| We have global warming, we have wild weather, | | | | fertilizers in the sea off the coast of Queensland. This |
| droughts and floods, we have plagues of starfish on | | | | causes and increased growth of algae and algae feed |
| the barrier reef! And just to confuse us we have a | | | | Crown of Thorns starfish larvae. The combination of |
| few geologists saying nothing is happening! Wow! | | | | higher temperatures and Crown of Thorns Starfish is |
| What are we meant to think and do? For a start | | | | seriously threatening the Great Barrier Reef. |
| ignore those few geologists, even if they are scientists | | | | Global warming is expected to intensify the water |
| because the vast majority of the scientific community | | | | cycle, with increased risk of floods and droughts. One |
| have known for years that Global warming is a fact! | | | | of the effects of global warming is likely to be |
| Now about the Causes: | | | | changes in the seasonality of river flows in regions |
| There are three main gases that are responsible for | | | | where winter precipitation falls as snow. Additionally, |
| causing the Greenhouse Effect and the greenhouse | | | | rising sea levels will damage the quality of fresh water |
| effect wraps us in a warm blanket and caused global | | | | available from coastal aquifers and wetlands. |
| warming. The data for this has been taken from ice | | | | Less freshwater is likely to be available in West Africa, |
| cores giving thousands of years of information. These | | | | Central America, southern Europe, the eastern US and |
| three gases are: | | | | southern Australia. Other regions, particularly tropical |
| - Carbon Dioxide CO2 | | | | Africa and northwest South America, will be at |
| - Nitrous oxides - often called NOX | | | | significant risk of excessive runoff as trees are lost, |
| - Methane | | | | increasing the chances of severe flooding. |
| All three are increasing exponentially at present. We | | | | We need to preserve our water quality. There are |
| are now sitting a long way outside the concentrations | | | | more of us and fresh water is deceasing. Anything |
| that have ever occurred in the past and we don't | | | | discharged into drains ends up in lakes, dams, rivers or |
| know what will happen. | | | | the sea. Do any rivers or lakes near your business |
| Who is to blame for this? My little bit can't make all that | | | | have algal problems? A wetland can remove up to |
| difference. Twenty-seven per cent of carbon | | | | 90% of sediments, nutrients and bacteria from |
| emissions come from homes which means the rest | | | | stormwater. |
| comes from business in some form or other and a | | | | When we go boating we really enjoy being in the |
| large percentage of business involves small to medium | | | | environment but have we thought about the impact |
| enterprises and farms, just like most of us. | | | | we may be having on water quality. If we take a boat |
| Air traffic is currently blamed for about 3.5% of the | | | | we need to think about the engine. The common |
| human activities that cause climate change and is the | | | | two-stroke engines produce up to 10 times more |
| fastest growing source of emissions. Its share of total | | | | water pollution than four-stroke. They acidify |
| CO2 impact is expected to grow to 5% by 2050. | | | | waterways and release heavy metals from sediments |
| A recent report stated that agriculture is responsible | | | | resulting in underwater pollution up to 1000 per cent |
| for 40% of greenhouse gasses, | | | | worse with two-stroke engines. |
| - 70% of total methane, | | | | We all need to think about what we do, how much we |
| - 80% of NOX - this comes from biochemical | | | | consume and how big our "environmental footprint" |
| processes in soils. There are large losses of N from | | | | (not just carbon) is. |
| fertilizers - between 15and 50% of N fertilizer goes | | | | It was interesting looking at the results of the Live |
| missing. If you use N fertilizer, you need to improve the | | | | Earth Concerts. These were aimed at raising |
| efficiency of use. | | | | awareness of the issue but the evidence did not |
| There are 1.4 billion cows worldwide, each producing | | | | demonstrate this. OK they used carbon credits to |
| 500 litres of methane a day and accounting for 14% of | | | | offset energy use but I have never seen so much litter |
| all emission of the gas | | | | left everywhere as by this set of supposedly |
| There is now 5 times the historic concentration of | | | | "environmentally concerned" concert goers. |