Monday, February 20, 2006
Issues Results
If you are submitting your issues research in a written format, you may choose to leave it here as a comment. Don't forget your name somewhere so we know who's who. If you are submitting as an audio or video file, hand it in on the server's "Classwork" folder (look for Thielmann folder, then Hand-In folder).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Habitat Loss and Extinction
ReplyDeleteHabitat loss is the number one threat to the survival of many animal species (organisms that share a unique set of characteristics), and water is part of any habitat. Coastal marshes and wetlands in the United States and Canada and elsewhere are shrinking every year. Wetlands are areas of land where water covers the surface for at least part of the year and controls the development of soil; marshes are wetlands dominated by grass-like plants. Wetlands in particular support a great variety of bird, fish, and other animal life, and can be used by migrating birds as a stop-off point on their long journeys. Without the wetlands, the number of species that can live on the land declines. Habitat loss is primarily caused by human activities, such as logging, housing and commercial development, fishing, and recreation.
Over logging is also a leading cause of both habitat loss and extinction. As more and more areas are logged the more specie's ways of life are threatened. Certain birds and animals that live in the trees of a forest can be nearly eradicated by clear cutting it no matter how many new trees are planted animals depend on old growth forests to survive. Wet lands being filled in to put in housing and strip malls. Animals have no say in the matter, but they are forced to move into urbanized areas and get shot by conservation officers. If a species does not move into an urban area then they must move into a new habitat that may be dominated by a different species. In this case the new species could potentially be seen as a threat and either forced from the area by the dominant species or killed off by it.
If a new group of people were to come and tear down your house and force you to live in your neighbors yard how would you feel? You would call the police and then press charges on the people who had wronged you. Animals have no police to call they are simply expected to move on to a new area and fend for themselves. Logging and development are the leading causes for habitat destruction but pollution is also leading cause for the destruction for entire ecosystems. Rivers that are heavily polluted cannot support fish spawning grounds, which in turn leads to the eventual endangerment of entire fish species. Over fishing can also force species to the brink of extinction such is the case with salmon stocks in Canada (BC primarily).
All of these factors development, pollution, logging, and over hunting or fishing can lead to the destruction of habitats and population extinction of the species whose habitat is affected.
By Brandon Ritchie
Ozone Depletion
ReplyDeleteLike an infection the depletion in the ozone becomes bigger and bigger each year. Such depletion in the ozone has been mainly caused by pollution to our atmosphere. With years of automobile exhausted and other means of environmental pollution. The ozone layer is becoming thinner. There are many symptoms to the depletion of the ozone layer such as global warming and a skin cancer epidemic. As the ozone layer becomes thinner it is easier for the sun to penetrate through the stratosphere and the troposphere, the ultraviolet ray which are emitted from the sun are easily projected through out atmosphere and hit earth. The ultraviolet rays are those which cause skin cancer. The ultraviolet radiation also creates eye damage and possible crop damage.
In Antarctica and even more recently over the Arctic an “Ozone Hole” is emerging, especially during certain months of the year when man made chemical are released into the atmosphere are these Ozone Holes more noticeable. The ozone loss occurs in the upper stratosphere, and was first known about in the 1970’s and has consistently gotten bigger. The “Ozone Hole” measures approximately 9 Million sq. miles, or about the size of North America.
As the ozone layer is becoming thinner, and new phenomenon is created this is the Greenhouse effect, which is solar infrared radiation which is sent from the sun through the atmosphere to earth and produce gases, these gases are what have caused global warming. The Earth is consistently becoming warmer and warmer.
In summary The Ozone layer is something that will continuously become thinner no matter what man does, but man can control how long it takes for the Ozone layer to disappear. Man can complete such a feat through using our resources more carefully, not pollute the air and develop the hydrogen fuel cell engine to replace the internal combustion engine all these will contribute to the length of life of the Ozone layer
By Fabio V. Dal Colletto
Effects of Tsunamis & Earthquakes
ReplyDeleteTsunamis spread outwards in all directions from the point of origin, traveling at a speed proportional to the square root of the depth of the water and reaching 1000 kilometers. The distance between wave crests may be as much as 500 kilometers. As the waves reach the coast, the speed decreases, though the time between the passage of waves remains the unchanged but the damage inland will seem much larger. A single tsunami may be up to 12 large waves.
On Boxing Day, 2004, a tsunami hit across Southern Asia. More than 10,000 people were killed, that they knew of, that morning, all across Asia. This tsunami was triggered by the strongest earthquake recorded in 40 years. It was an 8.9 magnitude quake that struck under the sea generating a wall of water that sped across many kilometers of sea and land.
Millions were killed. Cities were demolished. Water was all over the city, not much could be saved. Although many people rushed to higher land, more did not make it. The damage done would take years to recover and they are still in the midst of it all right now. The biggest effect that all tsunamis have on the world would be the death tolls. In Asia alone, none of the other tsunamis that have hit, some of the death tolls are as followed. Sri Lanka: 3,538 dead. Indonesia: 4,185 dead. India, 2,000 dead. The list goes on.
Tsunamis have been known for their damages that they cause. All have different magnitudes, yet still do a lot of damage. The society hit by tsunamis have many years ahead of them of suffering due to loss of home, family and resources.
Picture of Before and After: http://www.fiscalstudy.com/2005-global-photo/thumbnails/0103-story-asia-earthquake-tsunami-4.jpg