Global Climate Change

           The Medieval Global Temperature Optimum, also know as the Medieval Warm Period, was a period of time from approximately the 9th to 13th centuries in which Europe and neighboring North Atlantic regions experienced temperatures comparable to, or even exceeding those of the late 20th century. With these higher temperatures, various plants and crops were grown and harvested in regions that are well north of their limits today. This is exemplified by the growth of grapes in northern regions of England that are not able to produce such crops today. Subtropical growth, such as fig and olive trees, was seen in regions of Italy and Germany that are well north of their current growth limits. Another outgrowth of this increase in temperature was the settling of Greenland and Iceland by Norse colonizers, who used these lands as places of agricultural growth and trade with mainland Europe due to the favorable climate conditions. Though theories differ slightly, it is strongly believed by some academics that this warm period did not impact the entire globe, and many believe that Europe and other regions in the North Atlantic were the primary areas in which this temperature increase took place.
          On the opposite end of the spectrum, from approximately 1300 to approximately 1870, much of Europe and North America experienced a period of lower temperatures and harsher winters known as the Little Ice Age. The exact cause of this dip in temperatures is unclear, but some academics have proposed that it stemmed from lower sunspot activity. This would result in less energy output from the sun that could warm the Earth. With less favorable climate conditions for subsistence farming, this era saw a great expansion of European trade, colonialism, and the rise of sea-born imperial powers, in particular that of Great Britain. With greater trade and expansion of global markets, there came a rise in specialization for international markets. The advances in technology that accompanied the later part of this era eventually culminate in coal and other fossil fuels becoming the main sources of power for industrial activity.
          These two counter-balancing periods of time impacted agriculture and trade in extremely different ways. Both drove trade to new heights and created stronger connections between the nations of Europe. It also epitomizes the idea that every time the pendulum of the climate swings one way, it will eventually swing that momentum back in the opposite direction.

For more information on these two eras, check out the links below:

http://www.eh-resources.org/timeline/timeline_lia.html

http://www.meteo.psu.edu/holocene/public_html/shared/articles/medclimopt.pdf

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/globalwarming/medieval.html

Pollution in Tianjin

           With a rating from Real Time Air Quality Index Visual Map of 677, the city of Tianjin ranks as one of the most polluted locations in China, which is no small accomplishment given the rampant air pollution present in the People's Republic. The Chinese government is hardly oblivious to this situation and has mandated traffic and industrial restrictions in the city on days of particularly poor air quality. As a nation focused almost exclusively on economic growth, the emergence of industrial cities like Tianjin have become common throughout the country, but recent complaints about the poor air quality and levels of pollution have stirred the government to pursue a reversal of the environmental degradation this has caused. As an industrial center for steel, thermal energy, and cement manufacturing plants, coupled with the increased use of automobiles and urbanization, it is not particularly difficult to understand why air quality is so poor in this particular region. The more interesting questions surround the attempts to curb continued degradation of air quality. First, will traffic and industrial restrictions actually significantly impact or improve the air quality in Tianjin? Then, how will these restrictions impact the economic growth that China has enjoyed so greatly in recent decades?

Below are links to more detailed information on Tianjin and its air pollution:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/19/uk-china-pollution-idUSKBN0DZ19O20140519

http://aqicn.org/map/china/

Nickel

          Nickel (Ni) is the fifth most common element on earth and is abundantly found in the earth's crust. Due to its abundance and extractability, it is used in nearly 300,000 products around the world. The majority of the applications of nickel involve the creation of alloys, especially with the element chromium in creating equipment that is extremely resistant to heat.

 

          The ore that is necessary for the production of nickel is mined in 23 countries around the world, including Russia, Greece, Brazil, South Africa, and China. While the naturally occurring oxide is mined in these places, the refineries are often located elsewhere, in such places as Japan, France, and the United Kingdom. All told, 25 countries house refineries or smelting plants for the post-mining process. Over 1.4 million tons of primary nickel are produced each year, which is relatively little compared to the same statistic for copper and steel. Below is a map that indicates the geographic distribution of nickel production:

          The metal ore of nickel is extracted from the earth's crust through a process that involves roasting and reduction which brings it out in its purest possible form. It is finally extracted when it reaches a purity of 75% or greater. Below is an image of the Mount Keith Nickel Mine:

          Once the nickel ore has been extracted and refined, the process of creating an alloy is the most common next step in terms of material production. Due its exceptional resistance to heat, corrosion, and its toughness, nickel is often used for a number of items used in our everyday lives, including transport, household equipment, and power generation. Alloys of nickel, chromium, and iron are frequently used to make stainless steel, accounting for 65% of nickel production. These types of alloys are used in items ranging from kitchen appliances and medical equipment to technical and specialist engineering purposes. Nickel also has uses as a catalyst for chemical reactions, as well as serving as a key part in rechargeable battery systems used in many modern appliances.  

Below is a link to my source material from The Nickel Institute's website:

http://www.nickelinstitute.org/NickelUseInSociety/AboutNickel.aspx