... , piece by piece. For more than two years I've been studying at this college, and hundreds of times I've walked by this pool at night. How did I ignore its beauty? Tonight it looked like a shining diamond set in a deep, dark forest? Where has this lake been hiding? The walk began in our classroom with a command given by Professor Erickson in a low-pitched voice ... : "We will walk to the swimming pool." I felt lazy and bored as I clumsily brought up the rear. Leaving the building, a gently, cool wind blew softly over my skin. The fresh air took me out of my lethargic mood. The sun was set...

• Word Count: 997
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... is also intensified by the process of deforestation, which is the conversion by humans of forest land to other uses (such as farming). Deforestation now takes place on a large scale in tropical areas of the world. When tropical forest is cleared for pasture land, there is an immediate loss of carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. One current study indicates that as much of 25% of the current level of CO2 emissions can ... initiatives to develop alternative sources employ fossil fuel energy for their efforts. Ozone Layer Another issue of concern is the depletion of the ozone layer ...

• Word Count: 1531
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of climate across the surface of the planet. An increase in average global temperature of 0.7 C has already been measured, and present rates of emission of greenhouse gases are committing the Earth to an additional warming of about 0.3 C per decade. We are also adding small particles and droplets called aerosols that reflect light back into space and tend to cause some areas to cool. It is because they trap heat like ... are rising into the air over the forest. The desire of developed countries for inexpensive meat and forest products is another major contributor to deforestation. The s...

• Word Count: 2775
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... gases are also present. These remaining trace gases exist in such small quantities that they are measured in terms of a mixing ratio. This ratio is defined as the number of molecules of the trace gas divided by the total number of molecules present in the volume sampled. For example, O3, CO2, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are measured in parts per million by volume ( ... harmful secondary pollutants such as peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and aldehydes which are severe irritants, particularly to the eyes. (Ironically, ozone in the stratosphere is essential for life as we know it. This ozone...

• Word Count: 2950
• Approx Pages: 12