FINAL EXAM (3/17)

SOURCES:

Catalog Search -
Author Firor, John
Title The changing atmosphere : a global challenge / John Firor
Publ. info. New Haven :
Yale University Press, 1990
Call Number: QC861.2 .F57 1990

Newspaper -
Usha Lee McFarling (2005, December 7). Hole in Ozone May Stay Longer Than Expected; With banned chemicals still being released into the Earth's atmosphere, scientists say the layer's recovery may take two decades more, till 2065 :[HOME EDITION]. Los Angeles Times,p. A.26. Retrieved March 17, 2008, from Los Angeles Times database. (Document ID: 937859241).

Academic Search Premier –
Title: Fuel ethanol production from sugarcane and corn: Comparative analysis for a Colombian case.
Authors: Quintero, J.A.1 Montoya, M.I.1 Sánchez, O.J.1,2 Giraldo, O.H.3 Cardona, C.A.1 ccardonaal@unal.edu.co
Source: Energy; Mar2008, Vol. 33 Issue 3, p385-399, 15p
Document Type: Article
ISSN: 0360-5442
DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2007.10.001
Accession Number: 29377921
Persistent link to this record: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=29377921&site=ehost-live

Disciplinary Database (Web of Science) –
Reimann S, Vollmer MK, Folini D, et al. Observations of long-lived anthropogenic halocarbons at the high-Alpine site of Jungfraujoch (Switzerland) for assessment of trends and European sources SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2-3 224-231 MAR 1

World Wide Web Search (ESS) –
Title: Earth's Protection Shield is Being Destroyed - Ozone Depletion and Global Warming
Link to article: http://www.ess-home.com/news/global-warming/ozone-depletion.asp



ESSAY:

Each summer season becomes hotter with every passing year. Our polar icecaps are heating up by the second. The sun burns brighter every day, unleashing its unforgiving heat on all it surveys. Its flames singe the very hairs on our arms, torching them until they shrivel and fall into ashes.

Fortunately for me, I have found solace from the sun in the comfy confines of the California State University, East Bay library. Upon finding my seat in this final class of library, I anxiously waited to pick my topic from that large orange envelope. When I finally got to pick my topic, I was at ease. My piece of paper read “ozone layer.”

When I dashed out of the classroom, I pondered of a question. Surely, there are numerous topics and studies about the barrier that surrounded our earth. My search would turn up too many results. When I sat down at this workstation, the question was as bright as Sol at noon: “What is the correlation between global warming and the thinning of the ozone layer?”

Quickly, I took to the keyboard. I furiously tapped on the plastic keys, propelling my search efforts. On my mock final exam, the searching was the longest part of the process. Fortunately for me, I was able to finish searching rather quickly.

Reading through my sources, I realized that many of these things have been discussed on television and the radio. Newscasters and reporters liberally slung “global warming” and “ozone layer.” These opinion leaders are the ones that shape the opinion of the public without their knowing. The rampant usage of these terms without clearly defining them stresses the importance of evaluating sources and not taking everything that is on television seriously. If truth is not divulged, problems would never be solved. Solutions would be based on invalid arguments with shaky reasons. We, as a society, would fall apart. Nothing would be fixed.

One new thing that I was able to learn, and affirm, about my topic was that there is a strong correlation between the dissipation of the ozone layer and global warming. According to the ESS, the more chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are released in the atmosphere, the thinner the ozone layer becomes, and the more ultraviolet (UV) radiation gets through and warms up the globe. Also, in the same article, I learned that there are efforts in trying to get rid of the CFCs. There is also an ordinance in place, titled the Montreal Protocol. According to the journal of the Science of the Total Environment, the installation of the ordinance helps reduce global warming. It is comforting to know that we have taken the first step in the direction of getting our earth healthy again. Winter won’t feel like mid-spring anymore.

I did not encounter problems when searching for articles this time. Of course, starting a search is often the most difficult part. Whenever I receive an assignment, I always start at the top. For me, it’s usually the best place to start. When the final exam paper was handed to me, my mind was already scanning the catalog. When looking through, I realized the importance of having a question in mind before looking through the mounds of pages. I was glad that I had one to start with. Simply typing in “ozone” would have turned up a multitude of books. Having a question in mind gives the explorer a goal. Searching for treasure is easier than aimlessly wandering through a map without a big red “X.” After searching through the catalog, I chose my book, and moved on to searching through the other databases.

Due to my initial question, returned results were very focused on the topic. I was glad that I didn’t have to change up my topic like I did in the mock final. The articles that I found were mostly about the causes of global warming and solutions to prevent the ozone layer from thinning out. Scientific studies about the topic were numerous. This reflects the idea that scientists are hard at work in protecting the future of the earth. Also, the abstracts of articles were very helpful, as well. As I have stated in a previous blog entry, reading them is very crucial to the expediency of any search. It helped a lot this time. I look forward to getting reports done quickly at my time here at East Bay. Sometimes, it almost feels as if I’m cheating hours of searching through shelves of books. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing; I’m just saying that’s how I’ve researched most of the academic things in my educational background.

Surely, the warming of the globe and the future of the earth are fascinating topics. I don’t think that there are many things that the general population would think are more important than the sustaining of life. If I wanted to take my search further, I can ask a couple more questions. As I have stated in a previous log entry, these poignant inquiries are the initiation to becoming more educated against “popular knowledge” set out by the media. Two questions that come to mind are:

“What are the effects of the absence of the ozone?”
And,
“Is there a correlation between dwindling crop populations and the thinning of the ozone layer?”

Finding places to satisfy my curiosity shouldn’t be a problem, either. Two databases that I can look through are:

AGRICOLA, and
Science Direct

After this class, I feel confident going through the few years that I have here at East Bay. Projects are looking easier. Stress about finishing reports is disappearing. The future is looking brighter. And, it’s not because of global warming. As I have stated in my self-assessment essay, “Without this class, I think I would be heading back in the other direction by now. Fearlessly, I can peddle through the rain, sleet, and research projects ahead.”

P.S. Thank you again, Professor Soules. It has truly been an enlightening and refreshing experience. Please excuse the disjointedness of my prose. I will admit that I was having trouble in starting this essay.