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Ppts on the environmental impacts of ski tourism
Ski resorts impact on the environment
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The high altitude peaks and plateaus, glacial lakes and alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems of the Australian Alps are rare in the mostly flat, dry and hot continent. They contain the highest peaks in the Great Dividing Range. The Alps are of outstanding landscape significance and are important in the pattern of Australia’s natural history. The Kosciuszko Plateau includes the most striking examples on the Australian mainland of landforms created by glaciers. The Alps are home to unique cold climate plants and animals. The soil types are diverse with the majority being of granite (53%), basalt (22%) and soils formed from an eroded material (for example shale and slate – 25%). Most are naturally acidic and not very phosphorous. The granite and …show more content…
Snow normally falls the most during June, July and early August. Most of the snow has melted by late spring. Annual rainfall is between 500-600mm. The average summer temperature is 28 degrees and the average winter temperature is 11 degrees.
The relevant water system in the hydrosphere of the alpine ecosystems is the Snowy River. This is because it is a major river that runs through the Australian Alps in south-eastern Australia. It originates on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, before flowing through the Alpine National Park and the Snowy River National Park in Victoria and emptying into Bass Strait. Introduced animals compete with native animals for food and shelter and they kill native plants and animals. Non-native animals may also introduce disease, such as the disease Toxoplasmosis passed on to native animals by cats. Hard-hoofed animals and animals that dig, cause extensive soil erosion. Feral pigs, for example, upturn the soil to feed on roots and bulbs and also like to wallow in bogs. This damages the banks of bogs that shelter frogs and other animals. Muddy water reduces the visibility for animals, smothers eggs and gills and changes the oxygen levels in the water. Foxes sniff out and eat small, ground-dwelling native mammals amongst rock piles and logs. Foxes also
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In addition there are not many trees to provide a suitable habitat. Animals have adapted to cope with this harsh environment. One strategy is to live entirely under the snow during winter. As snow falls and covers the vegetation a space exists between the ground in which small mammals can move and search for food. Temperatures remain constant under the snow even though they vary greatly in the open air. The Mountain Pygmy Possum, the native Bush Rat, and Swainson’s Antechinus all survive in this way. During the coldest part of the season some animals hibernate or go into torpor. In both cases the animal’s metabolism shuts down almost completely and only the essentials are kept functioning. Hibernation is long-term and induced by a seasonal trigger. However, Torpor is short term and a means by which an animal is able to reduce energy use by lowering its metabolism. Its body temperature can drop to near that of its surroundings. The Mountain Pygmy Possum hibernates during the coldest part of the season. There is also communal living and nesting, some species of lizards have been found hibernating in groups of more than a hundred in the centre of Snow Gum logs during winter. Lastly, Migration is a strategy mainly used by birds and flying insects. Less than half the species of birds found in the summer month’s stay
The species can accept annual precipitation ranges between 40 inches and 60 inches, and annual temperature averages between 48 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Williams, C. T., Goropashnaya, A. V., Buck, C. L., Fedorov, V. B., Kohl, F., Lee, T. N., and Barnes, B. M. (2011). Hibernating above the permafrost: effects of ambient temperature and season on expression of metabolic genes in liver and brown adipose tissue of arctic ground squirrels. J Experi Biol. 214, 1300-1306.
(“Facts about mountains for kids”) This is not a solid definition of mountains, but it is a general statement. Mountains typically have steep, sloping sides and sharp peaks. (“Facts about mountains for kids”) With these sloping sides come different levels to a mountain. The lowest level are the broadleaf forests then the middle slopes that are colder and have conifer trees. The next level of tree growth is called the timberline, then there are alpine plants, and finally at the very top there is nothing but snow covered rocks. (Simon, Seymour. pg.23 ) With every different level, there comes different plant and wildlife. The elevation also determines the human population, because the higher up the mountain you go the less oxygen; therefore, you will probably feel dizzy and short of breath. (Simon, Seymour pg. 25) Humans can climb mountains such as Everest, but few to none live there full time because of the reduction of oxygen. Mountains influence environments and are important to
(See Appendix B) Trois-Rivieres has a climate that is very similar to elsewhere in Canada, which is characterized by fluctuating temperatures month-to-month. In particular, Trois-Rivieres’s climate is continental, but it is humid due to its close proximity to a river. (See appendix). The summers are warm with temperatures that rise to 25°C. Autumn tends to be quite cool, but it is not uncommon to have days that are unreasonably hot or cold. Winter can be short and frigid ranging from -7.3°C to -17.6°C. The precipitation annually is quite low, but in May to October, it is quite heavy (See appendix A). The Two major rivers are close to Trois-Rivieres and they there are called the St. Lawrence River and Saint-Maurice River.
Isle Royal is located fifty-six miles north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. It is the largest wilderness area in Michigan (USNPS, 2014). The island is surrounded by Lake Superior, which creates a cooler temperature. This results in arctic plant species growth on the island. There are only eighteen mammal species present on the island because most mammals cannot make the trip across the frozen great lake (USNPS, 2014). The need for an ice bridge is not the only environmental factor that is stopping the migration of animals; there is also the severe cold, and also wind and fog (Vucetich, 2012). Some species such as caribou and coyote have found the island to be too intense and have gone extinct (Vucetich, 2012). Due to the harsh weather and isolation of the island, humans have never regularly lived on the island (Vucetich, 2012). Some of species that are present such as the red squirrel are becoming their own subspecies due to its separation from the mainland (USNPS, 2014). The isolation of Isle Royal is what makes it a great place to conduct research, it has very low human interaction and the species that are on the island will have been and continue to be isolated from the mainland.
Water is the most relied upon resource on earth and if it disappeared life could not and would not exist on this planet. So if one of our main sources of water in South Australia, The Murray Darling-Basin, becomes unusable then we would need to find the problem and do everything possible to stop it or counteract it. This report investigates on salinity in the Murray Darling-Basin, using the issue question “Is there enough being done to counteract the effects of salinity in the Murray?” as the focus. Salinity is a key significant environmental challenge which the Murray faces and if left unmanaged it could cause serious implications for water quality, plant growth, biodiversity, land productivity, infrastructure and could lead to a loss of a water source that’s critical to human needs. In this investigation five different aspects of this salinity issue are presented and these aspects include what Salinity is and how it has become an issue, what the effects are, how salinity affects the rest of Australia, what can be done and is anyone doing anything and finally what the visions are for the future of the Murray and its salinity levels.
The Arctic region is home to a variety of valuable animals and plants, including polar bear, seal, and so on. The ecosystem of the Arctic region is fragile because these animals are evolved to live in extreme conditions. With the climate change, many animals are endangered. Ice is the habitat of polar animals because they have to rely on sea ices for resting, food, and reproduction. With the climate change and the decrease of sea ice, the number of polar animals is decreasing and their health is threatened. For example, the average weight of female polar bears in 1980 was about 650 pounds, but the number reduced to about 500 pounds in 2004 (Djoghlaf 15). The earlier breakup and later condensation of sea ice shortens the hunting season of polar bears. Polar bears mainly feed on seals that indwell icy land. The melting ice reduces the number of seals and food intake of polar bears. In addition, polar bears are used to living in ice caves. The rising temperature causes the collapse of ice caves, which can kill baby bears. The climate change is negatively affecting the biodiversity in the region and will definitely harm the ecosystem
These soils are not as developed as other soil orders. Some soils that are categorized within Inceptisols that are common to this area are: Commerce, Mhoon, and Sharky. Commerce soils are found on the levee, composed of sand and silt, and are well-drained. Mhoon soils are found on the lower levee, composed of silty clay, and are poorly drained. Sharky soils are found in the backswamps, are very high in clay, and are poorly drained. However, there is a small portion of the western part of the parish that is of the Alfisol soil order. Alfisols are more developed than Inceptisols in such a way that there are more horizon distinctions that are visible. In the subsoil, there is an accumulation of clay and a dense layer which prevents a lot of leaching of materials from the surface. These soils tend to have the presence of aluminum and iron oxides throughout the soil profile. All the soils that are in this region each support different types of
Average January temperature: -32.1 degrees Celsius. Average July temperature: +4.1 degrees Celsius. Temperature range: 36.2 degrees Celsius. Average annual temperature: -17 degrees Celsius. Lowest temperature recorded: -52.5 degrees Celsius.
On a June evening in 1770, British explorer, Captain James Cook heard the irritable screeching of wood against stone. Little did he know, he had just discovered the Great Barrier Reef! Off the coast of Queensland, Australia in the Coral Sea, the GBR is the world's largest reef system, it can even be seen from space! It is approximately 35 million hectares, which equals about 70 million football fields. The GBR hosts an extremely diverse array of marine life from mollusks to fish to sea and shore birds. Attracting about 2 million people per year, the GBR generates AU$4-5 billion annually. A coral reef forms underwater when thousands of tiny animals, called polyps, establish a colony. How did this series of reefs become the Great Barrier Reef?
Due to the moderating effect, this ecozone has long, mild summers (18 to 22°C) and cool, short winters (-3 to -12°C), with around 720 to 1000mm of precipitation, and 180 to 260 growing days annually. The Westerlies can also alter the weather quickly in this ecozone.
Stephen .G,Malcolm.W, Guy H,(2014), GEOL20001 The Geology of Southeast Australia, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, pg. 23-25
Australia is home to the great barrier reef which is the world's largest coral reef system, and home to the kangaroo. Australia is the driest continent in the world. The outback is the part of Australia that few live in because it’s a vast desert (“Australia”). The great dividing range is a long chain of mountains that runs along the Pacific Coast of Australia (“Australia”). Australia is the driest inhabitable country in the world (“Australia”). The great barrier reef of Australia is the largest in the world (“Australia”). Australia is already a dry country and if the temperature rises anymore due to climate change than Australia could suffer from more severe forest fires and be doomed.
Snow Leopard’s are found living in the high, rugged mountains of Central and South Asia. They live in areas like Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The conditions in the high Central Asia Mountains are harsh and brutal. The Snow Leopards are prepared for these types of conditions. Snow Leopards like the jagged broken cliffs, and rocky ravines stalk and sneak up on the nearby prey. Snow Leopards are very nomadic, they constantly move around marking territory to find prey. They look for cliffs that have a good open view to search for prey on. They have thick long fur, which will keep them warm in their cold habitats and which will protect them from the wind. Their bodies are very stocky but have very bulk chests and arms. They also have small rounded ears, which help to minimize heat loss. Their paws are wide to benefit them to walking on snow, a...
They have four seasons; however the climate never reaches too cold or too hot. For this reason, tourism flourishes all throughout the year.