Golf Courses That Reuse Water Irrigate Too Much, Study Suggests

Summary: The Royal Golf Club in Las Palmas has been irrigating their golf course too much. A study showed that the plants on the golf course were getting 83% more than they needed. This could lead to contaminating their aquifers. The club has been using desalinated water that they recycle and use over and over. The use of the desalinated water, though a useful way to recycle water, can have a negative impact on the stability of the soil and the quality of water in the aquifer.

Reflection: The Royal Golf Club needs to slow down the irrigation of the plants on their course. If they don't they risk the chance of contaminants and other things getting into their aquifer. Also their greens won't be as sturdy, because the soil will become loose and the golfers won't be able to dig their spikes in. I'm a little shocked thata as the price of water rises, they continue to use the same amount of water even though they don't need to. Over irrigating plants is bad for the health of the plants, they will be so overwatered that their roots will in a sense drown.

Questions:
Why do you think The Royal Golf Club irrigates their plants so much?
If they contaminate the aquifers, where will they get drinking water?
Should they think of cutting back and risk their lawns not being so lusciously green?

Picture is the link (:

Japan's Earthquake Shortened Earth's Day

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On March 11, 2011 Japan's 8.9 magnitude earthquake shortened Earth's day by 1.8 millionths of a second. This doesn't sound like a lot but it does have a large impact. After this day our Earth is spinning quicker then usual. Scientists discovered this by collecting information from the earthquake data and the earth's rate of spin. This happened because every time the earth's mass moves closer to the rotation axis, it spins faster. To help explain how it works, you can think of a ice-skater moving her arms closer to her body. When the skater does this, they spin faster.

Reaction:

I thought this article was so interesting! I had no idea that this was possible. This article got me thinking, even though it only shortened the day by 1.8 millionths of a second, how many more earthquakes or other natural disasters need to occur before our day gets to be shorter by hours? Although it does not affect humans that are day got millionths of a second shorter,I think that this could affect our world millions of years from now.

1) What other earthquake's may have shortened our day?

2) How did the earthquake effect Japan?

3) How did this earthquake effect the rest of the world?

Banana peels

A new science shows that banana peels can be used to remove metals from river water. A scientist, Gustavo Castro, discovered this by building water filters out of banana peels and forcing water through the filters. He and his team found that the metal was removed from the water and was bonded to the banana peel. Another test preformed was placing dried and ground banana peels and combined them with flasks of water that contained known concentrations of metals. Other studies have shown that other plant parts ex apple and sugar cane wastes, coconut fibers, and peanut shells can also remove metals from water. This is a better alternative to methods of decontamination used today as they are very expensive and could leave the water with different types of toxins. This is cheaper and helps to ensure that dangerous metals stay out of the water and won't addle systems in the body. Though it's advisable that no one use bananas at home, because tap water tends to be safe
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Reaction: This is an interesting scientific discovery. In class, we learned about the types of contaminants found in water and some of the methods that can be used to remove them. I was intrigued when I learned that the cleaning or decontamination methods could leave different contaminants in the water. What surprised me was that something as simple as a banana peel could be used as an inexpensive way to get rid of metals in the water. This could really help other countries that don't have the resources America does.
Questions:
1) Do you think banana peels should now be used to filter metals from water?
2) Are there any other ways to filter metals in water?
3) Could this be applied in the real world or is it just a discovery that won't go any where?

Will Congress Stop Spending $860,000 Annually on Bottled Water?

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Summary:

According to Corporate Accoutability International, the House of Representatives spends at least $860,000 a year on bottled water. Some are saying this is completely unnecessary and needs to come to an end. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton quoted, "Congress is spending almost a million dollars annually on bottled water for itself that often carries misleading claims of purity, when water of equal or better quality is available through the public drinking water system installed here in the House." Studies show that about 70% their tap water cost a penny a gallon and bottled costs a dollar a gallon, that's a hundred times more! Also, some are saying the bottles that are purchases are compostable. However, this is not guaranteed and the bottles could just end up sitting in landfills producing one of the worst emissions culprits: methane.

Reflection:

After reading this article I was completely shocked! It is ridiculous how much money is spent on bottled water and I 100% agree with Norton that the change needs to be made. Tons of plastic, water, and money would be saved just by doing this! Also, after having the classroom discussion about tap water vs. bottled water, tap water seems safer to drink just because it is more filtered and closely watched for contaminants! This discussion was brought up at the dinner table not too long ago, and from the sounds of it, my family is going to make the switch too!

Questions:

1.) Do you think they should make the switch from bottled water to tap?

2.) What other alternatives are there?

3.) If you had the choice, would you make the switch?

Oil Drilling to Resume in the Gulf’s Deep Waters

Title: Oil Drilling to Resume in the Gulf's Deep Waters

By JOHN M. BRODER and CLIFFORD KRAUSS

Published: February 28, 2011

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/business/energy-environment/01drill.html?partner=rss&emc=rss 

Summary:
The Interior Department said they would allow Noble Energy to drill into 6,500 ft deep waters off the coast of Louisiana. Michael Bromwich, Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy, said that the old system of fast approvals would not be happening anymore. They would review by a well to well process. This drilling comes as no suprise while oil prices are rising. Judge Martin Freedman recently ordered the Obama administration to move quick about allowing deep well drilling. Although Bromwich said his request was not because of Freedmans work and that they were opposed to what Freedman said. Bromwich said the Noble had put in new safety and envioronmental rules after the spill and had a contract with a company that could control a blowout of 69,000 barrels of oil a day.

Reflection:
It is very interesting that they would allow this so soon. This article really brought this situation in front of me. Water pollution is very serious and the BP oil spill killed many animals living in that area. I read many articles about the spill and it just shocks me that they would allow this. I think they should have waited at least a year and then tested this new drilling in smaller waters. Also the fact that they will be drilling in almost the same spot is ridiculous. I can't believe Bromwich let this happen.

Questions:
Do you think they should start drilling again in deep waters?
Why do you think Bromwich let this happen so quickly?
Do you think we should drill for oil at all anymore?


by Phil T.