1. Five Ways the World Could End By: Theresa Roy & Alyssa Sinchek

2. Global Warming Global Warming An abundant amount of carbon dioxide is building up in the atmosphere, trapping heat in the troposphere. This heat in the troposphere is raising the average temperatures on Earth. This amount of heat in the troposphere has many effects on Earth. This includes: An abundant amount of carbon dioxide is building up in the atmosphere, trapping heat in the troposphere. This heat in the troposphere is raising the average temperatures on Earth. This amount of heat in the troposphere has many effects on Earth. This includes: - Sea level rise due to glacial melting - Sea level rise due to glacial melting - Longer growing seasons - Longer growing seasons - Drastic weather such as droughts - Drastic weather such as droughts Earth’s atmosphere naturally provides the balance of greenhouse gases needed to heat the Earth’s surface and the lower atmosphere. Although, a large amount of carbon dioxide is being emitted into the air, due to the burning of fossil fuels by humans. This extra amount is more than plants could process, causing the build up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is causing the amount of greenhouse gases to become out of balance, making Earths average temperatures to rise even faster than they naturally do. Earth’s atmosphere naturally provides the balance of greenhouse gases needed to heat the Earth’s surface and the lower atmosphere. Although, a large amount of carbon dioxide is being emitted into the air, due to the burning of fossil fuels by humans. This extra amount is more than plants could process, causing the build up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is causing the amount of greenhouse gases to become out of balance, making Earths average temperatures to rise even faster than they naturally do. Global Warming made our top 5 list, because this scenario is taking place right now. Humans are burning fossil fuels to provide electricity or run cars, emitting this extra amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Temperatures are rising on Earth, causing natural disasters, such as hurricanes, to occur more often. These natural disasters are affecting the way organisms on Earth live, by destroying their habitats, injuring theses organisms, and killing these organisms. Global Warming made our top 5 list, because this scenario is taking place right now. Humans are burning fossil fuels to provide electricity or run cars, emitting this extra amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Temperatures are rising on Earth, causing natural disasters, such as hurricanes, to occur more often. These natural disasters are affecting the way organisms on Earth live, by destroying their habitats, injuring theses organisms, and killing these organisms.

3. Global Warming Glacial Melting Glacial Melting Global warming is portrayed in: -The Day After Tomorrow -Inconvenient Truth

4. Asteroid Impact Asteroid Impact Asteroids are chunks of rock and metal that are smaller than planets. There are millions of asteroids that orbit the sun in a donut-shaped ring between Mars and Jupiter, called the Asteroid belt. Asteroids have the most gravitational pull when closest to the sun. Nearly everyday millions of asteroids come in collision with the Earth’s atmosphere. Their sizes vary from very small to very large. If the asteroid passes through the Earth’s upper atmosphere, the amount of damage of the impact depends on the size of the asteroid. Asteroids are chunks of rock and metal that are smaller than planets. There are millions of asteroids that orbit the sun in a donut-shaped ring between Mars and Jupiter, called the Asteroid belt. Asteroids have the most gravitational pull when closest to the sun. Nearly everyday millions of asteroids come in collision with the Earth’s atmosphere. Their sizes vary from very small to very large. If the asteroid passes through the Earth’s upper atmosphere, the amount of damage of the impact depends on the size of the asteroid. There are millions of asteroids of various sizes that orbit the sun on the Kuiper belt. Many asteroids move away from the Kuiper belt, being pulled by gravity towards Earth. Friction with the air causes these asteroids to burn up, protecting the Earth from asteroid impacts. Although, the larger the asteroid, the longer it takes to burn up. If a large enough asteroid passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, an asteroid impact will occur. The amount of damage will depend on the size of the asteroid. There are millions of asteroids of various sizes that orbit the sun on the Kuiper belt. Many asteroids move away from the Kuiper belt, being pulled by gravity towards Earth. Friction with the air causes these asteroids to burn up, protecting the Earth from asteroid impacts. Although, the larger the asteroid, the longer it takes to burn up. If a large enough asteroid passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, an asteroid impact will occur. The amount of damage will depend on the size of the asteroid. This made our top five list, because millions of asteroids wander off of the Kuiper belt everyday. Each of these asteroids vary in different sizes from small to large. If a large asteroid comes into collision with Earth, it takes longer to burn up from air friction than smaller asteroids. Therefore, there is a large chance that a large enough asteroid will be able to pass through Earth’s atmosphere, impacting with the Earth’s surface. The asteroid may cause severe damage, or little damage, but because there are so many asteroid wandering off of the Kuiper belt, there is a very big chance of an asteroid impact. This made our top five list, because millions of asteroids wander off of the Kuiper belt everyday. Each of these asteroids vary in different sizes from small to large. If a large asteroid comes into collision with Earth, it takes longer to burn up from air friction than smaller asteroids. Therefore, there is a large chance that a large enough asteroid will be able to pass through Earth’s atmosphere, impacting with the Earth’s surface. The asteroid may cause severe damage, or little damage, but because there are so many asteroid wandering off of the Kuiper belt, there is a very big chance of an asteroid impact.

5. Asteroid Impact -Large asteroid impact -Large Asteroid Impact -Large asteroid impact -Large Asteroid Impact Asteroid impacts are portrayed in the movies: Asteroid impacts are portrayed in the movies:-Apocalypse -Deep Impact

6. Ecosystem Collapse Ecosystem Collapse An ecosystem collapse starts when a certain species starts to gradually die out. As this happens, it creates a downhill domino effect on many other species of organism. This would happen because the species that went extinct may have been a huge benefit or source of nutrients for many other species’ survival needs. Therefore, without these specific needs, those species would gradually go extinct, then the next species, and so forth. This would not technically effect humans though. We may not be able to eat meat, or any living organism if this happens, but we could survive by being vegetarian. An ecosystem collapse starts when a certain species starts to gradually die out. As this happens, it creates a downhill domino effect on many other species of organism. This would happen because the species that went extinct may have been a huge benefit or source of nutrients for many other species’ survival needs. Therefore, without these specific needs, those species would gradually go extinct, then the next species, and so forth. This would not technically effect humans though. We may not be able to eat meat, or any living organism if this happens, but we could survive by being vegetarian. Let’s say a golden-crowned kinglet bird suddenly went extinct. This would effect both the snake, and the red-tailed hawk; who get their nutrients from the golden-crowned kinglet. From there, the red-tailed hawk, and the snake would lose it’s population due to the lack of food. Let’s say a golden-crowned kinglet bird suddenly went extinct. This would effect both the snake, and the red-tailed hawk; who get their nutrients from the golden-crowned kinglet. From there, the red-tailed hawk, and the snake would lose it’s population due to the lack of food. This made our top five list, because with all of the damage that is being done to the Earth; this is causing rainforests to be cut down and water and air pollution. With this, many animals’ habitats are being damaged or destroyed completely. At this rate, many animals could go extinct or endangered, and this could easily be the start of an ecosystem collapse. This made our top five list, because with all of the damage that is being done to the Earth; this is causing rainforests to be cut down and water and air pollution. With this, many animals’ habitats are being damaged or destroyed completely. At this rate, many animals could go extinct or endangered, and this could easily be the start of an ecosystem collapse.

7. Ecosystem Collapse Dolphins going endangered Dolphins going endangered Ecosystem Collapse is found in: Ecosystem Collapse is found in: - The Land Before Time - The End of the Line

8. Global Epidemics Global Epidemics Global Epidemic is the spread of a new disease occurs within the people population. A life-threatening disease or illness could wipe out a population at a fast pace of a slow pace. It depends on what the disease is. Deadly, new diseases are discovered everyday, and it’s easy enough for them to spread world-wide; killing millions of people. Global Epidemic is the spread of a new disease occurs within the people population. A life-threatening disease or illness could wipe out a population at a fast pace of a slow pace. It depends on what the disease is. Deadly, new diseases are discovered everyday, and it’s easy enough for them to spread world-wide; killing millions of people. This could happen by poor population health, infections, international travel to a different part of the world, climate change, and certain medical procedures. An example of global epidemics is the spreading of HIV, or swine flu. This could happen by poor population health, infections, international travel to a different part of the world, climate change, and certain medical procedures. An example of global epidemics is the spreading of HIV, or swine flu. We chose this to be in our top five because everyday, newly found diseases, or ones that we’ve heard of for a long time are spreading throughout the world. A lot of the diseases can be very deadly, and can wipe out a population, if not treated properly. We chose this to be in our top five because everyday, newly found diseases, or ones that we’ve heard of for a long time are spreading throughout the world. A lot of the diseases can be very deadly, and can wipe out a population, if not treated properly.

9. Global Epidemics Global Epidemics AIDS AIDS Global Epidemics is found in: Global Epidemics is found in: -The Crazies -Twilight -Running Out of Time

10. Flood-Basalt Volcanism Flood-Basalt Volcanism A flood basalt or trap basalt is the result of a giant volcanic eruption or series of eruptions that coats large stretches of land or the ocean floor with basalt lava. Flood basalts have occurred on large conditions in prehistory, creating great plateaus and mountain ranges. Flood basalts have erupted at random periods throughout geological history. This states evidence that the Earth undergoes periods of enlarged activity rather than being in a uniform steady state. A flood basalt or trap basalt is the result of a giant volcanic eruption or series of eruptions that coats large stretches of land or the ocean floor with basalt lava. Flood basalts have occurred on large conditions in prehistory, creating great plateaus and mountain ranges. Flood basalts have erupted at random periods throughout geological history. This states evidence that the Earth undergoes periods of enlarged activity rather than being in a uniform steady state. This could happen when a combination of continental rifting and its associated decompression melting, in conjunction with a mantle plume. A mantle plume is an extremely hot rock from within the Earth’s mantle. They are known to be the center of volcanoes and the cause of flood-basalts. This then produces vast quantities of tholeiitic basaltic magma. This could happen when a combination of continental rifting and its associated decompression melting, in conjunction with a mantle plume. A mantle plume is an extremely hot rock from within the Earth’s mantle. They are known to be the center of volcanoes and the cause of flood-basalts. This then produces vast quantities of tholeiitic basaltic magma. We chose this to be in our top five because flood-basalt volcanism eruptions have been very severe, and can coat large stretches of land and the ocean floor. Flood-basalt eruptions can be one large eruption, or a series of large eruptions that could flood over our entire crust. We chose this to be in our top five because flood-basalt volcanism eruptions have been very severe, and can coat large stretches of land and the ocean floor. Flood-basalt eruptions can be one large eruption, or a series of large eruptions that could flood over our entire crust.

11. Flood-Basalt Volcanism Flood-Basalt Volcanism Large flood-basalt eruption Large flood-basalt eruption Flood-basalt volcanism is associated in: Flood-basalt volcanism is associated in: -The Gravity Theory of Mass Extinction

12. Bibliography Bibliography 1. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Flood_basalt http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Flood_basalt 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_basalt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_basalt 3. SciGuide 4. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/ecodatamining/ http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/ecodatamining/ 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_event http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_event 6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/aug/23/health.medicineandhealth http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/aug/23/health.medicineandhealth