California's Coastal Ocean Region Essay

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California's costal ocean region is characterized with both positive and negative attributes. The California Coastal Region is along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This area is a beautiful, desirable area to live in, causing real estate to be among the highest in the United States. In fact, this area was one of the fastest to recover after the great recession of 2008, due primarily to its natural beauty. In addition, the per capita income for families in the area is also usually higher than the general population in the country. This fact is intuitive as higher income families are those best able to afford the beauty and natural elements in which the California costal region offers. There are many rivers and streams that lead out to the ocean. The popular Redwood Forest is also within the vicinity of the costal region. There are beautiful mountains and sand dunes to enjoy. California Coastal Region has many delightful natural resources to enjoy (Skinner, 2006)

The major physical features and costal land forms of the region are varied and diverse. The region, contrary to popular belief is home to many mountain ranges and tectonic activity. In fact, pundits have argued that California, due to seismic activity could actually disconnect from the United States geographically. Tectonic and volcanic activity, occurring over the past 250 million years, created many of the coastal mountain ranges prevalent today. Both the Farallon and Channel Island systems are the result of similar geologic process. Tectonic activity has created the islands as tectonic plates collide against one another. This occurrence seemingly does nothing in regards to geographic creation. Over time however, as the plates continue to slide and collide with one another, islands begin to form. This is what has occurred throughout the cost of California as small fertile islands have been created through earthquakes another natural phenomenon.

Coastal streams and rivers, along with wind and rain, shape and tear down these mountains through erosion. The powerful, ceaseless waves of the Pacific also cut into the coast mountain ranges and carve vertical cliffs, terraces, and bluffs into the rock. These physical features are what create the massive ecosystem within the coast. Through erosion, natural rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds are formed. Much like the tectonic activity mentioned above, this occurs through natural means and gives rise to varying land forms. For example, erosion creates sand beaches; it creates fertile soil that supports many of the nation's most beloved animals and ecosystems. It also allows oak tress and other forms of foliage to live and prosper independent from human interference. Elsewhere along the California coast, debris from wave erosion and sand deposited by streams and rivers accumulates and forms California's sandy beaches. Inland, where wind-blown sand from the beaches collects, one can find fragile systems of coastal dunes, home to rare and unique wide life. Coastal rivers and streams meet with the salty waters of the Pacific and create the marshes and lagoons which constitute California's coastal wetlands. In other areas, abrasive sand and wave motion cut grooves and pockets into the rock and intertidal communities and tide pools form. And even below the Pacific's waters geologic forces act, through many of the same processes, on the sea floor. All of these occurrences help create many of the physical features and costal land forms that characterize the California costal region. Although many of these aspects have occurred through various means, they all constituted an ecosystem which is unique and unparalleled in regards to its diversity and intrinsic value (Beckey, 2006).

The coast's climate is very different in the northern coast and the southern coast. Dramatic changes in elevation and a variety of climatic zones contribute to a diversity of plant life in California's coastal mountains. Elevation in particular is key as air quality, atmospheric pressure, and overall weather are altered dramtically. As such species that live further below the mountains would have a difficult time surviving in the upper regions of the mountains. Likewise, species of plants and animals in the upper region would have difficulty living in the lower region as well. Heavy winter rainfall, summer fog, and moderate temperatures have produced redwood groves where 2,000-year-old trees tower more than 300 feet above the forest floor. This redwoods are the tallest trees known to man and can live for long periods of time. South of San Francisco Bay, the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains is covered with stands of redwood while the drier regions of the southern Coast Ranges are vegetated with oaks, pines, and chaparral.

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Again, this is due primarily to the varying climates that are predominate in each region. As precipitation decreases southward, in the central and southern Coast Ranges, stands of hardwoods including tanbark oak, coast live oak, big- leaf maple, and marine begin to outnumber conifers. On steeper slopes and exposed ridges where thin soils lose moisture rapidly, drought-resistant chaparral species such as chemise, manzanita, sage, and scrub oak take hold

One of the most notable islands within the region is Angel Island which was a conduit for immigration. The island helped welcome nearly 1 million immigrants between 1910 and 1940. This was due primarily to the attractive natural resources the island possessed. The land is very fertile and has been known to harbor a multitude of gold resources. The island is unique in that it only 1.2 miles wide. It is now considered a national park. Alcatraz Island is notably one of the most famous islands along the coast. Popular culture along with the media has glorified this island and its uses throughout the use. Most notable the island was once home to a military fortification, a federal prison, and lighthouse. Many considered Alcatraz prison the coldest and most harsh facility in the United States. Many of these islands are home to very rainy and foggy weather. This weather is in fact very ideal for certain forms of foliage and animal species. The coast supports a diversity of plant communities and tens of thousands of species of insects and other invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds, and mammals, including numerous rare and endangered species. Many of the habitats along the California coast are very distinctive. For instance, the coast is home the tallest tree on earth which is the redwood. The coasts unique climate and structure help support the redwood and its surrounding habitat. The central valley is also a unique area that is home to numerous mountain ranges and mountain fed rivers. As noted earlier, natural erosion is unique to this area as many of the surrounding areas are naturally irrigated. The Sierra Nevada is also a unique area along the coast. The Sierra has roughly 250 sunny days each year, warm summers, fierce winters, and varied terrain. This is a rare combination of rugged variety and pleasant weather that is not found anywhere else in the world (Harris, 2005).

Although California is home to many unique species, habitats and ecosystems, it is not without its share of environmental issues. One of which is deforestation and rapid population increases. California, along with Florda, Texas, and New York are home to some of the highest immigration rates in the United States. As such, more individuals are moving towards the coasts and surrounding islands. Land is therefore being cleared at a very rapid rate, ultimately damaging the surrounding environment and ecosystem. Overpopulation harms the ecosystem as less land is available for species to live on. Rare and exotic animals can easily be poached or killed for economic means. Plants, foliage and other natural resources could also potentially be depleted by rapid population expansion (Smith,1976).

Global warming is also another issue prevalent within the region. Statistics have proven that the earth is warming due to carbon emissions and other man made occurrences. Many of the species along the coast of California need a particular temperature to survive and flourish. Otherwise they are prone to extinction by the likes of man made occurrences. Chemical emissions overall can also harm wildlife, inhibit the growth of plants, damage soil, and ultimately undermine the entire coastal ecosystem.

Finally, man made instruments used to increase efficiencies are having unintended consequences on the environment. As discussed earlier, coastal rivers play a crucial role in replenishing sand lost from beaches. In Northern California, the larger, perennial rivers carry sediments eroded from their upper watersheds to coastal beaches throughout the year. But in Southern California, where rivers run intermittently, stream sediments reach the beaches only during large storms and floods. Dam construction and urban development along these rivers have reduced their natural sediment loads, resulting in serious sand supply and erosion problems on south coast beaches (Sawyer,2006)......

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