Snowmobiles Research Paper

Snowmobiles have existed since the 1900’s, but it has managed to reform itself since then. The culture of snowmobiles altered from needed transportation to entertainment. The use of these vehicles has increased quite efficiently and has caused various issues regarding the overall use of it as well. As far as we could remember snowmobiles have been around for a while now. It is a part of the Indigenous culture and represented how the indigenous people transported in the arctic. The main use for this vehicle was strictly used for transportation and that too if it was essential. As time went by, the snowmobile progressed throughout the years and we came to realize how big of an impact the snowmobile has in the arctic. We also hadn’t realized when …show more content…
It’s actually an important source for everyone around the world. Without it, it would be impossible to grow food, or receive any money for it. One of the many issues in the arctic involves soil and vegetation damage which has increased due to excessive use of snowmobiles. There is already a short period of time where food and resources are used for vegetation. The growth period only lasts about a few months due to the cold temperatures. The summer is usually when people invest their time into the growth of these plants in order to stock up for the cold winters they may have. Also another way the Indigenous people are affected is by finance. They could solely depend on vegetation resources to survive with their families and if that is taken away from them, then it could be far more difficult for them to survive. “The impact of snowmobiles was greatest on soil and rock lichens and rigid cushion plants. Those plants that resisted and tolerate the damage were found to have less height and a reduced woody biomass, such as grassy species” (Newsome & Moore, 2002, p.141). This quote helps us understand the damage in quality snowmobiles have on vegetation. If there were already a short period of time for plants to grow into a mature level, having those same plants smaller each year would reduce the sales and food sources. Damaging the soil and vegetation of the arctic is harmful for the …show more content…
Air should be clean for everyone to begin with. We do not pay for air, but we do have the right to speak up when the air is no longer safe. Snowmobiles have increasingly affected the air pollution in the arctic. “Because of gas-guzzling, oil-burning, two stoke engines, snowmobiles produce exponentially more pollution than cars. As hundreds of snowmobilers warmed their engines, exhaust hung over the town like a petrochemical fog” (Long, 2001, p.31). It’s outrageous how much pollution a single snowmobile can cause. If a single snowmobile produces more pollution than cars, then we can estimate and understand what that potential pollution does to the air and environment in the arctic. Since snowmobiles have increasingly become popular over the years, it has become an activity more than a need. With hundreds of snowmobiles being warmed up at the same time, or even at separate times, we can realize how difficult it could be to breathe that particular air. When the air is polluted there are many other problems that come along. There are safety hazards to look for and also health-related problems. Safety hazards could be shown through the petrochemical fog that is created through these snowmobiles. A nearby hiker or skier could be at danger of not knowing where to proceed in the fog. A health concern could be related to the air polluted. Overtime health concerns could be developed slowly, but could cause lifetime