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Title: Global Warming & Its Effects

Author: Nick DAlleva

Article:
Each year the United States spends over 20 million dollars
buying fossil fuels. This country emits one fourth of the
world's greenhouse gases; the most prominent of these gases is
carbon dioxide, which is released from the burning of fossil
fuels. Global warming has been a global issue for many years
now. Some countries and people claim to be only vaguely
concerned with the cause because they were unaware or uninformed
of the issue. Roger Revelle, an oceanographer, helped to call
out the problem to the public. After not receiving much feedback
towards his cause, he criticized different governments in a
jocular manner. He called warming "the great geophysical
experiment." He said, "The experiment is to load the atmosphere
with as much carbon dioxide as possible, add a few other harmful
gases, and see what happens." Recently, several countries have
been passing laws to prevent the world's overheated destiny.
Even with the setting of new rules and regulations, the earth
continues to warm each year. Minimal efforts made to reduce the
release of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide from
the burning of fossil fuels, increase the rate and intensity of
global warming.

The most prominent effect of global warming exists in the
climate change over the past years. Many people are unaware that
global warming causes and changes all types of weather. The
heating of the earth causes the magnitude and strength of
weather conditions to increase. As the oceans get warmer, the
intensity of hurricanes amplifies in power and devastation. In
addition, many costal cities and regions have recently been
experiencing flooding, caused by the melting of the polar
icecaps. The Arctic's perennial icecaps decline in area by nine
percent each year. In the past thirty years, over ten national
records were set for the highest temperatures in the summer and
winter. Droughts and forest fires have been occurring
dramatically more often in the past century. All of these
effects have been directly linked to the release of greenhouse
gases.

Another area affected by global warming is the animal kingdom
and nature. The number of animals per specie has been decreasing
annually due to harsh environmental changes. As the polar
icecaps melt, all creatures that live there are left without
shelter. For example, as seal dens have been melting, the number
of seals has dropped. Events that occur in the spring, such as
mating, migrating, laying eggs, and returning from hibernation
have been taking place approximately 5.1 days earlier than they
were fifty years ago. The early occurrence of these events
proves that the earth is getting warmer each year. More proof of
warming is the evidence of many animals traveling farther from
the equator as they migrate. Although this change has been
occurring with various creatures, butterflies and mosquitoes are
being found the farthest from their natural habitats. Even
though butterflies do not cause any known problems with the
environment, mosquitoes are carries of malaria. This deadly
disease has dangerously spread to new regions across the globe.
If the world continues to warm, this issue, along with many
others, will continue to grow.

A third type of evidence of global warming can be found in
plants. Vegetation in an area differs concurrently with the
climate of that same area. Throughout many parts of the world,
flowers bloom 7 days earlier and trees reproduce 10 days
earlier, both since 1900. As the growing seasons vary from very
wet to very dry, agricultural growth cannot adapt. In some
recent years, regions' crops have been both flooded and dried
out. Due to the depletion of the ozone, many crops cannot
survive. Another problem is the movement and increase of
allergens. Carbon in the atmosphere allows plants to go through
photosynthesis more rapidly, allowing allergens to grow in
number. This evidence found throughout all of nature makes it
very clear that global warming is a huge issue.

A combination of various actions and, in some cases, not enough
action causes global warming in the world today. The leading
cause of global warming is the ongoing burning of fossil fuels,
which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon
dioxide, along with the other greenhouse gases of methane,
nitrous oxide, and chlorofluocarbons, is the cause of the
greenhouse effect. This effect is dangerously increasing as the
gases are being released in greater quantities. These gases not
only build up to keep heat in the atmosphere, but they also thin
the ozone layer. Some areas have been so thinned by the gases
that there are holes present in the ozone. These dangerous holes
allow harmful UV rays from the sun to reach the earth. UV rays
are the main cause of skin cancer. As the earth continues to
increase its pollution level each year, the number of skin
cancer patients increases.

Because it releases carbon dioxide into the air, the burning of
fossil fuels is an environmentally harmful practice. Carbon
dioxide can be absorbed by seawater. If the water is cold, it
can hold more gas. Unfortunately, with global warming, the
temperature of the oceans has been increasing. As the
temperatures increase, more carbon dioxide is released. This
vicious circle will continue to occur unless scientists cannot
this from occurring. Particularly, petrol, or gasoline, is a
leading source of the release of these carbon dioxide compounds.
Petrol contains hydrocarbons that release carbon dioxide when
they are burned. This reaction is unfortunately unavoidable. The
only solution is a different fuel source. Carbon dioxide, once
released, lasts up to 100 years in the atmosphere. It is the
most abundant heat-absorbent gas besides water vapor, which is
not considered as a greenhouse gas because it rains back to the
earth in a continuous cycle. The Mauna Loa Observatory has been
measuring the level of carbon dioxide daily since 1958. Since
their research began, the level in the atmosphere has
drastically increased by 47 parts per million. Carbon dioxide
makes up about one-half of the causes of global warming.

Although carbon dioxide largely harms the environment, the other
greenhouse gases have a large impact in the atmosphere. Methane,
the next most prominent harmful gas, comes from cattle, asphalt,
coal, oil, and rice fields. Lasting only ten years, methane
absorbs thirty times more heat than carbon dioxide. Another
greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide, lasts approximately 180 years and
absorbs 200 times more heat than carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide
comes from microbes in soil that are found in fertilizers.
Slash-and-burn farming and the burning of some fossil fuels also
emit nitrous oxide. The final greenhouse gas, chlorofluocarbon,
lasts 400 years in the air and retains 16, 000 times more heat.
Chlorofluocarbons escape from various cooling systems. The
combination of these four gases results in the retention of
intense amounts of heat.

Throughout the world, various nations have been joining to help
prevent or slow the process of global warming. On February 3,
2007, French president, Jacques Chirac, proposed a new plan to
prevent global warming. He stated, "It's our responsibility. The
future of humanity demands it." Forty-five nations, not
including the United States, joined him in his efforts. Al Gore,
however, is very involved with global warming and the greenhouse
effect; he supports Chirac and plans to help. As it is the
largest contributor to global warming, the United States
unfortunately supports only voluntary reduction programs.

The issue of global warming affects nature, people, and the
economy. To some people, global warming is not of their concern
because they feel it does not affect them. Although they may not
realize it, global warming affects everyone, especially the
future generations. Scientists mathematically simulate the
globe's weather systems. Their complex equations, called general
circulation models (GCMs), are so complex and involve countless
elements that they can take days to solve. Environmentalists
verify that the hazardous combination of flooding and drought
will significantly increase within the next century. The
standard sea level has been rising annually for a while now.
Some say that if the earth continues on the path it is on, then
95% of the Great Barrier Reef will disappear by 2075. They
calculate that the glaciers in Glacier National Park could melt
by 2030, and 37% of all species could be extinct by 2050.

Scientists directly link disease to global warming. Exposure to
various climate or animal related diseases will increase in
number and possibly brutality. Experts agree that skin cancer's
rapid rate of increase could be caused by the holes in the ozone
layer. As these holes grow in size and number, the quantity of
patients will also increase. Aside from natural and heath
issues, the world's economy is also at risk. Ross Gelbspan,
author of Boiling Point, a book about Earth's climate change
from global warming, spoke about his book to the public in 2004
stating, "Climate issues will eventually tear holes in the
global economy." Research can show that if current weather
patterns continue, the cost of insurance will increase
drastically over the next few years. Gelbspan is one of many
authors and scientists who look into the future to warn people
what is to come; unfortunately, most people do not listen.

When people are trying to get others involved in the cause, a
common problem that arises is the lack of motivation. Many
people do not realize that if they can slow the rapid warming
process, then there will be more time to develop alternate
energy sources, such as nuclear fusion. Holland and Germany,
along with several small countries, have recognized this
possibility and have committed to an 80% reduction of all
greenhouse gas emissions. If the United States would get
involved in a program such as this, then the greenhouse effect
would occur much slower than it does today. The world,
especially America, needs to take action now. Stephen H.
Schneider of the National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCRA)
once stated, "By the time we find the greenhouse warming had
damaged earth's ability to feed its people, it will be too late
to do much about it."

In conclusion, the world needs to put forth a stronger effort to
prevent global warming; the greenhouse gasses suffocate the
earth more each day. If countries make a greater effort to slow
global warming, the world's predestination may not be reached
until many years later. Individually, people can recycle, use
fuel-efficient cars, carpool, and simply raise awareness. As
said by Elmer Robinson, the director of Mauna Loa Observatory
had once said while speaking of global warming, "The true enemy
is us."

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