Greenhouse effect

Posted on February 4, 2010 by rupesh

The “greenhouse effect” is the warming that happens when certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap heat. These gases let in light but keep heat from escaping, like the glass walls of a greenhouse.

First, sunlight shines onto the Earth’s surface, where it is absorbed and then radiates back into the atmosphere as heat. In the atmosphere, “greenhouse” gases trap some of this heat, and the rest escapes into space. The more greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere, the more heat gets trapped.

Scientists have known about the greenhouse effect since 1824, when Joseph Fourier calculated that the Earth would be much colder if it had no atmosphere. This greenhouse effect is what keeps the Earth’s climate livable. Without it, the Earth’s surface would be an average of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. In 1895, the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius discovered that humans could enhance the greenhouse effect by making carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. He kicked off 100 years of climate research that has given us a sophisticated understanding of global warming.

Levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) have gone up and down over the Earth’s history, but they have been fairly constant for the past few thousand years. Global average temperatures have stayed fairly constant over that time as well, until recently. Through the burning of fossil fuels and other GHG emissions, humans are enhancing the greenhouse effect and warming Earth.

Scientists often use the term “climate change” instead of global warming. This is because as the Earth’s average temperature climbs, winds and ocean currents move heat around the globe in ways that can cool some areas, warm others, and change the amount of rain and snow falling. As a result, the climate changes differently in different areas.

Global Warming : Is It Happening?

Posted on February 3, 2010 by rupesh

Yes. Earth is already showing many signs of worldwide climate change.

• Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius) around the world since 1880, much of this in recent decades, according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

• The rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia, according to a number of climate studies. And the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 11 of the past 12 years are among the dozen warmest since 1850.

• The Arctic is feeling the effects the most. Average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have risen at twice the global average, according to the multinational Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report compiled between 2000 and 2004.

• Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier. Polar bears and indigenous cultures are already suffering from the sea-ice loss.

• Glaciers and mountain snows are rapidly melting—for example, Montana’s Glacier National Park now has only 27 glaciers, versus 150 in 1910. In the Northern Hemisphere, thaws also come a week earlier in spring and freezes begin a week later.

• Coral reefs, which are highly sensitive to small changes in water temperature, suffered the worst bleaching—or die-off in response to stress—ever recorded in 1998, with some areas seeing bleach rates of 70 percent. Experts expect these sorts of events to increase in frequency and intensity in the next 50 years as sea temperatures rise.

• An upsurge in the amount of extreme weather events, such as wildfires, heat waves, and strong tropical storms, is also attributed in part to climate change by some experts.

New Zealand v Bangladesh, Twenty20, Hamilton

Posted on February 3, 2010 by rupesh

Toss Bangladesh, who chose to bat

New Zealand won by 10 wickets (with 70 balls remaining)

Bangladesh 78 (17.3/20 ov) New Zealand 79/0 (8.2/20 ov)

New Zealand 79 for 0 (McCullum 56*) beat Bangladesh 78 (Vettori 3-6, Nathan McCullum 2-15) by 10 wickets

New Zealand romped to a ten-wicket victory in just 8.2 overs in the tour opening Twenty20 match at Seddon Park.

* Bangladesh innings
* 50 runs in 9.2 overs (56 balls), Extras 2

* New Zealand innings
* 50 runs in 6.1 overs (37 balls), Extras 3
* 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 37 balls (BB McCullum 33, PJ Ingram 17, Ex 3)
* BB McCullum: 50 off 26 balls (6 x 4, 2 x 6)

Indian Premier League 3 Fixtures (IPL 2010 Schedules)

Posted on February 2, 2010 by rupesh

1. Mar 12 : Deccan Chargers Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai

2. Mar 13 : Mumbai Indians Vs Rajasthan Royals at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

3. Mar 13 : Kings XI Punjab Vs Delhi Daredevils at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

4. Mar 14 : Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

5. Mar 14 : Chennai Super Kings Vs Deccan Chargers at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

6. Mar 15 : Rajasthan Royals Vs Delhi Daredevils at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

7. Mar 16 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Kings XI Punjab at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

8. Mar 16 : Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

9. Mar 17 : Delhi Daredevils Vs Mumbai Indians at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

10. Mar 18 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Rajasthan Royals at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

11. Mar 19 : Delhi Daredevils Vs Chennai Super Kings at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

12. Mar 19 : Deccan Chargers Vs Kings XI Punjab at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

13. Mar 20 : Rajasthan Royals Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

14. Mar 20 : Mumbai Indians Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

15. Mar 21 : Deccan Chargers Vs Delhi Daredevils at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium

16. Mar 21 : Chennai Super Kings Vs Kings XI Punjab at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

17. Mar 22 : Mumbai Indians Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

18. Mar 23 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Chennai Super Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

19. Mar 24 : Kings XI Punjab Vs Rajasthan Royals at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

20. Mar 25 : Mumbai Indians Vs Chennai Super Kings at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

21. Mar 26 : Rajasthan Royals Vs Deccan Chargers at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

22. Mar 27 : Kings XI Punjab Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

23. Mar 27 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Delhi Daredevils at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

24. Mar 28 : Rajasthan Royals Vs Chennai Super Kings at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

25. Mar 28 : Deccan Chargers Vs Mumbai Indians at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

26. Mar 29 : Delhi Daredevils Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

27. Mar 30 : Mumbai Indians Vs Kings XI Punjab at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai

28. Mar 31 : Chennai Super Kings Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

29. Mar 31 : Delhi Daredevils Vs Rajasthan Royals at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

30. Apr 01 : Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Deccan Chargers at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

31. Apr 02 : Kings XI Punjab Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

32. Apr 03 : Chennai Super Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

33. Apr 03 : Mumbai Indians Vs Deccan Chargers at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur

34. Apr 04 : Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

35. Apr 04 : Delhi Daredevils Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

36. Apr 05 : Deccan Chargers Vs Rajasthan Royals at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

37. Apr 06 : Chennai Super Kings Vs Mumbai Indians at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

38. Apr 07 : Rajasthan Royals Vs Kings XI Punjab at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

39. Apr 07 : Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Delhi Daredevils at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

40. Apr 08 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Deccan Chargers at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

41. Apr 09 : Kings XI Punjab Vs Mumbai Indians at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

42. Apr 10 : Deccan Chargers Vs Chennai Super Kings at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

43. Apr 10 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

44. Apr 11 : Delhi Daredevils Vs Kings XI Punjab at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

45. Apr 11 : Rajasthan Royals Vs Mumbai Indians at Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

46. Apr 12 : Deccan Chargers Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

47. Apr 13 : Mumbai Indians Vs Delhi Daredevils at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur
48. Apr 13 : Chennai Super Kings Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at MA Chidambaram
Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

49. Apr 14 : Rajasthan Royals Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Sardar Patel
Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

50. Apr 15 : Chennai Super Kings Vs Delhi Daredevils at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

51. Apr 16 : Kings XI Punjab Vs Deccan Chargers at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharmasala

52. Apr 17 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Mumbai Indians at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

53. Apr 17 : Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

54. Apr 18 : Kings XI Punjab Vs Chennai Super Kings at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharmasala

55. Apr 18 : Delhi Daredevils Vs Deccan Chargers at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

56. Apr 19 : Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

57. Apr 21 : Semi-Final – ??? Vs ??? at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

58. Apr 22 : Semi-Final – ??? Vs ??? at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

59. Apr 24 : 3rd Place Play-off – ??? Vs ??? at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai

60. Apr 25 : Final – ??? Vs ??? at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai

PCB shuts door on Pakistanis in IPL

Posted on February 2, 2010 by rupesh

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ruled out the participation of its players in IPL 2010 and has revoked the no-objection certificates (NOCs) granted to its players.

“No Pakistani player will go to the IPL this time,”Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, told Cricinfo. “Why should we allow them to go? They didn’t pick any of the players and it was an insult to us. Why should we let one or two players go? We will not take this lying down.”

Butt’s statement seems to have shut the door on the issue, though a PCB release issued minutes earlier held out some hope.

“All NOCs issued to Pakistani players for their participation in IPL 3 stand revoked,” the PCB statement said. “In the future if any player receives an invitation for participation in IPL events, PCB will decide the matter on a case-to-case basis after consulting the relevant government authorities.”

The decision came after Pakistani players were ignored at the player auction for the third edition held in Mumbai. Of the 11 players in the IPL’s final auction list of 66, none were bought by any franchise.

That sparked outrage in Pakistan and led to statements on both sides – including one from India’s home minister – regretting the blackout of Pakistani players at the auction. There has also been a warning issued by a regional party in Mumbai warning against Pakistanis being hired by the franchises, but recent reports indicated that Pakistani players could play a role in the next IPL season.

One player, allrounderAbdhual Razzaq, has also been linked to two franchises though officials of both franchises deny any specific deal has been concluded.

The participation of Pakistani players in the third IPL season has been a subject of much controversy for the past three months, with some element of confusion over rules and eligibility. It was thought, when their names were included on the auction shortlist earlier this month, that the issue had been resolved but events at the January 19 auction suggest they are taking a new turn.