RAINY SEASON IN PAKISTAN BY KAINAT MUNIBA KHAN

LAHORE (KNK NEWS) – The Meteorological Department has predicted that the summer monsoon rainfall is likely to be 15-25 percent above normal levels throughout the country, warning that torrential downpour might lead to floods in certain areas.

In a statement about the overall weather outlook for the season (July-September) , the Met office said that the prevailing oceanic and atmospheric conditions suggestion heavy summer monsoon rainfall in Pakistan. PMD (Pakistan Metrological Department) Director-General Dr Ghulam Rasul told that that southern Sindh was expected to receive heavy rainfall during the monsoon. “While this system will put an end to the long-running drought in Tharparkar, the rains will cause flooding in major urban centres,” he warned.

He added that the monsoon season is expected to start in July this year. The Met Office has also predicted above normal rainfall in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Azad Kashmir and northeast Balochistan during the monsoon season. THANKS KAINAT MUNIBA KHAN

How to Reduce the Effects of Harsh Winter Weather on Skin by KAINAT MUNIBA KHAN

You probably already know that harsh, cold, and dry winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin. Skin becomes dry, dull, flaky, and sometimes even more reactive. And who wants to look tired and older at holiday parties and family get togethers? Here are some quick tips to help you counteract winter effects on your skin and maintain a warm, dewy, and youthful look. What Does Winter Weather Do to Skin? Winter weather strips your skin of moisture and of its natural, moisturizing oils. As soon as you turn the heat on, it draws moisture from the air, leaving your home dryer, which pulls moisture out of your skin. Hot showers and baths further rob the skin of natural moisture and oils, while harsh winds and the frequent washing and drying that comes with flu season leave skin even dryer and more unprotected.

As the skin loses its moisture, the outer layer begins to feel dry, itchy, and tight. Untreated, the skin may eventually form hard areas like calluses, or crack and open into unsightly wounds that increase your risk of infection. How You Can Counteract the Effects To counteract the effects of cold weather on skin requires more than just using moisturizer more often. Here are some tips to help your skin cope with the changes. 1. Wash in lukewarm water. Hot showers and baths always feel good in the winter, but when you can, particularly when just washing your face or hands, choose lukewarm water to avoid stripping as many oils away from the skin 2. Moisturize immediately afterwards. Your skin not only needs more moisture, but moisture right after you wash. Applying moisture to damp skin helps seal that dampness into the skin. Keep a bottle near the bathtub, shower stall, and at every sink and use liberally every time you wash.

3. Choose moisturizer carefully. Some over-the-counter moisturizers have petroleum-based ingredients that can actually further dry your skin in the winter months. Be sure to choose a smart formula that has natural, nourishing ingredients. Go for an oil-based rather than a water-based solution, as it’s more likely to help your skin retain moisture in the winter. Try CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture, as it’s a luxurious, whipped cream product that contains soothing aloe, deep-moisturizing triglycerides, hydrating sunflower oil, and oat kernel extract, which helps soothe dry, itchy skin. 4. Protect. Get used to wearing gloves and scarves to protect skin from cold winds, rain, and snow. Also, don’t forget the sunscreen. Winter sun can be just as damaging as summer sun, so apply a safe option like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to any exposed areas. 5. Humidify. Heating systems dry out the air, so consider installing a humidifier in your home, particularly in your bedroom, to put moisture back into the air and help prevent your skin from drying out. 6. Drink. We tend to drink less water in the winter because we turn to hot drinks like cocoa and tea, but don’t forget that your skin needs hydration from the inside, out. A little warm water with lemon can be very refreshing and hydrating at the same time. 7. Overnight moisturize. Dryer areas like hands, feet, elbows, and knees have thin skin and tend to lose moisture faster than other areas on the body. Consider slathering on a deep moisturizing balm like CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm at night, then wear cotton gloves and socks to seal in the moisture until morning. 8. Exfoliate. We often forget to help the skin slough off dead cells in the winter, particularly on our hands. Yet moisture can’t get in if the dead cells are too plentiful. Find an exfoliating mask and use it on your face and your hands, as well as gently on your lips, then follow immediately with moisture to truly see a smoother difference. Exfoliating body washes are also helpful in the winter months. 9. Tone down the toxins. Particularly if you have eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis, you have to avoid allergens and irritants that may trigger a flare up. Winter skin is more fragile, so avoid irritating fabrics (like wool) and chemical-laden detergents, and use mild cleansers and moisturizers designed for sensitive skin. 10. Supplements. Keep your immune system strong with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress relief, and consider a few extra fruit & veggie smoothies to give yourself a mega dose of vitamins and antioxidants. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin C and zinc to support the healthy production of collagen and elastin. Also consider an omega-3 supplement, or consume more fatty fish and flaxseed to give your skin the building blocks it needs to appear supple and smooth.

The Difference Between Mist, Fog, Smog, Haze And Vog by KAINAT MUNIBA KHAN

There are a lot of different names for that stuff that causes reduced visibility—and an agonizingly long commute—in the morning. Mist and fog are caused by water droplets in the air, and the only difference is how far you can see. Haze is the reflection of sunlight off air pollution, while smog is what happens when pollution causes low-lying ozone. And vog only happens when a nearby volcano is releasing sulfur dioxide into the air to react with you look out of the window in the morning, and it looks like the clouds have settled in your front yard. There are a couple of different terms to describe this weather phenomenon; some versions of it can be downright deadly.

Mist and fog both occur when there are water droplets in the air. When warm water in the air cools quickly, the droplets change from invisible to visible. When it comes to the airline industry’s definition of fog, they use the guidelines of not being able to see more than 1,000 meters (3,280 ft), although the civilian definition of fog is when visibility is less than 200 meters (650 ft). That might not sound like much, but when it comes to your morning commute, a visibility of only 50 meters (165 ft) will slow everyone down enough to cause major delays.

If you can see farther than that, it’s considered mist. There’s also a wide variety when it comes to the different types of fog. Radiation fog happens when the temperature is cold and there are no winds. When the land cools, the air become less able to hold moisture and water begins to condense in the air. This is the fog that happens on early winter mornings, which is burned off when the Sun comes out.

Some types of fog only occur over certain geographic formations. Valley fog is, as its name suggests, the fog that fills a valley—it’s unique because it can last for several days because of the topographical layout that interferes with its disappearance. Upslope fog happens on hillsides, and coastal fog (unsurprisingly) happens around the coast. When fog forms ice crystals over surfaces, that’s freezing fog. It can be caused by evaporation fog, which happens when cold air passes over warmer water or wet land; it can be contained over areas like backyard swimming pools or hot tubs. And advection fog happens when wet air moves over a cooler surface and water droplets condense as the air is cooled. While mist and fog occur when water droplets hang in the air, haze happens when the particles in the air are pollutants. Most of the time, haze occurs in areas far from the original source of the pollutants, which are carried by wind currents to where they ultimately gather. Haze forms when light reflects off airborne pollution particles and interferes with visibility. In some places—like the eastern United States—haze that’s settled over national parks can reduce visibility from as much as 150 kilometers (90 mi) to as little as 25 kilometers (15 mi). Some naturally occurring sources of haze include smoke particles from fires, but the pollutants are more often man-made. The term “smog” was first coined in the early 20th century in London to describe the low-hanging pollution that covered the city. Smog is the stuff that will make you cough and burn your eyes—that’s because it’s majorly made up of ozone. When certain pollutants enter the air—like nitrogen oxides—they react with the sunlight to form ozone. It’s a good thing when it’s high up in the atmosphere, but not so good when we’re breathing it. It can cause everything from eye irritation to chronic asthma and can also severely impact the productivity of agricultural areas. Vog is a specific type of air pollution that comes only from volcanic activity. When a volcano erupts—or begins to erupt—it releases sulfur dioxide which then reacts with the other gases that are already in the air. When lava reaches the sea, it also reacts with the water to produce other chemicals like hydrogen sulfide. The resulting “fog” is called vog and can mean anything from severely reduced visibility to adding a mild, blue-grey tint to the landscape. Had you goggled it you would get some more definitions to your query. Thanks : KAINAT MUNIBA KHAN

My Future is My Environment by KAINAT MUNIBA KHAN

Our planet continues to suffer the effects of human activity, including land degradation, air pollution and contamination of waters. For the most part due to human activities, the waters have been turned into places of dumping toxins, and arid lands sites for testing and deserting warfare equipment. The wild animals have become a means of quick riches as they are killed for their valuable body parts. The polluted air that we breathe has become the cause of our premature slow deaths. The list is endless. The ability of our natural resources to replenish themselves is being strained by the consumption of the high and rapidly increasing human population. Yet, mankind remain ignorant, even adamant because of the values we grew up with; values that are no longer sustainable if we are to continue existing in this planet as we know it.

That is why we need environmental education to be a basic subject, not to be taught just formally like mathematics and history, but to be a way of life for the young generation; the leaders of tomorrow. Environmental Education, as defined in the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Tbilisi Declaration (1978) is a learning process that increases people’s knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action. With just as much right to live in comfort utilizing the resources that nature gives unto them, children and youth do not have the option of spending these resources as freely as their predecessors. Their knowledge, attitude and practices have to be focussed on sustainable development and social individual and shared responsibility for the general good of their natural capital. It is their only hope for a future as good as their present life, and can make it even better. So its my request that

As much as possible, let us avoid things that can ruin or harm our planet. This is our home. This is where we live. Why don’t we take care of it? We’re also the ones who will benefit. It is our advantage to live in a clean and safe planet. Earth gives us so many things for free. But how do we pay back? By destroying it? By slowly killing it? We still have a chance to save our planet. We can do the 3 R’s : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The future of our planet Earth is in our hands. The life of our precious environment depends on us. Once the Earth gets destroyed, we get our lives destroyed also. What? Do you think we can move to another planet? We have nowhere else to go. So instead of killing our home, why don’t we just take care of it? Why don’t we just prove to ourselves that we are worthy of living here? Think about your future children. And their future children, and their future children. Do you think they’ll be happy to live in an unsafe place? We should be a role model to the young ones. It’s better for them to learn while it’s still early. Mother Earth gave us everything that she has. And yet, we destroy her. So please, I encourage everyone to change. Let us all save and take care of our planet…. before it’s too late.

How Do You Save Mother Earth by KAINAT MUNIBA KHAN

Our Earth is the most beautiful planet in our solar system. As far as we know, Earth is the only planet that has life. Before 500 A.D., man had a good relationship with Mother Earth. But since humans developed cities and industries, the modern lifestyle has changed. Man has been using and misusing natural resources up to the limit. Now we are tearing up remote corners of the planet looking for crude oil and coal, and our forests and wild animals are disappearing. Our environment is totally polluted: we drink polluted water, inhale air full of dust, and eat food with traces of pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Hence we are suffering from diseases. As a result of human activities, the ozone layer has a hole, the sea is rising, and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland are melting. Now global warming is warning us that climate change is coming. Mother Earth is in danger; life on Earth is in danger. Let us come together to save our life-giving and life-saving Mother Earth.

Save this beautiful Earth! Save the Forest The evolution of people and animals was only possible because of plants. Plants are the base of the food chain and the source of energy for almost all life on Earth. Forests are ancient, mature communities of plants and animals, with homes and places for thousands of species. Forests give us oxygen, food, shelter, medicines, fuel, and furniture. Forests protect us from the heat of the sun, and from wind, cold, and rain. Forests maintain the balance of nature, the environment, the climate, the weather, and the composition of the atmosphere. As a matter of fact, forests are our life. But what are we doing? We are destroying the forests, meaning we are destroying our life and our future. All the problems we face today are made worse by deforestation. If we are thinking beings, we must save plants and forests, because they save us. Save the Wildlife We can’t say the Earth belongs to humans; living things were using it for billions of years, before our own species showed up just some five million years ago. Our Earth belongs to all living things, if it belongs to any of them. But we overpowered many species and killed them for our use. Now thousands of species are extinct because their habitat is gone. As a matter of fact, these animals, birds, and insects have actually built a better environment for us, provided us with so many things: they are not just creatures, but the real creators of nature. We are here on Earth because they are here on Earth. If they are gone, we will also be gone. So the only wise thing to do is to save wildlife and its habitat. Save the Environment Through deforestation, urbanization, industrialization, and pollution, our environment is being destroyed. Flows of energy, nutrients, and other elements are disrupted. Global warming and climate change are the major threats to Earth and all human beings. Due to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted by civilization, heat is building up in the atmosphere at a rate not seen for tens of millions of years. The cities are becoming “heat islands.” Pollution is becoming a great killer. Levels of air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and food contamination are high. Human interference has brought nature close to destruction. Now we all must come together to save the environment and humankind. Pollution is on high alert Truly Global Destruction All these environmental changes are warnings of global destruction. Now we all must become aware of these consequences. The evidence is disturbing: we are destroying our Earth and environment. Let’s try our best to stop all this. What Can People Do? Change your unnatural lifestyle to the extent you can. Use a bicycle as much as possible. Don't misuse precious water and electricity. Don't use plastics when you can avoid it. • Plant more trees. Don't allow anyone to cut trees. • Save wild animals. • Speak out and write against polluting industries. • Ask the government to use non-conventional energy resources (air, water, sunlight, and biomass ) • Make students and citizens aware of the importance of saving the environment, and the many things that we can do to protect the environment, forests and wildlife. Protect This Beautiful Tiger The tiger is an important top carnivore, and the most beautiful animal on Earth, but it is on the brink of extinction. Only 1200 tigers survive in India. Let us come together to protect this majestic animal and return its land. It is the tiger’s right to live on Earth; after all, Earth belongs to all living things. Transform Cities to Eco-Cities The world of today belongs to humans. What are the rights of animals, birds, insects and other living things? NONE: they have no rights. But why? They are the original residents of this Earth. We have built cities and forced the animals to leave their homes. Then we made our cities dirty, overpopulated, and polluted. Industrialisation gave us air pollution, dust, tainted water, noise, and garbage. Cities have changed into heat islands, changing the weather patterns around them. All these changes have upset the physical and mental balance of the cities’ inhabitants. If we do not do something to change this, not even humans will be able to live in cities, let alone other creatures. So here I suggest an "Eco-Cities Project.” What Can Governments Do? Global warming and unpredictable shifts in climate are global problems. They affect every creature on Earth, and are caused by human actions all over the world. It will take global action by governments, on a war footing, to change the habits and beliefs and technologies that cause civilizations to emit greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide in the air is steadily increasing | Source Hole in Earth's Ozone Layer Ozone hole over the South Pole Uncertain Climate of the Future

Knk Series: Teachers' role in creating better environment stre...

Knk Series: Teachers' role in creating better environment stre...: Stressing the need for taking up environment-related issues more prominently in schools, My Respected Teacher Prof Dr Nadia Jamil , says t...