Global Warming & Climate Change

Global Warming and Climate Change: (By: Priscilla Velez)

Global warming and climate change are definitely the greatest environmental concerns that our world is currently facing. Not only do these two concerns pose a huge threat to the Earth along with wildlife, but they also threaten the existence of the human population. Global warming refers to an increase in the Earth’s annual temperature. Climate change refers to not only the warming of the Earth, but also of the conditions that occur as a consequence of global warming. Climate change, thus, is a global change in temperature, wind, precipitation, duration of seasons, and the strength/frequency of extreme weather events, such as droughts. Global warming and climate change are two concerns that everyone must take action against, or the entire sustainability of this Earth and all that it gives life to, is at stake.

Causes of Global Warming and Climate Change:

1. Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Carbon dioxide emissions is agreed upon by most scientists for being the main culprit behind the dramatic change in global climate. Carbon dioxide is emitted from fossil fuel burning in power plants and the burning of gasoline for transportation.
2. Methane Emissions: Large amounts of methane is released into the atmosphere due to agricultural activities. Livestock produce excessive amounts of methane as a result of their digestive processes. Industries involving natural gas also cause methane to be released into the atmosphere. Landfills are also huge contributors in methane emissions.
3. Deforestation: When trees are cut down, large amounts of carbon dioxide are released. Trees are responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and storing it. Without trees, carbon capture reduces, leaving more amounts of carbon dioxide present in the air.

*Excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere causes global warming and climate change because of their role in enhancing the greenhouse effect.

The Greenhouse Effect:

The greenhouse effect is a natural process by which the Earth becomes warmer by absorbing solar radiation. The sun first emits solar radiation, which eventually reaches the Earth. Some of the solar radiation is immediately reflected by the Earth and the atmosphere back into space. The remaining radiation is absorbed by Earth’s surface, and subsequently heats the Earth. The heat then radiates from Earth into space. However, some of this heat will remain in the Earth because it gets trapped by greenhouses gases. The entrapment of heat by means of greenhouse gases is important and rather crucial as it is responsible for creating an ideal climate that makes life possible. But now there has been a dramatic increase in greenhouse gases. This increase in greenhouse gases means that extra heat is getting trapped in the atmosphere, which causes Earth’s temperatures to rise.

Effects of Global Warming and Climate Change:

1. Higher Temperatures: Due to an enhanced greenhouse effect, the Earth will become much warmer, meaning that temperatures will increase. In fact, the years of 2005-2010 were recorded to be the warmest years on record. Scientists predict that the average temperature will increase between 4 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2100. Higher temperatures will lead to much change in oceans and weather patterns. Higher temperatures will affect many aspects of life:

• Agriculture: Higher temperatures will make it more difficult for certain types of crops to be grown. Water for irrigation might become limited as a result of heat-induced droughts. So, there will be crop losses, which will affect not only the economy, but also providing food for the population.
• Energy: People might waste more energy to deal with the increase in temperatures. For example, there will be more air conditioning. This, in turn, might cause electricity shortages and will cause more greenhouse gases to be released, since fossil fuels are burned to produce electricity.
• Water: Water may become less available due to droughts or limited precipitation.
• Health: Heat may cause heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat strokes, and even death, particularly for those who are young, elderly, or sick. Air quality might also decrease, posing a huge threat to everyone alike, especially those with respiratory disorders. Warmer temperatures makes it more likely for bad ozone (ozone located near the Earth’s surface) to be formed. Diseases will become more likely to be spread, as insects such as mosquitos and ticks will be able to survive longer into the year.
• Animals/Plants/Ecosystems: Habitats for certain species, especially those in colder areas such as mountain tops and in the Arctic, will be lost. In fact, it is predicted that one fourth of animals and plants may become extinct in the next 100 years due to habitat loss. Coral reefs may suffer from coral bleaching, a type of damage, as a result of warmer water induced by higher temperatures. Warmer oceans, along with ocean acidity, will eventually make coral reefs a rarity by 2050. Without coral reefs, many marine animals will lose their habitats and the entire marine food web will be disrupted.

  
  

   2. Rising Sea Levels: When oceans become warmer, sea levels rise since warmer water occupies more space than colder water. In addition, the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, specifically the ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, will further contribute to the increase in sea levels. In the next 100 years, the sea is predicted to rise between 2.5 and 6.5 feet.

  Rising sea levels will affect:

  • Coastal Areas: Coastal cities will be flooded, displacing residents. These people will be forced to relocate elsewhere. Coastal wetlands will be flooded and destroyed, meaning a loss of habitat for countless species.

  
  
  

    3. Increased Risk of Droughts, Fires, and Floods: Due to an increase in temperatures, droughts, fires, and floods will become  more likely to occur.

  • Droughts: Higher temperatures will increase the amount of moisture that is evaporated from land and water. Climate change will also decrease rates of precipitation. Droughts will pose a huge threat to agriculture, water supply, and wildlife habitats.
  • Fires: Climate change will cause longer fire seasons, drier conditions, and increased lightning frequency, all of which promote the likelihood of a wildfire occurring. A wildfire on its own has severe effects, such as animal and plant losses.
  • Floods: Increases in sea levels and intensity of storms may cause floods to become more likely to occur.

  
  
  

      4.Stronger Storms: The top layer of the ocean has become warmer, as a result of global warming. An increase in the temperature of the ocean’s top layer means that hurricanes and other tropical storms will become stronger. Storms will last longer and will have stronger winds and heavier precipitation. Storms pose a huge threat to life everywhere. Areas will be susceptible to being flooded and/or damaged, meaning that coastal areas and ecosystems will be at risk. The lives of humans and wildlife will be in severe danger.

  
  
  

     5. Economic Lost: Businesses, primarily those concerning marine life, will be affected. For example, the lobster industry has dramatically declined. As a result of an increase in sea temperature, lobsters are undergoing heat stress and are threatened by parasites. Intense storms may cause severe damage to buildings, which will require large sums of money to repair. Crop yield may decline as a result of hotter temperatures and a lack of water. This decrease in crop yield not only causes businesses to lose money, but may lead to starvation.

  
  
  

     6. Some Other Effects: Other events include melting glaciers, warmer oceans, and increased ocean acidity.

  
  
  

  To summarize, the events most likely to occur as a result of global warming and climate change include higher temperatures, increase in floods, droughts, and fires, wilder storms, and an increase in sea levels. These events will consequently lead to the displacement of communities, wildlife extinction, and the closure of industries. Health, agriculture, resources, and recreation will be affected as well.