Author: Preeya Ninan

Why shrinking glaciers could mean more volcanic eruptions. (2017, November 30). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from https://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21731814-volcanology-and-glaciology-why-shrinking-glaciers-could-mean-more-volcanic

By: Preeya Ninan

According to an article published in The Economist titled, “Why shrinking glaciers could mean more volcanic eruptions,” geologists explore the relationship between glacial activity and volcanic activity, specifically meaning the shrinking and melting of glaciers and how that is related to the happening of volcanic eruptions. Based on correlation and observation of events, it was observed that during an Ice Age, where there was a significant presence of glaciers, volcanic activity was next to nothing. Once the Ice Age had passed and glaciers were shrinking and melting, however, volcanoes began to erupt more frequently and readily. After further research, it was concluded that the presence of glaciers worked to prevent the eruption of volcanoes, due to pressure levels between the ice sheets on the surface and the heat of the crust and earth’s mantle.

As we are currently in a period of global warming, where human activity is working to increase the earth’s temperature, melting and shrinking icebergs and remaining glaciers, this research shows that we can expect an increase in volcanic activity and volcanic eruptions. It’s important to consider the implications of what this might mean, as well as looking at active volcanoes around the world and preparing with necessary precautions to adapt to the way that the earth is moving.

By: Preeya Ninan

Jordan’s water crisis is made worse by a feud with Israel. (2017, December 02). Retrieved December 11, 2017, from https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21731844-thirsty-kingdom-can-ill-afford-fall-out-its-neighbour-jordans-water

A recent article published in The Economist titled, “Jordan’s water crisis is made worse by a feud with Israel,” frames the current political and economic tensions between the two neighboring regions. The Dead Sea, the salty body of water lying between the two areas, has been shrinking and declining at an especially rapid rate in recent years. A solution that Israel and Jordan came to was to work together to desalinate the water and to pump it back into the Dead Sea each year. Though this wouldn’t entirely solve the problem, it would play an important role in slowing the issue and helping a small amount. This would be especially helpful to Jordan, who is experiencing serious levels of water scarcity according to the standards of the World Bank. This dual project, however, is currently held stagnant – a recent incident between a Jordanian teenager and an Israeli guard, and the Israeli Prime Minister’s nonchalant response to the incident sparked anger and tension between the two areas, causing a political riff and a stop to the project.

This situation is important because of Jordan’s dire need to work on this project, and their need for assistance, as working to desalinate the Dead Sea by itself will do nothing to quench the scarcity of water that Jordan is experiencing. The government is working to find other solutions, such as cutting back in various parts of agriculture to decrease the dependence of water, but these are only temporary solutions. This situation is just another example of how political tensions can have lasting detrimental effects on the economic and environmental status of a country in need.

By: Preeya Ninan

Solutions, E. D. (n.d.). Kuwait Energy: Agreement made to import Iraqi gas. Retrieved November 11, 2017, from http://country.eiu.com/ArticleIndustry.aspx?articleid=564982440&Country=Kuwait&topic=Industry&subtopic=Energy

According to the article written by the Economic Intelligence Unit, “Kuwait energy: agreement made to import Iraqi gas,” Kuwait and Iraq have recently agreed to move forward with a deal to collaborate with a natural gas trade. Additionally, the two countries have decided to form a committee to potentially extract and collect gas from borders that have previously been considered to be disputed land areas. This trade deal, and the overall agreement to work together, is due to a shared need for higher quantities of energy; Kuwait faces a rapidly increasing electricity demand, and Iraq is eager to include the Kuwait investment into their oil infrastructure. The mutual growth and benefits from this trade indicate that the countries have moved past previous political tensions between the two countries, caused by invasions led by Saddam Hussein in 1990, and will likely mend any negative relations that may still remain.

This trade shows that the growing reliance on natural gases and the heightened demands of electricity and power in societies all over the world are causing countries to band together to extract what is left; as a whole, these movements highlight the desperate state that the world is in, but also a comforting reality of putting aside political tensions to work together for a common goal.

By: Preeya Ninan

Mooney, C. (2017, September 28). Severe power failures in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean spur new push for renewable energy. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/28/storm-driven-power-failures-in-the-caribbean-spur-new-interest-in-renewable-energy/

The Washington Post’s article, “Severe power failures in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean spur new push for renewable energy, ” written by Chris Mooney, discusses the events occurring after natural disasters in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, and the countries’ responses to their intensely detrimental impacts. Mooney explains how the aftermath of these natural disasters resulted in a push for new methods of obtaining renewable energy. Due to Puerto Rico’s reliance on centralized power grids which run on fossil fuels, environmental disasters have left them vulnerable and powerless; experts say it will take about 6 months for all of the island to regain power. They are now pushing to move away from a centralized power grid, and towards smaller and more frequently placed grids that store energy in renewable resources. The push towards this new direction did not commence only after recent storms, but has been on the radar of the island nations due to their disposition to natural storms. Further, though, since the energy required for large, centralized power grids greatly exceeds that of smaller grids, this new direction is even further justified. The dire situation that Puerto Rico is in, considering it may be without power for 4 to 6 months, leaves it searching for the best option, and the best time to implement it.

The struggles and new movements of Puerto Rico and the other island nations are not unique to those smaller regions; the high energy requirement of centralized power grids raise questions for all nations. If the movement towards smaller, more frequently placed grids would significantly decrease reliance on fossil fuels and improve the state of the environment, it is something that nations all over the world should examine and consider for themselves.

By: Preeya Ninan

Young, K. E. (2017, August 23). Analysis | How Egypt wound up in the center of a Gulf Cooperation Council dispute on Qatar. Retrieved October 18, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/23/how-egypt-wound-up-in-the-center-of-a-gulf-corporation-council-dispute-on-qatar/

Karen Young’s article in the Washington Post, “How Egypt wound up in the center of a Gulf Cooperation Council dispute on Qatar,” highlights the complicated and global nature of the Egypt-Qatar conflict regarding the ironic and unfortunate juxtaposition of their political tensions and their economic ties. Young explains how political disputes between Egypt and Qatar have complicated economic relations between the two nations. Egypt remains reliant on Qatar for natural gas and is unable to provide for itself due to obstacles regarding both supply of the resource and financial troubles; a growing population dramatically increases Egypt’s demand for and reliance on electric power as well as other natural resources, resources that Egypt is unable to provide for itself. Gas production has decreased during the past decade, and political tensions in the country make it difficult to commit time and energy into focusing on how Egypt can provide for itself. These factors all combine to create a high dependence on Qatar, a country that is able to provide for Egypt’s growing needs. However, due to political tension, Egypt’s political ties fall contrary to its forced economic ties, causing complications.

This issue is not one that simply involves Egypt and Qatar and the GCC. Not only does this situation complicate things and provide concerns for Egypt, but since many Qatari trades are mediated by Egypt’s trading ports and economic zones, increased tension between Egypt and Qatar would not only negatively affect the political and economic state of Egypt, but it would also have detrimental impacts on many other countries all over the world, turning an international issue into a global issue. Further, the experimental nature of this issue, it being the first of its kind, provides many opportunities for other countries around the world who may be in danger of encountering a similar issue in the future to learn from Egypt’s decisions and the outcome of that decision to better instruct themselves if the same event should occur for themselves.