Author: Jaymi Heimbuch
Publication date: May 31, 2012
Link: http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/californias-smog-problem-putting-giant-sequoia-redwoods-risk.html
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| Caption: This is one of the trees that is harmed by air pollution in California. These trees are called the Sequoia Redwoods.
Summary: California is well known for their gigantic redwood trees. This element of their landscape is in danger due to harmful smog in the Central Valley. Things like farms, food processing factories, and major highways all contribute to the pollution. This pollution prevents new seeds from being established. Also, needles turn yellow and cause the tree to die. The Central Vally region of California has the worst air quality of any national park, According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Not only does this pollution hurt the trees, it hurts us too. Workers in these national parks have to be warned of their increased risk of lung and heart problems associated with the pollution. The future of these trees is still uncertain, and a lot must be done still to ensure better air quality.
Opinion: I think that we had to have known that something like this would happen when we started to pollute more. These trees provide us with oxygen, and humans need oxygen to survive. So, I think that we should do everything we can to save the trees. I remember when I was in California and Oregon on vacation, a saw trees like these. A handful of them looked like they were dying so I asked my dad about it, and he said it was because of bad air quality. In the article, the trees are described as the "lungs of the planet", and it seems to me like they are becoming the 'damaged lungs of the planet'.
Questions:
1) Explain a few things that can be done to improve the air quality.
2) Who should be accountable for the polltion? Why?
3) Do you think that the general public should be worried about this at the moment? Explain.
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Opinion
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the ad air quality has caused these redwoods to die. Since the redwoods only live in California because of the climate they need to provide better air quality. If the air quality continues to be bad then the redwoods could possibly become extinct. Not even about the trees but the air quality will also start to harm the human population and surrounding species in this area. This isn't the first place I've heard about bad air quality. On my last blog I wrote about the bad air quality in China because of the fertilizer. Could this be because of the same reason? The general public should take caution in this air quality and make it better so the environment with be healthier.
Question 3
I beleive that the general public should be worried about this moment in time. Bad air quality is hurting the human population even if they don't know it yet. The public needs to take care of California and the redwoods. They don't want to be the reason that the sequoia redwoods became extinct. The experts and specialists in California for evironmental reasons need to figure out ways to fix the bad air quality or else the California environment will become ruined.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Austin. The pollution killing these trees could quite possibly make it's way across the country due to the air currents moving west to east. Everybody ultimately suffers from this, including organisms and animals. Organisms and animals call those trees and forests home, and if this pollution keeps up they won't have a home, which could maybe result in extinction of some organisms and animals. People need to start taking pullution more seriously or the earth isn't going to last much longer.
Question 3:
Everyone is to blame for pollution really. Pollution has made it's way into the socital norm. If you traveled a mile on a highway you'd see over 1,000 pieces of litter. And while traveling that one mile you're contributing to air poullution as well. Everyday humans go about their normal routine and continue to contribute more pollution whether it's air or not.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteTheir could be other factors that contribute to this problem but the biggest one is probably bad air quality. The pollution that we emit into the air is damaging these natural beautiful trees. Like what Melissa said it hurts animals too. We are damaging their homes and destroying their food supply. This effects all of us and we need to control it.
Question 2:
Mostly humans should be accountable for this bad air quality. We are the people who emit all these fossil fuels from our cars into the air. Not only do these emissions affect our air quality they also effect our ozone layer that protects us from the sun's rays. So, we need to control how many pollutants we put into the atmosphere.
Opinion:
ReplyDeleteI think that we need to cut back on our pollution if it is becoming that much of a problem; obviously there's something wrong if workers in a national park (which is supposed to be a clean, natural place) have to be warned about the unhealthy air quality. I believe that the redwoods should not have to endure our pollution, especially if they are part of a national park. It is sad to see trees that took thousands of years to grow that tall be destroyed in a few months due to our horrid air quality and pollution.
Question 3:
I do believe th general public should be worried about this. These trees are a natural wonder and have taken thousands of years to grow, and now they are destroying them. Also, if the air is that bad to kill the trees and make the workers be cautious about possible health risks, then the public should also be concerned about their general health.