D-Death+Valley+Enviro+issues

__Environmental Issues__
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=Weather = The low for the summer nights are 86 degrees Farenheight and a high of 35 degrees Farenheight. This is because a moving mass of heated air blows through the vallery and creates the extremely high temperatures. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 134 degrees Farenheight and it was on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek. The lowest recorded temperature was at Greenland Ranch in January 1913 and it was 15 degrees Farenheight. There is barely any rain in the mountain ranges that are between Death Valley and the ocean.  Information about weather is [|here].

= Geology =

The best examples of Geology are ranges and basins. Death Valley is a perfect canidate to see this because it is at the end of a geological trough known as Walker Lane. The valley is also bisected by fault lines. Death Valley has two major rivers flowing through it; Furnance Creek and The Amargosa Rivers. Although the rivers flow through the valley they fade into the sands of the valley floor.The valley has many salt basins. This is because there were inland seas and when they dried up they left the salt behind and another mineral called Borax. The lower parts of the valley have higher temperatures. This is because atmospheric pressure tends to be higher at lower altitudes. The pressure then builds up and traps the heat and creates wind currents.The hot wind currents is a big factor in water supplies because it causes drought.

To find out more about Geology go [|here].

=Air Quality =

Somedays it is easier to see the land scape and other days it is not. This is because of pollutants. The pollutants are being carried from thousands of miles away by the wind. It comes from metropolitan, industrial areas, and transportation that is from the west. Because of the wind currents it would be easier to see the land during the winter time; the currents do not go towards the land.The view across the valley can be hazy in the summer and on bad days it is not possible to see Telesccope Peak from the Visitor's Corner. This is due to the amount of pollution that is carried from other areas in the U.S. The pollutants are carried by the wind and are moved from one area to another. In the summer the winds come from the southwest; where there is a large population and factories. In the winter the winds come from the northeast; where there is less developed areas. Durning the summer months more sunlight and higher temperatures speed up the pollution process. Nature is also a big part of the pollution process. natures' winds kick up the dirt and dust on the ground and puts it in the air. This makes it harder to see and breathe. To help correct this problem Death Valley has a monotoring station that is part of the nationwide network. The station collects data on the pollution and if the amount goes over the allowed amount then they can step in a corect the problem with filters.

To learn more about air quality click [|here]. Overcast Weather