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Wyatt Timmons
Dr. Guenzel
ENC 1102
31 March 2015
Rhetorical Analysis
A large study, or “circular”, written by the renowned researcher Paul Barlow, serves as a
major bulk resource of information on my research of Salt-water intrusion. The research circular,
titled “Ground Water in Freshwater-Saltwater Environments of the Atlantic Coast”, is a
combination of studies over the past twenty years for the sole purpose of constructing a sound
and certain view on the condition of Fresh-water and coastal aquifers within Florida. The
research highlights the degradation of freshwater supplies, the influx of Salt-water intrusion, as
well as the problem of Sea-level rise. The circular I am using to reference for my research is a
large compilation of experiments and data on salt-water intrusion, and although holding a vast
amount of information, it is important to analyze the text to identify bias, or false facts, and to
uncover the credibility of the information, otherwise the information may be useless in an
argument.
The author of this article is Paul Barlow, who is a renowned researcher of the Atlantic
coast, as well as fresh and salt-water ecosystems primarily in the state of Florida, and has
received the award for “excellence in science and engineering” from the U.S. Geological Survey
in 2014 (3). Dr. Barlow has participated in many studies on climate impact on Florida
environments, but has focused on Salt-water intrusion and water movements in the contiguous
United States. Dr. Barlow, having a bachelors in Geology, a masters in hydrology, and a PHD in
Environmental Engineering has no lack of education. Also, having been a hydrologist for the
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U.S.G.S. for over 30 years means he has no lack of experience either (2). I have two studies
where Dr. Barlow provided information on salt-water intrusion, but the largest and most in depth
one is over 200 pages long, and features abstracts and summaries of many different studies that
he had included in his work. Dr. Barlow is a popular Florida researcher and has no refutes to any
of his research papers or journals, and his work is widely known and reputable. There is no doubt
that Dr. Barlow knows what he is doing, or that his work is legitimate.
Dr. Barlow wrote and compiled this work to raise awareness of the evidence of salt-water
intrusion in South Florida, as well as various parts of the coast and even inland waters. The piece
was finished only four years ago using work dating back to the nineties, as well as his own newer
work. The work compiled from the nineties, however, does not show the drastic prediction that
saltwater intrusion could become a large problem to our state, it is only shown in more recent
studies, and in Dr. Barlow’s work as well. This range of research, about twenty years, allows me
to see how the attitude of scientists changed leading up to now. The paradigm shift from minor
problem to future disaster is very evident. It can be seen, both obvious and subtle, in Barlow’s
past work, that despite the lack of water-conservation priority among researchers in the past, Dr.
Barlow has always been conscientious of the perils of Salt-water intrusion and over-exploitation
of ground water.
The claim of the study is hard to pinpoint, as it is one study of many studies compiled
together to form one large research project. So one must look closely at what Dr. Barlow is
stating in his summaries and work. The claim is to show, as well as understand, the disastrous
change in freshwater-aquifers around the state, and to effectively summarize, the state of the
aquifers now, as well as, give a good educated guess as to what the future holds for our
freshwater. The paper serves to raise awareness among the people of Florida, as well as try to
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convince state legislators and peoples of power that there is a problem. This claim can be
highlighted by his use of words in the abstract of his study. Barlow states, “Because of a growing
awareness of the critical role of ground water in sustaining coastal populations, economies, and
ecosystems, the time is right to review some of the important water-management issues and
scientific principles related to ground water in the Atlantic coastal zone, and to identify some of
the scientific and management challenges that lie ahead” (1). This quote serves to persuade the
reader that, even before the presentation of evidence, there is indeed a water issue in the state of
Florida, and there will be consequences. Dr. Barlow writes, “Because of a growing
Awareness…the time is right to review…” saying there is a well-known issue, convincing the
reader they should be aware of it.
Barlow uses the stature of the institution who conscripted his research, and approved it, to
make his argument look more steadfast. The U.S.G.S., or U.S. Geological Survey, is cited many
times as a point, stating their strong influence and work in Coastal sciences and studies. Barlow
states, “The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a long history of conducting scientific studies
of ground water in the Atlantic coastal zone. This Circular draws heavily on the body of
scientific knowledge developed over several decades of USGS monitoring and studies” (1). He
uses this sentence in his abstract to bring a sense of guarantee of legitimacy to the research
within his paper.
While being a government-endorsed and data-backed research paper, comprised mostly
of summaries of data and diagrams, it is hard to seek out bias. Having read the whole study there
is but one source of bias, and even so, it is controversially unbiased as well. Being that Dr.
Barlow states Sea-level rise as a contributor to Salt-water intrusion, citing that it is a data backed
argument that can be proved in his research. The fact that some people deny Sea-level rise as an
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occurrence at all, is a point of bias on Dr. Barlow’s part, whether it be a fact or not. Though the
fact that Dr. Barlow believes a couse of Salt-water intrusion does not in any way affect the fact
that salt-water intrusion is a problem, and regardless of causes needs a solution.
The paper consists of more than 30 studies and 200 pages, and well organized, with a
table of contents that leads one to exactly which study they want to see as well as pointing to the
summary of that work. It starts out with an abstract explaining the paper and research, then
explains to the reader what salt-water intrusion is before introducing the various studies and
diagrams. A bulk mass of the work are data and diagrams from various studies used to explain
the change in our coasts and water over time, accompanied by explanations and papers regarding
the assumption the data is used to provoke. The paper uses citations from a wide array of other
studies that are regarded as sound reports in the scientific community, being that they have been
cleared and stamped by the NOAA and US Geological Survey. Overall the paper is very well put
together, and very easy to traverse for important information and data.
The paper, belonging to the U.S. Geological Survey, is composed of original work done
by Barlow, as well as, many other works of research by people who work for either USGS or
NOAA, and proves to be an efficient source for my research, holding information on intrusion in
many parts of the state, as well as many scientist’s takes on causes, as well as what to implement
as a solution.
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Work Cited
1. Barlow, Paul. Ground Water in Freshwater-Saltwater Environments of the Atlantic
Coast. USGS Ground-Water Resources Program (GWRP): Freshwater-Saltwater
Interactions along the Atlantic Coast. USGS, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
<http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2003/circ1262/>.
2. Barlow, Paul. "Profile of Dr. Barlow." Linkedin. N.p., n.d. Web.
3. "National Ground Water Association." USGS's Paul Barlow and Stanley Leake
Receive
NGWA Award for Excellence in Science & Engineering - National
Groundwater
Association. NGWA, 17 Nov. 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.ngwa.org/Media-Center/press/2014/Pages/2014-11-17-awardhem.aspx>.