Sheet of Ice, the Size of a Country Could Fall into the Ocean

Based on:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090318140522.htm

SUMMARY

One of the biggest causes of global warming is excess carbon dioxide. Well a
five-nation scientific team has said that a slight increase in carbon dioxide could lead
to the decrease in stability for the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (also known as WAIS).
This enormous sheet of ice covers the pacific side near the Transantarctic Mountains.
If this massive piece of ice fell into the ocean it would cause a rise in global sea levels.
The research on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is being based on a 4,100 foot long
sample of sedimentary rock that was taken beneath the sea floor. This sample is/will help scientist to see how WAIS will respond and stand up to future global warming over the next few centuries. So far what scientist have found is that, under projected global warming conditions, ice shelves could possibly shrink or disappear making WAIS vulnerable to melting. In which case, the rise of global sea levels would occur. The sample also shows that a few million years ago the ice shelves started to disappear, causing melting deep under water.


IMPACT

This would impact the world definitely by the rising the sea levels, reducing our
size of landmasses. People who live along the coast would have a problem with water
coming to close to their house. New Orleans has levy's and needs storm-surge
defenses and would need more if the water rose. If the sea rose just a small 20
centimeters, it would cost a estimated 740,000 people to become homeless.
Also another problem would be that Antarctica would slowly start to shrink if parts
of it just fell off and melted adding to the amount of water in the oceans.

Plane flies on Hydrogen and Carbon

Based On: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090131095501.htm

SUMMARY

NASA and other research groups were testing two different non-petroleum jet fuels last month in February. They were researching in hopes of finding an alternative fuel for commercial airlines and cheaper oil cost. The test were seeing what happen to the performance of the plane and the emissions from the coal and natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process. The Fischer-Tropsch process is a chemical reaction in which a synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is converted into liquid hydrocarbons of various forms. A synthetic petroleum is produced from this, making the fuel. This process, the Fischer-Tropsch process, is very expensive. There are no plants for this in the United States of America, but they are around the world that the United States could import from. The test plane for this, is a DC-8 plane. It's one of NASA's planes. It is being used because it's engine operations are well documented. If the synthetic fuel test are successful this fuel could be put into use, reducing emissions and improving air quality.

HOW IT WOULD EFFECT ME?

This will affect me in many ways; the main one is that airline prices would be much cheaper for me. This would mean my family and I could travel for much cheaper. Also the air would be much cleaner and not as polluting. This could also mean more travelers, which would make airline companies have more money to offer more perks on flights. With cheaper flights, it could help the economy become stronger. The only negative to this, is the reliability of the fuel. What would happen if your 10,000 feet in the air and your fuel started acting weird because it was clumping together. I do think there needs to be more testing and planning in this idea. Other than that I think its a great idea and a better way to save money.