More rain, less haze?

The recent haze that has engulfed the atmosphere of Singapore is due to the deforestation that is taking place in Sumatra. However, experts belief that the haze might clear up soon due to the recent prolonged wet weather. This is because the rain causes the forest to be damp which in turn prevents burning. In Indonesia though, people say that the weather forecast has not predicted such a long wet spell and hence believe that it wil soon be dry again. This will certainly see more people burning the waste matter and might lead to the problem of haze again. The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has observed that the number of places where burning takes place has increased over the past few years. They believe that this is due to the El Nino effect where the dry season is lengthened, thus making conditions suitable for burning. For example, in the year 2006 when the El Nino effect was particularly bad, the haze situation in Singapore hit a t high of 150. Thus indicating that the EL Nino effect did have a part to play in causing the occurance of burning biomass.

This article appealed to me because I belief it is about time we started to take care of Mother Earth. If we intend to prolong the existence of the human race on this planet, such activities will have to stop. Such activites have a part to play in causing the detoriation of our planet. Combustion produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and carcon monoxide (CO), the greenhouse gases. CO binds with the oxygen molecules (O2) in the ozone layer to from CO2. Since CO2 is heavier molecule, it sinks lower to ground level thus forming a blanket that traps heat within Earth. When CO binds with the O2 from the ozone layer, there is now a hole in the ozone layer due to the absence of O2. Normally, Earth can replenish the O2 in the ozone layer. However, the rate at which the greenhouse gases are being produced does not give Earth the time needed to replenish the O2 supply in the ozone layer. Hence, forming the hole in the ozone layer. This hole allows harmful radiation and heat to enter into the Earth which cause the dire consequences such as the melting of the polar ice caps and the shift in the climatic belts. Eventually, the balance of the Earth will be upset and it will lead to the world ceasing to exist as we know it.

Hence, it is in our hands to prevent a calamitous ending to our existence. The first steps have been taken by the world leaders during the signing of the Montreal Protocol and other such pacts. However, that is still not enough. We have to play our part by abiding by the terms of these treaties as well as engaging in other activites that will help prolong our stay on Planet Earth. Such activites include the reduction of the usage of plastics, the act of recycling things that we do not need as well as to reduce on our burning of unwanted products. These activities play a part in reducing the production of the greenhouse gases which we can do without.


LET US PRESERVE OUR HOME WHICH IS MOTHER EARTH.