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Effects Of Global Warming On The Environment

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During the 20th and 21st century there has been growing concern about CO2 emissions and their toll on the environment. Human activities have largely increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly CO2. With the increase in greenhouse gases, the temperatures on Earth have risen due to the gases’ ability to trap of heat. This increase in temperature has had many detrimental side effects on ecosystems. For instance, global warming has resulted in the melting of ice in the southern and northern latitudes, destroy valuable habitat and creating strain on the organisms that live there (Frolicher and Joos, 2010). A result of this melting of ice in the higher latitudes has caused sea levels to rise. Furthermore, with more emissions of CO2 there has been greater absorption of CO2 by the oceans. When CO2 is in the ocean it reacts to produce carbonate ions and H+ ions leading to ocean acidification. Major effects of ocean acidification are already being seen; mollusks, coral, and echinoderms that have shells composed of calcium carbonate are eroding away due to acidification (Kerr, 2010). Ocean acidification, climate change, habitat loss, and extinction of species will continue if there is no change in CO2 emissions. Such changes could be catastrophic on fragile ecosystems. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the top contribution to increased CO2 levels is burning of fossils fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation. It

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