Thursday, January 30, 2020
Wetland And Water Environment Essay Example for Free
Wetland And Water Environment Essay Introduction Ecological restoration has been proven to be a very difficult and yet an extremely valuable undertaking. It is one of the major problems faced by every country in the world for it is the key to Mother Earth’s struggle for survival. Restoration pertains to the reestablishment and replenishment of natural wetland systems to be once more suitable for wetland creatures as their habitat. But, what wetland ecosystems are we pertaining to? What type of wetland ecosystem do we plan to target and why? Is it enough to establish any type of wetland ecosystem and be called â€Å"restoration†? As stated by Lovette (et al. , 2002), Australias enthusiasm for restoring and rehabilitating rivers and streams is growing at a fair rate yet most of the time, such projects fail to produce the desired results of improvement. This is due to the fact that these projects lack planning resulting to poorly defined project objectives and rehabilitation strategies. In addition to this matter, many social and political factors rather than a lack of technical skills were often major factors influencing the success of river restoration projects. Ecologists and restorationists took these questions in account and had included them as definitions of restoration and restoration-type activities. A simple yet very nifty definition of ecological restoration included in the 1992 report Restoration of Aquatics Ecosystems by the National Research Council (NRC), defined restoration as the â€Å"return of an ecosystem to a close approximation of its condition prior to disturbance.†The NRC declares that the concept of restoration to be further clarified by defining many types of restoration-related activities. Creation, reallocation, and enhancement are such activities that are similar to restoration, but vary in some aspect from rehabilitation of the original ecosystem to areas they once existed. Reintroduction of animals is also a major factor of restoration that must be taken in account. The mere recreation of form without the specific function is not the essence of restoration, nor is having the function in the artificial pattern without even a close similitude to the real thing. The goal of restoration is to produce a natural, self-regulating ecosystem that functions perfectly with the landscape and conditions in which it occurs. Body            To have a deeper understanding in the field of ecological restoration, let us first define terms that are used in the field of ecological restoration.            Creation is defined as the construction of a wetland in an area that was not a wetland in the recent past (within the last 100-200 years) and that is isolated from existing wetlands (i.e., not directly adjacent) (Gwin, et al., 1999). In other words, creation occurs when a wetland is placed on the landscape by some human activity on a non-wetland site (Lewis, 1989). Normally, creation of a wetland in plot of land starts by digging out upland soils to an appropriate elevation suitable for the growth of wetland species by a proper hydrological pattern. Enhancement, as defined by Gwin, et al. (1999) is â€Å"the modification of specific structural features of an existing wetland to increase one or more functions based on management objectives, typically done by modifying site elevations or the proportion of open water. Although this term implies gain or improvement, a positive change in one wetland function may negatively affect other wetland functions. Enhancement may also be the alteration of a site to produce conditions that did not previously exist in order to accentuate one or more values of a site. For example, increasing the area of deep water by excavating parts of an emergent wetland may provide more duck habitat (the desired wetland value), but may decrease foraging and cover habitat for young fish (Lewis 1989). The term reallocation replacement pertains to altering or converting existing wetlands to create a different type of wetland. For example, transforming a developing wetland, like a swamp, to a pond will convert the habitat from one wetland type to a different type. A term commonly used during discussions of restoration is mitigation, which â€Å"refers to the restoration, creation, or enhancement of wetlands to compensate for permitted wetland losses (Lewis, 1989). It is stated in under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act that â€Å"wetlands may legally be destroyed, but their loss must be compensated for by the restoration, creation, or enhancement of other wetlands. Hypothetically, the policy aims retain the wetland’s quality. The Watershed Ecology Team if Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds have devised a list of principles which played a critical role to the success of a wide range of aquatic resource restoration programs and projects. These principles are applicable through the different stages in the process of wetland restoration and focus on scientific and technical issues. Nevertheless, in all environmental and ecological management activities, it is crucial to examine community perspectives and values. There are a lot of guiding principles that ecologists follow in the field of wetland and river restoration. Given below are some doctrines that may help in the restoration of the rivers in Western Australia, namely the Hutt, Greenough, and Chapman River. The common dilemma faced by these rivers is erosion of soil along their banks. This is due to the lack of vegetation to hold the soil in place. Because of this catastrophe, a number of the wild life, like birds nesting on the trees or the fishes in the river, is threatened to loose obtain damage to their habitat. The Chapman River Estuary, though a popular place, due to the lack of management, has degraded. Several erosions has occurred, weeds are numerous among the vegetation, and wildlife have been frequently disturbed. Restoration of these rivers considers several, yet not too costly stages. The first stage of the Greenough River Restoration Project cost approximately $11,000 while the second stage of the Greenough River Restoration Project needed a total funding of about $68,000 through Trust Funding. The Chapman River Foreshore Restoration Project at the Nanson Hamlet in Chapman Valley adhered principles which is slowly revitalizing the landscape, cost around $18,000. The purpose of the Hutt River Floodplain Management Plan (HRFMP) is to update the Advisory Committee on their status, investigations and implementation (ATAPATTU, 2001). A clear concept of the projects goals, objectives, performance, and desired outcome is a critical part in the success of the restoration project for it gives a vivid look on how the scheme should run. One principle, â€Å"Preserve and protect aquatic resources†, explains that existing ecosystems are critical in the conservation of biodiversity, and supply the weakened system with the necessary materials. Restoration, together with protection and preservation, can improve wetland systems in an immense level. In this principle, the first step to secure the revitalization of a system is to prevent further depletion (USEPA, 2006). According to Palmer (2005), five relevant features should be brought to mind during river restoration. They are a guiding image – by creating a vision of you goals and ideas, you have a concrete image of your desired outcome; improvement of ecosystems – by adding functionality to the factors in the ecosystem, you will have positive results that the environment supplies; increase in resilience – by generating flexible products that can recover when damaged, or surpass other products; doing no lasting harm – actions done in restoration should not give an ill effect to the surrounding countryside, and have a long-lasting positive effect on the target location; and completion of an ecological assessment – provide a written clearly defined results on the project (McGee, 2005). Restoration of natural structure and function plays a major role in the restoration of natural wetlands. In the recreation of a natural habitat, its structure must be deeply studied for if a flaw in the system occurs, the whole project could further damage the area or the surrounding terrain. The function should, as much as possible, be close to the existing system’s function to instill balance (USEPA, 2006). Conclusion and Recommendation            Though there are quite a number of principles and guidelines that ecologists use in there quest to restore and revitalize denuded wetlands in the globe, these principles come together and express common guides to the success of rejuvenating the wetland system.            The first step is to clearly plan the project focusing on critical points that will ensure the accomplishment of the activity. Next is to mobilize the design, in which requires funds, in a procedure that won’t disturb or harm the surrounding areas. It must be ensured that the outcome of the project will be, as much as possible, like the former wetland system, to avoid further damage to the environment rather than to revitalize the land. And lastly, there should be a constant maintenance and management in the area to preserve the beauty and functionality of the structured landscape.            By following these few principles in the reconstruction of denuded wastelands, the future of the wetlands and rivers of Australia, and also the world, will be brighter. References USEPA.(2006). Definitions distinctions. Retrieved September 24, 2006, from River Corridor and Wetland Restoration Web site: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/defs.html#Defs ______. (2002) Greenough. Retrieved September 24, 2006, from Westernbelle Australian Adventures Web site: http://www.westernbelle.com/gren.html ______. (2002) Hutt river province. Retrieved September 24, 2006, from Principality of hutt river.      Web site: http://www.westernbelle.com/H.HTML#huttriver Blacklow et. al, (2001). River restoration and management in australia: a national framework for vocational education and training and graduate studies.      Retrieved September 25, 2006 Web site: http://www.rivers.gov.au/acrobat/uwa26/uwa26final.pdf#search=river%20restoration%20western%20australia McGee, T. (2005). Guiding principles for river restoration and sustainable product design. Retrieved September 25, 2006, from Treehugger Web site: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/04/guiding_princip.php ______. (2005). Evaluation sourcebook. Retrieved September 25, 2006, from Ecosystem Management Initiative Website:http://www.snre.umich.edu/ecomgt/pubs/wetlands/hennepin/2.4.PDF#search=river%20wetland%20restoration%20principles Peck, D. (2003). Resolution VIII.16 on wetland restoration.      Retrieved September 25, 2006, from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands      Web site:http://ramsar.org/res/key_res_viii_16_e.htm ______. 2002-2003 Australian government envirofund projects western australia.      Retrieved September 25, 2006, from National Heritage Trust      Web site:http://www.nht.gov.au/envirofund/2002-2003/general/wa-projects.html Atapattu, D. (2001). Hutt river floodplain management plan (hrfmp): project leader’s report.      Retrieved September 25, 2006, from the Regional Council Web site:http://www.gw.govt.nz/council-reports/pdfs/reportdocs/2001_110_1_Report.pdf#search=hutt%20river%20restoration%20project _____. 2001-2002 Coastcare projects: Western australia.      Retrieved September 25, 2006, from National Heritage Trust      Web site:http://www.nht.gov.au/nht1/programs/coastcare/wa-01-02.html#45 ______. (2006). Fact sheet 9 planning for river restoration.      Retrieved September 25, 2006, from River Landscapes.      Web site:http://www.rivers.gov.au/manage/is9planning.htm
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolken :: essays research papers
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolken Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit, one of a race of short, timid creatures who live in cozy tunnels and who prefer to keep their lives ordered and predictable. One day, he unexpectedly finds himself playing host to Gandalf the wizard and thirteen dwarves. The dwarves, with Gandalf's help, plan to travel to the Lonely Mountain to recover the treasure that a dragon named Smaug stole from their people long ago. Gandalf has selected Bilbo to be their burglar. The dwarves are not too happy with the wizard's choice, especially when Bilbo faints at the first talk of danger. But Gandalf insists there is more to the little hobbit than meets the eye. Bilbo himself is not sure that he is happy about being chosen burglar. But a part of him does yearn for adventure, and so one spring morning he finds himself setting out for Lonely Mountain with Gandalf and the thirteen dwarves. He does not prove very helpful at first. But then something happens that changes Bilbo's life. He finds a magic ring that makes him invisible, and has several opportunities to use it to rescue the dwarves from danger and imprisonment. They become quite impressed by him, and even rely on him, just as Gandalf foretold. Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach Lonely Mountain, the home of Smaug the dragon. The dwarves send Bilbo down a secret passage to the dragon's lair. Bilbo has more confidence in himself now and not only steals a cup, but manages to hold his own in a conversation with the wily Smaug (not an easy thing to do).Furious that someone has dared steal a piece of his treasure, Smaug attacks the mountainside where the dwarves have their camp. Then he flies toward Lake- town, to punish the inhabitants for helping the dwarves. The people of Lake-town run at the sight of Smaug, but one man, Bard, holds his ground. He kills the dragon with his last arrow and escapes before Smaug falls, smashing the town. Believing the dwarves are dead, an army of men, led by Bard, and an army of elves march toward the Lonely Mountain to divide the treasure. They find to their surprise that the dwarves are still alive. Bard, because he killed the dragon, claims his rightful share of the treasure. When the dwarves refuse to surrender it, the army besieges the mountain. Bilbo tries to end the dispute by stealing the Arkenstone, the piece of treasure most valued by the leader of the dwarves. He gives the jewel to Bard, hoping it can be used to force the dwarves
Monday, January 13, 2020
Molecular Geometry
Molecular Geometry I – Investigation using Models (SL) (DCP Lab) Taksh Shah KIS International School Chemistry (SL) 1 Introduction For this investigation we had use molecular models and make the following structures: Symbol Name of Species Lewis Diagram Model Bond Polar or Angle (Â °) Non-Polar BeCl2 Beryllium Chloride Linear 180 Non-Polar C2H2 Acetylene Linear 180 Non- Polar BF3 Boron Tri? uoride Planar Triangle 120 Non- Polar C2H4 Ethylene Planar Triangle 120 Non-Polar Molecular Geometry I- Investigation using Models (SL) Chemistry (SL) Symbol 2 Name of Species Lewis DiagramModel Bond Polar or Angle (Â °) Non-Polar CH4 Methane Tetrahederal 109. 5 Non-Polar NH3 Ammonia Trigonal Pyramid 107 Polar H2O Water Bent / VShape 104. 5 Polar SO2 Sulfur Dioxide Bent / VShape 104. 5 Polar 120 Polar or NonPolar Planar C2H2Cl2 Dichloroethene Triangle (Carbon) Tetrahederal (Carbon) C2H6O Ethanol V-Shaped (Oxygen) Molecular Geometry I- Investigation using Models (SL) HCH Bond = 109. 5 COH = 104. 5 Polar Chemistry (SL) 3 Explanation Symbol BeCl2 C2H2 BF3 Structure It’s Linear because it has 2 Bond Paris and 0 Lone Paris It’s Linear because it has 2 Areas of negative harge around the Carbons and 0 Lone Paris It’s a Planar Triangle because it has 3 Bonding Pairs and 0 Lone Pairs Shape Polarity With the angle being 180Â ° Non-Polar because it has the Molecular Shape polar bonds and is becomes Linear symmetrical With the angle being 180Â ° Non-Polar because it has the Molecular Shape polar bonds and is becomes Linear symmetrical With the angle being 120Â ° Non-Polar because it has the Molecular Shape polar bonds and is becomes a Planar Triangle symmetrical It’s a Planar Triangle because it has 3 Areas of CH4 NH3 H2O SO2 Non-Polar because it has the Molecular Shape olar bonds and is Lone Pairs C2H4 With the angle being 120Â ° negative charge around the Carbons Pairs and 0 becomes a Planar Triangle symmetrical With the angle being 109. 5Â ° Non-Polar because it has It’s a Tetrahedral because it has 4 Bonding Paris and 0 Lone Pairs It’s a Trigonal Pyramid because it has 3 Bonding Paris and 1 Lone Pairs It’s a Bent/V-Shape because it has 2 Bonding Pairs and 2 Lone Pairs It’s a Bent/V-Shape because it has 3 Areas of positive charge around Sulphur and 1 Lone Pairs the Molecular Shape polar bonds and is becomes a Tetrahedral symmetrical With the angle being 107Â °Polar because it has polar the Molecular Shape bonds and is non- becomes a Trigonal Pyramid symmetrical With the angle being 104. 5Â ° Polar because it has polar the Molecular Shape bonds and is non- becomes a Bent/V-Shape symmetrical With the angle being 104. 5Â ° Polar because it has polar the Molecular Shape bonds and is non- becomes a Bent/V-Shape symmetrical Polar because it has polar bonds and is nonsymmetrical It’s a Planar Triangle because it has 3 areas of C2H2Cl2 negative charge around the Carbon atoms and 0 Lone Pair s With the angle being 120Â ° the Molecular Shape or becomes a Planar TriangleNon-Polar because it has non-polar bonds and is symmetrical Molecular Geometry I- Investigation using Models (SL) Chemistry (SL) Symbol 4 Structure Shape Polarity With the angle being 109. 5Â ° It’s a Tetrahedral (Carbon) because it has 4 the Molecular Shape Bonding Paris and 0 Lone Pairs becomes a Tetrahedral (Carbon) C2H6O It’s a Bent/V-Shape (Oxygen) because it has 2 Bonding Pairs and 2 Lone Pairs bonds and is nonWith the angle being 104. 5Â ° the Molecular Shape becomes a Bent/V-Shape (Oxygen) Molecular Geometry I- Investigation using Models (SL) Polar because it has polar symmetrical
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Is Google Making Us Stupid - 983 Words
In the last fifty years, technology has and is still advancing above and beyond every single year. Apple comes out with a new iPhone every year and new games or gadgets. We are using the internet for basically any question we have, to communicate with others or even promoting anything. Technology has taken over everything we do in our daily lives. As Carr concluded in his story Is Google Making Us Stupid?, he stated as we come to rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our own intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence. Carr s conclusion is a very accurate statement of what our world is becoming. Future generations will be carried on like this, consumed with the social media and computers to decide what the world is and what they should think. I believe strongly that computers do influence us a lot of our thinking, and even lowering our intelligence. The more and more technology grows and keeps on doing things for us, is how we are creating this artificial intelligence. Even my own use of computers can support this. I was born in 1998, I have seen the huge advancements with computers and cellphones. My first interaction and playing on a computer was at the age of 5 and I played on the Paint program and pinball. I loved playing it everyday. When we started using computers in school, I had to learn how to type and know the basics of computers. Now that I am 17, I simply cannot live without using the computer for homework andShow MoreRelatedIs Google Making Us Stupid?1240 Words  | 5 Pagesone idea to be represented in many different ways. Both Nicholas Carr’s article â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†and M.T Anderson’s novel Feed, the broad idea of the relationship between humans and technology is portrayed. Carr’s article complains of how technology changes the way we think. Carr instigates the id ea that we are losing our passion for learning as a result of the internet and search engines such as Google. These advancements, Carr proposes, lead to a world where our intelligence â€Å"flattensRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid1140 Words  | 5 PagesIs Google Making Us Stupid In the Atlantic Magazine, Nicholas Carr wrote an article, â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†Carr poses a good question about how the internet has affected our brain, by remapping the neural circuitry and reprogramming our memory. Carr states, â€Å"My mind isn’t goingâ€â€so far as I can tell-but it’s changing. I’m not thinking the say way I used to think.†Carr went on farther, saying that he cannot read as long as he used to, his concentration starts to wonder after two or threeRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?920 Words  | 4 Pagesa different perspective than that of Manuel Castells. In â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†Carr believes the Internet has taken the foundation out of learning, socializing and reading. Coupled with Manuel Castells, Nicholas Carr agrees that the Internet has been of good use in some cases (Wikipedia for the many hours of research conducted for its database that we access) but he also believes the Internet is slowly making him and us stupid. Carr says â€Å"My mind now expects to take in information the wayRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1548 Words  | 7 Pagesindependent will and creative imagination. These gives us the ultimate human freedom†¦. The power to choose, to respond, to change (Independence Quotes. Brainy Quote. Xplore. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.).†The Declaration of In dependence allows people to do whatever they please as long as it’s within the law, but Google is restraining what people can really do. It may not seem that a search engine can limit people, but one needs to think about the many things Google consists of that doesn’t allow people to chooseRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1048 Words  | 4 Pagesï » ¿Is Google making us stupid? Three authors weigh in One of the most common clichÃÆ' ©s is that the Internet has robbed us of our attention spans and impeded our ability to communicate effectively. Once we could write properly, now we only text. Google has made us lazy in terms of how we research and access data. However, is this true? In three major news publications, three major essayists have grappled with this question and come to completely different conclusions. Although the neurological evidenceRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?879 Words  | 4 PagesAmerican writer, Nicholas G. Carr, in The Atlantic July/ August 2008 Issue titled â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†argues that the amount of time we spend online, especially google, has caused us to lose our minds by â€Å"tinkering†with our brains, â€Å"reprograming our memory,†and changing the way in which we process information. Carr’s purpose is to contribute to the idea that â€Å"Google†along with other online tools, is programi ng us to be less attentive and to the inhibition of our critical thinking skills. GuidedRead More`` Is Google Making Us Stupid?1505 Words  | 7 Pagescritically inspect both the positive and negative effects technology can have on development and cognition and all assert that technology is not as daunting as some make it out to be. However, some opinion based pieces such as Nicholas Carr’s â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†conclude that we should be apprehensive about technology advancing. The differences in outlook towards digital technology s future effect on the mind can best be seen in how authors view technology as a source of distraction, hypertextRead More`` Is Google Making Us Stupid?1384 Words  | 6 Pagestechnology is changing the way we access information; anything is accessible in mere seconds. This implementation has resulted in the most aware society of all time. Most information is just a quick and simple Google search away. An article, written by Nicholas Carr â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid? â€Å" in a 2008 issue for The Atlantic magazine, questioned the negative cognitive effects of the world wide web. Carr recognizes how much we rely on the internet and believes that humanity needs reform. AccordingRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?1040 Words  | 5 Pagesquestion â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†This has set off a debate on the effects the internet is having on our brains. Obviously the internet is here to stay, but is it making us scatterbrained? Are we losing the ability to think deeply? Criticism of the Web most often questions whether we are becoming more superficial and scattered in our thinking. In the July-August 2008 Atlantic magazine, Nicholas Carr published Is Google Making Us Stupid? (http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google). Like otherRead MoreIs Google Making Us Stupid?733 Words  | 3 Pages Nicholas Carrs article, â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?†makes points that I agree with, although I find his sources to be questionable. The article discusses the effects that the Internet may be having on our ability to focus, the difference in knowledge that we now have, and our reliance on the Internet. The points that are made throughout Carrs article are very thought provoking but his sources make them seem invaluable. Carr discusses the effects that the Internet has on our minds and the way
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