About 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is water-covered. The vast majority of water on the Earth’s surface, over 96 percent, is saline water in the oceans. But it is the freshwater resources, such as the water in streams, rivers, lakes, and ground water that provide people (and all life) with most of the water they need everyday to live. Water sitting on the surface of the Earth is easy to visualize, and your view of the water cycle might be that rainfall fills up the rivers and lakes.

Just how much water is there on (and in) the Earth? Here are some numbers you can think about:

1. The total water supply of the world is about 333 million cubic miles (mi3) (a cubic mile is an imaginary cube measuring one mile on each side), or 1,386 million cubic kilometers (km3). A cubic mile of water equals more than 1.1 trillion gallons. A cubic kilometer of water equals about 264 billion gallons.

2. If all of Earth’s water (oceans, icecaps and glaciers, lakes, rivers, ground water, and water in the atmosphere was put into a sphere, then the diameter of that water ball would be a bit less than 1,400 kilometers across, a bit more than the distance between Chicago, Illinois and New Orleans, Louisiana.

3. About 3,100 mi3 (12,900 km3) of water, mostly in the form of water vapor, is in the atmosphere at any one time. If it all fell as precipitation at once, the Earth would be covered with only about 1 inch of water.

4. The 48 contiguous United States receives a total volume of about 4 mi3 (17.7 km3) of precipitation each day.

5. Each day, 280 mi3 (1,170 km3)of water evaporate or transpire into the atmosphere.

6. If all of the world’s water was poured on the United States, it would cover the land to a depth of 90 miles (145 kilometers).

7. Of the freshwater on Earth, much more is stored in the ground than is available in lakes and rivers. More than 2,000,000 mi3 (8,400,000 km3)of freshwater is stored in the Earth, most within one-half mile of the surface. Contrast that with the 60,000 mi3 (250,000 km3) of water stored as freshwater in lakes, inland seas, and rivers. But, if you really want to find freshwater, the most is stored in the 7,000,000 mi3 (29,200,000 km3) of water found in glaciers and icecaps, mainly in the polar regions and in Greenland.

Source: ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html
(Last accessed: 16 August 2010)

Check out the following books on water:

(All Rights Reserved, PowerKids Press, 2009)

Oceans of the World
by Sandy Roydhouse
Call Number: J English 551.46 ROY
Click here to check for item availability.

Water
by Geoff Barker
Call Number: Y English 553.7 BAR
Click here to check for item availability.

Water : Discover Science Through Facts and Fun
by Gerry Bailey and Steve Way
Call Number: J English 553.7 BAI
Click here to check for item availability.

Originally answered by Shahada Selamat
Associate Librarian
Children’s Services

Quoting from the National Marine Sanctuaries (U.S.), the functions and purposes of marine sanctuaries is as follows:

“The primary objective of a sanctuary is to protect its natural and cultural features while allowing people to use and enjoy the ocean in a sustainable way. Sanctuary waters provide a secure habitat for species close to extinction and protect historically significant shipwrecks and artifacts. Sanctuaries serve as natural classrooms and laboratories for schoolchildren and researchers alike to promote understanding and stewardship of our oceans. They often are cherished recreational spots for sport fishing and diving and support commercial industries such as tourism, fishing and kelp harvesting”.

[Source: "National Marine Sanctuaries: FAQ." 03 Aug 2006. . 19 May 2010.]

In addition, the New South Wales Marine Parks website lists the ways in which marine sanctuaries help the marine environment. They do so by:

- protecting habitats and ecosystems;
  – improving commercial and recreational fisheries by protecting juvenile habitats or adult breeding grounds;
  – providing opportunities to appreciate and enjoy the marine world;
  – protecting threatened species;
  – supporting research and education;
  – providing a buffer for the effects of climate change;
  – improving management of introduced marine pests;
  – reducing the risk of pollution by excluding oil and gas developments;
  – improving opportunities for ecotourism for local communities; and
  – conserving cultural heritage.

[Source: NSW Marine Parks. "About Marine Sanctuaries." "Marine Sanctuaries: National Parks of the Sea." 2005. , 19 May 2010.]

You can find out more about marine sanctuaries from the two source websites listed above. You can also read aggregated news reports about local efforts to start a marine sanctuary at Pulau Hantu at the following page on Wild Singapore’s website (http://www.wildsingapore.com/): , 19 May 2010.

Book Recommendations:
1) Title: Endangered oceans / Louise I. Gerdes, book editor.
Publisher: Detroit : Greenhaven Press, c2009.
Call No.: Y English 333.95616 END

2)Title: The marine heritage of Thailand : kingdom of infinite biodiversity.
Publisher: PTT Exploration and Production Public Co. : National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Dept., 2006.
Call No.: RSEA English 333.916409593 MAR

3) Title: Marine parks of Malaysia / text by Mohd Taupek Mohd Nasir, Nor Ainy Mahyidin.
Author: Mohd. Taupek Mohd. Nasir
Publisher: Kuala Lumpur : Dept. of Fisheries Malaysia, Ministry of Agriculture, 2001.
Call No.: q333.916409595 MOH

4) Title: Wild ocean : America’s parks under the sea / by Sylvia A. Earle and Wolcott Henry.
Author: Earle, Sylvia A., 1935-
Publisher: Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Society, 1999.
Call No.: q333.7830973 EAR

5) Title: Marine reserves in the Philippines : historical development, effects and influence on marine conservation policy / by Angel C. Alcala ; with a foreword by Edgardo D. Gomez.
Author: Alcala, Angel C
Call No.: RSEA 333.916 ALC

To check the availability and locations of the above titles, please use our online catalog

Originally answered by Goh Peck Keong, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Image is retrieved from:

http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/marsha-riti/

According to C. Chew’s article, ‘Public Housing in Singapore’ from Infopedia:
“In the past, the size and layout of flats were guided by standard design plans, with some degree of variation. Hence, most of them tend to be rectangular in design, in order to achieve the outcome of high-density, high-rise developments.

However, over the years, the standard design plans for new flats have been updated to cater to the changing expectations and preferences of buyers. For example, executive flats were launched in the 1980s in response to the desire for bigger flats. These changes reflect the broader shift in the focus of public housing programmes from quantity to quality.

Whereas the emphasis of the early building programmes was on meeting the population’s basic need for proper shelter, there is now an emphasis on quality that extends beyond the design of the flats to the surrounding living environment, as evidenced by efforts to improve the landscape architecture and enhance the visual identity of housing estates and to provide better amenities for the residents. Hence, the flats in Singapore are now likely to come in more designs and shapes.”

Reference:
Chew, C. (2009). Public Housing in Singapore. Retrieved May 18, 2010, from Infopedia, http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1585_2009-10-26.html

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our libraries.

All Rights Reserved, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, c2009

What’s inside?: fascinating structures around the world by Laroche, Giles
Publisher: Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, c2009
Call No.: J 720 LAR
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Raintree, 2010

Architecture by Bingham, Jane
Publisher: London : Raintree, 2010
Call No.: J 720 BIN
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Gareth Stevens Pub., 2010

Architect by Cohn, Jessica
Publisher: Pleasantville, NY : Gareth Stevens Pub., 2010
Call No: J 720 COH
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Charlesbridge, c1998

13 buildings children should know by Munich : Prestel
Publisher: Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge, c1998
Call No.: J 720 ROE
Click here to check for item availability

Here are websites for information on the topic:
Title: Architecture for kids: Lessons and activities
URL: http://www.kinderart.com/architecture/

Title: Roman architecture – History for Kids!
URL: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/
architecture/romarch.htm

All websites are last accessed on 20 May 2010. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Ms Isabel Tan
Librarian, Children’s Services

The below web resources serve as a good overall guide and information for Copenhagen Climate conference, which was just concluded 6 days ago at Copenhagen, Denmark:

“In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and global warming runs out. To keep the process on the line there is an urgent need for a new climate protocol. At the conference in Copenhagen 2009 the parties of the UNFCCC meet for the last time on government level before the climate agreement need to be renewed.

Therefore the Climate Conference in Copenhagen is essential for the worlds climate and the Danish government and UNFCCC is putting hard effort in making the meeting in Copenhagen a success ending up with a Copenhagen Protocol to prevent global warming and climate changes…”
(sources: erantis.com and COP15 Copenhagen, last accessed 24 Dec 2009)

Recently, we have been asked two questions by a member of the public: “Why does China refuse to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions even though it is the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases? Also was the leaked document at the Copahagen climate talks really unfair to developing countries”.

My colleague, Ms Li Sa handled this enquiry and prepared the answer which can be found here

In addition, to access more updated newspaper articles on this topic, members of the public may access Fativa, a database subscribed by NLB, to search for related articles. This database can be accessed at NLB’s e-resources page from the computer terminals at any of the 22 Public Library branches found in Singapore. Please do refer to the step-by-step guide for accessing this database. (Tip: Use the keywords “copenhagen climate” at the Factiva search field interface to retrieve the related articles)

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Answered by Ms Lim Li Sa
Senior Librarian
Adult & Young People’s Services

ASK about Environment 

National Environment Agency’s website here lists a friendly content of different methods to recycle, including tips such as selling through second hand stores and where to recycle your old cell batteries.

There are also recycling bins located at various neighbourhoods all over Singapore. You can find the locations of the bins here.Many times, the problem people face is deciding what can or cannot be recycled. 10 to 20% of items thrown into recycling bins are often not meant to be there, according to NEA. Some of these that should go to the trash bin are disposable cutlery or plastic packaging, for example (Recycling gets a colourful boost, TODAY, 14 April 2008).

So what goes into the recycling bin? Below is a list of items that can or cannot go into our recycling bins (Source: What rubbish, Straits Times, 15 June 2009):

Acceptable
Paper: Newspapers, envelopes, magazines, books, brochures, pamphlets, car park coupons, carton boxes, cereal boxes
Metal: Cans or containers made of metal such as soft drink cans, beer cans, milk powder tins, food cans
Plastic: Bottles or containers made of plastic such as detergent containers, milk containers, soft drink bottles, plastic bags
Glass: Jars and drink bottles
Others: Clean clothing

Unacceptable:
Paper: Cardboard or paper contaminated by food waste (for example, pizza boxes), used tissue paper, sweet wrappers
Plastic: Styrofoam, disposable plastic cups and containers, biscuit box liners
Glass: Light bulbs and window glass
Others: Ceramic mugsSeveral books on living green have also been written.

Apart from the usual how-to stuff, some are quirky narrative non-fiction (i.e. real life stories) about living green. Check out some green books below:

Mom, will this chicken give me man boobs?: my confused, guilt-ridden, and stressful struggle to raise a green family
By Robyn Harding.
Call No.: English 640 HAR

Image: All rights reserved, Vancouver: Greystone Books, 2009.
Where to find it

Extreme office crafts : creative & devious ways to waste supplies & company time
By Jimmy Knight & Tom Chalmers
Call No.: 650.10207 KNI -[BIZ]

Image: All rights reserved, New York : Lark Books, c2006.
Where to find it

The adventures of a plastic bottle : a story about recycling
By Alison Inches
Call No.: JP English INC
Where to find it
Image: All rights reserved, New York : Little Simon, c2009.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Associate Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

When you burn wood or paper, the smoke you see at the start of the fire is volatile hydrocarbons evaporating from the wood. They start vaporizing at a temperature of about 149 degrees Celsius.

There can be a fire without any smoke produced. For example, you will not be able to see any smoke coming out from a charcoal fire, or a fire that has burned down to embers. This is because the volatile hydrocarbons are turned into carbon dioxide and water (both invisible) when they burn.Therefore, smoke from burning objects can only be seen at the start of the fire.

Sources:

1) How fire works?.” From howstuffworks? website. 3 Oct 2009.

http://www.howstuffworks.com

For more books on fire and its elements, do check out these books!

1) Title: Fires
Author: David Armentrout, 1962-
Call Number: J 363.37 ARM
All Rights Reserved, Vero Beach Fla: Rourke Publishers ,2007

2) Title: Fire & Flood
Author:Menon, Sujatha.
Call Number: J English 363.37 MEN
All Rights Reserved, New York: Power Kids Press, 2008

3) Title: Fire
Author: Connolly, Sean
Call Number: J English 363.37 CON
All Rights Reserved, London:Franklin Watts, 2004

Originally Answered By:

Miss Goh Mei Ming
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Have you ever felt that Singapore is so small that you have run out of things to do?
Try exploring Pulau Ubin with your family and friends!

Pulau Ubin is a great place for outdoor activities such as cycling, walking, fishing and camping. According to the website below, walking around in Ubin is a wonderful way to explore and soak up the beautiful views. You can also explore Ubin through cycling and there are bicycles for rent if you find it a hassle to bring your own.

Another interesting activity that you can do is stargazing. Pulau Ubin has been cited as one of the best places in Singapore for stargazing.

Source: wildsingapore.com/ubin/index.html (Last Accessed: 29/08/2009)

If you are interested to find out about the history of Pulau Ubin, you can refer to the following website: infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_219_2004-12-13.html
(Last Accessed: 29/08/2009)

You may also wish to refer to the following books on Pulau Ubin.

1. Pulau Ubin : Ours to treasure by Chua Ee Kiam
Call no: SING English 333.78095957 CHU

All Rights Reserved, Simply Green, 2000

2. A guide to Pulau Ubin [written by Lim Kim Keang ; and illustrated by Kelvin Lim ... et al.].
Call No.: RSING English 333.78095957 LIM

3. Chek Jawa guidebook / project editors, Ria Tan and Alan Yeo in association with The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore ; photographs, Alan Yeo
Call No.: SING English 333.91716 CHE

All Rights Reserved, Simply Green, 2003

4. Chek Jawa : discovering Singapore’s biodiversity / Chua Ee Kiam
Call No.: SING English 333.91716 CHU

All Rights Reserved, Simply Green, 2002

To check the availabilities and locations, please use our online catalogue at http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/

Originally answered by Aslin Harminah
Associate Librarian
Children’s Services

[Editor: Growing up as a child, I thought the sea was always blue and that blue was its ‘correct’ colour. When I visited an island in Indonesia during one of my family vacations, I was surprised to see bright green water surrounding me. I still remember all the adults laughing when I exclaimed that the water was dirty and that we should stay away from it! After I realized the sea could be green too, I came to find it more special because it is less common than a blue sea.]

According to The Library of Congress, there are a few theories that explain the blue colour of seas/oceans. Firstly, the sea reflects the blue sky. Also, blue wavelengths are absorbed the least by the deep seawater and are scattered and reflected back into the observer’s eyes. Furthermore, some particles in the water may also help in reflecting the blue light.

Light consists of wavelengths and these wavelengths pass through matter differently. Blue wavelengths are transmitted to greater depths of the ocean. Water molecules scatter the blue wavelengths by absorbing light waves, and then quickly re-emitting the light waves in different directions.
This is the reason why there are mostly blue wavelengths reflected back to our eyes.

Reference:
Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress. Retrieved August 31, 2009, from The Library of Congress Researchers Science Reference Services Web site: http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/oceanblue.html

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our library.

All Rights Reserved, Rosen Pub. Group; 2002

I wonder why the sky is blue by Thelma Rea
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Rosen Pub. Group, c2002
Call No.: J 551.56 REA

All Rights Reserved, Compass Point Books; 2006

Manipulating light : reflection, refraction, and absorption by Darlene R. Stille
Publisher: Minneapolis, Minn. : Compass Point Books, c2006.
Call No.: J 535 STI

Light show : reflection and absorption by Jack Torrence.
Publisher: New York : PowerKids Press, 2009.
Call No.: J 535 TOR

All websites are last accessed on Aug 2009. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Originally Answered by Ms Siti Nadiah Sahul Hameed
Librarian, Children’s Services

         A blogger asked this very question that has been on the minds of many  irate, sweaty people who has perspired endlessly since June (even after a good cold shower) and has sent them into the comforts of the air-conditioned shopping malls :
                     Why is Singapore so hot?
http://baguita.blogspot.com/
2009/06/why-is-singapore-so-hot.html

Many people know that Singapore lies very closely on the equator, to be exact, 1 degree north of the equator. And at one degree above the equator, the climate in Singapore is typically tropical; hot and humid throughout the year.

The diurnal range of temperature varies between minimum 23 to 26 degree centigrade and a maximum of 31 to 34 degree centigrade. During the early morning time the relative humidity remains at its height while during the mid-afternoon it’s around 60%.

Besides, during June to September, Singapore experiences the southwest monsoon; and at times during this period, there is little rainfall during the morning and afternoon hours of the day, hence resulting in the hot and unbearable weather.

Also, if you live in the eastern part of Singapore, you may feel that the heat is unbearable as the eastern part of Singapore falls under the rain shadow region and thus receives lesser rainfall than the western side. This also makes the climate in the eastern side of Singapore slightly dryer and hotter than the western part.

But take heart, Singapore’s maritime location and constant humidity keep maximum temperature relatively moderate: the highest temperature ever recorded was only 97° F (36° C)!

Sources:
Singapore. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 06, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/
EBchecked/topic/545725/Singapore

National Environment Agency, Climatology Of Singapore June-July. Retrieved July 06, 2009 from Singapore Weather Information Portal: http://www.weather.gov.sg/

Posted By:

Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

ASK! about Science and Technology 

Leaves are green due to a pigment call chlorophyll in the plant cells. Chlorophyll helps a plant to convert light energy into chemical energy in a process called photosynthesis. This reaction produces glucose that the plant uses to grow. Excess is then stored, which is why we can get energy from plants.

Chlorophyll reflects the green wavelength of light, which is why leaves appear green. If a plant’s leaves are not green then, can it still photosynthesize to make food?

Yes they can. They may not look green, but there’s actually chlorophyll in the leaves still. Otherwise, they will not be able to make food and will die. The colour you see actually comes from the green colour of chlorophyll and deep red or yellow colours from pigments of various chemicals like anthocyanins, carotenes and xanthophyll.

Why bother to produce red pigments you ask? Well, these serve certain protective functions, such as from harmful UV rays anti-oxidant protection. These non-green pigments also assist photosynthesis. Some studies also predict that the red colour exuded by young leaves of some tropical trees warn animals from eating them. Upon maturity, these leaves rapidly turn green.

These red pigments occur in varying amounts in all leaves. The more they are present, the more red (or less green) the leaf appears. When seasons change from summer to fall, chlorophyll breaks down naturally so the red pigments appear more obvious.

References:
1. Stephen Reucroft, Can my plants with red leaves still do photosynthesis?, The Boston Globe, 14 July 2008, Factiva.com, 2 July 2009, http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/
2. David W Lee, Why leaves turn red, 1 November 2002, Factiva.com, 2 July 2009, http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/
3. Snyder Sachs, Jessica. “Photosynthesis.” New Book of Popular Science. 2009. Grolier Online. 2 July 2009 00>.
4. Kelly Bostian, World around you, Tulsa World, 2 November 2008, Factiva.com, 2 July 2009, http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/

Originally answered by Ms Lim Hwa Shan, Adult & Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.