Global Warming
Global Warming
Global warming is the most vital environmental setback the world is facing. Few, if any, trends are more important to our future than climate change caused by human activities. This change is not helpful. This warming is happening because of the increase of greenhouse gases – first and foremost carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide- which are a straight result of humans and the Industrial Revolution (EPA, 2000). These gasses are emitted freely into the atmosphere by factories, cars, and many other devices. As the sun’s rays hit the Earth’s surface and bounce off, the gasses trap the heat. This creates the rise in temperature. These warming temperatures have many negative effects on Earth, which also affect us. I believe there are three main categories in which these raising temperatures have an effect: glacial melting and water levels, plant life, and human and animal health. As the temperatures are rising, glaciers are melting. One of its’ main consequences is the rise in sea level.
As the sea level rises, a few things are happening and in the next twenty-five to fifty years, the sea level is expected to rise a full foot. For starters, the coastlines of countries all over the world are slowly being covered and eroded away (Newmann, 2000). Coastal cities are being flooded and people are being forced to move inland. When flooding occurs, there is the chance of fresh water contamination. Changes in the sea level also cause changes in the precipitation patterns. All of these changes have effects on many things humans need and use. Drinking water, navigation, and hydroelectric power are just a few (EPA, 2000). While it seems that flooding might be the only problem, these changes are also responsible for droughts. The explanation for these two tribulations is simple. Increased temperature means increased evaporation. Heavy evaporation takes the moisture out of the soil creating a drought. However, when the clouds can’t hold anymore...
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