Natural Phenomenon

Haze

  Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky. The World Meteorological Organization manual of codes includes a classification of horizontal obscuration into categories of fog, ice fog, steam fog, mist, haze, smoke, volcanic ash, dust, sand and snow Sources for haze particles include farming (ploughing in dry weather), traffic, industry, and wildfires.

  Seen from afar (e.g. approaching airplane) and depending upon the direction of view with respect to the sun, haze may appear brownish or bluish, while mist tends to be bluish-grey. Whereas haze often is thought of as a phenomenon of dry air, mist formation is a phenomenon of humid air. However, haze particles may act as condensation nuclei for the subsequent formation of mist droplets; such forms of haze are known as "wet haze."

  In the United States and elsewhere, the term "haze" in meteorological literature generally is used to denote visibility-reducing aerosols of the wet type. Such aerosols commonly arise from complex chemical reactions that occur as sulfur dioxide gases emitted during combustion are converted into small droplets of sulphuric acid. The reactions are enhanced in the presence of sunlight, high relative humidity, and stagnant air flow. A small component of wet haze aerosols appear to be derived from compounds released by trees, such as terpenes. For all these reasons, wet haze tends to be primarily a warm-season phenomenon. Large areas of haze covering many thousands of kilometers may be produced under favorable conditions each summer.

Arctic Haze

 

  Arctic haze is a phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere at high latitudes in the Arctic due to air pollution. What distinguishes Arctic haze from haze found elsewhere, is the ability of its chemical ingredients to endure in the atmosphere for a longer period of time compared to other pollutants. Due to limited snowfall, rain, or turbulent air to displace pollutants from the polar air in the spring, Arctic haze can continue for more than a month in the northern atmosphere.

  Arctic haze was first discovered in 1750 when the Industrial Revolution began. Explorers could not determine where the foggy atmosphere was coming from. Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen found dark stains on the ice surface when he explored the region more than a century ago. The actual term “Arctic haze” wasn’t coined until 1956 by Murray Mitchell, a U.S. Air Force officer stationed in Alaska. He used the term to describe an unusual reduction in visibility observed by American weather reconnaissance missions. When pilots of planes are in a layer of Arctic haze, they report that horizontal visibility drops to as much as one tenth that of normal clear sky. It was not known if the haze was a natural phenomenon at that time or if it had been formed by other pollutants, so no other research had been done in the next 18 years.

  The haze here is seasonal and peaks in the late winter and spring. The haze is generally formed by pollutants that come from thousands of miles away. Most of the pollutants are thought to originate from coal-burning in the mid-northern latitudes, especially from Asia. These aerosols contain about 90% sulfur and 10% carbon. This chemical makeup gives the haze a reddish color. This pollution is contributing to the warming of the Arctic region at a rate greater than any other place on Earth. Greenhouse gases are the main contributor, however. In the winter this rapidity in warming is increased by the loss of sunlight. The layer of haze acts as a trap, holding the infrared radiation in longer, thus warming the surface and atmosphere.

  There are many contributors to the warming of the Arctic. Besides greenhouse gases and pollution from industry, other sources include: ship emissions, smoke from forest fires, aerosol and ozone pollutants (mercury, aluminum, vanadium, manganese). Carbon dioxide released from factories and pollution of automobile emissions contributes to pollution that warms the Arctic a few degrees. Many people perceive the Arctic as a cold, pure and clean region of Earth. They are correct on the cold part. Pure and clean, may be misconceptions as pollution travels more and more into the Arctic regions.

  Many researchers have studied the effects of Arctic haze and more and more is being learned of how this phenomenon is affecting our planet. Climatologists from Europe predict that by the end of the 21st century, the Arctic region may rise 5 degrees Fahrenheit on an average day. The summer sea ice of the Arctic may also disappear completely by 2040 if warming continues. More pollution and stronger climate changes are predicted as a result of Arctic oil drilling. Because of global warming, The Arctic region is seeing a rise in rainfall that soon freezes afterward. This process is putting a huge strain on the animals of this region and with the continued effects of Arctic haze, the whole environment is at serious risk.

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Memorable Momment

MT-PAI

  I was a mt-pai's committee, so all of committees conducted the closing event. MT-PAI is a school's event, but the organizers from 11th grade. I was one of them. I was the committe when MT-PAI 2014 start until closing event. When closing event, I became a division of the fieldman. The fieldman's job is Controlling-Moving-Sweeping the participants. The participants were grade 10th students.
  On nigth 22nd January 2015, I surveyed the camping place, Kiara Payung. On that's nigth I and other committees surveyed the place. But, the place closed because too nigth. So, we can't survey Kiara Payung. Then, we searched inn around Kiara Payung because in the morning we must surveyed the place. We found inn very cheap, so we can slept. After shubuh 23rd January 2015, we went to Kiara Payung for survey.
  After surveyed Kiara Payung was done, we went Senior High School again to tell about Kiara Payung and technical about activity during in Kiara Payung. So when I arrived the school, I was so tired and slept again because I steered the motobike.
  After Friday Prayer, All of committees an participants went to Kiara Payung, and I steered the motobike again. When participants arrived, the committees builded the camp for participants. After that, It was time to sharing from committess from division of facilitators. Facilitators sharing about Islam to participants.
  When the time was night is very memorable moment, because I secured the camp from shelter. On shelter, it's time to recharge mobile phone and handie talkie. When handie talkie charged, I play the handie talkie to talk with another committees. And in that's nigth I shared with my friend, Dary in shelter. I think, this place very comfortable to guard the camp. The shelter is near from stall, toilet, and boys camp.
  I stayed up at that's night until 2.00 a.m. After that, I woke up on 3.30 a.m. And then controlling the participants. On 7.00 a.m, in rundown the participants must play 5 post until qobla dzuhur. I was committee to work in one of post. But, we have problem in time, so the participants only play 4 post. After dzuhur, the participants went back to school and arrived on ashar.
  In school, the participants should follow the reflections from Mr. Dito about reflections to parents. And in thats time, all of the participant's parents was come, so  all of the participants was tearful.
  This event so memorable for participants and committees, because the event make me tired and full of purpose.

Last Holiday

My Holiday

  In end year holiday, I was so happy because I really enjoyed my holiday, then the holiday in my senior high school was so long, more than 3 weeks. So, I can enjoyed my holiday more longer than other holiday. In holiday, I trip to Surakarta, Mount Ciremai, Bogor, Jakarta, and many more.

  When I was on Surakarta, I visited my grandmother to play with her, because my grandfather was died, so my grandmother need attention from grandchildren. Me and my brother, Damar, visited my grandmother. We went from Kiara Condong's Station with train to Surakarta's Station, Balapan's Station. When arrived, we went to my grandmother's house with taxi. We visited my grandmother within 3 days. Then, we went to Bandung again.

  I went to Mount Ciremai wtih my friend. We went to Ciremai during the rainy season. But, the rainy season isn't the reason to go home. So, we make it a challenge to climb Mount Ciremai. We went from Bandung on 4.00 a.m. We arrived counter of Mount Ciremai on 8.00 a.m. So, we immediately climbed. In afternoon, the clouds very gloomy and very dark. So, we prepared for rain, we wore the raincoat and raincaover bag. Shortly after that, the rain was come. The rain so cold but the rain not heavy rain. We arrived to the peak in the evening, so we can enjoyed the sunset. Then, we builded the camp. Next day, we went home in the morning from the peak. We arrived counter of Mount Ciremai on 4.00 p.m. So immediately we went to Bandung.

  I went to Jakarta to visited my brothers and my aunt. I went to Bogor to learning about Al-Qur'an. My holiday very long, so I can visited a lot of place.

  I enjoyed my end year holiday, it's only a half of my experience in last holiday.

Holiday

                                             My Holiday

    In last holiday, I was just in Bandung. I only enjoyed my city, because in Bandung I am not too know very well. In Bandung, I enjoyed the condition when holiday. When holiday, Bandung’s people spend the time on another place, like hang out on another city. But, I only stayed in Bandung. I wanted a calm city. In my age, I like a calmness.

    When people go away from Bandung, no jammed in Bandung’s street, no pollution like everyday, not very noisy like everyday. When a half of Bandung’s people go away, I hanged out with my Junior High School’s friend. I surrounded Bandung with motorcycle. I so free when we hanged out Bandung. I am so happy have felt fresh air (not like everyday), and I can enjoyed Bandung more free than everyday when not on holiday.

    But, I can’t enjoy shopping in this holiday. Because, a half of market is closed. Yeah, a half of people go away from Bandung to enjoy the holiday. I think, they must enjoy other city to refreshing mind, because in Bandung is so stress. But, I think holiday in Bandung is nice too. Because to in my city we can learn what happen when my city on holiday.

    On last holiday, I helped my parents to clean up the house. And this work make me happy, because when all member my family is meet and worked together. I so happy when I am on my family.

Holiday in my city is so happy. On holiday, not always to go away from my city. Because, in my city is happy too.

Amazing Building

                                         30 St Mary Axe

    30 St Mary Axe (widely known informally as "the Gherkin" and previously the Swiss Re Building) is a skyscraper in London's main financial district, the City of London, completed in December 2003 and opened in April 2004. With 41 floors, the tower is 180 metres (591 ft) tall and stands on a street called St. Mary Axe, on the former site of the Baltic Exchange, which was extensively damaged in 1992 by the explosion of a bomb placed by the Provisional IRA.

    After the plans to build the Millennium Tower were dropped, 30 St Mary Axe was designed by Norman Foster and Arup engineers, and was erected by Skanska in 2001–2003.

The Gherkin’s famous bulging shape can be clearly distinguished from beyond the City and as far away as the M11, 20 miles to the east. In 2004 it won the UK’s top architectural accolade, the Stirling prize, with judges hailing its unique design as “elegant and impressive”.

   Yet the tower’s powerful and enduring wow factor is not just a bonus: it is an essential part of the building’s function, as the companies that occupy the Gherkin use it to promote themselves. For many tenants, the building’s appeal to clients is what justifies the annual rent of up to £750/m2 a year, nearly 15% higher than other top-grade City offices.

    “Why did we move here? Because of the prestige of the building,” says Fiona Eldridge, office manager of Primus Guaranty.

    “Every seminar we hold here is a sell-out,” adds Linda Felmingham, administrator at City law firm Hunton & Williams. Half of one of its two floors is filled by four meeting rooms that can be opened out into one large conference suite for more than 100 people, with its own fully equipped kitchen. “It’s amazing how everyone wants to come to this building. As a result, many doors have opened for us,” says Felmingham.

    The Gherkin is still promoted as “London’s first ecological building” on Foster + Partners’ website, which claims that it “will use 50% less energy than a traditional prestige office building”. Yet Stead, the building’s property services director, admits that “40-50% energy savings are a bit over-ambitious, because Swiss Re is the only tenant using the efficiencies of natural ventilation through opening windows and no internal partitions to block the air flow”.

    The building was designed to admit natural ventilation through windows that open right up to the 32nd floor, when the wind speed is below 10mph and the external temperature is between 20°C and 26°C – that is, up to 40% of the year.

    “We try to sell the whole energy package to every new tenant through their M&E consultant,” says Steve Brown, the building services manager. Unfortunately his exhortations have so far fallen on deaf ears, as all tenants except for Swiss Re have opted for full, all-year-round air-conditioning.

    “M&E consultants want maximum comfort for their clients and air-conditioning is more controllable than natural ventilation,” says Brown. “In addition, legal, financial and insurance companies want maximum confidentiality, so they have put up glass partitions round their offices, and that leaves nowhere for the fresh air to go.” The financial savings to be made by reducing air-conditioning is little incentive for firms that pay up to £750/m2 a year in rent.

    Other than trouble with natural ventilation, occupants find the internal environment comfortable. “We don’t suffer from too many hot or cold spots,” says Campbell. “And the noise level is very good.”

    Felmingham says: “The air-conditioning is always superb, and I’ve never said that about the other buildings we occupied in the City.”

Natural Phenomenon

                                              Acid Rain

   Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Governments have made efforts since the 1970s to reduce the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere with positive results. Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes and sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. The chemicals in acid rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and erosion of stone statues.

    Acid rain is rain consisting of water droplets that are unusually acidic because of atmospheric pollution - most notably the excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen released by cars and industrial processes. Acid rain is also called acid deposition because this term includes other forms of acidic precipitation such as snow.

    Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. If the acid chemicals in the air are blown into areas where the weather is wet, the acids can fall to the ground in the form of rain, snow, fog, or mist. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depends on several factors, including how acidic the water is; the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soils involved; and the types of fish, trees, and other living things that rely on the water.

      In areas where the weather is dry, the acid chemicals may become incorporated into dust or smoke and fall to the ground through dry deposition, sticking to the ground, buildings, homes, cars, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can be washed from these surfaces by rainstorms, leading to increased runoff. This runoff water makes the resulting mixture more acidic. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition.

      Because of these problems and the adverse effects air pollution has on human health, a number of steps are being taken to reduce sulfur and nitrogen emissions. Most notably, many governments are now requiring energy producers to clean smoke stacks by using scrubbers which trap pollutants before they are released into the atmosphere and catalytic converters in cars to reduce their emissions. Additionally, alternative energy sources are gaining more prominence today and funding is being given to the restoration of ecosystems damaged by acid rain worldwide.