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Dr. Heidi Cullen
Climate Expert - The Weather Channel
Dr. Heidi Cullen is a climate expert at The Weather Channel and has the key responsibility of adding explanation, depth, and perspective to climate stories for The Weather Channel network and related platforms. Full Bio >>
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Questions and Answers
Want to know more? Read the questions and responses below from The Weather Channel's Dr. Heidi Cullen.
Q: Why don't scientists agree on things when they have the same information? - Phoebe, 7th Grade Student, from Long Island
A: Hi Phoebe, That's a great question! It's a little broad - so if it's alright with
you - let me put some boundaries around it.
If we look specifically at the science of global warming - I believe
that there is more agreement among scientists than many people think.
Ultimately, science is about observing our environment and trying to
learn enough about how it works so that we can predict its behavior.
This ability to predict the future, whether it's weather forecasting,
cancer treatment, or how much warmer the planet gets, is a way we can
test how much we understand a specific problem. The better scientists
can predict how something will behave (i.e., the climate, the weather,
cancer cells) the more agreement there is within the scientific
community.
With global warming for example, it has been proven that CO2 is a
greenhouse gas that warms the planet - there is universal agreement on
this. It is also accepted that humans are pumping alot of CO2 into the
atmosphere. Disagreement begins to arise when trying to answer how much
of the warming measured over the last 140 years is man-made. But again,
most scientists agree that we are partly responsible for the rise in
temperatures.
Disagreement also begins to arise when you move from science to policy.
The question of what to do about global warming elicits a wide range of
responses from everyone.
I hope this helps answer your question!
cheers,
Dr Heidi Cullen
Q: What are ten ways to keep our water clean? - Krystal, 7th Grade Student, from New Jersey
A: A major source of water pollution is from human activities. Water running over lawns, gardens, streets and rooftops can pick up pollution in its path and carry it to our waterways. In this way oil, grease, dirt, gas, fertilizer, weed killer and many other chemicals enter our rivers. What we do in our homes and yards can pollute our water. Ten things that you can do to help keep your water sources clean are:
- Clean up after your dog.
- Use a commercial car wash. The waste water goes to a wastewater treatment facility.
- Keep your car free of leaks, leaking antifreeze eventually drains into our watershed.
- Return used batteries. If you just throw them in the trash they can leak acid.
- When you're working in the garden use very little pesticide and be careful with pesticides you do use. Don't just dump the extra down the drain. Store it in safe place.
- Use native plants.
- Check your well and septic tank to make sure they are in good shape.
- Substitute shoveling snow for putting salt down.
- Use up your paint or donate what's left over. Don't just dump unused paint down the drain.
- Collect rainwater that you can use to water plants. You'll save a lot of water.
For more details check out http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/whatudo.html
Q: Before the Flood mentions 'nonpoint source pollution.' Would you explain a little more about what that is? - Student, from New York
A: Point source pollution is pollution that comes from a factory or power plant - a specific place from where pollution enters our watersheds. Non-point source pollution is trickier to pin down - but it really just comes from all of the individual things we do (see the list above) that translate into water pollution.
For more information about nonpoint source pollution check out http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/whatis.html
RELATED LINKS
The Weather Channel
Offers forecasts for cities worldwide as well as radar and satellite maps.
Also includes news stories and allergy information.
http://www.weather.com
Weather Classroom, from The Weather Channel
Ever wondered how hurricanes form or what El Niño is? Weatherclassroom.com features everything you need to know about the weather from the experts at The Weather Channel.
http://www.weatherclassroom.com/index.php
The responses and opinions contained herein are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily relect the views or opinions of Power to Learn or Cablevision.
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