ENVR 1301 - Vivianna Vando

  1. Exploratory The reading dives into the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and their work to address how streams have been affected by drought, wildfires, and grazing practices. Research by Trout Unlimited (TU) scientists and some BLM biologists highlights how combining grazing management strategies with beaver activity can make a big difference in restoring stream habitats. Beavers play a critical role here—think of them as nature's recovery specialists. Their dams slow down stream water, helping it spread across floodplains, keeping the soil moist, and supporting streamside vegetation all year long. 2. Diagnostic Streams shrink and degrade over time due to a mix of natural and human-induced factors like drought, wildfires, and grazing. This has a ripple effect on wildlife that depends on these habitats. Wildfires burn up the surrounding land, while droughts limit water availability for fish and other aquatic species. Grazing adds another layer of stress, often stripping away the...

  Problem Statement : Hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, is a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from deep shale rock formations. While it has been around for years, technological advancements have made it possible to tap into energy sources previously considered inaccessible. The process involves injecting a mix of water, sand, and chemicals thousands of feet underground to break open the shale and release the trapped gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA), the United States has an estimated 482 trillion cubic feet of recoverable shale gas. At current consumption rates, this supply could last about two decades. Key drilling sites are located in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. Hydrofracking has contributed to a significant increase in natural gas production, becoming the country’s primary energy source and the second-largest overall energy contributor (Cohen, 2014). However, while hydrofracking has driven economic growth and ener...

Frameworks The frameworks I’m working with focus on how we understand and react to nature and environmental conflict. Here’s the breakdown: Identity  is about how we see ourselves in relation to nature. Characterization  refers to how we define what nature is to us—whether it’s a home, a simple resource, or an escape. Context/Frames  look at how our surroundings or situations shape the way we interpret a conflict or issue. Context/Identity  combines the impact of the situation with our sense of self, asking how conflict changes how we see ourselves. Characterization/Frames  are about how we view other people or groups within an environmental context. Justification The reading provided definitions for these frameworks, but I saw them a bit differently and adapted them to better fit my perspective. For example, Bryan (2003) talks about how conflict has both complex and dynamic contexts that influence how we see things. He provides examples showing how people appro...

  Six-Point Critical Analysis of Current Event 1. Exploratory Probe basic facts and knowledge found in the reading and video. The podcast highlights how important grasslands are and points out that they’re one of the most under-conserved biomes in the world. A lot of grasslands have been turned into monoculture cropping systems, which means we’ve lost a huge amount of productive grasslands globally. This has serious implications for both agriculture and the environment. 2. Diagnostic Probe motives or causes. Grasslands are crucial for food production, not just for livestock feed but also for grain crops. Reducing the amount of grasslands we have could lead to shortages in grain and livestock feed, which would ripple through the food supply chain. Preserving grasslands isn’t just about saving land; it’s about protecting one of our most essential resources. 3. Cause and Effect Causal relationships between ideas, actions, or events. When there’s no humidity at the soil surface, it slo...

  Definition of Microplastics Microplastics are defined as small plastic particles or fibers less than 5 millimeters in size. These particles are derived from petroleum-based products and are not biodegradable. Microplastics can either be primary, meaning they are intentionally manufactured at small sizes for products like exfoliating scrubs, or secondary, which are formed when larger plastic objects degrade over time due to environmental factors such as UV radiation or oceanic currents. Where Microplastics Are Found Microplastics are prevalent across a variety of environments, with the majority being concentrated in aquatic ecosystems. They are found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and even in wastewater treatment plants. Marine environments, such as beaches and shorelines, are common places where visible plastic waste accumulates. Plastic waste, however, isn’t confined to coastlines—it is also detected in freshwater systems, agricultural soils, and even in the air we breathe. Plastic p...

Air Pollution Basics Sulfur Pollutants : These sulfur gases are usually colorless but have a strong, recognizable odor. For example, hydrogen sulfide is often compared to the smell of rotten eggs. They can stay in the atmosphere for 1 to 4 days, especially if they react with other compounds nearby. Sulfur gases come from natural sources like volcanoes and wildfires—volcanoes alone can release up to 12 million tons of sulfur gases each year. While they’re not usually harmful to plants, high concentrations from accidental emissions can damage nearby vegetation. Nitrogen Pollutants : Nitrogen gases are often colorless and, in some cases, odorless, like nitric oxide. These pollutants can last longer in the air, sticking around for 4 to 7 days. They are rarely toxic to plants, so they don’t usually pose a significant threat to vegetation. Hydrocarbon and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Pollutants : These pollutants are made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They mostly come from natural proc...