module #6

"How are the Earth, atmosphere and cultures all connected?"

The Earth's tilt creates winds- the Coriolis effect of winds curving with the surface of the earth provides movement of winds world wide from west to east. Winds generated at the equator are sent out toward the poles.

Warm and cold fronts are air masses that differ in temperature, moisture and pressure. These result from the area over which the air mass originates. Air masses keep their identity but interact with each other at their boundaries with weather fronts forming. A front will bring changes in temperature, pressure, winds, cloud cover and precipitation. A cold front has cold air advancing toward a mass of warm air; it wedges underneath the warm air, forcing the warm air to lift and cool. It moves quickly, has a steep edge, and rapid lift that forms cumulus clouds. Tornadoes or snow squalls with abrupt temperature changes result. A warm front has a gentle slope, less severe weather and moves more slowly. Warm air slides over and replaces the cold air forming cirrus clouds. Steady precipitation lasting days can result.

Earth's gravity causes atmospheric pressure that increases as elevation decreases. As altitude increases, the temperature of the air decreases or increases depending upon the levels. This temperature variation is a result of different chemical and physical properties of our atmospheric layers and solar radiation. The sun's energy is distributed unevenly over the Earth's surfaces causing movement of air and water. Low air pressure is found over warm water and land ( the equator) with high pressure areas over cool land and water ( the poles). Pressure differences cause air movement in circular patterns called convection currents. Warmer air rises and cools, high pressure air fills the void. The now cooled "warm air" sinks back to Earth resulting in a circuit. About every 3-4 years, climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean change. The El Nino caused by warm waters in the west side of the Pacific returning to the east is known to cause draughts, thunderstorms and floods.

The Alaska Natives of the far north are subsistence hunters. The People know from 'traditional knowledge' how to read the weather. Through first hand, everyday interaction with their environment, people recognize patterns in nature. The Native people of Alaska are living, hunting, and traveling in weather that most people would shy away from. Facets of changes of temperature, cloud cover, and feel of the air can be predictors of future weather for the people to 'read' who live in remote areas of Alaska. When listening to the Yup'ik Eskimo elders, they are now saying it is harder to read the weather and land conditions due to changes that are not usual or predictable. Our ice thickness on the rivers and ponds are often marginal giving unsafe area for travel, hunting and recreation. We are experiencing 'open water' on our rivers, lakes, and oceans during winter. According to elders, this inconsistency was not often occurring as recently as 20 years ago.

A last issue of great concern for the Native Alaskan is pollution. The wind currents send the world's pollutants in the air to the poles where it suspends during cold weather for as long as 4 weeks. You can see the haze from the ground and air. When the pollution does reach the surface it adds to the snow and eventually waters. The PCB levels that arise withing the food chain, are drastic for our people who eat large game such as whale, seal, walrus, moose, caribou, and water fowl. Our elders who have never smoked tobacco are dying of stomach cancer. Are they being poisoned by PCB's ingested. The Native peoples of the north are at the top of the food chain.

To conclude, earth's tilt causes winds, that cause ocean and air currents. They in turn cause heat fluctuations that is weather. Cultures that live a subsistence lifestyle are coming in contact with pollution in the air, water, and animals they eat. Those folks who live closest to the land are seeing these changes. The changes are no longer gradual; the people of my village are experiencing difficulties reading weather patterns, the ice on our rivers and oceans plus where the animals should be for hunting. The inter-relationship of Earth, atmosphere and culture can't be separated and has a great effect for all living beings on the Earth. The future will reveal just how well mankind can adapt to these changes.