By Oswald Eppers
In February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in their Fourth Assessment Report that human actions are "very likely" (i.e. with 90% or greater probability) the cause of global warming, indicated by an increase of 0.75 degrees in average global temperatures over the last 100 years. This statement is the result of very tough discussions on a worldwide scale between thousands of climate researchers whether human activity is the main cause of global warming. The results of this discussion were presented to the public in many publications, for instance in Martin Durkin´s documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle", presented in March 2007 at UK´s Channel 4. The main message of this production was that man-made global warming is "a lie" and "the biggest scam of modern times." Martin Durkin and coworkers argue that the scientific consensus on climate change is the product of "a multi billion-dollar worldwide industry, created by fanatically anti-industrial environmentalists, supported by scientists peddling scare stories to chase funding and propped up by complicit politicians and the media". The documentary showcases scientists, politicians, economists, writers, and others who are skeptical of the scientific consensus on anthropogenic (or man-made) global warming. Some of the scientists, opposing the main stream of greenhouse gas theories, simply argue that it has not yet been ascertained whether humans are the primary cause of global warming or if there are other natural variations responsible for this phenomenon like increased solar activity, cosmic rays or variations in natural climatic cycles. There is also a series of scientists questioning the temperature records used in the databases as temperature differences attributed to the greenhouse effect are reasonable small (fractions of a ºC). The so-called "urban heat island" effect leads to a local warming in more populated areas, showing slightly higher temperatures due to to increased heat generated by cities, rather than a global temperature rise. Anyhow, this argument was confuted by the IPPC, indicating that the effect of the urban heat island on the global temperature trend is no more than 0.05 °C (0.09 °F) degrees through 1990.
Other facts presented by the film were shown to be incorrect or misinterpreted. The film asserts for instance that records of atmospheric CO2 levels since 1940 show a continuing increase, but during this period, global temperature decreased until 1975, and has increased since then. Anyhow, it is well recognized that this cooling was driven mostly by aerosols (i.e. pollution) in the atmosphere. There is nothing contradictory about this cooling when all sources of radiation changes are considered. A second argument that easily can be invalidated is the impact of the so-called "solar variation theory" on global warming. According to the authors, solar activity (and involving cosmic rays as well as heat from the sun aiding cloud formation) is currently at an extremely high level and directly linked to changes in global temperature. The film argues that solar activity is far more influential on global warming than any other anthropogenic or natural activity on Earth. What the film does not mention is that solar activity has declined over the last 30 years - at the same time as the major spike in global temperature.
But there are some statements related to the influence of the oceanic mass and water vapor on climate change which are more difficult to confute. Water vapor makes up about 98% of the greenhouse gases by volume and provides something between 40 to 80 percent of the natural greenhouse effect. It probably has the largest impact on the planet's temperature and climatic conditions, much larger than CO2. Water particles in the form of clouds act to reflect incoming solar heat, but the film argues that the effects of clouds cannot be accurately simulated by scientists attempting to predict future weather patterns and their effects on global warming. This argument probably is correct and it is well recognized that water vapor is responsible for the natural warming up of the surface temperature to approximately 30-35ºC. Anthropogenic greenhouse effect, according to the film's argumentation, is only about 2% of the total "natural" greenhouse effect, which corresponds to a 0.6-0.7 ºC increase in temperature. This estimate is somewhat smaller compared to the results of much more sophisticated simulations (0.9 - 2.7ºC), but there is undoubtedly an anthropogenic effect of CO2 increasing the average surface temperature.
One example of the complexity of climatic simulations is the prediction of future storm events considering global warming effects. According to a recently published study, published online by research meteorologist Tom Knutson in the journal Nature Geoscience and resumed in the New York Times (May 18, 2008), global warming isn't to blame for the recent jump in hurricanes in the Atlantic. The study predicts that by the end of the century the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic will fall by 18 percent. In the past, Knutson has raised concerns about the effects of climate change on storms. His new paper has the potential to heat up a simmering debate among meteorologists about current and future effects of global warming in the Atlantic. And Knutson is not alone with this view. Another group of experts, those who study hurricanes and who are more often skeptical about global warming, also say there is no link between global warming and hurricane frequency. They attribute the recent increase to a natural multi-decade cycle. According to the prediction, the number of hurricanes touching land in the US and its neighbors will drop by about 30 percent because of wind factors. However, the biggest storms, those with winds of more than 110 mph, would only decrease in frequency by 8 percent. The biggest decrease is forecasted for storms with winds between 39 and 73 mph (normal tropical storms), who would decrease by 27 percent.
It's not all good news from Knutson's study, however. His computer model also forecasts that "hurricanes and tropical storms will be wetter and fiercer. Rainfall within 30 miles of a hurricane should jump by 37 percent and wind strength should increase by about 2 percent", Knutson's study says.
There are already critical reactions on this new publication. MIT hurricane meteorologist Kerry Emanuel claims that the computer model used by Knutson is not adequate enough to look at storms and according to Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., Knutson's computer model is poor at assessing tropical weather and ''fail to replicate storms with any kind of fidelity.'' It also does not considering well enough the intensity, duration and size of the storm events, as not only the number of hurricanes is important to evaluate.
Positive feedback comes from NOAA hurricane meteorologist Chris Landsea , who wasn't part of this study, praised Knutson's work as ''very consistent with what's being said all along.'' ''I think global warming is a big concern, but when it comes to hurricanes the evidence for changes is pretty darn tiny,'' Landsea said.
About the Author
Dr. Oswald J. Eppers is manager of the consulting company E&R InterConsult and owner of the Two-Approach Job Assistant and Career Guide with daily updated job opportunities for renewable energy specialists
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Oswald_Eppers
Friday, November 19, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Career Choices - How to Choose Your Ideal Career
Career Choices - How to Choose Your Ideal Career
By Lisa McGrimmon
A big part of making smart career choices and gaining control over your career lies in understanding yourself. That means having a good sense of how your personality, abilities, and values work together to impact the type of career that is ideal for you.
Career and Personality Match
Ensuring a good career and personality match is an important step in building a satisfying and fruitful career, while a poor career and personality match can hold you back in your career success and happiness.
Imagine the difference between a sales professional who is extroverted and agreeable and one who is introverted and indifferent. Sales jobs tend to require an extroverted, agreeable personality profile, so that person would be more inclined to be a top performer on his or her team and truly enjoy the work. On the other hand, the introverted and indifferent individual would more likely struggle with inferior job performance, job dissatisfaction and possibly even career burnout.
A simple and effective strategy for understanding the ways your career choices and personality interact is through a valid personality assessment. Unlike simplistic, just-for-fun tests you may see in popular magazines, valid personality assessments are developed through vast amounts of objective scientific testing and volumes of psychological research to ensure they are a truly accurate measure of your personality and career options.
Match Your Career Choices with Your Natural Talents
An aptitude test can be used to assess your capacity to learn a variety of different skills. It can help you to understand the types of skills that you will likely learn easily and those that will be more challenging for you to learn.
Depending on the test that is used, aptitude tests can be used to assess everything from spatial perception to verbal ability to finger and manual dexterity. Most commonly, aptitude tests are used to assess general learning ability (your overall ability to learn and understand), verbal ability (language) and numerical ability (math).
A career aptitude test does not rely on skills that you have learned in the past. Although skills and aptitudes are related, your skills are things you have learned to do in the past. Your aptitudes are things that you have the ability to learn. So, even if you have not studied math at an advanced level, an aptitude test could still predict that you have the ability to learn math without undue difficulty.
Like interest tests, good aptitude assessments are developed using extensive objective scientific testing and research. A valid career assessment can provide useful information if you are considering training for a new career. The test will help to show areas of strength and forewarn you of areas where learning new skills may be more challenging.
If you do decide to take a career assessment test, it can help you to build a career around your strengths. You will understand yourself better, and be able to work with, promote and feel confident about your strengths.
Match Your Career Choices with Your Values
Matching values and career choices is an often overlooked aspect of career planning. Considering that the leading cause of job burnout is a mismatch between your personal values and the realities of your job, it's important to assess your values and the ways they will be expressed in your career decisions.
It can be easy to slip into pursuing career rewards that do not fit with your own value system. Society tells us to value prestige, power and a high income. If those career accomplishments are within your own personal set of values, then pursuing those things will likely contribute to your happiness and career satisfaction.
However, if you value family friendly flexibility in your work schedule, creativity and helping others, then you'll find more career satisfaction in pursuing those career goals. That doesn't mean that you're destined to be unhappy in a high paying job if high income is not one of your core values. However, it does mean that if earning a high income is not one of your primary values, that income will not make up for the shortcomings a job that goes against your own personal values.
If you decide you use a values inventory test to help you think through your important work values, keep in mind that, unlike interest and aptitude assessments, a values inventory is not a formal tool that has been validated through objective research. However, a values inventory is a great brainstorming tool to help you to assess things that motivate you and your needs as they are related to your career choices.
Often people struggle to state what they want out of their work (beyond an income), so a values inventory can help by prompting you to think through many possible work related values.
As you make your career decisions, keep in mind that some factors affect career choice in ways that are profound, but not immediately obvious. Matching your career choices and your personality, aptitudes and values is a smart step towards your career success and satisfaction.
Lisa McGrimmon has helped over two thousand clients achieve their career goals. If you'd like to learn exactly how to manage your career and gain enormous control over your future, visit Career Choice Guide For tips on making a career change please visit her site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_McGrimmon
By Lisa McGrimmon
A big part of making smart career choices and gaining control over your career lies in understanding yourself. That means having a good sense of how your personality, abilities, and values work together to impact the type of career that is ideal for you.
Career and Personality Match
Ensuring a good career and personality match is an important step in building a satisfying and fruitful career, while a poor career and personality match can hold you back in your career success and happiness.
Imagine the difference between a sales professional who is extroverted and agreeable and one who is introverted and indifferent. Sales jobs tend to require an extroverted, agreeable personality profile, so that person would be more inclined to be a top performer on his or her team and truly enjoy the work. On the other hand, the introverted and indifferent individual would more likely struggle with inferior job performance, job dissatisfaction and possibly even career burnout.
A simple and effective strategy for understanding the ways your career choices and personality interact is through a valid personality assessment. Unlike simplistic, just-for-fun tests you may see in popular magazines, valid personality assessments are developed through vast amounts of objective scientific testing and volumes of psychological research to ensure they are a truly accurate measure of your personality and career options.
Match Your Career Choices with Your Natural Talents
An aptitude test can be used to assess your capacity to learn a variety of different skills. It can help you to understand the types of skills that you will likely learn easily and those that will be more challenging for you to learn.
Depending on the test that is used, aptitude tests can be used to assess everything from spatial perception to verbal ability to finger and manual dexterity. Most commonly, aptitude tests are used to assess general learning ability (your overall ability to learn and understand), verbal ability (language) and numerical ability (math).
A career aptitude test does not rely on skills that you have learned in the past. Although skills and aptitudes are related, your skills are things you have learned to do in the past. Your aptitudes are things that you have the ability to learn. So, even if you have not studied math at an advanced level, an aptitude test could still predict that you have the ability to learn math without undue difficulty.
Like interest tests, good aptitude assessments are developed using extensive objective scientific testing and research. A valid career assessment can provide useful information if you are considering training for a new career. The test will help to show areas of strength and forewarn you of areas where learning new skills may be more challenging.
If you do decide to take a career assessment test, it can help you to build a career around your strengths. You will understand yourself better, and be able to work with, promote and feel confident about your strengths.
Match Your Career Choices with Your Values
Matching values and career choices is an often overlooked aspect of career planning. Considering that the leading cause of job burnout is a mismatch between your personal values and the realities of your job, it's important to assess your values and the ways they will be expressed in your career decisions.
It can be easy to slip into pursuing career rewards that do not fit with your own value system. Society tells us to value prestige, power and a high income. If those career accomplishments are within your own personal set of values, then pursuing those things will likely contribute to your happiness and career satisfaction.
However, if you value family friendly flexibility in your work schedule, creativity and helping others, then you'll find more career satisfaction in pursuing those career goals. That doesn't mean that you're destined to be unhappy in a high paying job if high income is not one of your core values. However, it does mean that if earning a high income is not one of your primary values, that income will not make up for the shortcomings a job that goes against your own personal values.
If you decide you use a values inventory test to help you think through your important work values, keep in mind that, unlike interest and aptitude assessments, a values inventory is not a formal tool that has been validated through objective research. However, a values inventory is a great brainstorming tool to help you to assess things that motivate you and your needs as they are related to your career choices.
Often people struggle to state what they want out of their work (beyond an income), so a values inventory can help by prompting you to think through many possible work related values.
As you make your career decisions, keep in mind that some factors affect career choice in ways that are profound, but not immediately obvious. Matching your career choices and your personality, aptitudes and values is a smart step towards your career success and satisfaction.
Lisa McGrimmon has helped over two thousand clients achieve their career goals. If you'd like to learn exactly how to manage your career and gain enormous control over your future, visit Career Choice Guide For tips on making a career change please visit her site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_McGrimmon
Career Success - A Winning Career Game Plan
Career Success - A Winning Career Game Plan
By John Groth
Build a career planning tool box to achieve career success.
We all have our favorite coaches, and if they coach our favorite athletic team, it's a plus. Tom Landry tried to measure the character of his players. Vince Lombardi expected and achieved excellence. Dean Smith brought out the best in his players while playing within the rules. John Wooden spent extra time in designing the best practices possible. Superior coaching is about being our best and beyond.
A significant number of Coach Lombardi's players, for example, achieved financial and personal success outside football. Coaching is about performance whether its career planning or on the athletic field. Effective career planning with an experienced job coach will help us get on the right career path to plan, manage and advance our career.
As a career planning guide the best coach to bring out your peak performance is the person you see in the mirror every morning. If you can't pay for a personal career coach, or maybe there's no one available or you aren't ready, why not be your own career planning coach? Here's a successful and winning game plan to follow:
1. Write out your Personal Career Planning Guide: Write out your career goals. Your career development plan should be specific and measurable. There is power in writing and planning your career goals. Put a copy up on your screen saver. Write out your career plan on 3x5 cards and place them where you can read them daily. Think about your career objectives and frequently bring them up to date. Celebrate whenever you reach a milestone. This step is the most important in your career planning tool box.
2. Focus on your Career Development: Eliminate distractions and keep your eye on your career goals. Life normally is full of frustrations and distractions. Successful coaches do not tolerate the things that drive most of us crazy - they take the time to stop, solve the problem and eliminate the distraction once and for all. Stay focused on your career plan.
3. Control your Surroundings: Top performers know that space management is as important as time management. They generally have neat offices, clean cars, orderly appointment books, and they plan for the unexpected, just in case. Make your space is as productive as possible and you can put your very best work.
4. Superior Performance Today: Don't dwell on the past. It can't be changed. Work your career planning strategy by doing your best today. Show up, be attentive, bear down and do your best. Your outstanding performance today will coach you to reach and exceed your future career plans. Many of life's most important achievements are about doing a superior job right now, on the work that lies right in front of you. Dwelling on the big game next month will only cause you to lose focus on you career plans; the job in front of you is to get the most out of today's work (practice) so when the big game arrives you'll be more that ready to excel.
5. Build daily reading into your Career Plan: As part of your career plan, set aside some time to read something useful, motivating or fun every day. If you enjoy reading science fiction, for example, make a deal with yourself for every science fiction novel you read you'll read two motivation or career related books. Plan on reading at least two books a month, build it into your career planning. Manage your other reading. Everything that comes across your desk or in your email does not have to be read. Use the delete button or the round file. You'll now have more time to read something that advances your career plan. Reading will make a world of difference in coaching you to reach your career goals outlined in your career plan.
6. Make the time in your car Productive: During your commute or when you're driving plan on listening to motivational, educational, learn a language, or just plain fun CD's. The radio is wall to wall commercials or the latest murder and mayhem; not productive use of your time. You'll be furthering your career plan by turning this unproductive time to into something useful. It's always good career advice to surround yourself with the best information available.
7. Develop a Career Coaching Group: As you advance in your career you'll come across people who can help you become successful. Stay in contact with them. Think of them as your "assistant coaches." Run ideas by them, ask for their advice and be open to let them coach you.
8. Build Play and Fitness into your Career Plan: Get fit. Go for a long walk. Use the basketball hoop in the driveway. Have fun, laugh, enjoy the day with friends and family. Build play and fitness into your career plan. Be balanced in your career life planning. Don't neglect the physical side of your career path planning.
10. Be Thankful of your Gifts: Look back on the past week. Ask yourself how many good days or events did you have in the past week. What made them good? Plan on doing more of the good stuff and less of the not so good. Be grateful and thankful to others. Practice a positive attitude.
Having a number of career planning guides like those listed above in your career tool box to assist you in your coaching will help keep you on your planned path. Having written career goals, with a career planning strategy and your books, CD's, friends along with your routine will all help coach you to career success.
Search out the best resources you can find. Build your career plan into your daily routine. Overall your career planning should not be expensive and you'll find it to be one of the best investments you'll ever make. Coach yourself to success.
John Groth is a former HR executive and career coach. Find Career Planning Tools ,valuable articles and a free seven day career planning guide. Discover up to date career and recruitment strategies at our career idea blog; all to assist you in advancing and managing your career.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Groth
By John Groth
Build a career planning tool box to achieve career success.
We all have our favorite coaches, and if they coach our favorite athletic team, it's a plus. Tom Landry tried to measure the character of his players. Vince Lombardi expected and achieved excellence. Dean Smith brought out the best in his players while playing within the rules. John Wooden spent extra time in designing the best practices possible. Superior coaching is about being our best and beyond.
A significant number of Coach Lombardi's players, for example, achieved financial and personal success outside football. Coaching is about performance whether its career planning or on the athletic field. Effective career planning with an experienced job coach will help us get on the right career path to plan, manage and advance our career.
As a career planning guide the best coach to bring out your peak performance is the person you see in the mirror every morning. If you can't pay for a personal career coach, or maybe there's no one available or you aren't ready, why not be your own career planning coach? Here's a successful and winning game plan to follow:
1. Write out your Personal Career Planning Guide: Write out your career goals. Your career development plan should be specific and measurable. There is power in writing and planning your career goals. Put a copy up on your screen saver. Write out your career plan on 3x5 cards and place them where you can read them daily. Think about your career objectives and frequently bring them up to date. Celebrate whenever you reach a milestone. This step is the most important in your career planning tool box.
2. Focus on your Career Development: Eliminate distractions and keep your eye on your career goals. Life normally is full of frustrations and distractions. Successful coaches do not tolerate the things that drive most of us crazy - they take the time to stop, solve the problem and eliminate the distraction once and for all. Stay focused on your career plan.
3. Control your Surroundings: Top performers know that space management is as important as time management. They generally have neat offices, clean cars, orderly appointment books, and they plan for the unexpected, just in case. Make your space is as productive as possible and you can put your very best work.
4. Superior Performance Today: Don't dwell on the past. It can't be changed. Work your career planning strategy by doing your best today. Show up, be attentive, bear down and do your best. Your outstanding performance today will coach you to reach and exceed your future career plans. Many of life's most important achievements are about doing a superior job right now, on the work that lies right in front of you. Dwelling on the big game next month will only cause you to lose focus on you career plans; the job in front of you is to get the most out of today's work (practice) so when the big game arrives you'll be more that ready to excel.
5. Build daily reading into your Career Plan: As part of your career plan, set aside some time to read something useful, motivating or fun every day. If you enjoy reading science fiction, for example, make a deal with yourself for every science fiction novel you read you'll read two motivation or career related books. Plan on reading at least two books a month, build it into your career planning. Manage your other reading. Everything that comes across your desk or in your email does not have to be read. Use the delete button or the round file. You'll now have more time to read something that advances your career plan. Reading will make a world of difference in coaching you to reach your career goals outlined in your career plan.
6. Make the time in your car Productive: During your commute or when you're driving plan on listening to motivational, educational, learn a language, or just plain fun CD's. The radio is wall to wall commercials or the latest murder and mayhem; not productive use of your time. You'll be furthering your career plan by turning this unproductive time to into something useful. It's always good career advice to surround yourself with the best information available.
7. Develop a Career Coaching Group: As you advance in your career you'll come across people who can help you become successful. Stay in contact with them. Think of them as your "assistant coaches." Run ideas by them, ask for their advice and be open to let them coach you.
8. Build Play and Fitness into your Career Plan: Get fit. Go for a long walk. Use the basketball hoop in the driveway. Have fun, laugh, enjoy the day with friends and family. Build play and fitness into your career plan. Be balanced in your career life planning. Don't neglect the physical side of your career path planning.
10. Be Thankful of your Gifts: Look back on the past week. Ask yourself how many good days or events did you have in the past week. What made them good? Plan on doing more of the good stuff and less of the not so good. Be grateful and thankful to others. Practice a positive attitude.
Having a number of career planning guides like those listed above in your career tool box to assist you in your coaching will help keep you on your planned path. Having written career goals, with a career planning strategy and your books, CD's, friends along with your routine will all help coach you to career success.
Search out the best resources you can find. Build your career plan into your daily routine. Overall your career planning should not be expensive and you'll find it to be one of the best investments you'll ever make. Coach yourself to success.
John Groth is a former HR executive and career coach. Find Career Planning Tools ,valuable articles and a free seven day career planning guide. Discover up to date career and recruitment strategies at our career idea blog; all to assist you in advancing and managing your career.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Groth
Thursday, July 22, 2010
IT jobs, accounting jobs, consulting jobs, operations jobs, senior management jobs, executive jobs, management jobs, mba jobs, executive job search
Search Over a million executive and $100K+ jobs. Find a great job and start getting paid what your worth. Get started today for free.
Jason WhitfieldUse this tool to find 100k jobs, management jobs, executive jobs, 100k+ jobs, marketing jobs, finance jobs, IT jobs, accounting jobs, consulting jobs, operations jobs, senior management jobs, executive jobs, management jobs, mba jobs, executive job search, director jobs, c-level jobs, vp jobs,
Jason WhitfieldUse this tool to find 100k jobs, management jobs, executive jobs, 100k+ jobs, marketing jobs, finance jobs, IT jobs, accounting jobs, consulting jobs, operations jobs, senior management jobs, executive jobs, management jobs, mba jobs, executive job search, director jobs, c-level jobs, vp jobs,
Instantly post your resume to Hot Jobs, Career Builder, Monster
Jason WhitfieldOne stop resume posting to job banks and job search engines. Be seen by MILLIONS of employers and find a job. Instantly post your resume to Hot Jobs, Career Builder, Monster & more! Find online job listings, search for jobs online, openings & employment opportunities. Let Resume Rabbit help you
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Where is Hubble? Do you know where the Hubble Space Telescope is? It could be overhead or located somewhere else in the sky. When displayed in Sky
Where is Hubble?
Do you know where the Hubble Space Telescope is? It could be overhead or located somewhere else in the sky. When displayed in Sky, you can see where Hubble is projected on the background of stars, and it updates as Hubble moves! Is Hubble visible tonight? Have a look. You will need to switch to Sky ...
By STScI and NASA
Do you know where the Hubble Space Telescope is? It could be overhead or located somewhere else in the sky. When displayed in Sky, you can see where Hubble is projected on the background of stars, and it updates as Hubble moves! Is Hubble visible tonight? Have a look. You will need to switch to Sky ...
By STScI and NASA
Space Vidcast TV Watch live space TV right in your browser! Space Vidcast TV is a videocast about space travel and the future of space exploration.
Space Vidcast TV
Watch live space TV right in your browser! Space Vidcast TV is a videocast about space travel and the future of space exploration. Weekly studio video casts as well as live coverage of NASA Mission Control during Space Shuttle missions. Watch in small window or full screen mode.
By Doug Jobes
Watch live space TV right in your browser! Space Vidcast TV is a videocast about space travel and the future of space exploration. Weekly studio video casts as well as live coverage of NASA Mission Control during Space Shuttle missions. Watch in small window or full screen mode.
By Doug Jobes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)