Eco-Matters Magazine

Hydrologist Wanted!

What is it: Hydrology is the study of water, more specifically the distribution and properties of it. A Hydrologist focus’ on the environment within every phase of the water cycle. From the air, to the rivers and lakes, to underground. The main focus of most Hydrologists in water conservation.

What do they do: Solve water related issues within an area. This may have to do with tapping saturation zones for a new well, or controlling river erosion and flooding. The numerous tasks a hydrologist as to deal with makes the job a busy and complex, as many issues has complicated factors that can impact both the human community and the environment.

How much: A Hydrologist can earn anywhere from $50 000- $90 000 yearly depending on their level of seniority in the job field.

How do I become one: For most jobs as a Hydrologist, one must have a bachelors degree related to hydrology, and many organizations look for an individual with a master’s degree. There are a few courses that are essential for hydrology; Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Water Quality, Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Meteorology.

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natlparks:

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK by dig dave on Flickr.
Olympic National Park, Washington

Old Growth Forests

Old growth forests are becoming more and more rare, with deforestation rampant worldwide. Old growth forests are a variety of trees that are all planted simulating spontaneous growth that would occur naturally through the distribution of seeds via other animals, and other plants. Old growth forests, do to their variety of trees that are planted, the forest could take up to 500 years to be fully grown. They’re a home for many different species, practically a welcome for biodiversity, and the most ecologically friendly type of forest you could imagine. They provide shelter for species who require a place that isn’t highly disturbed by things like human contact, technology and for the most part, civilization. They are almost self-regenerating because of the lack of human maintenance. All of the dead trees are scattered around the forest floor mostly, free to decompose to make very fertile soil for new seedlings to sprout. It creates a kind of harmonious cycle of trees dying and new ones sprouting all at different times that makes it work so well, it’s the closest to untouched nature as could possibly get.

Old growth forests are more than just a home to plants and animals. Old growth forests have been labelled as a kind of “carbon sink”. This means that they’ve been proven to capture a lot of CO2 emissions from cars and buildings (and humans!) and stores them, turning them into oxygen to be breathed in again and preventing global warming. These forests support healthy ecosystems by producing healthy fungus which helps even more to break down CO2 emissions. The forests can sustain more life than any other kind of forest because of the different levels on canopy and the shear variety of trees in the area, so birds and animals alike have a home in the type of tree of their choosing, unlike forests that are solely coniferous or deciduous. They are also far more likely to sustain life than a “clear cut forest” used for the forestry industry. Clear cut forests, which might be better for the cultivation of trees, instead of constantly destroying already fully grown forest. But the forests that are grown for that purpose, and only that purpose, can rarely sustain plant or animal life because of how often they are disturbed by human life. They are constantly cultivated before they are fully grown, and the soil is often very infertile because of the lack of plant decomposition from fallen trees or dead plants and animals to create the kind of earth needed for healthy fungus and healthy ecosystems.

Old growth forests like those in Alberta, and those being created just north of Guelph, naturally would only have one predator. This being an improbable forest fire that would probably engulf the majority of the forest. Though, over time it would eventually regenerate itself. Now, in the changing times the old growth forest and every organism living within them face the threats of deforestation. A lot of areas have protected areas for their old growth forests, mainly from foresting companies, but mining companies as well. But unfortunately for the most part, the damage has already been done. Whole naturally occurring forest gave been already cut for the pulp paper and wood harvesting industry, and that’s forest that’s virtually impossible to get back.

Old growth forests need to be conserved and advertised. Visit this website to donate and learn how to get involved with the old growth forest in Guelph:
http://www.oldgrowthforest.ca/

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

http://forestry.about.com/od/treehabitatandrange/p/old_growth.htm
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/borealbirdsprpt.html
http://raysweb.net/specialplaces/boreal-articles/oldgrowth.html

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just-saintly:

Ohio has AIS too!!! Asain Carp… Jeremy Wade got hit in the head by one of these fuckers.

allxthexwords:

These are photos that I took on the way to Tofino, August 2, 2011. The trees are from the old growth forest near Port Alberni, BC. And the last photo is of a hyroglif on the side of a big rock near a lake also near Port Alberni, BC.

Actual photos of Tofino, BC will be next! They’re all photos of Long Beach, I’m pretty sure.

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Medical Bio-Hazard Waste Management

Recycling you cans and bottles is enough of a hassle, garbage filling landfills, but imagine toxic chemicals being released into the soil. This would create a serious problem for any animal or plant life in the area, especially if any of it carried diseases that could cause serious epidemics. These are the consequences of wrongful disposal of chemical bio-hazard or medical waste.
This waste includes sharp objects used in hospitals and doctors offices (glass, syringes, needles, implements and blades), and biological effects such as blood and tissue. Bio-hazard waste comes from used needles and whatnot that have come into contact with blood or tissue that could be carrying certain diseases or conditions that could be transferred if anyone came into contact with it. Improper disposal, or accidental exposure to these hazardous materials could not only infect the being exposed, but also anyone coming into contact with them as well, if the spread had gone undetected, which is why safe disposal is so important.

Hospitals are now required to sterilize any used medical equipment before disposing it, and labelling any trash if it does indeed contain any bio-hazardous material. Many hospitals, doctors offices and pharmacies use private companies to dispose of their waste.

Any waste that gets disposed of is commonly disposed of through incineration in large facilities, but this is restricted to mostly organic materials because of the exposure to chemicals that could become airborne. Another common form of disposal is placement of the materials directly into the land. According to the EPA, any waste dumped into landfills must protect the area from any exposure of these chemicals to the environment permanently. “The most common hazardous waste disposal practice is placement in a land disposal unit such as a landfill, surface impoundment, waste pile, land treatment unit, or injection well.”3

Environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such hazardous waste is not out of our reach. Many waste removal companies have engineered ways of incinerating their waste without emitting any harmful liquids, or any chemicals into the atmosphere. These machines also create 0 emissions themselves and are completely environmentally friendly. Though, it is dependant on the waste removal company used, and what kinds of technology they may use.

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/biosafety/biowaste.html http://www.stericycle.com/medical-waste-disposal.html http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/tsd/td/index.htm http://www.ecosteryl.net/eng/index.php

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