Paper Seven

How is Earth's climate connected to its geological, biological and cultural systems?

We are familiar with the Earth’s climate changes that have occurred over the last billion years. We use all of the scientific technology that we can to discover how the universe is constantly changing due to natural causes. 

Left side-(Sand Dunes in the middle of the upper Northwest Arctic covered with snow)
Right side-(Terrain in the Northwest Arctic- between Noorvik and Ambler)---Climate changes.....
 
One of our important aspects in the geological field is the carbon cycle; which helps regulate the required amount of oxygen and carbon that we need in our environment in order for all living things to survive.  

As we grow gardens, plants and other vegetation that helps us exchange carbon back into atmosphere during respiration.

We are also using fossil fuel for burning, coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline, which are consumed by industrial, automobile and power plants.  Our land is also used for agriculture, deforestation and reforestation. 

When we look back to the last 10,000 years, we can see that the vegetation of our land has changed dramatically. Farms are suffering due to poor seasons that are caused by severe weather conditions. In other parts of the world, glaciers and icebergs are melting at an alarming rate. 

Meteorologists are having a difficult time predicting the next earthquake, volcano eruption, or hurricane because the climate is so unpredictable now.

Our society has also observed environmental changes in our local neighborhoods by inferring those changes through stories told by older generations, and by looking at historical geographical data from the past.

We know that we cannot keep up with the drastically changing climate; however, we are trying our best by enhancing technology, and using our prior knowledge to prepare for those changes.

In conclusion, if we want to reach the goal of being able to determine our climate changes as they occur, then we need to become an extensive partner to the experiential analysis and modeling of present day biological systems.