A-Z Project by Maggie Langston

A-Z Project Maggie Langston Brooke Britt January 7, 2016

“We only have one home.” - Barren

A biotic factors This photo of my friend Emily and I at Topsail Island Beach, NC, shows the wind blowing, which is an abiotic factor.

Abiotic and biotic factors were discussed this semester when talking about ecosystems and biomes. Abiotic factors are factors that are not living. Biotic factors are things that are living. Abiotic factors that make up not only our area, but our planet, include wind, precipitation, gases, sunlight, and soil. Biotic factors could be humans, animals, and plants. Abiotic factors are very important to Earth being that biotic factors could not live and function without them. Source: Website

http://study.com/academy/lesson/abioticfactorsofanecosystemdefinitionexamplesquiz.html

B each This is a photo taken at Atlantic Beach, NC of my friend Reagan and I.

This semester, we have discussed the importance and different actions taken related to beach erosion. A beach is the accumulation of sediment found along the shore of a lake or ocean. Beaches are easily eroded due to wind, currents, waves and tides. The three main approaches made by humans to maintain and reduce beach erosion is beach nourishment, creating land use restrictions and zoning, and installing groins, seawalls, and breakwaters. Theses actions do not put an end to erosion nor the effects it causes. It simply reduces the amount of damage and diminishing of coastlines. Source: Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUh3WeilFN4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nujYG_b8lI8

C limate Change This chart shows the rate of sea level rise on the coast of NC due to climate change. http://geospatial.blogs.com/geospatial/2011/02/ncgisconferenceglobalclimatechangesustainabilitystatewidelid arssosand3dvisualization.html

Climate change has been a huge topic this semester, being it was in our curriculum as well as a hot topic in the news. Climate change has affected the planet as a whole, but more so areas that are on the coastline of continents. With the climate changing and the Earth getting warmer and warmer as the days go by, glaciers are melting uncontrollably, causing the sea waters to rise and the glaciers to become demolished. The whole reasoning of the temperatures gradually warming is due to the phenomenon of Global Warming; the trapping of heat radiation within our planet's atmosphere. North Carolina’s east coast has been greatly impacted by climate change, with water levels rising exponentially. NC’s barrier islands are quickly becoming at risk of being covered by water, causing some of the last barrier islands in the world to be diminished. Source: Television & Website Nye, Bill. “Bill Nye’s Global Meltdown”. National Geographic Channel. November 1, 2015. http://cleanaircarolina.org/?page_id=927

D DT This insect spray was used in the 1960’s containing 50% DDT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDT

As part of our summer reading project for Environmental Science, we were assigned to read the book Silent Springs by Rachel Carson. This book was written about the insecticide by the name of DDT. DDT was used exponentially everywhere, killing off your everyday insects that could be harming plants or animals. Little did anyone know, DDT entered the food chain and accumulated in the fatty tissues of animals, including human beings, and caused cancer and genetic damage. DDT remained toxic in the environment even after rainfall diluted it. The affects and damages of DDT were not discovered until animals such as birds were found dead after the use of the chemical on nearby plants or insects that were in the bird's diet. The death of these birds affected the predators that ate these birds, leaving them with less food to eat. This overall began to affect not only one simple food chain, but food chains that were connected to different organisms all over the planet. The effects of DDT are well known and studied now because of Rachel Carson’s raising of awareness of the problems that resulted from this chemical. Although some people were not very bothered by the idea of the wilderness being at risk from a simple chemical, most people could not ignore the fact of possible contamination of food chains, cancers, genetic damage, and the deaths of entire species of some animals. Source: Book Carson, Rachel. “Silent Springs”. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2002. Print.

E l Nino This map of the US shows the average temperatures around the country in the month of November. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article3302512/WintercomingMapsrevealdayssnowareaslikelyhitwo rst.html

Not only did have we discussed El Nino in class, but we have also witnessed it this 20152016 school year. El Nino was predicted to happen again this year, being the last time it happened was in 19821983. El Nino is when temperatures in the Eastern Pacific grow warmer, affecting the rest of the planet drastically. North Carolina has been affected tremendously. This was proven on Christmas day this year, being our temperatures are normally between 4560 around that time. This year, the average temperature in the eastern part of NC on Christmas was around 7580 degrees. As we move into mid winter and make our way into spring, the weather is expected to take a huge turn around, becoming very cold with high possibilities of heavy snowfall. Source: Website http://iri.columbia.edu/ourexpertise/climate/forecasts/enso/current/

F ujita Scale This is a chart representing the average percentages of F0F4 tornados in NC. http://climate.ncsu.edu/climate/tornadoes.html

When discussing weather, we learned about the Fujita Tornado Scale. The Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes based on the resulting damage. An F0 is minimal damage such as shingles missing or TV antennas being damaged. An F1 is moderate damage such as overturned vehicles and some trees uprooted. An F2 is major damage such as roofs off of houses and mobile homes overturned. An F3 is severe damage such as exterior walls and roofs blown off of houses. An F4 is devastating damage, with few walls still standing from well built homes. Lastly and the worst of all is an F5. This tornado is classified as being incredibly damaging, with homes leveled leaving no debris. Tornadoes are common in NC, especially the eastern half of the state. March through May is the time period tornadoes are most expected, developing during seasonal thunderstorms. Source: Website http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/oakfield/Fscale.htm

G reenhouse gases This chart shows the average electricity generation in North Carolina. These percentages show a good representation of the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere by NC alone. http://casenergy.org/nuclearbasics/energyinyourstate/northcarolina/

Greenhouse gases and their effects on the environment was a topic that took up a considerable amount of our curriculum this semester. Greenhouse gases are not only present in NC, but everywhere around the world. Greenhouse gases contribute to the greenhouse effect, by absorbing infrared radiation, trapping heat into the Earth’s atmosphere. Some of these gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. The effects of greenhouse gases are sea level rising due to the melting of glaciers from warmer atmospheric temperatures, smog and ozone pollution, and changes to plant growth and nutrition levels. Greenhouse gases are increasing as human impact continues to contribute to the gases and pollutants we release into the air. Source: Magazine Folger, Tim. “Melting Away”. National Geographic . November 2015. Kunzig, Robert. “The Will to Change”. National Geographic . November 2015.

H eadwaters This map shows where the Cape Fear River Basin’s headwaters is located. It begins slightly north of Greensboro, NC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Fear_River

This semester we discussed river characteristics, including a river's headwaters, which eventually empties out into its mouth. A headwater is the source of a river or where it originates from. The headwater is considered the most important part of a river being whatever happens at this point affects everything from then on out downstream. Headwaters can be many small streams that lead into one body of water, or simply one little runoff from a lake or pond. Springs from underground can also create headwaters. There can be more than one headwater, such as the Cape Fear River basin originating in one point north of Greensboro, NC and in another point near High Point, NC. Source: Website http://www.americanrivers.org/rivers/about/

I nvasive Species This is a photo of a highly populated invasive species called Kudzu that has expanded throughout NC. http://www.citydata.com/picfilesc/picc3829.php

When discussing native, non native, and invasive species, the Kudzu was labeled as a highly invasive plant. Kudzu originally was introduced into the U.S. from Asia in the late 1800’s for erosion control and as a livestock forage, and is now very abundant in NC. Very few wildlife species use Kudzu in any ways, making it produce substantially due to it having limited predators. This viney plant has affected habitats being it grows rapidly on things such as trees, the ground, and field edges, as well as many other places. This is a good example of an invasive species because of the fact it has limited predators which allows it to grow abundantly, and it affects other organisms habitats. Invasive species originate from other origins and are typically brought to new surroundings by human impact somehow. They are characterised as invasive if it in any way disrupts negatively the original lifestyle of the organisms and life in an ecosystem. Source: Website https://www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/howto/mapping/invexse/kudzu.html

J ohn Muir

This photo is of the famous preservationist John Muir in 1863. https://www.sierracollege.edu/ejournals/jscnhm/v1n2/muir.html

This semester we discussed conservationists and preservationists that shaped our country over the past few centuries when it comes to environmental impacts. John Muir was and still is known as one of the most popular preservationists. He was given the name “Father of National Parks” because of his work done to preserve parts of America’s land. His impact was left in NC greatly being The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Blue Ridge National Parkway are all located here. These parks are open for recreational activities such as hiking, camping and fishing. Hunting, logging and mining are not allowed in these areas. Source: Website https://www.sierracollege.edu/ejournals/jscnhm/v1n2/muir.html

K eystone Pipeline This map was the original plan of the route the Keystone Pipeline would have been installed from the Northern to the Southern ends of the US. http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2012/10/abalancedlookatthekeystonepipelineproject/

This semester we discussed the Keystone Pipeline. Although this pipeline would not have gone through North Carolina, the state would have been affected. The Keystone would have been classified as the safest and most advanced oil pipeline operation in the US. If it had been built, it would have provided jobs, long term energy independence, and an economic boost to America. Although this all sounds great, there are always cons associated with an idea of having an operation such as this. The possibility of oil leaks were a huge issue, causing people who would have lived near the pipeline to oppose the idea. Oil leaks could affect the quality and ability to use to the groundwater around their area, and possibly leak into aquifers or other bodies of water such as lakes or streams. This could eventually affect other parts of the U.S. as well as freshwater and marine organisms, being all bodies of water lead to the ocean. Source: Website http://keystonexl.com/

L andfill This is a photo of the South Wake County Landfill located in Holly Springs. http://iwonderandwander.rudyfoto.com/2012/07/07/lookingbackatanorthcarolinalandfillandwhogotdumped on/

Landfills are widely used in NC, as well as across the nation. It is a place to dispose of waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil, especially as a method of filling in or extending usable land. Landfills serve to prevent contamination between the waste and the surrounding environment, especially groundwater. Trash does not break down quickly, so most of the trash is converted to gas energy. Some of the trash cannot be used in that way, and stays in the landfill until it finally breaks down after many many years. Some landfills in NC include, Onslow County Solid Waste, Anderson Creek Landfills, and Chapel Hill Landfill, as well as many others. Source: Website http://www.advanceddisposal.com/formotherearth/educationzone/learnaboutlandfills.aspx

M ontreal protocol This photo was taken at the Montreal Protocol meeting in September of 1987. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indiaothers/indiaembraceshfcphaseoutundermontrealprotocol/

This semester we studied the Montreal Protocol and its impact on the initiative to recover the damaged ozone layer of the atmosphere. The Montreal Protocol was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere. The cause of this was due to the depleting of the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful UV radiation. CFC’s were the biggest issue in the depletion, as well as hydrochlorofluorocarbons and halons. Only 46 countries signed the treaty, yet it is now up to 200 signatures. The U.S. did agree to sign this treaty, to eliminate the ozone depleting substances. Source: Website http://www.britannica.com/event/MontrealProtocol

N uclear Power This photo was taken of the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant located in New Hill, NC. http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2015/04/dukeenergyreportssmallhairlinefaultin.html

Nuclear Power was a huge topic throughout this semester. It is one of the most least expensive options when it comes to energy sources. Although it is easily obtained, it does contribute to pollution and greenhouse gases by exerting CO2 and water vapor into the atmosphere. NC uses nuclear power throughout the state from Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Brunswick Nuclear Power, and NC Warn. Shearon Harris is actually the most popularly known in NC, providing power to over 550,000 homes. These plants do have some safety issues, being that they can only be monitored and not necessarily controlled. This causes risks for citizens that live in the general area of these plants. Sources: Website http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/legacy/assets/documents/nuclear_power/nuclearpower safetyinnorthcarolina.pdf

O zone This graphic illustration shows our atmosphere and where the ozone layer is located. https://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.ozonelayer

Being one of our units included a whole section on the atmosphere, the ozone layer was discussed often and very thoroughly. The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere layer of our atmosphere. Our ozone layer protects us from UV radiation that is present in the sun’s rays as it comes towards Earth. This radiation can cause skin cancers and melanoma, as well as other skin problems such as premature aging. Eye damage can result from these rays reaching the surface as well, such as cataracts. CFC’s are a huge risk in the depletion of our ozone layer, although measures have been taken to eliminate the use of these harmful chemicals into our atmosphere. NC, being a coastal state, takes the depletion of the ozone layer seriously, being we have a very well population and tourist attractive coastline. Typical beach activities are continuously going on, making the risk of skin problems to be more at risk for the people on our coast if the ozone layer is continuously depleted. Sources: Website http://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/healtheffectsuvradiation

P recipitation This photo of my friend Ivey and I was taken in Keener, NC, in 2014 while sledding in the snow!

Precipitation is an environmental term that is used quite often, being it is a major part of our water cycle and a huge necessity for our planet. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet and hail. Every regions precipitation varies, such as the rain forest having abundant rain and Alaska having non stop snow and sleet during their winters. NC is a very special state, being its precipitation varies greatly depending on the season. During the spring and summer months, rain and thunderstorms that have small sized hail are very common. Winter is different in that it typically brings snowfall and sleet. Source: Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofRqD7m4tQ

Q uackGrass This graphic illustration shows what a quackgrass plant looks like. http://www.myfarmlife.com/features/thehitlist/

Quackgrass grows abundantly in NC, yet it was not exactly “welcomed”. Being an invasive species, quackgrass is native to Europe and Western Asia. Today, it is often considered one of the three most serious weeds because it infests 37 different crops in 65 countries. There is no weed control for quackgrass, so typically it takes 23 years for quackgrass to be eliminated naturally from an area. Invasive species are species that come to an area and have no natural predators and harm native species. Quackgrass has no predators, therefore able to grow uncontrollably. It crowds out native grasses, eliminating them in the area. Sources: Websites http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/quackgrass.htm http://salisbury.weedmanusa.com/resources/quackgrass.html

R un-off This photo shows agricultural runoff. http://www.agriculture.com/news/policy/fertilizerrunoffthreatensmidwest_4ar23524

Runoff is a component of our water cycle. The water that is carried in runoff typically makes its way to a body of water such as the ocean or a river. Otherwise, it soaks into the ground as groundwater. Runoff is associated with nonpoint source pollution. When pollution is present in a body of water, without having found it entered it through a pipe or other obvious source, runoff is the most common nonpoint source pollution. This can be very dangerous to our waters due to sediments and agricultural chemicals having been present in the runoff as it made its way into the body of water. Source: Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KDL_hWNRPY

S tratosphere This diagram shows where the stratosphere is located in our atmosphere. https://www.skepticalscience.com/watervaporstratosphereglobalwarming.htm

Atmospheric layers was highly discussed this semester, and how they are important to our planet.The stratosphere is the atmospheric layer located between the troposphere and the mesosphere. This layer holds the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful UV radiation. This layer is where all commercial aircrafts and military aircrafts fly. This layer allows planes to fly more swift and smoothly because of the airflow moving side to side. Two examples of commercial and military airports in NC are the RaleighDurham International Airport and Seymour Johnson AFB located in Goldsboro. Source: Website https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vcHBNMw2h0

T ranspiration This graphic illustration shows a good representation of how transpiration works. The water is being released from the plant, into the atmosphere. http://citadel.sjfc.edu/students/kmd06085/eport/msti260/transpiration.htm

Transpiration goes right along with the chapter discussing the water cycle. Transpiration is a component to the water cycle, being a part of the evaporation process. Evaporation is when water is absorbed into the air from water such as the ocean or simple puddles after a big rain. Transpiration is water absorbed from the leaves of plants. This is also known as “plants sweating”. Plants get this water by their roots soaking the groundwater up from the ground, and letting it be carried through the roots up to the plants leaves. Due to NC’s major agricultural prosper, transpiration is very common compared to a city such as New York. Source: Website http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycletranspiration.html

U rbanization This is a photo of my friends Emily, Makenzie, and I as we toured Washington DC in Spring of 2015.

In class we have discussed urbanization and its positive and negative effects it has on the environment. Reading an article from National Geographic, they discuss how major cities are very appealing to humans because of the easier transportation and job opportunities it holds. While these may be positives for the people, the whole picture produces more negatives than positives. Pollution, health problems, overcrowding, violence and poverty are all additional aspects to urbanization. Not only that, but cities being built is beginning to take a major toll on habitat loss, leaving native species with either nowhere to live or in threat of invasive species. Source: Website http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/urbanprofile/

V egetation This photo was taken in Oriental, NC of my friend Emily and I standing in front of a beautiful bush with other plants, grass and trees in the background.

This semester we discussed vegetation as we talked about the different types of soil and the layers of the soil. The soil provides tons of minerals which makes plants grow all around the world in many ecosystems, depending on the biome. Mineral matter provides nutrients for plants and also creates pore space for water and air to more easily allow plants to grow properly. Plant roots typically are found in the topsoil layer. Also, when discussing biomes, we learned that the Tropical Rain Forest holds the greatest diversity of vegetation than anywhere else on the planet. Lastly, photosynthesis is the process in which plants are releasing oxygen as they intake carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis is one of the top most important cycles that occurs constantly, everywhere. Sources: Websites http://www.livescience.com/51720photosynthesis.html https://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/soil/

W ater Cycle This diagram shows each phase of the water cycle. https://www.thinglink.com/scene/702543343506161666

The water cycle is a process that makes our world continue prospering. Water is needed to maintain life, for humans and plants. The water cycle describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitation . This cycle has no absolute starting point. The water cycle is made up of five different phases; evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Also, the water that is cycled in the water cycle is the same water that was cycle 1 billion years ago. Earth does not lose nor gain any water. Source: Website http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html

X -Ray This photo was take at UNC Rex in Raleigh, NC, of a radiologist reviewing xrays. http://www.rexhealth.com/rh/caretreatment/imagingradiology/

During this semester we discussed radiation and its importance. Radiation is the transfer of energy by waves traveling through space. Xrays are a type of radiation called electromagnetic waves. Xrays are used in almost every medical center, taking black and white images of the body. They are typically used to examine broken bones, but they more recently become a common use to discover some cancers located in the body, such as breast cancer found from a mammogram. Little radiation is entered into the body from xrays. Source: Website https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/xrays.html

Y ucca Mountain This is a photo of the crest of Yucca Mountain in Las Vegas, Nevada. http://www.hcn.org/articles/isyuccamountainbackonthetable

This semester we discussed Yucca Mountain and it’s importance to the nuclear aspect of our country. Yucca Mountain is a mountain in which stores and disposes of nuclear fuel. Las Vegas residents do stand at a great risk of being affected if anything were to happen to cause the nuclear substances to be exposed. Because of NC having nuclear power plants, it is possible that some of our nuclear substances and disposals have made their way to Yucca Mountain to be stored away from the public. There has been a great controversy over Yucca Mountain and the possibility of the nuclear waste eventually seeping into the groundwater. The Department of Energy (DOE) is finding more and more reasons why disposing of the nuclear waste in the mountain is dangerous and risky, therefore trying their best to develop a better alternative of how to dispose of the nuclear waste. Source: Websites http://www.nei.org/issuespolicy/nuclearwastemanagement/disposal https://www.nirs.org/factsheets/yucca.pdf

Z one of Saturation This diagram shows where the zone of saturation is located in the ground. http://www.protrails.com/lexicon/term/837

We discussed the zone of saturation this semester when discussing the watertable and groundwater. The zone of saturation is located below the zone of aeration and the water table. In this zone, all pore space is filled with water. The water in the zone of saturation is known as groundwater. This zone can be found anywhere from a few feet to a thousand feet from the surface. The water in this area is accessed through wells, springs, and rivers.This water can get pollution from human actions such as chemicals, fertilizers, and septic tanks. Source: Website https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/1199/zoneofsaturation