• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Record salinity and low water imperil Great Salt Lake

JacksinPA

Supporting Member
DP Veteran
Monthly Donator
Joined
Dec 3, 2017
Messages
26,290
Reaction score
16,771
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Progressive

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is smaller and saltier than at any time in recorded history. In July, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the world’s third-largest saline lake had dropped to the lowest level ever documented. And this week researchers measured the highest salt concentrations ever seen in the lake’s southern arm, a key bird habitat. Salinity has climbed to 18.4%, exceeding a threshold at which essential microorganisms begin to die.

The trends, driven by drought and water diversion, have scientists warning that a critical feeding ground for millions of migrating birds is at risk of collapse. “We’re into uncharted waters,” says biochemist Bonnie Baxter of Westminster College, who has been documenting the lake’s alarming changes. “One week the birds are gone from a spot we usually see them. The next week we see dead flies along the shore. And each week we have to walk further to reach the water.”
====================================================================
It's not a fantasy to predict that future wars will be fought over water shortages as countries up stream dam rivers like the Mekong.

Too bad repugs seem to refuse to accept man-caused climate change.
 
It'll be interesting to see just how bad things need to get before Conservatives wake up to climate change.
Does half the us need to be without water?
 

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is smaller and saltier than at any time in recorded history. In July, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the world’s third-largest saline lake had dropped to the lowest level ever documented. And this week researchers measured the highest salt concentrations ever seen in the lake’s southern arm, a key bird habitat. Salinity has climbed to 18.4%, exceeding a threshold at which essential microorganisms begin to die.

The trends, driven by drought and water diversion, have scientists warning that a critical feeding ground for millions of migrating birds is at risk of collapse. “We’re into uncharted waters,” says biochemist Bonnie Baxter of Westminster College, who has been documenting the lake’s alarming changes. “One week the birds are gone from a spot we usually see them. The next week we see dead flies along the shore. And each week we have to walk further to reach the water.”
====================================================================
It's not a fantasy to predict that future wars will be fought over water shortages as countries up stream dam rivers like the Mekong.

Too bad repugs seem to refuse to accept man-caused climate change.
But I thought MTG said the heat was good for us?
 

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is smaller and saltier than at any time in recorded history. In July, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the world’s third-largest saline lake had dropped to the lowest level ever documented. And this week researchers measured the highest salt concentrations ever seen in the lake’s southern arm, a key bird habitat. Salinity has climbed to 18.4%, exceeding a threshold at which essential microorganisms begin to die.

The trends, driven by drought and water diversion, have scientists warning that a critical feeding ground for millions of migrating birds is at risk of collapse. “We’re into uncharted waters,” says biochemist Bonnie Baxter of Westminster College, who has been documenting the lake’s alarming changes. “One week the birds are gone from a spot we usually see them. The next week we see dead flies along the shore. And each week we have to walk further to reach the water.”
====================================================================
It's not a fantasy to predict that future wars will be fought over water shortages as countries up stream dam rivers like the Mekong.

Too bad repugs seem to refuse to accept man-caused climate change.
Not only is it not fantasy, it is happening now.
 

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is smaller and saltier than at any time in recorded history. In July, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the world’s third-largest saline lake had dropped to the lowest level ever documented. And this week researchers measured the highest salt concentrations ever seen in the lake’s southern arm, a key bird habitat. Salinity has climbed to 18.4%, exceeding a threshold at which essential microorganisms begin to die.

The trends, driven by drought and water diversion, have scientists warning that a critical feeding ground for millions of migrating birds is at risk of collapse. “We’re into uncharted waters,” says biochemist Bonnie Baxter of Westminster College, who has been documenting the lake’s alarming changes. “One week the birds are gone from a spot we usually see them. The next week we see dead flies along the shore. And each week we have to walk further to reach the water.”
====================================================================
It's not a fantasy to predict that future wars will be fought over water shortages as countries up stream dam rivers like the Mekong.

Too bad repugs seem to refuse to accept man-caused climate change.


Yeah..................low snowfall years in Canada will create this condition.

News at 11.
 
No run off from Canada goes to the great salt lake
 

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is smaller and saltier than at any time in recorded history. In July, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the world’s third-largest saline lake had dropped to the lowest level ever documented. And this week researchers measured the highest salt concentrations ever seen in the lake’s southern arm, a key bird habitat. Salinity has climbed to 18.4%, exceeding a threshold at which essential microorganisms begin to die.

The trends, driven by drought and water diversion, have scientists warning that a critical feeding ground for millions of migrating birds is at risk of collapse. “We’re into uncharted waters,” says biochemist Bonnie Baxter of Westminster College, who has been documenting the lake’s alarming changes. “One week the birds are gone from a spot we usually see them. The next week we see dead flies along the shore. And each week we have to walk further to reach the water.”
====================================================================
It's not a fantasy to predict that future wars will be fought over water shortages as countries up stream dam rivers like the Mekong.

Too bad repugs seem to refuse to accept man-caused climate change.
Not to be a climate denier, but the great salt lake will eventually disappear and become an extension of the Bonneville salt flats. That is how salt flats are formed.
 
No run off from Canada goes to the great salt lake

Surely Trump would have stopped any of that horrible Canadian water infecting the mighty MAGA nation?
 
Fix it with a name change:

Notso Great Salt Lake
 

Utah’s Great Salt Lake is smaller and saltier than at any time in recorded history.
That is not saying much. Recorded history of Utah's Great Salt Lake is what, maybe 200 years at best?

In July, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the world’s third-largest saline lake had dropped to the lowest level ever documented. And this week researchers measured the highest salt concentrations ever seen in the lake’s southern arm, a key bird habitat. Salinity has climbed to 18.4%, exceeding a threshold at which essential microorganisms begin to die.

The trends, driven by drought and water diversion, have scientists warning that a critical feeding ground for millions of migrating birds is at risk of collapse. “We’re into uncharted waters,” says biochemist Bonnie Baxter of Westminster College, who has been documenting the lake’s alarming changes. “One week the birds are gone from a spot we usually see them. The next week we see dead flies along the shore. And each week we have to walk further to reach the water.”
====================================================================
It's not a fantasy to predict that future wars will be fought over water shortages as countries up stream dam rivers like the Mekong.

Too bad repugs seem to refuse to accept man-caused climate change.
If there is less water flowing into the lake than either flowing out or is being evaporated, then naturally the lake is going to get smaller. As the lake gets smaller the salinity is going to increase.

Mono Lake in California, which has no exits, has been drying up for decades and because Los Angeles was using the lake as a water source, the lake's salinity levels went through the roof as the lake level dropped.

Lakes have a tendency to go with changes in the climate. Before 11,700 years ago, and the beginning of the Holocene Interglacial period even the Great Lakes didn't exist. Just over 9,000 years ago what is the Sahara desert today was once dotted with thousands of lakes and lush with vegetation.

The Great Salk Lake is just another victim of on-going climate change, which has absolutely nothing to do with humanity. The climate was changing long before humans arrived, and the climate will continue to change long after humans are gone. To believe that humanity could have any effect on the climate, either way, is pure hubris, nothing more.
 
Back
Top Bottom