Winnemucca's Drought

Electric car cuts away our dependency on oil as well and frees us from the unpredictable oil price hikes and spikes that are so common these days.

The current water shortage has left many reservoirs depleted with water. Littlerock reservoir has had a decrease in its water level in the recent years. The loss in water has had a devastating toll on the agriculture

In other words, the drought can really affect our economy as well as our social life. The Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is counted on to provide 30 percent of the state’s water supply as it melts through early summer, is at its second-lowest level on record. According to Hippo Reads, it will take about 11 trillion gallons of water (42 cubic kilometers) — around 1.5 times the maximum volume of the largest U.S. reservoir — to recover from California’s continuing drought, according to a new analysis of NASA satellite data.

While many blame current droughts on climate change, rainfall patterns in areas like California—currently in its fourth consecutive year of drought—have actually varied little from a century ago. But if little is done to curb carbon emissions, what is to come may be far worse. In fact, economic losses associated with climate change, globally, will reach an estimated $3 billion by the end of 2015. Furthermore, these human-induced droughts will uproot entire communities and force them to migrate to regions with more water and food. With climate change set to worsen over the course of this century, food and water shortages will only get worse, and not just for Californians.

With the current record-breaking drought in California, there are three factors that are said to be the reasons for causing the drought, which includes rising temperatures, shortage of water from the Colorado River, and depletion in groundwater (Macdonald, 2015). With rising temperatures over the years, the environmental changes that occur with this are an increase in evaporation, which is taking water from reservoirs and other sources where irrigation is coming from. With climate change with higher temperatures, this is taking away water that is needed to water the many crops that produce vegetation that is distributed all across the United States. The threatening of water supplies, especially here in the state of California is an issue that is very much real and is something that should not be ignored.

A trouble that is much wider may loom in the next twelve to twenty months without a series wet to very wet winters assisting to boost supplies as even Lake Mead that is usually filled by the River Colorado and an important source for a huge part of Southern California had dwindled to alarmingly low levels by July 2014. It should also be noted that the low levels that were recorded are as a result of much wider and prolonged drought that has been experienced all over the American

Imagine, after coming home from work, you just plug in your car battery to an outlet in your garage, and then the next morning, your car is full of energy. You would not be late because you never have to stop by any gas station to fill up the gas tank, and you could save money for gas each week. You would not see smoke from the tailpipe and your car is quieter. That image sounds great, and those are benefits an electric car could bring to us. Those are also the reasons some people support electric and hybrid vehicle. The Obama administration has set a national goal of one million electric cars on American roads by 2015 and this goal was supported with $5 billion in taxpayer dollars. As taxpayers, we have plenty of reasons to be concerned

Electric cars produce less CO2 emissions than any other vehicle. Gas cars produces 6 metric tons of CO2 a year. In the last couple years people have heard a lot about Global Warming. Global Warming occurs because people produce more carbon that the Earth can dissolve, which mostly comes from fossil fuel burning objects. Electric cars could be a solution to the global crisis. People of the world should start driving EV's because people love them because they are fun to drive, they save money, and they produce less carbon.

With current level of awareness for climate change people are changing their attitude toward mother earth and nature. They are increasingly looking toward less polluting vehicles and renewable energy (like solar / wind energy) for their day to day energy needs. Also different government across worlds are promoting development and use of EV automobiles and renewable energy. Government are giving incentives like congestion pricing, highway tolls, carpooling lanes, tax rebates on green vehicle (environmentally preferable vehicles).

Electric vehicles have been increasing in popularity because of the manufacturers claims about the vehicle 's so called, low emission rates. Big companies like Ford, Tesla, Chevy, and Nissan are the main manufacturers of electric vehicles (Miret). People have been buying into the idea of helping the environment and saving the world based on their claims. Electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions but that is not the entire story. The main concern is how electric vehicles work, what type of energy is used to charge the vehicle, and what emissions are released.

2050 is the year the ozone is expected to have a judgement of its own. If we, the people of the world can significantly reduce pollution, then by the year 2050 the Ozone Layer should be restored back to natural levels. If we keep on polluting at the pace we are at, then we can see our Ozone Layer disappear by the year 2050. I am in love with this planet, and it hurts me to know that my grandchildren might not have the same earth that I have been blessed with experiencing. I know that we, the people of this planet, cannot overturn the wrongs that we have done to this planet, but we can take steps in the right direction to fix the mess we have made. I think a large step in the right direction would be killing out gasoline powered cars, and slowly making electric car the more popular vehicle. Electric cars are more expensive to buy and maintain, and they require a special charging port to charge. Gas station are more accessible. Electric fueled cars do not pollute the air and are a better choice for the sake of the environment. Although electric cars may cost more and require a special charge, they do not pollute the air and are more energy efficient. Taking a step towards electric cars is taking an even bigger step towards saving the environment.

The planet changes over time, but people cause negative impact to their environment. To protect Earth, consumers need to be conscious of their role as technology continues to advance. More specifically, the automobile industry creates pollution, “in 2013, transportation contributed more than half of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and almost a quarter of the hydrocarbons emitted into our air” (ucs). Conventional vehicles, utilizing internal combustion engines, cause these harmful emissions, but electric-vehicles protect the environment while providing consumers with an efficient use of energy. Energy serves as a crucial factor in technology and allows society to operate, but certain usages harm the world. As arguments develop about pollution and its effects, society needs to take the step towards clean energy. The transportation industry releases pollution through fumes caused by combustion within engines. In terms of automobiles, the conventional gasoline vehicles and electric-vehicles compete to gain attention from consumers. The electric-vehicle uses energy more efficiently than the gasoline vehicle, which loses energy through combustion. Additionally, the EV offers performance benefits for individuals. While offering a smooth and quiet drive, these vehicles require less maintenance. Finally, the EV allows money to stay within the nation, since local utility companies produce electricity. For these reasons, a national tax exemption should be offered to encourage

Gasoline powered cars are everywhere, with 800 million of them in 2008 (Seamans), it would be hard for the civilized world to give the car up for an alternative mode of transportation. The internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) provides transportation to millions everyday, someday though the petroleum supplies will run dry and an alternative will need to be found. If we as a society wait until that day to find the alternative, said alternative will be costly and probably inefficient. Electric cars have skulked in the shadows, neglected and abused, but soon that all will change.

The Canyons and Whitewater rapids are a vital source of water for agricultural and urban areas in the southwestern desert lands in North America. The rivers are controlled by a system of dams and reservoirs. Irrigation and municipal water supply about forty million people inside and out land that separates to adjacent rivers. Since the mid-20th century, intensive water consumption has dried 100 miles of river that is no longer reaches the sea. In 1998 there was a heavy runoff of water causing deficiency in water supply.

Out of all available to humanity water about 96.5% are saltwater and only 3.5% are fresh water; only 0.26% of freshwater are found in the surface water i.e lakes, rivers, and swamps (USGS). Despite of the decrease of fresh water availability, people remain careless toward arising water issue. While doing my research about the drought, I was astonished to see comments like “who cares” and “there are more important questions”. It seems to me that a lot of people underestimate this problem. People get used to live with the comfort so much that they forget about the cost they pay for it. Industrial and technological progresses have improved living conditions of the people, it also has increased their lifespan; “according to the National Center for Health Statistics, life expectancy for men in 1907 was 45.6 years; by 1957 it rose to 66.4; in 2007 it reached 75.5” (LiveScience). However, in response to all types of pollution caused by these benefits nature has paid humans by the climate change which lead to the water shortage. In other words, water drought is a consequence of man-made decisions. In my essay, I want to highlight that the longer the drought remains unresolved the more severe effects Californians and people in general will have to deal with.