Example Blog Post with MLA In-Text Citations- Electronic Sources (Web Publications)

Global Warming's Canary in the Coal Mine 

In the early days of deep coal mining, miners would take a caged bird, often a Canary, into the tunnels with them.  Wiktionary explains the reasoning behind this:  "If dangerous gases such as methane or carbon monoxide leaked into the mine, the gases would kill the canary before killing the miners, thus providing a warning to exit the tunnels immediately." Furthermore, when people use the phrase "the canary in the coal mine" they are suggesting "something which warns of the coming of greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or welfare".  ("canary in a coal mine ")  When it comes to global climate change, glaciers serve as a “canary in the coal mine” or in other words an indicator that global climate change is occurring.  

Figure 1 (Kirby).  The graph above shows the direct correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide and the increase in global average temperature.   It is widely accepted that the increase in carbon dioxide emissions due to human activity is causing the global average temperature increase.

Glaciers, the world’s frozen reservoirs of water, are shrinking.  The basic concept is that as the Earth’s temperature continues to increase, due increased human produced greenhouse gas emissions (see Figure 1), the glaciers melt faster than they can accumulate water, ice, and snow.  The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) contends that: “The volume of ice in a glacier and correspondingly its surface area, thickness, and length is determined by the balance between inputs (accumulation of snow and ice) and outputs (melting and calving)” (“Early Warning Signs”).  How much are the world’s glaciers shrinking?  The UCS's online article provides this example: “Since 1850 the glaciers of the European Alps have lost about 30 to 40% of their surface area and about half of their volume.” (“Early Warning Signs”). 

Photo: High in the Andes Mountains of South America lies the glacier filled mountain Taulliraju in Huascarán National Park in Peru. (Ederer)

--> Authors Stella Joy and Tara Joy state in their online article “Protecting and Sustaining the Global Fresh Water Cycle” of all the surface water on Earth “only 3% of it is fresh water”.   The article continues of the “3% (of Earth’s fresh water) 2% is found in ice caps and glaciers and 1% in underground sources, rivers, streams, lakes and the atmosphere.  (Joy, and Joy)  Glacial melt water, turns into surface run off which feeds the streams and rivers that flow downslope through mountain valleys and eventually to lakes and reservoirs that provide freshwater sources for large populations.  Glaciers in mountain ranges around the world serve as sources of fresh water for millions of people in their respective geographic regions.  Authors Joy and Joy summarize: 

“Mountain regions cover approximately 25% of the Earths’ land surface and source between 60% and 80% of Earths’ fresh water. All of Earths rivers have their headwaters and origins in them. They are also known as the ‘Water Towers’ of the world. They provide critical storage of fresh water in the form of glaciers, ice and snow. Many streams and rivers would cease to flow entirely if their headwaters and watersheds were not fed by the seasonal melting of these snows. Such valuable storage of fresh water is vital for all life on Earth. However nowadays glaciers and mountain snows are retreating, shrinking and thinning rapidly in all regions of world, threatening the fresh water and food supply for all.”  (Joy, and Joy)  

The fact that the Earth's glaciers are shrinking surely "warns of the coming of greater danger or trouble".  ("canary in a coal mine ")  That trouble or danger is the threat of losing the source of 60% of the Earth's fresh water supply.  Currently, there are a handful of organizations that are dedicated to research, conservation, and awareness of the condition of the remaining mountain glaciers.  One such organization is the American Climber Science Program (ACSP).  Because mountainous regions, particularly glaciers, can be treacherous, the ACSP combines groups of experienced mountain climbers with climate scientists for a series of annual research expeditions.  As it is stated on the American Climber Science Program webpage, “The ACSP works to link scientists and climbers to help provide the knowledge necessary to preserve the alpine environment.”  ("Empowering Climber Scientists")  More information on the American Climber Science Program (ACSP) can be accessed on their webpage:

https://americanalpineclub.org/p/climber-scientists

or 

http://climberscience.wordpress.com/ 

American Climber Science Program (ACSP)
("Empowering Climber Scientists")

References

"canary in a coal mine ." http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/canary_in_a_coal_mine. Wiktionary, 31 Mar 2013. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/canary_in_a_coal_mine>. 

Kirby, Alex, and . Is Global Warming Cooler than Expected? . 2013. Photograph. Scientific AmericanWeb. 28 May 2013. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=is-global-warming-cooler-than-expected>. 

Joy, Stella, and Tara Joy. "Fresh Water & Forest Report- Protecting and Sustaining the Global Fresh Water Cycle." Active Remedy. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://activeremedy.org.uk/pages/?s=watercycle_paper>.

“Early Warning Signs of Global Warming: Glaciers Melting.” Union of Concerned Scientists: Citizens and Scientists for Environmental Solutions.  Union of Concerned Scientists, 10 Nov 2003.  Web.  23 May 2013. 

Ederer, Florian. Taulliraju. 2006. Photograph. wikimedia.orgWeb. 23 May 2013. <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taulliraju.JPG>. 
 

"Empowering Climber Scientists- Conservation and Advocacy." American Alpine Club. American Alpine Club. Web. 28 May 2013. <https://americanalpineclub.org/p/climber-scientists>.

 

Use the following resources:

MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics 

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/

Son of Citation

http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=1&mode=form&rsid=6&reqsrcid=MLAWebDocument&more=yes&nameCnt=1