Global Climate Change

The Medieval Global Temperature Optimum or the Medieval Warm Period was time of warm climate in the North Atlantic Region from 950 to 1250 AD, affecting California, China and other areas.  Though this was a warm period, it cannot be compared to the warmth we see in present temperatures.
During this time there were severe droughts and rains in different parts of the globe creating. For some it created a difficulty in trying to produce crops and for others it allowed them to produce more crops.

Following this time, was the Little Ice Age, where cooler temperatures prevailed, from 1350 to 1850.  It was not a true ice age but was introduced as the term in scientific litterature by François E. Matthes.  It has been proposed to be caused by cyclical lows in solar radiation, heightened volcanic activity, changes in the ocean circulation, an inherent variability in climate, or decreases in population. 
During this time, much strife was caused. The Little Ice Age created many catastrophes leading to droughts, famines, epidemics and wars.These included the Great Famine, Black Death, Manchu Conquest of China, the Witch Hunts, The Thirteen Year's war, Rise of the Potato, The French Revolution and the Midwestern Population Expansion. 

Both of these periods have left some effects on the global climate change and have led to the results in weather we have today.

San Bernadino Air Quality Index

In looking at the map on the air quality index, I chose to look at San Bernadino County, California. The Banning-Airport located in Riverside is located in San Bernadino California.  Its Air Quality Index was at a high of 830 and the surrounding areas of Mira Loma -Van Buren (82), Rubidoux (70) and Riverside (57), all had fairly high Air Quality indexes as well.   With these 4 high indicators, I decided to research San Bernadino County.

San Bernadino happens to be the largest county in the United States. Being the largest county is already a major factor contributing to its poor air quality. Secondly, it contains eleven total airports two being commercial, one being cargo, and nine being general aviation airports. In addition, It contains over 14 hospitals and colleges or universities, as well as 1 military base, 1 air-force and 1 military training center. Each of these lets of green house gases leading to air pollution and a high air quality index. As you can see in the picture below, the high density and major amounts of air polluters, can create hazardous conditions and increase health side effects in the citizens around the area. San Bernadino has tried to institute air pollution controls and is continuing to try to do so. 

A Look at Lead (Pb)

Lead is a very interesting metal.  It is a very soft, ductile, highly malleable, blush- white lustrous metal, which is relatively poor at conducting electricity. In early centuries, lead was used by the Romans for drains for baths. It is now used in lead-acid batteries for cars, coloring element in ceramic glazes, organ pipes, computer and TV glass screens, sheeting, cables, solders, lead crystal glassware, ammunitions, bearings and as weight in sport equipment.

Pure native lead is rare to find in nature, it is usually found in ore with zinc, silver and copper. The main lead mineral, being mined in Australia, is Galena ( Pbs).  The main mining productions of lead are found in Australia (19%), the USA, China, Peru, and Canada.  Production of new lead per year comes to about 6 million tons out of the believed 85 million tons of workable reserves, but most lead is created by humans through car exhaust.  Lead is used in gasoline and then burned in car engines leading to lead salts of chorines bromines, and oxides to be created and released through the exhaust of cars. With that, Lead has become a pollution problem across the world.

Here is the Article I got my information from:
http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/pb.htm

Here is a short video on the History of Lead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv8Zl5oh-9s

To understand how lead is made here is a quick video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOp0e4p2DY


To understand the dangers of Lead mining:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8hzua8ISuQ