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... over yet, is nothing but a prelude to the future. According to scientists, the effect of global warming is behind the increase of killer hurricanes. The periodicity of hurricanes in the next hundred years is going to increase by 60 - 70 % according to recent studies. Its been noted the formation of hurricanes is closely related to weather conditions around the globe. In 1991 the winters were particularly cold in Alaska and Siberia, yet it was the same year when many furious hurricanes, notably Andrew, have struck Florida, causing catastrophic losses.
As time passed, scientists realized that there is a connection between weather conditions in other parts of the planet and the number of forecasted hurricanes. This relation is commonly referred to as tele connection. The easterly winds of both hemispheres merge near the equator, in the area called the "Inter tropical Convergence Zone", resulting in continuous clouds and thunderstorms that encircle portions of the Earth near the equator, producing a narrow band of clouds and thunderstorms that encircle of the globe. The formation and movement of hurricanes largely depends on wind circulation and this, in its turn, is influenced by the weather conditions on the continental scale. This is the main factor of tele connection phenomenon. Apparently, Earths atmosphere exists as a whole in order for us to forecast the formation of new hurricanes, the thorough study of Earths weather is a must.
With the respect of hurricane forecasting for the next 5 years, we can definitely say that the number of hurricanes will increase drastically. Global warming is causing the weather conditions to change worldwide. It will inevitably lead to an increased damage that were to expect from hurricanes. It has to be kept in mind that the population density in high-risk areas is also increasing, making every next hurricane even more potentially dangerous.
Despite the governments effort to cut down on air pollution, which is the main cause for the greenhouse effect that causes global warming, were still to expect the this process is gaining more momentum, because of Earths population rapid growth. The increased atmosphere temperature will cause the Polar ice cap to melt, resulting in raised ocean levels. This will bring drastic changes in air masses circulation, causing in increased winds speeds. These, in their turn, will make air masses with different temperature values to collide more rapidly, thus adding to the ferociousness of hurricanes. Surrounding the issue of global warming is the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect plays an important role in the issue of global warming, but it is not the reason behind why global warming is occurring.
The earth produces greenhouse gasses naturally, and without this gas, humans along with many other forms of life, would not be able to survive. The reason for this is that earth would be much too cold for many life forms to exist if it did not have some form of gas to heat up the environment. Without the greenhouse effect the earth would be 40 - 60 degrees cooler than its current temperature (Hynes 176). The problem though, is that the earth is producing an abundance of this gas, and we are going to become much too warm (Schneider 13). Life cannot survive in a certain amount of warmth as well, so a middle ground must be sustained. Although some scientists dispute that humans are in any way responsible for the rise in the amount of greenhouse gasses many others believe that humans are partially responsible.
Numerous things can cause the amount of greenhouse gasses on the earth to rise. The Industrial Revolution of the early 1900 s is said to have increased the level of carbon dioxide by 30 percent, methane by 100 percent and nitrous oxide by 15 percent (Global Warming). Another one of the factors that can increase the levels of greenhouse gasses is the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels make up 90 percent of the commercial production of energy in the world today (Gribbin 235). This percentage is far too high for the environment to handle. Along with the variety of causes for global warming, there are also many results from global warming.
Several of these results are negative; there really are not any benefits from the earth growing warmer. One of the major negative effects of global warming would be an increase in disease (Hynes 182). Diseases such as Malaria, Hantavirus and many others would be much more common because they would survive better in a warmer climate. Another negative effect of our planet growing warmer would be an increase in the number of natural disasters (Hynes 182).
There are a number of natural disasters that would occur more frequently in a warmer environment. The occurrence of hurricanes most importantly, along with a slight increase in the number of tornadoes, floods, droughts, acid rain along with warm and cold extremes as well, would be much more common if the balance of our planet's temperature was thrown off. Natural disasters such as super hurricanes for example, would occur because of warmer surface temperatures of ocean water (Hynes 182). Storms of this magnitude would produce winds up to 225 miles per hour (Hynes 182). An increase in the number of floods and tornadoes would be a result of these storms. In spite of the fact that many of the problems concerning global warming are very serious, a large number of them would be able to be dealt with by humans through some action.
The biggest problem, though, is something that humans cannot control: rises in sea levels and thermal expansion of our oceans. Thermal expansion takes place when the average temperature of the water in the ocean is increased (Gribbin 20). Because the water is warmer it expands, and therefore occupies more space. Because of this, a one-to three-foot rise in ocean levels could occur. If the seas do expand at the current rate, by the year 2075 the oceans could be as much as seven feet higher than they currently are (Houghton 176). This could cause the arctic ice sheets and some glaciers to partially melt.
The melting of ice and its replacement by forestland would only add to the amount of water in the oceans. This rise in the level of our oceans could have a tremendous impact on the earth. It would cause $ 10 - 100 billion in repairs along some shorelines in the United States alone (Hynes 181). This is only including the East Coast of our country.
Since a significant portion of the country consists of shoreline, the amount of the damages would be massive. The many effects faced by humans because of global warming are of course very important. Because global warming is a global issue it will effect more than just human beings. It will have a profound effect on plant and animal life as well. With an increase in the earth's temperature of just 3 degrees Celsius, seven to eleven percent of the North American plant species would be threatened.
Many would not survive the change in temperature. With just a 1 degree Celsius change in temperature it could potentially change some temperature zones. In order to stay alive many plants would have to migrate up to 100 miles northward of where they currently are just to stay alive. Many plants would not survive this.
Along with plant life, many fish and other animals are strongly associated with climate. With a rise in the temperature there would be a great loss of the amount of cold water fish that are able to survive in the oceans. This would in turn have and effect on many other species that are involved with fish in the food chain. Global warming, of course, does have its own unexpected aspects.
Until he came across an article by Stirling and De rocher in the September 1993 issue of Arctic, Ptolemy has to admit that he had not hitherto given much thought to the serious implications that the greenhouse effect has for polar bears. Arctic sea ice, it seems, is in a delicate climatic balance already. Global warming could lead to its complete disappearance, at least seasonally, and certainly can be expected to cause substantial reductions at the southern margin, in places such as the Hudson and James Bays. And ice is crucial to polar bear ecology: Polar bears depend on sea ice for several purposes: as a platform from which to hunt and feed upon seals... , as a habitat on which to seek mates and breed, as a vehicle from which to access terrestrial maternity denning areas, sometimes for maternity denning itself, and as a substrate on which to make long-distance movements (Pringle) Global warming is not a problem that will be impossible to solve. It has become a large political and social issue in recent years.
The government and numerous other organizations have already come up with many solutions. Some solutions to global warming involve the development of federal admission standards and laws. This means that the amount of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide that will be burned is going to be controlled. Other solutions would be to make people aware of the fact that too many fossil fuels are being used.
Some examples to stop the use of fossil fuels would be car-pooling, using public transportation, and building vehicles that are more focused on electric power and are safer for the environment. Along with many other solutions, one that would have a large impact on the environment is nuclear power use. Nuclear power needs to become safer and more widely known. The effects on the environment are not as profound when nuclear power is used because it does not put out the pollutants that substances like gasoline and oil do, but the technology is still very expensive and not very much is know about it. Cost is a very big issue when it comes to global warming.
Almost all of the solutions for stopping global warming involve the need for money. The great need for money is due to all of the research that needs to be done to come up with real solutions to stop global warming. Whether it is to build something, or to fund research, the question many people have is; where is this money going to come from? Private organizations and government agencies are the two major sources of funding to stop global warming.
During the next ten years, a trend in increased rainfall, caused by global warming, can be largely to blame. Environmental experts say agriculture, health, water supplies, and wildlife are increasingly suffering under the growing global warming crisis. Industrialized nations should take action to help the poorer parts of the world adapt to the increasingly unstable and extreme environments that are likely to come. The specialists call for special efforts to develop and improve the capabilities of national meteorological services in the least-developed countries, where existing services are constrained by limited budgets, poor infrastructure, and lack of spare parts and consumables. Action must be taken against global warming before it is too late.
According to environmentalist Stephen Schneider it could take another decade or so of record heat, forest fires, intense hurricanes, and droughts to convince skeptics of the global warming problem. Public awareness is of great concern when dealing with the issue of global warming. Many people do not realize the magnitude of the problem and have not done their part to stop it from happening. Global warming is a problem that 2, 500 of the worlds leading experts say is definitely occurring (Global Warming). Although some scientists do not agree with this it is better to be on the safe side of the issue. The year 1998 was the hottest year recorded in the history of the world and the temperature around the globe is currently higher than it has ever been since the year 1862 (Global Warming).
The rate of global warming in the last 20 years has been the fastest ever (Hynes 171). If this issue is not addressed, future generations of the world will be forced to suffer the consequences of our actions, or the actions we did not take. In conclusion, global warming is the most important part of the climate change. Global warming is an increase of the Earths surface temperature and the Earths lower atmosphere.
Atmospheric greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases) trap outgoing energy, and retain heat like the glass panels in a greenhouse. Many people believe that humans are causing the problem with emissions from things such as cars and trucks. Others say that the warming is just part of a trend and that the world goes through warm and cold periods. If the planet continues to warm, there could be many harmful side effects.
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Research essay sample on Stop Global Warming Greenhouse Gasses
