Monday, June 4, 2012

           

From Sequoia National Park's Beetle Rock (Pictured Above), 
a smoggy haze hints at the park's ozone level.


Matthew Newman

Sequoia National Park: Worst air pollution

By: Associated Press


May 29, 2012

SUMMERY

The air quality in Sequoia Park in California is not good. When you should be able to see far away clearly but is not, the view is limited like the picture. The ozone levels in the area above the National Ambient Air Quality standards. the park has broken this over 87 times. The ozone levels are so bad that park rangers are warned they may get lung diseases from the unsafe levels of pollutants. The unsafe ozone levels have also harmed the nearby pine trees. Scientists are finding yellowed trees in the park. The plants that live there are having problems with photosynthesis process and harming the pine trees survival. Most of the air pollution comes from a nearby valley. Which is where many farms give off pollution from there tractors and stuff. Another source is from the high way nearby which is also the 2nd busiest in California.  since the  park is in the valley it has a high pressure which keeps pollution down scientist are trying to find a solution but are unsuccessful

OPINION 
I was saddened by this by this article. I feel that California really needs to get there pollution problem down be none it is not only in the major cities but in national parks. It is interesting to me because this park like Donora PA also has a problem were the pollution would not leave. I remember when I went to see the Sequoia trees and to know that the are in danger upsets me. Those trees have such along history and now it is threatened.

Questions
1) Would you be interested in working as a park ranger in this park? why or why not?
2) What could be done to stop this problem? How?
3)If you were a farmer would you worry about what you are causing? why or why not?

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3 comments:

  1. LisaJune 4, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    My immediate reaction to this article was, "No Way, How did it get like this?" I would definitely not be interested in working there at all. I would only be interested in trying to solve the problem. I wonder if it is possible to rearrange the infrastructure around that area? Also, farmers can reduce the amount of pesticides and fertilizers they spray into the air. Also, we could create buffer zones to keep the fertilizers, topsoil, and pesticides in. If I were a farmer, I think I would only be worried about my crops and the economy. As a farmer, I could very well not care at all. But as a student who cares, this is a very important topic. I don't believe that this can be stopped unless the government and the people step in and realize what is happening. With all of this pollution the tourist economy could suffer as well. It would be a lose-lose situation. This needs to stop. NOW.

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  2. Mara WitsenJune 4, 2012 at 6:03 PM

    I think it's obvious as a perso concerened for my own health that I would not prefer being a park ranger in a place where the risk for a very deadly and almost incurable cancer is high. I don't have any ideas on how to stop the pollution other than some other type of tractor or farm equiptment that uses different types of fuel or energy. As a farmer I would try to only do what is needed for my farm and nothing above that to keep my harmful pollution out of the air as much as possible,

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  3. Mike WidmaierJune 5, 2012 at 1:06 PM

    Opinion/Reflection: Obviously, Sequoia Park in California is dangerous in the amount of ozone evident and the amount of air pollution in general. After all, it is affecting humans, plants and trees in the area. The pollution-driven highway also doesn't help the cause. Obviously, a solution needs to be found and people have to be notified. The park will be destroyed at the rate it is going. If the park is not restored soon enough and the problems relating to the effects are not found soon enough, the park will run out of natural resources.

    Expansion: At this point in time, as a person who wants to be healthy and live, I would definitely not want to be a park ranger for the park. It would be a very unintelligent move to threaten your life for a job position. That is not something that I would be able to risk. Until a solution is found to deplete pollution and ozone, you can bet that I won't be found within 1,000 miles of Sequoia Park in California.

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