Global Warming What is Global Warming? Deadliest Effects Causes
February 2012
WhAt is Global Warming? T he planet is warming everywhere, the mercury is already up more than 0.8 degree Celsius and more in polar regions. The effect of it is happening now. Signs are appearing all over. Glaciers are melting sea levels are rising, cloud forests are drying. It’s becoming clear that humans are the cause by releasing heat-trapping gases. Called greenhouse gases, their levels are
higher now than in the last 650,000 years. If we don’t start to prevent it there might be worst things happening.
Causes
There are many natural causes of global warming
but the current warming is caused by humans. The most significant cause of global warming is the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mainly from fossil fuels emission. Carbon dioxide is released every time you burn something, be a car, airplane or coal plant. Deforestation also increases the green house gases. All living plants store carbon dioxide so when those plants die and decay, carbon dioxide is released back to the atmosphere. As forests and grassland are cleared for our use, enormous amounts of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere.
Impact on Wildlife
T
he impact of global warming on wildlife is habitat displacement and the food chain. Animals are losing their home to us. We cut down trees, burn fossil fuels and releasing pollution causing global warming and melting the ice caps. Affected wildlife can sometimes move into new spaces and continue to live but the human population growth means that the land areas that the animal can live in are already taken.
Deadliest Effects Warmer water and Hurricanes As the temperature of oceans rises, the probability of more and stronger hurricanes will become higher. Warmer water also damages sea life and coral reefs, the coral reefs will die because of the warm water which will affect the food chain because once the coral reefs die the fishes that lives in it will also die which will affect the whole food chain.
Spread of Disease If northern countries warm, insects that carry diseases will migrate north, bringing plague and diseases with them.
Polar ice caps melting It will raise sea levels. There are 5,773,000 cubic miles of water in ice caps, glaciers and snow. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, if all glaciers melted today the seas would rise about 230 feet or about 70.104 meters. The ice caps are fresh water so when they melt it will desalinate the ocean (makes the sea less salty) The temperature rises and ice caps melting will endanger several species of animal. Only the most adaptable animals will survive Ice caps are white and reflect sunlight, most of it is reflected back into space cooling the earth, so if the ice caps melt the only reflector is the ocean which is dark and dark colours absorb sunlight which will warm the earth.
Greenhouse gases? A
greenhouse gas is a gas in the atmosphere that can absorb and emit long wave (infrared) radiation. When sunlight strikes the Earth’s surface, some of the sunlight is reflected back towards space. Greenhouse gases absorb the infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere leaving the temperature of the Earth’s surface higher.
Renewable Energy Nuclear Power Nuclear power is a very powerful source of power, nuclear power provides Switzerland with over half its power, wind is the other half. Even though it is a very powerful source of power it is really dangerous. If the radioactive material is exposed it can be deadly, causing health problems and
Wind
Solar Solar is a form of renewable energy that has been used for a long time but is only now becoming popular. Solar panels are installed on roofs. It uses the sun’s light energy to provide natural power source.
Massive wind turbine farms have already been installed all over the world, providing the world with its most popular renewable energy option.
Reduce A
Reuse
Recycle
way to help save the Earth is Reduce Reuse and Recycle. Reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging will also help to reduce waste. Whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, glass, aluminium cans and newspaper. If there isn’t a recycling program you should suggest it to your community. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide.
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What Are Greenhouse Gases? n.d., , accessed 18 January 2012, <http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/ggccebro/chapter1.html>.