...The Dust Bowl Essay Where was the Dust Bowl? The Dust Bowl was in southeastern Colorado, southwest Kansas, the extreme northwestern of Oklahoma, and Texas. What was the Dust Bowl? The Dust Bowl, also known as the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the town's and the fields. Severe drought and a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent wind erosion caused the curiosity of the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl forced many families to move. Some families didn’t leave because they still wanted to see if they could produce goods to make money. One common question asked is when did the Dust Bowl start? The Dust Bowl started in 1931. Another common question asked is how long did the Dust Bowl...
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...Deforestation has become a serious global issue which is resulting in many negative effects such as a loss of biodiversity, land erosion and climate change. Deforestation can be broadly defined as “forest conversion and different types of degradation that reduce forest quality” (Sven, 2000). The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) provides a narrow definition: “depletion of tree crown cover to less than 10% as the deforestation” (FAO, 1993: 10). Forests play a significant role in humanity’s life. According to the World Rainforest Movement (1998), 25% of medicines come from the forests. Moreover, over the past 8000 years, about 5000 square miles of forest has been cut down annually (Rochen, 2008; Seitz, 2008). There are three main causes which lead to the deforestation: logging, overpopulation and road construction. This essay will examine each cause and evaluate the effects. It will begin with discussing the causes of deforestation. Next, it will examine the serious effects. Industrial logging is one of the most significant causes of deforestation. According to Phelps (2005), industrial logging is the clearance of trees for commercial purposes. In West Africa, over the past 40 years, about 2800-3500km² forests have been logged every year (Middleton, 2008). The peasants in Africa play an important role but it is modern industry that cut down so many trees. For example, as Heller (2001) found, every year more than 800 square miles of trees disappear due to the demand of paper...
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...The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of time during the Depression in the 1930s. The Dust Bowl consists of several severe dust storms causing major damage to the environment and farm lands to the American and Canadian prairie lands. During the drought of the 1930s, the soil turned to dust because there was not any natural deep rooted grass to keep it in place. Once the soil was turned to dust the wind carried it eastward and southward in large dark clouds, which blackened the sky. The dark black cloud would reach cities on the East Coast, such as New York and Washington, D.C. The Atlantic Ocean was the final spot where most of the soil ended up deposited in the Atlantic Ocean, carried by strong winds which were created by the dry and bare soil conditions. These terrible dust storms which terrorized many people changing their lives were given names such as "black blizzards" and "black rollers" and they often reduced visibility to just a few feet. The Dust Bowl affected millions of acres of land changing many people lives, causing many to relocate, and other to try to survive, it was possibly the greatest natural disaster of its times. “The Dust Bowl got it name after Black Sunday, April 14, 1935. More and more dust storms had blown up in years leading to that day. In 1932, 14 dust storms were recorded on the Plains. In 1933, there were 38 storms. By 1943, it was estimated that 100 mill acres of farmland had lost all or most of the topsoil to the wind. By April...
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...In what ways may the risk of flooding in a drainage basin be increased by human activities? (16) //Floods occur during periods of high discharge, when a stream runs out of its confines and submerges surrounding areas. A flood is an unusual high-water stage in which water overflows its natural or artificial banks onto normally dry land. Floods are not only be caused by natural factors, high precipitation intensity but also human activities. Hence, this essay seeks to explain how the risk of flooding in a drainage basin is increased by human activities. //Firstly, urbanization can increase the risk of flooding in a drainage basin. Urbanization is defined as the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities. Urbanization drastically alters the drainage traits of natural catchments, or drainage areas, by increasing the volume and rate of surface runoff. While the impact of on river system may be minimal, the carrying capacity of small streams may be quickly exceeded, causing flooding and erosion issues. Often, the runoff from intense rainfall exceeds the carrying capacity of the sewer system, creating a backup in the system and hence the flooding of basements and roads are aggravated. Hence, this highlights the human activities such as urbanization increases the risk of flooding in a drainage basin. //Secondly, the risk of flooding in a drainage basin can be increased by human activities such as dam failure. Flooding can result from dam failure or other hydraulic...
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...ASSIGNMENT DEFORESTATION: A THREAT AGAINST OUR PLANET Student: Khuc Van Mai Student number: 20135988 Class: TA1.01 – K58 School of Foreign Languages Hanoi University of Science and Technology December 2014 Contents Introduction 1. Impacts of deforestation 2.1. Deforestation contributes to global warming 2.2. Deforestation loses biodiversity 2.3. Deforestation impacts soil negatively 2. Causes of deforestation 1.1. Population growth is an indirect reason of deforestation 1.2. Deforestation is rooted by urbanization and industrialization 1.3. Agriculture leads to deforestation 3. Solutions Conclusion References | 111233345567 | Deforestation: A threat against our planet Introduction Forests play an important role in our lives. Not only do they maintain biodiversity, for example providing food and shelters for animals and plants, but they also provide important sources such as food, woods, and herb medicines for human beings. They, moreover, help control climate and prevent soil from erosion. Forests, however, are under threat by deforestation – an act of clearing trees to exploit resources like woods, minerals, medicines and to create land for agricultural activities or space for building facilities, for instance houses, roads, etc. Deforestation is a pressing problem, and it is killing our planet because of many reasons. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of deforestation on our...
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...EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN KENYA AND RESULTANT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR RESTORATION OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGITY 9 Commercial use 9 Land for Grazing 9 Demand for Fuel 9 Illegal Logging 10 Erosion of Soil 10 Loss of Biodiversity 11 Climate Change 11 Population Growth 12 CONCLUSION 13 REFERENCES 14 INTRODUCTION This essay paper is divided into three parts: The first part will discuss the implications of the rapid expansion of roads into suburban areas in Kenya with special focus on the major social and environmental impacts of concern. There is an appreciation that Kenya is experiencing unprecedented road and highway expansion in line with its Vision 2030 Strategic Plan. Mitigations that need to be put in place to reduce the severity of these impacts have also been discussed. The second part discusses the Global commons, their interactions and the effects experienced as a result of depletion of one or more of them. In this essay, “Global commons" refers to something shared in common by a community. Commons presupposes a community - its members can claim equal rights to the common ground. A global commons presupposes a global community. This essay will delve on bringing a clear understanding on the complex and highly interactive processes involving the atmosphere, land, the hydrosphere (water in oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, etc.) and the cryosphere (ice sheets, glaciers, snow), together with...
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...Biofuels Environmental Sciences Essay Nowadays, as the problem of greenhouse gases emissions is getting more serious, Carbon-negative biofuels represent the first potentially huge assault on the problem, in ways that are already technically feasible and practicable (Mathews, 2008). Scientists are having their research on how to ease or solve these problems. The topic of biofuels is being more popular in the recent years because it has the most potential to be a significant source of energy. Biomass is providing a surprisingly large amount of the world’s energy – 10% of total global primary energy consumption (Energy Future Coalition, 2007). Advantages of biofuels Safety Biofuels are safe to handle and transport because they are biodegradable, much less toxic than even table salt (ten times), and have high flashpoints of about 300oF compared to gasoline and petroleum diesel fuel (diesel has a flash point of 125 F, for comparison) (Biodiesel Chemical Safety Data – Oxford University). Because of its safety, the number of incidence of severe vehicle fires can be reduced, and its safety making it to be one of the safest of all alternative fuels. Also, biofuels produce fewer by-products than conventional hydrocarbon based fuels after combustion or burning. The conventional hydrocarbon-based fuels will produced a greater output of some noxious by-product, for example, carbon monoxide. That means, biofuels could lead to less localized smog in urban centers (Charles et al). Energy...
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...Is Natural Gas Worth It? Fracking, what is it? Fracking or hydraulic fracturing is the fracturing the shale rock to release the natural gas inside by drilling or injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure. According to thedangersoffracking.com each job uses from 1 to 8 million gallons of water mixed with chemicals to make fracking fluid. The fracking fluid contains up to six hundred chemicals including numerous carcinogens and toxins. In this essay I will be explaining why fracking should be stopped. First, the air quality around the fracking sites has become dangerous. The emissions are leaking from wells; the most notable offender being methane which is a greenhouse gas commonly is linked to being a component of global warming. The air has contained chemicals like benzene, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. These chemicals have been known to cause lung related issues as well as several types of cancer. In high enough doses these chemicals could cause death, in humans and livestock alike. Volatile organic compounds are released into the atmosphere from the waste fluid produced during fracking. These waste fluids are unsafely left in open air pits to evaporate creating acid rain, ground level ozone and contaminated air. All of these unnatural occurrences are devastating to surrounding communities, and ecological systems. The once pristine fields in Wyoming now have an ozone count higher than LA on its worse days (Jackson 3). The amount of children with asthma has risen...
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...Portal Entry Essay: The Adirondacks The history of the Adirondack Park in Upstate New York is a prime example of people taking responsibility for their actions. Companies exploited the forest for many years. The state recognized the importance of the Adirondacks, thus establishing a strict forest protection Act. Now the Adirondacks are being affected by climate change. I live in Upstate New York on the northern border of the Adirondack Park. The Adirondacks have always been part of my life, from my childhood summers canoe camping on the lakes, to hiking and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains. I wanted my portals to revolve around something I had a personal connection to. I chose my three entries mainly based on my previous knowledge. I knew the Adirondacks had been clear-cut long ago and that resulted in a protection act to preserve the area. I had considered looking at when the Park officially became a state park. I also...
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...The purpose of a site investigation is to identify the ground conditions which might affect the proposed development. It enables better understanding of the site and immediate surroundings, which will enable safe and economic developments. They are a common requirement of the investors as well as the regulatory authorities. In the broadest sense, the ground conditions are understood to include not only the underlying soils and rocks but also the groundwater regime, any contamination and effects of any previous uses of the site The purpose of a site investigation is to identify the ground conditions which ma, any contamination and the effects o 1.1.1 The scale of problem Various reports over the past 25 years have shown that the largest element of technical and financial risk normally lies in the ground. Ground related problems have led to late completions and high cost overruns on the national scale. Lady using a tablet Professional Essay Writers Get your grade or your money back using our Essay Writing Service! ESSAY WRITING SERVICE In an analysis of 8000 building projects, National economic Development office (NEDO) stated that one third of the projects overran by more than a month, a further one third overran up to a month due to delays due to unforeseen ground conditions. Work in groups or pairs, note down a few points on Why carry out site investigation? 1.2 Why carry out site investigation? The characterization of ground conditions whether for...
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...sustainability. Market failure is defined as when community surplus is not maximized due to problems preventing resources from being allocated in an optical manner. Negative externalities, also used in this essay, is defined as a decision or a product that leads to it having a larger society cost than private cost. This essay will be split into different parts to tackle this problem: 1) Examples of market failures and environmental problems 2) Explanation of environmental problems as negative externalities 3) Allocative inefficiency and overproduction at free market price due to marginal social cost being larger than marginal private cost There are different ways of market failures. Firstly, the lack of public goods is a market failure. Public goods are goods that would not be provided at all in a fee market. Since they are goods that are of benefit to the society, the lack of public goods in the free market is considered to be a market failure. (…) However, the main focus of this essay would be on the existence of externalities, which is a type of market failure as well as the negative externalities of consumption. There are also different examples of environmental problems. These are such as: the exploitation of the use of fossil fuels, over-exploitation of land, soil erosion, land degradation, and deforestation. The use of fossil fuels is a threat to sustainability and also an environmental problem which leads to a lot of other environmental problems such as air pollution...
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...In this essay I shall be focusing on the economic, social and environmental impacts of the big Australian drought on the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) in south-eastern Australia, extending from Queensland to South Australia (2002-2009). In this context the term drought means an acute water shortage caused by a period of long continuous dry weather. The 2002–2009 drought, or ‘big dry’, was caused by an El Nino. The trade winds reversed, causing Australia to experience very high pressure. The Murray-Darling Basin usually provides 40% of Australia’s agricultural produce; the basin makes up more than 70% of Australia’s irrigated cropland and provides 75% of Australia’s water. Not only did the 2002-2009 drought significantly reduce farm production during the event but ongoing social, economic and environmental effects continued to be felt in many regions following the return of normal rainfall patterns. A big social impact of the Australian drought was farmer’s crops failing due to the barren conditions, meaning a loss of income for the producers and higher prices for the consumers. Also many farmers had to sell up and move to the cities. This in turn affects the profitability of many small businesses in rural communities, which lose much of the customer base. An enormous problem during the Australian drought was the environmental impacts. The drought caused severe loss of vegetation which promoted soil erosion in a lot of areas, as well as dams and watercourses drying up leading...
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...The Ecological Effects of Fires When the topic of forest fires is ever referred to, it is in the context of the bush fires in Australia and they’re reacted to in the same way as natural disasters such as earthquakes or tidal waves, i.e. they are considered unpredictable, however on the contrary, forest fires can be predictable and with strict, proper planning and management, the effects of fires can be hugely reduced. As is the custom, the public’s view of fire in a stand would be one of an aesthetic nature; this quite is relevant but the fallout of a fire stretches beyond the “look” of the forest but the future the development and being of the trees and the ever important ecological make up of the soil come into question. In this essay, I will look into ways in which fire affects not only humans, but our surroundings and also the other co-inhabitants of earth, i.e. animals and other organisms. Occurrence If a fire is to start, within the same locality there must exist the combination of a heat source, a fuel and an oxidizing agent. The heat source causes the general temperature of the fuel to rise; it eventually reaches a certain point, called the ignition threshold. At this temperature the fuel (vegetation) releases a flammable gas that is highly consumable as fuel. This fuel the reacts with the oxygen from the oxidizing agent in a process known as “flaming combustion”, a releasing a large quantity of heat, so all in all, the fire can only spread when ignition has already...
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...In the years following the violence that shook Rwanda and the world in 1994, there have been many attempts to explain, or at least understand, the nature of the human tragedy known as the Rwandan genocide. Most accounts describe how two rival ethnic groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi, were engaged in a bitter dispute culminating in 1994. During a period of less than three months, widespread torture and brutality resulted in 500,000 to 800,000 (mainly Tutsi) deaths.[1] After over three years of civil war following an invasion of mainly Tutsi refugees from neighbouring Burundi, a series of negotiations resulted in the adoption of the Arusha accord, which called for the eventual sharing of power between the invaders (known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF) and the former regime of Hutu President Juvénal Habyarimana, and his party, the Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND). The widespread killings, mainly committed by the interahamwe, a group of Hutu extremist militias, began after the plane carrying President Habyarimana was shot down on the night of April 6, 1994. In the months that followed, the international community essentially turned a blind eye to the bloody massacre that was to unfold in the Rwandan anarchy. It seems no overstatement to portray the Rwandan genocide of 1994 as a “failure of humanity,” to use the words of the commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), Canadian General Roméo Dallaire.[2] There is a distinct danger, however...
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...Mr. O'Kelly 7 April 2016 Question at Issue Essay #1 The word sustainability today can be used in so many different ways. It can be means of “more environmentally friendly,” but never used in it's original form. A sustainable society is more or less a society that can be maintained over time by having society not undermine the environments capacity to meet their needs. Now, the question at issue is can we[world] get to a point where we can be called a sustainable society? With every human composing an obstruction on many aspects of the environment such as: food, air, water, forest, beaches, wildlife and scenery, sustainability is not approachable (Heinberg 1). Even though reaching a sustainable society starting today is near impossible, to reach sustainability the world would have to check their use of resources, population growth and minimize substances introduced into the environment. Resources have utility, limited availability, and potential for depletion and/or consumption. Today, the rate at which we are consuming is too fast; we are depleting natural resources that cannot rejuvenate to fulfill our use. The Earth's natural resources include: water, air, minerals, soil, fuel, plants and animals. For our society we only have a certain amount of time left, or “amount left to extract” until our nonrenewable resources are gone. People often waste natural resources; forests are cleared leading to wind damage and erosion of soil, fuel supplies are depleted and air and water...
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