Wind+Energy+(Jack+Dolan)

Wind energy, or wind power, is the process of harnessing energy from the blowing wind by means of devices called wind turbines, which convert the aformentioned energy into usable electricity.
 * What is wind energy?**

This picture above explains the process of how a wind turbine converts the blowing wind into electricity used by businesses and houses across the world.

Wind energy is one of many alternative energy sources. The term "alternative" refers to any source of energy that is not coal-burning or using fossil fuels, such as wind and solar energy. Wind energy is green energy. The term "green" here refers to the fact that wind energy does not give off any harmful emissions into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. These gases are key contributors to the theory of "global warming", which is the idea that carbon emissions into the atmosphere are creating a greenhouse effect in the Earth; meaning that the increased level of carbon gases in the atmosphere are allowing heat onto the Earth's surface, but not releasing it. In turn, this is causing the global climate to rise at an alarming rate. Finally, wind energy is a renewable resource. The term "renewable" here means that it is impossible for us humans to exhaust our supply of wind, considering it is never ending. In other words, the wind will never stop blowing, so we can't use it all up like we can with coal and natural gases.
 * What problems is it trying to address?**

Wind energy is always a great alternative to normal coal burning. As previously mentioned, wind energy is a green, alternative energy source which is also a renewable resource, meaning that its an unlimited power source that has no environmental consequences. The only possible time where wind energy could //not// be useful would be if someone were to install a wind turbine in a non-windy area. The technology is currently expensive and if there wasn't enough wind to spin the turbines at a fequent enough rate, then the power source would be nothing more than a $10,000 pinwheel.
 * When is it useful?**

Wind energy plays a key part in the Carbon cycle. The carbon cycle is " the means by which carbon  atoms are exchanged between living things, the ground, the oceans, and the skies " (Anissimov, 2003). Without human interference, this organic circulation of carbon is a balanced cycle, meaning that when a certain amount of carbon being used, an equivalent amount is also being released and recycled. Now since man has became technologically advanced, we are disrupting the balance of the cycle; man today burns so much fossil fuel when he's heating his home or driving his car, the carbon dioxide and methane levels in the atmosphere have skyrocketed. Wind energy's part in this whole process is that, wind energy is an alternative energy source to fossil fuels being burnt. Wind energy emits no harmful gasses whatsoever, meaning that less harmful greenhouse gasses are being released into the atmosphere. **If the use of wind energy was implemented in a certain area, we would cut our carbon emissions at a significant rate and make progress towards making the Carbon cycle balanced again.**
 * How does this energy source relate to any of the biogeochemical cycles?**

The diagram above depicts the Carbon cycle, displaying the path of carbon as it is consumed and released throughout the biosphere.

It is common knowledge that our biosphere, the Earth, is in a bit of a predicament. Regardless of your position on global warming, or whether you think it is a a credible theory or not, human action is indisputably hindering the environmental balancing act that is the Carbon cycle. Wind energy is an effective solution to this problem. The concept of wind energy is that it is a renewable energy source and it does not emit anything, therefore not releasing any carbon gases which, in turn, lessens the human impact on the Carbon cycle. Wind energy has by no means reached its full potential: the technology is still being developed to effectively harness all of the wind's energy and the equipment is still rather expensive. At this point in time, wind energy is an affective way to protect the biosphere, and in the future, it will be a viable //and affordable// solution.
 * Is It a viable solution to protect the biosphere?**

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This brief, yet thought-provoking video explains how important the move to wind energy is now, and how a town in Ireland is being completely powered by just 7 turbines out in the nearby ocean.

The popular belief held with wind turbines is that when their blades are spinning fast, collecting the wind's energy, they are not very friendly towards birds. However, according to the American Bird Conservancy, wind farms across the country kill only 10,000-40,000 birds a year (American Bird Conservancy, 2007), whereas according to Mick Sagrillo, a wind energy expert, power lines kill anywhere from 130 million- 174 million birds a year within the US, and house and feral cats kill approximately 39 million birds a year in the state of Wisconsin alone (Sagrillo, 2003). In reality, the death toll of birds caused by wind turbines is incredibly miniscule, to the point where it is almost irrelevant.
 * What are the possible consequences to the environment?**


 * Sources:**

Anissimov, M. (2003). //What is the Carbon Cycle?//. Retrieved October 19, 2009, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-carbon-cycle.htm

Bird Conservancy. (2007). //Mortality Threats to Birds - Wind Turbines//. Retrieved October 19, 2009, from http://www.abcbirds.org/conservationissues/threats/energyproduction/wind.htm

Information Administration. (2009). //EIA Energy Kids - Wind//. Retrieved October 19, 2009, from http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=wind_home-basics

Sagrillo, M. (2003). //Advice from an Expert - Putting Wind's Impact on Birds in Perspective//. Retrieved October 19, 2009, from http://www.awea.org/faq/sagrillo/swbirds.html