Michigan: Environmental Imbalances
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When pressures and temperatures become unbalanced in the Earth's atmosphere, it can produce some dramatic effects as the system tries to rebalance itself, or re-equilibrate (i.e. reach equilibrium). Many of these changes are things that, on a small scale, we are used to witnessing every day in the form of weather, such as wind, rain, snow, fog, etc.
Sometimes, however, very large imbalances can cause massive and very disruptive change. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is one good example of a weather system that was caused by pressure and temperature re-balancing, and also one that had disastrous consequences for hundreds of thousands of people. Read up on the hurricane here: http://www.katrina.noaa.gov/ (there are several sub- pages on that site, so be sure to look at the links labeled "Aftermath Photos," "Maps," "Response," and "Impact on Region," especially).
Many sorts of natural disasters are caused by vast imbalances in nature; from earthquakes to tsunamis, they all pose risks to people. Start with the Center for Disease Control website http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/ and investigate the natural disasters that might affect your area. You may also want to use NOAA's website on weather (http://www.noaa.gov/wx.html) to help get you started.
What kinds of imbalances might affect your region
What people in your area can do to prepare for them or prevent them.
Give some specific examples of weather incidents that occurred in your area in the past and discuss how those were handled.
What major natural disasters of the past are most similar to one that might affect your area? Explain.
Compare your own area's similarity to New Orleans: what similarities and differences exist between the areas?
Explain how you think a massive rescue and recovery effort might play out differently in your area, versus how it played out, and continues to, in post-Katrina New Orleans.
My area is Michigan.
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Solution Summary
The solution relates the environmental concerns related to the area/state of Michigan. In particular, environmental issues and concerns of imbalances are discussed, the disasters and threats that can happen due to a variety of present factors. Similarities to New Orleans is also discussed and scenarios of prevention as well as rescue and recovery efforts is also included in the discussion. References are listed for further exploration of the topic. A word version of the document is also attached.
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Michigan Region: Environmental Concerns related to Imbalances
The state of Michigan is located in the Great Lakes region of the US with its name originating from an Ojibwa word that means 'large lake'. It is the 8th most populous US state with over 9.8 million residents. It has the longest freshwater coastline in the US and the world bounded by 5 lakes. It also has over 64,000 inland lakes and ponds. For residents, access to a freshwater resource is easy. The state is also made up of 2 peninsulas. The upper peninsula is an important tourism destination and a source of natural resources while the lower peninsula is the source of industry and manufacturing activities of the state. The Lakes that border Michigan are as follows - Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Eire and Lake St. Clair. The capital of the state is Lansing while the largest city is America's motor city - Detroit. While the manufacturing lower peninsula is home to industrial activity, the upper peninsula is considered one of the US great natural reserves. Its lush forests and mountains and rich marshlands teeming with migrating birds as well as a special population of animals roaming free in the forests plus reserves of freshwater fish make it an ideal destination for naturalists and an advocacy for environmental protection by conservationists as much of the state, especially the upper peninsula remain undeveloped.
Environmental Issues & Possible Imbalances
So, what are the environmental issues that face the region? Russ Harding (2004) believes there are 7. These are air quality/pollution, water quality/pollution/protection, land-use and regionalization (misuse) plus protection of wetlands, ecosystem protection and threat of exotic species (i.e. carp), pollution from the shipping industry and lastly, the issue of waste management and landfills. Harding says that the state follows all legal emission rules. But he says these emission rules are not enough. The heavy ...
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