The Incineration process by Laura Murtagh

Incineration is a waste treatment process

The term incinerates means to burn something until nothing is left but ashes.

 An incinerator is a unit or facility used to burn waste until it is reduced to just ash. An incinerator is constructed of heavy, well-insulated materials, so that it does not give off extreme amounts of external heat.

The high levels of heat are kept inside the furnace so that the waste is burned quickly and efficiently. If the heat were allowed to escape, the waste would not burn as completely or as rapidly.

One function of an incinerator is to dispose of trash or waste effectively, eliminating the high cost of having waste transported away and deposited elsewhere, then piling even more rubbish on to existing landfills. Incinerators also serve to keep dangerous materials from finding their way to landfills where they can cause harm people.

However some people feel that an incinerator is a poor alternative to other waste disposal methods. They believe its exchanging land waste for smog and air pollution. But, an incinerator can dispose of an incredible amount of solid waste when used properly, which is why many people believe that it is the most efficient waste disposal process.

Aside from reducing the sheer quantity of solid waste by roughly 90%, an incinerator can also be used to manage certain materials that cannot be disposed of properly by simply dumping them in another location due to issues of public health and safety.

 The extreme temperatures produced by an incinerator can wipe out certain biohazards, as well as other toxic materials which are found in medical and hazardous waste. Other dangerous and harmful materials can also be broken down in an incinerator, such as bio-weapons, confiscated drugs, and contaminants. The use of an incinerator is meant to be strictly regulated to protect our health and the environment.

In Ireland many incinerators where proposed leading to huge public debate a recent one was the poolbeg incinerator in planning in county Dublin, there was also a proposal for one in Ringaskiddy county cork.

Pollution in the Environment by Pádraig McCann

What is Pollution? Pollution is defined as the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms.

There are many types of pollution. Pollution can take form in a physical, chemical and energy form.

Physical Pollution:
Humans mainly contribute to this type of pollution. One of the basic forms is LITTER. Some people believe it is harmless but they don't know the facts. A plastic bag dropped on the ground will take up to 500 years to decompose. Bottles, Tayto packets, wrappers and much much more. Many companies claim to use recycled but how much of this is true? We have to change the way we use plastic. Try and reuse old cartons and bottles. Remember: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Chemical Pollution:
This takes the form of air and water pollution. Humans again are responsible for this pollution especially in industrial areas such as cities, factories. Many factories emit high levels of Carbon Dioxide and other chemicals into the Ozone Layer. These gases become trapped. The country side also contributes to chemical pollution. Methane gas which is produced by cattle is harmful. One cow can produce up to 12 fridges worth of gas and with an average farm to have 30+ cattle this is 360 fridges! All vehicles on our roads release carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. There is on average 806 million cars used every single day, burning over 1 billion m³ of petrol and diesel. With a global population growing the need of more cars will increase pollution. There is a solution to this problem. Walk more. Use public transport.Carpool.

Artificial Pollution:
In big towns and cites Light Pollution is a big problem. Street lights and other outdoor lights contribute to engulfing the night sky and its wonderful sights. The skies over Sligo and other towns have been taken over by the sickening cover blocking out the stars.
There is also noise pollution. Again in the big towns and cities the hustle and bustle of traffic and people going about their business and this may seem harmless but it does have its negatives.
For some creatures such as foxes and badgers the extra light can play havoc to there systems causing mayhem and distraught animals. The extra noise can disturb birds and other creatures.

Change:
It is the simple things that we do that lead to bigger difference. Recycle your rubbish. Use cleaner energy. Turn off unwanted lights.

Light Pollution



Air Pollution

Zonation on a shore by Pádraig McCann

Because the distance that the tide comes up the shore varies from day to day, this provides different environmental conditions, and therefore different habitats supporting sea creatures and plants, together with the animals that will be present when the conditions and availability of food suit them.

Splash Zone
The very highest zone on the shore is called the splash zone.
Here you will find a few species of lichen which are fed on by two very small species of winkle.
 
Upper Shore Zone
This zone is only immersed by the spring tides, and then only for a short time. The brown seaweeds, Spiral Wrack has adaptations to prevent drying out and can survive when the tide is out. Acorn Barnacles settle in this zone.
 
Middle Shore Zone
For half the day the tide will be in, even during the period of neap tides.  The common brown wrack of this zone is the Bladder Wrack,. Mussel beds will form and both limpets and periwinkles will graze the rocks. Beadlet Anemones are resident.
 
Lower Shore
For most of the day the sea will cover this part of the shore, so that the beachcomber will need to consult his tide tables to ascertain when the shore is accessible.
This will be longest during the spring tide period. The important brown seaweed is the Serrated Wrack which straddles large areas where there are suitable attachments.
The range of crabs, molluscs, small fish and prawns is much greater in this zone.

For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertidal_zone




Shore Zonation






  







The Doorly Park of Sligo by Henry Koehler



The Beauty of Doorly Park



The area was developed in the 19th century. Until today it is continuously changing its face . It is a good example how the landscape can be artificially shaped through human actions.

The Doorly Park offers the opportunity to go for a walk or simply watching wildlife. You will enjoy a lovely time there. But unfortunately environmental issues have occurred for example waste dumbed in the area and hence destroy the beauty of the Doorly Park partly. We want to raise awareness about this situation and encourage the community to avoid polluting our environment then "The nature doesn't need us but we need the nature which surrounds us" !

 

Further information go to http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/listings/product/?fid=FI_11659

Zebra Mussels Infestation

Invasive Species (Zebra Mussels)

Invasive Species

James Purcell

Freshwater

Zebra Mussel

Dreissena polymorpha

·         First recorded in Ireland in 1997

·         The species has spread rapidly throughout Irelands freshwater ecosystems, and significantly altered these habitats.

·         It has a striped shell, grow to 3-4cm, it attaches itself to hard surfaces and it is a filter feeder

Impacts of Zebra Mussels:
They can change nutrient cycles, filter out the microscopic plants called phytoplankton and zooplankton (which would impact the food chain), increase water clarity and increase plant growth, Change in fish populations can also occur where zebra mussels are present (colonize spawning grounds),
It has been noted in some lakes which previously had large population of roach previous to zebra mussels, showed a dramatic decline in numbers after the introduction of zebra mussels.
Zebra mussels can also block water intake pipes, for example at Killyhevlin water works, Enniskillen, £100,000 was needed to repair and modify due to zebra mussels.