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What are the effects of global warming and the greenhouse effect
Impact of global warming on the environment
Impact of global warming on the environment
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When most people hear about climate change, the first things that come to mind are pollution, warming of the earth, and polar ice caps. Climate change is an alteration of the environment, temperature, and weather due to a high emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse- gases such as oil, coal, and gas are being released into the air causing the earth to warm. This change in climate will cause a ripple effect and oceans will be warmer. Then, glaciers will melt and cause a rise in sea level, which could eventually drown large cities such as Miami, Florida. As a result of climate change, there could eventually be drought, famine, and cites underwater. Global warming is a controversial topic and some believe climate change …show more content…
A problem that has been occurring lately in the environment is the rapid liquidation of ice in the Arctic Ocean, and the vast emission of greenhouse-gases are causing those changes. In the Late 1970’s sea ice was at the lowest point and still covered about half of the Arctic Ocean. In 2012 the sea ice was at a low point in the middle of September, and the sea ice covered 24 percent of the Arctic Ocean. According to Walt Meier, a research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, he says, “The Arctic is the Earth’s air – conditioner.” Meier goes on to say, “We are loosing that. It’s not just that polar bears might go extinct, or the native communities might have to adapt, which we’re already seeing –there are larger climate effects”. Scientist now believes that the Arctic Ocean could be free of summer ice in 2020.This is a serious prediction, but the U.S is treating this information as if it is something that could never happen, they have not taken steps to limit the use of greenhouse –gas emission with any urgency. The United States is more concerned with the struggling economy and it is making really hard to pass legislation to tax carbon emissions. The major concern with the sea ice melting is the possibility for a rise in sea level. The sea level is rising one foot per century, but climate scientists expect an even greater increase as the Earth gets warmer. …show more content…
The World Health Organization predicted that climate change has caused over 140,000 deaths per year since 2004. These deaths are being caused by malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and other illnesses. A 2010 study was done by the U.S Interagency Working Group and they discovered that as the planet warms infectious diseases could become more common, such as: deaths caused by heat and respiratory problems from allergens and smog (Williams 26). To prevent these things from happening scientist are trying to find ways to stop the warming temperatures. A plan that scientist have come up with so far is to suck the Carbon Dioxide out of the air. Another plan to lower the warming temperature is to shield the Earth from the sunlight by reflecting the sunlight back into space. The National Research Council will review each plan, and advise the federal government on what to do (Mole 14). “People may one day find themselves in a climate emergency when the risks of doing nothing outweigh the risks of of an intervention,” says Waleed Abdalati a climate scientist at he University of Colorado Boulder. Climate intervention is meant to encourage and help people to be aware of what is going on with the weather, temperature, and the environment. Climate intervention is all called geoengineering and this field of study draws a lot of
First, global warming has an immense impact on Arctic Sovereignty as the rise of greenhouse gases thrive in Canada along with other countries. Within 20 years, the polar ice caps of the Arctic have melted twice as fast compared to before. The loss of Arctic ice can furthermore pose a threat to shipping, as navigating the Arctic becomes increasingly challenging. Finally, climate change threatens the extinction of numerous animal species, namely the polar bear. Hence, global warming poses a major challenge to Arctic Sovereignty and Canada along with other members in the Arctic Council must prevent it.
Various glaciers in Alaska and other parts of the United States have shrunk dramatically. If temperatures continue to rise, the ice will continue to melt, and some glaciers could disappear completely, which causes sea levels to rise. There are many animals, birds, and seafood that depend solely on glaciers for survival. With an increase in sea water temperature, and increasing sea levels, sea-plants that these fish thrive on will be lost, lowering the number of seafood, which in-turn will make survival of many species difficult. The arctic is source region for cold ocean currents and with no ice it will have no density and temperature distinctions, which pushes the ocean currents. If the ocean current heat transfer mechanism powers down,
Climate change is on the international policy agenda primarily because of warnings from scientists. Their forecasts of a potentially dangerous increase in the average global temperature, fortuitously assisted by unusual weather events, have prompted governments to enter into perhaps the most complicated and most significant set of negotiations ever attempted. Key questions - the rapidity of global climate change, its effects on the natural systems on which humans depend, and the options available to lessen or adapt to such change - have energized the scientific and related communities in analyses that are deeply dependent on scientific evidence and research.
Global Warming changing the earth’s climate is already having an effect on the world’s water supply in many ways, and is predicted to be much worse. Global Warming and climate change will influence water temperatures, weather systems and for the amount of water in streams and rivers. A change in the world’s water is a concern for the whole world. Climate change will affect both the quality and the quality of water, algae and bacteria will grown in areas where they are not normally found, and in other areas, salinity of the water will rise. A rise in atmospheric temperature will speed up the pace of the water cycle, it produce more rapid evaporation leading to more intense storms, floods and drought. In some cases, areas can become susceptible to becoming wetter and drier than normal, experiencing increased flooding in the winter and more drought risks in the summer.
It is an unquestioned fact that the climate is changing. There is abundant evidence that the world is becoming warmer and warmer. The temperature of the global land average temperature has increased by about 8.5 degrees centigrade from 1880 to 2012 (Karr, et al 406). The one or two degrees increase in temperature can cause dramatic and serious consequences to the earth as well as humans. More extreme weather occurs, such as heat waves and droughts. The Arctic Region is especially sensitive to global climate change. According to the data in recent decades, the temperature in the Arctic has increased by more than 2 degrees centigrade in the recent half century (Przybylak 316). Climate change has led to a series of environmental and ecological negative
Whether the polar ice caps and sea ice around the globe are preserved could mean the difference between major changes in the way of living for some organisms, and life or death for others. This issue of melting Arctic and Antarctic ice is overlooked by many politicians, common people, and even some scientists, but if we stand up now and take action to halt the rapidly disappearing ice, humanity may just survive the potential threat and the catastrophes that it can
Climate change. The two letter word so feared by scientists, so ignored by the average human being. What is it that makes scientists fear this phrase so much? For the concept of “climate change” has been seen throughout the history of the earths existence. For centuries, our climate has fluctuated through increasing and decreasing amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide and climatic cycles. So what is the big deal? The problem, and the reason why this concept instills fear directly into the core of scientists is the rate at which over the past 1,300 years atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen. This unnatural increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, due to the immense amount of anthropogenic burning of oil and coal, affects the transfer
Global heating and cooling has occurred on a cycle for millennia, however in the past thirty years the increased use of energy and fuels by humans has drastically changed this natural occurrence (Juerg, 2007). The largest cause of this warming is the release of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide levels are twenty-five percent higher than they were in 1957 (UCS, 2013). This seemingly insignificant change has caused a myriad of negative effects. The endangerment of species, rising sea levels, and increased natural disasters are just a few examples of change brought about by global warming (Juerg, 2007).
My parents grew up in small town in Mexico. There was a little river that went through part of the town when they were growing up. Every weekend or so they would go out and would go swimming with their families, it almost became a tradition to go swimming there until they noticed that the river 's water level was becoming smaller and smaller. Today there is no river anymore, instead it 's a road that travels through the town. Every time I visit my family in Mexico it would alway be nice and warm up until this year when I went in December. I remember waking up and getting ready to go to my aunt 's house in clothes for warm weather. As I open the door, the cold air punch me and I saw snowflakes falling down. It 's not supposed to snow in that
Nowadays, we can see a lot of campaigns to reduce this humans’ contribution of greenhouse gases to atmosphere. These campaign’s missions are usually about reducing the energy that we use, convincing us to use recyclable energy, stopping the deforestation... These missions are all about mitigating to climate change. Climate change mitigation is the actions to limit the significant rate of long term climate change. In other words, climate change mitigation is all of the actions about lowering the humans’ greenhouse gas contribution to atmosphere. It is now too late for humans’ to prevent the effects of climate change, but these effects can be reduced in the future with mitigation. The most popular treaty, disenchant of humanity, is Kyoto Protocol. The main goal of Kyoto Protocol is reducing the human emitted greenhouse gases, in other word, mitigation. Also in ways that underlying national differences in GHG emissions, wealth, and capacity to make th...
The concern is caused by the fact that “Ice is melting at rates remarkable to the human eye, which quickens the movement of glaciers and ice sheets” (Source 1). The fifth largest continent shows ice melting at an astonishing rate, causing many problems for humans, animals, and the environment. Unfortunately, melting ice and extreme weather are not the only consequences of rising weather and carbon emissions, but “most of civilization is gathered along fragile coastlines” (Source 1). The land where industries and cities are built are dependent on a safe and environmentally equal world. Many cities are clustered around the most vulnerable areas around the world.
Preventing Canadians and polar bears from melting away in the everlasting heatwave will be a challenge. Perhaps having China (who may I say is responsible for contributing the most to climate change), will formulate an agenda to alleviate the human use of fossil fuels. Then again, this seems like an inconceivable scenario. This leaves it to
Global warming is a serious problem with two major effects which are increasing in sea level and degradation of wild lives. Increase in sea level is affecting the entire landmass of the earth. According to NASA, the polar ice cap is melting at the alarming rate of nine percent per decade. Arctic ice thickness has decreased 40 percent since the 1960s (Oskin). The amount of water is more than the land in our planet. If this global warming continues at this pace, soon there will be no ground left on earth. The terrestrial animals will be exterminated from the earth if glo...
... of extreme weather and melting ice caps are indicators of global warming. Because these things will affect society, there are important decisions that have to be made in the present as well as in the future to secure people’s lives and lifestyles. The world community is aware of this serious issue and do already prepare for projects to slow down global warming, but they still have to improve. If the world leaders stop worrying about this issue, the future generations could be in danger. The future lifestyles will be affected by the decisions made in the present day. Society has much to improve to save energy and to lower greenhouse gas emissions. There are also small things people can do to help. Individuals can live a life without wasting energy or polluting the environment. Without effort, global warming endangers the quality of life for the future generations.
One of the most substantial problems in the world today is global warming. This gradual warming of the earth is in occurrence at an extremely slow rate but it is happening. Many scientists believe that as human’s work and release greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere, it can become dangerous for the long lasting life of humans and our environment. “Unless we take immediate action, the impacts of global warming will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect the entire planet - including you, your community, and your family” (“Global Warming Impacts”). Everyone should be knowledgeable about global warming and the dangers that it brings to our planet. This essay will examine