8/24
Study Reveals the Big Climate Impact of the Way Drought Kills Trees
https//www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/08/23/study-reveals-the-big-impact-of-the-way-drought-kills-trees
This article presents an idea to predict which forests are most vulnerable to the drought that way managers can focus their attention on them before disaster strikes. Trees get their water from the soil, the water flows throughout the tree and sunlight turns the nutrients from the water into sugar and sap which allow the tree to grow. When there is less water in the soil, trees begin to strain themselves and then it breaks the column of water in the xylem. This is what's called "hydraulic failure". Trees also close their stomata to wait out the drought, but if the drought is long enough they use up their stored nutrients. Scientists have already begun to predict how trees will react to environmental stress.
This article provides a new and more in depth understanding to a trees life in a drought and will prove useful to future projects to prevent mass destruction of trees. It's no question that we need trees for our survival on this planet, they take much carbon dioxide and store it. And with all the trees dying as a result of the drought, we could see a rush of carbon dioxide.
This article provides a new and more in depth understanding to a trees life in a drought and will prove useful to future projects to prevent mass destruction of trees. It's no question that we need trees for our survival on this planet, they take much carbon dioxide and store it. And with all the trees dying as a result of the drought, we could see a rush of carbon dioxide.
9/7
Crop Loss, Fishing Bans: Montana Becomes Epicenter of Drought in West
https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/01/crop-loss-fishing-bans-montana-becomes-epicenter-of-drought-in-west
Even if the west was taken out of the drought recently, the threat of a drought is still prominent in other states, one being Montana. A serious drought has been hitting the state recently causing farmers to lose crops and being forced to sell cattle for better grazing conditions. The drought is most prominent in the counties over to the east of the state and even more so north-east. Montana has also been getting hit by a wildfire considered the largest in the nation in this year. The fire wiped out some homes as well as grass for pasture. Some waterways have also been closed for fishing due to the drought in order to ease the strain on fish. They still are not sure what has caused this severe drought throughout Montana.
Even if California has recently got rid of the drought, we could still very well fall into another one. The reason for Montana's drought is still unknown, so who's to say we're completely free of a drought? Wildfires have also been a continuous hazard in the west, which could contribute to a drought or be directly caused by a drought. Central California is also known for being very agricultural-heavy, so losing crops, cattle, and grass would be extremely detrimental to the dairies and farmers. If anything, we should see the drought in Montana as a reminder that the threat is very real and unpredictable, and so we should all try our best to conserve water so that we don't fall into a disaster like this again.
Even if California has recently got rid of the drought, we could still very well fall into another one. The reason for Montana's drought is still unknown, so who's to say we're completely free of a drought? Wildfires have also been a continuous hazard in the west, which could contribute to a drought or be directly caused by a drought. Central California is also known for being very agricultural-heavy, so losing crops, cattle, and grass would be extremely detrimental to the dairies and farmers. If anything, we should see the drought in Montana as a reminder that the threat is very real and unpredictable, and so we should all try our best to conserve water so that we don't fall into a disaster like this again.
9/14 Why It's Legal to Pump Untreated Canal Water Into Californians' Homes
https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2017/09/14/why-its-legal-to-pump-untreated-canal-water-into-californians-homes
So many homes in California depend on canal water for their everyday use, and people are concerned about the risks this may cause to their health. Conditions in these areas look as if it was in a developing country, but instead it's here in the U.S.. Imperial Irrigation District is allowed to send untreated water to those homes as long as they have a secondary, clean source for drinking. This usually consists of bottled or bulk deliveries. There are currently tests being conducted in these canals for contaminants. A lot of the structures for these canals are also outdated which results to untreated water. In terms of long term research, there are little studies on the health risks for canal water. One solution is to simply extend water pipes to municipalities. This would demand for a heavy price however.
The article presents a common issue that has plagued California for years now; water. However, it's not about the lack of water rather the quality of water and how it affects the homes that depend on this canal water. Most of these canals are outdated in terms of infrastructure, so our government should consider maybe using tax money to consistently keep these canals up to date. Water has always seemed to be an issue in California, but people usually look at what little we have. Not too many look at how the quality of our water could be just as important. We need to make sure our officials push for more sanitary conditions here in the states for our water usage, or else more and more health issues could arise from the untreated, raw water.
Mass Extinction in Oceans Potential? 9/21
https://www.newsdeeply.com/oceans/articles/2017/09/21/why-we-could-trigger-mass-extinction-in-the-ocean-within-decades
MIT scientist links previous die-offs to the amount of carbon in the sea, meaning the rise of CO2 could cause another mass extinction. Daniel Rothman, a professor of geophysics at MIT, has found that carbon concentration has been increasing at a much more rapid pace. Rothman claims there are 2 thresholds that cause mass extinctions when crossed: rate for slow carbon increases and magnitude for fast increases. When carbon levels reach a certain level, ecosystems become unstable, ocean temperatures rise, and acidification increases.
The oceans are a vital part of how our world functions. All of these carbon levels mostly come from the carbon emissions produced by human activity such as industrial factories and the burning of fossil fuels. One solution for this could be to cut down on deforestation, if there are more trees then that means there is less carbon floating around as well as more oxygen being produced. Even small trees will help, it doesn't take much space to grow a small tree so if cities invested in adding more natural greens around public areas, it could help us immensely in the long run. Most countries depend or heavily rely on the oceans as a source of food so a mass extinction of species would be quite a blow to their culture.
The oceans are a vital part of how our world functions. All of these carbon levels mostly come from the carbon emissions produced by human activity such as industrial factories and the burning of fossil fuels. One solution for this could be to cut down on deforestation, if there are more trees then that means there is less carbon floating around as well as more oxygen being produced. Even small trees will help, it doesn't take much space to grow a small tree so if cities invested in adding more natural greens around public areas, it could help us immensely in the long run. Most countries depend or heavily rely on the oceans as a source of food so a mass extinction of species would be quite a blow to their culture.
Disappearing Sierra Nevada Meadows 9/28
Meadows are a crucial part to the Sierra Nevada, they act as water banks for the snow that melts. This helps minimize downstream during the stream. There are already efforts to help preserve these meadows, but some have already faced a negative impact. Research at UC Merced shows that the meadows are shrinking due to encroachment by trees. And as the temperature only rises due to climate change, only more trees are expected to encroach on meadows.
This situation is a perfect example of a positive feedback loop, trees are disappearing due to encroachment, which leads to more downstream in the spring and less trees to act as water banks. Trees are also eroded, as well as encroached due to the temperature rise. If we don't act on these efforts to preserve the meadows, only more and more trees will disappear. This will also bring with it more problems with the environment in terms of habitats and the natural ecosystem.
This situation is a perfect example of a positive feedback loop, trees are disappearing due to encroachment, which leads to more downstream in the spring and less trees to act as water banks. Trees are also eroded, as well as encroached due to the temperature rise. If we don't act on these efforts to preserve the meadows, only more and more trees will disappear. This will also bring with it more problems with the environment in terms of habitats and the natural ecosystem.
Puerto Ricans Desperate For Water 10/12
Weeks after hurricane maria ravaged Puerto Rico, the people are still in a desperate need for clean water, food, and other medicines. The arrival of aid from other parties has been sluggish and due to destroyed infrastructure, the process has been more obscure. Over half the population is without clean water and waterborne diseases are beginning to raise hazards. The government of Puerto Rico must focus on rebuilding water infrastructure in order to avoid catastrophic aftermaths like maria.
The tragedy of Puerto Rico is a perfect example of how lesser-developed nations struggle to deal with these natural disasters. Natural disasters are costly regardless, but nations like the U.S. have to resources and power to recover from these disasters. It should be a priority for these nations to lend a helping hand in not only recovery, but in preparation and prevention. They should invest in educating officials and researchers on what to do if a disaster strikes. That way the nation can become more dependent over time. Nonetheless, we should be giving our aid to those who desperately require it by donating clean water and foods.
The tragedy of Puerto Rico is a perfect example of how lesser-developed nations struggle to deal with these natural disasters. Natural disasters are costly regardless, but nations like the U.S. have to resources and power to recover from these disasters. It should be a priority for these nations to lend a helping hand in not only recovery, but in preparation and prevention. They should invest in educating officials and researchers on what to do if a disaster strikes. That way the nation can become more dependent over time. Nonetheless, we should be giving our aid to those who desperately require it by donating clean water and foods.
Quarter 2
10/19 Coastal Floods
Because of hurricane Sandy and more recent storms, climate central has ranked the most vulnerable cities in the U.S. susceptible to major coastal floods. The top three include New York City, Miami, and Pembroke Pines. These three cities have a high population putting many people at risk. According to climate central, by 2050 thirty-six of the top fifty most vulnerable cities will be in Florida. Population increase was also a major factor in climate central's prediction, with New York City holding the number one spot. One last factor was social vulnerability, with a wide spectrum in social classes in these major cities, it puts them at a higher risk of damages.
Coastal flooding is not something we here on the west have to worry about necessarily, but the fact that climate central has taken the time to make this prediction really does go a long way. We need more of these kinds of tests and studies in order to prepare for these events that could prove disastrous. There are reports of people preparing for the floods by surrounding their house with a barrier of sorts, these people received much less damage than others, if we were to put these results out in the public it would encourage more people to take action before they even see an event happening. I believe it's these kind of studies that help save lives.
Coastal flooding is not something we here on the west have to worry about necessarily, but the fact that climate central has taken the time to make this prediction really does go a long way. We need more of these kinds of tests and studies in order to prepare for these events that could prove disastrous. There are reports of people preparing for the floods by surrounding their house with a barrier of sorts, these people received much less damage than others, if we were to put these results out in the public it would encourage more people to take action before they even see an event happening. I believe it's these kind of studies that help save lives.
10/26 2017 on Track for 3rd Hottest Year
With the end of September, 2017 is predicted to be the third hottest year in U.S. history. And with the absence of El Niño, this begins to worry many as there is no boost in global temperatures from the event, meaning this is the works of greenhouse gases being built up in the atmosphere. 2017 is very likely to place third, meaning five of the top 10 hottest years will be from these recent years. In addition, La Niña years are now warmer than what El Niño years were thirty years ago. Along with warmer days, this also results in more intense water cycles due to oceans temperatures rising.
Though it is hard to believe, there are still a good number of people that deny climate change despite the evidence, one of which includes President Trump. If these results don't show a trend in human impact, then I don't know what will. The only thing that I think will convince these people is more evidence, and not just statistics, but something they can actually see with their eyes in person. I very much enjoyed the "Chasing Ice'' documentary and I believe they're taking a step in the right direction in terms of getting the word out there. People are more willing to see things change in front of them and believe it rather than just looking at graphs of carbon levels rising.
Though it is hard to believe, there are still a good number of people that deny climate change despite the evidence, one of which includes President Trump. If these results don't show a trend in human impact, then I don't know what will. The only thing that I think will convince these people is more evidence, and not just statistics, but something they can actually see with their eyes in person. I very much enjoyed the "Chasing Ice'' documentary and I believe they're taking a step in the right direction in terms of getting the word out there. People are more willing to see things change in front of them and believe it rather than just looking at graphs of carbon levels rising.
Climate Change Weather
The article describes how the world's temperature rises in correlation with the amount of atmospheric carbon. After feeling the effects of a warmer winter, more people are starting to say they feel the effects of global warming.