Week 8 - Time Traveler into the future

Traveling to the future almost 5,000 years ahead of my time in 2020. I can see that we as humankind are in deep trouble. Our ice glaciers have all melted causing the sea level to rise and many coastal cities around the world are know beneath the surface of the sea. All new coastal cities and as well many part of the ocean have so much plastic floating around or on the floor of the ocean killing of many of the marine life. All of our carbon emission has caused the earth to become unbearingly hot

Dubai, 7020

5000 years ago, Dubai made history by building the first underwater hotel. 5000 years later, that is now accepted as the new norm. Climate change and rising sea levels has seriously affected coastal cities like Dubai, but based on the layout set by Dubai engineers and architects in the early 2000s, life on the coast has been able to continue due to this breakout. We were unable to stop the effects of the rising temperature across the earth, but we have significantly reduced our carbon footprint with major breakthroughs with solar and wind power. Along with that, electric flying cars that feature a submarine mode get us around just fine in the year 7020. Biodegradable and sustainably grown products fill every pantry across the world, and they are much cheaper than I remember them being in 2019. Historically, humans have had an incredible ability to adapt and adjust to their natural surroundings and I am glad to say after my trip to the future, this trend has continued.

Typical Underwater house in year 7020. Credit: travelandleisure.com

WEEK 8 TRAVEL JOURNAL - Puerto Rico 7010

Puerto Rico in 2019 - Source: Forbes

Week 8 Travel Journal

Trip into the Future: Puerto Rico 7010

I was able to travel to Puerto Rico in the year 7010. Given the fact that the Earth's temperatures continued to rise, the island of Puerto Rico is now mostly underwater. The evidence of human having lived on the now underwater island are the tour groups that are able to go in and explore the area and even stay for long periods of time exploring. A gift shop even opened up down there selling various original items from the island during its heyday. This underwater island has also drawn in some various fish and creatures that can be used for a nice ceviche.
It seems quite obvious that humans have harnessed the power of their intelligence to somehow continue living thanks in part to the continuing advancement of technology. The fact that the last glaciers on Earth during the 21st century began to melt contributed to the rise of sea levels - making Puerto Rico a victim of having been flooded and now underwater.

Week 8 Bangladesh

It is the year 7000, I am taking a trip to Mount Everest Lake. The news has stated that the last of the ice should be melted over the next few years. However, the rocky mountain is still stands surrounded by the now defrosted snow and ice. Today we saw a lake leopard, which is closely related to the now-extinct snow leopard. The Lake leopard has adapted to have webbed feet with claws to cat the fish in the lake. 1000 years ago trout and salmon were released into the lake hoping they would improve the environment and make a more stable food chain. The sea level continues to rise. You can now see the top of Mount Everest with a good pair of binoculars.  

After the trip, I am heading to Bangladesh to go scuba diving. The country has been underwater for the past 3000 years. The tectonic plates caused the area to collapse into the ocean. I’ve heard that the water is even “boiling hot” due to the heat. A fellow traveller said that humans thousands of years caused all of the land to go underwater because they made the land and air too bad to live in. But I know global warming caused all of the changes to the earth and that’s why all of the coastal cities are underwater.

What to expect 5000 years from now

On our family trip to the museum, we thought the stargate was just an exhibit. However, stepping into this huge circle we ended up in my birth country of Belize. The country I left as a child and what I left just before stepping into the stargate has evolved to something that makes me smile knowing that my generations in the future will be okay. Homes were covered with solar panels. I saw amazing gas stations that had equipment for hybrid cars and fuel efficient for the environment. I saw people buying healthy foods and even most of the home owners had gardens. Even walking around town, it’s like you were in some controlled building because the air was so clean. I felt like I was lighter.  

Hilary King Week 8 - What happened to San Francisco?

It's the year 1710. I have traveled 5000 years into the future to see what has become of one of my favorite coastal cities, San Francisco, with the knowledge of global warming.  In 2019 there was a concern that because of the active faults the city was surrounded by, there would come a time that the city would completely disconnect from the rest of California and drift away or that it would be reclaimed by the ocean all together. I also thought of rising sea levels and temperatures and how that would effect the area. As I traveled forward in time, I was anxious to see the cities fate.

My first discovery is that Los Angeles and San Francisco are adjacent to one another. Due to the plates in which the sit on, moving VERY slowly over time, the cities have been relocated. Next, as I traveled around the area, I noticed that it seemed much smaller than the last time I was here. When I asked a local if I was imagining this, he said that because not enough had been done to reduce global emissions, that sea level began raising at 10 feet a year every year since 2050. Because of this, Alcatraz island was now mostly submerged and you can touch the bay from the Golden Gate Bridge. The rise in water level has greatly eroded the landfill soil the area was built on.

I couldn't help but notice just how hot is was when i arrived. Generally California, while warm, is at a comfortable temperature. But not anymore thanks to weather changes from global warming. The area, which use to have only a few days above 100 degrees, now sees that temperature about 1/4 of the year causing massive droughts. And where there use to be no snow now gets pounded by devastating winter storms, making travel impossible. Due to the water level change, these winter storms freeze the area causing everyone to stay inside for weeks at a time.

I was informed by the same friendly local that climate change has caused there to be a lower snow pack in the Sierras which in return means less water and a higher chance of wild fires. The area has always dealt with these issues but this in combination with the hotter temperatures is a recipe for disaster. 

What I witnessed has saddened me and inspired me to make a change. When i arrive back in 2019, I will work with others to educate about global warming and what it means for the future. I will also work to decrease my carbon footprint and encourage others to do the same. Hopefully, what I saw of the Bay Area, doesn't have to be its fate. 

Brown, T. (2019) Climate change and the Bay Area: Answers to your questions. SF Chronicle. Retrieved from: https://www.projects.sfchronicle.com 

Year 7010-Week8-Terri Lenhart

This week I am visiting the Diablo Islands. Thousands of years ago, these islands were mountain peaks in the continent in a country called United States. This place was called California, and was a "state" which was a politically sectioned part of the country. We have deep diving trips planned to see areas of former cities once existing in this area. about 5000 years ago, there were major cities along what was a coastline of the continent. They became large trade port cities, because at that time, boats were a major source of travel, exploration and transport. While there is little left of the cities themselves, we have digital data recording the culture and look of the ancient cities. Our diving trips are scheduled for mid-day when the temperature can soar to 115, as the average earth temperature at this time is now 90 degrees. We change from our land body suits which protect from extreme temperatures on land, to the diving gear specialized for the submarines designed for deep underwater archaeological exploration. Records show that during the 2000's, extreme overuse of natural resources and overpopulation increased global strain, increased carbon concentration in the atmosphere and caused warming temperatures,  eventually melting all of the glacial ice bodies. This was comparable to the Eocene Epoch which lasted over 20 million years in which extensive extinctions happened. Attached is a map which predicted the look of the continents, created in the year 2013, and is remarkably accurate to todays geography.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2488452/Map-reveals-devastation-worlds-ice-melted.html

Los Angeles Christmas of 7019-Thomas Alexander

With the recent discovery of time travel, vacationing has become much more interesting.  Just this past weekend, I decided to visit my family living in LA 5000 years in the future.  My initial fear was that climate change would have taken a huge toll by then but surprisingly, it seemed to have been figured out.

With all electric cars, trains, and planes, travel has been made extremely environmentally friendly.  Factories reabsorb their own carbon emissions thereby not allowing that carbon to escape into the atmosphere.  All products sold in stores are biodegradable, thereby limiting the amount of waste sitting in landfills.  The only thing I found shocking were the walls surrounding coastal cities because of the risen sea levels.  I was told that when the sea levels rose, it was scary for many, but a quick solution was found.  The temperature is a beautiful 76 degrees.

It was amazing to see how the world had reacted to climate change, I cannot wait to see how that plays out in my lifetime.  It's time for us to start the process now.

Miami, 7020

In 2013, National Geographic reported that it would take around 5,000 years for all of the ice in the world to melt. This is based on the rate of melting we have experienced in the last couple decades. While the sea level would rise considerably, putting many coastal cities underwater, the rise of global temperature that would cause this massive melt would ultimately be the greatest concern for humans.  The average temperature of the planet is projected to be 26.6 degrees Celsius, almost double the 14.4 degrees Celsius average temperature the Earth currently holds.

In 7020, the great city of Miami will be completely underwater. It will hardly take 5,000 years, but as little as 80, according to The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This is due to the projected sea level rise of 6 feet by 2100. The average elevation in Miami is 6 feet. 

Sea levels rise is caused by rising global temperatures, which is accelerated by carbon output. It is safe to assume that even if we decrease carbon output significantly, the natural cycles of the earth will cause a rise in global temperatures enough to capside Miami by 7020. 

Global Warming is happening now, and will continue to happen unless there's a drastic change in environmental policy, not just stateside but worldwide, especially China. I mention China, because they lead the world in carbon emissions, producing 29% of the world's CO2 emissions, and have done even less than the United States to taper it. 

By 7020, Miami will be an example of not only Global Warming, but a product of Earth's cycles. Not only will Miami be underwater, but they will practically be in the open ocean, with the closest coastline 500 miles away in Charleston. In the coming centuries, Miami may survive by converting to a floating city, with little ground to stand on, but that will just delay the inevitable demise of the city. 

Week 8 - Time Travel

For this week's travel journal my wife and I finally finished our time machine. We decided to travel to her home town of Lompoc California. We flashed forward to the 7,010 and can see what society had done to try to combat global warming. All the buildings we knew off have been enhanced to be energy sufficient and all have solar panels on top of them to help get cleaner energy. Cars we saw driving are all fully run on cool fusion, getting rid of global warming gasses. Talking to locals we've learned that the world came together to try to combat global warming so our great, great-grandchildren would have a place to live. The ocean level did rise a little since we started the process later than anyone expected. The temperature was a moderate 70 degrees and it was a nice little stay with my wife. It is good to know that society was able to come together and do what they can to combat climate change. Some of the changes couldn't be mitigated because it was too late, but the changes that were implemented were able to make a difference.

The beaches looked better than ever.

New Boston - Week 8 - Alex Steele

I took a trip to the coast of New Boston, or what 5000 years ago was Newton, MA.
As the ice caps melted and the sea level rose. The ocean overtook major areas of
land and straightened out the coast of Massachusetts. All the coastal cities were
completely flooded over, making
way for New Boston.

Natural CO2 rates weren't respected by any societies. 5000 years ago they
debated whether the increase in CO2 was real. CO2 measured has a direct
relationship to global temperature. Instead of a cool down period, which was
expected to happen, the earth kept heating up. There was a massive increase
of global temperatures. The change altered the ocean currents. Upper East
coast is subjected to hurricanes most months out of the year. 

Soil was enriched more due to rivers having more water, and thus overflowing.
Many of the larger and more rigid trees died as a result. Many of the smaller
more flexible trees survived. Specifically the Charles River has broadened and
runs much faster than it did 5000 years ago. 

Global society wasn't able to switch to alternative forms of energy or to better
means of waste management. We continued to burn fossil fuels, utilize
transportation methods that require fossil fuels, and make alternative methods
too difficult. Countries like India and China particularly had too many people and
no efficient method to address their energy and transportation methods. 

San Diego, 5000 years from now

I took a trip 5,000 years into the future to take a look at the effects that global warming has had on our planet and on civilization. What I discovered was extremely disturbing. CO2 levels have risen so significantly, bringing with it temperature increases that have caused Greenland and Antarctica to melt away. Along with ice and snow melting, there is a downpour of rain causing extreme flooding. This has caused the sea level to rise and our shorelines to be overtaken.

I visited what used to be the city of San Diego. I discover that it sadly is no more.

There was nothing done to curb the production of Carbon Dioxide. The world's economy had become overly dependent on fossil fuel and industry, agriculture, and transportation worldwide were not willing/able to make changes quickly enough to mitigate the damage. Over the course of the 21st century, a process of change began that multiplied in effect and changed life on earth for millennia to come.

Along with these anthropogenic effects, natural causes of climate change were also involved in dissolving San Diego, as it is currently known. A shift in the earth's position, as well as increased frequency of global volcanic activity, which emitted ash and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, contributed to rising sea levels - swallowing this beautiful city.

https://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/looking-ahead
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/07/15/what-sea-level-rise-looks-america-coast/

Week 8 - Derek Bryant

Hello Class,

This week I travelled to the year 7010, this millennia was brighter and more organized than our current year. Nuclear war was averted, and a federation was created in order to bring humans together to explore the far reaches of space. I decided to visit Mami, Florida to investigate if global warming occurred. I discovered it did but not on a scale we were expecting, thanks to our past efforts to go green, cars are fully electric, and people utilize less for what they need. The oceans were at acceptable levels, and the reason behind this was due to the overall overhaul on how mankind operates. Scientist used ice cores during our time period and detected the event of global warming was occurring. Through these ice cores and the receding of the glaciers, it was decided that action had to be taken. Sadly, we did not get to see the advancements that occurred to prevent global warming. The measures they took were enforcing laws that cut down on emission outputs, place a cap on coal plants, and incentives in people buying electric motors. Overtime carbon became less and less and eventually through both education of the youth and re-training of older generations, more was reused, and recycled along with utilizing less resources for our day to day lives. Finally, cities established new codes in order to make space enough for people, but only for what they needed. This helped the return of glaciers; the last ice age was roughly 15,000 years ago. It took almost an additional 5,000 years due to our efforts in carbon output, now the environment is going to a cooler climate. Now the city of Mami, Florida has no water near its streets, instead the water level has retreated due to the polar region refreezing. This action is due to the reverse effects we have done. Now the earths cool and warm cycle has been reestablished, the world was in a troubled state for some time however, the water level did flood Miami making it unlivable in the year 2200. Once the cycles returned, the United States government re-established the city for livable use.

Reference: 

Miami, Florida. (2019). Received From: https://drivesaversdatarecovery.com/blog/drivesavers-announces-new-drop-off-location-miami-florida/

Respectfully,

Derek

Brecheisen Week 8 Future Masdar City

I traveled to Masdar city near Abu Dhabi in the year 7010. It is a city on the forefront of zero-emission engineering in the present. Thankfully, the US rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and the top powers around the word started investing all their power into creating a sustainable future. New building codes were enforced that required homes and communities to be built with green infrastructure. Vehicles that ran on fossil fuels were phased out for electric vehicles, more public transportation, and telecommuting to reduce traffic. Farms were redesigned with a focus on genetic engineering to feed the population with fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The global sea levels did not rise to wipe out coastal cities like Masdar and instead leveled off. This was thanks to the annual global temperatures no longer rising from greenhouse gas emissions.

            Back in the present day, Masdar city began an initiative to create a zero-emission city along with others like Amsterdam. These ideas were not well received and did not receive much funding or many resources. When global scientists stressed the importance of change to prevent disastrous effects of global warming, world leaders began funding ideas like these and making major changes. Over 5000 years, the entire world has evolved to a zero-emission, environmentally-sustainable haven. The movement away from fossil fuels helped to curb global warming. The largest factor and hardest hurdle to overcome was agriculture. Economies across the globe had to invest in genetic engineering of food in order to not only feed the whole population, but also reduce the contributions of agriculture to global warming. More green areas were planted and old mining sites were redeveloped into natural habitats. The increase of vegetation was able to clean the atmosphere of the few remaining harmful greenhouse gases. The model of the world in 7010 is a highly efficient model that may be sustained for the foreseeable future.

Stephen Samuelson Week 8

For this weeks travel journal, I traveled to Los Angeles in the year 7010. Believe it or not, this major city was relatively untouched by the rising sea levels visible today. Shortly after the current presidency, a new wave of liberal politics swept over the United States with a major focus on climate change and general forward thinking. This caused new regulations that focused on reducing fossil fuel usage and, with the help of other major industrial tycoons, sparked the age of natural renewable energy. For this reason, Los Angeles, being one of the major tech hubs in the world, ended up prospering and finding new ways to better the world. Inventions were made to make everything run on renewable energy and was actually the first major city to be fully fossil fuel free. Because of the success of Los Angeles, the technology eventually made it's way throughout the United States, then throughout the world, saving millions upon millions of lives.

Before we go to this point however, there was still a fairly substantial raise in sea level given how late we found out about the climate change crisis. Water over took places like New Orleans and did some damage to coastal cities throughout the world. This visual confirmation united the country as one, and made people finally understand that damage that was unfolding.

Salt Flats in Death Valley

Our family trips continue to be so much fun and excitement. For our visit we decided to stop by Death Valley National Park and see what it’s all about. Little did we know that Death Valley was quite an exciting place to visit. The most interesting part to us was seeing and learning about the Salt Flats. The Salt Flats located in the Badwater Basin covers about 200 square miles. It is the lowest spot in the park and rest at 282 feet below sea level. Due to the harshness, most plants and animals do not survive there. Could you imagine it for a human? Can we say high blood pressure? 

The Salt Flats are formed for three basic reasons. One, the source of salts. This is usually from large drainage system. Two, the fact that the basin does not drain anywhere else. Three, the arid climate. The evaporation in this area exceeds precipitation and leaves behind salt and fine silt. In the Basin you will find that it’s Sodium Chloride which is basically table salt. However, you will also find other minerals like calcite, gypsum and borax. 

Golden Canyon

This week, I visited the Golden Canyon within Death Valley and went on the Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral hike. As you travel down the trail, you are surrounded by golden rock walls. The trail lies inside the rock structures leading me to believe that this area used to a body of water that has now dried up. As you get to the end of the hike, you are met by a massive red rock structure that is known as the cathedral. These rocks are a red color than the rest of the canyon because they have had a reaction with oxygen, causing them to rust. As I was on the hike, I was wondering how the types of rock differ between the canyon and the cathedral, and what time period they came from. Knowing this information would help me create a geological map because I will be able to label the map with the necessary distinctions inside the canyon

Credit: hikespeak.com 

Golden Canyon

Golden Canyon is a landmark of Death Valley that lies at an elevation of just 535 feet.  It is a popular place for hiking and backpacking.  Many people visit this canyon for its great views and long trails.  Camping is also a popular activity around the canyon.

The information that would need answered to construct a geologic map is what event caused the canyon to be built and how long ago was this event?  By knowing the answer to this question we can more effectively construct a geologic map that would better inform the viewers on how this canyon compares and contrasts the surrounding areas.


The question I have from viewing this image is why the difference in color of the different peaks? Are they a different rock subset or has nature just had a different affect on each of these areas of the canyon?

Badwater Salt Flats

The Badwater Salt Flats is made up of 200 square miles of salt. While the ground is just about completely flat throughout, the intrigue comes from what the ground itself is made out of. The salt flats are composed of a shiny white salt, along with other minerals. These salts were originally salt ions in water, remnants from a since dried out lake that once occupied the area.


In order to make a geologic map of the point of interest, we would have to find the chemical makeup of the salt which is covering the ground. This would heighten salt flat understanding foor Death Valley visitors.

WEEK 7 - BADWATER BASIN

Photo: Starfire Photography

BADWATER BASIN - DEATH VALLEY

Death Valley is diverse in topography and geology. On the Badwater Basin stop, the lowest point in North America, I noticed the ridges on the salt flats. The are receives very little to no rainfall. Due to how low it is below sea level compared to the drastic change in altitude from the surrounding mountains, so much heat can get trapped. This makes sense as it does look like a basin or bowl while the mountains can act as shields that trap in (hot) air or hot temperatures. However, as evidenced in the photo above, some rainwater can accumulate.

I would like to know what I would find under the salt flats if I dig deep enough? I would dig a small hold and gather any sediments or rocks, perhaps take photos, and ask the local geologist or ranger (if available) regarding this.

Alex Steele - W7 - Dante's Peak

Here is a photo of Dante’s Peak (Or if you’re a Star Wars fan, Mos Eisley). I noticed a large flat area in between mountain peaks. This is an interesting feature and it indicates fault and plate activity in the area. As the crust is ruptured from the process and lava is deposited on top of the previous sedimentary rock. Using a geologic map, I can identify where the most currently active parts of the area are.