Ozone and Life on Earth

Ozone (O3) is a molecule composed and bonded of three oxygen atoms. Bonds between the oxygen atoms in the ozone molecule is rather weak compared to the oxygen molecule consists of two atoms (O2), so one of the three oxygen atoms easily escape and react with other molecules.

Ozone was first discovered by Christian Friedrich Schonbein in 1840. Naming ozone is derived from the Greek, ozein meaning smell. Ozone is known as a gas that has no color.

The use of ozone has been performed for more than a century ago. Ozone is used for various purposes, ranging from clean drinking water, sterilization of raw food materials, to elaborate a variety of toxic organic compounds contained in wastewater. In the field of medicine, ozone is more often used after the discovery of the ozone producing equipment for medical sterilization by J Hansler in the mid-20th century. However, ozone is a toxic substance. This gas is very reactive and corrosive (rapidly cause corrosion on metal) and hazardous to human health if inhaled in large quantities.

Ozone is found naturally in the stratosphere. Approximately ninety percent of Earth's ozone is in the stratosphere. Stratosphere is one of the layers of the earth's atmosphere at an altitude between 20-50 kilometers above the earth's surface. The ozone layer in the stratosphere was first discovered in 1913 by Charles Fabry (1867-1945) and Henri Buisson.

The ozone layer in the stratosphere naturally formed mainly through a process fotodisosiasi where the sun has a very important role in this process. Ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun was able to break an oxygen molecule (O2) to form two single oxygen atom. Then every single oxygen atom is bonded to an oxygen molecule to form a molecule of ozone (O3).

Diagram illustrating the ozone-oxygen cycle. (Picture from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/)

The presence of beneficial ozone in the stratosphere protects the earth from the dangers of ultraviolet emission (UV) excessive sun. This ozone protects life on earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Because it is protecting the ozone in the stratosphere that is also called good ozone.

Ozone in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. This radiation has a wavelength below 400 nanometers. The spectrum of this radiation (located at wavelengths between 290 nanometers and 320 nanometers) or better known as UV-B radiation. Increasing doses of UV-B radiation reaching the earth resulting in increased cases of skin cancer, lower yields, and ruin the lives of plankton and fish larvae.

Reaction formation and decomposition of ozone occurs naturally in a state of balance and continuously for centuries. Most of the ozone is formed and decomposes in the equatorial region where there are tropical rainforests were quite extensive. By nature, nature has arranged transport phenomena that will bring the gases contained in the earth's surface to the layer above it and distribute ozone into the higher latitudes, and eventually accumulates in the polar regions.

The process of ozone depletion. (Picture from: http://sopf.org/)

However, the balance of the formation and decomposition of ozone has been disrupted due to the increase of ozone-depleting substances or materials (ozone depleting substances / ODS), so the rate of decomposition of ozone faster than the rate of its formation. Damaging substances / thinning of the ozone layer in the lower stratosphere is produced by human activities on the earth's surface. These substances are capable of spreading to the stratosphere. This causes a decrease in the concentration of ozone in the stratosphere.

Ozone depleting substances contain some combination of chemical elements chlorine, fluorine, bromine, carbon, and hydrogen are called halozarbon. The compound consists of only chlorine, fluorine and carbon called cholorofluorocarbon (CFC). CFCs are widely used because it is stable with low toxicity and non-flammable. Because CFCs have chemical and physical properties suitable for coolant, solvents, and heat insulation, this material is widely used by industrial refrigerator, AC (air conditioner), gas booster (spray), foam plastic, fire extinguisher material, the solvent in the industry, and electronic equipments cleaning. If this material is released into the atmosphere by atmospheric transport phenomena, these materials will be lifted and diffused into the stratosphere. In this layer the material will be dissociated by ultraviolet radiation from the sun and breaks down into chlorine gas was very active damaging the ozone layer.

The climate system is complex, meaning that the ozone hole does indirectly alter the surface temperature and climate of the Earth. (Picture from: http://theconversation.edu.au/)

The monitoring of the ozone layer in the stratosphere has long made the developed countries since 1957. In 1985, researchers from the UK found a reduction in the total amount of ozone in the stratosphere during the Antarctic spring. In 1987, a monitoring station in Antarctica recorded a decrease in the total amount of ozone to be less than half the amount of ozone measured in 1970. This drastic decrease in ozone depletion has caused or is called the ozone hole (ozone hole).

Global emissions of ozone-depleting chemicals (CFCs, halons, HCFCs, and others) and their non-ozone depleting substitutes (HFCs) from 1950 to 2050, expressed as Gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent per year. The blue hatched regions indicate the emissions that would have occurred, in the absence of the Montreal Protocol, with 2–3% annual production increases in all ozone-depleting chemicals. Shown for reference are emissions for the range of CO2 scenarios from the IPCC Special Report on Emission Scenarios. (Picture from: http://theconversation.edu.au/)

The discovery of the ozone hole has prompted the formulation of an international treaty known as the Vienna Convention 1985. The agreement aims to protect the environment and human health due to the depletion of the ozone layer. Then in 1987 established the Montreal Protocol. In the protocol was approved reduction and elimination of the production and consumption of CFCs, halon, and other similar substances that contribute to depleting the ozone layer. *** [THE CONVERSATION | SAVE OUR PLANET FOUNDATION | DEDE NURROSYID | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 13092012]

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Water and Salt to LED Lighting

Nowadays many people are racing to create alternative energy that carries the mission of environmentally friendly, economical, and practical.

Ever since the earthquake and subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster that occurred in Japan last year technology has been developed to help if such an event were ever to occur again. One of the biggest problems to overcome in Japan was a lack of power, which has led one Japanese company to create a light that runs purely on salt water.

Green House Co Ltd released has developed LED lights to light it does not require electricity or batteries, but only requires power and salt water.

The luminous power of the light is rated at 55 lumen, but the lantern isn’t just limited to acting as a light source. On its casing you will find a USB port, allowing you to plug in and charge other devices. So if you are stuck in a power outage at night you can use the LED Lantern to light the way while it charges your smartphone.

GH-LED10WBW from Green House Co Ltd. (Picture from: http://kuwaitblogs.tomotiki.com/)

As reported by Ubergizmo, the lamp with the name GH-LED10WBW it will emit light when water and salt put into the lantern, and capable of burning for eight hours. To turn the light takes about 350 milliliters of water and 16 grams of salt.

This electronic device developer explained that a mixture of water and salt will work as electrolytes with magnesium (mg) rod as the negative pole and carbon rod as the positive poles.

Green House is expected to release the LED Lantern before the end of September in Japan. The one thing not yet know is the price, but due to the limited parts it uses I can’t see this being a very expensive device, but it’s certainly one lots of Japanese households will want to have ready in a cupboard just in case. *** [GEEK | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 13092012]

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Sumatran Rhino is Back in the Gunung Leuser Area

The number of Sumatran rhinos in the Leuser always be questioned in various inter-agency forum for discussion of international wildlife conservation. Compared the distribution of rhinos in various countries, the presence of rhinos in the Leuser most mysterious.

"Other areas are always up the numbers. But, turn Leuser, which appears is a question mark," said Jamal M. Gawi, Director of the Leuser International Foundation.

A question mark is given for number of Sumatran rhinos in the Leuser was never known for certain. Understandably, the last 26 years Sumatran rhinos have disappeared from the Leuser area because it was never found.

Conditions that trigger the Leuser International Foundation and the Gunung Leuser National Park working together to collect data of rhino population in the region. They put 30 units of camera traps. Over the past six months had taken nearly a thousand photographs. There is a photograph rhinos which was recorded foraging in the highlands jungle, and there are currently busy soaking in mud puddles.

Female rhino caught on camera in the Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh. (Picture from: http://www.tempo.co/)

The photograph is strong evidence that the Sumatran rhino is still exploring the forest in Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh. "Sumatran rhino is found in the Leuser back after 26 years declared extinct," said Jamal M. Gawi, Director of the Leuser International Foundation, told to Tempo on Monday (August 6, 2012).

"The number is estimated to 7-25 individuals and are all in good health," said Jamal. Female rhino caught on camera with his head up the estimated age of 8 years.

Rhinoceros caught in the portrait dated December 9, 2011 at 13:55 was not the only individual of ​​Sumatran rhinoceros in the 2.6 million hectares area. With the officer Gunung Leuser National Park, Leuser International Foundation team managed to record the activity of a number of other rhinos.

The survey is supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services was obtained about a thousand rhinos footprints. Meanwhile, that was certainly identified, there is one male and seven female individuals.

There are other interesting findings, namely the parent and child rhino tracks and some footprints of two rhinos who allegedly is a partner. "This shows there is a process that leads to rhino mating, so the population can grow," said Jamal.

The research team also found 15 active pools at the two sites and 28 inactive pools which are not used anymore. Jamal said the mud was a favorite rhinoceros.

Sumatran rhinos are soaking in a mud puddle. (Picture from: KORAN TEMPO 3965)

The existence of the two-horned rhino in the Leuser monitored by "a number of camera traps placed in some trees. The research team set up 30 unit camera, since mid-2011. Everything is installed in a location rhino wallow. "Rhino is like bathing in mud," said Jamal.

The camera uses infrared sensors to detect movement of animals (rhinos) at the same time as the trigger of the camera. Instant cameras capture images of the rhinoceros as it passed. Without sound, without the flash, just blink. Total thousand portraits from the twenties rhinoceros as one rhinoceros could photographed dozens of times.

Rhino gender identification is determined by morphological rhino features in general. Males individual have relatively larger body than the females. Both males and females have two horns, but the horn of male rhino is much longer and pointed. While the females tend to be shorter and blunt.

Jamal said the appearance of Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) in the Leuser brings a glimmer of new hope for the conservation of endangered species. Moreover, the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the status of the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros. "Only a step toward extinction," he said.

The claim was not excessive. The number of Sumatran rhinos in the world probably only about 200 individuals. That was only found in Leuser and Way Kambas, Indonesia and some parts of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.

Sumatran rhino is the smallest among the five species of rhino in the world. It has 120-145 centimeters tall, with a body length of about 550 centimeters and weighs less than one ton. These rhinos are very distinctive because of thick skin covered with reddish hair. These characteristics are not found in other rhino species.

Sumatran rhinoceros in Leuser is very unique. These rhinos live in the highlands at an altitude of 1,500-2,000 meters above sea level. "Habitat in the highlands and is still heavily wooded, so there is no influence of human activities other than hunting," he said.

Jamal estimates that the entire rhino in the Leuser whose image was caught on camera is a juvenile or adult individuals. None of the portraits that show puppies rhino. But the composition of male and female individuals could not be ascertained. Estimated age of rhinoceros also uncharted. The team will make the collection of rhino dung as a further population analysis.

The appearance of Sumatran rhinos in the Leuser deliberately not widely publicized. The team of researchers from the Gunung Leuser National Park and Leuser Internasional Foundation does not disclose information about coordinates location of the rhinoceros. They worry that information will spread into the wrong hands.

"Rhinos are live in the forest that used to be accessible to everyone. Unlike Java rhinos living in the conservation area," said Jamal.

Five species of rhinoceros. (Picture from: http://www.badak.or.id/)

Indonesia has two of the five species of rhinoceros. Besides Sumatran rhino, Indonesia also has the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) are only found in Ujung Kulon National Park, Banten. Population is much smaller than the Sumatran rhinoceros, which is about 50 individuals. Three other species are the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) in Africa and the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Nepal and India.

The number of Sumatran rhinos continue to decline by 50 percent over the past two decades. The cause is the high poaching for rhino horn and take the rampant encroachment.

The baby of Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) Andatu with its parent Ratu in the SRS Way Kambas National Park, East Lampung. (Picture from: http://www.tempo.co/)

Sumatran rhino conservation efforts to meet the new expectations when females rhinoceros give birth to a male rhinoceros at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas, East Lampung, on June 23, 2012 and was named Andatu taken from the name of its parent compound, Andalas and Ratu. *** [MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3965]

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Cane Waste to Electrical Energy

Sugarcane.

Sugar production waste can be turned into new energy sources for electricity production. According to the study, published in the journal International Progress in Industrial Ecology, Vikram Seebaluck, an engineer from the University of Mauritius and Dipeeka Seeruttun of the Royal Institute of Technology, in Stockholm, Sweden, the optimal blend of sugarcane agricultural residues (30 percent), mixed with 70 percent of sugar cane bagasse (fibrous remaining after sugar production) can be used to generate electricity at a cost of only U.S. $ 0.06 per kWh.

Sugarcane is a giant perennial grass, of the genus saccharum which can be found in the form of wet or dry. In tropical and some temperate regions, this plant can grow on the ground like a bamboo rod.

Sugarcane bagasse, a pulp-like 
waste product created during 
sugar production. (Picture 
from:http://zerogblog.com/)

At the top and bottom of the cane land, growing rhizomes, leaves and roots. A total of 30 tonnes per hectare, sugar cane fiber and water delivered to the factories for the production of sugar, and leaving a residue of 24 tonnes per hectare, in the form of waste as biomass.

Currently sugarcane bagasse can be burned to produce heat and converted into electrical energy. Energy to increase production in sugar mills, and surplus electricity can be exported to neighboring countries. From the results of this process, still leaves 20 tons of waste per hectare for fertilizer in the fields. This waste is actually still contains the same energy as bagasse.

Dr Seeruttun said, technically it's still worth the waste of raw materials to be used when mixed with the bagasse for electricity production. In 30:70 mixture of waste bagasse, can reduce the risk of providing a place for waste disposal as used for the combustion of bagasse.

According to economic analysts and technology, the use of sugarcane waste products effectively, is the expansion of bioenergy in the countryside that will create jobs. In addition to reducing energy imports, also cut greenhouse gas emissions overall. Its use, can generate electricity which is equivalent to 230 kg of coal. This amount is also equivalent to the energy produced 560 kg of carbon dioxide per ton.

But the inventors of new energy sources were reminded, that the use of bioenergy and biomass potential will memeriukan significant increase in investment, technology transfer and international cooperation. 

Scientists of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in cooperation with Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) and the American Sugar Cane League (ASCL), has released three new varieties of sugar cane-energy producing.

"The contents of plants contain fiber rod and high crystalline sugar. Can be used as a feedstock for ethanol, which are complementary. Now the mechanic, have already made the processor of raw sugar cane fiber burners to produce heat energy is great. Technical equipment is capable of destroying the stems are hard and crystallization process sugar better, "said Edward Richard, head of ARS Research Unit.

According to Edward, the extracted sucrose sugar is sold for consumption or converted into ethanol. He also said, that biorefineries can use the fiber as well. With new technology, cellulose can be converted into ethanol with a cheaper cost. *** [DEDI RISKOMAR | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 02082012]

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Wind Turbines can Change the Climate

Not feel the cold night air in parts of Texas. In just one decade, the local temperature rise of almost 1 degree Celsius, along with a growing number of wind turbines were erected.

The air near the ground surface is usually a much cooler when the sun goes down. At that time, the Earth becomes cooler.

But, at the "ranch" big wind, the movement of warm air mixing turbine which is higher in the atmosphere, and promote the overall temperature rise.

Wind farms can cause a rise in temperature, found a study in Nature. (Picture from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

Satellite data over a wide area in Texas, which is now filled by the four largest wind farms in the world, found that for more than a decade of temperature in the region rose by almost 1 degree Celsius.

Rising temperatures could lead to long-term effects on wildlife in the area adjacent to large wind farms. It could also affect regional weather patterns when the warmer regions affect cloud formation, and even wind speed.

The environmental impact of wind turbine development is very surprising. During this wind turbine is considered as a producer of environmentally friendly energy alternative.

At present, China reportedly set up 36 wind turbines each day. Texas is the largest producer of wind power in the United States.

Zhou Liming, a faculty member in the Department of Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of New York, said the research the environmental impact of wind turbines that still need further research, particularly highlighting the influence of new technologies in the wider environment.

"Wind energy is one energy source of the fastest growing in the world," said Zhou, who heads the research team. "U.S. wind industry experienced very rapid expansion of capacity in recent years."

When a change of wind energy into electricity, wind turbines modify the surface of air exchange and air in the atmosphere, as well as energy transfer, mass momentum, and moisture in the atmosphere. "This change, if it takes place in an area that is large enough, it will likely cause a noticeable impact on local weather and climate or regional," he said.

Research published in the journal Nature found a significant warming trend up to 0.72 degrees Celsius per decade, especially at night. These temperature changes often occur in the area of ​​wind farms than in the free zone in the vicinity of wind farms.

The team is also studying satellite data that show the soil surface temperatures in western and central Texas.

"Spatial patterns of geographic distribution of heating it to resemble wind turbines," said Zhou. "Temperatures above ground level at the wind farm from year to year showed a persistent trend increase from 2003 to 2011. This is consistent with an increasing number of wind turbines operating at the time."

However, Zhou showed the most extreme changes take place only at night. Overall temperature change is likely much smaller. Change is also much smaller than the changes expected to occur due to a number of other factors, such as global warming caused by human activity.

"Overall, the warming effect of these studies reported localized and relatively small when compared to earth's surface temperature changes from year to year," he said.

In his report, researchers stated although there is debate over the possible impact of wind farms on the climate and weather on regional to global scale, these modeling studies agree that wind turbines can affect significantly the local scale meteorology.

Steven Sherwood, Director of the Center for Climate Change Research at the University of New South Wales, to assess the research was pretty solid.

"The findings make sense, because at night the land becomes much colder than the air that was several hundred feet above the ground," he said. "Wind Farm generate small turbulence near the ground surface, which causes the cold air and hot mix so the soil can not be cooled properly."

Sherwood said the strategy to warm the soil surface with a mild turbulence motions such as those generated by wind turbines used by fruit growers. They flew by helicopter over the orchard to combat attacks on the morning frost that can damage the fruit." *** [TELEGRAPH | TJANDRA DEWI | KORAN TEMPO 3890]

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A Paradise Has Been Lost in Tomori Bay.

Colorful coral reefs and many species of fish living in waters of Tomori Bay make it like a piece of paradise in the middle of the island of Sulawesi. However the beauty landscape that area is now torn by a sediments from nickel mining activity in the vicinity. Sea water which was originally clear now murky and 500 meters from the beach. Not only the surface of the polluted bay mud. Sediment is also damaging the living coral reef in the bay bottom in Central Sulawesi province.

Jabar Lahadji is a witness to the damage Tomori Bay. Using snorkeling gear, men's 42-year-often swim in Tomori Bay, Central Sulawesi. "Coral reefs are broken ground covered with sediment," said a member of the Morowali Regional Representatives Council to TEMPO on May 9, 2012. Raised in the village of Kolonodale, the only village on the shores of the bay, he knew exactly every corner of this area. Every times the dive in bay, he could witnessed the coral reefs. In this place, a variety of fish species living together.

The beauty of the waters of the Tomori Bay's what makes non-governmental organizations in the district of Poso be suggested that Tomori Bay as a marine park. In 1989, the proposal has been greeted positively by the local government. Governor of Central Sulawesi at the time, Abdul Aziz Lamadjido, issued a decision in favor of the realization of the marine park.

Proposed also delivered to Directorate General of Protection of Forest and Natural Conservation, Ministry of of Forestry the Republic of Indonesia a few years later. Unfortunately, no follow-up plan, because in 1999 in Poso district bloomed into Morowali district. Now the area that was once nominated as a marine park that has lost her beauty, because of tainted mud that line the murky sea.

Traces of the beauty of Tomori Bay still visible when TEMPO was flying over the waters by helicopter Dauphin N2 SN-365 last week. The bay is surrounded by many of the headland to the shoreline winding. In some sections, lush green forests are still growing. Besar Island is part of Morowali Nature Reserve seem to float in the middle of the bay.

Tomori bay where the waters are now closed as far as 750 meters of sediment. (Picture from: KORAN TEMPO 3883)

But the sight of the green forest hills gave way to barren lands in the two main headlands, namely Kolokima and Bangkele. Large-scale dredging by mining companies reveal dozens of red soil that once covered by forest and soil humus.

Avalanche of red earth and the rain brought the mine was dug into the river flow to the beach. At the mouth of the river, located near Kolokima Cape, water mixed with red earth pushed up to 500 meters into the bay.

Director of Engineering and the Environment Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia Syawaluddin Lubis said the damage to the bay triggered by mining procedures are not implemented properly. Mining companies should be obliged to leave the forest buffer zone between coastal ecosystems and mining areas. Area known as the green belt is not in the mining sites around Tomori Bay.

Mining companies were prohibited from disposing of sediment into rivers and beaches. To prevent sediment discharged into the river, mining companies have to make the pond sediment settles glide function terraced sediments before reaching the river and the beach.

"The practice of environmental protection can not be done by mining companies around Tomori Bay," said Syawaluddin. "It is against the law and into criminal acts."

Environmental damage not only ruin the beauty of Tomori Bay and coral reef ecosystems, but also have an impact on the economy. Residents of the five fishing villages around the coast are now losing the fish is the source of their livelihood.

Boto-Boto Fish who become the hallmark of Tomori Bay are now difficult to was found. Fishermen trouble getting the fish. "We pull the net, they get a lot more red soil than fish," Jabar said. Not only the fish-Boto Boto are scarce. Fish cultured in cages in a fishing village, adjacent to the mine site, many have died.

Green forest replaced by hills of 
barren land in Kolokima Cape
and Bangkele. (Picture from: KORAN 
TEMPO 3883)

Loss of livelihood of the people ultimately disturb peace in Tomori Bay. Fishing villagers often protested to the miners that damage the bay. Until now, these aspirations can be muted with the cash compensation of Rp. 5.000 per metric ton the soil who excavated from the forests on Tomori Bay. "But a huge protest could explode at any-of time because compensation ins such as the pain pills, which the effect is only temporary," said Jabar.

Morowali Regent, Anwar Hafid acknowledges mining activities damage Tomori Bay and had become a major issue in the region. "If it rains, the sea became a little red," he said when asked for confirmation on Monday.

The environmental impact who visible when this, according to him, already better instead of several months ago. Mining companies are not penalized, but are required to control sediment to the coast.

Public protest was silenced by financial compensation from the mining entrepreneur, but not all can be done with a pile of money. Local tourists who used to enliven Jompi beach, located near the mining area, now do not ever come again. In fact, several years ago, the area is a bathing place that many people visited Sulawesi.

Other tourist sites affected are several caves in the forest around the coast. Batu Putih Caves and Lambolo Caves, who once crowded by visitors, is now lost interest. These cave still keeps the 3,000 years old hand paintings, but the convenience of visitors has been disturbed due to the location of damaged forests.

"Aesthetic element is damaged due to forest destruction. This can not be restored," said Jabar. *** [ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3883]

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Around the World With Solar Power

Expeditions around the world with ships already made history when Ferdinand Magellan did it for the first time in 1519-1522, using sailing ships. Now MS Tûranor PlanetSolar made new history as the first solar-fueled ships around the world. 

After an amazing 18-month journey, the Tûranor PlanetSolar sun-powered boat completes its around-the-world trip today! The world's largest solar-powered boat originally launched on its worldwide trip from Monaco in September 2010 and today (May 4th) the boat will officially finish the trip. The Swiss-designed solar boat is powered by 537 square meters of photovoltaic panels that enabled it to travel around the world and hit spots like Miami, Cancún, Brisbane, Singapore, Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi. (Picture from: http://inhabitat.com/)

Ship with a length of 31 meters and 15 meters wide, letter T-shaped is a phenomenal journey within 19 months. This clean and quiet vessel has been launched in March 2010 in Kiel, Germany, in the shipyards of Knierim Yachtbau after 14 months of construction. 

Shipping starts from Monaco on 27 September 2010 and ended on May 4, 2012. During the trip, Tûranor stopped in six continents. Ships also stop in Cancun, Mexico, when the United Nations held World Climate Conference in November 2010.

After crossing the Atlantic ocean, the Panama Canal, the Pacific ocean, the Indian ocean, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean, the Tûranor completes its trip today (May 4th) by arriving at Hercule Harbor in Monaco. (Picture from: http://inhabitat.com/)

"When the ship rests, I will miss the times when sailing," said Raphael Domjan, the expedition leader as well as designer of the ship. 

Tûranor name means strength of the sun, taken from the phenomenal novel The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. This name shows how the ship and six crew could sail by just relying on solar energy.

Tûranor made flat deck and into the installation of solar panel covering 537 square meters. Panels made from silicon is able to convert 18.8 percent of sunlight into electrical energy which is stored into the six-power lithium-ion battery is 93.5 kilowatts. With that much power, the ship is able to divide the sea with peak speeds of 15 knots, equivalent to 27.3 kilometers per hour. 

The expedition which cost U.S. $ 24 million, was carried out to campaign for clean energy to the world. Sunlight is a clean energy source and free to be learned in all the world, including the oceans. 

When it sailed 500 years ago, the solar panel technology has not been known by Magellan that they rely on cheap and free energy, like wind. "We hope that the expedition was to motivate the development of innovative technologies," said Domjan. *** [PLANETSOLAR | SCIENTIFICAMERICAN | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3874]

Save Water From Now

Humans are "water beings". More than 70% of the composition of the human body contains water. Where an individual who does not need water. A person can survive longer without food, but not if without water. So even with the other inhabitants of our planet such as animal and plant life depend on water.

Because of its vital water in the activities of life, the United Nations (UN) on the 47th General Assembly on December 22, 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, launched the World Water Day is celebrated on every March 22. Purpose of the celebration of World Water Day is an effort to draw public attention to the importance of clean water, as well as awareness-raising efforts for the management of water resources is sustainable.

This is why one of the UN’s goals for World Water Day is for countries and people around the world to better understand water-related issues and the challenges population growth, industrialization in emerging countries, conflicts, natural disasters, wasteful uses of water, and climate change have on the world’s potable (drinkable) water supplies.

For this year's World Water Day theme of "Water and Food Security". It relies on the availability of clean water crisis that occurred in various places on earth, which impact on food resistance.

This day was set aside by the UN to raise awareness about the fact that still today – long into the new millenium – more than 11% of the world’s population do not have access to clean drinking water. As a direct result, over 4000 children die every day. World Water Day is also meant to draw attention to the less obvious externalities of a chronic shortage of water. 1 billion of the current 7 billion people sharing the Earth are currently going hungry. The reason we in the developed world are not going hungry is because we can afford to pay for the exponentially higher water requirements needed to produce our food. They cannot. And by 2050, 2 billion more people are expected to join them.

Another obvious solution is to stop eating or reducing your consumption of beef. Besides the damaging effects of raising cattle on the environment, producing 1 kg of beef also uses ten times more water (15,000 liters!) than producing the same amount of wheat. Eating less beef is easy. I stopped eating all meat 6 months ago and it has been one of the easiest changes in my life, certainly much easier than giving up smoking. 

Do not let low because of our concern at this time, the worse the effect on the generation of our children. They are increasingly difficult to get clean water because of its availability is scarce.

Save Water. Every drop, counts. (Photo credit: Diganta Talukdar)

To solve the problem of water crisis, here are some things we can do:

• We can start from ourselves, from the smallest thing, and from now on..!
• Hold up, to waste water..!
• Hold down the things that cause damage to nature..! 

Save water from now! For future water and food availability..!  *** [CECEP HUSNI MUBAROK, S.KOM. | EMINAYIDEN | WATERLESSCO | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 22032012] 
[This article is made to welcome The 2012 World Water Day]

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Find out which one works for you by browsing the waterday website below.

• The World is Thristy Because We are Hungry - World Water Day 2012.
• Donate to one of the organizations officially sponsoring World Water Day.
• UNICEF volunteer programs.

Gasoline Pollution is Worse?

Compared to diesel cars, exhaust fumes of gasoline-fueled vehicles were donated Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) is greater. The results of research scientists from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) of NOAA, and other scientists showed a surprising thing. 

"We found that instead of diesel engines that provide the greatest contribution of organic aerosols that pollute the air in Los Angeles, United States," said Roya Bahreini, CIRES researcher who led the study. "It's contrary to what is predicted by the scientific community." 

SOA is a form of small particles in the air and up 40-60 percent of aerosol mass in urban environments. These findings provide valuable information. Therefore, a very fine particle pollution can affect human health, such as heart or respiratory problems. 

These particles also affect climate and reduce visibility, so scientists trying to understand how the particles were formed. Researchers have known that the SOA formed from the gas given off by gasoline-powered engines, diesel, and natural sources, such as biogenic agents of plants and trees, but they can not ensure the greatest source of pollutants. "We have to do research in a place that can separate the contribution of natural emissions from vehicles and plant," said Bahreini. 

Los Angeles proved to be an ideal location. Flanked by the ocean on one side and by mountains to the north and east, the air circulation in the city is relatively isolated.

The team of scientists flew with the NOAA's P3 research aircraft over Los Angeles, three times on weekdays and three times on weekends. The aircraft was equipped with a variety of instruments designed to measure various aspects of air pollution. 

"Each instrument records a part of the puzzle," he said. "Where do the particles come from? Difference particles on weekdays and weekends as well as whether the particles originating from vehicle emissions is different from weekdays and weekends?" 

The results show that a decline in the use of diesel trucks over the weekend, while the gasoline vehicle remains constant throughout the week. The team hopes the SOA at the weekend go down. 

But that's not what they found. In contrast, levels of SOA particles relatively unchanged from the level of working day. Our results suggest that gasoline is a major source of SOA. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 3813]

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