Haber-Bosch Process

The Hummingbird

The Haber-Bosch process was created in the early 20th century by German chemist Fritz Haber, and was later industrialized by another German chemist named Carl Bosch. The process converts nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H) into ammonia (NH3), a colorless chemical used by humans in fertilizer. This fertilizer, with its high nitrogen content, has been extremely successful in assisting the growth of crops, and, quote, “It’s been estimated that almost half of the world’s current population subsists on crops grown with the output of the Haber-Bosch process.” (Kolbert, Elizabeth. "Head Count." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.)

While a process that converts relatively abundant chemicals into something that can assist with the growth of crops, the Haber-Bosch process has had an overall negative effect on the world.

Let’s start with the world’s current population issues. As of 2015, the world population is around 7 billion, give or take a couple hundred million. The human population reached one billion during the late 1700s and early 1800s. In the late 1970s, the world population was around 3 billion. The population had tripled in around 170 years. Now, almost 50 years later, the population has more than doubled (a population’s doubling is its percentage rate of increase over 70.) The predictions for the world’s population growth don’t seem to hold much promise as well. Quote, “The latest population projections from the United Nations were released in June. If they’re correct, by 2025 there will be eight billion people on the planet. By 2050, there will be nine and a half billion, and by 2100 there will be nearly eleven billion.” (Kolbert, Elizabeth. "Head Count." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.)

Total fertility rate, or T.F.R., is used to predict population growths. This figure shows a rough average of how many children a woman will bear in her lifetime. T.F.R. numbers vary throughout the world, depending on many political and economic factors. A rate of around one is necessary to bring the world’s population back down to two billion within two or three generations (Kolbert, Elizabeth. "Head Count." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.) While the T.F.R. is dropping in many countries, with a rate of 1.1 in Taiwan, 1.2 in South Korea, and most European countries having a rate under 1.5. Many countries still, however, have very high rates. Niger’s T.F.R. is 7.0, Mali’s is 6.25, and Somalia’s is 6.17. These countries are producing more children than people can die off, increasing the Earth’s population and contributing to a problem already caused by the Haber-Bosch Process.

The world needs to eat. This is very obvious, and many people living in first world countries can’t imagine a day without food. It seems counter intuitive that the Haber-Bosch process, which allowed more crops to be grown than have been in all of history, could negatively impact humanity. But it increased the human population more than is possibly sustainable with our current technologies and political climates.

Bibliography:

• Kolbert, Elizabeth. "Head Count." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
• Clark, Jim. "The Haber Process for the Manufacture of Ammonia." The Haber Process for the Manufacture of Ammonia. N.p., 2002. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
• "Ammonia." Ammonia. National Institute of Health, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

Seneca Lake Lab Report

Lab Report

Seneca Lake Research Question and Methods

Question: Are the efforts to control the population of sea lamprey in Seneca Lake properly helping to stop them from hurting the native fish population?

The majestic sea lamprey

Variables:

Controlled Variables- What lake we are in, the day we go on, the methods we use to collect data, what sort of data we collect, how the data is processed.

Independent Variable- The locations that we are measuring and their respective depths.

Relevant Variables- How many fish are caught, the weather on the day there are caught, how many fish are found to have been affected by sea lamprey.

    Sea lampreys are a parasitic fish native to the Atlantic Ocean. They use their suction cup-like mouths and many rows of teeth to stick onto fish and suck their blood and other bodily fluids. Fish in the Atlantic Ocean have evolved to resist the effects of this parasite and are therefore not killed by it, however, fish in the Great Lakes are either killed by the initial wound or the infection that comes afterwards. Sea lampreys were first spotted in the Great Lakes in 1835 in Lake Ontario, but have since spread to other Great Lakes and Finger Lakes, including Seneca Lake. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has been working to kill sea lamprey larvae and prevent adults from moving out into the lake.

(Citations:

 "Seneca Lake." DEC.NY. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

GLIN. "Sea Lamprey." GLFC. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

GLIN. "Sea Lamprey Control in the Great Lakes." GLFC. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

"The Future of Sea Lamprey Control." GLFC. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.)

Hypothesis: I believe that we will find very few fish that have been effected by sea lamprey. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has been working to control their populations, and has reported great success. Several techniques have been used to reduce their numbers, as reported in my fourth citation, from "The Future of Sea Lamprey Control".

Plan to Control Variables:

• Make sure that the boat stays in one place at each location and doesn't drift at all (i.e. with an anchor.)
• Use the same size net for each location, making sure to leave it in for the same amount of time.
• Use the same methods to take every measurement, and take the same measurements for each location.
• Record every latitude and longitude, as well as the depth for each location.
• Allow the net to drift to the bottom every time.

Procedure:

1. Find a large casting net with thin mesh and ropes on the end and pack this onto the boat.
2. Navigate the boat out to a fairly shallow location, between 20-50 feet in depth. Anchor there and record your latitude and longitude.
3. Cast out your net and allow it to sink to the bottom.
4. Reel in the net and count how many fish are in the net, and their species.
5. Find how many of these fish have large, circular bite marks on their sides or actual sea lamprey attached to them. Record these numbers.
6. Once recorded, release the fish back into the water.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 four more times.
8. Lift your anchor.
9. Navigate to a new location, with a depth between 50-100 feet, and drop the anchor. Record your latitude and longitude.
10. Repeat steps 3-7 for this new location.
11. Lift your anchor.
12. Navigate to a new location, with a depth greater than 100 feet, and drop the anchor. Record your latitude and longitude.
13. Repeat steps 3-7 for this new location.
14. Process your data.

Question: Has the Finger Lakes Institute or Hobart and William Smith Colleges not bought a new boat because they don't have enough money, or because they feel that their current one is good enough for their purposes? (I mean, come on. They got the boat in 1976, and who knows how long it's been on the waters. I know they did renovations in 1989, but you can only fix a boat so much. You'd figure they'd have gotten a new one by now, especially since they put children on it.)

Personal Impacts on the Carbon Cycle

• Exhale carbon dioxide via respiration.
• Consume primary producers.
• Consume primary and secondary consumers.
• Indirectly use fossil fuels (i.e. I don't burn my own coal, but I use electricity produced by that method.)
• Drive a car that uses carbon-based petrol.

The Tropic Forest Biome

    Hummingbirds a very adaptable species, and are spread all around the Americas. This means that they inhabit many biomes. In light of this, I have decided to focus on the bee hummingbird, the smallest species of hummingbird, which inhabits the forests in Cuba.

    Bee hummingbirds are found in Tropical Forest biomes, and is endemic to Cuba. The biomes are found between latitudes 23.5°N and 23.5°S, near the equator, and cover about 6% of the world's surface. They are characterized by tall, dense trees, and a canopy of leaves high above the ground. This canopy typically blocks out a large amount of sunlight from shining on the ground. These areas usually get over 100 inches of rain every year, and the temperature is typically between 20°C and 34°C. Because of their closeness to the equator, Tropical Forests have around 12 hours of sunlight year-round, with only slight variations from the Earth's tilt. There are only two distinct seasons in these biomes; a rainy season and a dry season. The length of each varies depending on the area. Humidity is very high, staying between 77 and 88%.

    Tropical Forests have very diverse flaura and fauna populations. One example is the red eyed tree frog. They are named for their very large, bright red eyes. When these frogs close their eyes, their green color allows them to blend in with the surrounding leaves. Scientists believe that their eyes have evolved as such for a defense mechanisms known as "startle colorization". Red eyed tree frogs are nocturnal, and therefore have no form of defense during the day, save for their camouflaging color. If they were woken by a predator, and opened their eyes, the stark color could scare the predator away. Another example is the boa constrictor. Adult boas are usually around 13 feet long, with the females generally being smaller. Their color varies by region, but are generally brown and tan, with a distinct pattern running down their length. This coloring allows them to camouflage themselves with the forest floor, an adaptation that has helped them survive their forest environment. A final example is the Rafflesia flower. These are found in south-east Asia, and holds the record for the largest blooming flower in the world. They are parasitic, and have evolved to taste like dung or rotten meat. Their red color also warns flies and other forest creatures to stay away, allowing for it to survive.
    Tropical Forest biomes are in danger of being completely wiped out due to human deforestation. This is a major issue, as rainforests are predicted to hold half of the world's species of plants and animals, and are essential ecosystems. Large companies chop down their towering trees and sell the wood for a high profit, yet never replant anything, leaving only barren fields and creatures without a habitat. Houses and other human settlements are also built on the grounds of these forests. This can be solved by passing and enforcing anti-deforestation laws, which would require the support of politicians and lawmakers not just in America, but around the world. But that would not necessarily be enough; miles and miles of habitats would have to be rebuilt, by planting millions of new trees. This would be terribly difficult, though if enough support was gained, not impossible.
    The bee hummingbird functions as a nectar-feeding pollinator for plants within its ecosystem. It has a mutualistic relationship with many plants species; the plants provide nutrients for the hummingbird through their nectar, while the hummingbird spreads pollen to other plants, aiding in cross breeding among species.

    The bee hummingbird is both a primary and secondary consumer. It is primary because it drinks the nectar from flowers, which are producers, directly. It is a secondary consumer because it eats small insects within these flowers, which themselves feed on the pollen in the flowers. Tertiary consumers like hawks hunt these hummingbirds as well. Hawks are at the top of the food chain, and therefore have no predators.    The bee hummingbird does not have very many competitors, save for insects. It's main competition, however, comes as the Cuban Emerald Hummingbird, known as the "zun-zun" in Cuba. The Cuban Emerald is larger than the bee hummingbird, with the average males being about 10cm in length. They both must compete for nectar from flowers, as they have very similar diets, and both help to pollinate flowers within their ecosystems.

Sources:

"CUBAN FALCONIFORMES - Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, Ospreys." CUBAN BIRDS. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://www.nhptv.org/wild/cubanbirdsFalconiformes.asp>.
Ballard, Kacey. "The Forest Biome." The Forest Biome. Ed. Stephanie Pullen. UCMP Berkely, Fall 1996. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/forests.html>.
"Bee Hummingbird." Wildscreen Arkive. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://www.arkive.org/bee-hummingbird/mellisuga-helenae/>.
"Boa Constrictor." Fact Sheet. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Boaconstrictor.cfm>.
"CUBAN FALCONIFORMES - Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, Ospreys." CUBAN BIRDS. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://www.nhptv.org/wild/cubanbirdsFalconiformes.asp>.
"The Forest Biome." The Forest Biome. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php#tropical>.
"Rafflesia Arnoldii (corpse Flower)." Rafflesia Arnoldii (corpse Flower). N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/rafflesia-arnoldii-corpse-flower>.
"Tropical Deforestation : Feature Articles." Tropical Deforestation : Feature Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2015. <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/>.
"Viñales Valley." - UNESCO World Heritage Centre. UNESCO, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/840>.

Lab Report

Lab Report

Please be gentle. I have a family to support.

Biomagnification Case Study

    Biomagnification is the process of a chemical moving through a food chain, eventually reaching the topmost organisms. As the chemical moves through the food chain, it is accumulated into a larger and larger part of the organism's diet.

    Mercury is a heavy element characterized by its metallic silver color and how it uniquely is in a liquid state in standard temperature and pressure conditions (0 °C and 14.5 psi, respectively). Mercury is most commonly used in thermometers to measure temperature because of its high coefficient of expansion. However, due to the toxicity of the chemical, mercury is rarely used for modern thermometers. Mercury is also used in electrical switches, dental fillings, and as a disinfectant. Most mercury that ends up in ecosystems comes from the air. Burning coal results in airborne Mercury, as does the mining of other metals. The disposal of products containing mercury can also result in mercury contamination.

    The case study of the Great Lakes by the United States Environmental Protection Agency gives the example of phytoplankton as a starting place for biomaginification. While there may be only a small amount of a substance like mercury, phytoplankton bioaccumulate it at a much higher concentration. Zooplankton eat phytoplankton, and absorb this high concentration of mercury. Even more mercury accumulates in these organisms. The zooplankton are eaten by small fish, the small fish are eaten by large fish, the large fish are eaten by seagulls, and so on. As each predator eats its prey, mercury is accumulated at higher and higher concentrations, thus moving up through the food chain.
    The study that I used suggested remediating contaminated sediments and reducing PCB loadings into the Great Lakes as a way to help reduce the effects and possibly stop the contamination of the lakes. Finding alternatives to mercury in various products could also reduce the amount of mercury that is released into the environment. Mercury is a very dangerous substance, and has no place within foreign ecosystems, and it is our job to find a way to remove it.

Sources:

"Biomagnification." Definition Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

<http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/biomagnification.html>.

"Great Lakes Monitoring." Great Lakes Monitoring. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. 

<http://www3.epa.gov/grtlakes/glindicators/fishtoxics/topfishb.html>.

"Mercury." Mercury. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. 

<http://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/eps2/wisc/hg.html>.

"What Is Innovation and Where Does It Come From?" Portfolio Management (2012): n. pag. Web. 29 Sept. 2015.

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