The Issue of Global Warming
Even though some people believe that there is no such thing as global warming, there has been significant evidence that the Earth is warming. Most scientists believe that the main cause of global warming is human influence. The burning of fossil fuels and the use of fertilizers are the main contributors to the heating of the Earth. Many problems occur as a result of the climate changing. As the climate changes, some animals may become extinct, there is a rise in sea levels, and there are stronger storms. There are many ways to counteract the problems of global warming. Laws have been created to help lessen the impacts of global warming on the environment. There are also many steps that individuals can
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Water vapor and carbon dioxide are the greenhouse gases that cause the quickest warming of the Earth.
In addition to the burning of fossil fuels, the use of fertilizers also contributes to global warming. Farmers try to have more plentiful yields of their crops. To do this, they use more nitrogen-based fertilizers . “Soil microbes have long been known to convert nitrogen-rich crop fertilizers, including manure and synthetic fertilizers, into nitrous oxide” (Mole). With the rapid increase in agricultural techniques, the nitrous oxide release is causing the Earth’s surface to warm faster.
One of the main problems occurring is climate change. Climate change encompasses changes in ocean currents, precipitation patterns, and winds (Selin). When the climate changes, many other problems occur. The whole ecosystem can change with an increase in temperature. The ecosystem changing can cause some animals to no longer be able to live in their natural habitat. This can lead to problems such as extinction and overcrowding in other habitats. Based on the graph above, there is evidence that there has been an increase in global temperatures throughout the past few years.
Animal extinction is another example of a direct result of global warming. An animal’s habitat can become unsuitable for them to live in if the conditions change drastically. With the temperature rising, some species of plants will no longer be able to
Another example of weapons in Beowulf references to arms and armor, very accurate to the Anglo-Saxons’ traditional shields and weapons. “Then Hrothgar's thane leaped onto his horse and, brandishing a spear, galloped down to the shore; there, he asked at once: 'Warriors! Who are you, in your coats of mail, who have steered your tall ship over the sea-lanes to these shores? .... Never have warriors, carrying their shields, come to this country in a more open manner. Nor were you assured of my leader's approval, my kinsmen's consent. I've never set eyes on a more noble man, a warrior in armour, than one among your band; he's no mere retainer, so ennobled by his weapons.’... The boar crest, brightly gleaming, stood over their helmets: superbly tempered, plated with glowing gold, it guarded the lives of those grim warriors. ... Their byrnies were gleaming, the strong links of shining chain-mail chinked together. When the sea-stained travelers had reached the hall itself in their fearsome armour, they placed their broad shields (worked so skillfully) against Heorot's wall. Then they sat on a bench; the brave men's armour sang. The seafarer's gear stood all together, a grey tipped forest of ash spears; that armed troop was well equipped with weapons. .... in common we all share sword, helmet, byrnie, the trappings of war.” (Levick, 1)
Global Warming has a huge affect on our daily lives and on animals. We lose a bunch of natural resources, especially fresh-water, because it melts into the salty oceans; however, attempts have been made including the slowing down of global warming by stopping the usage of fossil fuels; whether the attempts have been successful or not. The earth’s temperature is slowly increasing which is a massive long term factor on inhabitants all over the world. The Amazon Rainforest has also experienced many problems due to deforestation and the water circulation throughout all of the plants and trees. Global Warming is exponentially increasing causing the rapid melting of glaciers, which leads to ocean currents changing and
Most African American thinks slavery is still causing a big issue on their society, Such as their music, their art and their own identity. Most African American still feels like they are being lied to about their past ancestor and culture, which make them feels very confused about the question of their real heritage. One of the impact the slavery had on the African American was that it brought a lot of sadness to the individual and sometimes that person ends up hating his or her self, not because of their skin color but because they feels like they are the only race who cannot find their true DNA. This destruction of slavery started from previous culture and it continued through generation, their inability to communicate as slaves, and the impact of slavery after emancipation all negatively affected African-American Culture. Kennedy, David (2002) explain, through slavery, Africans completely lost their heritage and previous culture. They were separated from their families, and cultural items such as their music which use to give them strength when their needed it. They also used their music to stay bonded each other; which were also taken away from them during slavery. Another issue the slavery left on the African American society is the lost their own sense of identity. Their true identify were totally ignored, and their new master or the person who raised them, their usually try to make them become a new human being without any consideration who they use to be
2. Increasing global temperatures are expected to disrupt ecosystems, pushing to extinction those species that cannot adapt.
Presently, while Scientists are warning us about the deleterious effects of Global Warming, “Nonscientists” also have separate views on the same issue. This indicates that Global Warming is a controversial issue that needs to be addressed. First, we need to understand the concept of “Global Warming.” Global Warming is described as the general increase in atmospheric temperatures worldwide, which results to climate changes. According to an article titled “Global Warming,” the earth’s atmosphere contains various gases that act as a blanket to trap heat from the sun and prevent it from escaping back into space. This means that these gases prevent the earth from being cold. This continued process is known as the greenhouse effect, and the gasses that are responsible for maintaining this heat are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. They continued, “Over time, the amount of greenhouse gases trapped in the earth’s atmosphere has increased significantly, causing worldwide temperatures to rise.” Human activities like industrialization and agriculture also play a significant role in increasing these gases. For example, the use of certain fertilizers, produce nitrous oxide and methane emissions come from the production of fossil fuels from landfills, and from livestock, they emphasized. All these evidence illustrates that we are significantly responsible for recent increases in temperatures. For this reason, it is obvious that it is a pressing human issue. This recent dramatic
Earth's inhabitants will be encountered with threatening obstacles if Earth's climate continues to warm. Earth will experience periodic and intense droughts, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and warming oceans; which could be the demise of flora and fauna, and ultimately disrupt the Earth.
Help Save the Climate website declares that there are now strong evidences of a rapidly warming world. The Third Assessment Report (TAR) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) contains most of the following. Firstly, the surface thermometer record presents that historical temperature records increased 0.4-0.8°C in the last 100 years (IPCC, 2001). Figure 1 shows the abnormal temperature from 1856 to 2005 comparing with global average surface (horizontal line). It could be observed that global average surface temperature has slightly increased since 1862. And the increase has been enlarged to 0.6 ± 0.2oC when entered 20th century. Help Save the Climate claims 1990s were the warmest decade since records began. This data set clearly reflects the temperature trend based on directly measured temperature, which might has less room for error and no doubt of methodology comparing with more complex means. Natural Resource Defence Council (NRDC) also indicates average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate over past 50 years. Figure 3 obviously shows that we are experiencing an extremely warm period on earth comparing with past 1000 years.
The change in temperatures of the marine environment can affect the life cycle and behaviours of the marine species. As many of the species rely on the temperature change as a sign as reproduction. This could also effect their success in breading. The result of climate change also has on effect of how may male and female offsprings are had. Meaning there is an impact on the population of a species.
At this time, emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, is warming the earth significantly faster than anticipated. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), greenhouse gas emissions will cause the average world temperature to increase from 1.8°C to 4°C (Merson, Black, & Mills, 2012). While a relatively low increase, the impact on our environment is significant. Rising levels of carbon dioxide and other gases have caused variable weather patterns, heat waves, heavy precipitation, flooding, droughts, more intense storms, rising sea levels, and air pollution, all of which is a cause of climate
"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.
So, is the temperature really rising? This simple answer to this question is “Yes.” According to Watson, we now have strong evidences that the climate is changing and that human activities were the primary cause of the changes during the 20th century (24). He asserts that the temperature increase in the 20th century was greater than that for any other century during the last 1000 years and the temperatures now are warmer than at any time during this period (26). Johns acclaim that the rise in CO2 levels from 280 parts per million around 1700s to 380 p.m. Today is the major factor
Climate change is already beginning to affect animals and plants that live in freshwater, rivers and lakes. As air temperature increases water temperature also do. Some species are already migrating to waters at higher altitudes and latitudes. However, some of them cannot go any further because they are already at the northern or upper limit of their habitat. Is species cannot adapt to new habitat that will be at risk or even become extinct. When species move it affects the food web. This can result for species to become extinct. Furthermore, other species are migrating too early because of the different seasons temperature change. “Warmer springs have led to earlier nesting for 28 migratory bird species on the East Coast of the United States”. [ Similarly, plant production is also being affected since some plants need a certain temperature to
Some effects from climate change that affect these animals are temperatures are rising, change in rainfall patterns, droughts and heat waves, sea levels are rising,
The issue of global warming should be on the list of our top priorities. Studies show that the average of global temperatures have risen since the Industrial Revolution began. Since the Industrial Revolution, human emissions has quadrupled the frequency of certain heat extremes and many scientists have warned that a failure to bring greenhouse gases under control could eventually lead to a 62-fold increase in extreme heat blasts (Gillis Justin A17). Most of the increase is due to human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities contribute to a build-up in carbon dioxide and other gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The Earth’s atmosphere is made of gases like nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen. These gases act as a blanket that covers and gives us warmth, but once these gases such as carbon dioxide absorbs heat, but does not release it back into space in which causes the increase in global temperature. This is called the greenhouse effect because it only traps heat but does not release it.
However, CEI scientists have reported that there is no proof that rising temperatures are linked to global warming. The Earth has gone through various periods of cooling and warming throughout its history. The rising temperatures are simply the Earth warming itself up from the previous ice age (Competitive Enterprise Institute). Contrasting with the virtual world of computer simulations, the real world presents a very different picture. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website even states that: