Ark in the Sky magazine Vol 2 no 1

www.arkinthesky.org

Ark in the Sky

Gorilla safari

King of Gore

Chicken from Hell

Extreme weather conditions

Geoengineering

Climate Change Report

Thar’s gold in them thar ... LEAVES!

plus ... news, blogit, quiz & events

Volume 2 no1

Just for schools, students & eco-enthusiasts!

Take part in the great climate change debate… it’s your heritage that’s being tinkered with

Go face to face with the experts on:

How climate change impacts: The Air we breathe

Our WeatherLandscape & Coastlines

OceansAnimals and Plants

Water & Food supplies

Save the date: 13 November 2014 Place: Oxford

For more information on how you can send representatives to the event, e-mail:

[email protected]

www.arkinthesky.org 3

Ark in the Sky magazine is produced and published by imcic

Editor: Ita McCobbEditorial team: Richard Casna, Jennifer Hope-Morley, Elizabeth Rigby, Thomas Sawyer.Photographs: Unless otherwise stated, all images are copyright Ark in the SkyMascot: Flip (see photo)Layout: imcicE-mail: [email protected]: www.arkinthesky.org

Ark in the Sky, 3140 Rowan Place, John Smith Drive, Oxford Business Park South, Oxford, Oxfordshire.

© 2014 Ark in the Sky

What a mess we seem to have made of managing the health of our planet! Our climate is in turmoil with the growing number of extreme weather events causing havoc. More and more species of animals are being hunted to extinction – just to satisfy our vanity and/or laziness.

Our oceans are becoming dumps for unwanted rubbish – indiscriminately killing and maiming ocean life and, in common with many of Earth’s more remote places, being used as a repository for toxic waste that we don’t know how to get rid of.

Now, to counteract climate change, we are proposing to self-manage our atmosphere (pages 16-17) and, as a consequence, add even more rubbish to the millions of bits of man-made space debris we’ve left to float on potential collision courses above Earth. It makes you wonder what can be done to ensure a solid future for our planet!

The good news is that several very important discoveries have been made recently. Palaeontologists have found the remains of a vicious dinosaur that roamed Earth an amazing 10 million years earlier than dinosaurs were first thought to exist!

They have also discovered a new species of bird-like dinosaur whose fossils offer further clues to how dinosaurs became extinct some 66 million years ago. (pages 9-13)

If you’re in the market for get rich slowly schemes, scientists have now found gold in, wait for it … leaves! (page 22-23)

Given the number of extreme weather events over the last few years and with so many people now finally concerned about global warming, we offer you a summary of the whys and wherefores of extreme weather (pages 14-15) and a summary of the latest IPCC Working Groups’ conclusions (pages 20-21). And to add a bit of fun to such a serious topic, we test your knowledge of cloud formations and the type of weather systems they herald. (pages 18-19).

As well as extra information on interesting topics, new additions to our magazine are the blogit section, where we present a taste of the many questions you have sent in for our specialists to answer and a summary of upcoming eco-events. (pages 24-25)

Ark in the Sky’s quarterly magazine is growing and has a new look! Thanks to popular demand we have increased the number of pages in the magazine and the size of the pages so as to enable us to offer you even more interesting content.

If you want to know more about these and hundreds of other topics and find interesting images and ideas on ways to understand and explore these topics, then visit our website: www.arkinthesky.org. Take a look – you are sure to discover plenty of inspiration and ideas.

Ita McCobb

message from the editorJust for schools, students & eco-enthusiasts!

Take part in the great climate change debate… it’s your heritage that’s being tinkered with

4 www.arkinthesky.org

contents

Editor’s message page 3

Gorilla safari 6

King of Gore 9

Chicken from Hell 11

Extreme weather 14

Geoengineering 16

Resources: King of Gore: Sciencedaily.com; Dan Vergano, National Geographic, 6 November 2013; bbc.co.uk;natureworldnews.com; Richard Gray, Daily Telegraph, 7 November 2013; independent.co.uk. Chicken from hell: Jane O’Brien, BBC News, Washington; Christine Dell’Amore, National Geographic, 19 March 2014; Carnegie Museum of Natural History; uk.reuters.com; Ian Sample, The Guardian, 19 March 2014. Extreme weather: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; NCEP; Storm Prediction Center, NOAA; World Meteorological Organization; NASA; Glossary of Meteorology (2009), American Meteorological Society; The Oxford English Dictionary. Geoengineering: iagp.ac.uk; Brad Plumer, Washington Post, 30 October 2013; Toon, McKay, Griffith


contents continued

Clouds quiz page 18

IPCC Climate Change Report 20

Gold in ... LEAVES! 22

Blogit 24

Events 25

Respect our woodlands 26

and Turco, A Physical Model of Titan’s Aerosols, ICARUS 95, 24-53 (1992); geoengineeringwatch.org; metoffice.gov.uk; royalsociety.org; geoengineering.ox.ac.uk. Clouds: National Geographic; UK Meteorological Office; World Meteorological Organization (WMO); NOAA; NASA; Glossary of Meteorology (2009), American Meteorological Society; The Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Gold in leaves: Sciencedaily.com; Dan Vergano, National Geographic, 22 October 2013; bbc.co.uk; smithsonianmag.com. Climate Change meetings: IPCC Climate Change Summary documents Working Group II meeting in Yokohama, Japan and Working Group III meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. To view the full report: http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/IPCC_WG2AR5_SPM_Approved.pdf

Gorilla safariYou probably know that ALL the world’s species of gorilla are endangered and that mountain gorillas are on the IUCN Red List of Critically Threatened

Species – so their chances of survival are slim unless attitudes change

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Gorillas live in tropical or subtropical forests in a wide range of different terrains in Africa. The mountain gorillas inhabit the mountain forests of the Virunga Volcano Mountains, ranging in altitude from 2,200–4,300 metres (7,200–14,100 ft), which are home to the critically endangered mountain gorilla. The lowland gorillas live in dense forests, swamps and marshes.

We spoke to Michael Lambert of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth who recently went to see the gorillas in their natural habitat to learn more about these unique animals.

“All gorillas are found in specific border areas of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The largest number of gorillas is in the Bwindi Forest Park in Uganda, which is the one I visited,” explains Michael, “but you can also visit the Parc National des Volcans (Virunga Volcano Mountains) along the northern border of Rwanda, which is French-speaking. There are groups of gorillas in all three regions, but because of ongoing fighting, civil wars and the fact that the local population like to eat gorilla meat, gorilla populations are not very safe in the DRC.”

Efforts being made to preserve the species The government of Uganda and the Uganda Wildlife Service put a lot of effort into protecting and preserving their gorillas in order to preserve the species and also because they attract tourist income (you can arrange to go to see these gorilla families – it’s not cheap but you are pretty well guaranteed to see them).

Keeping a constant eye on them To ensure the safety of their gorilla population, the Uganda Wildlife Service trackers keep a constant eye on the gorillas because they are worried about insurgent fighters or other gorillas from the DRC coming into Uganda and attacking their existing gorilla families. “As a consequence, the trackers know pretty well where the Uganda gorilla families are before you set out on your trek,” says Michael.

“Yes, you go into the jungle on foot and trek to find the gorillas. The group I was in was split into two groups and we were very fortunate in that we saw our gorillas within 40 minutes of setting off on our trek. The other group took three and half hours of trekking on fairly undulating terrain before they saw any gorillas – so, as when tracking all wild animals, you need to be fairly fit!”

Most habituated to humans “When you see the gorillas you are meant to be seven metres away from them, but when I saw them most of them were just over two metres away – it obviously depends on the type of terrain where they have settled for the day.

“Most, but not all, are habituated to seeing humans in fairly close proximity; consequently the trackers only take you to see those that are used to humans. You are only allowed to stay in their proximity for one hour and then you must leave so that you do not disturb them. Extraordinarily, when our hour was up they seemed to know and they started to wonder off into the bush.”


“In the park that I visited in Uganda there are 400 gorillas that live in family groups and have free range over the vast area of the wildlife reserve. Although not necessarily territorial, they do try to maintain their family’s area of territory and protect it from other gorilla family groups. They will also chase off their ‘patch’ any gorilla that is non-habituated to humans.”

“Not all the families are as big as the family group I saw, which numbered about fifteen gorillas. It was made up of several females and lots of children.

“The family was led by a big dominant silverback male and there was also a junior silverback male.”

Unlike lions “Unusually the dominant male didn’t present himself to us (as the family’s leader) – he just lay in the bush asleep. Normally the dominant male likes to establish his presence.

“Somewhat as with lion packs, the junior silverback will not breed, but, unlike male lions that kill all the suckling cubs of a defeated male to ensure that only the new male will pass along his genes, gorilla males are not so ruthless when they become the dominant male in a family, accepting the responsibility of the existing family and cohabiting with them.”

Some gorilla facts •

Gorillas are members of the Hominidae family (which also includes humans, and orangutans and used to include chimpanzees).

•Gorillas are much gentler than other members of the Hominidae family.

•Humans and gorillas share over 95% of each other’s DNA.

•Physically there are several similarities to humans – their feet look exactly like our feet!

•Gorillas are vulnerable to many of the same viruses and diseases as we are, so we mustn’t visit them when we are sick.

•They share the same gestation period as humans – so it takes nine months for gorilla babies to form in their mother’s womb and be born.

•As with humans, gorillas normally give birth to one child per pregnancy although occasionally they give birth to twins.

•Gorillas live for 30 to 40 years.

•During their life they live as part of a family unit.

•Gorillas are highly intelligent animals with a fairly sophisticated family structure and culture.

•Adult gorillas sleep a lot; they spend most of their time asleep while the youngsters who, just like humans, spend much of their time playing.

•Gorillas are vegetarians, unlike chimpanzees that eat meat and will even eat each other in certain circumstances.

If you are interested to know more about visiting the gorillas e-mail us at: [email protected].


King of Gore!The bones of a new super-predator dinosaur named “King of Gore” have been discovered

in southern Utah, USA.

A rare fossil has been unearthed in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument USA, where more than a dozen different species of dinosaurs have already been discovered.


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Scientists have named the dinosaur Lythronax argestes (LYE-thro-nax ar-GES’-tees). Lythronax means “King of Gore” because of its super-predator status and argestes comes from the Greek poet Homer’s southwest wind – referring to the geographic location of the fossil.

You can imagine just how menacing and ferocious the “King of Gore” must have been as it roamed the Earth more than 80 million years ago (during the Late Cretaceous period).

10 million years before Tyrannosaurus rex Lythronax argestes lived 10 million years before the larger Tyrannosaurus rex and is the equivalent of his “great uncle”.

Palaeontologists (people who study fossil animals and plants) had thought that this type of tyrannosaurid dinosaur (the group that includes T. rex) only evolved around 70 million years ago, but this discovery suggests that they were around some 10 million years earlier!

This two-legged carnivore was 24ft (7.3m) long with characteristics similar to its relative T. rex: a head that was significantly wider at the back, forward-looking eyes, terrifying large, sharp teeth and short arms.

Grabbing, shaking to death and tearing apart!Dr Mark Loewen, from the University of Utah, who led the study of Lythronax said, “The width of the back of the skull of Lythronax allowed it to see with an overlapping field of view – giving it binocular vision – very useful for a predator and a condition we associate with T. rex.”

It is believed to be the largest living predator of its time, eating whatever it wanted. “That skull

is designed for grabbing, shaking to death and tearing something apart,” said Dr Loewen.

Laramidia – a swampy, subtropical island Palaeontologists believe this predator roamed the western shores of the landmass Laramidia, a swampy, subtropical island that stretched from Mexico to Alaska and today forms western North America.

At that time, North America was split by a shallow sea that flooded the central region of the continent, isolating the western and eastern portions for millions of years.

Unique dinosaur species This landmass hosted a vast array of unique dinosaur species and served as the crucible of evolution for iconic dinosaur groups such as the horned and duck-billed dinosaurs.

Prof Randall Irmis at the Natural History Museum of Utah said, “The incursion of the seaway onto large parts of low-lying Laramidia would have separated small areas of land from each other, allowing different species of dinosaur to evolve in isolation on different parts of the landmass.”

Scientists hope the discovery will help them better understand the ecosystem where the dinosaur roamed.

According to Dr Philip Currie of the University of Alberta in Canada, “Lythronax is a wonderful example of just how much more we have to learn about the world of dinosaurs. Many more exciting fossils await discovery in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.”

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The newly discovered dinosaur species is among the largest feathered dinosaurs ever found in North America and was identified from the partial remains of three skeletons collected from the Hell Creek Formation in North and South Dakota.

The dinosaur belonged to a mysterious group of flightless, bird-like dinosaurs called Caenagnathidae, a subset of oviraptorosaurs.

Closely related to birds Oviraptorosaurs are mostly known from fossils found in Central and East Asia that are closely related to birds and often have cassowary-like crests similar to emus and ostriches.

This is the first detailed evidence that oviraptorosaurs also lived in North America and confirms previous research that they were related to their Asian cousins but were genetically and physically distinct.

Nicknamed the Chicken from Hell Scientists have nicknamed the dinosaur Chicken from Hell because of its appearance and where it was found.

Its scientific name is Anzu wyliei. Anzu is the name of a giant feathered demon from ancient mythology. Wyliei is after the grandson of a trustee of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh where the research has been conducted.

Anzu wyliei lived more than 80 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.

It would have measured around 3m long, weighed around 225kg and stood 1.5m high at the hip. It had a toothless beak, long legs, huge feet, claw-tipped arms and a thin crest on its head like a chicken. “It would look like a really absurd, stretched-out chicken,” said Emma Schachner of the University of Utah.

Palaeontologists have been busy! They have also recently discovered the fossilized remains of a bizarre, bird-like

dinosaur, nicknamed the “Chicken from Hell”.

The chicken from Hell!

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The chicken from Hell!

Although only preserved bones were discovered, close relatives of this dinosaur have been found with fossilized feathers, suggesting that Anzu wyliei was feathered too. According to Dr Matthew Lamanna, a vertebrate palaeontologist at the Carnegie Museum, it was “as close as you can get to a bird without being a bird.”

To a T. rex it would have looked like lunch!Anzu wyliei may have been an omnivore (eating either meat or plants). It is thought that it ate vegetation, small animals and possibly eggs, however, according to Dr Lamanna “To a T. rex, this thing would not look like a chicken from hell, it would look like lunch!”

Close inspection of the fossils revealed evidence of injuries. “These animals were clearly able to survive quite a bit of trauma, as two of the specimens show signs of semi-healed damage,” Emma Schachner said.

The discovery of Anzu wyliei has provided scientists with a much clearer picture of what this species looked like. “For nearly a hundred years, we paleontologists knew almost nothing about these dinosaurs,” concludes Dr Lamanna. “Now, thanks to Anzu, we’re finally starting to figure them out.”

Palaeontologists still have much to learn about North American oviraptorosaurs but ongoing studies of these and other important fossils promise to remove more of the mystery surrounding these strange bird-like creatures.

To find out more about these two dinosaurs visit: www.arkinthesky.org/en/discover/animals/dinosaurs

Life on Earth – the timeline

The Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago. Life forms appeared on its surface less than 1 billion years later.

4.6 billion years agoThe planet Earth forms from the debris revolving

around our, then young, Sun

4.5 billion years agoOur Moon is formed when Earth and the planet Theia collide and its gravitational pull stabilizes the Earth

producing conditions suitable for life

4.1 billion years agoThe surface of the Earth cools enough for its crust to solidify, its atmosphere to form and oceans to be

created

3.8 billion years agoThe first simple life forms, which were essentially

arrangements of atoms, appear

3.4 billion years agoSimple plant life, which could photosynthesize (a process in which plants use sunlight to convert

water and carbon dioxide into nutrients and oxygen), evolved

2 billion years agoComplex cell life evolved

1 billion years agoMulti-cellular life evolved

600 million years agoSimple animals evolved

570 million years agoArthropods evolved (ancestors of insects, spiders and

crustaceans)

550 million years ago Complex animals evolved

500 million years agoFish and primitive amphibians evolved

475 million years agoPlants first appeared on land

400 million years agoInsects and seeds first appeared

360 million years agoAmphibians evolved

300 million years agoReptiles evolved

200 million years agoMammals evolved

150 million years agoBirds evolved

130 million years agoFlowers evolved

80 million years agoDinosaurs on Earth

2.5 million years agoEarly man appeared

200,000 years agoModern man as we know it evolved.

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Severe weather refers to any weather system that can cause damage, serious social disruption or loss of human life, such as high winds, hailstorms, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, downbursts, lightning, tornadoes, waterspouts, tropical cyclones, extra-tropical cyclones, blizzards, snowstorms, ice storms and dust storms – all pretty bad!

If global warming continues as is currently predicted, extreme weather conditions will be making the news more regularly so it is useful to have a clear understanding of a few of the terms used.

There are three types of flooding: River flooding is when river levels rise above their normal levels so much so that they break their banks; Flash flooding is when an area is subjected to rapid and unexpected flooding – this occurs in urban areas that have been overdeveloped (causing water channels to change course or have nowhere to go) or arid environments (when the land is so parched and hard it cannot absorb the water); and Coastal flooding, which is caused by strong winds from passing cyclones.

A cyclone is a storm system with lots of thunderstorms, strong winds and flooding, particularly in coastal areas.

The most dangerous cyclones are tropical cyclones, which mostly occur in the Pacific Ocean. When moist air rises the heat it produces is often captured by “atmospheric rivers”, which are narrow streams of air moving about a mile above ground that can even be of hurricane strength.

As it crosses the warm ocean this “river” of air absorbs a huge amount of moisture, which it immediately dumps upon reaching land. This creates torrential rainfall, flooding, high waves and extremely damaging storm surges.

Europe also has cyclones called “Extra-tropical

cyclones”. These develop from winds coming off the North Atlantic during the autumn and winter months and produce severe windstorms.

A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that knows what it likes. Typhoons like the warm sea-surface temperatures, atmospheric instability, high humidity, low pressure, limited disturbance and low atmospheric differences in wind speed and direction (wind shear) which they find in the western part of the Pacific Ocean (known as the northwest Pacific basin). Tropical cyclones form here throughout the year although the majority happen between June and November.

The word hurricane comes from the Spanish word “hurikán” meaning “god of the storm” – a name that it lives up to since it creates an extremely violent wind. Any wind of Force 12 (over 118km/h) on the Beaufort Scale – a standard measure of wind speed conditions at sea or on land – is considered to be a hurricane irrespective of its location.

As you will have seen in many a disaster film, a tornado is a dangerous rotating funnel of air in contact with both the surface of the earth and the base of a thundercloud. They are the most destructive weather systems known to man.

The narrowest end of a tornado touches the ground and is surrounded by a cloud of debris and dust and travels for several miles before dispersing. Tornadoes have dangerously high wind speeds – between 64km/h and 180km/h – although the deadliest can reach wind speeds over 650km/h. They can span 1.6km and keep in contact with the ground for more than 100km!

For the full list of extreme weather conditions visit: www.arkinthesky.org/en/discover/our-planet/climate-change/extreme-weather

Extreme weather conditions include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and typhoons and are considered to be the most destructive of all weather-related natural disasters. They can totally

destroy lives, businesses and economies. These weather phenomena are related to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds that develop in a wide variety of geographic locations and conditions

(see: www.arkinthesky.org/en/our-planet/clouds).

Extreme weather


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Extreme and severe weather conditions are becoming more frequent, which is why climate change is beginning to have an impact on all our lives.

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GeoengineeringSome scientists are putting forward controversial proposals to artificially alter the world’s climate as a solution to climate change – this activity is known as

Geoengineering.

What you need to know about geoengineering

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Geoengineering, or “climate engineering”, is the deliberate large-scale manipulation of the world’s climate. It involves artificially adjusting the Earth’s atmosphere or surface through large-scale engineering projects designed to cool the planet.

The study of the techniques has been proposed in the event that efforts to cut greenhouse gases fail to limit global warming or that the consequences of climate change may prove worse than expected.

Two types of geoengineering approaches have been proposed – Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR).

Solar Radiation Management attempts to cut global warming by reducing the amount of sunlight absorbed by the Earth and as a result cooling the planet. This approach does not prevent the cause of the problem (increased concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide) only its effect.

Carbon Dioxide Removal acts directly on the cause, by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and putting it into long-term storage – a similar approach to that currently used to store toxic waste and with similar potential problems.

Solar Radiation Management techniques

Albedo enhancement: This increases the reflectiveness of the land surface or clouds by making them brighter so that more of the Sun’s heat is reflected back into space. (Albedo

is a measure of how much light that hits the surface is reflected without being absorbed.)

Giant mirrors or satellites used to reflect solar radiation away from Earth.

Introducing stratospheric aerosols (reflective particles) into the upper atmosphere to block some sunlight before it reaches the surface of the Earth. This method follows the same principle as large volcanic eruptions.

Carbon Dioxide removal techniques

Capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, compressing and storing it on Earth in geologic reservoirs (porous rock or depleted oil wells).

Ocean Fertilization: Introducing nutrients into the ocean to encourage plankton growth that is said to draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Engaging in a global tree planting effort to increase carbon capture.

Highly controversial

Geoengineering is highly controversial and is fraught with risks; however, many scientists believe that if climate change continues, geoengineering will have to be considered as a last resort.

It has gained a recent resurgence in interest, motivated in part by the lack of CO2 emissions reductions globally that are necessary to avoid dangerous levels of climate change.To find out more visit: www.arkinthesky.org/en/discover/our-planet/climate-change/geoengineering


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Can you name these cloud types?


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You’ll find all the answers at: www.arkinthesky.org/discover/our-world/clouds and www.arkinthesky.org/discover/our-world/extreme weather

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Much of the extreme weather problems we are experiencing around the world are believed to be due to global warming. On 29 March 2014, the IPCC published its draft assessment report confirming these impacts as due to global warming. On 13 April 2014 it published its draft report on mitigating climate change.

The reports say that our health, homes, food and safety are all likely to be threatened by rising temperatures and to reduce the worst impacts, investment in low carbon energy needs to triple by 2050. The scientists and organizations involved say these reports are the most comprehensive assessment to date of the impacts of climate change on our world.

About the meetingThree Working Group meetings have been held. The first discussed the physical scientific basis for climate change. The second considered the vulnerability and exposure of human and natural systems, the observed impacts and future risks of climate change and the potential for and limits to adaptation. It also assessed the risks and opportunities for societies, economies and ecosystems around the world. The third assessed the options for mitigating climate change, and the technical, economic and institutional needs. The final overall report will be published in October 2014.

Key statements• “Inrecentdecades,changesinclimatehavecaused impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans.”• “Adaptation is becoming embedded insome planning processes, with more limited implementation of response.”• “Theoverallrisksofclimatechangeimpactscan be reduced by limiting the rate and magnitude of climate change.”

• “Climate change is projected to amplifyexisting climate-related risks and create new risks for natural and human systems.”• “Increasing magnitudes of warmingincrease the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts.” • “Investment in renewables and other lowcarbon energy sources needs to triple by 2050, while investment in fossil fuels has to diminish if the worst impacts of rising temperatures are to be avoided.”

Other highlights• The amount of scientific evidence on theimpacts of global warming has almost doubled since 2007. • Throughout the world, climate changes have caused impacts on natural and human systems. • Natural systems are bearing the brunt of climatic changes, but their impact on humans is also feared.

What is the IPCC?The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) “provides the world with a

clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts”.

•The IPCC has evolved from two UN

organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP). •

It produces important reports, commissioned by the governments of 195 countries (pretty

much the entire world), which are instrumental in helping these governments develop their

climate policies. •

The IPCC is not allowed to make recommendations only to discuss and report

on scientific findings.

You have probably noticed that the world’s weather patterns are changing and not for the better! If you live in the UK you’ll have experienced

an horrifically wet winter to prove it!

IPCC & Climate Change


• Some impacts of climate change includea higher risk of flooding and changes to crop yields and water availability. • Humansmaybe able to adapt to someofthese changes to a limited extent, for example, by the construction of sea walls and levees to protect against flooding and the introduction of more efficient irrigation for farmers in areas where water is scarce. • Theassessmentoffutureweatherextremesfinds that the role of human influence is “detectable” in summer heatwaves and in intense rainfall. • The reports detail significant short-termimpacts on natural systems in the next 20 to 30 years. • The experts advise governments that itwill be cheaper overall to cut greenhouse gas before 2030 if they want to hold emissions at 430-480ppm CO2 – a level that is calculated to bring a 66% chance of staying within the 2C threshold of warming by 2100.• Thetechnologyonthescalethatwouldbenecessary for (geoengineering) carbon dioxide removal is untested and such systems may encounter public resistance and could damage forests and ecosystems.• Emissions from energy supply can bereduced significantly by replacing coal-fired power plants with modern, highly efficient natural gas combined-cycle power plants.• Anincreaseduseofcoalinthedecadefromthe turn of the millennium is reversing the longstanding trend of decarbonization of the world’s energy supply.

• Drivenbyaglobalincreaseinpopulationandeconomic activity, global surface temperature increases will be between 3.7C and 4.8C in 2100 if no new action is taken (the target is currently set at 2C).• Impacts on Arctic icefields, seas andfreshwater systems are outlined. The oceans will become more acidic, threatening coral and the many species that they harbour.• Manyfishspecies(acriticalfoodsource)willmove because of warmer waters.• Onland,animals,plantsandotherspecieswill begin to move towards higher ground or towards the poles as local temperatures rise. • Humanswill also be increasingly affectedas the century progresses. • Foodsecurityisasignificantconcern.Cropyields for maize, rice and wheat will all be hit in the period up to 2050, with around a tenth of projections showing losses over 25%. • After2050,theriskofmoresevereimpactsincrease as seriously fluctuating crop-harvest cycles affect many regions. Meanwhile demand for food will rise in order to feed the estimated world population of around nine billion!

IPCC & Climate Change

“Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change. Even in rich countries, the impacts of climate change could lead to greater incidents of pockets of poverty and impoverishment of some particular communities ... some of the poorest communities in the poorest countries in the world are going to be the worst hit.” Rajendra Pachauri, IPCC Chairman.

To find out more go to:www.arkinthesky.org/en/discover/our-planet/climate-change

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Thar’s gold in them thar ...

LEAVES!

Eucalyptus trees absorb gold particlesResearchers from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation have shown that eucalyptus trees can absorb gold particles deep underground that are then drawn up through their root system!

The researchers examined eucalyptus trees at gold prospecting sites in Western Australia having higher than average gold concentrations but are undisturbed by mining.

You won’t make a fortuneThe gold found in the leaves is not visible with the naked eye. The particles are only about one fifth the diameter of a human hair – so you won’t make a fortune collecting eucalyptus leaves!

Leaves from the trees were analysed at the Australian Synchrotron research facility using a type of x-ray that is especially good at picking up trace amounts of metals and minerals.

Traces of gold were found in the leaves and branches; however, the amounts of the precious metal were tiny.

Leaves transport detectable levels of gold The researchers also experimented with eucalyptus saplings grown in soil with added gold particles and found that they absorbed the gold and transported detectable levels into their leaves.

The researchers said that this evidence shows that the wild eucalyptus trees were indeed absorbing gold from deep underground.

It was concluded that as the eucalyptus trees search for water during times of drought, their root systems suck up water containing the gold from deposits lying up to 30 metres underground.

Melvyn Lintern, who headed the research project, said, “We believe that the trees are acting like a hydraulic pump. They are bringing life-giving water from their roots, and in so doing they are taking smaller dissolved gold particles up through their vascular system into the foliage.”

Leaves from 500 trees to make a wedding ring!The particles that were found were so small that the leaves from 500 trees would only be enough to make a gold wedding ring!

The research has shown that studying trees such as the eucalyptus can give an idea of what is happening below the ground surface.

“The leaves could be used in combination with other tools as a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly exploration technique,” Dr Lintern said.

To find out more visit: www.arkinthesky.org/en/discover/plants/gold-in-leaves

Gold particles have been found in tree leaves!But before you go collecting all the leaves in your neighbourhood let’s check out a few facts ...

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blogit Highlights of some of your questions and answers. For the complete answers to these and lots of other questions visit: www.arkinthesky.org/en/blogit/blog

“Point eleven”from London asks: Why are there lines in the sky?

The lines you see in the sky are the trails that aircraft leave and they are called “contrails” short for “condensation trails”. They are formed by the condensation of the water vapour in the aircraft exhaust.

It is like when you breathe out on a cold day, you see a cloud of condensation form from your breath. Your damp warm lungs add moisture to the air, and when you breathe out you create condensation. However there is a difference: the condensation from your breath quickly evaporates whereas condensation trails from a jet can sometimes last for hours because the contrail freezes and gradually fades away.

Luca from Geneva wants to know: Why do ladybugs have black spots?

The reason that entomologists (people who study insects) think that ladybirds (sometimes called ladybugs) have spots on their backs is to frighten off predators and warn them that ladybirds do not taste nice and in fact are poisonous. Not all ladybirds have black spots on them, though, and not all ladybirds are red. There are many different species from red and black to yellow and black and they all look a little different in their form and patterning.

César from Lyon in France asks: Why are fireflies luminous at night?

Fireflies contain a chemical in their abdomen called luciferin. When that chemical combines with oxygen and with an enzyme called luciferase, the ensuing chemical reaction causes their abdomen to light up. This type of light production is called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is a “cold light”, producing no heat unlike many light bulbs.

“MogliNoo” from Cumnor wonders:Why don’t ducks’ feet fall off when it’s winter?

You’ve found something really interesting here… The legs and feet of ducks are important in maintaining body temperature. Its webbed feet provide not only balance and mobility when swimming, walking, flying or diving, they also act as natural heating elements.

Ducks’ legs and feet have a special heat-exchange system known as “counter-current flow” where the arteries and veins in the duck’s legs are positioned close to each other to maintain heat in the duck’s legs and wide, flat, webbed feet. With its tea cosy-like feathery body-covering and naturally warm feet, very little of a duck’s body heat is lost through its extremities. While the body temperature of a duck standing on frozen ice would be nearly 38°C the temperature of its feet is maintained above freezing.

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Beth from Birmingham wants to know: Why do zebras have stripes?

According to an article published in The Journal of Experimental Biology (DOI:10.1242/jeb.065540), it seems that zebras evolved their stripes to stop blood-sucking insects from biting them. Adam Egri at Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary and his colleagues discovered that stripes confuse blood-sucking insects into thinking that striped surfaces are not good places to be. It makes you wonder if the same is true for tigers and if we should consider only wearing stripes in summer?

“ScoobyDoo” from Oxford asks:Why are bananas yellow?

Actually not all bananas are yellow! The yellow bananas that we all know and love to eat as fruit are part of the Musaceae family of which the red and purple fruit are generally called plantains and usually eaten as a vegetable.

Most bananas grow in tropical climates. The colour comes (as with all fruit) from naturally occurring chemicals in the plant. Most unripe fruit is generally green in colour thanks to chlorophylls in the parent plant. The yellow colour of your banana is due to growth-regulating compounds called Axins that help influence the development of a plant.

As a fruit ripens, pigments such as chlorophyll gradually disappear and other pigments (such as carotenoids and anthocyanins) evolve or become more important And, in the case of your banana – making it gradually turn yellow in colour.

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22 APRIL Earth Dayw w w . e a r t h d a y . o r g /earthday2014Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. It generally coincides with the date that marks the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere

21 MAYEndangered Species Daywww.endangered.org/campaigns/endangered-species-dayEndangered Species Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and the everyday actions they can take to help protect them.

8 JUNEWorld Ocean Dayhttp://worldoceansday.org/World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans.

29 JULY International Tiger Dayhttp://tigerday.org/Global Tiger Day is an annual event which aims to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers as well raising public awareness of and support for tiger conservation efforts.

12 AUGUSTWorld Elephant Dayhttp://worldelephantday.org/World Elephant Day brings people together to help conserve and protect both Asian and African elephants and to raise awareness of the issues they face.

16 SEPTEMBERPreservation of the Ozone Layer Daywww.un.org/en/events/ozonedayOn 16 September each year we commemorate the date on which the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed in 1987, the day offers an opportunity to focus global attention and action on this vital environmental issue.

Print this page and pin it on your notice board (It also prints in black and white)

www.arkinthesky.org

10 steps to respect our Respect our woodland

Fire is the enemy of the forest.Don’t light fires or barbecue in woodland – in a few

short minutes fire can destroy what has taken 100s of years to grow.

•Uprooted plants and flowers never grow back – so

don’t pick them – you could be the cause of a plant species becoming extinct.

•Watch your dog – he doesn’t know that the birds and

animals of the woodland need to be protected.•

If you want to collect wood in the forest – get permission from the owners of the forest otherwise

you may be destroying an important refuge of animals, plants and insects of the forest.

•If you ride your bike in the forest keep to the tracks

provided respecting nature and other people.•

Don’t dump your litter in the forest. If animals eat plastic they find laying around (especially plastic

wrappers) it can kill them. Take your rubbish home with you or use the bins provided.

•Don’t try to take a car or motorbike into the forest – it is dangerous for all the animals and plants there as

well as other people. Use the parking provided.•

Leave the animals you see in the forest in peace and harmony with nature. Look but don’t touch!

•Coppicing (selectively trimming and cutting down) trees is necessary for the good management of a

forest. It gives space for healthy trees to grow and new trees to get established.

•Young plants and saplings are delicate and vulnerable.Watch where you walk and don’t squash them – they

may never grow back if they are damaged.

Ark in the Sky magazine Vol 2 no 1

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Transcript of Ark in the Sky magazine Vol 2 no 1