The Cons of Radiation on the Earth and Land - Essay Example

The cons of Radiation on the Earth and Land The Cons of Radiation on Earth and land Introduction There are different kinds of radiation. The most common form is the UV radiation that is also emitted by the sun. The radiation process entails the emission of radiation rays, particles and elements in the performance of various functions. Some of these may be beneficial while others are out rightly intended for harm. Despite these, there are also far-reaching negative consequences of radiation. They are determined by the wavelength, which bears varied effects on the earth and land. These drawbacks that arise from the release of radioactive substances will be discussed at length in this paper. Cons of radiation There has been an immense form of evolution of the life on earth. It is in relation to both the useful and harmful effects of Ultraviolet radiation that human beings have to live with. They can either be from natural sources or artificial sources, but the damage is as a result of human activity. For a long time, the life on earth has been exposed to radiations that occur naturally beyond the earth. It is known as cosmic radiation as well as the radioactive material that is found within the crust of the earth. The lack of proper or appropriate usage has serious consequences on the lives of humans, plants and animals. It is because they lead to the emission of the rays in different wavelengths that cause harm on the surface of the earth. In turn, it leads to a lot of damage on the human, animal and plant lives hence the radiation exposure from natural and man-made sources (Casper, 2010). Although most of these radioactive substances that occur naturally end up into the nuclear waste stream, most of these are products of the fission products emitted from the nuclear reactors. Some of the cons of these kind of radiation products include: Effects of nuclear energy and radiation The lack of safety of the technology that is associated with improper waste handling techniques. It results in the significant technical uncertainty that is caused by the use of geological repositories. The final isolation of the unresolved nuclear waste remains is a major cause of this. They have a great effect on the host rock owing to the construction and burial of repository (Miller & Spoolman, 2010). Adverse Effects on land For a long time, radiation from the sun as well as that from other human activities that are related to treatment and the creation of nuclear weapons has been linked to global warming and its adverse effects. The exposure of some radioactive elements can turn pieces of land sterile. This means that numerous activities can no longer be performed on land with such conditions since they present high danger to the surroundings for thousands of years. These include farming, fishing activities or even building. Majorly, they are caused by the emission of substances from the sun among other sources. In addition the use of nuclear weapons has been associated with the destruction of land features such as buildings and infrastructure. One of the proper examples is the massive destruction that was experienced in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the effort to bring the World War II to an end (Miller & Spoolman, 2010). Variation of the sun’s radiation Radiation of energy from the sun takes place in a wide range of different wavelengths. Most of these radiation wavelengths cannot be viewed by the human eye. Shorter wavelengths tend to have higher degrees of radiation. Variation of the strength of radiation received from the sun is a principal cause of the emission of harmful greenhouse gases. As such, it causes the global warming that is being experienced currently. These have been related to the great impact of climate change (Miller & Spoolman, 2010). Land use and changes in land cover A lot of activities performed by human beings in relation to land use affect the degree of the sun’s energy. The temperature of the earth is mostly affected by changes in the land use. The transformation in the use of the cover of the earth’s surface also affects the amount of energy released into the other hence a number of harmful effects. They change how much solar is radiated onto the land and the way that it is absorbed. In turn, the energy balance of the earth is affected. Among the human activities that lead to these changes include deforestation, desertification, agriculture, industrialization and urbanization (Casper, 2010). The various modifications on land change the way that climatic conditions are presented. For instance, the atmospheric temperatures, distribution of precipitation and wind patterns are changed. In the long run, even the local rainfall patterns can be disrupted and result in several climatic disruptions. Carbon dioxide take up Besides alteration of the earth’s temperature, a change in the use of land also affects the rate at which carbon dioxide is absorbed. Absorption takes place in the atmosphere of the earth by the vegetation on land and released to the land surface. In this sense, there is an increased amount of Carbon Dioxide, which causes global warming. It is predicted that more water will evaporate from the oceans, hence causing an increase in humidity and general rainfall. On the contrary, some areas may drier faster than is expected. As a consequence, it may lead to flooding and drought conditions in other regions (Miller & Spoolman, 2010). Resultant land features There are several features on the earth’s surface which are a result of the radiation energy. Most of these are linked to the volcanic activities on the earth’s surface. The principle relation to this is the true geothermal. It is caused by the application of the inner heat from the earth’s interior. It arises from the radiation that has been generated from the center of the earth. In turn, it results to the volcanic eruptions that ultimately causes the development of certain land features that include mountains and rivers (Miller & Spoolman, 2010). Conclusion Owing to the nature of the damage that is presented by the use of radiation particles during treatment, it is the mandate of healthcare professional to take the appropriate precautions during radioactive use. Doctors, for instance, are expected to induce a process that remits cancer. It is difficult to prevent the effects of radiation in some circumstances entirely. However, it would be vital that those who are involved reduce its levels to a possible minimum. References Casper, J. K. (2010). Changing ecosystems: effects of global warming. New York: Facts on File. Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2010). Environmental science. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Read More