Making Better Decisions on Environmental Issues

Some of the major technologies used in geography, have made both sorts of information far more readily available and far easier to use. Statistical analysis and modeling of spatial patterns have relied on computer technology.

1. Look at print resources and non-print resources, critically analyzing sources for their quality of material Use your critical reading skills!

Global climate change has been an unresolved issue since the 1970’s. Despite the facts presented by scientists, the governments refuses to take action. It has been estimated that the global mean temperatures have already risen by 0.8°C and the current amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will cause the temperature to rise by another 0.8°C, whereas 2°C is considered the maximum rise which the earth will be able cope without any major catastrophes (Mckibben, 2012). At the present rate of climate change we are already experiencing a shift in seasonal patterns. The governments’ inability to make strict laws regarding reduction in emission, therefore, stirs the controversy that what is stopping them and why do they refuse to do anything about it.

1. ) With new technology such as Satellites scanning the surface of the earth, cartographers can use geographic information science or (GIS) to help them make more detailed and accurate maps. This has allowed scientists to get very precise and complex information from all of the data coming from the satellite orbiting around the earth at all different distances and angles. Another use for all of the Satellites is remote sensing, this allows satellite images to be scanned in thin lines any time a satellite could scan a small area or a pixel. With this we can look at very small features of earth from space and removals send it back down to earth for Analysis. A scientist can use this tech for making very accurate maps about features such as population

plays a major part of our geographic information system. With all the advance technology today

Another very crucial environmental issue, besides global warming, involves the finite nature of natural re, which are being depleted faster than their replenishment rates. The development model of the 20th century, which promoted the continuous consumption of products, has resulted in the reduction of agriculture land, food, water re as also fossil fuels. If humanity continues to consume fossil fuels at the same rate as today, oil re will run out by 2030, gas by 2040 and coal by 2200. By 2025, the number of people suffering due to water stress will rise to approximately 3.5 billion and almost half the world’s population is expected to experience high water stress by

GIS is a computerized integrated data management system used to analyze and present geographical and spatial data.10 GIS has been used

In the essay the author, William F. Baxter, held the view that environmental issues should be human-centered and cost beneficial. In other words, his observations are that our effect on the environment is irrelevant except as it affects human interest. He also feels that we have no obligation to respect the balance of nature because no natural state of nature exists. Baxter 's main goal was to have an "optimal state of pollution" which means an amount of pollution that yields the highest amount of human satisfaction. Baxter used the example of the use of DDT hurting the penguin population. His thoughts were that we, as a human race did not halt the use of DDT for the penguin 's sake but rather for our own enjoyment. People like watching penguins "walk about on rocks" and to see them is more important than using DDT. Baxter 's observations of environmental problems are people oriented, he has no interest in saving penguins for their own sake. Although Baxter stated that when people act as if each person represents one unit of importance is undeniably selfish, it is the only starting place for analysis. He felt that this is the way we really think, or "correspond to reality." One example he used was that we as humans are surrogates for plant and animal life. The point being that clean air is important to humans for their own sake, yet the penguins and pine trees will benefit from this desire. Another example Baxter used in substantiating his position was that if one person is

GIS applications such as remote sensing have been gaining a lot of popularity over the past few decades and uses for remote sensing are still being explored. Remote sensing can be used to analyze weather patterns or climate change in regions. Weather patterns have been analyzed for a long time by meteorologists and using remote sensing for analyzing weather patterns is becoming more popular. Climate change is a big topic in today society and has been gaining a lot of attention of the past few years. If climate change continues to be an impending issue there should be a spike in the amount of data collected from remote sensing to analyze climate change and its consequences. Many new techniques have been developed with remote sensing in order analyze weather and climate patterns throughout the world.

The environmental movement has drastically changed over the last few decades, encompassing science, political activism and our social conscience. It is one of the fastest growing political and social movements in the world. Since the mid 1970s, this international movement has engaged the global community indluding many countries, the business world, media, and non-governmental organizations, all who have pushed for increased regulations and compliance towards protecting the environment. Nations within and outside of the UN have been pressured into pursuing a more sustainable future.Our ability to adapt, as well as to compromise, will direct the result of how we will survive in the future. States will have to cooperate and understand problems other nations are facing, and be able to commit to wanting a sustainable earth. Environmental norms are changing due to the overwhelming social push to reduce global warming, causing people to bandwagon to fight for environmental sustainability. Unfortunately, the motives for this movement are not always clear. While citizens of developed countries appear to have the right justifications for saving our planet and are attempting to address, global warming resulting in climate change, this heated political issue has provided NGO’s, governments (state actors) and corporations a platform to demonstrate interest in social issues, but also an opportunity to capitalize of for their own financial or political gain.

For instance, along the coasts of Florida and California there are natural forest fires that regularly occur, and play an essential role to the delicate ecosystems of the forest. These fires control vegetation, for example with the great pine trees common to the Florida area. It also creates a cycle of changing energy in the forest from one state to another, an essential natural cycle (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services). GIS can help by creating burn boundaries to protect human development while allowing the forest to still preform its natural cycles that are highly important to the ability of the forest to preform ecological restoration within itself. Without GIS, wildfires could easily burn uncontrolled and destroy homes and displace species. As shown in image ____, wildfires that burn uncontrolled threaten coastal developments (Shmuel

In today’s society we face many major problems such as poverty, free trade complications, human rights issues, and environmental issues. However in the world many people deny that we face environmental problems, and state that it is not our main problem, when in fact it is a leading problem slowly destroying all life on this planet. Environmental issues are continuing to threaten our world, but many organizations such as EPA are working to solve many of the major environmental problems.

I. Sustainability- ability of nature to survive and thrive in the environment over along time

Environmental impact assessment is now an integral part of mining operations. Remote sensing data enables the identification, delineating, and monitoring of pollution sources and affected areas including changes in surface land use and to water bodies. Using high resolution satellite remote sensing data and state of the art GIS techniques (geographical information system is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data) data can be used for long-term environmental management and monitoring of reclamation and

GIS resources are the maps, globes, address locators, geodatabases, and tools that one wants to share with others. It can host GIS resources on ArcGIS for Server system and allow client applications, such as web mapping applications and mobile devices, to use and interact with the resources [1]. It is possible to create web-based services, providing maps for users to search and browse geographic information [2]. ESRI’s ArcGIS Server connects people with the geographic information they need. Organizations use ArcGIS Server to distribute maps and other GIS capabilities provided by web mapping applications and services to improve internal workflows, communicate vital issues, and engage stakeholders [3]. WebGIS is the integration product of GIS and Internet technologies. WebGIS differs from