The Earth Alive and Well?

Jimmy Carter

“It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.”

Chief Seattle’s Thoughts 1854

How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us.

If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of this earth is sacred to my people.

Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people.

The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man.

Earth DynamicsEarth Dynamics

The Myth of Solid GroundThe Myth of Solid Ground

Earth Cross SectionEarth Cross Section www.geol.lsu.edu/.../EarthSection.jpg www.geol.lsu.edu/.../EarthSection.jpg

The Ring of FireThe Ring of Fire

Earthquakes in the Pacific Earthquakes in the Pacific NorthwestNorthwest

PNSN earthquake map

Latest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 daysLatest Earthquakes in the World - Past 7 daysWorldwide earthquakes with M4.0+ located by Worldwide earthquakes with M4.0+ located by

USGS and Contributing Agencies.USGS and Contributing Agencies.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/index.php?old=world.html

Mt. St. Helens 7/25/07Mt. St. Helens 7/25/07

Mt. St. Helens 10/7/2004Mt. St. Helens 10/7/2004

Mt. St. Helens 5/18/1980

Mt. St. Helens Before/AfterMt. St. Helens Before/After

http://www.discoverourearth.org/student/volcanoes/images/st_helens_mosaic3.gif

First Law of ThermodynamicsFirst Law of ThermodynamicsEnergy is not created or Energy is not created or

destroyed destroyed

Energy only changes formEnergy only changes form

Can’t get something for nothingCan’t get something for nothing

Energy input = Energy outputEnergy input = Energy output

Second Law of ThermodynamicsSecond Law of Thermodynamics

In every transformation, In every transformation, some energy quality is lostsome energy quality is lost

You can’t break even in You can’t break even in terms of energy qualityterms of energy quality

Second Law greatly affects Second Law greatly affects lifelife

Cycles of the EarthCycles of the Earth

Diffusion betweenatmosphere and ocean

Carbon dioxidedissolved inocean water

Marine food websProducers, consumers,

decomposers, detritivores

Marine sediments, includingformations with fossil fuels

Combustion of fossil fuels

The Carbon Cycle (Marine)The Carbon Cycle (Marine)

sedimentation

uplifting over geologic time

photosynthesis aerobic respiration

death, sedimentation

incorporation into sediments

Atmosphere(most carbon is in carbon dioxide)

Terrestrialrocks

Land food websProducers, consumers,

decomposers, detritivores

Peat,fossil fuels

Soil water(dissolved carbon)

Combustionof fossil

fuelsvolcanic action

The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)

photosynthesis

death, burial, compaction over geologic time

aerobic respiration

deforestaion

combustion of wood (for clearing

land; or fuel)

weathering

leaching, runoff

Gaseous Nitrogen (N2)in AtmosphereNitrogen

Fixationby industry

for agricultureFood Webs

on Land

Fertilizersuptake byautotrophs

excretion, death,decomposition

uptake byautotrophs

Nitrogenous Wastes,Remains in Soil

NO3–

in Soil

NO2–

in Soilloss by

leaching

1. Nitrificationbacteria convert NH4

+

to nitrite (NO2–)

2. Nitrificationbacteria convert NO2

–

to nitrate (NO3–)

Ammonificationbacteria, fungi convert the

residues to NH3; thisdissolves to form NH4

+

NH3, NH4+

in Soil

loss byleaching

Nitrogen Fixationbacteria convert N2 toammonia (NH3); this

dissolves to formammonium (NH4

+)

Denitrificationby bacteria

The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen Cycle

Marine Sediments Rocks

Marine Food Webs

Dissolvedin Ocean

Water

Dissolvedin Soil Water,Lakes, Rivers

LandFoodWebs

Guano

Fertilizer

excretion

uptake byautotrophs

death,decomposition

sedimentation settling outuplifting overgeologic time

weathering

uptake byautotrophs

weathering

mining

leaching, runoff

agriculture

The Phosphorus CycleThe Phosphorus Cycle

Ocean

Hydrogen sulfide

Industries

Volcano

Oxygen

Water AmmoniaSulfur trioxide Sulfuric acid Acidic fog and precipitation

Ammonium sulfate

Plants

Animals

Sulfate salts

Hydrogen sulfide

SulfurDecaying matterMetallicSulfidedeposits

Dimethyl sulfide

Sulfur dioxide

The Sulfur CycleThe Sulfur Cycle

Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate

Differences between weather Differences between weather and climateand climate

Major factors determining Major factors determining climateclimate– Uneven heating of Earth’s surfaceUneven heating of Earth’s surface– Earth’s rotationEarth’s rotation– Properties of air, water, and landProperties of air, water, and land

Miller 11th edition

Earth’s Climatic ZonesEarth’s Climatic Zones

(a) Rays of sunlight penetrate the lower atmosphere andwarm the earth's surface.

(b) The earth's surface absorbs much of the incoming solar radiation and degrades it to longer-wavelength infrared (IR) radiation, which rises into the lower atmosphere. Some of this IR radiation escapes into spaceas heat and some is absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases and emitted as even longer wave-length IR radiation, which warms the lower atmosphere.

(c) As concentrations of green-house gases rise, their molecules absorb and emit more infrared radiation, which adds more heat to the lower atmosphere.

Natural Greenhouse Effect Natural Greenhouse Effect

Miller 11th edition

BiomesBiomes

Climate effects on biomesClimate effects on biomes

12 major biomes12 major biomes

Biomes are not uniform (“mosaic of Biomes are not uniform (“mosaic of patches”)patches”)

Effects of latitude and longitudeEffects of latitude and longitude

Dry woodlands and shrublands (chaparral)

Temperate grassland

Temperate deciduous forest

Boreal forest (taiga), evergreen conifforest (e.g., montane coniferous forest)

Arctic tundra (polar grasslands)

Tropical savanna, thorn forest

Tropical scrub forest

Tropical deciduous forest

Tropical rain forest,tropical evergreen forest

Desert

Ice

Mountains(complex zonation)

Semidesert,arid grassland

Tropic ofCapricorn

Equator

Tropic ofCancer

Earth’s Major BiomesEarth’s Major Biomes

Miller 11th edition

MountainIce and snow

Altitude

Tundra (herbs,lichens, mosses)

ConiferousForest

Tropical Forest

DeciduousForest

Tropical Forest

DeciduousForest

ConiferousForest

Tundra (herbs,lichens, mosses)

Polar iceand snow

Latitude

Effects of Altitude and Latitude on Effects of Altitude and Latitude on Climate and BiomesClimate and Biomes

Miller 11th edition

BiodiversityBiodiversity

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/environment/faqs/biodiversity.jpg

Living Planet Report 2008Living Planet Report 2008

Living Planet Report 2008Living Planet Report 2008

Path to ChangePath to Change

LPR 2006

The National Environmental The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969Policy Act of 1969

The purposes of this Act are: To declare a The purposes of this Act are: To declare a national policy which will encourage national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the and natural resources important to the Nation; and to establish a Council on Nation; and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality. Environmental Quality.

U.S. May Expand Access To U.S. May Expand Access To Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

The Bush administration is proposing far-reaching The Bush administration is proposing far-reaching changes to conservation policies that would allow changes to conservation policies that would allow hunters, circuses and the pet industry to kill, hunters, circuses and the pet industry to kill, capture and import animals on the brink of capture and import animals on the brink of extinction in other countries.extinction in other countries.

Giving Americans access to endangered animals, Giving Americans access to endangered animals, officials said, would feed the gigantic U.S. officials said, would feed the gigantic U.S. demand for live animals, skins, parts and demand for live animals, skins, parts and trophies, and generate profits that would allow trophies, and generate profits that would allow poor nations to pay for conservation of the poor nations to pay for conservation of the remaining animals and their habitat. remaining animals and their habitat.

By Shankar Vedantam Washington Post Staff By Shankar Vedantam Washington Post Staff WriterWriterSaturday, October 11, 2003 Saturday, October 11, 2003

Endangered Species Listed by Endangered Species Listed by PresidentPresident

President and Species ListedPresident and Species Listed

Government agrees to list Puget Sound Government agrees to list Puget Sound orcas as endangered speciesorcas as endangered species

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 SEATTLE Tuesday, November 15, 2005 SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER POST-INTELLIGENCER

After years of legal challenges, Puget After years of legal challenges, Puget Sound orcas have been granted federal Sound orcas have been granted federal protection as an endangered species, protection as an endangered species, officials announced this morning.officials announced this morning.

Citing new information and analysis, NOAA Citing new information and analysis, NOAA Fisheries Service officials acknowledged Fisheries Service officials acknowledged that the local killer whales were at risk of that the local killer whales were at risk of extinction and reversed an earlier decision extinction and reversed an earlier decision not to give the iconic orcas protection not to give the iconic orcas protection under the Endangered Species Act. under the Endangered Species Act.

Building, Farm Groups Challenge Orca Building, Farm Groups Challenge Orca Endangered Species Listing March 22, 2006Endangered Species Listing March 22, 2006

SEATTLE - The Washington state SEATTLE - The Washington state Farm Bureau and the Building Farm Bureau and the Building Industry Association of Washington Industry Association of Washington filed suit in federal court this week, filed suit in federal court this week, seeking to invalidate the listing of seeking to invalidate the listing of Puget Sound's killer whales as an Puget Sound's killer whales as an endangered species. endangered species.

October 21, 2005October 21, 2005Salmon versus Agricultural and Commercial InterestsSalmon versus Agricultural and Commercial Interests

Uncle Sam is getting hammered in federal courts Uncle Sam is getting hammered in federal courts for failing to protect endangered salmon... The US for failing to protect endangered salmon... The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday rejected Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday rejected the Bush administration's water diversion plan for the Bush administration's water diversion plan for the Klamath River in California and Oregon the Klamath River in California and Oregon because it does not protect the river's coho because it does not protect the river's coho salmon, listed as threatened under the salmon, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Just a few days earlier, a Endangered Species Act. Just a few days earlier, a federal judge in Portland, Ore., said he has had it federal judge in Portland, Ore., said he has had it with failed attempts to recover wild salmon (not with failed attempts to recover wild salmon (not to be confused with the hatchery fish) to be confused with the hatchery fish)

White House Blocking Whale White House Blocking Whale Protection Rule (5/13/08)Protection Rule (5/13/08)

A third memo shows interference by the A third memo shows interference by the office of Vice President Cheney. According office of Vice President Cheney. According to the memo, Cheney's staff "contends to the memo, Cheney's staff "contends that we have no evidence (i.e., hard data) that we have no evidence (i.e., hard data) that lowering the speeds of 'large ships' that lowering the speeds of 'large ships' will actually make a difference." In will actually make a difference." In response, NOAA staff cited records of response, NOAA staff cited records of collisions in which right whales were killed collisions in which right whales were killed or seriously injured and again argued in or seriously injured and again argued in favor of ship speed limits. favor of ship speed limits.

State will sue over polar bear listing, Palin saysSPECIES STATUS: Unreliable data, threat to energy development cited.By DAN JOLINGThe Associated PressPublished: May 22nd, 2008 01:26 AMLast Modified: May 22nd, 2008 10:10 AMThe State of Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as a threatened species, Gov. Sarah Palin said Wednesday.

She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts.Palin argued there is not enough evidence to support a listing. Polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation, she said.

DDT Problems of the PastDDT Problems of the Past

DDT spraying wipes out fish hatcheryDDT spraying wipes out fish hatchery

Big Yellow Taxi

http://archives.cbc.ca/IDCC-1-75-1254-7076/science_technology/tree_pests/

DDT Continuing ProblemsDDT Continuing Problems

Lake Chelan DDT and PCBs in Fish Total Lake Chelan DDT and PCBs in Fish Total Maximum Daily Load Study Maximum Daily Load Study Washington State Washington State Department of Ecology June 2005Department of Ecology June 2005

Mackinaw from the Wapato basin require a 97% Mackinaw from the Wapato basin require a 97% reduction in total DDT, a 63% reduction in total reduction in total DDT, a 63% reduction in total PCBs, and a 90% reduction in dioxin toxic PCBs, and a 90% reduction in dioxin toxic equivalent quotients. Rainbow trout from Roses equivalent quotients. Rainbow trout from Roses Lake require a 67% reduction in total DDT. Lake require a 67% reduction in total DDT. Tributaries and drains to the lakes require Tributaries and drains to the lakes require reductions in total DDT loads from up to 97% for reductions in total DDT loads from up to 97% for Lake Chelan and 95% for the orchard drain to Lake Chelan and 95% for the orchard drain to Roses Lake.Roses Lake.

Lake Chelan Fish ConsumptionLake Chelan Fish Consumption

Washington State Department of Health Publication # 334-082