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Global warming and how it affects our planet
Fossil fuels and alternative sources of energy
The effect of global warming on the world
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The Long Term Effects of Using Natural Resources
Did you know that oil may no longer be available by 2050? This is due to over consumption over hundreds of years. How much oil do you think you use in a year’s time? The average American household uses 3-4 gallons of oil a day, that’s 1,277 gallons of oil a year! The long term effects of using natural resources are global warming, polluted water ways and also the depletion of oil.
Global warming can lead to the end of life as we know it. Global warming is induced by the burning of fossil fuels, which releases a gas known as carbon dioxide. “The intergovernmental panel on climate change, which includes more than 1,300 scientists from the united states and other countries, forecast a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century” (INTERNATIONAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE). Global warming isn’t something we can over look it affects almost everything on earth. Also global warming is leading not only mankind but other species to extinction. “Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate change are now occurring: loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves” (IPOCC). The effects of burning fossil flues over hundreds of years are finally catching up to us, and forcing us to make a drastic change or face harsh living conditions and maybe even extinction. Burning fossil flues has made a major impact on almost every living things everyday life. Global warming is ...
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...elf but to mother earth. One must vow to never flood the earth with manmade products which are not decomposable. One must also vow to end or at least limit ones use and consumption of oil, coal, and water. Oil companies simply has society guessing about peak oil which is how much oil is left. There’s not an infinite amount of mountains to mine and blow up for precious coal. Only 1% of all water is drinkable without treatment, stating that already over one-million people face water problems that number can only increase if nothing changes. Change has to come; if nothing changes humans will not thrive another century, humans may not be in existence another century if we continue to consume and pollute mother earths natural resources.
In ancient times Babylonians used oil as mortar, Native Americans used oil as a topical medicine, and, before electricity, oil was used to create light. Mankind has been dependant on oil as a resource for generations. It has influenced growth, warfare, and technological advancement, but what if mankind were to run out (Alois)? The possibility of this eventuality was first vocalized by M. King Hubbert who introduced the notion of “peak oil.” When global oil production “peaks” it reaches its greatest output level and then permanently declines (Hubbert). There is much debate as to whether this “peak” exists, has already been passed, or will be passed in the near future. Despite the debate there is one undeniable fact; there is a finite amount of oil since it is a non renewable resource. Considering a sudden systemic collapse of all oil production seems unlikely, oil will probably be replaced gradually. This loss of oil could be positive; possibly less CO2 would enter the atmosphere and global warming may be stalled. However, the success of this transition away from fossil fuels will be largely dependant on the ability of developed nations to manage their time. If the US, or any other nation, is going to be successful, they need to start now.
We find ourselves in unique situation. A debate of whether it is right to dig up oil in the Great Lakes. The lakes are known to contain oil and natural gas, but what risk does that play to our environment? The two sides in this debate both have their valid points. It is right to preserve wildlife, but oil is also a highly valuable commodity in today’s market. People often stress that we must take care of our planet because it is the only one we have. Why then do we destroy thousands of square miles of rainforest for wood? Why is there so much emphasis on industrialization, and not enough on the preservation of our Earth? Why do we need to use so much, nevertheless waste so much? Our environment and world is declining at a rate at which we cannot afford. It will be sad to see our planet in another few hundred years. We need to start preserving our environment, and not drilling our Great Lakes for oil is a great place to start. If we drill for oil, we will lose much wildlife, destroy habitats, have possible oil spills, and in fact endanger ourselves in the long run.
Climate change will ruin the world as people know it and if people do not do something now, everyone will die. At least, this is David Wallace-Wells assertion in his article The Uninhabitable Earth in New York magazine. Wallace-Wells establishes the issue of climate change in a new way where if people do not start taking scientists’ warnings about it seriously, then all living things will die. Wallace-Wells’ robust and frightening images of the the effects of climate change, appeals to his audience’s sense of fear and worry about the planet, and utilization of staggering statistics about climate change all assist in his idea that the rising temperatures will cause dramatic and devastating consequences to life on earth.
The major problem that the production and use of oil have the environmental is it continuous release of carbon dioxide into the environment. Through the combustion of fossil fuel, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This, in turn, causes drastic effects to the climate, known as climate change. Climate change causes severe weather and droughts. Hurricane can increase in intensity and flooding can become a major issue. Global warming also happens, which causes more heat, smaller ice caps, and the shutting down of the global ocean conveyor belt. The global ocean conveyor belt is what keeps Europe warm and Antarctica cold. If the global ocean conveyor belt stop working, it can cause an ice age. This can possibly cause the next mass extinction.
Reliance on major non-renewable resources has had, and continues to have detrimental effects on the environment. These resources found in the earth are mined and drilled so that people around the world can benefit from their use. For example, the majority of Americans, and most of the world’s population, uses gasoline to fuel their vehicles in order to commute back and forth from one place to another and gas to heat the homes in which they spend the bulk of their time. With the world’s population consistently growing, the amount of vehicles on the roadways increases therefore causing the amount of fuel being used to increase. The same goes for planes and ships that transport people greater distances, whether it be from Virginia to California, or the United States to China. The carbon emissions released pose a threat to the global climate (“Fossil”). Not only does the emission of fossil fuels hinder earth’s atmosphere, but the availability of the non-renewable resources used daily is also shrinking. Though the United States may not be greatly affected by the environmental dangers, other countries continuously struggle with locating drinkable water, maintaining consistent levels of agricultural produce and...
Indeed, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) predicts that domestic petroleum consumption will increase to 60 Btu by the year 2025. This statistic, in and of itself, is a matter of concern with respect to the greenhouse gas emissions that result from petroleum combustion. However, perhaps more disconcerting is the fact that U.S. oil production peaked in 1970 and has continued to fall since then (Campbell et. al., 1998). Therefore, the American public has turned to foreign oil, in particular Middle Eastern oil, to supplement its increase in demand. In an age where terrorism is at the forefront of people's minds, we still continue to import oil from the same nations that supposedly harbor so-called terrorist groups. The fact is that we are unwilling to responsibly face our energy future and instead choose to maintain a policy of increasing oil supply through importation.
" Oil is the life blood of our modern industrial society. It fuels the machines and lubricates the wheels of the world’s production. But when that vital resource is out of control, it can destroy marine life and devastate the environment and economy of an entire region…. The plain facts are that the technology of oil-- its extraction, its transport, its refinery and use-- has outpaced laws to control that technology and prevent oil from polluting the environment…" (Max, 1969). Oil in its many forms has become one of the necessities of modern industrial life. Under control, and serving its intended purpose, oil is efficient, versatile, and productive. On the other hand, when oil becomes out of control, it can be one of the most devastating substances in the environment. When spilled in water, it spreads for miles around leaving a black memory behind (Stanley, 1969).
If there is an increase in the rate of global warming it will have serval effects on us humans and animals in fact the whole environment will be effected by it for example rise in the sea level which will cause lots of marine animals to die due to their loss in their food source or increase in the greenhouse gas concentration which will Increase Earth's average temperature, Reduce ice and snow cover which will cause the polar animals to die because of the change in temperature, as well as permafrost, Increase the acidity of the oceans which will make the water ph unsuitable for the marine life.
“Average temperatures in the U.S. over the last century have already increased by more than one degree fahrenheit.”(NWF). There has been many noticeable changes due this minor change in temperature. These changes in temperatures are causing problems such as when animals migrate or when they go to hibernate. Warmer temperatures cause the animals to think it is earlier than it actually is and can lead them to migrate or hibernate at the wrong times. These increases in temperature are also leading to the melting of ice in the arctic. Many animals, such as polar bears and seals depend on the ice for somewhere to live and survive. This melting of the ice also leads to sea levels rising. The rising of the sea levels also causes loss of habitats because coastlines and beaches are eroded away. Global warming leads to the extinction of animals because many habitats are lost. With the loss of habitats, animals are completely lost and they have to change their whole way of life in order to survive. If they are not able to adapt to their new surroundings many could become endangered or extinct as the result of lack of food or shelter. Clearly, global warming is adding to the extinction of many
Many people around the world think that the earth is in danger because of global warming. “Rising temperatures will have enormous impact on the earth in the future”(pewtrust). With the temperatures rising this will cause the icebergs to melt and make the sea level rise. “Rising sea levels inundating coastal communities, altered crop yields and water supplies, increased floods and droughts and surge in infectious disease. The water will be tainted because of the water runoff pushing chemicals into our water supply. This will cause people to get sick or even die. With it getting hotter the carbon dioxide levels are rising. This may cause weeds to grow faster and take over the crops we need.
Global warming refers to a steady rise in the earth temperature. Life on earth thrives on a temperature of between 30-45 degrees. A rise in the temperature therefore threatens the life on the planet and destabilizes several features that sustain the same. Since 1971, the temperature has risen steadily owing to fraudulent utilization of resources on earth leading to the emission of poisonous gases. The ecology has a mechanism of sustaining the life within it; the earth has an atmosphere that maintains the temperature among other fundamental features of the planet that sustains life (Schlossberg, 55). The ozone layer that encloses the planet creates a greenhouse effect capable of sustaining both the temperature and composition of air thereby ensuring that the water remains in a liquid state. Global warming is a result on careless human activities that have consequently destroyed environment and has severe ramifications most of which threaten the existence of life in the planet as portrayed in the discussion below.
The discovery of oil led to the advances in both technology, and medicine. These advances have in turn led to better quality of life, and healthcare, and people living longer than previous generations did. The average person will live to see an older age than their grandparents did. There are also more people being born now, then in previous times, with about two children born every second. Oil has led to a rapid advancement in our civilization, but we are consuming it at such a rate, that in another forty years, scientists predict that we will run out. With oil, we were able to create machines to speed up the farming process, and greatly increase the amount of crops produced. We also use oil to make pesticides, and fertilizers, which are needed to keep the food supply steady. Once that happens we will no longer be able to supply enough food, using our current farming techniques, and this will lead to much strife around the world. There is also a problem of us running out of usable farmland, which has led to countries buying, and leasing land in poorer countries to farm off of, and export the crops back to their country. We are also experiencing water
For years, United States citizens have been using natural gases and oils to power their cars. While doing so we have also been polluting our environment, making ourselves dependant on other regions of the world, and depleting our oil reserves. Rory Sporrows of “Geographical” wrote, “The car is responsible for combusting eight million barrels of oil every day, contributing to nearly a quarter of total global greenhouse emissions and causing major increases in bronchial diseases like asthma and emphysema.” (2001) Oil is not a renewable resource. One day it will run out. The graph to the left depicts that in these times in which we should be conserving what we have; we are doing exactly the opposite. Although the United States makes up only five percent of the worlds population, it consumes more than twenty-six percent of the world’s oil. And if we let our situation get to the point that we run out of oil, our average internal combustion, gasoline engines will no longer work. We will be forced to turn to alternative means of power.
1. Greatly increased production of domestic oil and natural gas in the United States over the next two decades will affect the country’s future use of coal, nuclear power, and energy from the sun and wind because we will have to start using different forms of energy other than natural gas and oil. We are constantly using natural gas and oil because the demand is growing. As the demand grows, so does the use of these energy forms. Also, our environment is being degraded by this constant use of natural gas and oil. The process of getting these energy forms in our hands is polluting our waters because to extract it, you need water. However, polluted wastewater is created as a result. During the next 20 years, I believe that we will still have
Climate change is not an unnatural occurrence for the fluctuating planet. According to scientists, Earth has experienced numerous epochs over the course of millions of years in which the climate oscillates between extreme hot and cold. For instance, during a period called Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, the average temperature of the Earth increased by 11ºF. Since the late of 18th century, immediately after the Industrial Revolution, the average temperature of the Earth spiked exponentially. While few argue that this change is ordinary, the available data and scrupulous observations show that human activities that release greenhouse gases can be correlated with the climate change that is happening. Because the change poses dangerous threats to the world, a great deal of countries, in all continents, have put efforts to mitigate it. Latin American countries and China are just a few countries that are involved in this movement. The misuse of natural resources, one of the leading causes of climate change, induces severe economic crisis. In order to prevent such an event, using raw materials effectively should be the top priority of all countries.