Forest productivity

Posted on March 3, 2012 by roslee

Photosynthesis is the process where green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food and oxygen according to the formula,
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy -> C6H12O6 + 6O2

Respiration is the process where cells use oxygen and this food (in the absence of light) to release carbon dioxide, water and the stored energy,
6O2 + C6H12O6 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

The SAME amount of carbon dioxide is required and released during photosynthesis and respiration, respectively.

NPP or Net Primary Production, is an indicator of how much net carbon is stored or fixed by plants. Gross Primary Production (GPP) is the rate at which the plants capture and store a given amount of chemical energy as biomass in a given length of time. Some fraction of this fixed energy is used for cellular respiration and maintenance of existing tissues. In brief,

NPP = GPP – Respiration by plants

NPP was estimated to be in the ranged from 120 to 1660 grams carbon per square meter per year (Waring et al., 1998)

It is the NPP that humans depend on for food, fiber, building, packaging materials, biofuels, et cetera. Humans are using an increasing amount of Earth’s annual NPP and the consumption reportedly rose from 20 to 25 percent from 1995 to 2005.

Humans always have the tendency to plant more trees in hoping that more carbon dioxide can be sequestered and issues of deforestation resolved. But, does it really help?

Reference
R. H. Waring, J. J. Landsberg and M. Williams. 1998. Net primary production of forests: a constant fraction of gross primary production? Tree Physiology 18, 129-134

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The common language

Posted on October 6, 2011 by roslee

In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers are a sequence of numbers; 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 and continue indefinitely. The sequence is obtained by adding the sum of the previous two numbers (a,b). Dividing the numbers (b/a) in increasing direction converges to a value called Phi (1.618). This value is called the golden ratio, golden mean, golden section or Fibonacci proportion.

A rectangle having length and width with any two of the numbers of this sequence can be broken down into squares. Dividing each square with an arch and connecting the arch together form a spiral. The spiral pattern can be seen in nature, from as small as hydrogen atom to the structures of planets, galaxies and the universe.

Human’s DNA, body, snow flake crystals, flowers, fruits, trees that grow, moth, starfish, seahorse, seashells, corals, the ocean current, the tide that rolls into the shores, the wave that curls, the winds of hurricane, tornados, the Earth’s magnetic fields, the sun’s toroidal field, all follow the spiral pattern and Fibonacci proportion.

Phi and the fractals based on Phi are now used in a new field called Implosion Physics. In this area of study, matter is not thought to be made of hard solid atom, but a mere vibration pattern or wave. The advocator of this field suggests that the double helix in DNA is short wave in the UV spectrum.

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Schumann resonance, lightning & human intelligence

Posted on August 9, 2011 by roslee

The ionosphere is a part of atmospheric shells consisting of electrically charged atoms and molecules. It reaches a height of 50-1000 km or more. The positively charged ionosphere is in constant electrical tension with the negatively charged earth’s surface. The tension is relieved when a thunderstorm forms (when hot air rises and water vapor is condensed to form cloud as demonstrated by the movie above). Each energy discharge between ionosphere and earth’s surface produces radio waves that may remain stable over long period of time.

These waves are regarded as global electromagnetic resonances. Many call them as Schumann waves or standing waves, having spectrum between 3 to 60 Hz. The frequency varies with the intensity of solar radiation but it was measured at around 7.83 Hz. This wave is also called natural rhythm of the earth. It influences the world climate and affects human’s consciousness because Schumann frequency is also a resonance frequency of the human brain.

Measurements with an electrical encephalograph show that human brain produces electromagnetic waves in the range between 1 and 40 Hz. In medicine, this frequency is related with different consciousness conditions:

1. Delta waves (1-3 Hz) are characteristic for dreamless deep sleep and unconsciousness.
2. Theta waves (4-7 Hz) are characteristic for the dream sleep or semi-conscious state.
3. Alpha waves (8-12 Hz) arise in the relaxed and awake condition.
4. Beta waves (13-40 Hz) are dominant in the normal awake condition.

Human visible spectrum ranges 400-790 THz (790,000,000,000,000 Hz).
Human voice frequency ranges 60-7000 Hz.
Human hearing ranges 20-20,000 Hz.

Human may be able to hear only the mid and upper region of the Beta frequency. But, the standing waves can penetrate much deeper into human’s brain. When brain activity is in harmony and coherent with the rhythm of the earth, it heightens the sense of consciousness, mood and intellectual acuity in human. It is also possible to manipulate the brain into trance (unconscious/hypnotic states) by bypassing Beta/Alpha waves and tuning the frequency to Theta/Delta waves.

Most womens’ brains operate at slower brain wave (near Alpha) rhythms than men’s during waking state, which explains why women have better intuition than men. The brain waves of animals such as dog, cat and rat are constantly in the Theta range. Perhaps, the animals would be equally intelligent as human had their brains operated faster in the Alpha and Beta ranges.

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Coal fired power plant project in Sabah scrapped

Posted on June 9, 2011 by roslee

Malaysia has scrapped its decision to approve the proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant project on the west coast of Sabah that becomes the sanctuary of delicate, endangered and protected flora and fauna species on land and sea. The reason is due to the concern over carbon dioxide emission from the plant and the risk of putting the coral reefs in danger when shipment of coal from Kalimantan, Indonesia passes through the reefs.

There are locals who hope that the plant be relocated elsewhere to alleviate the power shortage issues. Others propose that the local government look into nuclear energy as an alternative. Harnessing power from the sun may require opening of area and deforestation, besides the high capital cost of photovoltaic (PV) or solar cells.

Since malaysians are looking forward to becoming a developed nation in 2020 and some do not even have electricity in their homes, what will be the best option for them?

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Thorium as alternative energy?

Posted on May 28, 2011 by roslee

Thorium, like plutonium and uranium, can fuel a nuclear reactor. Thorium is extracted from a reddish-brown monazite sand which is an abundant natural resource. The use of thorium as fuel offers greater benefits. 1 tonne of thorium can generate energy equivalent to 200 tonnes of uranium, or 3,500,000 tonnes of coal.

Scientists claim that a thorium-based molten salt reactor system to generate electricity is much cleaner and safer. The hazardous waste from thorium based system is thousand times less than uranium power plant. The system fueled by thorium is inherently less prone to disaster as it operates at atmospheric pressure. Accidental hydrogen explosion and radiation release that happened in Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima nuclear power plants would be unlikely if thorium is used.

China has committed to use thorium to fuel its reactors and to power its economy. China is likely to lead thorium technology based on Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors (LIFTER) soon, while the West, including Australia is busy preparing for reduced spending/consumption and promoting entrenchment/conservation throughout the world.

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