Natalie McMillan
Professor Montagne
Anthropology 301
17 November 2014
Climate Change and its Impact on Primate Life Over the past one hundred years, global warming and climate change has triggered a temperature increase of 0.74 degrees Celsius globally. To put that in perspective, 0.74 degrees Celsius is equal to about 1.33 degrees Fahrenheit. It is expected that over the next hundred years, the temperature will rise another 1.8 to 4 degrees Celsius, or a shocking 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit (Wiederholt and Post). This means that over 200 years, the global temperature will have risen by almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit; a truly shocking statistic. The immense rise in temperature has, and will continue to affect all forms of life, especially primates. Before examining how climate change has affected primate life, it is important to understand what exactly climate change is caused by. Essentially, climate change, or global warming, is the gradual increase in global temperature due to greenhouse gasses and deforestation. The way the global warming phenomenon has occurred is through the burning of fossil fuels, like petroleum and coal, for example. When they are burned they are sent into the atmosphere, damaging the layer of atmosphere that protects the earth. In addition, deforestation is the demolition of land and rainforest, which is home to most species of primates. The destruction of the rainforest not only destroys ecosystems, but releases even more carbon
Climate change has affected us in many ways, but it was even more influential on organisms and their community. The Earth is gradually heating and we are left to deal with the consequences. Homes are being destroyed, organisms are dying, and resources are running low. Since 1880, Our Earth’s temperature had increased by about 0.8 degrees Celsius. Climate change is affecting the Earth and scientists say that one more degree will greatly affect people from all over the world. There are many consequences of climate change and each one has a great impact on all of us, but organisms’ homes are being destroyed and thousands of species are dying out. These organisms are imperative to our world and how it functions.
As a result, it is no surprise scientists have estimated that in the last two hundred years the global temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Maybe that does not sound like much, but consider this: it only took four degrees to bring us out of the last Ice Age. Experts agree that global warming is one of the greatest—if not the greatest—challenge facing all of humanity.
The carbon dioxide levels in the 20th century have been highest in 650,000 years. Till 1950, the levels rose by 11% and recently the levels have risen by 40%. Arctic ice is melting rapidly. It is estimated that by 2040 the region is to have a completely ice free summer, or even earlier. More than 1 million species have become extinct due to disappearing habitats caused due to global warming. Sea levels have risen about 7 inches in the last 100 years, which is more than the previous 2000 years combined. The rising sea levels due to global warming could threaten the lives of people living along the coastal areas. The consumption of fossil fuels in last few decades has contributed much to the destruction of our environment. Global warming, climate
plants can't change and adapt along with the rapid warming of the earth, which will
Recently, there has been a warmer climate change, causing earth to get warmer, as well as negatively affecting earth, animals, and humans. Since 1880, the average temperature of earth has risen about 0.8 degrees celsius, which is a drastic change, even though it may not seem like much. Also, there has recently been a large amount of greenhouse gases being released, which is a large cause of why earth is getting warmer. Many consequences come with this change in climate. The fast-changing climate on earth has caused countless consequences that could permanently affect the earth.
Climate change is evident throughout the world and is a major issue. It is no secret that our planet is getting warmer. Global warming is now recognized in the scientific community as a real problem. There are multiple aspects that are causing this issue. Majority of the warming is caused by greenhouse gases. Volcanic eruptions and changes in the intensity of solar radiation have offset the warming partially. It is estimated that average annual temperatures will increase 3.5°F-9.5°F by the century’s end.
Global Warming is a raising issue, that if it is not brought to be resolved, then planet Earth has the potential to face many consequences. Each year in the 21st century it has been recorded that the years are the hottest.
Shifts in temperature and precipitation will be a shock to fragile ecosystems which depend on specific climatic conditions. Many species will be unable to adapt as fast as their environment changes and face sharply reduced numbers or extinction. Scientists estimate that a warming of just 2 degree will put as many as 30% of the world's species at risk of extinction. Plants and animals aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure of changing ecosystems. Many regions will face severe water shortages in a warmer world, creating the potential for conflict. It is believed that the genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region is at least in part a response to water shortages resulting from global warming.
According to The report by the American Meteorological Society, the 20 warmest years have occurred since 1981 (Peterson & Baringer, Tenant 2009). The 10 warmest years have occurred in the past 12 years, even though solar energy output has declined over the same period (Peterson & Baringer, Tenant 2009). The earth’s temperature continues to rise even though the energy from the sun reaching the earth has decreased. This increase in temperature has the potential to affect plants and animals that can only survive in certain temperature ranges. It also means that in some cases new plant species and animals will be able to survive where they could not in the past. This will place strain and produce many changes in local ecosystems, some of which may be beneficial and others which may be harmful. It will
"We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words” (Anna Sewell). There is undeniable evidence that animals are being affected by climate change. Even though the effects are difficult to measure, there are many different ways animals are being affected. With the loss of predator and prey species it affects the life cycles in the food chain. The earth’s climate change causes habitats such as snow, ice, or forest areas to alter, resulting in loss of habitat and food accessibility as well as causing extinction.
It has reached the point in human evolution, with facts proving a half degree Celcius increase in the past century, with more exponential increases expected for the future. One half degree doesn't sound like an overwhelming amount, but just the sheer magnitude of humans being able to change GLOBAL temperatures is astounding. There are several reasons for this global warming crisis namely the presence of greenhouse gases and the depletion of the Ozone by tricky synthetic chemicals such as CFCs.
Thesis: According to National Geographic Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit around the world since 1880 and by 2050, rising temperatures could send more than a million of Earth's land-dwelling plants and animals down the road to extinction.
We are slowly destroying our climate and environment. The land and ocean surfaces have warmed roughly 1.53 degrees Fahrenheit from 1880-2012 (How much has the global temperature risen since 1880? 1). Land warms faster than the oceans. In the northern hemisphere, 1983 to 2012 were the warmest 30 year period in the last 1,300 years (How much has the global temperature risen since 1880? 1). This is a cause for concern among scientist.
For over a hundred years, scientists have been carefully gathering and verifying data on the earth's temperature. The latest data reveals some striking trends:All 10 of the warmest years on record have occurred in the last 15 years The 1990's have already been warmer than the 1980's- the warmest decade on record The global average surface temperature has risen 0.5 degrees (site source)For the first time ever, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the authoritative international body charged with studying this issue, concluded that the observed increase in global average temperature over the last century "is
In the last 100 years, Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.4°F. The rising global temperatures have caused changes in weather and climate. Global warming refers to the ongoing rise in the average temperature near Earth’s surface. This is causing a climate change, which refers to any significant change (major change in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns) in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time (several decades or longer). Due to this, it is projected that the temperature will rise from 2 to 11.5°F in the next hundred years (US EPA, 2014). The “drivers,” which are the principal causes making this occur, are very controversial. It is debated whether a change in temperature is due to the work of