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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
One of the most talked about environmental issues today is Global warming.
The Earth's temperature rose about 1.33 degrees Fahrenheit over the past century. (That is 0.74 Celsius).
Although this doesn't sound like a big deal the slight change of temperature had made an impact and if temperatures continue to rise the impact could be much greater.
The average person doesn't recognize the effects caused by global warming.
The changes that have occurred have been subtle and seen most often in the weather which is constantly changing, therefore less noticeable.
The way to avert disaster and work to decrease global warming is by learning to recognize the problem and the effects of it.
Weather Changes
Rising temperatures are the most obvious effect of global warming. If you think back on the last few summers, don't you recall they have been hotter? Since the year 1990 the Earth has experienced ten of the hottest years in recorded history. The result of the higher temperatures are a much higher rate of death from heat related causes and a change in normal weather patterns.
There have been droughts and floods caused by the weather pattern changes. In the US snow accumulation has dropped over all by some sixty percent and winter has been shortened in some places.
Also affected by global warming are the hurricane patterns. Global warming doesn't make hurricanes, but the change in warming patterns causes warmer water which helps the hurricanes to become much stronger than they would have been if the water temperature had been colder. As we have seen in the last decade the stronger hurricanes cause much more damage when they hit the land.
Rising Sea Levels
One place Global warming has a direct effect is on the level of the sea water. The warmer temperatures cause the Earth's glaciers to melt, and that results in a rise in the sea levels. Another problem is when ice caps begin to shrink, as they have been, they reflect less sunlight, and that permits more warming to continue the problematic cycle.
Areas around the coast are more likely to flood as a result of rising sea levels. Higher sea levels cause the disruption of plant and animal habitats, and in the end, could cause their extinction. Since on system on Earth depends on another, the destruction of certain habitats could lead to the increase of others, and this can increase the habitats of the pests and disease spreading insect populations.
What If Global Warming Continues?
Without measures to prevent it global warming will only increase. No one can predict what effect that will have on the Earth, but studies show we can expect more extreme weather conditions and higher sea levels. Islands and coastal areas could become submerged and drought conditions will cause there to be water shortages.
Global warming is a very serious problem and it effects the entire world. To stop global warming the entire world has to learn to work together.
Every person can help by reducing their share of the contribution to this global problem. Industries, governments and individuals need to become more responsible to the environment and the impact we have upon it.
By working together we can slow down the global warming trend and reduce the amount of damage to our ecosystem.
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