Orographic rainfall is a process that leads to precipitation. Its occurance encompasses the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere. It refers to when mountain ranges or plateaus and interrupts the movement of air mass. As moist air rises, it cools until it reaches a point on a mountain; the water vapor condenses and forms clouds, which eventually leads to rain. This process was clearly seen on fieldwork at Sublime Point where rainfall is more than 1400mm compared to 1100mm at Sydney and 780mm at Campbelltown. With an undulating plateau and costal plain, Sublime Point marks the beginnings of the…
From Visualizing Earth Science, by Merali, Z., and Skinner, B. J, 2009, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Copyright 2009 by Wiley. Adapted with permission.…
Global climate change is possibly one of the most significant environmental issues facing our society. It has been recognised as a global concern by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2002 Global Ecology and Biogeography). A case study of the Kosciuszko national park in Austrailia demonstrates the effects climate change can have on a protected area. The alpine zone around Australia’s highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko is of high scenic, scientific, education and natural conservation significance (crctourism). In alpine Australia, some of the effects of climate change are already evident and park managers have come to terms with increased threats from large-scale fires and noticeable reductions in annual snow depth and cover (Wyborn, 2009). This concerning issue is due to the rise in temperature which has directly affected both the alpine species and snow levels in this area. Research suggests that a temperature rise of only 10 degrees would threaten a number of alpine species currently living at the upper limit of their temperature range. (environment &Heritage 2011) . The predicted worst case scenario by 2050 could see a loss of total loss of 30-95% of snow and the possible loss of the alpine ecosystems (Environment &Heritage 2011).…
Climate of Colombia is characterized for being tropical and isothermal as a result of its geographical location near the Ecuador presenting variations within five natural regions and depending on altitude, temperature, humidity , winds and rains. Each region has an average temperature throughout the year, only the presentation of variables determined by precipitation during the rainy season caused by the Intertropical Convergence Zone .…
For centuries, Peruvian locals have talked about a river in the Amazon that burns so hot it can kill. According to legend, Spanish conquistadors foolishly ventured into the rainforest in search of gold, and the few men that returned told stories of poisoned water, man-eating snakes, and a river that boiled from…
There were many water-related issues in South America that Holston stated in the article. “The list of concerns is long and will require higher levels of public awareness and involvement, innovative approaches to problem solving, and better use of available funds and technology to reverse trends of misuse, mismanagement, and outright neglect.” (103) One of the challenges was protecting an adequate amount of clean water for human needs and finding huge amounts to endure farming and manufacturing needed for economic growth. In Lima, Peru, the water source for human use originated from snow pack of the Andes Mountains. The scientists and urban planners, based in Peru, were observing the rising effects of global warming and how it might eventually reduce the amount of water supplied to the city of nine million people. In Brazil, environmentalists were struggling with how to maintain the expansive Pantanal wetlands. Regions were debating whether to move to a different location to ease the fast export of cash crops, such as soybeans. Some islands had to deal with the absence of fresh water daily. Sometimes, the tourists had to adjust over four hours to the total unavailability of water as the facility’s purification plant worked actively to convert sea water into fresh water. While rainwater may have served to bear certain kinds of agricultural production and natural vegetation, it regularly did not produce enough to fulfill human needs.…
The Miracle In The Andes is a novel by Nando Parrado, and it is a real story happened in the 13th of the October in 1972. The novel talking about the Fairchild, an Uruguayan plane crashed in the Andes. The passengers on the plane were 45, and many of them were from the Old Christian rugby team include some of their family members. In the crash 40 members had survived from 45, and by the time they spend it on the Andes the number had reduced to 16. The novel also talking about the horrors they faced on the mountain like the cold, the lack of food and water, nevertheless; they experienced the death of their friends and family members. They learned many treks to keep them alive on the Andes, they learned how to stay warm, they melted the snow to drink and they ate the dead bodies flesh to survive from starvation. They tried desperately to climb the mountain, but their attempt failed. Nando Parrado did not want to die on the Andes like one of his friends, so he decided to climb. Even though he was afraid to face the Andes, but he made his destination to the west. Ten days after all the horrors, he and with two of his teammate found their way into the mountains. After they arrived home, Nando back to his normal life again, and he attained the promise that he made to himself that he will meet his father again, and he will enumerate how his Mom and Susy died on the Andes.…
Both the Andes mountain range and the Amazon rainforest are home to more than half of the world’s species. The Amazon rainforest cover an extension of over 2.7 million square miles, providing the drainage basin of the Amazon river and its many tributaries, about 1,100 of them from the Peruvian Andes ( where the Amazon river is born) to the Atlantic…
Deserts cover about one-third of the earth’s surface and have unique geologic features that cannot be found in more humid environments. The features found in deserts are mostly formed by wind and water erosion. Desserts are usually created because they are located in a dry region downwind of a mountain range caused by air losing its moisture as it passes over mountains, also known as a rain shadow.…
Many people face pain and hardships throughout life and learn to accept reality using courage and strength. In the “Long Way Home” an excerpt from Miracle in the Andes, Nando Parrado faces many hardships. In the beginning of the novel Nando is heartbroken due to the fact that his plane has crashed in the Andes Mountains, and that many people including his best friends, and his mother, and sister have died. His thoughts haunt him, telling him to survive, and not “waste tears”, as they will be needed for his survival. Nando remembers his father and his heart fills with joy; he imagines how is father must be feeling, after hearing the news of the crash. He quietly whispers to his father “I am alive”. Nando describes the mountains being very strong and powerful, and lacking warmth. Nando vows to his father that he will ‘come home”, no matter how long it takes, and how worse the conditions become. Nando faces many difficulties as the story progresses, but his promise to his father gives him courage and strength to keep on going instead of giving up. “We all knew our fight for survival would be uglier and more harrowing than we had imagines, but we had made the declaration to the mountain that we would not surrender. In a small, sad way, I had taken a first step back toward my father.” Throughout the excerpt conditions worsen, many more of Nando’s friends die, and the food becomes scarce. With courage and strength, Nando decides that he must climb the mountain to save himself and reach home to his father. He takes a few friends with him for the journey. Along the way, he faces many hardships, but his determination and courage help him reach his goal. One day, Nando realizes that their pilot was wrong, and gave them incorrect information of “passing Curico”. As soon as he learns that his hopes shatter. In his thoughts he begins to think and realize that death has an opposite, which is love. As soon as he realizes this his fear of death “lifts”. “My fears lifted, and I…
Native Americans depend greatly on the environment and their ecological knowledge, as the environment around them continues to warm it causes life threatening changes for Native peoples. For starters, their food sources are dwindling as a result of melting arctic sea ice, causing species like seal and caribou to continue to deplete. The sea ice melting takes lives every year in Native American reservations around Alaska because they’re resorting to taking greater and greater risks when it comes to hunting and fishing on thin ice. Permafrost melting has caused heavy erosion on riverbanks, in some places losing hundreds of feet at a time during minor storms. This erosion is claiming homes along the river bedside forcing Natives to relocate. Relocation efforts have had a huge impact on the Native elders and children because of their lack in physical ability to walk hundreds of miles. Not only does this affect the less physically fit but it impacts the whole tribe costing them thousands of dollars in moving and construction which takes years to plan and build. Climate change impacts continue to threaten the traditional way of life of indigenous people, because of unfair impact distribution the IPCC has made progress in defending them in their struggle to live and adapt without taking away their Indigenous rights to live off the land. Much of the erosion is caused by human activities, which will be a main focus in restoring riverbanks. Fishing, recreation and pollution are a huge cause of the offset river balance and acidity as well as added nutrience and minerals, restoring the human induced damage will hopefully return the ecosystems back to their natural beauty.…
Glaciers although very impressive to look at, actually do have a purpose within our environment. Although many people believe that glaciers are not necessary, they already have been formed and without them it will have a serious impact on environment. Many people fear that without glaciers sea levels will rise, ultimately drowning various land masses and consuming certain areas all over the globe. Within my paper I will be discussing what a glacier is, why they are receding, the direct affect they have on humans and what we can do to prevent this from further happening.…
Climate changes occur naturally over long periods of time on Earth, and it has been this way throughout Earth’s history. Currently, anthropological influences on earth have triggered a quickening rise in global temperatures and this in turn is causing a rapid change in earth’s climate. One of the major changes currently happening on earth is the melting of the polar ice caps. Major impacts relating to the melting of the polar ice caps include changes in ocean temperature, changes in ocean salinity, sea level rise/ flooding, changes in ocean circulations, loss of biodiversity, and loss of ecosystems as well as their services. All of these impacts could lead to devastating consequences for many…
Northern Arizona has mountains along with snow pacts. Snow pacts are vital to any ecosystem. Snowpack steadily provides water for communities in summer, recharges groundwater systems, coordinates fish migration, and sets paths for streams. In addition, tourism is a vital part of the Northern Arizona economy. Snowy mountains for skiing, high snow lines, long winters, and beautiful snow landscapes are thus important to tourism and the economy. Snowpack sets up the scene for making money in tourism communities. In data accumulated over 75 years by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service an overall decrease in snowpack and quickened pack melt was shown. (Ffolliott & Gottfreid, 1). This data aligns with other studies in Western states concerning snowpack. Although, this is no new trend. One study estimates that between 1950-1999, 60% of “detrimental” changes in Western US snowpack as well as river flows and winter temperatures were due to human related climate change (Bolin et al., 270). Snowpack melt is attributed to high temperatures which is partially due to an increase in greenhouse gases. Thus, if greenhouse gases continue to be emitted the melting patterns will continue. (Mote et al.) Unfortunately, if these trends continue, there will be serious problems for the economy, ecosystem, and people of Northern…
Precipitation occurs about once every seven days in the western part of the region and once every three days in the southeastern part. The 10 rainiest days can contribute as much as 40% of total precipitation in a given year. Generally, annual precipitation increased during the past century (by up to 20% in some locations), with much of the increase driven by intensification of the heaviest rainfalls.,,This tendency towards more intense precipitation events is projected to continue in the future.The Great Lakes, North America’s largest freshwater feature, have recently recorded higher water temperatures and less ice cover as a result of changes in regional climate.Summer surface water temperatures in Lakes Huron increased 5.2°F and in Lake Ontario, 2.7°F, between 1968 and 2002, with smaller increases in Lake Erie., Due to the reduction in ice cover, the temperature of surface waters in Lake Superior during the summer increased 4.5°F, twice the rate of increase in air temperature. These lake surface temperatures are projected to rise by as much as 7°F by 2050 and 12.1°F by 2100., Higher temperatures, increases in precipitation, and lengthened growing seasons favor production of blue-green and toxic algae that can harm fish, water quality, habitats, and aesthetics,, and could heighten the impact of invasive species already present.In the Great Lakes, the average annual maximum ice coverage…