EnviAL


 * 2 Stroke Boat Engine VS. 4 Stroke Boat Engine **

What is the Greenhouse Effect? ** The Greenhouse Effect is gases trapping heat from the Sun in earth’s atmosphere. The suns rays enter into the atmosphere as some are deflected by the atmosphere. The ones that get in are absorbed by the earth and then released out. Some of them go back into space and others are kept inside by the Greenhouse Gases. These gases are Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and some other trace gases. The Greenhouse Effect is good and bad. It is good because it keeps us cool during the night so with out it we would freeze to death at night. It is starting to become bad because it is getting hotter every year. If we did not absorb the heat we receive from the Sun our average temperature would be around Sixty degrees cooler. Our average temperature right now is 57.88 degrees Fahrenheit. So if you subtract sixty from that you would get about an average temperature of -7 degrees Fahrenheit. The small amount of warming is causing the glaciers to melt changing habitats for people all around the world.

What is Global Warming? ** Global Warming is the overall warming of our planet. We need to slow it down for many reasons. It is mostly caused by us and the Greenhouse Effect and how it is heating up the atmosphere. The gases are Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and some other trace gases. Glaciers are beginning to melt causing sea levels to rise all over the world. The rising water is a real danger for all coastal communities because it is causing the water to rise around them. Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts is a great example of this. The water has been rising very fast and eventually this whole island will be wiped out. Global Warming could destroy everything near the ocean and take away many peoples homes. We are causing Global Warming by all of our daily activities. We add large amounts of harmful gases to the environment every day that are causing the atmosphere to absorb more heat than needed. First, every time we drive a car we are burning fossil fuels that put carbon dioxide and coal burning power plants and heat our homes from oil or natural gas. Another large cause of Global Warming that affects the Greenhouse Effect is deforestation. This is largely happening in tropical areas. A huge unknown cause by most people is the growing and raising of cattle. The cattle produce large amounts methane from the cattle’s waste. This can also be good because we can produce electricity from it. All over New England the effects of Global Warming will be very bad. The islands and Cape Cod in Southern MA could be totally wiped out. Every year in Mass we lose a total of 65 acres due to rising seas. Also each state in New England heat related deaths would rise by considerable amounts that are very threatening. Next, the average temperature in Hartford, CT would be the same as Atlanta, GA if the projected rise of temperature which is 6 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Some more bad effects are less snowfall causing less tourism in the Mountains. Another would be more air pollution causing higher summer temperatures causing more respiratory problems. Next, disruption of some ecosystem causing losses of some of rare plants and animals; including Sugar Maple, Monarch Butterfly, Wood Warblers, and Oysters. Also, there would be huge coastal flooding causing losses of property and land. Lastly, there would be weather related losses to crops like apples, potatoes, cabbage, pumpkins, and tomatoes. We would also receive much more powerful Nor’easters and Hurricanes due to rising sea temperatures. These would be very tough for us because we have never had a large hurricane like people have in the South. Eventually Boston would be covered in water causing lots of havoc for people. We would lose our main airport and many people who work and commute through Boston would lose their jobs.
 * What are the contributing factors to Global Warming? **
 * What are the Local Effects of Global Warming? **

** media type="youtube" key="vuYplekR0NE" height="344" width="425"2-Stroke Outboard
 * What Can You do to Help? **
 * First, let’s talk about the performance differences between your average 4-stroke and 2-stroke. The upsides to the 2-stroke are: its lighter, accelerates much faster giving you more speed, easier to repair, parts available due to age, high resale value, and very simple so not much can go wrong. Now some bad performance things about the 2-stroke: louder, harder to start, banned on some bodies of water, and a rougher idle. Next, we have the 4-stroke and its good performance things: it’s quiet, smooth idle, accepted on any body of water, very modern, and it’s very reliable. Some bad performance things about the 4-stroke is: heavy, you often have to repair it at an expensive price, not as many good mechanics, much more expensive than 2-strokes, not as powerful as same 2-stroke with same HP, and there are more parts that can mess up. The average price of a 150hp 2-stroke engine is around $8,000 and for a 4-stroke is around $12,000. So, performance and price based you would probably go out and buy a 2-stroke. Now when you look at the environmental effects of each motor you will really see which motor is better. First, what the 2-stroke does bad for the environment: it has a lot of smoke, must mix a lot of gas with a lot of oil, much less fuel efficient and pollutes the air with all the carbon dioxide in the smoke. The 4-stroke is much more environmentally friendly: much better fuel economy, no mixing of oil and gas, almost no smoke at all, and no pollution to the air. These gases put in the air effect the Greenhouse Effect causing temperatures to rises. So, you should go out and buy a 4-stroke boat engine as it will save you thousands on gas and oil and there will be no pollution to the air. It might cost more at the beginning but, in the end it will pay for itself as the fuel economy is much better.
 * Summary **
 * Global Warming is having a really bad effect on us and really could destroy earth as we know we it. We must slow down the heating up and us releasing all the gases into the atmosphere. For people who own boats they should convert their 2-stroke boat engines into the more energy efficient 4-stroke engine. This would save a lot of harmful gases being released into the environment. Go out and buy a 4-stroke boat engine it will save your pocket and the environment! **

“Kids Site Greenhouse Effect” __United State Environmental Protection Agency.__ 10/23/06. 5/29/09 < http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html > "Global Warming." Union of Concerned Scientists. 01/28/05 . 6/2/09  "Global Warming in New England States." __New England__ __Climate Coalition.__ 10/23/03. 6/2/09< http://www.newenglandclimate.org/effectsbystate.htm > "INTERNATIONAL REPORT FINDS GLOBAL WARMING EFFECTS IN NEW ENGLAND." __Clean Air Cool Planet.__ 2/19/01. 6/2/09 < http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/information/pressrelease/20010219.php > “Two-Stroke vs. Four-Stroke Engines” __Maritime New Zealand__ 5/8/06. 6/4/09 < http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Publications-and-forms/Environmental-protection/Two-stroke-VS-four-stroke.pdf> “4-stroke outboards vs. 2-stroke outboards__” Small Outboards.__ 6/3/09. 6/4/09 http://smalloutboards.com/4Stroke.htm "Yamaha 2-stroke." __ Coastal Marine.__. 6/8/09< http://www.coastal-marine.com.au/Images/Yamaha/Yamaha%202-Stroke%20VMAX%20HPDI%20150hp.jpg > "Nautic Expo." __Honda Marine.__. 6/8/09<[] > "City of Chula Vista." __Climate Change Initiative. __ 6/8/09< http://www.chulavistaca.gov/clean/conservation/img/greenhouse_effect_big.gif >
 * BIBLIOGRAPHY **