CLIMATE CHANGE

FOR STARTERS:

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

The issues:

1.Are humans responsible for most of the global temperature rise of the past century or so, or is the increase just a typical fluctuation in global temperature?

2. If most of the temperature rise can be attributed to increases in anthropogenic CO2 emissions, what are the likely consequences if no action is taken to curb these emissions?

What is the evidence? Is it compelling?

§What is the scientific consensus?

§Climate models and their predictions

§Consequences of the predictions

§Strategies for change

Chemistry we need to learn

§The Earth’s energy balance - the greenhouse effect

§The shapes of molecules - valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory

§Molecular vibrations – how they absorb IR radiation

§Masses and moles - weighing to count molecules

Earth’s atmospher

a) The Earth is about 33OC warmer than

expected if we consider only the amount of solar energy received and reflected.

b) Trace atmospheric gases, H2O and CO2, trap

infrared radiation that would otherwise be re-

emitted into space.

c) This effect is known as the Greenhouse Effect the mechanism that keeps greenhouses hotter than we might expect.

Comments

Havens for Open Debate Or Enforcers of Political Orthodoxy. From Mahmood Khalil to Rumeysa Ozturk: The Rising Cost of Pro-Palestinian Activism on Campus.

The case of Rumeysa Ozturk , a Tufts University student detained by federal authorities , along with earlier incidents like that of Mahmood Khalil of Columbia University, raises serious concerns about the targeting of international students for their political views, particularly regarding Palestine-Israel discourse. This situation has broader implications for academic freedom, free speech, and the reputation of U.S. universities abroad , especially given the significant financial and intellectual contributions of international students to American higher education. --- 1. Impact on International Students: A Revenue & Reputation Concern - Financial Contribution : International students contribute $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy, with universities relying heavily on their tuition fees (often at higher out-of-state rates). - Chilling Effect : Cases like Ozturk’s and Khalil’s may deter prospective students from applying, fearing political perse...

Columbia President ( Katrina Armstrong) Is Replaced as Trump Threatens University’s Funding. Key Points. NYTimes

Key Points & Further Details on Columbia University Leadership Change 1. Presidential Change at Columbia University Katrina Armstrong stepped down as interim president of Columbia University. Claire Shipman , a journalist and Columbia alumna, was named acting president . Armstrong’s departure marks Columbia’s third leadership change since August 2024. 2. Trigger for Leadership Change The Trump administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia. This funding is roughly 20% of the university’s operating revenue . The university ultimately complied with government demands , causing internal and external backlash . 3. Government Demands & Columbia’s Compliance Columbia agreed to: Employ 36 campus safety officers with arrest powers . Adopt a formal definition of antisemitism . Review admissions policies . Increase oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department . These changes sparked faculty and...

Detour of Diplomacy: Netanyahu’s 400 km Flight Route to Dodge ICC Arrest.

Netanyahu’s Altered Flight Route to Washington: Avoiding ICC Arrest Warrant Risks The skies are no longer a safe passage for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . Following the issuance of an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza , Netanyahu was forced to take a dramatically altered flight route to Washington, extending his journey by over 400 km to avoid the airspace of countries that could enforce the warrant . Drawing from reports by Haaretz and other trusted sources, this post unpacks the details of Netanyahu’s detour , the geopolitical implications , and how the ICC’s legal shadow is reshaping global diplomacy. Detailed overview of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s altered flight route to Washington to evade risks of arrest under the ICC warrant, as reported by Haaretz and other corroborating sources: 1. Flight Detour to Avoid ICC Enforcement Countries Netanyahu’s official plane, the Wing of Zion , took an unusual 400 km longer route to ...

Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" Key Points. Mondoweiss

Key Points from the Article: "Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" 1. Israel’s Resumption of War Israel resumed its military assault on Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians , including 130 children . Key figures in Gaza’s civil administration were also targeted to weaken Hamas’s governance . 2. The Ceasefire Agreement and Israel’s Stalling Tactics A ceasefire deal was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S . two months prior. The second phase of the deal included discussions about ending the war and reconstructing Gaza in exchange for Israeli captives . Netanyahu stalled , aiming to release captives without committing to ending the war . 3. Israel’s Blockade and Its Impact In early March , Israel blocked the Rafah crossing and cut off humanitarian aid , causing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza . Prices of goods soared , bakeries shut down , and hospitals ran out of fuel . 4. Hamas’s Unexpected Move ...

Marianne Hirsch: The Erosion of Academic Freedom and the Authoritarian Threat to American Universities.

Marianne Hirsch on Free Speech, Authoritarian Tactics, and the Crisis in American Universities Marianne Hirsch , a renowned scholar of comparative literature and gender studies at Columbia University , is widely respected for her work on cultural memory, trauma , and post-memory (the relationship of second-generation survivors to historical trauma). As a leading academic voice , she has long defended the role of the university as a place of intellectual freedom and ethical responsibility. Now, in light of recent crackdowns on campus activism and freedom of expression , Hirsch raises urgent concerns about the future of academic institutions in the United States . Marianne Hirsch. 1. Suppressing Speech: A Classic Authoritarian Tactic Across history, authoritarian regimes have attacked universities and stifled free expression. Examples include: Nazi Germany Latin American dictatorships Current regimes in Russia, Hungary, and ...

Ainnbeen

Search This Blog