"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Earth/Climate science
Unsafe Drinking Water
10/28/20
“How can drinking water be unsafe?”
Drinkable water is one of the foundations of a habitable human civilization. However, in many places in the world, the local water may be unsafe to drink. This could be due to a variety of regions, ranging from a parasite infestation to pollution runoff. In any case, Unsafe Drinking Water is a global problem that requires an interdisciplinary thinking process to solve.
Desalination for Agriculture
10/27/20
“How can we use desalinated water for agriculture?”
Agriculture is one of the most if not THE most water-intensive industrial sectors. With the advent of climate change and depletion of freshwater resources, this resource is only going to become more and more scarce. One solution for this can be to use Desalination for Agriculture. Desalinated water can be pumped to agricultural centers, where they can replace other freshwater resources.
Image credit http://www.europenowjournal.org
Weather Derivatives
10/25/20
“What are financial products that are dependent on weather conditions?”
Although usually thought of as two independent factors, weather can have a massive impact on finances, whether (pun intended) it be through floods devastating homes or wildfire-prone weather making agricultural insurance riskier. As a result, financial institutions have created a series of financial products known as Weather Derivatives. These can come in many forms, such as changing electricity prices based on weather or looking at long-term climate projections to calculate hurricane insurance.
Agricultural Damage From Wildfires
10/24/20
“How can agriculture be damaged by wildfires?”
Agriculture is one of the most foundational sectors to human society. However, it is also one of the most reliant on environmental conditions. So when wildfires strike, it is only understandable that.it would be heavily affected, whether it be farm fields being destroyed, water sources for crops being polluted, or ash settling on fields. This is why Agricultural Damage From Wildfires needs to be taken seriously.
Why Recycled Water Could Be Vital for Conflict Zones
10/23/20
“How can recycled water be vital for conflict zones?”
In conflict zones, water can be hard to find. Either infrastructure has been damaged or rationing has been instituted or both. However, if there is local and portable water recycling technology, then water can be supplied and lives saved. This is Why Recycled Water Could Be Vital for Conflict Zones.
Why Contaminated Water Is Much More Difficult to Filter
10/21/20
“Why is contaminated water so much more difficult to filter?”
Water filtration is the essence of recycling water and making it usable again. However the more contaminated the water is, the more energy and processes are needed to make it drinkable again. This is Why Contaminated Water Is Much More Difficult to Filter.
How a Nation’s Leader Disproportionately Influences Its Climate Adaptation Capacity
10/20/20
“What influence does a nation’s leader have on its climate adaptation capacity?”
A nation’s leaders have a direct and disproportionate on its policies. And this can be seen quite well in its climate adaptation capacity, which rests on the actions the nation takes, whether it’s through building infrastructure, funding property losses, or choosing research focus areas. This is How a Nation’s Leader Disproportionately Influences Its Climate Adaptation Capacity.
Image credit http://www.ft.com
Why the Bay Area Will Not Have to Lose Population to Sea-Level Rise if It Densifies Correctly
10/19/20
“How can the Bay Area not lose population to sea-level rise if it densifies correctly?”
The San Francisco Bay Area is under threat. Sea-level rise holds the potential to displace hundreds of thousands of residents in the coming decades if no serious action is taken. However, if the Bay Area densifies in wealthy region away from the waters and adds in a social housing mandate, then these residents can enter new homes and not have to move far away. This is Why the Bay Area Will Not Have to Lose Population to Sea-Level Rise if It Densifies Correctly.
Image credit cdn.kqed.org
How Multiculturalism Can Lead to Better Climate Resilience
10/18/20
“How can multiculturalism lead to better climate resilience?”
Different cultures tend to inhabit different areas and have different ways of approaching things. As a result, they will all have different things to bring to the table when disasters strike. Since the climate is becoming more intense in a variety of different ways, having access to communities of different cultures will allow for a greater level of resilience. This is How Multiculturalism Can Lead to Better Climate Resilience.
