LiViNg PeAcE

Global Warming

            Global warming is the belief that pollution produced by human activities is warming the earth. By now, research has shown that global warming is unmistakable. “There is some other causes for global warming, but human activity has been the main source for the past 50 years” (Global Warming 1). Global warming has been damaging the greenhouse effect, which are gases that allow only the necessary sunlight to enter our atmosphere and reflect unnecessary ones out. The greenhouse effect is what makes earth habitable. Studies have shown that global warming has been threatening earth in many ways such as beach loss, droughts and floods.

“The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has raised 149% since 1750. The concentration of carbon dioxide has raised 37% since 1750” (Greenhouse Gases 1). Scientists started recording 650,000 years ago. Since then, the conditions we are facing have never been as high (Greenhouse Gases 1). The current amount of CO2 is about 383 parts per million. It has increased from 315 PPM since 1960. Global warming is undoubtfully present and proof is shown by ‘hotspots’ (Climate Hot Map 1), which are signs on earth that global warming is present. Generally, there are ten types of hotspots. In North America, for example, all hotspots are found, presenting more proof of global warming than everywhere else on earth (Climate Hot Map 1). Africa, even though it has a low use per capita of fossil energy, is the most vulnerable continent. This is because the continent’s widespread poverty limits the continent’s capabilities to adapt (Climate Hot map 6). In South America, like in most of the world, resources are being threatened by global warming, which is dangerous because it is highly dependent on natural resources. In Europe, ecosystems are very sensitive to climate change. Because of this, precipitation has already increased in the north and decrease in the south (Climate Hot Map 4). Because of rapid, increasing, birthrate, Asia’s hotspots are threatening to become worse (Climate Hot Map 7). In comparison to other continents, North America has been the largest concern for scientists.

North America has presented the greatest concern for global warming. The reasons are many, but in 1998 for example, “Texas had more than 15 days with temperatures over a 100 degrees Fahrenheit, killing more than a hundred people” (Climate Hot Map 3). Usually, Montana has snow during the  winter, but in December 1997, it had no sub-zero days. In Chesapeake Bay, sea level rise has increased three times its historical rate and is still increasing. East and west coast beaches are presenting beach loss caused by the rise in the sea level. North of the United States and in Canada, cities are covered with snow during the winter season. These days have decreased by 22% since the mid-1800s. In many places, such as in the Caribbean islands, Florida, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Pacific Ocean coral reefs are being affected with coral reef Bleaching, which is when large amounts of coral become colorless because of changes in acidic level in the water. Salt water has inundated fresh water because of sea level rise therefore causing mangroves to die (Climate Hot Map 3). Even though U.S.A presents the largest amount of signs, there are hotspots all over the world.

Norway, for example, faced its wettest year in record on 2000. In Spain, “half of the glaciers present in 1980 are now gone” (Climate Hot Map 4). In Peru, as well as in many other places there has been a “large increase in average minimum temperatures” (Climate Hot Map 5).  In 1998, 2.2 million acres of forests were burnt in Nicaragua because of a fire (Climate Hot Map 5). From 1985 to 1995, Southern Africa faced its “warmest and driest decade on record” (Climate Hot Map 6). There is a higher demand of water caused by increasing birthrate and less rain. This is causing  lake Chad to disappear. All of these signs have not just happened because of nature but because something has caused them. That cause, is mainly us.

Rapid increasing birthrates have put great pressure on the ecosystems; more pollutant jobs are being created because there is a higher demand for work. Because more cars are being used, more food is being eaten, more clothes being made, more houses being built, and so on, there has been a “rapid rise in the release of greenhouse gases” (Climate Hot Map 7). The Carbon Dioxide increase in the atmosphere is mainly caused by our fossil burning. The burning of these fossil fuels is responsible for ¾ of the increase for over the past 20 years (Greenhouse Gases 1). “Most of the rest [of the increase in CO2] is due to land –use change, in particular, deforestation” (Greenhouse Gases 1). In our every day lives, we probably encounter at least one of the objects that produce (or let out) CO2 into the atmosphere. Some of the objects are smokestacks and tailpipes. Burning forests is also a great contributor because not only does it send a lot of smoke into the air, but it also kills the trees we need for breathing. Our activities play the central role in global warming. They have caused the over all temperature on our planet to increase by more than one degree Fahrenheit since the 1900s (Global warming 1)The development of industrial economies has also contributed to polluting the atmosphere. The United Nations scientific panel declared that humans ‘likely’ played a role. By the rapid increase in hotspots, by 2003 it was already ‘very likely’ that humans had been the main cause (Global Warming 1). Since 1970, which was when factories and cars started using CO2, and when there was a large population increase, temperature has gone up three times the average of the 20^th century (global warming 1). These activities will continue having consequences; this is why many scientists are already making predictions. 

“Although factors other than climate may have intensified the severity of some of the… [hotspots], scientists predict such problems will increase if emissions of heat-trapping gases are not brought under control” (Climate Hot Map 2). The results of studies have suggested that if global warming continues at such a rapid pace, many mountain glaciers will disappear, permafrost will thaw and northern forests will shift further north (Climate Hot Map 7). Scientists also predict that when the level of the CO2 present on 1750 is doubled, the global climate will have already raised eight degrees Fahrenheit. By 2100, scientists think the sea level will have already raised 7-23 inches. The IPPC also predicted that the changes that we are facing “will continue for centuries to come” (Global Warming 1). Even though with global warming “there are no certainties or guarantees” (Carbon Math 1), scientists are sure that fossil-fuel supplies will have to end at one point. Even though that would have a huge, negative impact on economy, and all of our lives, this would keep the CO2 level from rising more than it would have already by that point. The increase in the carbon dioxide level and the availability of fossil-fuels will both depend on “uncertain economic, sociological, technological, and natural developments” (Greenhouse Gases 1). Scientists predict that we will reach the year 2100 still having fossil-fuel resources. If this  happens to be right, then they think that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will reach 970 parts per million. Not only is the atmosphere being damaged, but also the flora and fauna on our planet.

Because of high temperatures and threatening conditions, many animals and plants have reacted negatively. Many animals are extinct or are in the endangered species list. In response to warmer temperatures, sub-alpine forests all around the world have invaded higher elevation alpine meadows (Climate Hot Map 3). This is because as the temperatures get higher, the trees need to find cooler places in order to survive; therefore, they have to find higher places which will normally be cooler. Also because of the heat, more dangerous problems are being created. The heat has also aroused deathly heat waves. A much remembered one was the India heat wave, which caused “the highest one-week death toll on record” (Climate Hot Map 7). This heat wave warmed the whole continent but it struck mainly in India, which was the only place with deaths. Not only there has been a shift in trees but also in infected animals such as disease carrying mosquitoes. Many small tribes have been killed in South America because of dengue carrying mosquitoes. This is because the mosquito has been appearing in higher places, therefore killing tribes that had never before been exposed. The mosquitoes, like the trees, are shifting to higher elevations for the need of a cooler place to live (Climate Hot Map 5). Because of all the negative effects, people are very concerned and have started to get involved.

            In actuality, there are many debates, speeches and studies focusing on this problem. Before, the studies and debates focused on whether or not we were warming up the planet. Now, that the heat is undisputable, debates are focusing on how to solve it and what to do about it. Because of this issue, many documentaries and books are also being made. A very famous one for example, is An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. This documentary became very popular and even won an Oscar. Because of this documentary, “the Supreme Court made its first global warming-related decision” (“Global Warming” 1). Even though Global warming is very rarely disputed, there are some disagreements. There have been many debates and disputes about how the strength of the greenhouse is affected by excessive production of CO2 and other gases (Greenhouse Gases 1). Other disagreements, although not very common, form because of the doubt of the very own global warming. Since the same conditions where present in the atmosphere 20 million years ago, some people think it is not global warming we are talking about, but just a Déjà vu. The last time these conditions were present was right before the first ice age, therefore some people think it is another ice age. This theory though, is not very probable, because it comes from indirect geological evidence (Greenhouse Gases 1).

‘An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate season’ (Climate Hot Map 1). Many negative effects have already occurred in almost everywhere in the world.   Pollution and other human activities have caused severe damage to animals and plants and will continue to. Humans have been the main cause to this problem. Some effects have been coral reef bleaching, droughts and fires.                             

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