module #7

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

The current theory that our galaxy was created by a super nova exploding giving off helium and hydrogen relates the evolution of the elements possible for Earth's life.The denser materials of this 'stardust' settled in the center of our planet and less dense elements formed towards the surface. heat under great pressure, radioactive decay and chemical changes caused gases to come to the surface. This was caused by volcanoes, geysers, and hydrothermal vents. An early atmosphere of helium and hydrogen gas was created resulting in water vapor, carbon dioxide and ammonia being in the air. These are greenhouse gases. No oxygen was present at this time. Greenhouse gases kept the Earth warm and life began.

Carbon is the basis of life on Earth and when living organisms consume carbon compounds ( sugars, proteins, fats) we break down these elements releasing energy used for growth and maintenance. The process of plant energy- photosynthesis allows the other side of the cycle taking up the waste carbon dioxide, re-synthesizing carbon compounds and creates oxygen. Ancient organisms didn't give off this carbon and we find these stores in the ground as coal, oil, and fossil fuels. The first non-oxygen organisms were one-celled bacteria living in the oceans. The oceans held the produced oxygen gas from the bacterial life forms. Over time, the ocean became saturated with gases and excess oxygen dissipated into the atmosphere- now oxygen rich. Oceans continue to hold gases and excess carbon dioxide is causing an acidic balance that might be responsible for the coral beds to be dying.

The Earth's climatic changes have led to geological changes of land masses due largely to volcanic, geyser, and hydrothermal vent activity. The Earth has had great changes from its origin and continue to be 'in flux.' The sun has an increase in energy output, its speed of rotation, plate tectonics, land to ocean ratio and even meteorites are all factors that keep our Earth in a constantly changing system. Human migration paralleled climatic change.

As humans evolved, they continue to drastically throw the Earth's systems off balance. Being at the top of the food chain, humans are consumers and cause changes to our own system. The Global Warming process is one example of man's direct effect on our planet. Greenhouse gases produced from burning of fossil fuels, are increasing producing a warming effect of 2 degrees Celsius and possibly higher in the near future. Since the Industrial Revolution, the greenhouse gases have increased drastically. The earth's poles are experiencing more change due to wind and water currents, plus solar radiation effects.

Our Alaska indigenous people have experiental knowledge that adds to our scientific knowledge of climate change and its effects on ecosystems. Traditional subsistence practices require an extensive and detailed understanding of organisms and environmental conditions. Oral tradition passes knowledge of year-round activities ( living, hunting, traveling, religious beliefs) onto the next generation. The People have unique insights of the landscape, living things and existence. People who live in the far North are there every day and are very knowledgeable about any slight changes in landscape, weather, species migration and numbers.

Sea ice is melting at a faster rate than in the past years, affecting walrus, seal and polar bear. The indigenous peoples of the coastal communities eat these critters as their main food source. The summer ice flows serve as resting platforms for seal pups, walrus and hunting platforms for polar bear. They also serve as transportation for all 3 species as they move with the currents. The Pacific salmon runs are being threatened due to warmer water temperatures and sedimentation of rivers caused by erosion from permafrost melting. Salmon need cool, clear water with a gravel stream bed for their eggs to survive. Warmer waters also allow parasite growth which infect the salmon. I live within 5 miles of the Kuskokwim river in Western Alaska and salmon are our primary food source. The villagers spend a majority of their summer catching, drying and putting up enough salmon to carry them through the long winter. As a gussuq, I eat salmon a minimum of 3 days a week. We dry, smoke, can and salt salmon to last through the winter. We need ( for 2 adults) a minimum of 35 silvers or 10 king to cover our food needs.

We are noticing ponds drying up and willows and tag alder replacing the tundra plants. We pick a lot of berries ( crow, salmon, bog, blue and cranberry) each summer's end and into the fall. Berries are a great source of vitamins not found in our other native plants. Berries can be dried or frozen to preserve them.

In conclusion, Earth's climate has evolved and is a continuing 'in flux' system. Climate caused geological changes created by volcanoes, geysers and hydrothermal activities. The evolution of earth from none oxygen organisms to oxygen breathing life has evolved. Humans have caused drastic and possibly deadly changes due to pollution and mismanagement of our environment. These changes of global warming has proven detrimental to the peoples living at the poles-Alaska Native peoples. How the People monitor, adapt and subsist with these changes will be a challenge that the rest of the world's people may be able to learn and benefit by.