Introduction
Global Warming was once an uncommon term used by a few scientists. Today, the idea of global warming is well known, if not well understood. It is not unusual to hear someone complaining about a hot day or a freak storm and remark, "It's global warming."
Global warming, or climate change, is a subject that shows no sign of cooling down. Global warming has become the most talked-about environmental issue today. Governments, corporations, and individuals around the world are debating the reality of global warming, and working on solutions. What exactly is global warming? Why does it threaten the environment and life on this planet? Why do some people claim global warming is a hoax? The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it's already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century. The term Global Warming refers to the observation that the atmosphere near the Earth's surface is warming. This warming is one of many kinds of climate change that the Earth has gone through in the past and will continue to go through in the future. It is reasonable to expect that the Earth should warm as the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases. It is known for certain that atmospheric concentrations
of greenhouse gases are rising dramatically due to human activity. It is less well known exactly how the increases in these greenhouse gases factor in the observed changes of the Earth's climate and global temperatures. Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere and temperatures are rising.
The effects of global warming in the 21st century and beyond are expected to be disastrous, according to the summary of a scientific report issued on April 6, 2007 by the world’s leading panel of climate change scientists. And many of those changes are already under way. Even small increases in average global temperatures can have devastating effects on people, wildlife, and the places we live. Rising temperatures in the Arctic have already reduced average ice cover, disrupting the feeding habits of polar bears and the way of life of Inuit communities. Reduced rainfall in parts of the tropics and subtropics is wreaking havoc on food production and wildlife habitat alike. The predicted effects of global warming on the environment and for human life are numerous and varied. It is generally difficult to attribute specific natural phenomena to long-term causes, but some effects of recent climate change may already be occurring. Raising sea levels, glacier retreat, Arctic shrinkage, and altered patterns of agriculture are cited as direct consequences, but predictions for secondary and regional effects include extreme weather events, an expansion of tropical diseases, changes in the timing of seasonal patterns in ecosystems, and drastic economic impact. Concerns have led to political activism advocating proposals to mitigate, eliminate, or adapt to it.
Facts about Global Warming
Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier. Polar bears and indigenous cultures are already suffering from the sea-ice loss.
Glaciers and mountain snows are rapidly melting—for example, Montana's Glacier National Park now has only 27 glaciers, versus 150 in 1910. In the Northern Hemisphere, thaws also come a week earlier in spring and freezes begin a week later.
The rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century's last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia, according to a number of climate studies. And the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 11 of the past 12 years are among the dozen warmest since 1850.
Causes of Global Warming
Global Warming is caused by many things. The causes are split up into two groups, man-made or anthropogenic causes, and natural causes.
Natural Causes
Natural causes are causes created by nature. One natural cause is a release of methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a greenhouse gas. A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. Another natural cause is that the earth goes through a cycle of climate change. This climate change usually lasts about 40,000 years
Man-made Causes
Man-made causes probably do the most damage. There are many man-made causes. Pollution is one of the biggest man-made problems. Pollution comes in many shapes and sizes. Burning fossil fuels is one thing that causes pollution. Fossil fuels are fuels made of organic matter such as coal, or oil. When fossil fuels are burned they give off a green house gas called CO2. Also mining coal and oil allows methane to escape. How does it escape? Methane is naturally in the ground. When coal or oil
is mined you have to dig up the earth a little. When you dig up the fossil fuels you dig up the methane as well.
Another major man-made cause of Global Warming is population. More people means more food, and more methods of transportation, right? That means more methane because there will be more burning of fossil fuels, and more agriculture. Now your probably thinking, "Wait a minute, you said agriculture is going to be damaged by Global Warming, but now you're saying agriculture is going to help cause Global Warming?" Well, have you ever been in a barn filled with animals and you smell something terrible? You're smelling methane. Another source of methane is manure. Because more food is needed we have to raise food. Animals like cows are a source of food which means more manure and methane. Another problem with the increasing population is transportation. More people means more cars, and more cars means more pollution. Also, many people have more than one car.
Since CO2 contributes to global warming, the increase in population makes the problem worse because we breathe out CO2. Also, the trees that convert our CO2 to oxygen are being demolished because we're using the land that we cut the trees down from as property for our homes and buildings. We are not replacing the trees (an important part of our eco system), so we are constantly taking advantage of our natural resources and giving nothing back in return.
There are two major effects of global warming
Increase of temperature on the earth by about 3° to 5° C (34° to 41° Fahrenheit) by the year 2100.
Rise of sea levels by at least 25 meters (82 feet) by the year 2100.
Increasing global temperatures are causing a broad range of changes. Sea levels are rising due to thermal expansion of the ocean, in addition to melting of land ice. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of other extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and tornadoes. Other effects of global warming include higher or lower agricultural yields, further glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions. As a further effect of global warming, diseases like malaria are returning into areas where they have been extinguished earlier.
OTHER EFFECTS
On Glaciers and Sea Levels
Arctic summers could be ice-free by 2040, and sea levels could rise as much as 23 inches by 2100 if current warming patterns continue. Rising global temperatures will speed the melting of glaciers and ice caps and cause early ice thaw on rivers and lakes.
More Powerful and Dangerous Hurricanes
Warmer water in the oceans pumps more energy into tropical storms, making them stronger and potentially more destructive.
Drought and Wildfire
Warmer temperatures could increase the probability of drought. Greater evaporation, particularly during summer and fall, could exacerbate drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires.
Sea-Level Rise
Current rates of sea-level rise are expected to increase as a result both of thermal expansion of the oceans and melting of most mountain glaciers and partial melting of the West Antarctic and Greenland ice caps. Consequences include loss of coastal wetlands and barrier islands, and a greater risk of flooding in coastal communities. Low-lying areas, such as the coastal region along the Gulf of Mexico and estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay, are especially vulnerable.
Deadly Heat Waves
More frequent and severe heat waves will result in a greater number of heat-related deaths.
Bad Air, Allergy and Asthma
Global warming could increase smog pollution in some areas and intensify pollen allergies and asthma. Hotter conditions could also aggravate local air quality problems, already afflicting more than 100 million Americans.
Intense Rainstorms
Warmer temperatures increase the energy of the climatic system and can lead to heavier rainfall in some areas.
Dangerous Weather Events
A warmer atmosphere can hold -- and dump -- more moisture, contributing to more intense extreme weather events, which in turn put people's lives at risk.
Ecosystem Shifts and Species Die-Off
Increasing global temperatures are expected to disrupt ecosystems, pushing to extinction those species that cannot adapt. The first comprehensive assessment of the extinction risk from global warming found that more than 1 million species could be obliterated by 2050 if the current trajectory continues.
Forest Resource
Forest Resources is a term associated with forests and range including, without limitation, timber, water, wildlife, fisheries, recreation, botanical forest products, forage, and biological diversity.
Forests actively contribute to the world’s environmental stability and are used as economic resources to produce subsistence and industrial forest products. The amount of global forest cover is a key indicator of the health of the planet. “An intact forest cycles nutrients, regulates climate, stabilizes soil, treats waste, provides habitat, and offers opportunities for recreation.” Forests also help regulate local and regional rainfall, are sources of food, medicine, clean drinking water and they provide immense recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits.
In addition, they have cultural and recreational value. They perform multiple roles, such as preventing soil degradation and erosion, protecting watersheds or stabilizing mountainous areas. They limit the greenhouse effect contributing to global warming, by absorbing CO2 (the main greenhouse gas). Inversely, forest degradation increases CO2 emissions. According to some experts, forests serve as natural habitats to almost two thirds of all Earth’s species, therefore acting as a stronghold to safeguard biodiversity. On an economic level, forests may be used as a direct source of energy or raw materials. Finally, forests play a cultural role in almost all societies, as mythical sceneries or historical backgrounds and as living habitats for about 60 million people worldwide.
Impact of Global Warming on Forest Resources
Global warming is perhaps the most serious and far-reaching environmental threat we face today. From melting permafrost in Alaska to melting glaciers on Mt Hood, global warming presents serious negative consequences not only to fish and wildlife, but to our economy as well. The impact of Global Warming on forest resources is intense. Global warming threatens forests worldwide. Deforestation contributes to global warming, but, in turn, global warming will increase the loss of forests.Many of the world's forests are in poor condition, fragmented, and degradated, and so they are less able to adapt or adjust to climate change. As the global climate warms up, patterns of rainfall will change; and 'normal' temperature patterns will be disrupted. The expected rate of global warming and sea-level rise will be too fast to allow most forests to be able to adapt quickly enough to survive.
In addition, cities, highways, agricultural fields and other human activities limit available habitat and create barriers to the migration of plants and animals. Forests in protected areas like national parks and national and state forestlands were established without considering the possibility of changing climates. Rapid climate shifts may reduce appropriate native habitats within protected areas while development outside the boundaries of the protected areas makes adjacent new habitat unavailable and limits the creation of migration corridors. In some US temperate forests, rapid climate change and accompanying extreme events, such as droughts, floods, and wind storms could lead to increased disease, insects, landslides and wildfires that could increase tree mortality and, in some cases, replace forests by grasslands. Some of the models used in the National Assessment indicate that forest productivity overall is likely to increase, leading to increased supply of certain types of timber, though possible interactions with extreme events and other disturbances could reduce these gains.
While the effect of changes in tree compositions on other species is difficult to predict with the modeling tools currently available, plants and animals that live in the forest will be affected, both by changing habitat and in direct response to temperature increases and changes in precipitation, fire regimes, and storm events. It is unknown as yet whether biological diversity would be reduced if climate change occurred at a fast rate, but the new composition of species is likely to be one of heat-tolerant fast adapters. Wildlife has been able to adapt to changing climates for millions of years. But unlike during previous climate changes, roads, development and other changes to the natural environment now block their migration routes or otherwise impede their adaptations. Parks and nature reserves established to protect certain species may no longer be hospitable to those species. In other words, appropriate climate for currently protected forest ecosystems may only exist outside protected areas. In many cases, these areas will already be developed and wholly unsuitable to new forests.
Protecting forestland, especially old-growth trees, is not only important for fish and wildlife, it is a critical component in the effort to fight against global warming.
IMPACT ON FOREST ECO-SYSTEMS
Eco systems around the world help sustain life for millions of species. Eco systems that are mainly forests provide a home for a large majority of the species alive. Therefore the trees in these forests are considered to be the most important species. Although it is true, that most species are not able to sustain without each other.
There are many benefits that we get from our forests. Some of these include cleaner drinking water, a home for plants and animals, economic growth, clean air, recreational opportunities, reassuring future. Another benefit we get from trees is called oxygen. If there were no trees to give us oxygen to breath, we would not be able to live. So if you need one good reason why a forest should exist, staying alive is a pretty good reason.
The projected increase in temperature will likely shift the ideal range for many forest species by about 200 miles to the north. If the climate changes slowly enough, warmer temperatures may enable southern tree species to colonize to the north. Many factors, including the pace at which different species colonize new areas, determine the future composition of forestlands. Where species move into new areas more slowly than other tree species migrate out, the species previously common will still grow, but likely at a different density.
Under the scenario, we could lose the maple/beech/birch forests currently. The upper Great Lakes region could lose its aspen/birch forests as well. Isolated forest communities such as red spruce may become extinct within their current range. These forest types would be replaced by oak/pine and oak/hickory forests, provided the warming is gradual. If the temperature increase is substantial, droughts, insect infestations and fires could become more likely, and forest cover loss may occur and persist while the new forest types migrate north. If the average global temperature increase is 2 °C over the next 100 years, tree species will have to migrate 1 to 3 miles every year, improbably fast except for trees whose seeds are spread by birds.
IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON WILDLIFE
Did You Know?
By 2050, rising temperatures resulting from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases could cause more than a million of Earth's land-dwelling plants and animals to become extinct.
Global warming affects birds and other wildlife in countless ways, and can even cause extinctions. All organisms depend on their habitats for food, water, shelter, and opportunities to breed and raise young. Climate changes can affect organisms and their habitats in a number of ways. In fact, global warming impacts all life on earth, from individual organisms to populations, species, communities, and ecosystems. It can alter behaviors, population sizes, species distributions, plant and animal communities, and ecosystem functions and stability. How strongly different species will be affected varies, depending on differences in their ecology and life history. Species with small population sizes, restricted ranges, and limited ability to move to different habitat will be most at risk. Similarly, different habitats and ecosystems will be impacted
differently, with those in coastal, high-latitude, and high-altitude regions most vulnerable. There is mounting scientific evidence that global warming is already having profound effects on birds, broader biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and ecosystems. Here are some of the ways that global warming is affecting wildlife:
Geographic range
The ranges of many plants and animals are moving toward the poles and toward higher elevations. For example, the ranges of many British breeding birds were, on average, more than 11 miles farther north in the period from 1988-91 than they were in the period from 1968-72, according to comparisons derived from breeding bird atlases. (British butterflies are also being found farther north.)
Reproduction timing
Egg-laying, flowering, and spawning are occurring earlier for many species, in some cases disrupting delicate cycles that ensure that insects and other food are available for young animals. For example, Tree Swallows across North America have advanced egg-laying by as many as nine days from 1959 to 1991.
Frequency and intensity of pest outbreaks
Global warming increases droughts in some areas; and spruce budworm outbreaks frequently follow droughts, perhaps because dry weather increases the stress on host trees or allows more spruce budworm eggs to be laid. Spruce budworms can be lethal to spruce trees, and spruce-fir forests are a very important habitat type in the northern hemisphere for a wide variety of plants and animals.
Habitat Displacement
The key impact of global warming on wildlife is habitat displacement, whereby ecosystems that animals have spent millions of years adapting to shift quickly. Ice giving way to water in polar bear habitat is just one example of this. Affected wildlife populations can sometimes move into new spaces and continue to thrive. But
concurrent human population growth means that many land areas that might be suitable for such “refugee wildlife” are already taken and cluttered with residential and industrial development.
Shifting Life Cycles and Global Warming
Beyond habitat displacement, many scientists agree that global warming is causing a shift in the timing of various natural cyclical events in the lives of animals. Many birds have altered the timing of long-held migratory and reproductive routines to better Sync up with a warming climate. And some hibernating animals are ending their slumbers earlier each year, perhaps due to warmer spring temperatures. For example, 25 migratory bird species are arriving in Manitoba, Canada, earlier than they did 63 years ago; only two are arriving later.
Global warming causing extinctions
Global warming is causing extinctions in vulnerable species. Approximately 70 species of harlequin frogs in Central and South America have been driven to extinction by a disease that is linked with global warming. Warmer temperatures cause increased cloud cover that creates ideal conditions for a fungus that kills the frogs. This is only one cautionary example of how global warming disrupts the stability of ecosystems. As it continues, it will cause more extinctions.
Scientists predict 9-52% of all terrestrial species (1 million plants and animals) will be on an irreversible path to extinction by 2050. (These predictions are based on modeling of the effects of minimum to maximum climate warming impacts on a broad range of species in regions around the world.)
The planet's 25 biodiversity "hotspots" are especially vulnerable to climate impacts. These special places provide homes to 44% of the world's plants and 35% of its vertebrates, in less than 1.4% of its land area. A doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which estimates suggest could occur in about 100 years, could lead to extinction of as many as 43% of these areas' endemic species.
IMPACT ON WATER ECOLOGY
Are we putting
our Fish in Hot
Water?
Global Warming may also change the chemical composition of the water:the amount of oxygen in the water may decline, while pollution and salinity levels may increase. Loss of wetlands could diminish habitat and alter the availability of food for some fish species.
In the fisheries sector where many coastal villages depend for livelihood, effects of global warming could displace thousands of families. Coral reefs are threatened because of carbon dioxide concentration resulting to acidification of seawater. An increase in sea surface temperature also causes bleaching in corals, and deleterious effects on reef accretion and biodiversity. From tropical coral reefs to polar-ice edge communities, from tiny zooplankton to large algae, declines in marine life could be at attributed,at least partly, to the impact of Global Warming.
Global Warming poses a potentially lethal threat to many marine species and would further add to problems already caused by over fishing and coastal pollution An increase in water temperature can result in the death of many aquatic organisms and disrupt many marine habitats. For example, a rise in water temperatures causes coral bleaching of reefs around the world. This is when the coral expels the microorganisms of which it is dependent on. This can result in great damage to coral reefs and subsequently, all the marine life that depends on it. Global warming is prompting salmon to appear in areas where they haven't been seen in recent history and to disappear from other areas. When fish find themselves in hot water, they head out in search of cooler locales. As global temperatures rise, some fish may be able to shift locally – by moving deeper or by heading upriver towards cool headwaters. Fish in the Gulf of Alaska ride out unusually hot weather by shifting to deeper waters, but this can leave other animals with few options. When fish in the Gulf moved deep in 1993, 120,000 sea-birds starved to death, most likely because they could not dive deep enough to catch their relocated prey.
As water warms up, many parasites and microbes that cause fish diseases grow faster and become more virulent.. And as harmful microbes and parasites become stronger and more numerous, fish whose immune systems are already stressed by warm water, low oxygen, and crowding, become even more susceptible to diseases and parasites. Massive fish die-offs due to toxic algae and the risk of human illness from eating poisoned fish will also increase as temperatures climb.
Even the ocean contains layers that are affected by climate change. Both temperature and salinity contribute to the density of seawater – cold, salty water is heavier than warm, fresh water. In the Gulf of Alaska, surface temperatures have risen and more freshwater is flowing into the sea from melting glaciers and increased precipitation. This lighter layer of warm, fresh water has are now less nutrients to feed the small organisms that fish depend upon.
GLOBAL WARMING AND FOREST FIRES
Global warming may be causing more intense wildfires in the western United States. The researchers found that increases in large wildfire activity in the western United States over the past 25 years is "strongly associated with increased spring and summer temperatures and an earlier spring snowmelt." The increased frequency of large wildfires could reduce the density of trees and change forest landscapes
Be Part of the Solution
All of us use fossil fuels every day — for heating and cooling our homes, driving our cars, generating the electricity to power our lights and appliances, and more. In the process we produce the greenhouse gases that are primarily responsible for global warming. Fortunately, each of us also has the power to reduce to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. Here are some of the most important ways we can all make a difference:
NEW DRIVE WAYS
We should consider driving less by taking public transportation, walking, bicycling, or carpooling. Drive a more energy-efficient vehicle. When driving, we must follow the speed limit and drive at a consistent speed. We should take our car in for regular tune-ups and keep our tires properly inflated and take off any rooftop carriers when not in use.
LIGHT SWITCHING
We should try switching from conventional incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescents. Or better yet, try to maximize our use of natural sunlight for daytime lighting needs.
TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE
We must take every step possible to reduce excessive use of home heating and cooling. We should also try turning up the thermostat in the summer and turning it down a few degrees in the winter. Try installing better insulation throughout the house. Seal up windows, close vents, and clean filters. If we really want to save energy, we must try to avoid using air conditioning on all but the very hottest days.
COLD FACTS
New refrigerators use about 50% less energy than those made just 10-15 years ago. That's a big deal, considering that refrigerators account for between 10 and 15% of total home energy consumption. The next time you buy a new refrigerator or any major or even minor appliance look for the Energy Star label to be sure you're getting a high efficiency model. In the meantime, we should keep our refrigerator's thermostat set to the recommended temperature and clean the condenser coil regularly.
WATER DROPS
We can reduce our energy consumption a lot by using less hot water. Run our dishwasher only when full, and wash clothes in cold or warm water, never hot. They'll get just as clean! When it's time to replace your washing machine, choose a new high-efficiency front-loader. With this one will see great savings on water, electricity, and detergent, and you'll discover you can more safely wash delicate items, too.
GO FOR THE SHADE
We should plant leafy trees around your house to provide windbreaks and summer shade. Each year, the average yard tree cleans 330 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. An average tree absorbs ten pounds of pollutants from the air each year, including four pounds of ground level ozone and three pounds of particulates.
BE ORGANIC
Whenever possible, we should select organic produce. The pesticides used to kill pests also kill the organisms that help keep carbon dioxide in the soil.
THINK GLOBALLY, EAT LOCALLY
As much as possible, we should buy local produce and other goods. The fewer miles your produce has traveled, the less energy has been used for refrigeration and transportation.
CONSUME LESS
Almost everything we buy requires the consumption of fossil fuels. Manufacturing, packing, transporting, and selling goods all use huge amounts of energy, releasing excessive amounts of greenhouse gases. When shopping, ask, "Do I really need this? Does the Earth really need this?"
ENERGY AUDIT
We should try an energy audit for our home, school, or office. It's a great way of assessing where and how we use energy and how you can cut back.
BE AN ACTIVE CITIZEN
While each individual's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is important, we won't curb global warming without major changes in the kinds of energy we use and an economic system that depends on a high rate of wasteful consumption. These changes will come about only if enough of us become more politically active. We can do a lot to support the work of local, state, and national governments to curb global warming.
CONCLUSION
All fingers point out that climate change is by and large driven by human activities. At no point of time has it been due to a natural phenomenon. As such a big experiment of nature is unfolding in front of us. Are we sensitive enough to read NATURE with respect? Biologists have discovered about 10,000 species of butterflies, which range from less than an inch in size to a wing span of about 10 inches. They are commonly referred to as flying jewels and are an important link in crop productivity by way of helping pollination. The global warming effect can simply wipe away these sensitive creatures and snap a vital link of nature. All have the right to live. This cardinal rule is fundamental to our existence. There will be no shortage of challenges in the months ahead.
The effects of global warming are often discussed in future terms, but many of those effects are already under way and having an impact on everything from biodiversity to human health. But it’s not too late. If we act now, most scientists believe we can avoid many of the worst effects of global warming.
Global Warming was once an uncommon term used by a few scientists. Today, the idea of global warming is well known, if not well understood. It is not unusual to hear someone complaining about a hot day or a freak storm and remark, "It's global warming."
Global warming, or climate change, is a subject that shows no sign of cooling down. Global warming has become the most talked-about environmental issue today. Governments, corporations, and individuals around the world are debating the reality of global warming, and working on solutions. What exactly is global warming? Why does it threaten the environment and life on this planet? Why do some people claim global warming is a hoax? The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it's already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century. The term Global Warming refers to the observation that the atmosphere near the Earth's surface is warming. This warming is one of many kinds of climate change that the Earth has gone through in the past and will continue to go through in the future. It is reasonable to expect that the Earth should warm as the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases. It is known for certain that atmospheric concentrations
of greenhouse gases are rising dramatically due to human activity. It is less well known exactly how the increases in these greenhouse gases factor in the observed changes of the Earth's climate and global temperatures. Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere and temperatures are rising.
The effects of global warming in the 21st century and beyond are expected to be disastrous, according to the summary of a scientific report issued on April 6, 2007 by the world’s leading panel of climate change scientists. And many of those changes are already under way. Even small increases in average global temperatures can have devastating effects on people, wildlife, and the places we live. Rising temperatures in the Arctic have already reduced average ice cover, disrupting the feeding habits of polar bears and the way of life of Inuit communities. Reduced rainfall in parts of the tropics and subtropics is wreaking havoc on food production and wildlife habitat alike. The predicted effects of global warming on the environment and for human life are numerous and varied. It is generally difficult to attribute specific natural phenomena to long-term causes, but some effects of recent climate change may already be occurring. Raising sea levels, glacier retreat, Arctic shrinkage, and altered patterns of agriculture are cited as direct consequences, but predictions for secondary and regional effects include extreme weather events, an expansion of tropical diseases, changes in the timing of seasonal patterns in ecosystems, and drastic economic impact. Concerns have led to political activism advocating proposals to mitigate, eliminate, or adapt to it.
Facts about Global Warming
Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier. Polar bears and indigenous cultures are already suffering from the sea-ice loss.
Glaciers and mountain snows are rapidly melting—for example, Montana's Glacier National Park now has only 27 glaciers, versus 150 in 1910. In the Northern Hemisphere, thaws also come a week earlier in spring and freezes begin a week later.
The rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century's last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia, according to a number of climate studies. And the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 11 of the past 12 years are among the dozen warmest since 1850.
Causes of Global Warming
Global Warming is caused by many things. The causes are split up into two groups, man-made or anthropogenic causes, and natural causes.
Natural Causes
Natural causes are causes created by nature. One natural cause is a release of methane gas from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a greenhouse gas. A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. Another natural cause is that the earth goes through a cycle of climate change. This climate change usually lasts about 40,000 years
Man-made Causes
Man-made causes probably do the most damage. There are many man-made causes. Pollution is one of the biggest man-made problems. Pollution comes in many shapes and sizes. Burning fossil fuels is one thing that causes pollution. Fossil fuels are fuels made of organic matter such as coal, or oil. When fossil fuels are burned they give off a green house gas called CO2. Also mining coal and oil allows methane to escape. How does it escape? Methane is naturally in the ground. When coal or oil
is mined you have to dig up the earth a little. When you dig up the fossil fuels you dig up the methane as well.
Another major man-made cause of Global Warming is population. More people means more food, and more methods of transportation, right? That means more methane because there will be more burning of fossil fuels, and more agriculture. Now your probably thinking, "Wait a minute, you said agriculture is going to be damaged by Global Warming, but now you're saying agriculture is going to help cause Global Warming?" Well, have you ever been in a barn filled with animals and you smell something terrible? You're smelling methane. Another source of methane is manure. Because more food is needed we have to raise food. Animals like cows are a source of food which means more manure and methane. Another problem with the increasing population is transportation. More people means more cars, and more cars means more pollution. Also, many people have more than one car.
Since CO2 contributes to global warming, the increase in population makes the problem worse because we breathe out CO2. Also, the trees that convert our CO2 to oxygen are being demolished because we're using the land that we cut the trees down from as property for our homes and buildings. We are not replacing the trees (an important part of our eco system), so we are constantly taking advantage of our natural resources and giving nothing back in return.
There are two major effects of global warming
Increase of temperature on the earth by about 3° to 5° C (34° to 41° Fahrenheit) by the year 2100.
Rise of sea levels by at least 25 meters (82 feet) by the year 2100.
Increasing global temperatures are causing a broad range of changes. Sea levels are rising due to thermal expansion of the ocean, in addition to melting of land ice. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of other extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and tornadoes. Other effects of global warming include higher or lower agricultural yields, further glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions. As a further effect of global warming, diseases like malaria are returning into areas where they have been extinguished earlier.
OTHER EFFECTS
On Glaciers and Sea Levels
Arctic summers could be ice-free by 2040, and sea levels could rise as much as 23 inches by 2100 if current warming patterns continue. Rising global temperatures will speed the melting of glaciers and ice caps and cause early ice thaw on rivers and lakes.
More Powerful and Dangerous Hurricanes
Warmer water in the oceans pumps more energy into tropical storms, making them stronger and potentially more destructive.
Drought and Wildfire
Warmer temperatures could increase the probability of drought. Greater evaporation, particularly during summer and fall, could exacerbate drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires.
Sea-Level Rise
Current rates of sea-level rise are expected to increase as a result both of thermal expansion of the oceans and melting of most mountain glaciers and partial melting of the West Antarctic and Greenland ice caps. Consequences include loss of coastal wetlands and barrier islands, and a greater risk of flooding in coastal communities. Low-lying areas, such as the coastal region along the Gulf of Mexico and estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay, are especially vulnerable.
Deadly Heat Waves
More frequent and severe heat waves will result in a greater number of heat-related deaths.
Bad Air, Allergy and Asthma
Global warming could increase smog pollution in some areas and intensify pollen allergies and asthma. Hotter conditions could also aggravate local air quality problems, already afflicting more than 100 million Americans.
Intense Rainstorms
Warmer temperatures increase the energy of the climatic system and can lead to heavier rainfall in some areas.
Dangerous Weather Events
A warmer atmosphere can hold -- and dump -- more moisture, contributing to more intense extreme weather events, which in turn put people's lives at risk.
Ecosystem Shifts and Species Die-Off
Increasing global temperatures are expected to disrupt ecosystems, pushing to extinction those species that cannot adapt. The first comprehensive assessment of the extinction risk from global warming found that more than 1 million species could be obliterated by 2050 if the current trajectory continues.
Forest Resource
Forest Resources is a term associated with forests and range including, without limitation, timber, water, wildlife, fisheries, recreation, botanical forest products, forage, and biological diversity.
Forests actively contribute to the world’s environmental stability and are used as economic resources to produce subsistence and industrial forest products. The amount of global forest cover is a key indicator of the health of the planet. “An intact forest cycles nutrients, regulates climate, stabilizes soil, treats waste, provides habitat, and offers opportunities for recreation.” Forests also help regulate local and regional rainfall, are sources of food, medicine, clean drinking water and they provide immense recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits.
In addition, they have cultural and recreational value. They perform multiple roles, such as preventing soil degradation and erosion, protecting watersheds or stabilizing mountainous areas. They limit the greenhouse effect contributing to global warming, by absorbing CO2 (the main greenhouse gas). Inversely, forest degradation increases CO2 emissions. According to some experts, forests serve as natural habitats to almost two thirds of all Earth’s species, therefore acting as a stronghold to safeguard biodiversity. On an economic level, forests may be used as a direct source of energy or raw materials. Finally, forests play a cultural role in almost all societies, as mythical sceneries or historical backgrounds and as living habitats for about 60 million people worldwide.
Impact of Global Warming on Forest Resources
Global warming is perhaps the most serious and far-reaching environmental threat we face today. From melting permafrost in Alaska to melting glaciers on Mt Hood, global warming presents serious negative consequences not only to fish and wildlife, but to our economy as well. The impact of Global Warming on forest resources is intense. Global warming threatens forests worldwide. Deforestation contributes to global warming, but, in turn, global warming will increase the loss of forests.Many of the world's forests are in poor condition, fragmented, and degradated, and so they are less able to adapt or adjust to climate change. As the global climate warms up, patterns of rainfall will change; and 'normal' temperature patterns will be disrupted. The expected rate of global warming and sea-level rise will be too fast to allow most forests to be able to adapt quickly enough to survive.
In addition, cities, highways, agricultural fields and other human activities limit available habitat and create barriers to the migration of plants and animals. Forests in protected areas like national parks and national and state forestlands were established without considering the possibility of changing climates. Rapid climate shifts may reduce appropriate native habitats within protected areas while development outside the boundaries of the protected areas makes adjacent new habitat unavailable and limits the creation of migration corridors. In some US temperate forests, rapid climate change and accompanying extreme events, such as droughts, floods, and wind storms could lead to increased disease, insects, landslides and wildfires that could increase tree mortality and, in some cases, replace forests by grasslands. Some of the models used in the National Assessment indicate that forest productivity overall is likely to increase, leading to increased supply of certain types of timber, though possible interactions with extreme events and other disturbances could reduce these gains.
While the effect of changes in tree compositions on other species is difficult to predict with the modeling tools currently available, plants and animals that live in the forest will be affected, both by changing habitat and in direct response to temperature increases and changes in precipitation, fire regimes, and storm events. It is unknown as yet whether biological diversity would be reduced if climate change occurred at a fast rate, but the new composition of species is likely to be one of heat-tolerant fast adapters. Wildlife has been able to adapt to changing climates for millions of years. But unlike during previous climate changes, roads, development and other changes to the natural environment now block their migration routes or otherwise impede their adaptations. Parks and nature reserves established to protect certain species may no longer be hospitable to those species. In other words, appropriate climate for currently protected forest ecosystems may only exist outside protected areas. In many cases, these areas will already be developed and wholly unsuitable to new forests.
Protecting forestland, especially old-growth trees, is not only important for fish and wildlife, it is a critical component in the effort to fight against global warming.
IMPACT ON FOREST ECO-SYSTEMS
Eco systems around the world help sustain life for millions of species. Eco systems that are mainly forests provide a home for a large majority of the species alive. Therefore the trees in these forests are considered to be the most important species. Although it is true, that most species are not able to sustain without each other.
There are many benefits that we get from our forests. Some of these include cleaner drinking water, a home for plants and animals, economic growth, clean air, recreational opportunities, reassuring future. Another benefit we get from trees is called oxygen. If there were no trees to give us oxygen to breath, we would not be able to live. So if you need one good reason why a forest should exist, staying alive is a pretty good reason.
The projected increase in temperature will likely shift the ideal range for many forest species by about 200 miles to the north. If the climate changes slowly enough, warmer temperatures may enable southern tree species to colonize to the north. Many factors, including the pace at which different species colonize new areas, determine the future composition of forestlands. Where species move into new areas more slowly than other tree species migrate out, the species previously common will still grow, but likely at a different density.
Under the scenario, we could lose the maple/beech/birch forests currently. The upper Great Lakes region could lose its aspen/birch forests as well. Isolated forest communities such as red spruce may become extinct within their current range. These forest types would be replaced by oak/pine and oak/hickory forests, provided the warming is gradual. If the temperature increase is substantial, droughts, insect infestations and fires could become more likely, and forest cover loss may occur and persist while the new forest types migrate north. If the average global temperature increase is 2 °C over the next 100 years, tree species will have to migrate 1 to 3 miles every year, improbably fast except for trees whose seeds are spread by birds.
IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON WILDLIFE
Did You Know?
By 2050, rising temperatures resulting from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases could cause more than a million of Earth's land-dwelling plants and animals to become extinct.
Global warming affects birds and other wildlife in countless ways, and can even cause extinctions. All organisms depend on their habitats for food, water, shelter, and opportunities to breed and raise young. Climate changes can affect organisms and their habitats in a number of ways. In fact, global warming impacts all life on earth, from individual organisms to populations, species, communities, and ecosystems. It can alter behaviors, population sizes, species distributions, plant and animal communities, and ecosystem functions and stability. How strongly different species will be affected varies, depending on differences in their ecology and life history. Species with small population sizes, restricted ranges, and limited ability to move to different habitat will be most at risk. Similarly, different habitats and ecosystems will be impacted
differently, with those in coastal, high-latitude, and high-altitude regions most vulnerable. There is mounting scientific evidence that global warming is already having profound effects on birds, broader biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and ecosystems. Here are some of the ways that global warming is affecting wildlife:
Geographic range
The ranges of many plants and animals are moving toward the poles and toward higher elevations. For example, the ranges of many British breeding birds were, on average, more than 11 miles farther north in the period from 1988-91 than they were in the period from 1968-72, according to comparisons derived from breeding bird atlases. (British butterflies are also being found farther north.)
Reproduction timing
Egg-laying, flowering, and spawning are occurring earlier for many species, in some cases disrupting delicate cycles that ensure that insects and other food are available for young animals. For example, Tree Swallows across North America have advanced egg-laying by as many as nine days from 1959 to 1991.
Frequency and intensity of pest outbreaks
Global warming increases droughts in some areas; and spruce budworm outbreaks frequently follow droughts, perhaps because dry weather increases the stress on host trees or allows more spruce budworm eggs to be laid. Spruce budworms can be lethal to spruce trees, and spruce-fir forests are a very important habitat type in the northern hemisphere for a wide variety of plants and animals.
Habitat Displacement
The key impact of global warming on wildlife is habitat displacement, whereby ecosystems that animals have spent millions of years adapting to shift quickly. Ice giving way to water in polar bear habitat is just one example of this. Affected wildlife populations can sometimes move into new spaces and continue to thrive. But
concurrent human population growth means that many land areas that might be suitable for such “refugee wildlife” are already taken and cluttered with residential and industrial development.
Shifting Life Cycles and Global Warming
Beyond habitat displacement, many scientists agree that global warming is causing a shift in the timing of various natural cyclical events in the lives of animals. Many birds have altered the timing of long-held migratory and reproductive routines to better Sync up with a warming climate. And some hibernating animals are ending their slumbers earlier each year, perhaps due to warmer spring temperatures. For example, 25 migratory bird species are arriving in Manitoba, Canada, earlier than they did 63 years ago; only two are arriving later.
Global warming causing extinctions
Global warming is causing extinctions in vulnerable species. Approximately 70 species of harlequin frogs in Central and South America have been driven to extinction by a disease that is linked with global warming. Warmer temperatures cause increased cloud cover that creates ideal conditions for a fungus that kills the frogs. This is only one cautionary example of how global warming disrupts the stability of ecosystems. As it continues, it will cause more extinctions.
Scientists predict 9-52% of all terrestrial species (1 million plants and animals) will be on an irreversible path to extinction by 2050. (These predictions are based on modeling of the effects of minimum to maximum climate warming impacts on a broad range of species in regions around the world.)
The planet's 25 biodiversity "hotspots" are especially vulnerable to climate impacts. These special places provide homes to 44% of the world's plants and 35% of its vertebrates, in less than 1.4% of its land area. A doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which estimates suggest could occur in about 100 years, could lead to extinction of as many as 43% of these areas' endemic species.
IMPACT ON WATER ECOLOGY
Are we putting
our Fish in Hot
Water?
Global Warming may also change the chemical composition of the water:the amount of oxygen in the water may decline, while pollution and salinity levels may increase. Loss of wetlands could diminish habitat and alter the availability of food for some fish species.
In the fisheries sector where many coastal villages depend for livelihood, effects of global warming could displace thousands of families. Coral reefs are threatened because of carbon dioxide concentration resulting to acidification of seawater. An increase in sea surface temperature also causes bleaching in corals, and deleterious effects on reef accretion and biodiversity. From tropical coral reefs to polar-ice edge communities, from tiny zooplankton to large algae, declines in marine life could be at attributed,at least partly, to the impact of Global Warming.
Global Warming poses a potentially lethal threat to many marine species and would further add to problems already caused by over fishing and coastal pollution An increase in water temperature can result in the death of many aquatic organisms and disrupt many marine habitats. For example, a rise in water temperatures causes coral bleaching of reefs around the world. This is when the coral expels the microorganisms of which it is dependent on. This can result in great damage to coral reefs and subsequently, all the marine life that depends on it. Global warming is prompting salmon to appear in areas where they haven't been seen in recent history and to disappear from other areas. When fish find themselves in hot water, they head out in search of cooler locales. As global temperatures rise, some fish may be able to shift locally – by moving deeper or by heading upriver towards cool headwaters. Fish in the Gulf of Alaska ride out unusually hot weather by shifting to deeper waters, but this can leave other animals with few options. When fish in the Gulf moved deep in 1993, 120,000 sea-birds starved to death, most likely because they could not dive deep enough to catch their relocated prey.
As water warms up, many parasites and microbes that cause fish diseases grow faster and become more virulent.. And as harmful microbes and parasites become stronger and more numerous, fish whose immune systems are already stressed by warm water, low oxygen, and crowding, become even more susceptible to diseases and parasites. Massive fish die-offs due to toxic algae and the risk of human illness from eating poisoned fish will also increase as temperatures climb.
Even the ocean contains layers that are affected by climate change. Both temperature and salinity contribute to the density of seawater – cold, salty water is heavier than warm, fresh water. In the Gulf of Alaska, surface temperatures have risen and more freshwater is flowing into the sea from melting glaciers and increased precipitation. This lighter layer of warm, fresh water has are now less nutrients to feed the small organisms that fish depend upon.
GLOBAL WARMING AND FOREST FIRES
Global warming may be causing more intense wildfires in the western United States. The researchers found that increases in large wildfire activity in the western United States over the past 25 years is "strongly associated with increased spring and summer temperatures and an earlier spring snowmelt." The increased frequency of large wildfires could reduce the density of trees and change forest landscapes
Be Part of the Solution
All of us use fossil fuels every day — for heating and cooling our homes, driving our cars, generating the electricity to power our lights and appliances, and more. In the process we produce the greenhouse gases that are primarily responsible for global warming. Fortunately, each of us also has the power to reduce to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. Here are some of the most important ways we can all make a difference:
NEW DRIVE WAYS
We should consider driving less by taking public transportation, walking, bicycling, or carpooling. Drive a more energy-efficient vehicle. When driving, we must follow the speed limit and drive at a consistent speed. We should take our car in for regular tune-ups and keep our tires properly inflated and take off any rooftop carriers when not in use.
LIGHT SWITCHING
We should try switching from conventional incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescents. Or better yet, try to maximize our use of natural sunlight for daytime lighting needs.
TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE
We must take every step possible to reduce excessive use of home heating and cooling. We should also try turning up the thermostat in the summer and turning it down a few degrees in the winter. Try installing better insulation throughout the house. Seal up windows, close vents, and clean filters. If we really want to save energy, we must try to avoid using air conditioning on all but the very hottest days.
COLD FACTS
New refrigerators use about 50% less energy than those made just 10-15 years ago. That's a big deal, considering that refrigerators account for between 10 and 15% of total home energy consumption. The next time you buy a new refrigerator or any major or even minor appliance look for the Energy Star label to be sure you're getting a high efficiency model. In the meantime, we should keep our refrigerator's thermostat set to the recommended temperature and clean the condenser coil regularly.
WATER DROPS
We can reduce our energy consumption a lot by using less hot water. Run our dishwasher only when full, and wash clothes in cold or warm water, never hot. They'll get just as clean! When it's time to replace your washing machine, choose a new high-efficiency front-loader. With this one will see great savings on water, electricity, and detergent, and you'll discover you can more safely wash delicate items, too.
GO FOR THE SHADE
We should plant leafy trees around your house to provide windbreaks and summer shade. Each year, the average yard tree cleans 330 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. An average tree absorbs ten pounds of pollutants from the air each year, including four pounds of ground level ozone and three pounds of particulates.
BE ORGANIC
Whenever possible, we should select organic produce. The pesticides used to kill pests also kill the organisms that help keep carbon dioxide in the soil.
THINK GLOBALLY, EAT LOCALLY
As much as possible, we should buy local produce and other goods. The fewer miles your produce has traveled, the less energy has been used for refrigeration and transportation.
CONSUME LESS
Almost everything we buy requires the consumption of fossil fuels. Manufacturing, packing, transporting, and selling goods all use huge amounts of energy, releasing excessive amounts of greenhouse gases. When shopping, ask, "Do I really need this? Does the Earth really need this?"
ENERGY AUDIT
We should try an energy audit for our home, school, or office. It's a great way of assessing where and how we use energy and how you can cut back.
BE AN ACTIVE CITIZEN
While each individual's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is important, we won't curb global warming without major changes in the kinds of energy we use and an economic system that depends on a high rate of wasteful consumption. These changes will come about only if enough of us become more politically active. We can do a lot to support the work of local, state, and national governments to curb global warming.
CONCLUSION
All fingers point out that climate change is by and large driven by human activities. At no point of time has it been due to a natural phenomenon. As such a big experiment of nature is unfolding in front of us. Are we sensitive enough to read NATURE with respect? Biologists have discovered about 10,000 species of butterflies, which range from less than an inch in size to a wing span of about 10 inches. They are commonly referred to as flying jewels and are an important link in crop productivity by way of helping pollination. The global warming effect can simply wipe away these sensitive creatures and snap a vital link of nature. All have the right to live. This cardinal rule is fundamental to our existence. There will be no shortage of challenges in the months ahead.
The effects of global warming are often discussed in future terms, but many of those effects are already under way and having an impact on everything from biodiversity to human health. But it’s not too late. If we act now, most scientists believe we can avoid many of the worst effects of global warming.