Global Energy Production: Sources and Trends
While total world energy came from 82% fossil fuels, 10% biofuels, 5% nuclear, and 3% renewable (hydro, wind, solar, geothermal), only 18% of that total world energy was in the form of electricity. Most of the other 82% was used for heat and transportation. Recently, there has been a large increase in international agreements and national Energy Action Plans to increase the use of renewable energy due to pollution that comes from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas.
EU Energy Production
Due
Read MoreUnderstanding Weather Elements and Climate Mechanisms in Spain
Weather in Spain
The Elements of Weather
The elements of weather are a set of indicators that show the basic characteristics of a specific climate. The most significant are rainfall, temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, clouds, and fog.
Temperature
Factors influencing temperature are latitude, altitude, and proximity to the sea. On a map, it is represented by isotherms, which are lines that connect points on the Earth’s surface that have the same temperature. Absolute temperatures are
Read MoreAlfonso XIII’s Reign: Restoration to Crisis in Spain (1902-1923)
Alfonso XIII’s Reign: From the Restoration to the Crisis
The Restoration System Designed by Cánovas
When designing the Restoration system, Cánovas del Castillo envisioned Spain as:
- A rural country with scarce communication media.
- Where local *caciques* (political bosses) controlled the vote.
However, 30 years later, the situation had changed:
- Economic growth and the development of the middle class occurred.
- Vote control was no longer possible in large cities, leading to the rise of socialist movements.
Environmental Pollution: Water and Air Contamination
Contamination
Water Contamination
Contamination of waters, rivers, seas, and swamps.
Organic Waste
A river is polluted when organic waste is dumped into it. Sources include sewage and agricultural industries (dairy, farm animals, oil production).
Discharged organic matter is degraded by decomposers, which consume a lot of oxygen. This greatly increases the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), causing fish kills that further aggravate the problem.
Eutrophication
This problem occurs when phosphates are poured
Read MoreAlmohad Architecture: Mosques, Minarets, and Palaces
Almohad Architecture in Al-Andalus
The Giralda of Seville
The Giralda of Seville, originally the minaret of the Almohad mosque, was crowned by Hernan Ruiz with a weathervane and a statue of Faith, known as Giraldina. The external structure rises in a series of seven superimposed levels, with openings alternating different types of arches: lobed, horseshoe, with lambrequins, and geminate. The balustrades were added later. The four top openings are flanked by sebka panels at two levels, starting from
Read MoreEarth’s Internal Structure: Layers, Composition, and Dynamics
Earth’s Internal Structure
Understanding the Earth’s interior involves gathering information from the surface, both directly and indirectly. Seismic waves reveal that the Earth is heterogeneous, changing speed and direction as they travel through it. These changes indicate that our planet is divided into concentric layers with different properties. Two models explain the internal structure: a geokimico model and a dynamic model.
Geochemical Model of Earth’s Internal Structure
Crust
The crust has two