WRITING
Climatology is the scientific study of climate. It is not only the study of weather, but it is defined with the same terms such as temperature, precipitation, wind, and solar radiation. Climatology is essential in order to understand the changes of the environment such as an aftershock from an earthquake or tsunami. For several years, humans have taken advantage of Earth’s resources by building a manufactured world. Little did humans know, that building such a world, with so much pollution, can destroy our beautiful planet.
Climatology is seen to be the basic structure of the Earth’s functions. It’s branched from a modern study of atmospheric sciences and an Earth science, known as Physical Geography. Climatology also includes the study of oceanography and biochemistry. Oceanography is another type of Earth science, and covers a wide variety of topics such as ecosystem dynamics, ocean currents, waves, geophysical fluid dynamics (the study of large scale flows on Earth and on other planets), plate tectonics, and geology of the ocean floor. Biogeochemistry involves the study of chemical, physical,geological, and biological processes that is a composition of the natural environment.
Global warming is something everyone needs to take seriously as it is the gradual increase of the Earth’s overall temperature. China is a main contributor to global warming, namely, sulfur dioxide that is burned from everyday activities like driving a car, cooking a meal, or simply charging a smartphone. China’s air pollution is not only affecting its own country, but other parts of the world as well. China’s trading industries carry goods across the Pacific Ocean that contribute pollution to western countries such as the United States. Powerful global winds called the “westerlies” carry pollution within the air that can contaminate almost anything with carbon, specifically, black carbon which cannot be washed out. The Earth has greenhouse gasses that trap the sun’s warmth in the planet’s lower atmosphere to keep us, humans, warm. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is a main pollutant that is warming the earth with factories, cars, planes, power plants, and anything that burns fossil fuels release all types of toxins in the air. All of China’s pollution is affecting the ozone layers. The Ozone layer is a layer in the Earth’s atmosphere which absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth from the sun. It is warming up the earth and causing drastic changes such as higher temperatures in all seasons and the ice caps melting. The current expected sea level is between 7-23 inches and it is predicted that in roughly 10 years, it will reach approximately 31 inches. If production of greenhouse gases continues, people can develop asthma, cancer, emphysema, as well as heart and lung disease. The earth will not be green, and our air will not be clean.
Just like everywhere else, the climate varies over time and is caused by changes in the ozone layers of the earth’s atmosphere. In California, the climate varies on a wide scale from a hot desert to subarctic weathers. In the bay area, the west waters and winds bring moisture into the air in San Francisco. Since San francisco is a place filled with smog and fog, the air is rather thick compared to Los Angeles. Personally, this topic has an impact on me because it is nice to see that the skies are blue and the air is fresh but since with drought happening in California, everything looks and feels so dry and dead, and the pollution in southern California makes it worse due to constant movie making, cars driving, and people simply not caring about the Earth. There has been a persistent drought since 2012 and it has been worsening, prompting Governor Edmund G Brown Jr. to issue a 25 percent water conservation mandate in June of last year. The drought is caused by global warming. Warmer temperatures are worsening the drought by causing most rivers and lakes to evaporate into the air. In 2015-2016 we have been getting rain and precipitation. We won’t be able to get back on track like we were in 2009-2010 but it’s better than nothing.
Climatology is an off and on subject for most political groups in the U.S. Some politicians just avoid the topic of global warming and move on onto other subjects. Al Gore, a politician and environmentalist really makes the subject clear that pollution is occurring in all parts of the world, the ice caps are melting, and the Earth is warming.
EVERGREEN- Warmer Oceans
Changes in ocean temperatures and currents brought about by climate change will lead to alterations in climate patterns around the world. Water feeling a little warmer? It could be caused by the warm atmospheric effect. The way it works is that the atmosphere affects the ocean, and the ocean affects it back. It’s a cycle; making temperatures rise and causing the oceans to absorb heat hence making the oceans warmer. But this is not new news. That's just how the cycle works. As greenhouse gases trap more energy from the sun, the oceans are absorbing more heat, resulting in an increase in sea surface temperatures and rising sea level.
I. Depression is just not a simple subject to crack. In fact, it’s more than that-it’s a mental illness. It’s a common but very serious mood disorder. Depression is a brain disorder that causes abnormal activity in the neural circuits. This can make someone feel lowly of themselves and can affect the way you act. It can cause sadness and lost of interest in daily activities. Fortunately it is a curable disorder.
Depression is just not simply feeling sad or down. It’s an illness caused by brain chemistry. “Research tells us that other factors contribute to the onset of depression, including genetics, changes in hormone levels, certain medical conditions, stress, grief or difficult life circumstances. Any of these factors alone or in combination can precipitate changes in brain chemistry that lead to depression’s many symptoms.” ("Depression: What Are Signs and Symptoms."Mental Health Fitness. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2017.) There are a lot of factors that can lead and cause depression. Many include genetic characteristics, hormone level changes, stress, grief, or substance abuse. A break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend can trigger existing depression or can cause a series of grief or sadness that can eventually lead up to clinical depression. People who have gone through physical changes in the body can be followed up with mental changes too. Medical illnesses such as a stroke, PTSD, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and hormonal disorders, can lead up to having depression. Being in a low socioeconomic group can also cause risks in having depression. “Women experience depression about twice as often as men. Hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women, particularly such factors as premenstrual changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause, and menopause. Many women face additional stresses, such as responsibilities at work and home, single parenthood, and caring for children and aging parents.” (Martin, Be. "What Are the Risk Factors for Depression?" Psych Central. N.p., 17 July 2016. Web. 15 May 2017.) There are many people who suffer from depression but don’t know it. People who are oblivious to their illness find out during when their depression is at it’s deepest points. Deepest points as in hurting oneself, or suicidal thoughts. Sadness and depression are two different feelings. Sadness is a normal feeling that passes. It is usually triggered by something or someone we get hurt from, or challenging/ disappointing events. This just means we’re sad about a situation. The situation can change and so can our feelings. Our sadness remits. Depression on the other hand is an abnormal feeling. It’s always a constant friend. It’s a constant feeling of loss and nothingness. Depression does not always require a situation or event. Being depressed makes you not sad about one situation, but everything. “Depression colors all aspects of our lives, making everything less enjoyable, less interesting, less important, less lovable, and less worthwhile. Depression saps our energy, motivation, and ability to experience joy, pleasure, excitement, anticipation, satisfaction, connection, and meaning. All your thresholds tend to be lower. You’re more impatient, quicker to anger and get frustrated, quicker to break down, and it takes you longer to bounce back from everything.” (Martin, Be. "What Are the Risk Factors for Depression?" Psych Central. N.p., 17 July 2016. Web. 15 May 2017.) According to Mental Health America, depression is a common mental illness that estimates about 6.7% of the American population. That is almost about 16 million people each year. Suicide is the second leading death for teens and young adults. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than cancer, AIDS, lung disease, strokes, and all sorts of physical illnesses combined. “Many times, signs of concern mimic “typical teenage behaviors”. So, how can we know if it’s just “being a teenager” or something more? If the signs are persisting over a period of time, several of the signs appear at the same time, and the behavior is “out of character” for the young person as you know him/her, then close attention is warranted.”("Signs & Concerns." Parent Resource Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2017.) Indirect statements about killing themselves can be a sign of suicide. Some examples are: “I hate my life”, “I’m better off dead”, “I hate myself”, “I want to kill myself”. Depression is a very serious illness but it is very curable. With therapy and medication, the mental illness can be cured within time and with the right people. Common anti-depressants include sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem),citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro),paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle) and, fluvoxamine (Luvox). Some negative side affects that come with the anti-depressants include nausea, increased appetite and weight gain, loss of sexual desire and other sexua lproblems, such as erectile dysfunction and decreased orgasm, fatigue and drowsiness insomnia, dry mouth,blurred vision, and constipation. If someone believes she or he is suffering from depression, that person can talk to a friend, guidance counselor, teacher, or make a phone call to a hotline.
II. Depression is not just found in a certain type of person. It can be found in anyone. Despite your gender, race, status, anyone can get it. Even celebrities. From the most funniest comedian to the bubbliest actress, depression has it’s ways. A singer that has always had a smile on her face as if there was nothing ever wrong with her life, Demi Lovato.
Demi Lovato was born on August 2oth, 1992. She is a singer and a songwriter. She debuted as a child actress in Barney and Friends and rose up to fame with Disney channel in 2008. She filmed her first movie Camp Rock and had her hit first song This is Me all in the same year too. In 2010 her personal issues led her career on a pause causing her show Sonny with a Chance to cancel. She then was getting treated for bipolar disorder and depression. She was struggling with a three-month-long residential treatment for bulimia, anorexia, and self harm (cutting). Today, Demi is very open about her past and how severely mentally ill she was. She is sharing her story with the world and is helping others coming through with their mental illnesses as well. “I feel like I am in control now, where for my whole life, I wasn’t in control,” - Demi Lovato.
III. I for one knew a few people who have suffered from depression. Growing up in a typical Asian home, mental illnesses or “being sad” was never talked about, so I never understood how depression worked. I didn’t care about it or think about anyone who seriously had it until I was diagnosed with it. After losing my friends from Middle School I lost all confidence in making new friends, lost all motivation to do anything, and ended up just being lonely. My loneliness led up to me getting sad a lot which gradually caught on to depression. All throughout Freshman year, feeling sad was always coming and going but it never fully left my head. Heading into Sophomore year,when I thought life itself was getting better, everything was more sad and alone. That’s when it hit me. I suddenly did not want to continue life and was ready to take any chances of ending it. In February of 2016 I finally got to seek for help after an attempted on my own life. After treatment and occuoying myself with activities that make me happy such as dancing, helping out my church, and actually reaching out with my friends from middle school and making new friends, I can say I’m much happier and content where I am right now. It’s a battle that I still sometimes struggle with but it does get better.
There Was A Child Went Forth
There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object she look’d upon, that she became,
And that object became part of her for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or searching cycles of years.
The earth and waterfall became part of this child.
And water and rocks and mud and leaves and wind, and the sounds of the waterfall,
And the dancing koi fish and the humidity of the air, and the sounds of rustling leaves and the laughter of my family members
And the cooling touch of the crisp clear water, and the texture of the ground and the texture of the mud beneath my feet, and the slow winds against her face
And the thought being at peace, being themselves so restlessly below there
And the earth and waterfall, all became apart of her.
The cool windy days of the hot-month and warm-month became apart of her.
Freedom from name callers and those who claim to have it better, and the feeling of not being afraid, of the fake friendly walls,
And the people who were my “friends” and the fake smile of the child whose labeled “happy”
And the feeling of leaving that place, that “everyone is accepted” place, that changed her to the happiest
And the time that pass’d, and the ice cream melted,
And the children proceeded to laugh and forget, and the birds proceeded to sing, and so did we.
And all the changes of those “friends” and hot warm months followed her wherever she went.
Her own parents, he that had father’d her and that she that had conceiv’d her in her womb and birth’d her,
They gave this child more of themselves than that,
They gave her afterward every day, they became apart of her.
The mother sitting on the couch, drinking coconut milk, fearing her child will not understand her on the way how she works...how her mind works,
The mother with the short black hair, impatiens, endless love, her love for chicken, and her own mother, a novice to everything.
The father, teacher, cook, lover, wiseman, the man, the old man, the mistaken man, the one with patience, the accepting one, open minded,
The brothers, friends, playmates, superiors, clowns, the boys who cause trouble, idols,
The family, broken, weird, unexplainable,
The family that will not be ever near perfect, the sense of what is love and hate, the family, if after all it’s a family in the end.
The water, the fake walls, the freedom, the peace, the broken mother, the patient father, the idol brothers,
These became apart of this child who went forth every day and who now goes, and will always go forth everyday.