Effects Of Global Warming Essay Example For Students

Effects Of Global Warming Essay Global warming and the greenhouse effect are issues discussed by scientists all the time. A natural process that keeps earths temperature at a livable rate is called the greenhouse effect. The energy from the sun warms up the earth when the rays from the sun are absorbed by greenhouse gasses. The gasses then become trapped in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane and nitrous oxide are the most common greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gases cause the radiant heat of the sun to be trapped in the Earths lower atmosphere which causes global warming. If there werent any greenhouse gasses, the earth would be really cold due to very little sun rays being absorbed on the earth. Global warming can and will lead to several problems that affect the environment in which we humans live in. These problems can lead to warmer temperatures all around the world, it can endanger animals and the wildlife, and it can lead to widespread flooding from the glaciers melting. Here are a few more fu ture effects that I will discuss in more detail about. Damage to human health, Severe stress on forests, wetlands, and other natural habitats, how fish will be affected. Global warming is a serious problem that will affect our generation when we are older. In talking about global warming, we need to learn what causes the greenhouse effect. Rays from the sun are taken up and absorbed by water vapor that is natural in the atmosphere. The United States emits the largest manmade greenhouse gases in the world. As Americans we must realize the responsibility to reduce the emissions. (Gore, Albert)Water Vapor is eighty percent of greenhouse warming. The last twenty percent results from other gases that are in very little amounts. A huge absorber of the suns heat rays is carbon dioxide. Us as humans release a lot of carbon dioxide. When fossil fuels are burned, they release big amounts of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is on the increase in our atmosphere due to car emissions. Approximately eighty percent of CO2 increases because of mans use of fossil fuels. When there is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere the more sun rays are absorbed. In result to this happening this will cause the earth and the earths atmosphere to warm. When the earth is warming, water temperatures will start to get warmer. Oceans and lakes will get warmer in result from the carbon dioxide. When the oceans and lakes heat up, water is evaporated at a great rate causing more levels of carbon dioxide to be released in our atmosphere. Every time the temperature keeps rising, the more carbon dioxide will be released. When this process gets going, it is very hard to keep in control. Such a drastic increase in the rate of temperature increase is due to the industrial revolution. In the past 40 years, the world has seen a drastic increase in population and the use of fossil fuels (gasoline, oil, coal or natural gas). These fuels are used to run our cars, heat and cool our homes, manufacture goods in our factories and to ship goods for worldwide consumption. The focus, until lately, has been to produce maximum product at a minimum price to maximize profit. Little to no care was taken to minimize the amount of fossil fuels used in the production of goods. Recently, it has become evident that such practices lead to the production of greenhouse gases. Whenever fossil fuels are burned for energy, greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide builds up in the earths atmosphere (Union of Concerned Scientists). Another reason why greenhouse gases have increased is due to the decrease in the amount of plant life, commonly called deforestation. Plant life is the only thing known on earth to consume carbon dioxide. However, due to the need of raw materials (wood and paper pulp), industrial nations tend to cut down more trees than they can reforest (Fuller 454). Also, toxins produced as a by-product of industrialization have killed plant life. Therefore, a greater amount of carbon dioxide is being produced at the same time less carbon dioxide is being consumed, leading to dangerous consequences. The combination of pollutants and deforestation has lead to what is commonly called the Greenhouse Effect. The term Greenhouse Effect comes from the understanding that pollutants thickening the earths atmosphere keep heat trapped in the atmosphere. Thereby leading to an increase in the earths temperature, or Global Warming. Although, a increase of a few degrees over hundreds of years doesnt seem like much to some people, the variance is great enough to allow some deadly bacteria to thrive and disease to spread. Moreover, warmer temperatures can increase air and water pollution, which could harm human health. In the past few years, there has been an increasing amount of reports that correspond with these theories. Worldwide, there have been reports of cases indicating a spread of mosquito-born infectious disease, heat stroke and asthma / respiratory disease. It is believed that the 1#61616;F change in average global temperature has much to do with such harm to human health. For example, there are an increasing number of reports of mosquito-born, infectious disease in areas that have not been previously exposed. Such cases include a malaria outbreak in the summer of 1997 in the Kenyan highlands and a spread of dengue and yellow fever in the Andes Mountain of Colombia, previously limited to below 3,300 feet, is now seen as high as 5,600 feet (Union of Concerned Scientists). Many countries from Tanzania and Indonesia, to as close as Mexico, have also reported outbreaks of such infectious disease. The outbreaks are a result of an increase of temperature in areas which mosquitoes previously could not breed. The populations of these areas are also more susceptible to these diseases because the disease is foreign to their immune systems. A lack of natural enemies in such areas also allows the mosquito population to grow more quickly. The result in Kenya was the death of hundreds of people. The Dead Sea Scrolls (1545 words) EssayRodents also thrive in warm weather. In the case of unusually mild winter weather in Australia in