Energy, Coal, And Natural Gas - 1136 Words

Energy is a fundamental factor to the existence of humans on this planet; without it, modern society would be unsustainable. Consequently, the sourcing and production of energy is a critical global issue that must be addressed. Currently, the most common energy sources are fossil fuels: oil, coal, and natural gas. The consumption of fossil fuels is not sustainable in the long run as the resources are not infinite, and as energy consumption increases, the earth’s natural resources (fossil fuels) are depleted. The belief that conventional energy sources are unsustainable prompted the development and use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric. The sustainability of energy is such a demanding issue that Germany†¦show more content†¦The accident released 940 Petabecquerels of radioactive materials into the atmosphere, causing the evacuation of 100,000 people from their homes to prevent radiation sickness. In light of this accident, the federal government of Germany decided to review the safety of all German nuclear power plants even though Germany at the time, was 30% nuclear-powered. After Fukushima, 41% of Germany’s nuclear power capacity (8 units of 17 total) was promptly shut down, with the rest of the units to be disabled by 2022. The events at Fukushima fueled Germany to reevaluate German energy policies and provided the platform for meaningful discussion regarding Germany’s future in energy. Ultimately, it was understood that nuclear energy was simply not sustainable, nor safe to comprise such a significant portion of Germany’s energy sector. Not only was the safety of the German population a concern in regards to nuclear energy, but also the use of fossil fuels and the impact of burning fossil fuels globally supplemented Germany’s concern with current energy productions. Carbon emissions and their impact on climate globally was one of the many reasons Germany felt compelled to drastically change energy policy. It is largely discussed politically and socially that the emission of carbon into the atmosphere is partly responsible for the warming of the climate globally. As a country that has contributed the most to carbon

The origin of hurricanes and predictability of hurricane tracks Free Essays

Low pressure systems form at mid latitude temperate zones as a result of the convergence of warm and cold air masses. Low pressure systems generally form over the polar front where the polar maritime air (a cold air mass) and tropical maritime air (a warm air mass) meet. Air currents in this area within the Northern Hemisphere will flow counter-clockwise due to the rotation of the earth and surface friction. We will write a custom essay sample on The origin of hurricanes and predictability of hurricane tracks or any similar topic only for you Order Now Air flows accumulate at the centre of the system, and the warm air rises because it is less dense, leading to low pressure at the surface. It contains more moisture than the polar maritime air and as a result, when it ascends, it condenses and produces clouds and rain. Cirrus type clouds are the first clouds that are usually created at this point. A circulation of air rotates in an anticlockwise motion due to the coriolis effect. The tropical maritime air swirls around the polar front, the system matures and eventually a warm and cold front is created. At the warm front, the warm air rises over the cold air, the cirrus clouds develop to be cirrostratus, altostratus and nimbostratus clouds which eventually will lead to heavy rain because of the condensation of the warm air. Towards the edge of the warm front, conditions are more stable and pressure stops decreasing as much. No longer is there so much condensation and therefore there is less rain. Polar maritime air is fast, dense, and strong. Eventually the air pushes in and forces the warm air off the ground, creating instability. The pressure increases, as the air ascends rapidly, cumulonimbus clouds form bringing in heavy rain and storms[1]. The cold front consists of heavier and denser air and displaces the warmer and lighter air, because of this, it moves faster than the warm front and it will ultimately catch up with it. Warm air is forced off the ground by the cold air, and once this happens, an occlusion is created. Uniform air begins to fill the gap between the warm front and the cold front and this is where the low pressure system begins to die away. At tropical latitudes, if sea surface temperatures are above 27 degrees c[2], then the low pressure system will grow. If the conditions are right, tropical thunderstorms may develop to become a hurricane. Low pressure systems often begin to rotate around a central area of low pressure. This is known as a tropical depression, if the depression increases in intensity so that winds reach at least 39 mph, it’s categorised as a tropical storm. If wind speeds reach and average of 74 mph[3], it known as tropical cyclone or hurricane. Hurricanes/ tropical cyclones mainly develop in the region between 10 and 20 degrees North of the equator (Goldenberg, 2001). When a storm grows to become a hurricane/tropical cyclone, it is described as a non-frontal low pressure system[4] and can reach up to 340 miles across in diameter[5]. Hurricanes absorb energy from the warm water of the ocean, and a thunderstorm will continue to grow so long as there is a fuel source i. e a supply of moist air and heat. This source is normally found above the water in tropical waters. When the heat supply is cut off i. when the hurricane begins to migrate northwards (or southwards), over colder water, it will weaken and die away. Heat from the oceans is the primary source of energy for hurricanes, [6]and so, the greater the heat of the SST [7]the more intense and frequent hurricanes in that area will be (Goldenberg, et al, 2001). Hurricanes don’t usually develop far inland due to the lack of moisture. [8] If there is no moisture, then clouds are not likely to form. Cloud formation results in the generation of latent heat. Latent heat is the heat needed to initiate a change of phase i. to a state of higher energy, e. g. from solid to liquid, or liquid to gas, in this context though, it’s from liquid to a gas. As clouds are not generated as much, then not much latent heat is released. the majority of hurricanes originate and stay within the oceans, though they do occasionally travel inland, and the effects they can have on the environment, society and on the economy of the affected area are potentially devastating. The coriolis effect, which is a product of the earth’s rotation is the reason that storms rotate and why a hurricane has a typical swirling formation. The rotation of the storm causes air to be drawn into the extreme low pressure at the centre (eye) of the storm. As the air rotates, the air ascends. The rising air is very moist, the higher the altitude, the colder the temperature, and so, it condenses forming clouds. Hurricanes aren’t found within 0-5 degrees north and south of the equator ((300 miles (500 kilometers)) of the equator because the coriolis effect is at its weakest at this point, so the storm doesn’t have enough spin, and there isn’t enough force to maintain low pressure in the centre of the system. Meteorologists can predict hurricanes in two main ways : through the use of seasonal probabilities and tracking of hurricanes that are in existence at a current point of time using modelling techniques[9]. Annually, scientists work out how many storms are likely to develop into hurricanes/tropical storms and they also calculate how many are likely to make landfall. Using statistical techniques such as CLIPER[10], past data, and by sending aeroplanes into the centre of storms they can determine wind speeds, temperatures and can predict the intensity of a hurricane, and how many people it is likely to affect. Many scientists try and determine the paths of hurricanes, and it’s a difficult duty because not all hurricanes have defined paths, however; the typical characteristics and properties of the weather and ocean in a specific area allow scientists to have a rough idea to which path a hurricane is likely to follow. If the path is predicted then warning and protection can be provided for those that could potentially be affected and this is the best way to prevent a social, economic and environmental disaster from happening. Hurricanes form in various areas depending on the various times of the hurricane season (Reading, 1990). Tracks can be predicted efficiently however, accuracy seems to be an issue in many cases. Models have become more accurate (NOAA,2004) and prediction techniques have improved (Aberson,2001), however there is still a large uncertainty and error is still an issue. It is easier to predict exactly where a hurricane is going to make landfall the closer to landfall the storm is. So the further the hurricane is away from land, the more error there is when trying to work out its path (NOAA,2004). This is mainly due to natural changes in the storms physical characteristics. It has been determined by NOAA, that, 5 days before landfall there is an average of 350 miles of error, and one day before landfall there is a 100 mile error, [11]which is a major problem because a difference of that mileage could determine whether or not whole cities or villages need to be evacuated or not, and if there is an error, it could be devastating. How to cite The origin of hurricanes and predictability of hurricane tracks, Papers

Immigration Laws in Australia for Commentary and Materials

Question: A Prepare your opinion about the prospects of success in relation to addressing the notice of intention to consider cancellation of his visa under section 501(2) of the migration act. What further information would you require to support the application? Answer: Since john has been engaging with the wrong people and he has been in prison time to time, he could face mandatory visa cancellation according to the immigration laws in Australia. Section 501 of the immigration laws provides that imprisonment includes any kind of punitive detention in a facility or institution[1]. Therefore, a person on remand would not be at risk of a mandatory cancellation. However, if the person was later sentenced, andthe period on remand counted as pre-sentence detention, it could be counted as part of a sentence to a period of imprisonment adding up to more than 12 months. The luck that is on Johns side is that his prison time added together does not warrant for extreme measures for his visa cancellation. The Notice lets you know that you can apply to revoke the Departments decision. The revocation request form, along with a prepaid envelope, is sent with the Notice cancelling a persons visa. Not much more is required other than briefly filling in the form, si gning and sending it back to the Department. John should also go ahead and show the government of his improved behaviour seeing as he has a lot to lose. He needs to adhere to rules because he has a child on the way and to top it up he has ailing parents who fully depend on him[2]. However, he is still a resident though temporarily he has to meet his character test or have his visa cancelled. The notice is an opportunity to John to contact the department and give his reasons why he should remain in Australia, he should try and show the department that he has been contributing a lot for a long time to the Australian society. In this case he may want to state his job at Toyota motors and it would be great if he got someone from work to give in a good word so he would be allowed to continue staying in Australia. He may also try to show that he has strong family connections in Australia and that he would want to stay with them. In this case it will be his ailing parents and his unborn child. John should have his girlfriend and parents vouch for him and he should also be able to show that he has actively tried to rehabilitate himself since your offence. He could first join AA to deal with his alcohol problem that seems to be the one that contributes to his bad behavior. Having a new track record could just be what gives him another chance to continue living in Australia. There fore he should have valid supporting evidence of his contribution to the society. The immigration laws for New Zealand citizens have been amended several times[3]. This is the reason why John received the notice letter. According to Johns visa he is entitled to the same things a permanent visa holder gets but once he breaches the Australian law then he faces cancellation of his visa and is to leave Australia immediately. A notice of intention letter means that there is consideration of your visa being cancelled and that could change a lot depending on how you deal with it. This is where John gets the chance to redeem himself. The parents could also help Johns issue seeing as they are ailing and need his support. This could be one of the ways out of the problem that he is facing. He should be able to show that the job he has and the money he makes are all for supporting his parents. The minister could look at this and give him another chance to live in Australia just for the sake of his parents. This is because if Johns was to go back to New Zealand the parents would also have to leave because they would no longer have a care system. He could also argue that his girlfriend is pregnant with his child and since she is still a student then he has to stay in Australia to become the main care giver to his child and girlfriend. This could appeal to the minister to change his mind. John must agree to the rules he is given so that he could continue with his stay in Australia. He could also plead with them so that he could keep his job to continue to be a part of the Toyota motors family[4]. That if his visa is cancelled he would lose his job and he would not be able to support the medical finances of his parents or the unborn child. Johns initiative to want to better himself in order to continue living in Australia is what will be the biggest determiner of any decisions made. The immigration minister will go through Johns records to see if you are a risk. He will also look into his character to see whether he is an outstanding person[5]. This is why I said earlier that John should have a good relationship with the people he works with and also the people he interacts with. This is because the minister looks into all aspects of your stay in Australia since the day you came in. john might be lucky that he has the support of the family but what his employer and the people he mostly interacts with could also determine a lot in his notice of intention issue. He should also get a lawyer that would take him and educate him on his rights in Australia with his temporary visa and what he needs to do to redeem himself. The severities of his offences are what are looked at first, then he is given the chance to explain the background of the offences and the time between the offences he did. All this should be included in his background and the things that were going on in your life when you committed the offences. In this case it would be dealing with ailing parents and a pregnant girlfriend. It could be a lot to handle for one person and sometimes things go out of control. These are just some of the factors the immigration officers will look at while examining your case. So John should prove without a reasonable doubt that the offences he committed were not because he is a criminal but because of alcohol addiction or any other problems in his life. B In the event the visa was cancelled on character grounds, what options are available to John and what are the limits in relation to exercising the various options. It is so unfortunate for persons who find themselves in the position of having their visas cancelled on character grounds; the deck seems pretty much stacked against them. The legal grounds for challenging a visa cancellation are really quite narrow, and the rate of success in court is very low. One thing that this case illustrates is that having strong family ties to compassionate circumstances will apparently do little to insulate a visa holder against visa cancellation on character grounds. In this case, the visa holder has a job with Toyota motors, two elderly and ailing parents that he is supporting with the job and a pregnant girlfriend who is still a student in college and also need support from him. These ties did not prevent the Minister from proceeding with the cancellation. And the obvious negative impacts that the cancellation would have on his family also were not enough. John seems to be running out of options to stay in Australia. He can try and apply for a review deci sion and this can only be done within nine days after his visa is cancelled. He should also get himself a lawyer to take him through the whole process. If he cannot afford a lawyer he can represent himself if he is fluent in English. He should prepare enough supporting documents to favor him[6]. Like his parents hospital documents from the doctor, supporting documents for his mental health and declaration by applicant for maintaining a strong character. These are just some of the few things he should have to strengthen his support. Having a lawyer seems like the best fit for a situation like this because they know what you need to defend yourself. After you have lodged your appeal, immigration has 84 days to make a decision and in the mean time they may keep requiring more supportive documents to strengthen your case or just for official purposes. There will be a direction hearing first to see whether you still deserve to stay in Australia. This will be done after the officials have gone through your documents and want to see you defend yourself in court[7]. Then from there you will be given a date for the final hearing, this is where you are required to provide evidence and affidavits to continue supporting your case. This is where you get the final decision about your visa cancellation. The decision of cancelling a persons visa on grounds of character, the DIBP must consider the need to protect the Australian community from criminal conduct this includes the seriousness of the visa holders crime and likelihood of doing the offence again, any child in Australia whose best interest would be affected by cancellation of the visa, and the general expectations of the Australian community. The DIBP must also consider the strength, nature and duration of the visa holders ties to Australia. Other relevant factors include the visa holders age and health, links to country of origin, hardship to their family, and any prior warnings issued by the DIBP. So for John it is possible to appeal a visa cancellation to the Australian Administrative Tribunal. Very strict time limits apply for appeals. He just needs very strong supportive documents. Although your John faces serious consequences if his visa is cancelled, he has the opportunity to present his case to the AAT before they make a final decision[8]. He would benefit from speaking to an immigration lawyer who can help him prepare his written response and advise him of his legal rights. Various cases have emerged in the media over the last year of non-citizens, who have families here and lived here most of the lives, being deported for a range of offenses including driving without a license and road rage. Under the new laws, the minister no longer looks at family ties or length of residency when making the cancellation decision. Any criminal record is based on the length of a sentence imposed by a court of law, rather than the time actually spent in prison. Johns criminal record seems to be the one that could have played a big part of his visa being cancelled. When someone fails the character test, it is the duty of the Minister or his delegate to choose to accept the sponsorship or application or cancel the visa. When such a decision is being made, many factors have to be considered like parent protection, unborn child and his girlfriend. Other factors considered are Australias international lawful duty, visa refusal impact, a persons family living in Australia cancellation, and any other impact like old age and illness. AAT has strict time limit for appeals. Anyone seeking decision reviews in Australia has to apply to the immigration offices within nine days of notification. For those outside Australia, the review application should be made by a sponsor or a nominator within 28 days of the notification. The immigration department should make its decision with 84 days of the original notification of the applicant or it will be thought to have confirmed the earlier decision. Judicial review for a decision made on an application may be sought if one believes the laws were not fully utilized Where the Minister personally decided to refuse an application or cancel the visa, John cannot appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)[9]. If the Minister or his delegate refuse Johns application or cancel his visa and he still remains in Australia, the immigration laws will be used to review the decision that was made earlier on. If at the time of visa cancellation a person is not within Australia, they have a right to get that decision reviewed, especially if there is a sponsor in Australia. However, if Johns visa is mandatorily cancelled because of his criminal offences then the appeal could go through. In these circumstances, John will be provided with 28 days to request revocation of the decision to mandatorily cancel his visa. A decision made by a delegate of the Minister to not revoke a mandatory cancellation decision is reviewable by the immigration officers. Bibliography. Australian Law Reform Commission, Australian Government, Uniform Evidence Law (30 July 2012) https://www.alrc.gov.au/inquiries/uniform-evidence-law Cook, Catriona et al, Laying Down the Law (Lexisnexis Orders/service, 9th ed, 2014) Hemming, Andrew, Miiko Kumar and Elisabeth Penden, Evidence: Commentary and Materials (Lawbook Co., 8th ed, 2013) Hinton, Martin and Nerissa Schwarz, Practice Note: The Hostile or Unfavourable Witness, (2008) 27, The University of Tasmania Law Review 229 McEwan, Alexander, The Rule in Brown v Dunn in Australian Criminal Law: MWJ v R and R v Map, (2006), 13, James Cook University Law Review, 155 Simpson, Shane, The Characterisation of Ones Witnesses for the Purpose of their Impeachment (1976) 50, The Australian Law Journal 410. U, A, Land [2015] Australia and New Zealand (2015) :https://www.ausnzmigration.com.au/blog/article_special-category-visa-subclass-444-entitlements-and-limitations-of-new-zealand-citizens-in-australia_.html Woodhill, Samantha, Australia - Citation Notes New laws mean Australia may deport thousands of Kiwis https://www.australasianlawyer.com.au/news/new-laws-mean-australia-may-deport-thousands-of-kiwis-206121.aspx Wroe, David and Rachel Olding, Jihadist Fears Spark Review of Evidence Laws the Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney), 1 July 2014