Environmental Impact on NIAGARA FALLS?

Question

For my culminating geo project, I have to pick a town or city and explain how that specific community is being affected by or contributing global warming (climate change). Then we have to find alternatives for this city, and how they can change their actions and be more environmentally friendly..

Any ideas? links? graphs?

ANYTHING.

I need a start.

Any help is appreciated

Answer 1

I don't know that Niagara Falls is being affected by global warming or contributing to it.  You might want to choose another city.

I would suggest picking an industrial city that could change its ways to produce less greenhouse gases.

Or you could pick a city that has a lot to lose if the climate continues to get warmer.  For example, a costal city like Miami or a winter destination like Vail, Colorado.  Miami might be underwater in 20 years and Vail might not have enough snow to continue operating as a ski resort.

Answer 2

Shrinking glaciers will result in lower water levels in some rivers.  That would cause a decrease in flow over any waterfall.

Answer 3

Interesting topic and region.  I suggest you look also at the wine industry in the Niagara Region.  One effect you would already be aware of would be the difficulty in harvesting grapes for ice wine in the last few years because the first frost of the season was so late.

The first link is an exerpt from an a business article on weather insurance in the wine industry.  Farmers buy insurance against weather ruining their crops, you could mention later frost means higher risk of having no ice wine crop.

For Niagara Falls specifically I would contact Niagara Falls City Hall and the Sir Adam Beck generating plant and ask about water flows (and changes in water usage or by-laws due to Global Warming), power consumption for all the lights and casino games etc, programs that OPG has initiated in the area to save energy.

The second link is to OPG's Energy Efficiency Program