In the article, “As Earth Warms, the Diseases That May Lie Within Permafrost Become a Bigger Worry,” published in the Scientific American on its November's 2016 issue by Sara Goudarzi, it talks about the potential threat of diseases that can lie beneath the permafrost. These diseases have been expelled from underneath due to the thawing of permafrost caused by global warming, resulting in one of the first outbreaks in Siberia in 75 years. Although some scientist who have searched for such diseases have come up empty handed, it is important that we stay weary of these illnesses as they can, “Include infectious agents humans might not be prepared for or have immunity to, the scientists [say].”
The author begins her article by talking about the
The tundra, which comes from the Finnish word, tunturi, which means treeless, is the coldest terrestrial biome known to biologists (University of California Museum of Paleontology). Located in the northern hemisphere, between 55° and 70° North, the Tundra covers about 20% of Earth’s surface (S). Although tundras can be found in many of the continents, most notably, the Northern Alaska, Canada and Greenland Tundra and the Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands stand out the most (Gardella). They are all large tourists attractions disply nature’s ability to thrive in the harshest environments. Winters in the tundra have an average temperature of -30° F, due to its high altitude. However, the average temperatures in the tundra during
To place a reader in the mind of a character, the author must create a scenario which will appeal to the senses, and keep readers intrigued. The technique of building imagery can successfully transform the world around the reader, and connect them to the story. One Mile of Ice by Hugh Garner uses many imagery-building techniques to place readers in the mind of a man on the verge of death. In this story, Hugh Garner tells the tale of two brother-in-laws, Ralph and Pete, who venture off into town, accompanied by mare and sleigh, to get presents for the children for Christmas. However, their journey takes a very dark turn not too far into their adventure. The crisp winds become a blinding storm, in which Ralph and Pete are forced to fight for their lives. Unfortunately, only one man survives - Pete. One Mile of Ice uses visual components to build imagery, as well as tactile techniques to throw readers into the mind of the protagonist. Alongside this, the author uses auditory traits to reproduce the true terror experienced in this story by these brother-in-laws.
The novel Road to Winter (2016) by Mark Smith is set in the aftermath of a deadly virus that has wiped out most of the of the population in and around Angowrie, Australia. The text follows the adventures of Finn Morrison, a teenage boy who was left stranded after the death of his parents during the epidemic. When Finn encounters another survivor named Rose, his life becomes very chaotic and dangerous, Smith has successfully highlighted that when survival is threatened, it is not every man for himself. Finn and Rose, Ray and Finn and Ramage and his wilder gang are all excellent examples of groups when survival is threatened.
Locked up inside all of that permafrost is carbon dioxide, which has been stored there for many years already and that in the past scientists were concerned would thaw out and cause the carbon dioxide to produce a devastating carbon bomb that could escalate the effects of climate change.
They say the smallest changes in global conditions can be seen here sooner than in most other places. Many scientists are becoming very worried with these situations going on. According to Feifer (2006), the biggest environmental threat here is the release of greenhouse gases, methane, and carbon dioxide that have been frozen and trapped in the permafrost for more than 10,000 years. Since methane is 20 times more damaging as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, scientist believe any release of the vast reserves frozen in Siberia could have its own damaging effects on the earth's
Global warming persists as one of the world’s biggest issues today that is causing several problems that include the world’s severe climate and rising sea levels while possibly being the main cause as to why all of mankind could go extinct. This global crisis is known as the steady increase in the world’s average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere and oceans that are proven to be permanently changing the world’s climate (Live Science, 2014). This phenomenon is strongly evident as Earth’s temperature has also increased by 2 degrees Celsius since the last century. As a result of this, Canadian glaciers are melting at a higher rate of 2 to 3 feet than of what it was a decade before (Lerner, 2014). All astoundingly happening while the Artic Canadian permafrost has begun to melt (Davidson,2015). The state of this issue in Canada does not seem to be improving as validated through both the scientific evidence as well as the blatant and irrefutable observable evidence.
Alaska’s permafrost is slowly thawing away due to major climate change. Scientist have drilled into the permafrost and took sediment and water samples. This warming is from plants that took carbon dioxide from the air centuries ago, then died and froze. Once these organic materials thaw, microbes convert some of it to carbon dioxide and methane.
Imagine a place where where around 300,000 people live in the future, in a moderate to intense climate. Frost Forest, Alaska would be the perfect place to live.The city makes up 47% of the Alaska's employment. It has so much to offer, we have many green open spaces to run, jog, play, and to sightsee in. Frost forest has all sorts of greenery there are 1,700 types of them. Lichen, bearberries, and Forget-me-not are just a few examples!
The climate characteristics of North Dakota vary significantly throughout the state. The state is divided amid four central physiographic regions: the Great Plains, the Missouri Coteau, the Glaciated Plains, and the Red River Valley. The average temperature is different throughout the state, ranging from 37 degrees in in the northeast to 44 degrees along the southern boarder. Though, annual averages are deceptive because they conceal the substantial seasonal temperature disparities shared all through the state (North Dakota State University).
Cold climates have proven to be associated with a range of health risks including frostbite and hypothermia. According to a study by Gasparrini et al (2015) published in The Lancet, cold temperature is responsible for advancing approximately 7.29% of deaths between 1985 and 2009 for 13 countries including Canada. Elderly people are at a particularly high risk for cold-related mortality due to mental, cardiovascular, and respiratory illnesses. Elderly people are more vulnerable to hypothermia as the body’s ability to regulate temperature and sense cold lessens with age. Additionally, many elderly people are not able to communicate when they are cold or are not mobile enough to get to warmth. A global meta-analysis by Yu et al (2011) involving almost 13 million elderly deaths concluded that for each 1 ºC decrease in temperature there was a 1-2% increase in
Despite our region being quite frigid at times, we contract less diseases compared to our warmer climate neighbors.
Human activity has supported global warming and has impacted tundra. Human activity had a negative impact on the ice melting in the tundra. This affects other species that have adapt to climates that are lower than 0, as well as the people who are dependent on natural resources. Many humans are hunting way too much and that’s an easy way to destroy the environment. Stated by West Warwick “People that hunt in the tundra are over hunting, which can cause some animals to become endangered, and it also effects all other parts of the food chain (Warwick, 1).” Pollution has also led to global warming which caused the ice to melt and the loss of habitat in the tundra. Reference to the Thawing Permafrost article “The melting of the
Recent and expected changes in Arctic sea ice cover, snow cover, and methane emissions from permafrost thaw are likely to result in large positive feedbacks to climate warming. There is little recognition of the significant loss in economic value that the disappearance of Arctic sea ice, snow, and permafrost will impose on humans. Here, we examine how sea ice and snow cover, as well as methane emissions due to changes in permafrost, may potentially change in the future, to year 2100, and how these changes may feed back to influence the climate. Between 2010 and 2100, the annual costs from the extra warming due to a decline in albedo related to losses of sea ice and snow, plus each year's methane emissions, cumulate to a present value cost to
Due to changes in permafrost can also impact infrastructure. As it is stated in reading “permafrost melting attributable to a warmer climate will have serious implications for the structural integrity of northern houses and buildings” ( Healey et al. ). It is expected that permafrost depth and coverage are expected to decrease. Permafrost thaw can be easily weaken foundations. Weakening foundations means that building can collapse. Permafrost defrost can make building establishments move and end up falling. Solidified ground gives a safe establishment. Things like pipelines and streets which also depend on permafrost are also confronting stress from moving and defrosting grounds.
In a conversation poem titled “Frost at Midnight,” romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge creates a persona of himself who spends the duration of the poem having a one-sided conversation with his newly born baby. The narrator laments his own childhood, but finds solace in knowing that his baby has potential for a better life than he, since the baby will have a nature-centered upbringing. The narrator contrasts constricted and expansive imagery, enumerated and enjambed sentences, and alienated and familiar diction to underline the differences between his own childhood education, which was spent studying books, and the childhood education he hopes his baby will have. The narrator suggests that nature will offer his baby a childhood education superior to his own because nature will teach the baby to be one with the world, allowing him to feel peace and serenity no matter the circumstances.