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Deforestation
(2)Deforestation is the cutting down of trees and plants in an area so it may be clear for human use and so they might use the resources yielded by the forests.(3) 11 million acres are cut down each year to clear land for use in commercial industries as well as property industries. The main cause of deforestation is logging. (3)At one point it was estimated that 500,000 hectares were being cleared each week. By over drawing our resources and refusing to properly reforest we precipitate our losses more and more. Logging is not the only problem though. Over grazing by cattle owned by ranchers is also a fairly large problem. (3)In 1989 it was estimated that about 15,000 square kilometers were being used just for cattle grazing. Other lesser causes, though no less potent, are acid rain and the construction of dams. The loss of our forests greatly affects the world we live in. Each day more and more of our tropical rainforests are being cut down. Around half of all the earth's species come from the rainforest.(3) An estimated 50 to 100 species of both plant and animal life are being lost each day due to deforestation. (3)An estimated 750 million to 800 million hectares of rainforest have been lost from the original 1.5 to 1.6 billion hectares. (3)These forests that are being lost are important sources of not only wood and other commercial products but about 25% of the worlds medicine comes from them. An even greater loss might be that one of the 50 to 100 species of the plant variety that are being lost might have or had the cure for cancer and other such diseases. These of course are not the only things being affected. The amount of trees in an area determines the amount of water absorbed back into the water table as well as the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. If we continue at this rate the loss of forested areas may cause a severe change in climate. The soil around our rainforests is very important as well. For the most part all the nutrients in the soil are washed away by the heavy rains that occur regularly each day in the rainforest. These nutrients are replenished mainly by the dead matter that collects on the forest floor and decompose to put more nutrients back into the soil. Without this the soil in that area would become virtually useless for growing because it would become so lacking in nutrients the possibility for regrowth would become difficult. Deforestation is really going to affect people in the coming years. If we don't carefully regulate our resources it is going to become a problem of massive proportions. If this continues our resources will run out which means there won't be a rainforest anymore. With no rainforest valuable plants for medicine will be lost as well as many wonderful and essential species of wildlife. Soon we will also have to look for other sources of material for building things like houses. Our forests are a big part of our world and are important for our survival. With fewer trees the amount of oxygen in the air will decrease and the amount of carbon dioxide will increase. With fewer trees our climates will change and our resources will be lost. If we do not do something to stop the deforestation our planet we will be in even more dire straights than we alread are. Our forests are immeasurably important.
Bibliography(1) http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Deforestation/(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation(3) http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/deforestation.htm
Pictures
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g233/mogrhod/deforestation_asia_tacio704wS6.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj179/PhoenixWellsErikZurich/amazon_deforestation.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n20/rdintern/Brazil_Deforestation_YaleGlobal.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii117/kelly_rainforest/deforestation.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k254/flyheaded/deforestation.jpg
Final Exam Question # 6
In Plate Tectonics there are three different types of plate boundaries that have been found. First there are the Divergent boundaries. "Divergent boundaries occur where two plates slide apart from each other."(1) Next are the Convergent boundaries. "Convergent boundaries occur where two plates slide towards each other commonly forming either a subduction zone (if one plate moves underneath the other) or a continental collision (if the two plates contain continental crust)."(1) Finally there are the Transform boundaries. "Transform boundaries occur where plates slide or, perhaps more accurately, grind past each other along transform faults."(1) Now as previously mentioned before with Convergent boundaries each of these types of plate boundaries can cause certain geographic events or features. Convergent boundaries create subduction zones and continental collisions. Divergent boundaries can cause mid-ocean ridges and active zones of rifting. Transform boundaries can cause faults and earthquakes. All of these boundaries of course have the possibility of producing volcanic activity. There are three different types of volcanic features. First there are Shield volcanoes. "Shield volcanoes are huge in size. They are built by many layers of runny lava flows. Lava spills out of a central vent or group of vents. A broad shaped, gently sloping cone is formed. This is caused by the very fluid, basaltic lava which can't be piled up into steep mounds."(2)
Then there are Strato volcanoes. "Strato volcanoes, are formed by alternating layers of lava and rock fragments. This is the reason they are sometimes called composite."(2)" Finally there are volcanoes called Cinder Cones." A cinder cone is a steep conical hill formed above a vent.""Cinder cones are built from lava fragments called cinders. The lava fragments are ejected from a single vent and accumulate around the vent when they fall back to earth."(2)The Ring of Fire is unique in that it incorporates all of these types." The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions encircling the basin of the Pacific Ocean. In a 40,000 km horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and/or plate movements. The Ring of Fire has 452 volcanoes and is home to over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes."(3)
This information may be useful should a major disaster occur or should I simply be looking for a new home or vacation spot. This really only effects a person's own Pursuit of Happiness and the Liberty to go and live where they wish. Whether it's a plain, a mountain, or an active volcano. Some people might say that, that shouldn't be a allowed or that no one would willing do that. The truth is though that people have the right to go where they wish and people really are that stupid.
Bibliography
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics
2. http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/types.php
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ring_of_Fire
4. http://photobucket.com/ All photos from photobucket
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