Benefits of Renewable Energy Use - Union of Concerned Scientists
WEBJul 14, 2008 · In contrast, most renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions. Even when including “life cycle” emissions of clean energy (ie, the emissions from each stage of a technology’s life—manufacturing, installation, operation, decommissioning), the global warming emissions associated …
CO2 and Ocean Acidification | Union of Concerned Scientists
WEBJan 30, 2019 · When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, it dissolves in saltwater. First, it forms carbonic acid. Then, this carbonic acid breaks apart – or “dissociates” – producing bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. Ocean acidification results from an increased concentration of hydrogen ions and a reduction in carbonate ions due to the absorption of ...
How is Electricity Measured? | Union of Concerned Scientists
WEBJul 14, 2008 · Watts are a measurement of power, describing the rate at which electricity is being used at a specific moment. For example, a 15-watt LED light bulb draws 15 watts of electricity at any moment when turned on. Watt-hours are a measurement of energy, describing the total amount of electricity used over time. Watt-hours are a combination of how fast the electricity is used (watts) and the length ...
Union of Concerned Scientists
WEBThe Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with people across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
Environmental Impacts of Solar Power - Union of Concerned …
WEBMar 5, 2013 · The sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity without toxic pollution or global warming emissions. The potential environmental impacts associated with solar power—land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing—can vary greatly depending on the technology, which includes two broad categories: photovoltaic ...
Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies
WEBJul 14, 2008 · The environmental impacts associated with solar power can include land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing, though the types of impacts vary greatly depending on the scale of the system and the technology used—photovoltaic (PV) solar cells or concentrating solar thermal plants (CSP). Explainer.
Tropical Deforestation and Global Warming - Union of Concerned …
WEBJul 27, 2008 · The consensus among climate scientists is that CO 2 from tropical deforestation now makes up less than 10 percent of global warming pollution. This percentage has gone down in recent decades, partly due to some success in reducing deforestation, but also because greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels—by far the principal cause of climate ...
Nuclear Power & Global Warming - Union of Concerned Scientists
WEBMay 22, 2015 · Effectively addressing global warming requires a rapid transformation of the ways in which we produce and consume energy. The scope and impacts of climate change—including rising seas, more damaging extreme weather events, and severe ecological disruption—demand that we consider all possible options for limiting heat-trapping gas emissions—including their respective costs and timelines ...
Satellite Database - Union of Concerned Scientists
WEBDec 8, 2005 · Kyle Ann Sebastian. Assembled by experts at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the Satellite Database is a listing of the more than 7,560 operational satellites currently in orbit around Earth. Our intent in producing the database is to create a research tool for specialists and non-specialists alike by collecting open-source information ...
What Are Satellites Used For? | Union of Concerned Scientists
WEBFeb 13, 2014 · Telephones. Satellites provide in-flight phone communications on airplanes, and are often the main conduit of voice communication for rural areas and areas where phone lines are damaged after a disaster. Satellites also provide the primary timing source for cell phones and pagers. In 1998, a satellite failure demonstrated this dependence; it ...