Consequences of Global Warming

Climate Crisis & Climate Change Facts

Dec 1, 2008 Bernard P. Nelson

What climate and other environmental changes loom on the horizon due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and how will these changes affect earth and life?

An organization concerned about climate and other environmentally related dangers is the Natural Resources Defense Council. Claiming to have 1.2 million members, their home website says their approach to consequences of global warming is to “...protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places, and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.” The organization was founded, in 1970, by attorneys and law students concerned about dangerous environmental changes. Today, NRDC claims a total staff of 300 including lawyers, scientists, and environmental experts.

Effects of Global Warming

The NRDC [see organization link above] warns, on their author anonymous home page, that the planet could warm 7.2 more degrees Fahrenheit during this century. In this short undated article they claim that the years 1998-2007 were among the top warmest years in the United States. The organization states that “...this rise in average temperature will have far-reaching effects on the earth’s climate patterns and on all living things.” They predict changes in weather patterns such as dry weather in some areas contributing to drought and more fires. Also, they predict dangerous effects on people’s health, wildlife, glaciers & sea levels.

Global Climate Change

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration claims, on their author anonymous website [see organization link below], that their work “...enriches life through science...as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.” NOAA began in 1807 as the first U.S. scientific agency when Survey of the Coast was established. Since that time the organization has evolved engaging in scientific research to “understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment...conserve and manage coastal and marine resources.” Also, their climate programs focus on climate monitoring for understanding the state of the climate system, to predict climate change, and then releasing this information so people can plan and respond to predicted changes.

NOAA states on their website that “...the greenhouse effect is unquestionably real." The author anonymous, undated article goes on to inform readers that greenhouse gas accumulates in the lower atmosphere and radiates down some of the heat. The organization says that most greenhouse gas is caused by water vapor, and if we did not have greenhouse gas our planet would be at zero degrees Fahrenheit. The perceived problem is due to human activity, according to this same article, which causes “...emission of greenhouse gases through fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.”

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gases concentrate in the atmosphere, largely due to burning coal, oil, and gas. NOAA has conducted a scientific study to determine global warming facts, such as temperature change, which can affect crops, wildlife, sea levels, glaciers, forests, and earth’s population. The organization states that current greenhouse gas levels exceed the natural range over “...the last 650,000 years...75-350% above pre-industrial concentration.” According to NOAA , on their website author anonymous Special Report on Emission Scenarios undated article, "...weather patterns (worldwide)...7 of the 8 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001...", and 20 of the warmest years have “...all occurred since 1995.”

The NOAA reports, in this same article, that rising sea levels will be in meters 0.18 [0.59 feet) to 0.59 [1.9 feet] based on the highest predicted greenhouse gas increase. The organization also states that “Snow extent and sea-ice are projected to decrease in the northern hemisphere, and melting glaciers and ice-caps are expected to continue to retreat.”

In order to combat global warming Al Gore is promoting, on his Climate Project site, switching to 100% fossil free energy within 10 years. A Reuters News Service press release, dated 11/17/2008, by Peter Henderson, says that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is ordering preparations for a sea level rise.

The consequences of global warming, such as drought, famine,severe weather, sea level rise, loss of the coral reefs, loss of sea creatures and wildlife, along with other dangers, can be reduced by switching to renewable energy using bio-fuels, wind turbines, geothermal energy, solar panels, and hydro-energy.

The copyright of the article Consequences of Global Warming in Meteorology & Climatology is owned by Bernard P. Nelson. Permission to republish Consequences of Global Warming in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Air Pollution

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Feb 19, 2009 10:54 AM

Guest :

What economic impacts will global warming have? Between all the alterations that are necesary to slow the process and with whatever we can possibly do to undo the damage that has already been done to the planet.
Also I was wondering, are we already experiencing Global Warming? Because of all the animals in the poles that have begun to die off and the weather extremes we've been experiencing lately. Such as the Tsunami a few years ago, and then all those hurricanes which seem to be getting stronger and the bad earthquakes this summer.

Jan 4, 2010 5:29 AM

Guest :

The world is becoming hell as a result of our daily activities,and always nothing good come out from what we do all these hurricanes ,storms,etc are the catastrophic of global warming .all countries they should realize that the effect reach the climax point so we must organize our self to work on it

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