Effects of Global Warming
Introduction to Consequences of Climate Change on the Environment
Mar 21, 2009
Global warming is caused by numerous factors working together. The depletion of the ozone, which is caused by aerosol sprays and other pollutants, allows more sun into Earth's atmosphere and warms it up. Other forms of pollution, such as car exhaust, become trapped in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and are called 'greenhouse gases.' The greenhouse gases cannot escape our atmosphere, so the atmosphere heats up just like a greenhouse.
The entire planet is undergoing climate change.
Climate Change and Consequences
As global warming escalates, glaciers in the arctic regions melt into the saltwater oceans. This causes the oceans to rise and cover more land. Global warming causes loss of inhabitable land.
Even as the saltwater oceans rise from the melting glaciers, fresh water lakes evaporate with global warming. Some of the arctic lakes are also drying up. The world is losing drinkable water as global warming continues.
Global warming causes Spring to come earlier, and the forests dry out earlier in the season. This lengthens the amount of time that there is risk of forest fires. Not only does global warming cause forest fires to become more common, the forest fires become more difficult to contain, control, and put out.
Animal Life
Species that live in cold climates must move and seek out new places to live as their usual habitats become too warm.
Species such as penguins will eventually have nowhere to go if global warming continues to escalate. According to the page "Effects of Global Warming" on the website National Geographic online, "Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the decline of the Adélie penguins on Antarctica, where their numbers have fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years."
Global warming causes insects to move to new and different areas as they seek out climates they are used to. This is devastating to the new habitat. Also according to National Geographic online, spruce bark beetles have been making Alaska their home due to exceptionally warm summers over the past twenty years. These insects have decimated at least four million acres of spruce trees.
Earlier springs and longer summers stretch out the length of time that pollens are in the air. People with seasonal allergies suffer more and for longer periods due to global warming. In addition, greenhouse gasses trap pollens in the air causing people to be exposed to more pollen for longer periods of time.
Historical Monuments
Global warming is threatening the world's ancient monuments. Rising ocean waters attributed to global warming have already caused damage to a six hundred year old building in Thai. It is an impressive structure with beautifully carved elephants all around it. The landmark site was once in the capital of a Thai kingdom.
Scientists speculate, but cannot truly fathom what climate change means for the future of the Earth. Organisms will either die out or drastically change over generations in order to survive in a different world. The habits of people have brought about drastic changes in global temperatures. If people learn from mistakes made and change their habits, then perhaps catastrophe can be avoided. Its definitely worth a try.
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