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1.) Technical Report  This provides useful information about a complete program of work, for reference and  permanent record. Example: NATURAL WEATHER PATTERNS  The earth's climate naturally changes over extended periods of time. Temperatures have been much warmer for 80 to 90 percent of the last 500 million years than they are today. The pola r ice caps, for example, are actually a relatively new phenomenon. They were formed 15 to 20 million years ago in the Antarctic and p erhaps as recently as 3 to 5 million years in the Arctic. The climate is still dominated by natural cycles of warming and cooling. The most influential of these natural weather patterns is the 180- year cycle. The 180-year c ycle predicts that temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere reach a minimum every 180 years. (Climate records for the Southern Hemisphere are incomplete.) The bottom of the last cycle was in the early 1800s, which suggests that we may now be in a period of peak coldness. The winters of 1976 through 1979, which were unusually bitter, seem to reinforce the theory behind the 180-year cycle. This current cooling trend would mask any warming caused by an increased greenhouse effect. However, the 180-year cycle predicts a natural warming trend will begin shortly before the en d of this century. At the same time, the effects of elevated CO2 levels on atmospheric temperatures will have increased to new high lev els. Figure 1 shows the combined effects of these warming trends.

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    1.) Technical Report

    This provides useful information about a complete program of work, for reference andpermanent record.

    Example:

    NATURAL WEATHER PATTERNS

    The earth's climate naturally changes over extended periods of time. Temperatures have beenmuch warmer for 80 to 90 percent of the last 500 million years than they are today. The polar icecaps, for example, are actually a relatively new phenomenon. They were formed 15 to 20 millionyears ago in the Antarctic and perhaps as recently as 3 to 5 million years in the Arctic.

    The climate is still dominated by natural cycles of warming and cooling. The most influential ofthese natural weather patterns is the 180-year cycle. The 180-year cycle predicts thattemperatures in the Northern Hemisphere reach a minimum every 180 years. (Climate records

    for the Southern Hemisphere are incomplete.) The bottom of the last cycle was in the early1800s, which suggests that we may now be in a period of peak coldness. The winters of 1976through 1979, which were unusually bitter, seem to reinforce the theory behind the 180-yearcycle. This current cooling trend would mask any warming caused by an increased greenhouseeffect.

    However, the 180-year cycle predicts a natural warming trend will begin shortly before the endof this century. At the same time, the effects of elevated CO2 levels on atmospheric temperatureswill have increased to new high levels. Figure 1 shows the combined effects of these warmingtrends.

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    2.) Contract

    This is a formal agreement between two or more persons; organization or parties to dosomething on mutually agreed terms.

    Example:

    GENERAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

    This agreement ("Agreement") establishes a partnership ("Partnership") between the following parties:

    {names and addresses of all people who will be in the partnership}and is undersigned and set forth this {date}of {month}, {year}.The undersigned parties hereby agree to the following provisions as conditions of the Partnership:

    SECTION 1--Partnership Outline1.1The Partnership will be named {name of partnership}, for the purpose of {purpose of thepartnership}, and will conduct all business at {address where business will be conducted}.1.2Partnership will commence on the date listed above, and will end {specific date Partnership will

    terminate, and/or a clause about how the Partnership will end, such as mutual agreement on adissolution, death of one or more partners, etc.} .

    SECTION 2--Initial Capital

    2.1Each Partner will contribute original capital according to the following rules: {description of howmuch each partner will contribute to the initial capital}.2.2A separate capital account will be maintained for each Partner.

    SECTION 3--Interest on Capital{detail if/when Partners may collect interest on their initial capital contributions}

    SECTION 4--SharesEach Partner's shares in the Partnership shall be determined by {method of determining shares, such asmaking them proportional to the amount of initial capital each Partner contributes}.

    SECTION 5--Accounts/Income5.1Each Partner will have an income account in his/her individual name, which shall be separate from thecapital account mentioned in Section 2.5.2Income and/or salaries will be distributed {description of if/when any income and/or salaries willbe distributed to Partners, including a description of how the income and salaries will be

    determined}.

    SECTION 6--Profits and Losses6.1 Any profits and/or losses will be distributed and/or debited from a Partner's income account.6.2 Profits and losses will be distributed and/or debited {description of when profits and losses will beaccounted for; monthly, quarterly, etc.}.

    SECTION 7--BankingIncome and capital accounts for each Partner will be set up {name(s) of bank or institution whereaccounts will be maintained}.

    SECTION 8--Books/Accounting8.1 Accounting books and other records pertinent to the Partnership will be kept at {location of books},and any partner and/or his/her representative may have access to the books during normal business hours.8.2 The accounts for this Partnership will {description of how they will be maintained, included whenthey will be balanced and whether they will be kept on a cash basis or other method} .

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    SECTION 9--Management9.1 Partnership will be managed {description of how the management of the Partnership will work,including any clauses about the day-to-day operations}.9.2 Each partner is expected to devote (description of how much is expected of each Partner withregard to time spent on the Partnership}.9.3 Partnership meetings will {outline if/when Partners will be required to attend meetings}.

    SECTION 10--Disputes/Arbitration

    Disputes that cannot be settled by the Partners via a mutual decision-making process will be {sent to anarbitrator, voted on, etc.}.

    SECTION 11--Partner Withdrawal or Death11.1Should a Partner wish to leave the Partnership, {process by which a Partner may leave, includingwhat happens to his/her contribution}.11.2Any remaining partner {may/may not} purchase the withdrawing Partner's interest in thePartnership. This process will be governed by the following rules: {description of process for onePartner "buying out" another}.11.3Upon a Partner's death {outline of what happens should one Partner die unexpectedly, such as

    whether his/her heirs receive his/her interest in the Partnership, if one Partner can buy the interest,

    if the interest will be distributed equally among remaining partners, etc.} .

    11.4 Partners may mutually agree to remove one or more members if {conditions under which Partnersmay remove a member, such as fraud, embezzlement, imprisonment, etc. Also include the process

    by which this removal should occur.} .

    SECTION 12--Confidentiality/Non-Compete12.1Any information that involves the Partnership, directly or indirectly, shall be consideredConfidential. No Partner may share this Confidential Information with any third party without the writtenconsent of all other Partners.12.2Should a Partner leave the Partnership, willingly or unwillingly, he/she shall not take any position,nor engage in any activity, at any company, organization, etc. that is deemed a competitor to thePartnership, for a period of {number of days, months, years, etc.}.

    SECTION 13--JurisdictionThis Agreement is subject to the laws and regulations of the state of {State}, as well as any applicablefederal laws.

    We, the undersigned, agree to all the provisions listed above, and sign this document of our own free will.

    Signed:

    ___________________________ __________________________Partner Name Partner Name

    ___________________________ __________________________

    Partner Signature Partner Signature

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    3.) Business Letter

    This is written communication or message used to transact business which cannot beconveniently conducted orally.Example:

    July 20, 20xxMr. Rodney GilesManager, Customer SupportInter-Office Solutions Inc.1289 Luxor Station Rd.Cedar Springs, IL, 34985

    Dear Rodney:

    This is further to our meeting of last week at which we agreed to hold a series of meetings over

    the next two months to review your experiences with the pilot implementation of the 1to1Customer Relationship Management Program.

    As discussed at that meeting, the objectives of our review sessions will be to:

    Review and assess the overall effectiveness of the program; Identify and document strengths weaknesses of the program; Propose customer-focused solutions to address areas of weakness; Develop an approach and action plan for Phase 2 of the project; Determine the staff members who will make up the Phase 2 Team.

    As agreed, meetings will be held every second Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until noon, and thelocation will alternate between our two offices, the first one to be convened here at Inter-Officeon August 14, 20xx. Fred Johnson of your CRM group is to act as the meeting co-ordinator andrecording secretary throughout the process.

    As discussed, at the end of the process, Deborah Buxton of Consultek will draft the summaryreport for review by the steering committee. As you requested, a copy of her c.v. has beenenclosed.

    I trust I have covered all of the points that we discussed. If you have any questions or would liketo add anything please give me a call at 745-9878.

    We look forward to seeing you at the August 14

    th

    meeting.

    Sincerely,Marilyn FrenchSenior Consultant.

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    4.) Abstract

    This is a summarized form of resume of a long piece of writing.

    Example

    ABSTRACT of The Effects Of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

    Since the Industrial Revolution, man has introduced tremendous amounts of carbondioxide into the earth's atmosphere. While some of this CO2 is assimilated into naturalreservoirs, approximately 50% remains airborne. This increase in CO2 concentration causeswhat is commonly known as the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a result of theabsorption of infrared radiation by the surface of the earth. This absorption causes an increase inthe atmospheric temperature. Increasing the earth's temperature in turn increases the amount ofwater vapor in the atmosphere. Since water vapor is also a strong absorber of infrared radiation, apositive feedback mechanism is created, leading to further infrared-radiation absorption. Astemperatures increase, atmospheric circulation patterns are altered which will change localweather patterns.

    These changes could have an enormous impact on agricultural production. Attendant to a rise inthe mean global temperature is a melting of small but significant portion of the polar ice caps.This will result in a rise in sea level which would flood coastal areas including major populationcenters. The problem of the greenhouse effect might be remedied by a reduction in the use offossil fuel, large scale reforestation to increase the capacity of the biotic sink, and developmentof alternate energy sources such as solar and nuclear fusion. However, not much hope is held outfor these remedies.

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    5.) Articles for a Technical Journal

    A technical paper which will be published in a journal. It contains an abstract , anintroduction, discussion and summarizing, concluding sentence or paragraph.

    Example:

    ABSTRACT

    Since the Industrial Revolution, man has introduced tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide into theearth's atmosphere. While some of this CO2 is assimilated into natural reservoirs, approximately 50%remains airborne. This increase in CO2 concentration causes what is commonly known as the greenhouseeffect. The greenhouse effect is a result of the absorption of infrared radiation by the surface of the earth.This absorption causes an increase in the atmospheric temperature. Increasing the earth's temperature inturn increases the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Since water vapor is also a strong absorber ofinfrared radiation, a positive feedback mechanism is created, leading to further infrared-radiationabsorption. As temperatures increase, atmospheric circulation patterns are altered which will change localweather patterns.These changes could have an enormous impact on agricultural production. Attendant to a rise in the meanglobal temperature is a melting of small but significant portion of the polar ice caps. This will result in a

    rise in sea level which would flood coastal areas including major population centers. The problem of thegreenhouse effect might be remedied by a reduction in the use of fossil fuel, large scale reforestation toincrease the capacity of the biotic sink, and development of alternate energy sources such as solar andnuclear fusion. However, not much hope is held out for these remedies.

    Report on

    THE EFFECTS OF INCREASED ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE

    I. INTRODUCTIONBefore the year 2020, the climate of the earth may be warmer than any time in the past thousand years.This change, which is incredibly fast by geological time scales, will be brought about by increased levelsof carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere. The most important source of excessive CO2 is the burningof carbon-based fossil fuels for energy production. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of all living systems

    and is normally considered harmless. It is a minor element in the earth's atmosphere comprising onlyabout 0.03% of the total atmosphere. However, this small amount of CO2, along with water vapor, isresponsible for what is commonly known as the greenhouse effect.The fact that changes in CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere could cause changes in the earth's climatehas been known for over one hundred years. However, only in the last 5 to 10 years has significantresearch been done in this field. The most ominous of the effects of a warmer climate will be the shiftingof local weather patterns. This shifting will have profound effects on agricultural production in a worldthat is already unable to adequately feed its citizens today. There will also be an accompanyingredistribution of wealth which will likely lead to dangerous social conflicts. It is obvious that thecontinued introduction of CO2 into the atmosphere will have consequences far worse than producing aslightly balmier climate.The purpose of this report is to examine the climatic changes caused by increased carbon dioxide in the

    atmosphere and their implications for society. Also discussed will be the mechanisms of the greenhouseeffect, the sources and reservoirs of carbon dioxide, and some possible methods to reduce the magnitudeof the problem. Note, however, that the most we can do at this point is lessen the severity of the situation.That the mean global temperature will increase in the next few decades is certain. The only questions arehow much and how fast.

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    II. NATURAL WEATHER PATTERNSThe earth's climate naturally changes over extended periods of time. Temperatures have been muchwarmer for 80 to 90 percent of the last 500 million years than they are today. The polar ice caps, forexample, are actually a relatively new phenomenon. They were formed 15 to 20 million years ago in theAntarctic and perhaps as recently as 3 to 5 million years in the Arctic.The climate is still dominated by natural cycles of warming and cooling. The most influential of thesenatural weather patterns is the 180-year cycle. The 180-year cycle predicts that temperatures in theNorthern Hemisphere reach a minimum every 180 years. (Climate records for the Southern Hemisphereare incomplete.) The bottom of the last cycle was in the early 1800s, which suggests that we may now be

    in a period of peak coldness. The winters of 1976 through 1979, which were unusually bitter, seem toreinforce the theory behind the 180-year cycle. This current cooling trend would mask any warmingcaused by an increased greenhouse effect.However, the 180-year cycle predicts a natural warming trend will begin shortly before the end of thiscentury. At the same time, the effects of elevated CO2 levels on atmospheric temperatures will haveincreased to new high levels. Figure 1 shows the combined effects of these warming trends.Therefore, temperatures could reach their highest level in several hundred years shortly after the year2000, and they will reach their highest level in the last 125,000 years by mid-century [1:7-11].

    III. MECHANISMS OF THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

    For the mean global temperature to stay constant, the earth-atmosphere system must be in radiative

    equilibrium with the sun. In other words, the incoming solar radiation must match the outgoing thermalradiation from the earth. Of the incoming solar radiation, 35% is reflected back into space. Thereflectivity of the earth is its albedo. The albedo is taken into consideration when the total energy flux ofthe earth-atmosphere system is calculated. Of the remaining 65% of solar radiation that is not reflectedback, 47% is absorbed by the surface and 18% is absorbed by the atmosphere. For the temperature of oursystem to remain constant, this energy that is absorbed by the atmosphere must be radiated back out. Thisradiation primarily takes place in the 5-micron to 30-micron range of wave lengths, which is in theinfrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. A micron is one millionth of a meter [2:755].

    Natural Greenhouse Effect

    The effective radiating temperature is the temperature the earth should have for the amount of solar

    radiation it absorbs. Calculation of the effective radiating temperature gives a value of -200 C. However,the observed mean global temperature is 140 C. The difference of 340 C is caused by a naturalgreenhouse effect that takes place in the atmosphere [11] . As the earth tries to lose heat into space, theatmosphere absorbs infrared radiation emitted by the surface. Specifically, the atmosphere allows 50% ofthe incoming solar radiation to reach the surface but only 10% of the longwave radiation from the surfaceto escape. This causes the temperature of the earth-atmosphere system to increase. The magnitude of thegreenhouse effect is defined as the difference between the upward infrared radiation from the surface andthe upward infrared radiation from the top of the atmosphere [2:755].

    Radiation Absorption by Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor

    The greenhouse effect is caused by minor constituents in the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide andwater vapor. The earth must radiate in the 5-micron to 30-micron region. However, water vapor is astrong absorber of radiation over the entire thermal spectrum except in the 8-micron to 18-microninterval. The 12-micron to 18-micron interval is largely blocked by CO2 absorption. In fact, currentCO2 levels are sufficient to make the 15-micron band virtually opaque to infrared radiation. The earth is,therefore, constrained to radiate its excess thermal energy in a nearly transparent window from 8 micronsto 12 microns. As anthropogenic carbon dioxide is introduced into the atmosphere, mostly by combustionof fossil fuels, absorption of infrared radiation in the 10-micron band and in the wings of the 15- micronband is increased. This increased absorption results in an overall warming of the earth-atmospheresystem.

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    Positive Feedback Mechanisms

    As the climate becomes warmer, positive feedback mechanisms tend to exacerbate the problem.Elevations in temperature decrease the solubility of CO2 in the oceans. Therefore, as temperatureincreases, the oceans release more CO2 into the atmosphere, which causes another increase intemperature. Even more threatening is the greenhouse water vapor coupling. The atmosphere tends toattain a definite distribution of relative humidity in response to a change in temperature. If thetemperature is increased, the relative humidity, which is a measure of the amount of water vapor in theatmosphere, is also increased. At the same time, the vapor pressure of water is raised. The result is more

    water vapor in the atmosphere, which causes more greenhouse effect, which raises temperatures evenhigher, which again increases the water vapor in the atmosphere. This positive feedback mechanismapproximately doubles the sensitivity of surface temperature to a change in the amount of energyabsorbed by the earth [1:19].

    IV. THE CARBON CYCLE

    The annual increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is dependent on several factors. First is theamount of carbon dioxide produced by consumption of carbon-based fuels. Subtracted from this amountis the carbon dioxide that is removed from the atmosphere and stored in reservoirs, or sinks. The mostprominent sinks of carbon dioxide are the atmosphere, the oceans, and the biosphere. Also contributing toa net increase in CO2 is the deforestation of large land areas each year. The amount of carbon dioxide

    produced from fossil fuels and the annual increase in atmospheric concentrations are both well known.Approximately 50% of the CO2produced from fossil fuel remains in the atmosphere. The rest is absorbedinto sinks. The proportion of CO2 that goes into each sink and the mechanisms of CO2removal are poorlyunderstood.

    CO2 From Fossil Fuel

    Since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, about 154.4 gigatons (G ton) of carbon have been added tothe atmosphere. One gigaton is equal to one billion tons. Even more alarming is the fact that of this 154.4G tons, about 27%, or 45 G tons, were produced from 1970 to 1978. Overall, the use of carbon-basedfuels has increased at an exponential rate of 4.3% per year from 1860 to the mid-1970s. (See Table 1.)High energy costs should help to slow the use of fuels, although no significant reductions in demand haveyet been observed.

    It is expected that industrialized countries will be able to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels forenergy production by using clean energy sources such as solar and nuclear. However, a growing worldpopulation will place heavy pressure for increased energy use, especially in developing countries. Thepercentage of CO2produced by geographical regions in 1974 and the projected contribution expected in2025 is listed in Table 2. Even though the United States will reduce its contribution from 27% to 8%, theamount produced by developing regions in the same time will more than triple [4].

    Carbon Dioxide Produced by Different FuelsThe amount of carbon added to the atmosphere depends on the type of fuel being burned. Fuels with ahigh hydrogen- to-carbon ratio produce the most energy for each unit of carbon released. The dirtiestfuels, in terms of carbon dioxide, are the various synthetic fuels that are produced from coal. Synfuelsrelease large amounts of CO2 because energy must be expended to extract them from coal. Therefore, thecarbon dioxide generated from producing the synfuel must be added to that released by combustion.Because the world has very large coal reserves, research into synfuel production has increased greatly.Although synfuels could significantly reduce the dependence of the United States on petroleum, theywould tend to accelerate the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Table 3 lists the amount ofCO2 released by each type of fuel.

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    Future Levels of Carbon Dioxide

    Future inputs of carbon from fossil fuels are dependent upon world energy consumption and on the mix offuels used. Two models have been devised to estimate the world consumption of carbon-based fuels in thefuture. The first model is based on the historical growth rate of 4.3% per year.If the world use of fossil fuels is maintained at that level, the proven energy reserves would be exhaustedby 2010 to 2015. The second model, and probably the more accurate one, postulates that the currentgrowth rate will continue until 1990, and then the rate of growth will decline to zero over a fifty-yearperiod. Figure 2 graphically compares growth rates from both models. This tapered growth scenario

    would postpone the exhaustion of proven reserves by ten to fifteen years. However, actual use of carbon-based fuels could continue for some time after this, since the total amount of recoverable reserves is muchgreater than the proven reserves. Obviously, these estimates are greatly simplified, since they weredevised to give minimum times to exhaustion of energy reserves.As conventional fossil fuels become more expensive, it is likely that world fuel usage will shift to adifferent combination of fuels than used today. Changes in this fuel mix causes more uncertainty inestimates of future CO2 inputs into the atmosphere. Table 4 gives the dates for doubling ofCO2 concentrations for various fuel use combinations [9].

    V. CLIMATIC EFFECTS OF INCREASED CO2 CONCENTRATIONS

    Current estimates for doubling-dates of carbon dioxide concentrations range from about 2020 to 2075. A

    doubling of atmospheric CO2 levels will cause an increase in the mean global temperature of about 30 to50 C with an increase of about 120 C at the polar regions. The reason for the amplified effect at thepoles is that the atmosphere has a much lower concentration of water vapor at the poles than at lowerlatitudes. Therefore, an increase in atmospheric CO2 will cause a relatively larger increase in thegreenhouse effect over the poles. This warming then increases the water vapor present by melting ice,which causes the process to be self-enhancing.

    Changes in Local Weather Patterns

    As the temperature of the atmosphere is increased, the global circulation patterns will be shifted. This willcause widespread changes in local weather patterns. Although mathematical models devised bymeteorologists can describe overall climatic changes, they are not able to predict these small-scale

    variations in local conditions. One method that can be used is to examine weather records for a periodwhen the temperature was higher than it is today.

    The 1930s As Climate Analog

    The most recent global peaked in the 1930s. The 1930s averaged about 10 C warmer than recent decadeshave. In the United States, a greater number of state records for high temperatures were set in the 1930sthan in any decade since the 1870s. The 1 C increase is analogous to the initial decade of CO2-inducedwarming which should occur shortly after the turn of the century.

    Drought

    The most significant feature of a warmer climate is the absence of adequate precipitation. The drought ofthe 1930s has been called the greatest disaster caused by meteorological factors. Research into climaterecords by studying tree rings has determined that 1934 was the driest year in the western United Statessince 1700. If the atmospheric circulation patterns of the 1930s return early next century because ofwarmer temperatures, agricultural production and water supplies could be seriously affected. Even thoughfood production would decline, modern agricultural practices would probably prevent a catastrophe likethe dust bowl of the 1930s. Water supply, however, is a different situation. Particularly hard hit will bethe region of the West that draws water off the Colorado River basin. This region, which is alreadyplagued by water shortages, could be devastated by a drought that lasts several years.

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    Increased Tropical Storm Activity

    The warming of the atmosphere will cause the sea temperature to rise as well. This will result in moretropical storms being generated. The 1930s were a period of increased tropical storm activity.Twenty-one tropical storms blew up in 1933, seventeen in 1936; the current average is nine per year.These storms will also be able to reach higher latitudes because of warmer seas [1:35-50].

    Sea Level Increase

    Researchers have suggested that conditions similar to those of the 1930s could persist for as long as 25years. During this time the earth's temperature will still be increasing and a longer range problem willbecome evident. The polar ice caps would begin to melt, raising the sea level. This will be a slow process,but one that will be irreversible once the greenhouse threat is fully realized. A rise in ocean levels ofbetween 15 to 25 feet is possible in as little as 100 years. Coastal regions would be flooded causingtremendous destruction of property. Along the Texas coast, for example, Galveston, Corpus Christi,Beaumont, and Port Arthur all would be permanently inundated. As many as 10 nuclear reactors would bein danger of flooding and contaminating the ocean. The 15- to 25-foot raising of sea levels is for normaltides with storm tides reaching even farther inland [4].

    VI. WAYS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

    The severity of the consequences of this major climatic change requires that action be taken to lessenman's input of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The greenhouse threat is a global problem that callsfor global action. Unfortunately, the political structure of the world tends to impede cooperation on aglobal scale. Even with these difficulties, it is imperative that the use of carbon-based fuels be reducedsignificantly. The United States, as the world's leading consumer of energy, could influence worldopinion and stimulate action by taking decisive measures. Some of the steps that need to be taken are:

    1. A concerted effort must be made to conserve fuel with a goal of reducing global consumption20% worldwide by the year 2000. Public knowledge of the effects of CO2 on the climate isneeded. A tax on fossil fuel would provide an extra incentive to conserve. The revenue from sucha tax could be used to further development of alternate energy sources.

    2. The use of a combination of fossil fuels that will minimize the input of CO2 into the atmospheremust be emphasized. Natural gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels and large reserves of gas havebeen found. Coal is also found in abundance in the United States and is therefore likely to beincreasingly used for energy production. However, coal releases 75% more CO2 into theatmosphere per unit of energy produced than does natural gas. Because of this, use of coal shouldbe de-emphasized and use of natural gas emphasized.

    3. Alternate energy sources, such as solar and nuclear, should be developed. There is a substantialamount of emotional opposition to nuclear power, which will impede the expansion of its use.Solar power, as are wind and wave power, is ideal in that it is constant and non-polluting. Thetechnology is not quite at a stage where solar power is economically feasible. A strong effortmust be made to develop this highly attractive source of energy.

    4. Reforestation on a massive global scale is needed to provide a large biotic sink in the next fewdecades. The total respiration of CO2 should be less than the total photosynthesis on a regionaland worldwide basis. Fast- growing trees, such as the American Sycamore, can absorb as much as750 tons of carbon per square kilometer per year. Water hyacinths can absorb 6000 tons of carbonper square kilometer per year. The growth of biomass for energy production could serve as anadditional method of reducing CO2 accumulation because it would only involve recyclingbetween carbon pools of the biosphere and the atmosphere.

    5. Research into the carbon cycle is needed to reduce the uncertainties surrounding predictions ofclimatic changes. Although the amount of carbon dioxide that is released and the amount thatremains airborne is well known, the method by which CO2 is assimilated into sinks, such as theocean and the biosphere, is poorly understood. Typical estimates of the amounts of CO2 absorbedannually by the ocean and the biosphere are 2 G tons and 1 ton, respectively [4].

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    VII. SUMMARY

    Carbon dioxide accumulation in the atmosphere is the most dangerous pollution problem today.This excess of CO2 will cause an increase in the mean global temperature which should bedetectable shortly before the end of this century. This warming is caused by the greenhouseeffect. CO2 allows incoming radiation from the sun to enter the atmosphere. The heat from theearth's surface, which must radiate in the infrared region of the spectrum, is absorbed by CO2 andwater vapor, thereby raising the atmospheric temperature. The greenhouse water-vapor couplingprovides a strong positive feedback mechanism. Fossil-fuel use increases at an exponential rate of

    4.3% annually. This should cause a doubling of CO2 concentrations by between the year 2020and the year 2075. This doubling of atmospheric CO2 will cause an increase in the mean globaltemperature of about 30 to 50 C. Warmer temperatures will cause a shift in atmosphericcirculation patterns. This will cause local weather patterns to change. The results for the UnitedStates could be intensive drought, increased tropical storm activity, and a rise in the sea levelcaused by melting of the polar ice caps. To lessen the severity of the problem, fossil fuelconsumption must be curtailed and alternate energy sources developed. Also, a globalreforestation program should be undertaken to provide a large biotic sink for CO2 in the new few

    decades.

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    6.) Laboratory Report

    A record of procedures and results of laboratory test. It describes the scope of a project, the

    equipment utilized, the procedures used, the results of test and the conclusion and

    recommendation

    Example:

    The Optimal Foraging Theory:

    Food Selection in Beavers Based on Tree Species, Size, and Distance

    Laboratory 1, Ecology 201

    AbstractThe theory of optimal foraging and its relation to central foraging was examined by using the beaver as a

    model. Beaver food choice was examined by noting the species of woody vegetation, status (chewed vs. not-chewed), distance from the water, and circumference of trees near a beaver pond in North Carolina. Beavers

    avoided certain species of trees and preferred trees that were close to the water. No preference for treecircumference was noted. These data suggest that beaver food choice concurs with the optimal foraging theory.

    IntroductionIn this lab, we explore the theory of optimal foraging and the theory of central place foraging usingbeavers as the model animal. Foraging refers to the mammalian behavior associated with searching for food.

    The optimal foraging theory assumes that animals feed in a way that maximizes their net rate of energy intake

    per unit time (Pyke et al. 1977). An animal may either maximize its daily energy intake (energy maximizer) orminimize the time spent feeding (time minimizer) in order to meet minimum requirements. Herbivores

    commonly behave as energy maximizers (Belovsky 1986) and accomplish this maximizing behavior by

    choosing food that is of high quality and has low-search and low-handling time (Pyke et al. 1977).

    The central place theory is used to describe animals that collect food and store it in a fixed location in

    their home range, the central place (Jenkins 1980). The factors associated with the optimal foraging theory alsoapply to the central place theory. The central place theory predicts that retrieval costs increase linearly with

    distance of the resource from the central place (Rockwood and Hubbell 1987). Central place feeders are very

    selective when choosing food that is far from the central place since they have to spend time and energy

    hauling it back to the storage site (Schoener 1979).The main objective of this lab was to determine beaver (Castor canadensis) food selection based on tree

    species, size, and distance. Since beavers are energy maximizers (Jenkins 1980, Belovsky 1984) and central

    place feeders (McGinley and Whitam 1985), they make an excellent test animal for the optimal foraging

    theory. Beavers eat several kinds of herbaceous plants as well as the leaves, twigs, and bark of most species ofwoody plants that grow near water (Jenkins and Busher 1979). By examining the trees that are chewed or not-

    chewed in the beavers' home range, an accurate assessment of food preferences among tree species may be

    gained (Jenkins 1975). The purpose of this lab was to learn about the optimal foraging theory. We wanted to

    know if beavers put the optimal foraging theory into action when selecting food.

    We hypothesized that the beavers in this study will choose trees that are small in circumference and

    closest to the water. Since the energy yield of tree species may vary significantly, we also hypothesized that

    beavers will show a preference for some species of trees over others regardless of circumference size or

    distance from the central area. The optimal foraging theory and central place theory lead us to predict that

    beavers, like most herbivores, will maximize their net rate of energy intake per unit time. In order to maximize

    energy, beavers will choose trees that are closest to their central place (the water) and require the least retrieval

    cost. Since beavers are trying to maximize energy, we hypothesized that they will tend to select some species

    of trees over others on the basis of nutritional value.

    MethodsThis study was conducted at Yates Mill Pond, a research area owned by the North Carolina State

    University, on October 25th

    , 1996. Our research area was located along the edge of the pond and was

    approximately 100 m in length and 28 m in width. There was no beaver activity observed beyond this width.

    The circumference, the species, status (chewed or not- chewed), and distance from the water were recorded for

    each tree in the study area. Due to the large number of trees sampled, the work was evenly divided among four

    groups of students working in quadrants. Each group contributed to the overall data collected.

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    We conducted a chi-squared test to analyze the data with respect to beaver selection of certain treespecies. We conducted t-tests to determine (1) if avoided trees were significantly farther from the water than

    selected trees, and (2) if chewed trees were significantly larger or smaller than not chewed trees. Mean treedistance from the water and mean tree circumference were also recorded.

    ResultsOverall, beavers showed a preference for certain species of trees, and their preference was based on

    distance from the central place. Measurements taken at the study site show that beavers avoided oaks and

    musclewood (Fig. 1) and show a significant food preference (x2=447.26, d.f.=9, P.05) (Fig. 3).

    DiscussionAlthough beavers are described as generalized herbivores, the finding in this study related to species

    selection suggests that beavers are selective in their food choice. This finding agrees with our hypothesis that

    beavers are likely to show a preference for certain tree species. Although beaver selection of certain species of

    trees may be related to the nutritional value, additional information is needed to determine why beavers selectsome tree species over others. Other studies suggested that beavers avoid trees that have chemical defenses that

    make the tree unpalatable to beavers (Muller-Schawarze et al. 1994). These studies also suggested that beavers

    prefer trees with soft wood, which could possibly explain the observed avoidance of musclewood and oak in

    our study.The result that chewed trees were closer to the water accounts for the time and energy spent gathering

    and hauling. This is in accordance with the optimal foraging theory and agrees with our hypothesis that

    beavers will choose trees that are close to the water. As distance from the water increases, a tree's net energy

    yield decreases because food that is farther away is more likely to increase search and retrieval time. Thisfinding is similar to Belovskys finding of an inverse relationship between distance from the water and

    percentage of plants cut.

    The lack of any observed difference in mean circumference between chewed and not chewed trees

    does not agree with our hypothesis that beavers will prefer smaller trees to larger ones. Our hypothesis was

    based on the idea that branches from smaller trees will require less energy to cut and haul than those from

    larger trees. Our finding is in accordance with other studies (Schoener 1979), which have suggested that the

    value of all trees should decrease with distance from the water but that beavers would benefit from choosing

    large branches from large trees at all distances. This would explain why there was no significant difference in

    circumference between chewed and not-chewed trees.This lab gave us the opportunity to observe how a specific mammal selects foods that maximize

    energy gains in accordance with the optimal foraging theory. Although beavers adhere to the optimal foraging

    theory, without additional information on relative nutritional value of tree species and the time and energy

    costs of cutting certain tree species, no optimal diet predictions may be made. Other information is also needed

    about predatory risk and its role in food selection. Also, due to the large number of students taking samples in

    the field, there may have been errors which may have affected the accuracy and precision of our

    measurements. In order to corroborate our findings, we suggest that this study be repeated by others.

    ConclusionThe purpose of this lab was to learn about the optimal foraging theory by measuring tree selection in

    beavers. We now know that the optimal foraging theory allows us to predict food-seeking behavior in beavers

    with respect to distance from their central place and, to a certain extent, to variations in tree species. We also

    learned that foraging behaviors and food selection is not always straightforward. For instance, beavers selectedlarge branches at any distance from the water even though cutting large branches may increase energy

    requirements. There seems to be a fine line between energy intake and energy expenditure in beavers that is

    not so easily predicted by any given theory.

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    7.) Progress ReportThis contains an account of what has been accomplished on a project over a specific

    period of time and what may be expected in the next period.

    Example:PROGRESS REPORT FOR STUDENT WEB SITE

    INTRODUCTION

    I decided to create a web site for people interested in European travel. This Web site willincrease consumer awareness of the company and provide travelers with valuable information on

    several European countries. Objectives of the web site include:

    1. Increasing awareness of travel opportunities in Europe

    2. Providing links to low cost airfares and hotels.

    3. Providing a page of news related to European current events and issues.

    DISCUSSION

    Work Accomplished

    In the last two weeks I have accomplished the following:

    1. Project Planning: I have created a navigation tree that organizes all the pages for the

    entire web site. The project management plan of mine also details the amount of time it

    is expected to take me to develop each part of the web site.

    2. Requirements Gathering: To better help me determine what users would expect from a

    web site focused on European travel, I created a survey form that members in the

    technical writing class completed. The results of the survey have given me a clearer idea

    as to the perceptions a lay reader has toward Europe. Because of this survey, I have had

    to modify the material on the web site significantly. I now have more space devoted to

    geographical and political information for European countries.

    3. Design: I have compiled most of the drawings and photographs that I hope to use on the

    web pages. I have also created a company logo that will be featured on each page.

    Work Remaining

    To complete the web site project I need to complete the following:1. Page construction: I have completed rough drafts of four of the pages on my web site,

    but I have to revise those and still create three more pages.2. Testing: Once the first version of my web

    site is completely finished, I will have

    members in the technical writing class test it for usability. On the basis of their

    recommendations, I will revise the site further.

    3. Submission: When I have completed my final revision after the usability test, I will

    submit my web project for evaluation. I plan to upload it to the network by the due date

    and to print out hard copies for you as well.

    The project schedule shown below indicates project deadlines and milestones for each of the

    above-mentioned phases. It clearly separates the work accomplished from the work remaining.

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    Problems Encountered

    The most significant problem encountered was the loss of several graphic files when the

    computer network crashed on April 2, 2001. The survey I conducted also showed me that I did

    not have a clear concept of audience, so I needed to revise my original plans for my web site.CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION

    My web site project is approximately 30% complete. I expect to have it done by the due date if

    the computer network does not pose further problems.

    I appreciate the amount of class time we have been given for working on our web projects. I

    hope that this continues. When my first draft is completed next week, I look forward to

    receiving your comments on how I can make my web site better.Annotation: This student writes her

    progress report to inform her instructor on her web site

    construction progress. The introduction summarizes the project clearly and identifies the goals

    of the web site. The discussion section describes the work accomplished, the work remaining,

    and the problems encountered. The conclusion summarizes the work accomplished andrecommends ways for the instructor to help further with the project. Throughout the progress

    report, the student makes use of highlighting techniques such as numbered lists, subheadings and

    graphic, making the report more accessible to readers.

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    8.) PolicyA plan of action adopted or preserved by an individual, government, party business and

    industry or it may be a document containing a contract of insurance.

    Example:

    Company Policy

    Hours of Operation/Work Schedules

    The office is normally open from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm Central time. Certain employees may be assigned

    to different work schedules and/or shifts outside of normal office hours. If an employee must be outside

    of the office for non-business related reasons during their normal work schedule, they should inform their

    manager.

    Telecommuting

    The Company is committed to creating a work environment where the needs of our customers,

    employees, and the Company are balanced. Therefore, the Company tries to be flexible in its approach to

    work styles and location. Telecommuting arrangements may be made on an as needed basis or set up on

    a regularschedule. In either case, employees are encouraged to spend time working in the office whenever

    possible. This allows employees to be accessible to customers and creates a sense of consistency and

    collaboration among work teams. When employees desire to work at home, the Company asks that they

    do so in a manner which is in keeping with a workstyle of accessibility, communication, and productivity.

    All telecommuting arrangements are subject to approval by the employees manager. In general,

    the following principles should be used in telecommuting:

    Employees should make arrangements with their manager at least one week in advance oftelecommuting.

    Employees should check in with the office regularly.

    Employees should inform their manager of their whereabouts so they may be reached easily. Working at home means working, not taking time off. Employees should not routinely work at home on days prior to or following vacations or holidays if at

    all avoidable.

    Under regular circumstances, telecommuting should not comprise more than one day in a given week,or more than 3 days a month.

    Dress Code Policy

    The Company maintains a business casual working environment. All employees

    should use discretion in wearing attire that is appropriate for the office and customer interaction.

    Attendance Policy

    Regular attendance is essential to the Companys efficient operation and is a

    necessary condition of employment. When employees are absent, schedules and customer commitments

    fall behind, and other employees must assume added workloads.

    Employees are expected to report to work as scheduled and on time. If it is impossible

    to report for work as scheduled, employees must call their manager before their starting time. If your

    manager is unavailable, a voice message should be left. If the absence is to continue beyond the first day,

    the employee must notify their manager on a daily basis unless otherwise arranged. Calling in is the

    responsibility of every employee who is absent. Absence for three consecutive work days without

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    notifying the manager is considered a voluntary termination.

    Leave of Absence

    Employees are eligible to apply for an unpaid leave of absence if they have been a

    regular employee of the Company for at least one year and scheduled to work 20 hours or more a week.

    The employees manager will make a decision on the leave request. The request for leave will be

    reviewed based on the reason for the request, previous attendance record, previous leave requests and the

    impact the absence will have on the Company.

    Authorized leaves for illness or disability begin after employees have exhaustedaccrued sick leave, vacation and personal holiday time. A personal leave of absence, if granted, begins

    after vacation and personal holiday time have been used.

    Human Resources can provide employees with which benefits, in addition to retained

    seniority, can be continued during the leave. If an employee wishes to continue benefits, it must arranged

    for directly with Human Resources.

    I f the request for leave of absence for personal reasons, the employees manager, with

    the advice of Human Resources, will decide whether the current position will be held open, or if a

    position will be made available upon the employees return from leave.

    OvertimeNon-exempt employees are eligible to receive overtime pay if they work more than

    40 hours in a given week. Holiday, vacation, and sick time are not included in hours used to determine

    overtime eligibility. Overtime pay equals 1.5 times and employees regular hourly rate. All overtime must

    be approved the manager in advance.

    Vacation

    All full-time employees are eligible for vacation pay.

    New full-time employees will receive a pro-rata number of vacation days based on

    one day for each month worked in the hired calendar year, not to exceed 10 days.

    In the first full calendar year and through the calendar year in which the employees 3

    year anniversary of employment occurs, employees will receive 10 vacation days each year.

    In the calendar year of the employees 4 year anniversary of employment, employees

    will receive 15 vacation days each year.

    In the calendar year of the employees 10 year anniversary of employment,

    employees will receive 20 vacation days each year.

    Up to 5 unused vacation days may be carried over into the next year. All other unused

    vacation time will be paid out in the final paycheck for that year.

    Employees should notify their manager at least one month in advance of taking

    vacation time. All vacation requests are subject to manager approval. In addition, employees should

    directly communicate vacation dates to co-workers to ensure customer needs are met.

    Part-time employees who work on a regular schedule all year are eligible forvacation benefits on a pro-rata basis based on the schedule above.

    Termination

    Employees who voluntarily resign from the Company are asked to provide at least

    two week advance notice of their resignation. This notice should be in writing and should briefly state the

    reason for leaving and the anticipated last day of work.

    If a terminating employee is eligible for any incentive compensation, bonus, and/or

    awards, they must be actively employed on the date the compensation, bonus or awards are presented or

    paid, in order to receive the compensation, bonus or award.

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    9.)Feasibility ReportThis represents facts and information intended to make the reader realize that the

    proposed project or plan is financially, economically, and technically, significant as well asbeneficial.

    Example:The Plastic Lifecycle is broken

    Plastics are highly valued for their light anddurable qualities, and are widely used not just in

    packaging but also in consumer goods, buildingand construction, electronics, medical supplies,and transportation. Most plastics are made fromnon-renewable petroleum and natural gasresources, and contain chemical additives that havea significant impact on the environment andhuman health. Unfortunately, despite efforts toreduce their use and recycle, humanity usesincreasingly more plastic, and much of it ends upin our oceans. This is not just an eyesore, it is athreat to the worldsbiodiversity. Plastics do not

    biodegrade, rather they break down into minutepieces, releasing their chemical additives andmasquerading as food to marine life. In fact, in2011 the United Nations Environment Programlisted plastic pollution in oceans as a top priorityissue, citing its potential impact on ecosystems andhuman health.1.1.1 A Brief History of PlasticThe end of World War II marked the start of themodernplastic era, or Our plastic age(Thompson, Swan, Moore, & vom Saal, 2009).Derived from oil or gas, plastics possess propertiesthat are ideal for the manufacture of many

    everyday items: they are light, cheap, flexible,strong, and durable (Thompson et al., 2009). Notsurprisingly, global plastic production has grownexponentially. From 1950-2007 plastic productionrose from 1.5 million tons to 270 million tons peryear, an expansion which kept pace with thesimultaneous global population growth from 2.7 toover 7 billion (Rochman, Browne, et al., 2013). In2012 alone, 288 million tons of plastic were

    produced (PlasticsEurope 2013), which isapproximately thesame weight of the entire human

    biomass (Walpole et al.,2012). Two specific issues

    are associated with this sharp rise in plasticproduction: impacts on human health, such asincreased risk of cancer and neurological problems(Breast Cancer Foundation 2013); and the growingamounts of plastic debris entering the marineenvironment (United Nations EnvironmentProgramme 2013).

    Figure 1.1 Plastic debris on Kanapou, Hawaii, USA, 2006(Courtesy NOAA, Marine Debris Programme)

    1.1.2 Plastic in the Oceans

    Plastics are made of essential polymers,

    synthetically produced from petroleum, naturalgas, or coal, and mixed with a complex blend ofchemicals known as additives.These additives have the ability to alter or improvethe polymers properties. For example,

    polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is the nearlyindestructible plastic used to make most containersand bottles. Other common additives include: UVstabilizers, antioxidants, brominated flame-retardants, and bisphenol-A. Some of thesechemicals are known endocrine disrupters orcarcinogens and can seriously affect the health of

    organisms. Plastic is unlikely to biodegrade, yetdoes photo-degrade. However, this requiresprolonged exposure to ultra-violet light. Physicalabrasion also contributes to its decomposition (A.L. Andrady, Hamid, Hu, & Torikai, 1998; D.K.A.Barnes, Galgani, & Thompson, 2009; Colton Jr.,Knapp, & Burns, 1974; Gregory, 1977; Thompsonet al., 2004). Still, it can take 400 to 1000 years,and even longer in a marine environment for

    plastics and their chemical additives to break downinto carbon dioxide, water, and small inorganicmolecules, a process called mineralization.

    Figure 1.2 Pathways of plastic pollution. Plastic enters the oceanfrom coastal urbanization (1), through rivers (2), from beaches (3),

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    and from ships (4). Through currents and wind, plastic getstransported through the ocean or sea (5), finally ending up oncoastlines or in a gyre. Heavier-than-water plastics are likely tosink not far from the coast (6), unless the plastic encapsulates air.Possible sinks for the plastic in the gyre include sinking due to lossin buoyancy, ingestion, biodegradation, and natural loss ontocoastlines due to currents (7).

    1.1.3 Breaking the Cycle

    The discovery of fragmented plastic duringplankton tows of the Sargasso Sea in 1971 led toone of the earliest studies of plastic in the marine

    environment. Using a 333 micron surface nettrawl, Carpenter and Smith collected smallfragments of plastics in 1971, resulting inestimates of the presence of plastic particulates atan average of 3,500 pieces and 290 g/km2 in thewestern Sargasso Sea (Carpenter and Smith, 1972).Shortly after, Colton et al., (1974) surveyed thecoastal waters from New England to the Bahamasand confirmed distribution of plastic all along the

    North Atlantic. These studies have been recentlyupdated in two comprehensive studies of the NorthAtlantic gyre (K. L. Law et al., 2010; MoretFerguson et al., 2010). Indeed, plastic is found in

    most marine and terrestrial habitats, includingbays, estuaries, coral reefs, lakes and the openoceans. (Rochman et al.,2014, Wright et al., 2013)Even though the monitoring of plastic debris in theocean began over 40 years ago, volumes aredifficult to estimate as conditions vary acrossdifferent bodies of water and over time. However,it is known that while marine debris may be madeup of a variety of materials, including glass, rubberand Styrofoam, the majority of it (60% to 80%) is

    plastic. (EPA, 2011)Plastic pollution has two major sources, 80% is

    estimated to come from land and 20% fromshipping, and is most commonly the result of theimproper disposal of single use plastics andmanufacturing materials (Allsopp, Walters,Santillo, & Johnston, 2000; D.K.A. Barnes etal.,2009). Plastic enters the marine environmentvia runoff, rivers, beach litter, lost cargo, directdumping, and episodic events. The ocean isdownhill from everywhere; therefore, plastic wastecan be washed down streams and rivers frommountains, hills, and valleys. It can enterwaterways via storm drains and runoff. Riverinetransport contributes substantially to the proportion

    of land originating plastic pollution (Ryan, 2008).Once plastic is in the ocean, wind, currents, andwave action disperse it both laterally and verticallythrough the water column. At the same time,currents and wind tend to concentrate debris intoaccumulation zones, often\ referred to as garbagepatches. This is a misleadingterm, because itevokes images of a large floating plastic island,when in reality much of the plastic is in smallfragments mixed into the top layer of water(NOAA, 2014).

    Perhaps the most telling research and modeling ofhow plastics travel in the ocean is the OceanSurface Current Simulator (OSCURS). To developthis model, tracking devices were released into the

    North Pacific and their movements observed overa 12-year period. OSCURS revealed that marinedebris would eventually accumulate in the mid-latitudes after traveling for nearly six years aroundthe North Pacific gyre (Arthur, 2009).1.1.4 What is the Problem

    Being lightweight, durable, strong, andinexpensive, the very properties that make plasticso useful are also responsible for its large negativeimpact on marine environments. Today, plasticmarine debris is found in oceans and sedimentworldwide and affects marine life along most ofthe food chain (Wright, Thompson, & Galloway,2013). Marine species can become entangled inlarger debris, leading to injury, illness,suffocation, starvation, and even death (NOAA,2014). Smaller fragments can be mistaken for foodand eaten, which can cause malnutrition, blockage

    and death, as well as provide a pathway fortransport of harmful chemicals up the food chain(Teuten, Rowland, Galloway, & Thompson, 2007).Ingestion of and entanglement in marine debris bymarine animals has increased by 40% in the lastdecade (GEF, 2012). Furthermore, plastics cantransport invasive species and toxic substancesgreat distances. (D. K. A. Barnes & Fraser, 2003)These adverse effects are concentrated in theconvergence zones, where marine species tend tocongregate and plastic debris tends to collect. (Amore detailed review of the scope of the problemis presented in the following section.) So far

    progress towards halting the rise of marine plasticpollution has been limited. Important short-termmitigation strategies include beach cleanupactivities, which are performed on the shorelines ofmany countries, and ocean cleanups on coastal andoceanic regions where high levels of plastic

    pollution are affecting many species. The long-term solution for this environmental issue involvesdecreasing plastic waste and creating betterdisposal practices on land and at sea, at aninternational level. MARPOL 73/78 is theinternational convention for the prevention of

    marine pollution, and prohibits the disposal ofplastic from ships anywhere in the worldsoceans.However, its enforcement varies globally, andclearly this regulation effects, at most, only 20% ofall plastics entering the seas. Other measures toreduce the detritus of plastics in the environmentare ordinances banning plastic single use itemssuch as plastic bags and

    polystyrene3.Despite these efforts, the use of plastic worldwidecontinues to grow.

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    10.) Monograph

    This is a thorough textbook treatment which requires full illustration and documentation.

    Example:

    ITEM: Chili Con Carne (CCC)

    NSN:8940-01-151-5462

    ITEM SPECIFICATION: MIL-C-44244

    APPROXIMATE CALORIC VALUE PER SERVING: 504

    CHARACTERISTICS OF ITEM:

    APPEARANCE: Thick mixture of cooked ground beef, tomato sauce and onion. Mayhave a slight oiling off of fat. Color profile: Orange-red-brown.ODOR: Slight to moderate chili spices, very slight cooked tomato.

    FLAVOR: Slightly sweet, slight cooked tomato, cooked ground beef, slight to moderatechili spices, slight to moderate chili burn.TEXTURE: Chewy ground beef in a thick sauce.ESTIMATED SHELF LIFE AT 70 DEGREES F: 36 months80 DEGREES F: 24 months90 DEGREES F: 18 months100 DEGREES F: 12 months

    EXPECTED DETERIORATIVE CHANGES:

    APPEARANCE: Slight to moderate oiling off; slight product darkening.

    ODOR: Slightly bitter with a stronger spice and tomato odor.FLAVOR: Product may exhibit some flavor loss.TEXTURE: A slight thinning of the sauce may occur, with moderate oiling off of the fat.Ground meat may become chewy.

    UNIQUE EXAMINATION/TEST PROCEDURES: None.

    SPECIAL NOTES: Can is designed to yield 12 portions of 1 cup each (249 grams).

    http://dietaryfoods.tpub.com/3/01-151-5462.htmhttp://dietaryfoods.tpub.com/3/01-151-5462.htm
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    11.) SpecificationThis contains detailed information about performance courses, materials for

    construction, theory of operations, sample calculations, table and operating data and information

    Example:

    Required Skills, Knowledge and Characteristics - Human Resources Director:

    These are the most important qualifications of the individual selected as the human resources

    director.

    Strong effective communicator in writing, business presentations and in interpersonalcommunication.

    Highly developed, demonstrated teamwork skills. Demonstrates a high degree of confidentiality and unusual common sense. Able to direct the efforts of a team of diverse human resources professionals. Demonstrated ability to increase productivity and continuously improve methods,

    approaches, and departmental contribution while being cost-sensitive. Commitment to

    continuous learning.

    Expert in employment law and employee relations and communication. Demonstrated ability to see the big picture and provide useful and strategic advice and input

    across the company and on the senior executive team.

    Ability to lead in an environment of constant change. Experience working in a flexible, employee empowering work environment. Structured or

    large company experience will not work here.

    Familiarity and skill with the tools of the trade in human resources including HRIS,Microsoft Office suite of products, file management, and benefits administration.

    Experience in organization development and change management. Experience in multiple locations and globally is a plus.

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    12.) ProposalThis contains suggestions for actions, usually involving change or performance. It may

    be solve a problem, suggest a new project site, revise a policy or initiate a researcher reportproject or terminate a project.

    Example:

    A Proposal to Research the Storage Facility

    for Spent Nuclear Fuel at Yucca MountainRoger BloomOctober 1997

    Introduction

    Nuclear power plants produce more than 20 percent of the electricity used in the United States [Murray,1989]. Unfortunately, nuclear fission, the process used to create this large amount energy, createssignificant amounts of high level radioactive waste. More than 30,000 metric tons of nuclear waste havearisen from U.S. commercial reactors as well as high level nuclear weapons waste, such as uranium andplutonium [Roush, 1995]. Because of the build-up of this waste, some power plants will be forced to shutdown. To avoid losing an important source of energy, a safe and economical place to keep this waste isnecessary. This document proposes a literature review of whether Yucca Mountain is a suitable site for a

    nuclear waste repository. The proposed review will discuss the economical and environmental aspects of anational storage facility. This proposal includes my methods for gathering information, a schedule forcompleting the review, and my qualifications.

    Statement of Problem

    On January 1, 1998, the Department of Energy (DOE) must accept spent nuclear fuel from commercialplants for permanent storage [Clark, 1997]. However, the DOE is undecided on where to put this high levelradioactive waste. Yucca Mountain, located in Nevada, is a proposed site.There are many questions regarding the safety of the Yucca Mountain waste repository. Researchers at LosAlamos National Laboratory disagree over the long-term safety of the proposed high level nuclear wastesite located in Nevada. In 1994, Charles Bowman, a researcher at Los Alamos, developed a theory claimingthat years of storing waste in the mountain may actually start a nuclear chain reaction and explode, similarto an atomic bomb [Taubes, 1995]. The stir caused by theory suggests that researchers have not explored allsides of the safety issue concerning potentially hazardous situations at Yucca Mountain.Bowman's theory that Yucca Mountain could explode is based upon the idea that enough waste willeventually disperse through the rock to create a critical mass. A critical mass is an amount of fissilematerial, such as plutonium, containing enough mass to start a neutron chain reaction [Murray, 1989].Bowman argues that if this chain reaction were started underground, the rocks in the ground would helpkeep the system compressed and speed up the chain reaction [Taubes, 1995]. A chain reaction formedunderground could then generate huge amounts of energy in a fraction of a second, resulting in a nuclearblast. A nuclear explosion of this magnitude would emit large amounts of radioactivity into the air andground water. Another safety concern is the possibility of a volcanic eruption in Yucca Mountain. Thelong-term nuclear waste storage facility needs to remain stable for at least 10,000 years to allow theradioactive isotopes to decay to natural levels .

    Objectives

    I propose to review the available literature about using Yucca Mountain as a possible repository for spentnuclear fuel. In this review I will achieve the following two goals:(1) explain the criteria for a suitable repository of high-level radioactive waste; and

    (2) determine whether Yucca Mountain meets these criteria.According to the Department of Energy (DOE), a repository for high-level radioactive waste must meetseveral criteria including safety, location, and economics [Roush, 1995]. Safety includes not only the effectof the repository on people near the site, but also people along the transportation routes to the site. In myresearch I will consider both groups of people. As far as location, a waste site cannot be in an area with alarge population or near a ground water supply. Also, because one of the most significant factors indetermining the life span of a possible repository is how long the waste storage canisters will remain in tact,the waste site must be located in a dry climate to eliminate the moisture that can cause the waste canistersto corrode. The economics involved in selecting a site is another criterion. At present, the Department ofEnergy (DOE) has spent more than 1.7 billion dollars on the Yucca Mountain project [Taubes, 1995]. Forthat reason, much pressure exists to select Yucca Mountain as a repository site; otherwise, this moneywould have been wasted. Other costs, though, have to be considered. For instance, how economical is it to

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    transport radioactive waste across several states to a single national site? I will try to account for as many ofthese other costs as possible. After explaining the criteria, I will assess how well Yucca Mountain meetsthose criteria. In this assessment, I will not assign a numerical score for each criterion. Rather, I willdiscuss qualitatively how well Yucca Mountain meets each criterion. In some situations, disagreementexists among experts as to how well Yucca Mountain meets a criterion

    Plan of ActionThis section presents my plan for obtaining the objectives discussed in the previous section. T here has beenan increase of interest in the nuclear industry concerning the Yucca Mountain site because of the January1,1998, deadline for the DOE. Several journal articles and papers discussing the possibility of YuccaMountain as a spent fuel repository in our near future have surfaced as a consequence of that interest. These

    articles and books about the dangers of nuclear waste should provide sufficient information for me tocomplete my review. The following two paragraphs will discuss how I will use these sources in myresearch. The first goal of my research is to explain the criteria for determining whether a nuclear wasterepository is suitable. For example, will the rock structure be able to withstand human invasion in the future[Clark, 1997]? What will happen if the waste containers corrode and do not last as long as predicted? Willthe natural setting contain the waste? To achieve this goal, I will rely on "Background on 40 CFR Part 197Environmental Standards for Yucca Mountain" [Clark, 1997], the DOE Yucca Mountain home page[1997], and the book Understanding Radioactive Waste [Murray, 1989]. A second goal of my literaturereview is to evaluate Yucca Mountain meets those criteria. I will base my evaluation on the sourcesmentioned above as well as specific Environmental Protection Agency standards. I also intend to researchthe validity of possible environmental disasters, such as the explosion theory. To accomplish this goal, Iwill rely on the paper presented by Clark [1997], and on the book Blowup at Yucca Mountain [Taubes,1995]. Because engineering students are the primary audience for my proposed research topic and may not

    be familiar with the history of nuclear waste.Management Plan

    This section presents my schedule, costs, and qualifications for completing the proposed research. Thisresearch culminates in a formal report, which will be completed by December 5, 1997. To reach this goal, Iwill follow the schedule presented in Figure 1. Since I already possess literature on the subject of YuccaMountain as a nuclear waste site, most of my time will be spent sorting through the literature to find keyresults, and presenting those results to the audience.

    Figure 1.Schedule for completion of the literature review. The formal presentation will be on October 27, and the formal report willbe completed by December 5.

    Given that all my sources are available through the University of Wisconsin library system, there is noappreciable cost associated with performing this review, unless one takes into consideration the amount oftuition spent on maintaining the university libraries. The only other minor costs are photocopying articles,creating transparencies for my presentation, printing my report, and binding my report. I estimate theseexpenses will not exceed $20. I am a senior in the Engineering Physics Department at the University of

    Wisconsin at Madison, majoring in nuclear engineering and physics. I have taken several classes related tonuclear waste, economics, and environmental studies. I believe that these courses will aid me in preparingthe proposed review. For further information about my qualifications, see the attached resume.

    Conclusion

    More than 30,000 metric tons of nuclear waste have arisen from U.S. commercial reactors as well as high level

    nuclear weapons waste, such as uranium and plutonium [Roush, 1995]. This document has proposed research to

    evaluate the possibility of using Yucca Mountain as a possible repository for this spent nuclear fuel. The proposed

    research will achieve the following goals: (1) explain the criteria necessary to make a suitable high level radioactive

    waste repository, and (2) determine if Yucca Mountain meets these criteria. The research will include a formal

    presentation on November 11 and a formal report on December 5.

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    13.) Technical Paper

    A research paper written for a professional journal or magazine. Technical papers usuallydescribe a theory or new development. They assemble technical reports in the most respects. Themain difference lies on the fact that the audience for a technical paper is wider and more diverse

    Example:

    Examples of Experimental Designs for Alley Farming Trials

    1.0 Performance objective

    Technical paper is intended to enable you to:

    Describe examples of experimental designs being followed in on-going alley farming field trials.

    1.1 Introduction

    This paper provides the interested reader with a set of examples of experimental designs for various types of alleyfarming trials. The examples are drawn from actual on-going or proposed field trials. They cover basic designswhich appear to have universal acceptability for alley farming experiments.

    The basic principles for the design and layout of alley farming trials are covered in the previous paper (TechnicalPaper 7). The standard design recommendations for AFNETA collaborative research projects are available from thenetwork coordination unit.

    1.2 Examples of experimental designs

    Example 1: Fallow management in alley farming.

    Treatment:A - 4 year cropping/2 year unmanaged fallowB - 4 year cropping/2 year managed fallowC - 4 year alley cropping/2 year unmanaged fallowD - 4 year alley cropping/2 year managed fallow

    Intercrop: Maize

    Notes:(i) Treatment combinations will allow comparison of normal cropping with alley cropping at the end of or at anytime during the 4-year period, as well as monitoring of the effect of fallow management and its interaction withcropping.(ii) Design can be Randomized Complete Block (RCB) with a minimum of 3 replications.(iii) Assessment can be in terms of changes in soil fertility status, crop yield/economic returns, etc.(iv) Possible layout

    A C

    D B

    A DC B

    B A

    C D

    (v) On farmers' plots, the design can be modified slightly as indicated in the layout below:

    A B

    Normal Cropping

    C D

    Alley Cropping

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    With each farmer as a replicate, this can be considered a split-plot arrangement, with type of cropping as the main-plot and management practice in the sub-plot.

    Example 2: Screening of multi-purpose trees in different intra-row spacings for alley farming.Treatments:

    Two factors (Tree Species and Spacing) are involved:

    Factor A Tree Species

    A1:Acacia albidaA2:A. manginumA3:Azadirachta indicaA4:Albizia lebbeckAS:Leucaena leucocephalaA6:Gliricidia sepium

    Factor B Intra-row spacing

    B1: 50 cmB2: 100 cm

    B3: 150 cmB4: 200 cm

    Notes:

    (i) Possible design: m a split plot (with species in main plots and intra-row espacement in sub-plots) in an RCBdesign with 3 replications. If the levels of Factor B differ from species to species (which is a possibility), this wouldlead to a nested design with intra-row spacing nested in the plots containing the trees.

    (ii) A possible layout for one replicate could be:

    REP 1:

    FactorB

    withinA

    Factor A:

    B1

    B2

    B4

    B3

    A. manginum

    Example 3: Screening of Gliricidia collections across a range of environmental and edaphic conditions inWest Africa.

    Treatments: 12 different accessions (ILG50 - ILG61)Design: 3 x 4 rectangular lattice in three replicates, for 5 locations (triple rectangular lattice).Possible layout at each location:

    Block Group X Group Y Group Z

    (i) 5 4 6 2 5 12 4 3 11

    (ii) 1 2 3 9 3 6 2 9 10

    (iii) 10 11 12 4 7 10 6 8 12

    (iv) 7 8 9 1 8 11 5 7 1

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    14.) Trip ReportAn account of a business or professional trip. It records specific and significant places,

    events, conversations and people met. It attempts to answer where, when, what, why and howalso. It may have recommendation section.

    Example:TRIP REPORT

    G518 Dec 12

    From: Burma Desk OfficerTo: AC/S G5Via: Chief, Policy and International Affairs BranchSubj: BURMA VISIT, 3-6 DEC 2012

    1. Purpose. To provide a back-brief of official travel to Burma in conjunction with DCG participation in theU.S. Embassy, Rangoon Marine Corps Ball.

    2. Travelers. Brigadier General R. L. Simcock II, Major R. L. Ibarra, Captain R. B. Gautier3. Itinerary. Location visited; Rangoon, Burma.4. Dates of travel; 36 December.5. Key personnel contacted; Ambassador Derek J. Mitchell (U.S. Embassy, Burma), Virginia Murray

    (Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy, Burma), COL William Dickey, (SDO/DATT, U.S. Embassy,

    Burma), GySgt Patricio B. Rodriguez (Detachment Commander, Marine Security Guard Detachment,Rangoon, Burma), Major General (Army) San Oo (Regional Commander, Rangoon), and CommodoreMyint New (Commandant of Naval Training Command).

    6. Discussion. Objective of this visit was to participate in the Marine Corps Ball as well as meet the U.S.Embassy country team and conduct a courtesy call with Burmese officials. However, this country visitwas historical in which:

    This was the first time in which a Marine GO has participated in a Marine Corps Ball in Burma. BGen Simcock was the first GO to stay for an extended period of time (3 days) in Burma. This was the first time that a Marine GO has conducted any type of discussion with high ranking

    Burmese military officials.The country team brief gave the DCG keen insight on daily life, culture and future opportunities forUSMC engagement with Burma. Although the 2

    ndpoorest country in Asia, Burma has seen economic

    activity expanding this past year as well as an increase in tourist visa requests from the U.S. Though there

    has been an increase in embassy staff in Rangoon with the expectation of expanded opportunities withBurma, there are still internal issues that Burma is dealing with such as human rights issues, ethnicconflicts (to include) in Kachin, Shan, and Rakhine states. The courtesy call with Major General San Oowas a breakthrough opportunity for a Marine Corps GO to have a meaningful discussion with a highranking Burmese military officer; however, the opportunity was unfortunately not fully capitalized upondue to the language barrier. Towards the end of the office call, Commodore Myint New was able toexpress (without interpreter) that Burma has a capable military that can conduct joint operations as well asconduct cross training throughout their respective militaries. The meeting ended symbolically with MajorGeneral San Oo escorting the DCG out to his vehicle (the SDO/DATT, COL Dickey informed the DCGthat Major General San Oos gesture is very symbolic in Burmese culture). The DCG then attended the

    Marine Corps Ball on his last night in Rangoon at the Chatrium Hotel. The Marine Security GuardDetachment under the leadership of GySgt Rodriguez conducted themselves in highly professional manner

    throughout the DCGs visit.7. Observation. This country visit was a historical step toward MARFORPAC engagement in Burma.Although Burma will have observers to Cobra Gold in 2013 and opportunities to attend APCSS in thefuture, the country is not ready to have robust Mil-Mil engagements in the near future. The approach must

    be slow and incremental with the goals of achieving Burmese and MARFORPAC goals of strengtheningU.S./Burma relations.

    8. Way Ahead/Recommendations. I recommend that when the next opportunity for key leader engagementpresents itself, MARFORPAC emphasized a visit to the administrative capital, Nay Pyi Taw Burma.Rangoon is not actually the center of power in Burma; Nay Pyi Tawapproximately three hours fromRangoonprovides opportunities to engage decision makers in both the Burmese military andgovernment and will facilitate increased access and insight into future U.S./Burma relations andengagements.

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    15.) MemorandumThis is an important form of written communication circulated within the company and its

    branches which is used to disseminate a message or information.

    Example:

    TO: Kelly Anderson, Marketing Executive

    FROM: Jonathon Fitzgerald, Market Research Assistant

    DATE: June 14, 2007

    SUBJECT: Fall Clothes Line Promotion

    Market research and analysis show that the proposed advertising media for the new fall lines need to be reprioritizedand changed. Findings from focus groups and surveys have made it apparent that we need to update our advertisingefforts to align them with the styles and trends of young adults today. No longer are young adults interested insitcoms as they watch reality televisions shows. Also, it is has become increasingly important to use the internet as atool to communicate with our target audience to show our dominance in the clothing industry.

    Internet Advertising

    XYZ Company needs to focus advertising on internet sites that appeal to young people. According to surveys, 72%of our target market uses the internet for five hours or more per week. The following list shows in order ofpopularity the most frequented sites:

    Google Facebook Myspace EBay iTunes

    Shifting our efforts from our other media sources such as radio and magazine to these popular internet sites willmore effectively promote our product sales. Young adults are spending more and more time on the internetdownloading music, communicating and researching for homework and less and less time reading paper magazinesand listening to the radio. As the trend for cultural icons to go digital, so must our marketing plans.

    Television Advertising

    It used to be common to advertise for our products on shows likeFriendsand Seinfeldfor our target audience, buteven the face of television is changing. Young adults are tuning into reality television shows for their entertainment.Results from the focus group show that our target audience is most interested in shows likeAmerican Idol,TheApprentice, andAmerica's Next Top Model. The only non-reality television show to be ranked in the top ten mostcommonly watched shows by males and females 18-25 isDesperate Housewives. At Blue Incorporated, we need to

    focus our advertising budget on reality television shows and reduce the amount of advertising spent on otherprograms.

    By refocusing our advertising efforts of our new line of clothing we will be able to maximize the exposure of ourproduct to our target market and therefore increase our sales. Tapping into the trends of young adults will help usgain market share and sales through effective advertising.

    Attachments: Focus Group Results, January- May 2007; Survey Findings, January - April 2007

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    16.) Graphic AidsThis refers to all pictures, graphs, diagrams and other materials used in illustrating

    important details in a report.

    Example:

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    17.) Printed Action Memo

    This prepared form requires only a check mark in an appropriate square to indicate itsmessage.

    Example:

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    18.) Survey ReportThis is a thorough study of any subject. Some subjects of surveys are potential markets fro

    products, labor policies, market punctuation, public opinions and community resources. Examplesare poll surveys on the study of a possible site for a new plant.

    Example:House Survey Report

    Exterior

    Chimney stacks

    Description There were two brick chimney stacks to the property. These

    were of brick bedded on sand and cement mortar with leadflashings and clay pots or gas flue terminals fitted.

    Condition The main stack to the front right hand elevation was shared withthe adjoining property. This was difficult to inspect from myground floor inspection due to the height and position of theroofs and a tree, however, I noted there was some open jointedbrickwork. I could not see the flashings to comment.To the front left hand side of the main two-storey section was abrick chimney stack with lead flashings. This chimney stackwas in poor condition with ferns and vegetation growing out ofthe mortar joints and the lead flashings appear to be coming away.

    Essential Repairs Re-point the front left-hand chimney stack and overhaul the lead flashings, replacingmissing sections.

    Further Investigation A roofing contractor should be asked to inspect this chimneystack, commenting in particular on the flashings and the bedding of the chimney pot.

    Main roof coverings

    Description The main roof is of pitched and hipped construction with a smalldormer to the front elevation. The roof steps down from the three storey to the two storeysection.The roof was covered in concrete interlocking tiles with matching ridge tiles.The dormer roof has mineral felt cheeks.

    Condition The roof surface was in particularly poor condition with someslipped and broken tiles noted, the ridge tiles appeared loose and open-jointed.The sand and cement pointing to the verges had come away.The valley gutter appeared to be lined with lead, however Icould not see the full extent of this gutter from my ground floorinspection and I could not see the secret valley gutter where this property adjoins theneighbours.

    Serious Defects The roof surface was in particularly poor condition and amajor overhaul is required replacing slipped and brokenconcrete tiles, re-bedding and re-pointing ridge tiles andverges, and, once an inspection has been carried out of thevalley gutters, no doubt these will require re-lining. Thelead upstand flashings where the two-storey section meetsthe three-storey brick wall will also require a majoroverhaul, repairing and replacing lead flashing.It may prove cost-effective to re-roof the whole property.

    Secondary roof coverings

    Description There are flat roofs to the front two-storey bay, porch andcloakroom and rear two-storey bay.

    Condition These roofs require a major overhaul replacing the mineral feltcovering and the temporary flashband repairs.

    Serious Defects Re-cover all secondary roofs. Note: mineral felt andflashband type coverings only have a limited life and are only viewed as temporary repairs. These areas should now be recovered.

    Roof drainage

    Description Roof drainage to the property comprises a mixture of uPVC andcast iron gutters and downspouts discharging to gullies to the front and rear.

    Condition The roof drainage was in poor condition with broke