Text 2B. Scientists suspect storms polluting

By Doyle Rice

(from USA Today, Friday, June 1, 2012)

 

As if there weren’t enough forces spreading pollution around the planet, scientists are looking at one other contributor: thunderstorms.

The $10 million field study, known as the “Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry” (DC3), project, has already started. More than 100 scientists from about 30 universities and governmental organizations will chase thunderstorms this spring and summer in the diverse weather environments of Oklahoma, Colorado and Alabama, in part to look at the role the storms play in pulling pollution from the surface up into the stratosphere.

Thunderstorms act like elevators, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In what are called “updrafts”, the storms suck up air and pollution (both man-made and natural) from near Earth’s surface and transport it for many miles into the upper atmosphere.

The scientists will study changes in the chemistry of the air – and the pollution – that goes into and comes out of thunderstorms, using both airplanes and ground-based equipment. They are going to fly in and around thunderstorms, taking samples of the air that flows into the storms at the bottom and comparing it to what comes out at the top. In one of the key parts of the experiment, scientists are measuring how thunderstorms transport and produce chemicals that form ozone, a greenhouse gas that affects Earth’s climate, air quality and weather patterns.

“We tend to associate thunderstorms with heavy rain and lightning, but they also shake things up at the top of cloud level”, says Chris Cantrell, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. “Their impacts high in the atmosphere have effects on climate that last long after the storm dissipates.”

The three different locations were chosen because of the unique weather conditions and emissions types in each state. Researchers also want to get a better understanding of how thunderstorms produce lightning. It will help them learn how to use lightning mapping data to improve storm forecasts and warnings.

thunderstorm - гроза lightning - молния heavy rain – сильный дождь, ливень to affect – оказывать влияние

greenhouse gas – парниковый газ  to dissipate - рассеивать to suck up – всасывать diverse – различный, разнообразный

 

1. What is the purpose of this research?

2. Why are thunderstorms compared with elevators?

3. Where will the research be carried out?

4. What method of atmosphere study will be used?

5. What is the additional goal of the research?

 

XI. Imagine, you are the authors of this project. Write a letter to the government to ask for money to carry out this research. Try to persuade them of the necessity of your project. Compare it to any other traditional monitoring procedures. Give reasons to support your arguments.

 

Unit 3. Noise Pollution

Words to remember:

disruptive - разрушительный harm - вред residual - осадочный to deteriorate - ухудшать exposure - воздействие hazardous - вредный, опасный loudness - громкость duration - длительность frequency - частота pitch - высота звука ambient - окружающий background - фон abrupt - резкий eardrum - барабанная перепонка

to sustain - выдерживать blood pressure - кровяное давление livestock - домашний скот to disturb - беспокоить disruption - нарушение in addition - кроме, в дополнение breeding - выведение enclosure - ограниченное пространство enforcement - введение jurisdiction - юрисдикция to erase - уничтожать

 

I. Match the words to their definitions:

1) harm 2) exposure 3) frequency 4) background 5) ambient

6) disruption 7) eardrum 8) livestock 9) breeding 10) enclosure

 

a) a piece of tightly stretched skin in your ear that vibrates when sound reaches it

b) the state of being put into the situation in which smth harmful or dangerous might affect you

c) an area surrounded by a fence or wall

d) injury, damage, or problems caused by smth you do

f) a number of times that smth happens during a period of time

g) the process of producing young animals

h) the general situation in which smth happens

i) animals such as cows, pigs, ship that are kept on farms

j) existing or present around you

k) a situation in which smth can not be continued because of a problem

 

II. Find the synonyms:

1) in addition 2) enforcement 3) livestock 4) to sustain 5) to disturb 6) to erase 7) exposure 8) hazardous 9) loudness 10) ambient 11) unexpected

a) cattle b) volume c) to withstand d) surrounding f) to destroy g) to bother h) implementation i) affect j) besides k) sudden l) dangerous

 

III. Make all possible collocations:

noise residual to control to cover harmful to disrupt commercial to include to suffer from environmental to erase

sound protection spectrum frequency accumulation effects communication level disease problem exposure

 

IV. Fill in the table:

 

Verb	adjective
act
rely
	usable
disrupt
attract
	accumulative
compete
	countable
sustain
	comparative

 

V. Read out the text and put it into Russian.

A. Noise Pollution

 

Noise pollution is undesired sound that is disruptive or dangerous and can cause harm to life, nature and property. It is often said that noise differs from other forms of pollution in that, unlike atmospheric pollutants for example noise, leaves no residual accumulation in the environment or the human body. Noise does leave behind its effects, however, and these can deteriorate after continued exposure to harmful sounds.

The hazardous effects of noise depend on its intensity (loudness in decibels), duration, and frequency (high or low). High and low pitch is more damaging than middle frequencies, and white noise covering the entire frequency spectrum is less harmful than noise of a specific pitch. Noise may be ambient (constantly present in the background) or peak (shorter, louder sounds).

Loud, abrupt sounds can harm the eardrum, while sustained sounds at lower volume can damage the middle ear; both types of sounds can cause psychological damage. Noise disrupts sleep and communication, and numerous studies have documented the heart-related, respiratory, neurological, and other physiological effects of noise. Stress, high blood pressure, anger and frustration, lower resistance to disease and infection, circulatory problems, ulcers, asthma, colitis, headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, and many other physiological and psychological problems have been linked directly to noise. In addition, children have been shown to suffer from slower language development and disruption of learning as a result of noise. In addition, noise can harm animals and the environment, as well as physical property. Livestock and pets are harmed by noise, as are animals in the wild. Noise can also disturb wildlife feeding and breeding. Noise-related property damage includes structural damage from vibrations inducted by sound waves and economic harm in the form of lower property values. The true social costs of noise pollution also must include monetary losses from sickness, absenteeism, loss of productivity and earning capacity, and much more.

Noise pollution is not new, but it has become more problematic with the developments associated with industrialization and urbanization. Commercial and industrial activities, construction, aircraft, vehicular traffic (highway and off-road), and the rapid increase in the use of machines and other technologies are all associated with noise pollution. Modern household appliances, lawn and gardening equipment are increasingly common sources of noise. Like many other forms of pollution, noise appears to disproportionately affect poor and disadvantaged minority communities, and so is also an environmental justice issue.

Noise pollution can be controlled through reduction at the source, interruption of transmission paths, or protection of the receiver. Reengineering machines and simply turning down volume when possible are the methods of reduction at the source. Barriers, enclosures, and other forms of soundproofing can interrupt transmission paths. The use of hearing protection is the main form of receiver protection. Experts recommend a complex approach, including appropriate training on the use of equipment and enforcement of hearing-protection regulations, and the use of new technologies that reduce noise at the source. Like many other environmental problems, addressing noise pollution is complicated by issues of shared responsibility and jurisdiction, making some conventional economic approaches less effective and inviting new interdisciplinary solutions. New active noise control (ANC) technologies may assist in dealing with noise pollution in the years ahead through the use of digital processors that convert analogue sounds into digital signals, allowing computer-generated “antinoise” to erase sound with sound.

 

VI. Answer the questions:

1. What is noise pollution? 2. What is the difference between noise pollution and other forms of environmental pollution? 3. Does noise pollution affect property and buildings? 4. Can you describe the hazardous effects of noise pollution on people? 5. What do those effects depend upon? 6. What makes noise pollution more problematic nowadays? 7. How can noise pollution be controlled? 8. What measures are taken to reduce the industrial noise pollution?

 

VII. Render the text.

 

VIII. Make up the dialogues for the following situations, using the words given below.

a) Two students are discussing a presentation on sources of noise pollution they are working at.

 

household gadget - домашний прибор vacuum cleaner - пылесос washing machine - стиральная машина air conditioner - кондиционер воздуха to produce - производить to cause - вызывать physical - физический

discomfort - неудобство to enhance - повышать level - уровень deleterious - разрушительный to disturb - беспокоить vehicle - движущееся средство

 

b) An engineer and an ecologist are trying to solve the problem of noise pollution at the building site.

 

to ban - запрещать noise - шум to produce - производить to shift away from - сместить to inhabit - населять area - область  to check - проверять

to enforce - вводить silent - беззвучный, тихий zone - зона to grow trees and plants - выращивать деревья и растения to absorb - поглощать protection - защита

 

 

c) A doctor and a patient living in the industrial district of the city are talking about his health problems.

 

physiological - физиологический  manifestation - проявление anxiety - беспокойство to increase the rate of heart-beat - повышать скорость сердцебиения constriction of blood vessels - сжатие кровеносных сосудов stomach disorder - расстройство желудка

to interfere with - вмешиваться, влиять на behavior - поведение headache - головная боль irritability - раздражительность feeling of fatigue - чувство усталости to decrease - понижать work efficiency - производительность труда

 

IX. Write a talk on noise pollution in Moscow and discuss it in class.

Try to make use of the following expressions:

 

the problem arises in connection with the problem became more acute, it took a new form the study of… is of primary importance it is also important to show that it should never be forgotten that

this example illustrates we have no reliable figures, but it is clear that there is no (little) doubt that it must be admitted that there is another proof that

 

X. Read text 3B and answer the questions below.

3B.Wind turbines "are ruining our health and quality of life"

(By Martin Beckford)

The majority of people leaving near wind turbines believe that the noise they make is ruining their health and quality of life. They also claim that the constant hum and the loud "whooshing" sound made by the blades in high winds is destroying the value of their homes.

A survey of people whose homes are situated within 1,2 miles of turbines has shown that three-quarters of them feel that the noise has damaged their quality of life while four out of five say it has affected their health.

Those who said they were made ill by the sound of the wind farms, which are designed to benefit the environment, described conditions ranging from migraines and palpitations to depression. Three quarters said their sleep was disturbed by the noise and some claimed that they had been forced to stay in bed and breakfasts to get a proper night's rest or to sell their homes at reduced prices to get away from the area.

One of the residents to the survey, carried out by a family doctor, claimed that the noise was "like Chinese water torture", while others said they could "see no future" and "dare not sleep at home".

Dr Amanda Harry, a Plymouth GP who compiled the report after studying the effects of wind turbine noise for several years, wrote: "What this shows is that there are a number of people suffering from the consequences of noise from wind turbines.

"I'm sure that the cases mentioned here are the tip of the iceberg and further independent investigation is required. There is much concern within communities that if one is seen to complain about the noise and if they decide to move away, their properties will be difficult to sell and possibly devalued as a result.

Some wind farms are situated just a few hundred yards from homes but Dr Harry believes that until independent research is carried out, no turbines should be built closer than 1,5 miles from nearest dwelling.

Dr Harry wrote: "There are many people living near wind turbines who are suffering from problems with their health. The noise produced from the wind turbines is an extremely complex one and I feel that it is the complexity of the noise and vibration which causes the disturbance.

"From my discussions with people suffering from ill-health who live near wind farms, it seems that the symptoms suffered can occur up to a mile from the wind farm."

But a spokesman for the British Wind Energy Association said it was just a myth that turbines were noisy. She said that they were aware that people have concerns but they were not aware of any evidence that supports their claims. She added that the unfortunate thing about noise was that it could be a subjective perception. Some people can be more sensitive than others.

The Government commissioned a report into claims that the low-frequency noise emitted by wind turbine generators were affecting people’s health but it found last year that there was no evidence of ill-effects. The report did admit that some wind turbines were responsible for a loud whooshing noise created by a phenomenon known as aerodynamic modulation, but the Department for Trade and Industry insisted that this was present in only five of the 126 wind farms in the UK.

A Government working group on wind turbine noise has also been set up.

ruin, damage – разрушать, причинять ущерб hum – гул migraine - мигрень palpitation – учащенное сердцебиение bed and breakfast – недорогая гостиница, предоставляющая клиентам только номер и завтрак torture - пытка compile - составлять consequence - последствия

concern – интерес, беспокойство subjective perception – субъективное восприятие devalue - обесценивать dwelling - местожительства evidence – доказательство, свидетельство sensitivе - чувствительный

 

1. What are the consequences of wind turbine noise for the people living nearby?

2. What symptoms do the people claim they have?

3. Why does a spokesman for the British Wind Energy Association say it is a "myth"?

4. Why do people have to sell their houses near a wind farm at a reduced price?

 

XI. Summarize the text according to the model:

1. Introduction

Wind farms are designed to benefit the environment as they...

2. However people living nearby claim that...

Dr Amanda Harry reported that not only do the people suffer from... but their property will be possibly... as a result.

 She is sure that the air disturbance is caused by...

3. But according to the British Wind Energy Association...

4. So...

 

XII. Give your opinion on the problem. Use the following word combinations:

As for me, it seems, from my point of view, In my opinion, In conclusion I'd like to say that...

 

XIII. Read the story about people living near a wind farm.

 

The Davis’s Story

A family who live in the shadow of a wind farm in Lincolnshire say they have “lost everything” just because of the noise it makes.

Farmer Julian Davis, his wife Jane and their teenage daughter have already had to rent a separate house to sleep in because they are kept awake by the sound of the eight turbines. They claim their home formerly worth £170000 cannot be solved because it is so blighted by noise pollution but they may abandon it anyway.

Mrs Davis, a former nurse, said they had initially been in favour of the Fenland wind farm, situated 900 yards from their home. But as soon as it began operating, the noise of the huge turbines has left her unable to sleep at home ever since. “You wake with a jump, like your alarm clock’s gone off. It’s normally 4 am and you can’t get back to sleep. She says that when all the turbines work in tandem they can reach a deafening66 decibels (db) – far louder than the acceptable threshold of 35 db. Mrs Davis added that the hum generated by the turbines is so bad that it has even driven the moles away. After unsuccessfully trying earplugs, sleeping tablets and bottles of wine to help her sleep, she and her family began “sofa-surfing” at friends’ homes to gain some respite. Since December they have been spending £650 a month on a house five miles away just for them to sleep in.

Mrs Davis had hoped to retrain as a reflexologist and to build an extension to her home which is in the middle of their arable farmland and which has been in her husband’s family for decades. But she said they have had to scrap their plans. “We are thinking we’re just going to walk away from our home, literally abandoning it.”

 

XIV. Role-play

Student A: You are Dr Amanda Harry. Make a short speech on a meeting in the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Resources showing your position on the subject.

Student B: You are Mr/Mrs Davis living near the Fenland wind farm in Lincolnshire, England. Say why you don't like wind turbines. Describe your symptoms and feelings.

Student C: You are Mrs Brown, the owner of a bed&breakfast 5miles away from the wind farm. Are you for or against such a neighbour. Give your reasons.

Student D: You are a spokesman for the British Wind Energy Association. Make a short speech declaring the position of the Association.

Students E, F, G, H: You are journalists, doctors and Ministry workers. Ask the reporters questions to clarify their position.

Student I: You are an official of the Ministry and the chairman at the meeting. Lead the discussion and give its summary and recommendations at the end of it.

 

XV. Write an essay: How seriously does noise affect your life?

 

XVI. Read text 3C and answer the questions: