Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. This section provides information on emissions and removals of the main greenhouse gases to and from the atmosphere. For more information on the other climate forcers, such as black carbon, please visit the Climate Change Indicators: Climate Forcing page.

The Earth has a natural greenhouse effect due to trace amounts of water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere. These gasses let solar radiation reach the Earth’s surface, but they absorb infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and thereby lead to the heating of the surface of the planet. One needs to distinguish between the natural greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect. The natural greenhouse effect is caused by the natural amounts of greenhouse gasses and is vital to life. In the absence of the natural greenhouse effect, the surface of the Earth would be approximately 33 °C cooler. The enhanced greenhouse effect refers to the additional radiative forcing resulting from increased concentrations of greenhouse gasses induced by human activities. The main greenhouse gasses whose concentrations are rising are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and ozone in the lower atmosphere.

The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) observes, analyses and publishes greenhouse gas data collected by fifty countries around the globe from the High Arctic to the South Pole. The greenhouse gasses monitored include:

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) (incl. Δ14C, δ13C and δ18O in CO2, and O2/N2 Ratios)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
• Halocarbons and SF6
• Molecular Hydrogen (H2)

The data are collected and distributed by the World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) at the Japan Meteorological Agency. The GAW Scientific Advisory Group for Greenhouse Gases (SAG-GHG) advises on the programme development. GAW issues the annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, which reports on the latest trends and atmospheric burdens of the most influential, long-lived greenhouse gasses, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as a summary of the contributions of the lesser gasses.

Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure – Developing the Concept

Currently, most GHG monitoring undertaken globally relies heavily on research capabilities and research funding. The intermittent nature of most research funding and the competitive processes used for its allocation makes sustained global monitoring difficult to achieve.

References

https://public.wmo.int/en/our-mandate/focus-areas/environment/greenhouse-gases#:~:text=The%20main%20greenhouse%20gases%20whose,ozone%20in%20the%20lower%20atmosphere.

Author Biography

Ahmed Anaal Abdulla Umar is an 11 year old. His hobbies are playing chess, playing football (not soccer), and playing Minecraft and Black. He is from the Maldives.

Cite this article as:

Ahmed Anaal Abdulla Umar, Greenhouse Gasses, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Greenhouse Gasses - theCircle Composition

On 20th April 2012, the world experienced the biggest oil spillage ever when the oil drilling rig Deepwater Horizon suffered a massive explosion when methane gases rose up into the drilling rig where it ignited, exploded and sunk, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. 2 days later, the oil spill was spotted from the former rig site, spanning a massive 180,000 square kilometres of water and affecting 8,300 marine species including more than 1,270 fish, 210 birds, 29 sea mammals and more. The story above shows the effect of an oil spill, but in order to understand it fully, we need to start with the basics.

Oil spills, to be put simply, are when large amounts of petroleum leak into a large body of water. Some infamous examples of oil spills include Deepwater Horizon, but there have been incidents in the past as well. Oil spills were a huge problem in the 1960s as a result of intensified drilling on oil rigs and the sinking of supertankers carrying more than 500,000 metric tons of oil. Now that is a lot! Thankfully now these incidents are rare as, over the years, environmental regulations and strict shipping have been put in place. Nevertheless, there can still be smaller leaks, like from well discharges on oil rigs and tankers leaking still happen. And the environmental consequences can be tragic…

Oil spills are dangerous for our environment in every way. If a fur or feather-bearing mammal gets into contact with oil, it may die of hypothermia. Additionally, it blocks sunlight from penetrating the surface and reduces the level of dissolved oxygen. And even worse, if a marine animal ingests oil, it will most likely be toxic to them and can result in death. Oil spills can even affect human life. The oil may spread to coasts, estuaries and any opening to a smaller body of water. If the oil reaches a coast or populated coastline, the water can become contaminated and affect water sports businesses and can pollute the drinking water supply.

There are many ways to clean up oil spills, like the use of oil brooms, a fence-like device that can stop the spread of oil. Other ways to clean up the oil are the use of absorbents and skimmers. There is no way to fully prevent an oil spill, however, as accidents can happen that discharge oil.

To summarize everything above, the oil spill is a large discharge of petroleum that affects both marine life and human life in a negative way. There are effective ways to clean oil, but there is no way to fully prevent a spill as of now. My insight on this topic is that: Humans have definitely learned from their mistakes in the 1960s and have found a good way to combat spills, and hopefully, in the future, we can no longer worry about spills.

References

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oilimpacts.html

https://www.britannica.com/science/oil-spill

Author Biography

Aydin Ismail Razeen is a 13-year-old teenager who likes to draw, write and hang out with his friends. He joined Leaders of Tomorrow 2023 to learn leadership qualities and how to become a responsible leader. He also likes to play video games and read books in his free time.

Cite this article as:

Aydin Ismail Razeen, Pollution: The effects on Our Health, Future and Environment, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Oil Spills, the deadly stain on our oceans and coast - theCircle Composition

Our world is in great danger because the climate is starting to change constantly. The greenhouse emission is causing the earth to warm up. Due to this, ice and glaciers are melting. Polar bears and seals tend to lose their homes. It is not only this that is destroyed. Many forests are catching bushfires, leaving animals with fewer survival percentages.

Animals’ loss, global warming, extinction. A time-lapse to 800 million years ago (Smithsonian, n.d.) when animals were born into existence. The first animal evolved from colonial protists millions of years ago. Far in the ages of dinosaurs, you drifted into your history textbook.

Surrounded by a desert full of cacti and a little pond of water. No phones or houses were built, just hard caves covered with cacti. You look around the island and realize how beautiful it is. Not a speck of plastic or a drop of tissue. All green animals were happily crunching and munching on the thin, slice grass. Rhinoceros were there, as so many other species. You see plain yellow sand, and your outfit has changed into a cape of far and a stick on your hand. Starving like a bear slithering like a snake, your first attempt was to find food. Going near the river to look for food and accidentally tripping over a rock, you land face-first into the water. Am I drowning? No, I am sitting on a pterodactyl: flapping, bird-like dinosaur that drops into a middle of a cliff. On the head of the pterodactyl, a purple bottle was placed. Picking it up and drinking, your eyes shut with tiredness.

You time-travelled to now and all pollution and smoke. Harmful gases and people dying. Rhinoceros were almost extinct—so many buildings and so few animals that only a few were protected and rescued from humans. You can hardly find a green fresh environment.

A little glimpse at the Earth brought such terror. Then again whisked into a swirling blue. Everywhere you saw grey and black. Animals were dead. Gloomy people. Fewer trees. All animals were extinct. Only a few were saved. Humans were left all heartbroken without animals. Pets were dead. Zoos were closed. Hart stung worse than a bee’s sting.

Even scientists are still determining if most animals will survive in the near future. And it is all because of me and you. Due to the throwing of plastic into the ocean, a variety of fish is dying. And using body sprays causes the ozone layer to thin, leading to a warmer atmosphere. This is causing less survival rate for polar bears and seals.  As well as that, many bushfires are caused because bushes are getting dry and humid. This causes wild animals to lose their homes and trees to die.

Habitat destruction is one of the major threats on Earth. But scientists say we can reduce the percentage by reducing the use of chemicals and protecting our environment. If we work together, nothing is impossible.

References

National Geographic. (1996-2023). From National Geographic Environment: Habitats: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/habitat/

Smithsonian. (n.d.). National Museum of Natural History. From Smithsonian National Musem of Natural History: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/life-science/early-life-earth-animal-origins

Author Biography

Azka Ibrahim is a 13 year old girl studying in Grade 7. She lives in the capital city of Maldives, Male, with her family. She began her journey at Ugail Foundation in 2021, joining the Coding and Critical Thinking program. And last year finished the Advance Coding program. In 2o23, she joined the Leaders for Tomorrow program. Her favourite hobbies are reading books, writing stories and poems. And painting scenery with different mediums of colours. Also, she loves making crafts for different occasions and give to family members and friends.

Cite this article as:

Azka Ibrahim, Habitat Destruction: Loss, Death, Loneliness, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Habitat Destruction: Loss, Death, Loneliness - theCircle Composition

If you had to pick, would you rather die of starvation, or would you rather die due to harsh environmental conditions? Tough decision, isn’t it? Food and a safe environment is necessary for our survival. If either of them were to vanish we would go extinct. However, even in the process of getting food we are harming our environment

Where does our food come from?

The majority of our food comes from agriculture. Agriculture is defined as the growing of crops and raising of livestock. You may be wondering, how does agriculture affect the environment? Agriculture doesn’t seem like the kind of thing that would be harming our environment.  But, agriculture is actually among the greatest contributors to global warming. Can you believe that agriculture emits more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trains and aeroplanes combined?

How does agriculture affect our environment?

As I mentioned before, agriculture is a major contributor to global warming. This is mainly because of the methane which is released by cattle and rice farms and the nitrous oxide released from fertilized fields. Multiple rainforests have to be cut to make space for farms, and because of this, there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide are all greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming. Because of global warming, glaciers and ice sheets are melting, and the areas where a plant or an animal is found is shifting.

Other than being a major contributor to global warming, agriculture is the main source of pollution in some countries. Tools that are used in agriculture, such as pesticides and fertilizers, can be harmful to the environment and us by causing pollution, such as water pollution. These pesticides and fertilizers can contaminate water and soil, which can harm us. Most of these pesticides and fertilizers aren’t biodegradable, which means they are going to pollute the environment, and they’ll last a really long time. These pesticides and fertilizers can also enter the food chain harming animals. Imagine those poor animals facing problems they had nothing to do with.

The way we should take action

Seeing this as a serious issue, we should do our part when doing agriculture to try and reduce environmental damage, but seeing as we can’t cut out doing agriculture entirely (because then we’ll die of starvation), we have to minimize the damage from agriculture as much as possible.

As we know, agriculture can be divided into 2 parts: The raising of livestock and the growing of crops. To minimize the impact of the raising of livestock, there are two main possible solutions. One is beyond meat. This is plant-based meat which tastes like meat but is plant-based. The other solution is lab-grown meat. This is meat that is grown from the cells of animals. The reason why these are solutions is because it relies on smaller space, it’s cheap, and it doesn’t require the raising of livestock, which will reduce the greenhouse gasses emitted from agriculture by a lot. On a positive note, it’s also animal cruelty-free.

To minimize the impact of growing crops, modern technology is very helpful. This is because modern technology can increase the yield of crops, make fertilizer usage efficient and minimize the use of water. Some examples are hydroponics and vertical farming.

We can also make individual decisions that will help our environment, such as reducing our own food waste. The annual food wastage for the whole planet is 2.5 billion tonnes! Can you imagine all the food that is being wasted each year! We can also support companies that use environmentally friendly solutions to produce food through agriculture.

Conclusion

Doing environmentally-friendly agriculture may not be easy when agriculture practically feeds the entire human population, but a healthy environment is also necessary for our survival.

Reference:

• nifa.usda.gov
• nationalgeographic.com , education.nationalgeographic.org
• world wildlife.org
  

Author Biography

Sarah Saamee Mohamed is a 13 year old studying at Billabong International School in the 7th grade. Her hobbies include reading and playing tennis. Sarah aspires to be like her mother, who works in finance.

Cite this article as:

Sarah Saamee Mohamed, Pollution: Agriculture and the environment: Feeding the world without destroying it, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Agriculture and the Environment: Feeding the World Without Destroying it. - theCircle Composition

Renewable energy has become an increasingly important topic in recent years, as the world continues to grapple with the challenge of reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. Renewable energy sources are those that can be replenished naturally and sustainably, such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass. In contrast to non-renewable sources like coal, oil, and gas, renewable energy is abundant, clean, and does not contribute to the emission of greenhouse gasses.

One of the most widely used forms of renewable energy is solar power. Solar energy is harnessed using photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. The use of solar panels has become increasingly popular, especially in areas with abundant sunlight. In addition to being environmentally friendly, solar energy is also becoming increasingly cost-effective, making it an attractive option for many individuals and businesses.

Another important source of renewable energy is wind power. Wind turbines can be used to generate electricity by harnessing the power of the wind. Wind power is particularly popular in areas with strong and consistent winds, such as coastal regions and mountaintops. Wind energy is also becoming more cost-effective, making it an increasingly viable alternative to traditional energy sources.

Geothermal energy is another promising source of renewable energy. Geothermal power plants use the heat from the earth's core to generate electricity. Geothermal energy is particularly effective in areas with geothermal hotspots, such as Iceland and New Zealand. While geothermal energy has significant potential, it is currently a less widely used form of renewable energy than solar or wind power.

Hydropower is another important source of renewable energy. Hydropower plants generate electricity by harnessing the power of moving water. This can be achieved using dams, turbines, or other mechanisms. Hydropower is particularly effective in areas with strong and consistent water flows, such as rivers and waterfalls. While hydropower has significant potential, it is also subject to environmental concerns, particularly regarding the impact of dams on local ecosystems.

Finally, biomass is another important source of renewable energy. Biomass refers to organic materials that can be burned to generate electricity. This can include wood, crops, and even waste materials like sawdust and agricultural residues. While biomass has significant potential, it is also subject to environmental concerns, particularly about the impact of biomass production on land use and biodiversity.

In conclusion, renewable energy has the potential to transform the way we generate and use energy. By harnessing the power of the sun, wind, geothermal sources, water, and biomass, we can reduce our reliance on non-renewable sources of energy and significantly reduce our carbon footprint. While there are still significant challenges to overcome, including the need for more efficient and cost-effective technology and addressing environmental concerns, the promise of renewable energy is too great to ignore. As we continue to explore and develop new forms of renewable energy, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

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Author Biography

Shaana Ali Abdul Rahman was born on 2nd August 2008, on her home island, LH.Naifaru. She is interested in watching anime, reading books, playing badminton and studying. She enjoys writing stories more than essays.

Cite this article as:

Shaana Ali Abdul Rahman, Harnessing Natural Resources for a Sustainable Future, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Harnessing Natural Resources for a Sustainable Future - theCircle Composition

Renewable resources is such a simple topic although it holds the utmost importance to the survival of us humans and the environment we live in. Right now, we are going down a road which is not benefitting the Earth and people take it for granted, yet it is the cold, bitter truth.

To put it simply, renewable resources are those that can be naturally replaced or replenished over a short period of time such as wind energy or solar energy and usually have a low to zero carbon footprint. As of today, around 30% of the World's energy comes from these renewable resources and is the fastest-growing energy source. It has numerous uses such as electricity generation, transportation and temperature management.

You may be wondering where the other 70% of energy in the world comes from, well three words: Non-Renewable Energy. These are the energy sources that can't be replenished and greatly accounts for an immense disaster which is hanging, figuratively and literally, above our heads. I'm talking about Global Warming. Global warming is the steady increase of temperature on Earth, occurring due to greenhouse gasses that are released into the Earth's atmosphere, preventing heat from escaping into space. One of the major effects is that the polar ice caps are melting, which is leading to rising sea levels. It is said that coastal countries and cities are to be underwater by 2050 if the ice caps keep on melting at this rate.

Preventing this catastrophe is only possible if every single person on Earth does their part, which is reducing the use of things which further harm our environment. For example, walking or using a bicycle to get to places which aren't far away instead of using a motorcycle or car to get there. These small actions have huge impacts and it all counts towards protecting our Earth.

Taking everything into account, if all of us do our part, no matter how large or how small, we can protect the planet which we call home and work towards a brighter future.

References

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/renewable_resource.asp&ved=2ahUKEwiYo_K-ion-AhUvSmwGHSFmDEUQFnoECAwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2IMGn2Ns1bCJm8zkJqOe8P

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/renewable-resources/&ved=2ahUKEwiYo_K-ion-AhUvSmwGHSFmDEUQFnoECE0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw11KCzPn3yKQHJo6KT_8wAH

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101&ved=2ahUKEwiyup3xion-AhVlUGwGHVJ8CvgQFnoECCoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2HbTjOiDUqepQS70N8oBd

Author Biography

Ahmik is a student studying in Male' who enjoys spending time with friends and family. He also enjoys reading stories, skateboarding, and anything & everything to do with the ocean.

Cite this article as:

Ahmik Aayan Afeef, Renewable Resources: The Endless Potential to Sustainable Energy Sources!, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Renewable Resources: The Endless Potential to Sustainable Energy Sources! - theCircle Composition

There I was, leisurely swimming through the reefs when I saw it; a big blob of seaweed. I swam towards it at top speed, opening my mouth, taking a big bite, and then… immediately spitting it out? “ Eww, that's not seaweed! That's PLASTIC!”

Pollution is the presence of a harmful or poisonous substance in the environment.  A pollutant is a substance that pollutes or harms the environment, especially the atmosphere or water.

Ocean pollution, otherwise known as Marine pollution occurs when substances that are used or spread by humans, enter and pollute the ocean.  There are two main types of pollutants that cause Ocean Pollution, they are Trash (mainly plastics) and Chemicals‌‌.

Littering, storm winds, and poor waste management all contribute to trash being a source of ocean pollution. A common type of ocean debris includes various plastics, including shopping bags, bottles, bottle caps, plastic nets, and food wrappers. These wastes are particularly problematic as plastic takes a long time to decompose.

This trash leads to dangerous to humans, animals, and reefs. Fishes become tangled and injured in debris, some animals mistake plastics for food, and small organisms feed on tiny bits of plastic, absorbing the chemicals in its tissues. Humans and other animals would most likely get sick or poisoned when they eat these contaminated fishes and organisms.

This is caused by human activities, mostly agriculture. The use of fertilizers by farms leads to the runoff of chemicals into waterways leading to the ocean.

The increased amount of concentration of different chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in coastal areas and oceans stimulates the growth of algal blooms. This can be toxic for ecosystems and wildlife and harmful to humans. These negative health and environmental effects hurt the local fishing and tourism industry.

There are many other causes of Ocean Pollution, such as Direct discharge which is when pollutants enter the oceans, rivers and streams straight from the urban sewerages and industrial waste disposals, occasionally in the form of hazards and toxic wastes.

Deep sea mining is also a cause of Marine Pollution. Deep sea mining is an experimental seabed mining that involves the retrieval of minerals and deposits from the ocean floor. Some of the potentially toxic metals such as Copper and rare earth minerals such as lanthanum increase the noise, light, sediment le dan plumes and elements that have the potential to impact environs.

Owing to the fact that these causes can destroy our environment, many countries are taking action. Solutions include prevention and cleaner. Limiting the amount of plastic used in daily life and cleaning up the already polluted oceans and seas. According to a report in 2018 from the United Nations, more than sixty countries have validated regulations to limit or ban the use of easily disposed plastic. We ourselves could also help by sorting our trash and plastic, by not littering the beautiful ocean that surrounds us.

‌‌‌‌

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_pollution

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/marine-pollution/

The picture was generated via gencraft- https://gencraft.com/generate‌‌

Author Biography

Eshal is a 14-year-old student who studies in Ahmadhiyya International School, 7th grade. She loves reading and enjoys writing stories. Her favourite colour is Forest green and she is a selenophile. When she grows up she wants to be an archaeologist or astronomer for she is interested in unearthing the past of the world and further discovering outer space.‌‌
                                                         

Cite this article as:

Eshal Mohamed Fayaz, Ocean Pollution: The Sea of Plastic and Other Menaces, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Ocean Pollution: The Sea of Plastic and Other Menaces - theCircle Composition

‌‌

“Not again!”, Fred, the town doctor exclaimed as his 12th patient of the day was rushed into his ward that day. It was the same symptoms as all the others. High fever, stomachache, nausea and vomiting. A lot of vomiting. Fred was on his last straw. He had half a mind to barge in on those stuck-up rich people with their shiny, fancy schmancy cars, and give them a piece of his mind. All of their posh cars and titanic factories were poisoning all these people, or rather- the oceans.

Ocean acidification has surely been a topic that has been overlooked for too long, even by me! My first impression of the topic was that it was just global warming rephrased or something of the like. It has come to my understanding that this topic is one to be handled with utmost seriousness. For countries like the Maldives and Iceland, which consume amounts of seafood in the range of 34,000 tonnes to 47,000 tonnes annually, if their main food source becomes contaminated, it could be cataclysmic.

Ocean Acidification is a big problem, and there are few who would argue otherwise. Even though it is a major problem, it has only one major cause. The very same cause too many other phenomena such as global warming.. emissions of carbon dioxide (The very same gas that is produced by the cars and factories Fred mentioned) !! Many different activities, such use of engines and the burning of objects can actually contribute to the emissions of CO2. This leads to the ocean being exposed to this gas and gradually becoming more and more acidic.

The science behind ocean acidification is not as complex as one might think. For starters, it just needs to be known that whilst oxygen is neutral, hydrogen and Carbon are known to be more acidic. CO2 contains carbon and water contains hydrogen, and when these two meet, an acid is formed with the combination of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, by the name of carbonic acid. Then the acid breaks down into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. The important part is hydrogen ions which are what cause the ocean to become acidic.

Even when most people hear of this, they still choose to dismiss the significance of this phenomenon. The truth is that this will impact humans in more ways than one. One might argue that humans could live without eating any fish or seafood, but they cannot say the same for all of the animal kingdom. Excluding marine life, we have to think about our water. While water is being purified for safe usage, it would only add to this process if the water was acidic. In addition, a large percentage of the oxygen that humans breathe in would become unsafe as well.

Saving our oceans from such a big disaster may seem futile, but if individuals such as you, me and Fred do our jobs properly, we will come to see a day when our ocean is as clear as glass. We would have to slowly decrease our output of carbon emissions to make it possible.

References

Ocean Acidification

Jean-Pierre Gattuso, ‎Lina Hansson · 2011

Author Biography

Ahmed Mikail is a boy who is currently in grade 8 at Iskandhar School. He has a hobby of reading and playing different games. He likes all STEM subjects and enjoys studying. He also likes listening to and even singing songs.

Cite this article as:

Ahmed Mikail Ali Zahir, Acidification Of Our Oceans: A Slow And Silent Killer, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Acidification Of Our Oceans: A Slow And Silent Killer - theCircle Composition

What is extinction, well it is when a species is when a species is no longer present in the world. You may be wondering why we care about extinction. Let us dive into the deep ocean and look at its deeper aspects.

Well, extinction can cause many hardships for us humans and other species as well. This is caused by many reasons, like when the habitats of animals are destroyed for agriculture, urbanization, and deforestation, and this is also caused by other factors like climate change, pollution and hunting of species by humans.

Extinction leads to our biodiversity being severely affected as the food chain is broken if even one prey or predator goes extinct. Not only that, we can also lose our main source of medicine, which is flora and fauna. We can see that 80% of the destruction of Amazon will have many consequences as it is a main source of oxygen and a source of our medicine.

The first step to prevent extinction is to learn more about the species in your community and in the world. We should also reduce the use of plastics and products that are harmful to animals and products made from animals like fur. Then one of the most important things we can do is protect the habitats of our precious animal species that are in danger.

Before it is too late, we should start to help the species that are still in this world by organizing funds and helping organizations that want to help create a better environment for the species. We should create a better environment for us and other species.

References

https://www.britannica.com/question/What-is-extinction

https://www.ck12.org/book/cbse_biology_book_class_xii/section/19.3

https://wolfcenter.org/what-are-the-consequences-of-extinction/

https://www.savacations.com/medicinal-plants-amazon-uses-modern-medicine/

Author Biography

Aminath Libaa Shahid is a 14-year-old who is an ambitious girl. She lives in a world of creativity and imagination. Though she wants to be normal, she tends to be distinguishable from others. She is a girl living in Male, Maldives, hoping to travel and explore certain parts of the world. She enjoys reading, writing, and listening to music. She loves K-pop and dreams of attending a concert, as her number one passion is singing. She also has a dream of playing volleyball as she watches an anime about it, which she also loves. She also loves to try new things though she halfway loses her interest.

Cite this article as:

Aminath Libaa Shahid, Extinction: Our Downfall, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Extinction: Our Downfall - theCircle Composition

Once upon a time, a time on earth when the earth was clean, when there was less pollution, and when it was a place Humans didn’t litter everywhere. One day, when plastic was becoming more used, humans started littering everywhere- lakes, parks, streets, and beaches. As a result, it started affecting the environment. The affected Environment was caused by humans and led to a catastrophe.

Luckily, we found a solution for this issue- The Waste Management. In the United States, the concept of waste management emerged. Since then, we have been using waste management to manage to this day to make sure we have a sustainable life and a future.

You are probably wondering, what is waste management? Well, waste management is a strategy to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Additionally, to prevent waste.And to save our environment from getting affected.

How does waste management work? Waste management works when we manage our waste by recycling. When we recycle waste, we are making huge progress in protecting the environment from getting affected.

You might be thinking, why is waste management so important? The answer is simple. Waste management saves our environment from the toxic effects of waste.

Now you know what waste management is, and how it works. Our environment is getting affected day by day due to the mismanagement of waste. Waste management is important, especially when it comes to our environment. This information is very important to use it wisely. I am not asking you to go all on about waste management. Spread the word! Give advice! And have a nice life!

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/waste-management

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/waste-management


Author Biography

Sarah Shakeeb is 12 years old, and is a participant in the Leaders of Tomorrow program by the Ugail Foundation. Sarah's hobby is swimming. And it's her favourite sport to do. Sarah loves learning and has a dream of becoming a doctor one day.    

Cite this article as:

Sarah Shakeeb, Waste management: A Critical component of a sustainable future, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Waste management: A Critical component of a sustainable future. - theCircle Composition

Did you know that the Ozone Layer is on track to full recovery? It’s amazing! But have you ever wondered, ‘Why did it have a “hole” in the first place?’. Let me take you on an adventure through the Ozone Layer.

The Ozone Layer is a “belt” around the earth in the stratosphere, made up of molecules called ‘Ozone’. Ozone comprises 3 oxygen molecules. The Ozone Layer protects us by absorbing 2 types of UV radiation from the sun. UV-B and UV-C. UV-B Is responsible for causing sunburns, and UV-C is known for causing skin damage.

In 1985, scientists discovered a massive loss in the ozone right over Antarctica. 40% of the layer had disappeared. And it was getting worse every year. In 1986, DR. Susan Solomon, an Atmospheric Scientist, and a few other scientists flew to Antarctica to investigate the cause of the Ozone Hole. After running a few tests,

They all came to one conclusion; ChloroFluoroCarbons. Or, CFCs. When CFCs float to the stratosphere, the sun breaks them down to Chlorine. The chlorine binds with the Ozone and separates the molecules making Chlorine Monoxide. Then, the loose oxygen atoms bump out the Chlorine and cause a chain reaction.

In 1987, Ozone levels had dropped by 50%. Such scientists like Dr Solomon held press conferences to alert the public. And the Ozone began showing up in Movies and TV shows. And so, the Montreal Protocol made it official. Every country signed the protocol in due course, making it the only universal treaty to agree to. Since then, Ozone depleting substances such as HFCs, CFCs, and Methyl Bromide consumption have Plummeted. And today, The ozone layer is now Shrinking. By 2065, The Ozone Layer is expected to heal Completely.

We have been on an adventure through the Ozone Layer. We know why it has a hole in it, and We have found ways to fix it!

References

https://www.nature.com/articles/315207a0

https://go.nasa.gov/2RftJDE

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/91212/ozone-hole-is-smallest-since-1988

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/WorldWithoutOzone

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/91694/measurements-show-reduction-in-ozone-eating-chemical

Author Biography

Maryam Alveena Ali is 12 years old and part of the Leaders of Tomorrow program. She is from Malé, Maldives. She has written a composition about Ozone layer depletion. Alveena goes to Majeediyya school. She is in grade 6 and has the ambition to become an astronaut. Her hobbies include drawing, collecting bottlecaps, painting, and Reading.

Cite this article as:

Maryam Alveena Ali, OZONE LAYER DEPLETION: A Hole In The Sky And Our Defences, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). OZONE LAYER DEPLETION: A Hole In The Sky And Our Defences - theCircle Composition

Imagine this; happening so fast, you see the world change in ways that it’s not supposed to. You look to the right, and you see the last polar bear suffering from heat in what was supposed to be a breezy country. To the left, a child, once who enjoyed playing in the sun, struggled to live in the cold with no food.

Let me tell you a fact; the earth is getting hotter than it’s supposed to be. Is that a good thing? No, not exactly. It’s actually dangerous. Let me tell you the things you need to know about climate change, the heating up of this planet. Climate change is the long changes in temperature shifts or weather patterns. Climate can be mistaken for weather, but weather can change day to day, whereas climate is different. Climate change can cause the weather to be a bit less predictable and can cause unexpected weather.

Now let me tell you another fact; I bet if you didn’t know already, there is ice literally melting in Antarctica. That’s not supposed to be right; it’s supposed to be freezing cold there! But all because of climate change, the ice is melting. And because of the ice melting, sea levels have risen around the world, and some say that the Maldives will sink within years. But to understand why this is happening, you must know the science of climate change. Since the 18th Century, humans have been the reason for current climate change, and the earth is 1.1ºC warmer than in the 1800s. When burning oil, coal, and fossil fuels and cutting trees, natural gas releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, such as CO². And mostly because of this, greenhouse gasses trap the heat from the sun's rays in the atmosphere, which makes the earth feel a lot hotter.

Okay, so why is this so dangerous? Well, the reason is that in different parts of the world, climate change has been the reason for droughts (no water for days!), severe fires or wildfires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice and probably more. Unpredicted weather could also damage crops which global food systems rely on. In late 2019 and early 2020, Australia had a wildfire which had burnt an estimated 24,000 square miles, and the blazes killed around 1.5 billion animals. Coral bleaching in the deep beautiful seas has ruined the colourful corals and turned pale due to the changes in temperature, which have unfortunately affected the sea as well. The glacial ice sheets in Greenland as well have been melting, and if it melts entirely, global sea levels could rise to 20 feet.

This doesn’t mean no one has been taking action. The use of solar panels has been great so far, using the heat to get electricity and energy. People around the world are reducing the use of electricity and heat powered by fossil fuels, oil and coal. Taking a walk and riding a bicycle can help with transport and can give you a nice workout. You could also use the 3Rs; Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. It helps you to recycle things rather than throw them away. You could also save energy at home and limit the use of your devices. Various engineers are making transport electric and powered by solar panels so it will reduce CO². But if you would like to do more, you could be one of the braves to speak up about climate change and the effects of it, and donate to charities that contribute to fighting climate change.

Now you know about the dangers of climate change and what people are doing to reflect it. Don’t be afraid to spread this information! Each year and day passes, climate change is getting stronger, but many have useful ideas on how to stop the heat, which is great to know. Even if you don’t want to go all out on climate change, give advice, spread awareness, and live a healthy life!

References

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/climate-change/

https://www.snexplores.org/article/climate-change-drove-australian-wildfires-to-extremes

https://www.un.org/actnow

https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/six-ways-loss-of-arctic-ice-impacts-everyone#:~:text=Polar%20ice%20caps%20are%20melting,declined%20by%20a%20stunning%2095%25.

Author Biography

Imani Abdulla Shafy is a twelve-year-old sixth grader who aspires to be an author and a musician when she grows older, though having a bit of a long way to go. Ambivert and social, she does basketball, music, rollerblading and writing to keep herself company. Sometimes though, she enjoys watching movies with her family, hanging out with friends and cousins, or just making the most of her own time.

Cite this article as:

Imani Abdulla Shafy, Climate Change; The Scorching Days of Earth, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Climate Change; The Scorching Days of Earth - theCircle Composition

My brother comes home from school and boots up my dad’s laptop. He asks me if I know what an ecological footprint is. As the naive first-grader I was, I said no. He directs me to a website titled “footprint calculator”, and tells me to take the survey. I didn’t understand what the four and a half earths on the screen was for, until I retook the test roughly seven years later.

An ecological footprint, in short, is the calculation of human demand on natural resources, compared to the amount of natural resources that are renewed. It takes multiple productive sectors into account, such as crop and grazing lands, forests, built-up land for settlement, carbon footprint and fisheries. This footprint can be compared at an individual, household, national or even global scale.

This is interesting and all, but why should you care? Well, simple. Overshoot. Overshoot is when human demand for nature exceeds how much nature can regenerate within the year. Think of it as your bank account balance turning negative and going into debt. There are two types of overshoot; local and global. Local overshoot is when the human depletion of natural resources of a region exceeds how much the ecosystem of that specific region can regenerate within a year. Sometimes this doesn’t have a great impact, as overshot regions can just import resources from elsewhere.

However, global overshoot takes account of the entire planet. Unlike local overshoot, global overshoot is the same day everywhere (since we, unfortunately, don't get imported goods from foreign planets). This day, marked every year, is called Earth Overshoot Day. The later in the year it is, the better.

This is concerning, and you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. Well, what if I told you that you can make an impact? Reducing your usage of single-use plastic. Recycling. Reducing your water usage. Switching to renewable energy. The list goes on. In fact, maybe you have already heard these factors elsewhere. Hearing isn’t the important part, though. Actually, acting on these factors is. In the end, even a small change from one individual can add up.

Ecological footprint may sound unimportant at first glance, but it is a topic worth reading more about. If all of us work together to create a future where global overshoot day is moved, we can surely achieve it.

References

https://www.footprintnetwork.org/our-work/ecological-footprint/
https://cleansd.org/2017/04/27/8-ways-to-reduce-your-ecological-footprint/
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/mapmaker-human-footprint/

Author Biography

Thilba Ali Shafeeu is 13 years old and studies at Aminiya School. She loves tech and enjoys photography and reading in her free time. Her favourite genres are sci-fi, thriller and comedy.

Cite this article as:

Thilba Ali Shafeeu, Ecological Footprint: Our Impact on the Planet and Its Limits, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Ecological Footprint: Our Impact on the Planet and Its Limits - theCircle Composition

A South Australian pharmacologist named George Francis was exploring the Australian Lake Alexandrina's shoreline when he discovered green plants floating in the water. Realizing that the plants were the reason for past animal deaths since they drank from the lake's water, Francis quickly came to this conclusion. He published an instant announcement of it in the Nature Journal in 1878.

An algal bloom, also known as an algae bloom, is a sudden rise in the number of algae in freshwater or marine water systems. The pigments in the algae's cells cause the water to turn discoloured. Similar to plants, algae are tiny creatures that inhabit aquatic settings and use photosynthesis to harness the energy of the sun. Depending on the type of algae, the excessive growth, or algal bloom, can be green, blue-green, red, or brown and becomes visible to the naked eye.

The fundamental factor causing an algal bloom is the presence of significant amounts of nitrogen and phosphate in the water. Highly fertilized land and farms that use phosphatic and nitrogenous fertilizers lose these nutrients to runoff. The risk of blooms can be increased by a variety of human activities, such as agricultural run-off or broken septic systems, and an abundance of nutrients in a lake can greatly increase both the likelihood and the severity of algal blooms. A bloom might not occur despite an abundance of nutrients, though, if other factors.

Microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are found naturally in lakes and streams. If the water is blue-green, green, yellow, white, brown, purple, or red, has a paint-like look, or has scum on the water surface, it could be a dangerous blue-green algae bloom.

Toxins produced by cyanobacteria can cause illness or death in mammals and birds. The dissolved oxygen content of the water may drop when other bacteria in the water decompose dead cyanobacteria, which could result in a fish kill. High quantities of cyanobacteria bloom toxins can directly affect fish and even result in fish fatalities. In the water column, dense bacterial blooms will prevent other species from receiving the sunlight they need to exist.

To prevent one must forecast and manage the growth of algae if you want to avoid algal blooms and their negative effects on the environment, human health, and medical care. Reducing the intake of nutrients into water bodies is the goal of sustainable algae management techniques. Policy and human activity adjustments are necessary for long-term success. Therefore, a noticeable improvement in water quality may not occur for several years.

Stay out of the water and keep your pets out of the water if you spot bloom indicators. It is best to exercise caution and avoid blooms whenever possible because you cannot tell if they are hazardous simply by looking at them. In locations where dangerous algae or cyanobacteria may be present, avoid fishing, swimming, boating, and participating in water activities.

We should all work together to try and get rid of this green menace that takes away so many lives. We can all work together because even the smallest task can help get rid of the algal bloom.

References

https://byjus.com/neet/what-is-an-algae-bloom/\

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/algal-blooms/index.cfm

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-algal-bloom.php

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/water-quality/algae-watch/what-are-algae/causes-of-an-algae-bloom#:~:text=Algae%20blooms%20can%20occur%20when,%2C%20and%20stable%20wind%20conditions).

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/harmful-algal-blooms/#:~:text=If%20water%20containing%20cyanobacteria%20toxin,fingers%20and%20toes%2C%20and%20dizziness.

https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/bluegreenalgae/faq.htm#:~:text=Exposure%20to%20high%20levels%20of,allergic%20reactions%20or%20breathing%20difficulties.

https://www.cdc.gov/habs/prevention-control.html#:~:text=Top%20of%20Page-,Prevent%20harmful%20algal%20and%20cyanobacterial%20blooms%20from%20forming,grow%20more%20quickly%20than%20usual.


Author Biography

Kiyaan Binth Rifan is currently living in Thaa Dhiyamigili Maldives. She is currently in the sixth grade, and she is 12 years old.  Her hobbies are swimming, reading, painting and running. She is currently in the Leaders of Tomorrow program by the Circle Ugail Foundation, and she used to be in the Coding and Critical Thinking programme too.

Cite this article as:

Kiyaan Binth Rifan, Algal Bloom, The Green Scourge of Our Ocean and Lakes, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). ALGAL BLOOM , THE GREEN SCOURGE OF OUR OCEAN AND LAKES - theCircle Composition

Pollution is the presence of harmful materials in the environment. Pollution is a major issue that affects the health of people and the environment. The effects of pollution affect not only human health but also the future of the planet. The harmful materials present in the environment are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural or created by human activity such as volcanic ash, or burning of fossil fuels. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water and land.

Pollution can affect us in many ways. When we breathe in the pollutants in the air, they can enter our bloodstream and cause breathing and lung diseases which lead to hospitalization, cancer or premature deaths. Soil pollution affects the fertility of the soil, which puts food security at risk. Eating the contaminated food grown in the contaminated soil jeopardizes our health. Studies show that more than 50 types of diseases are caused by the poor quality of drinking water. Water pollution causes diarrhoea, malnutrition, skin disease and even cancer.

Pollution affects the environment in many ways. Air pollution damages trees and crops in a lot of ways. It can Harm animals. The rising pollution of the environment can cause damage to their respiratory systems, induce skin irritations and even be a reason for neurological and fertility problems. Air pollution will also have a damaging impact on the quality of soil and water, which will harm wildlife and existing ecosystems. Air pollution can also lead up to global warming, which is a threat to the future.

Five Ways that We can Reduce Pollution are:

1.  Minimize air pollution from vehicles:

Road Transport is one of the biggest emitters of nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen Oxide has a big effect on healthy lung development. One of the most effective ways is to avoid driving your car and walk or use public transport to get to your destination.

2.  Save Energy:

In 2016, the International Energy Agency released a report with the key statement “Air pollution is an Energy problem.” When burning fossil fuels for energy, we release pollutants such as Sulphur dioxide, Carbon Dioxide, Mercury, etc.

3. Recycle:

Each stage of manufacture from raw materials creates a lot of polluting particles, chemicals and greenhouse gasses. Since recycled items have been processed once, making the same product again will use much less energy and won't pollute as much.

4. Use air purifiers:

If you live in an area with bad outdoor air quality, you can use an air purifier to minimize the risk of breathing polluted air. For example, a two year study in Salt Lake City has found that air purifiers have reduced polluted air by 55% in the observed households.

5. Plant trees:

Trees help to reduce air pollutants. Researchers from the University of Southampton in London checked how much pollutants were removed by trees. Trees remove between 850 to     2,000 tons of harmful particles from the urban air each year.

Pollution is a global issue that affects human health, the environment and the future of the planet. It is essential to take steps to reduce pollution levels, including reducing how much we use fossil fuels and improving waste management. By working together to reduce pollution levels, we can help to ensure a healthier future for ourselves and future generations.

References

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/pollution/

https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/air-quality-and-health#:~:text=Exposure%20to%20air%20pollution%20can,cancer%2C%20or%20even%20premature%20death

https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/zero-pollution/health/soil-pollution#:~:text=Soil%20pollution%20affects%20soil%20fertility,through%20exposure%20to%20contaminated%20soil

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.880246/full#:~:text=More%20than%2050%20kinds%20of,diseases%20related%20to%20water%20pollution

https://www.mass.gov/doc/health-environmental-effects-of-air-pollution/download#:~:text=Air%20pollution%20can%20damage%20crops,(such%20as%20harsh%20weather).

Author Biography

Aishath Sara Ahmed is an 11 year old girl who lives in Male’ Maldives. She is a 6th grader studying at Aminiya School. She is also taking part in the Leaders of Tomorrow Programme, the Coding and Creative Thinking Programme and the Creative English Programme by theCircle of Ugail Foundation. She also loves reading books and playing games.

Cite this article as:

Aishath Sara Ahmed, Pollution: The effects on Our Health, Future and Environment, theCircle Composition, Volume 4, (2023). Pollution: The effects on Our Health, Future and Environment - theCircle Composition