycle carbon-containing compounds (the earth's buffering capacity). But these systems are becoming compromised (saturated if you prefer) by the daily output of human pollution. Thus they cannot operate as efficiently as they once did.
As a result, greenhouse gases and other contributors to global warming are occurring, and in epic proportions. For example, as this article is being written, the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic basin is churning, and the third strongest ever occurred within the past month. These were Wilma and Rita, respectively, while Katrina and Stan were even more costly in human lives lost!
Water is perhaps the most miraculous of all our planet's chemicals because, in addition to its ability to float when
Nominee for Board Position
Because of the change in venue for our November meeting, the election of Corresponding Secretary has been postponed to the December general meeting.
The nominee is Pauline Dickey, former Chair of the Fundraising Committee.