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= = = COWS ARE KILLING OUR PLANET = = = = THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT = - The  __greenhouse effect__   is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the   __atmosphere__    trap energy from the sun. Gases like water vapor,  __carbon dioxide__  ,   __nitrous oxide__   , and   __methane__   , for example. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60  __ºF__   colder. This effect helps us on the planet because if we didn’t have it then we would freeze at night, because of the cold temperatures. The greenhouse effect is a good thing for the earth. 

==GLOBAL WARMING: THE BIG PICTURE == -Global warming mean the average in the Earth's temperature across the whole planet increases , which causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. Global warming is caused by human activities. Measurements show that the global temperature has increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century. Temperature increases will have important impacts on human behavior, including: where we can live, what food we can grow, how and where we can grow food, and where organisms, we consider pests, can thrive.

- Things that cause CO2 by burning fossil fuels and Methane: Power Stations Industrials processes Transportation fuels Agricultural byproducts Fossil fuel retrieval Land use and burning And surprisingly, COWS
 * GLOBAL WARMING: CONTRIBUTING FACTORS[[image:amounts_of_gasses.png width="286" height="251" align="right"]] **

- Global warming will rise 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. Meanwhile, precipitation will likely increase 10 to 30 percent across the region, but it will arrive in more intense storms, like those leading to the severe flooding in August of 2007. As any farmer can tell you, increased temperature and extended droughts lead to increases in evaporation, causing loss of soil moisture. When the intense rains finally do come, the soil cannot soak up all the water. Flash floods, along with massive soil and fertilizer runoff, occur, providing little salve for a parched farm. Farmers are feeling the effects of global warming all over the country.
 * GLOBAL WARMING: MIDWEST EFFECTS **

- Agriculture is responsible for an estimated 14 percent of the world's greenhouse gases. What can farmers do differently? They can change the way they run their farm to reduce their impact on global warming. Did you know that cows produce a lot of methane? Well, it’s true. Cows emit a massive amount of methane through belching, with a lesser amount through flatulence. Some experts say 100 liters to 200 liters a day, while others say it's up to 500 a day. So, about 1.5 billion multiplied by 350 liters (average of two numbers) that’s about 525,000,000,000 liters of methane being produce everyday just by cows! Now we know the numbers, so what can we do? A three-year study, begun in April 2007 by Welsh scientists, is examining if adding garlic to cow feed can reduce their methane production. The study is ongoing, but early results indicate that garlic cuts cow flatulence in half by attacking methane-producing microbes living in cows' stomachs. The researchers are also looking to see if the addition of garlic affects the quality of the meat or milk produced and even if the animals get bad breath. Many farms have started making electricity for running the farms on the methane that the cows are producing. This is exactly what one farmer in Minnesota has done. From his methane powered generator, he might save about $400 a month. He can even still use the manure for fertilizer after its run through the process. Because it no longer contains methane, it's lost much of its odor, and doesn't emit as many greenhouse gases. Just like people are doing all over the world, even farmers can reduce their carbon footprint by the way they run their farm. It would really help our planet if farmers can run their farm on the methane produced by their cows. It saves money for farmers and reduces the amount of methane being released into the atmosphere. -So, let’s recap. The greenhouse effect is good because it traps in heat that we need in order to survive at night. Global Warming is bad, however, because of the temperature increases. More bad gases, like CO2 and methane, are being released into the atmosphere. Cows release a lot of methane and there are things farmers can do to help that. They can run their farms on the methane their cows produce and save a lot of money. Then, they can use the manure, after it’s gone through the process, for fertilizer. If you start help by doing the things suggested in this article, we can drastically reduce the amount of methane released from cows. Jacob Silverman “How Stuff Works” __Do cows pollute as much as cars?__ October 30, 2008 < [] >
 * WHAT YOU CAN DO DIFFERENTLY? **
 * A SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH **
 * BIBLIOGRAPHY **

“NOAA Satellite and Information Service” __Global Warming__ 20-Aug-2008 < [] > “Something Spanglish” __Cows in Miami__ March 23, 2009 [] “Solcom House” __Global Warming__ < [] >

“Solar Navigator” __Greenhouse Gases__ < [] >

“The Problem with Plovers” __Greenhouse Effect__ 

“EPA” __Greenhouse Effect__ October 23, 2006 < [] >

“CNN” __ Cow methane: A trump card in the fight against global warming? __ January 6, 2009 < [] >

“Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming” Issues- Global Warming < [] >

Tim Post “Minnesota Public Radio” __Farmer uses Methane to Make Electricity__ <[]