Melting Glaciers are Devastating for Wetlands Essay example -- Geology

Melting Glaciers: Great News for Titanic, Devastating for Wetlands Overview This essay is dedicated to the importance of wetlands and the impending danger of rising sea levels due to global warming. Historically we humans have taken for granted the numerous vital roles played by wetlands in our ecosystem and viewed them only as unpleasant and undesirable. So we have destroyed much of our wetlands, and now that we finally see how important they are we are going to lose what little wetlands remain to rising sea levels. What are wetlands? Wetlands are, quite simply wet lands. The word â€Å"wetlands† is the collective term for marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas. Here in Florida, wetlands are quite abundant. They can also be found in nearly every county and climactic zone in the United States. However, more than half of America's wetlands have been destroyed by man and his historically negative view of the vital waters. In general, wetlands are not very pleasant to humans to be around. Not only do they lack the beauty and grandeur of lakes, oceans and waterfalls, but they are also home to mosquitoes, flies, unpleasant odors and disease. Furthermore, wetlands tend to cover a large area that would be desirable to developers and farmers. Thus, wetlands were popularly and quickly drained and converted to farmlands or filled for housing developments and industrial facilities. Also, flood control levees and navigation channels have prevented fresh water, nutrients and sediment from reaching wetlands. This has converted many to open water. Some wetlands were even used as dumping sites for the disposal of household and industrial wastes! Today, both scientists and the government recognize the ma... ..., enhanced sedimentation, and enhanced peat formation. These measures must be taken seriously and immediately before we and our animals are paying the horrible price for our own irresponsibility! Back to Contents Resources Information from the following articles and web sites was used in writing this site: EPA Global Warming Site http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/ Facts About Wetlands http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/ facts.html GLY 1073 Electronic Tutor http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ NASA Fact Sheets http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/service/gallery/ fact_sheets/earthsci/green.htm Titus, J.G., Sea Level Rise and Wetland Loss: An Overview http:// www.epa.gov/oppeoee1/globalwarming/reports/pubs/ sealevel/index.html Wetland Processes and Values http://h2osparc.wq.ncsu.edu/info/ wetlands/funval.html Melting Glaciers are Devastating for Wetlands Essay example -- Geology Melting Glaciers: Great News for Titanic, Devastating for Wetlands Overview This essay is dedicated to the importance of wetlands and the impending danger of rising sea levels due to global warming. Historically we humans have taken for granted the numerous vital roles played by wetlands in our ecosystem and viewed them only as unpleasant and undesirable. So we have destroyed much of our wetlands, and now that we finally see how important they are we are going to lose what little wetlands remain to rising sea levels. What are wetlands? Wetlands are, quite simply wet lands. The word â€Å"wetlands† is the collective term for marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas. Here in Florida, wetlands are quite abundant. They can also be found in nearly every county and climactic zone in the United States. However, more than half of America's wetlands have been destroyed by man and his historically negative view of the vital waters. In general, wetlands are not very pleasant to humans to be around. Not only do they lack the beauty and grandeur of lakes, oceans and waterfalls, but they are also home to mosquitoes, flies, unpleasant odors and disease. Furthermore, wetlands tend to cover a large area that would be desirable to developers and farmers. Thus, wetlands were popularly and quickly drained and converted to farmlands or filled for housing developments and industrial facilities. Also, flood control levees and navigation channels have prevented fresh water, nutrients and sediment from reaching wetlands. This has converted many to open water. Some wetlands were even used as dumping sites for the disposal of household and industrial wastes! Today, both scientists and the government recognize the ma... ..., enhanced sedimentation, and enhanced peat formation. These measures must be taken seriously and immediately before we and our animals are paying the horrible price for our own irresponsibility! Back to Contents Resources Information from the following articles and web sites was used in writing this site: EPA Global Warming Site http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/ Facts About Wetlands http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/ facts.html GLY 1073 Electronic Tutor http://ess.geology.ufl.edu/ NASA Fact Sheets http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/service/gallery/ fact_sheets/earthsci/green.htm Titus, J.G., Sea Level Rise and Wetland Loss: An Overview http:// www.epa.gov/oppeoee1/globalwarming/reports/pubs/ sealevel/index.html Wetland Processes and Values http://h2osparc.wq.ncsu.edu/info/ wetlands/funval.html