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Article Series: Global Warming
Global Warming & Climate Change -
What Do I Need To Know?
Global
Warming Basics
There is little debate that the earth is undoubtedly
warming. It has been the subject of intense debate for decades
now. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and industrial
gases from fossil fuels play a huge role in why our environment
is changing so rapidly. With projections of an increase between
2.5 and 10.5 degrees by the year 2100, it is really nothing
to take lightly. According to some scientific studies, the
main gas causing global warming, CO2, or carbon dioxide, has
increased in our atmosphere by as much as 30 percent over the
last 100 years. That is a significant increase to say the least.
Causes of Global Warming
The number two source of pollution to our atmosphere is undoubtedly
transportation. In fact, cars and other vehicles represent
at least 20 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions into the
atmosphere.
Power
plants also play a huge role in polluting the atmosphere.
Nearly 600 of the United States power plants do not have to
play by new emission standards, what they like to call are
“grandfathered” in. This means there is no cap on smog and
acid rain producing pollutants that can be emitted from these
plants. Power plants actually account for 36 percent of carbon
dioxide emissions and 32 percent of mercury emissions.
Consequences of Global Warming
Sea level rise, which will eventually increase beach erosion
and flooding from coastal storms.
Precipitation changes are inevitable which will increase or
decrease the risk of droughts and floods all over the world.
Significant storms are already on the rise.
Deadly heat waves will continue. The summer of 1995 when 669
people died from heat exposure, and the 250 in the summer of
1999 was just a sign of things to come.
There are obvious threats to biodiversity and to public health
as well.
Evidence
that Global Warming has Begun
Shifting
ranges of infectious diseases - Diseases that were not known
to be a problem in areas such as the United States
have shown their ugly head. Malaria has been reported as far
north as New York, New Jersey and Michigan.
Sea levels have risen between 4 and 10 inches in the last
century. The destruction of beaches and wetlands are also taking
place around the world.
Glaciers and significant snow melt has been taking place on
5 continents since 1995, 5,400 square miles to be exact.
Summer droughts and winter floods are becoming the norm.
Storms are becoming more frequent and more brutal, hence Hurricane
Katrina.
What if the recent rise in infectious disease was caused by
the increase in temperature? Scientists believe it definitely
plays a role in this and in the plant and animal shifts throughout
different parts of the world. Living things are simply trying
to adapt to the changing environment and they will ultimately
kill humans through sickness and disease. For example, as the
climate changes, disease carrying mosquitoes and other rodents
move to new areas and in turn infect a population of people.
Diseases such as malaria, encephalitis, West Nile virus and
dengue fever will continue to be on the rise in all areas of
the world, including the United States.
The only way to reverse the affects of global warming, and
prevent further damage is to change how we power our economy.
Most importantly, fossil fuels will have to be replaced with
organic, non-toxic materials for our world’s vehicles. This
of course, is already in the works in several areas of the
world. The semi-recent release of hybrid electric and gas vehicles
is just one example.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2007
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