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Environmental Changes In The Northwest Environmental Impact

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Environmental Changes In The Northwest Environmental Impact
Known for its wet climate and natural resources, the Northwest includes the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. This vast land region made up of rugged shorelines, volcanic mountains, and green mountain sides all play a part in the climatic, social, and ecological diversity. Levels of carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gasses in the atmosphere are on the rise, warming the earth and are causing wide range impacts. These impacts include the rising sea levels, melting snow and ice, extreme heat, fires, droughts, and other extreme storms. The heating of the earth has affected and is greatly affecting the Northwest region and its resources including higher temperatures, declines in snowpacks, and sea level rise.
The region contains a mountain range called the
…show more content…
In the Northwest coastal zone, the effects of sea level rise, coastal erosion, floods, threats to buildings and habitats, and increasing ocean acidity present a major threat to the Northwest. Coastal areas, tidal areas, and beaches will decline in quality because of sea level rise, particularly where habitats can’t move inland because of terrain setbacks or barriers from human constructions. Species such as shorebirds and forage fish will be at harm and coastal communities would be at a greater risk from these coastal storms. These estimates lie between 2.6 and 6.6 ft in sea level by the year 2100.
The heating of the earth has affected and is greatly affecting the Northwest region and its resources including higher temperatures, declines in snowpacks, and sea level rise. With the warming of the earth progressing, the Northwest will have low annual precipitation. This earlier rainfall will bring reduction in summer flows in snow-fed rivers, along with warming that will increase agricultural and other demands, will have drastic consequences for the Northwest

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