Global Warming And The Effects example essay topic

Global Warming Several issues concerning the environment are brought to the public's attention every year, but none has more of a direct effect on earth and its environment than global warming. Coincidentally it appears to be the least of the populations concern. Global warming is the theory that our planet is getting hotter due to an increase in the greenhouse effect brought about by the increase of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is caused by the greenhouse gases and has several consequences that could occur if this problem is left ignored by most of the world and our nations leaders. Such consequences include our planet getting hotter, melting of large glaciers, wildlife suffering or even the inverse effect which could trigger an ice age.

With that, we should take global warming step by step and educate people about it because most people do not even know what it is or that there is a problem. Our earth is protected by a large ozone (o 3) layer in the atmosphere which deflects life threatening UV rays that are given off by the sun. Without this layer we wouldn't be able to exist as an ecosystem and all life would go extinct. "Greenhouse gases, which have built up to unnaturally high levels in the atmosphere, trap heat. They include carbon dioxide, which is emitted when fossil fuels are burned, and other gases produced by human activity" (Watson 2). These gases besides trapping heat, created a hole in our ozone layer which will continue to increase in size if the level of gases remain too high.

A hole in the ozone layer means that there is no ozone to protect us within that given size of the hole. Whether the hole is big or small it does have an effect on earth which we call global warming, which in turn can have several effects on the planet. One possible effect that can be attributed to global warming is the melting of large glaciers. This is serious because "The Earth's ice cover acts as a protective mirror, reflecting a large share of the sun's heat back into space and keeping the planet cool" (Mastny 1). The most dramatic reports of this come from the polar regions where the Arctic sea ice has dropped 40% in thickness from 3.1 m to 1.8 m in less than 30 years (1).

The massive Antarctic ice cover which contains 91% of Earth's ice is also melting, with glaciers as large as Delaware breaking off of it, it has already lost ice that is larger than Rhode Island since 1998 alone. With the ice melted, it would spark regional flooding and raise sea levels. Michael D. Lemonick writes "There is a chance that global warming could plunge us into, of all things, an ice age" (Lemonick 1). Currently the Gulf stream brings warm surface water in and heats Europe causing the water to slowly evaporate and becomes saltier. The result is denser water which sinks and is sent through a cycle, where then the cycle is just repeated. But with global warming, melting ice pumps freshwater into the northern Atlantic.

The result would be less saltier water, hence disrupting the cycle making it unable to continue; therefore, "shutting off" the Gulf stream. Europe would then become very cold and the ice or snowfall would continue to reflect the sun's heat back into space causing the earth to remain cold. The effects have also been clearly seen on animals, birds, glaciers, and other parts of the world. Some changes noted in the USA were that "Tree swallowers are building nests earlier in the year. A western species of butterfly is moving farther up the coast. Flowers in Wisconsin are budding earlier in the spring" (Watson 1).

The unbelievable part is that we are not doing much about any of this. Dick Thompson writes "French researchers reported that heat-trapping greenhouse gases are at their highest level in 420,000 years" (Thompson 1). American Geophysical Union study director John Immerwahr says "The more we talk about warming, the more the publics concern goes down" (1). However, there has been more than 13 million dollars spent on ads to send a message portraying a "too expensive" problem to fix, or that there was no problem at all. This is obviously false, if there was not a problem than the topic would never be an issue.

Environmentalists are saying that the only way to fix this problem is by reducing the level of greenhouse gases produced without spending too much money. This is very possible with solutions like cleaner or electric cars and better wind and solar power technologies. Natural Resources Defense Council program director Greg Whetstone points out "Of course, it's also possible that only when people feel less hopeless will they press their leaders to make the solutions available" (2). This shows that if we are going to fight this problem then we have to do it as a nation, with everyone involved including the president, and with the less support from people there will be less of a chance to correct this problem. Due to the increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and other gases produced by human activity, global warming is becoming a bigger issue to deal with. The effec 6 ts have been clearly seen all over the world and even in our own backyard.

With glaciers slowly melting, an increase in temperature, and plants and animals showing different behavior patterns it is obvious that the problem is getting worse. There are several individuals who fight and dedicate most of their lives to preventing global warming and the effects that come with it. However, with the; large number of people fighting it there is an equal number of those who are not and this is why the problem continues. So, until we can all come together and put effort into stopping global warming, we will continue to read about the disasters that occur and their effects on Earth.

Bibliography

Castro, Peter, and Michael E. Huber. Marine Biology. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill 2000.
Hale, Ellen. "U.S. blasted in talks... ". . USA Today. 22 November 2000 Lemonick, Michael D.
And Then How Cold" TIME. 8 November 1999: Mastny, Lisa.
Melting of Earth's Ice Cover Reaches New High" Worldwatch International. March 2000 Thompson, Dick.
What Global Warming" TIME. 21 June 1999: Watson, Traci.
U.N. Study: Global warming is evident now". USA Today. 19 February 2001:.