Introduction
Global warming will be the greatest environmental challenge in the 21st century."
One of the most current and widely discussed factors which could lead to the ultimate end of existence of Earth and man is global warming and its devastating effects. Scientists have asked how fast the Earth is heating up, and how the warming effects on Earth may affect crops and climatic conditions. Several current trends clearly demonstrate that global warming is directly impacting on; rising sea levels, the melting of icecaps, and significant worldwide climatic changes. This paper will discuss the degree of destruction caused by global warming; contributing factors to warming, and finally, discuss what we can do to decrease the current rate of global warming. I would also like to present opposing viewpoints to the effects of the warming process. In my understanding, global warming represents a fundamental threat to all living things on earth.
The "Greenhouse Earth" is surrounded by a shield of atmospheric gases, rather than a glass or a plastic cover. The air that makes up our atmosphere consists primarily of nitrogen and oxygen molecules (N2 at 78% and O2 at 21%). A large number of "trace gases" make up the remainder of air's composition. Many of these, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the so called "greenhouse" gases. Clouds and greenhouse gases keep the earth warm. Technology is partly responsible for explosive population growth and responsible for the resulting damage to Earth's resources. The industrial revolution caused a rapid increase in the Population growth, as oil and gas fuels were exploited for our use. There is a clear link between the problems of global warming and overpopulation, as increases in CO2 levels follows growth in population Trees play a unique role in the global carbon cycle. They are the largest land-based natural mechanism for removing CO2 from the air. Trees are able to store a large amount of CO2 in their structures. However, when trees are burned, the carbon locked in the structure is released into the air in the form of CO2. Smoke and all kind of unborn hydrocarbons from gaseous, liquid and solid fuels and wastes are lost energy, increasing the air and water pollution. For instance, as everybody well knows gas prices are outrageous these days. We can alternate and use something better. Hybrids and electricity cars are also a good way to slow global warming. Another way is also to shut down burning waste dumps.
Advantages of global warming
1. Longer growing seasons could mean increased agricultural production in some local areas.
2. Fewer deaths or injuries due to cold weather.
3. Less need for energy consumption to warm cold places.
4. Mountains increase in height due to melting glaciers, becoming higher as they rebound against the missing weight of the ice.
Disadvantages of global warming
1. Increased air pollution.
2. Increased deaths from heat waves.
3. Ocean circulation disrupted, disrupting and having unknown effects on world climate.
4. Increased disease in humans and animals.
5. Higher sea level leading to flooding of low-lying lands and deaths and disease from flood and evacuation.
Conclusion
The temperature of the atmosphere near the earth's surface is warmed through a natural process called the greenhouse effect. Much of the debate surrounding global warming has centered on the accuracy of scientific predictions concerning future warming. The main problem in this part of the world will be noted in the region of the Gulf Stream, the big rivers in Europe like Elbe, Rhein, Danube, and Rhone. The today flooding problems of the Danube branch Tessa are unfortunately just the beginning - if we with power and intelligence do not activate to avoid Global Warming.
Global warming greatly upsets the ecosystems and habitat of wildlife, totally disrupting their lives. With increasing human population, humans occupy more of the landmass, leaving little space for wildlife. With increasing global warming, animals tend to move to higher levels and plants to new areas that are cooler as the existing environment gets too hot for growth. This includes species of mountain goat, and bighorn sheep. Global warming will affect all ecosystems and species that are unable to adapt and adjust will face extinction. Wildlife around the Arctic is most likely to face the brunt of this warming. Species like the polar bear, emperor penguins. Warm temperatures around the poles means less ice and hence less food for these species that subsist on fish. Fish like salmon, trout, and others that live in cold waters will not survive in the warmer waters. Melting ice leads to the formation of marshes that are conducive to new types of insects and pests. Warmer temperatures imply less wetland for waterfowl that breed in winters. Butterflies appear in Britain earlier in spring than they did a few decades ago. They have moved inward from their usual area of appearance in both Europe and North America. Birds and frogs breed earlier than their usual breeding time due to the warm weather. An unusual occurrence is the appearance of grass in Antarctica. It's amazing how a relatively small rise in temperature can alter an animal's life. Sea turtles are affected throughout their lives by climate change: their sex is determined by the temperature of the sand in which eggs incubate (cooler sand produces males, too-hot sand produces females only); and some rely on coral reefs, which themselves are already succumbing to climate change. Then there's the issue of nesting beaches for turtles. They're increasingly disappearing beneath rising seas. In the wake of this alarming situation, it is important to take steps to curb global warming to safeguard our natural heritage. It is necessary to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to develop other renewable sources of energy to curb global waming.Hence citizens and governments across the globe must take steps to conserve precious wildlife to ensure our survival in the future.
Global warming will be the greatest environmental challenge in the 21st century."
One of the most current and widely discussed factors which could lead to the ultimate end of existence of Earth and man is global warming and its devastating effects. Scientists have asked how fast the Earth is heating up, and how the warming effects on Earth may affect crops and climatic conditions. Several current trends clearly demonstrate that global warming is directly impacting on; rising sea levels, the melting of icecaps, and significant worldwide climatic changes. This paper will discuss the degree of destruction caused by global warming; contributing factors to warming, and finally, discuss what we can do to decrease the current rate of global warming. I would also like to present opposing viewpoints to the effects of the warming process. In my understanding, global warming represents a fundamental threat to all living things on earth.
The "Greenhouse Earth" is surrounded by a shield of atmospheric gases, rather than a glass or a plastic cover. The air that makes up our atmosphere consists primarily of nitrogen and oxygen molecules (N2 at 78% and O2 at 21%). A large number of "trace gases" make up the remainder of air's composition. Many of these, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the so called "greenhouse" gases. Clouds and greenhouse gases keep the earth warm. Technology is partly responsible for explosive population growth and responsible for the resulting damage to Earth's resources. The industrial revolution caused a rapid increase in the Population growth, as oil and gas fuels were exploited for our use. There is a clear link between the problems of global warming and overpopulation, as increases in CO2 levels follows growth in population Trees play a unique role in the global carbon cycle. They are the largest land-based natural mechanism for removing CO2 from the air. Trees are able to store a large amount of CO2 in their structures. However, when trees are burned, the carbon locked in the structure is released into the air in the form of CO2. Smoke and all kind of unborn hydrocarbons from gaseous, liquid and solid fuels and wastes are lost energy, increasing the air and water pollution. For instance, as everybody well knows gas prices are outrageous these days. We can alternate and use something better. Hybrids and electricity cars are also a good way to slow global warming. Another way is also to shut down burning waste dumps.
Advantages of global warming
1. Longer growing seasons could mean increased agricultural production in some local areas.
2. Fewer deaths or injuries due to cold weather.
3. Less need for energy consumption to warm cold places.
4. Mountains increase in height due to melting glaciers, becoming higher as they rebound against the missing weight of the ice.
Disadvantages of global warming
1. Increased air pollution.
2. Increased deaths from heat waves.
3. Ocean circulation disrupted, disrupting and having unknown effects on world climate.
4. Increased disease in humans and animals.
5. Higher sea level leading to flooding of low-lying lands and deaths and disease from flood and evacuation.
Conclusion
The temperature of the atmosphere near the earth's surface is warmed through a natural process called the greenhouse effect. Much of the debate surrounding global warming has centered on the accuracy of scientific predictions concerning future warming. The main problem in this part of the world will be noted in the region of the Gulf Stream, the big rivers in Europe like Elbe, Rhein, Danube, and Rhone. The today flooding problems of the Danube branch Tessa are unfortunately just the beginning - if we with power and intelligence do not activate to avoid Global Warming.
Global warming greatly upsets the ecosystems and habitat of wildlife, totally disrupting their lives. With increasing human population, humans occupy more of the landmass, leaving little space for wildlife. With increasing global warming, animals tend to move to higher levels and plants to new areas that are cooler as the existing environment gets too hot for growth. This includes species of mountain goat, and bighorn sheep. Global warming will affect all ecosystems and species that are unable to adapt and adjust will face extinction. Wildlife around the Arctic is most likely to face the brunt of this warming. Species like the polar bear, emperor penguins. Warm temperatures around the poles means less ice and hence less food for these species that subsist on fish. Fish like salmon, trout, and others that live in cold waters will not survive in the warmer waters. Melting ice leads to the formation of marshes that are conducive to new types of insects and pests. Warmer temperatures imply less wetland for waterfowl that breed in winters. Butterflies appear in Britain earlier in spring than they did a few decades ago. They have moved inward from their usual area of appearance in both Europe and North America. Birds and frogs breed earlier than their usual breeding time due to the warm weather. An unusual occurrence is the appearance of grass in Antarctica. It's amazing how a relatively small rise in temperature can alter an animal's life. Sea turtles are affected throughout their lives by climate change: their sex is determined by the temperature of the sand in which eggs incubate (cooler sand produces males, too-hot sand produces females only); and some rely on coral reefs, which themselves are already succumbing to climate change. Then there's the issue of nesting beaches for turtles. They're increasingly disappearing beneath rising seas. In the wake of this alarming situation, it is important to take steps to curb global warming to safeguard our natural heritage. It is necessary to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to develop other renewable sources of energy to curb global waming.Hence citizens and governments across the globe must take steps to conserve precious wildlife to ensure our survival in the future.
