Global Climate Change
                  By Gabrielle Kaufman
Sociology
                 Professor Griswald

           Global climate change has been accelerated due to human involvement. For the past 2.5 million years the earth’s climate has fluctuated, cycling from ice ages to warmer periods. In the last century the planet’s temperature has risen unusually fast, about 1.2 to 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists believe it’s human activity that’s driving the temperatures up in a process known as Global Warming.

Global warming occurs when the air temperature on the earth rises. This has a profound negative impact on the environment and society because it can change the temperature of the oceans. The result is disastrous because it increases global temperatures and accelerates arctic shelf melting causing sea levels to rise at an alarming rate. “Ever since the industrial revolution began factories, power plants and eventually cars have burned fossil fuels such as oil and coal releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases trap heat near the earth through a naturally occurring process called the greenhouse effect.” (Smith)

The greenhouse effect begins with the sun and the energy it radiates to the earth. The earth and the atmosphere absorb some of this energy while the rest is radiated back into space. Naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere trap some of this energy and reflect it back warming the earth. Scientists now believe that the extra greenhouse gases that humans have released are intensifying the greenhouse effect.

      Evidence of global warming includes a recent string of very warm weather. Scientists report that 1998 was the 

warmest year in measured history with 2005 coming in second. (What is the Greenhouse Effect) Meanwhile readings 

taken from ice cores show that the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, have hit their highest levels in the past 

420,000 years. Artic sea ice is also shrinking.“The extent of artic sea ice has declined about 10% in the last 30 

years.”(Global Climate Change Vital Signs of the Planet). There is a lot of evidence supporting the fact that mountain 

glaciers have decreased over the decades as viewed fromspace satellites. On average, mountain glaciers and snow cover 

have decreased in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Scientists predict that mountainous areas in Europe will 

face glacier retreat. The disappearance of glaciers will significantly affect water for human consumption, agriculture and 

energy production.

          As long as industrialized nations consume energy and developing countries increase their fossil fuel consumption, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will continue to rise. NASA predicts that temperatures will increase about 2-10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. What’s less certain is what rising temperatures mean for the planet. Some climate models predict subtle changes others forecast rising sea levels, which can flood coastal areas around the world. Extreme changes will have an adverse impact on ecosystems and human society. As sea levels continue to rise, they will cause the flooding of cities, displacement of millions of coastal inhabitants and increase the threat of storm surges. (Global Warming Facts & Our Future)

     Global warming has changed the weather patterns on the earth. Weather patterns have changed making hurricanes more frequent. Severe droughts can become more common in warm areas and some species unable to adapt to the changing conditions could face extinction. “Evidence suggests that since the 1970s, there have been substantial increases in the intensity and duration of tropical storms and hurricanes.” (Effects of Global Warming) Since the late 20^th century records indicate an upward trend in some extreme weather and climate events including increases in drought and tropical storms.

         Climate change will definitely impact agriculture and food production. “Agriculture is highly sensitive to climate variability and weather extremes, such as droughts, floods and severe storms. The forces that shape our climate are also critical to farm productivity.” (Agriculture & food Supply) The studies suggest that extreme weather will have a negative impact on the crop yields because of factors such as water and nutrient availability. The increased potential for droughts, floods and heat waves will most certainly pose challenges for farmers.

Human health problems such as infectious diseases are influenced by changes in the weather. This is a great concern especially to parts of the world other than the United States. “That’s because the U.S. has good public health systems that can track down infectious diseases, such as malaria, and intervene so they don’t spread.” (Global Warming and Your Health) Human health is under attack from dirtier air and water, threats to food supplies, millions of human refugees and a collapase of many ecosytems that purify our air and water.

     Global warming is very serious problem and will eventually destroy our planet. Much remains to be learned about global warming and many organizations advocate cutting greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the impact. By making small, everyday changes we can fight against global warming. The following are just a few simple ways that we can fight against global warming:

1. Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb. The (CFL) uses 60% less energy.
2. Install a programmable thermostat because this will control the air temperature in the house and also save you money on energy bills.
3. Recycle as much waste as possible.
4. Drive less, bike, walk and carpool whenever possible. This will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
5. Planting a tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.             (Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming) These are just a few of the things we can do to make a difference.    

      The problem of global warming is worldwide and must be attacked by all industrialized nations. The United States and other industrial nations must use less fossil fuels especially coal, oil and gasoline, all of which produce carbon dioxide, the most significant heat trapping gas. (United States Global Change Research Program) Governments can take several steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Industrial countries are responsible for the largest share of worldwide emissions of heat trapping gases. These nations also have access to cutting edge technologies that produce fewer of these emissions.

     The United States Global Change Research Program is a federal agency that coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in global environment and their implications for society. Thirteen U.S. departments and agencies participate in the USGCPR and have strongly recommended the following: improving energy efficiency, developing renewable resources such as solar and wind power, reducing gasoline consumption, and switching from coal to natural gas. Also, plants and forests must be preserved because they take in carbon dioxide and use it to grow. Deforestation, especially in the tropics where many of the largest, most important forests are located, contributes to global warming. It is also recommended that we continue to phase out chlorofluorocarbons  (CFC’s), which are responsible for depleting the protective ozone layer. CFC’s are a chemical compound that contains chlorine used for purposes of refrigeration and spray can propellants. The chlorine has the potential to destroy large amounts of ozone that protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation. These chemicals trap heat and other nations have agreed to stop using them in the hope of slowing down global warming.

     As humans pump billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere strong scientific evidence supports that global warming is occurring. All industrialized countries must work together to reduce build up of greenhouse gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Climate change is a problem that is affecting all humans and the environment on the planet earth. Greater energy efficiency and new technologies are a reasonable solution for reducing greenhouse gases and solving this global problem.

Works Cited

"Agriculture & Food Supply." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://epa.gov>.

"Effects of Global Warming." AbsoluteAstronomy.com. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://absoluteastronomy.com>.

"Global Climate Change Vital Signs of the Planet." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://climate.nasa.gov>.

"Global Warming And Your Health." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. 23 Oct. 2006. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://sciencedaily.com>.

"Global Warming Facts & Our Future." Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://koshland-science-museum.org>.

"Global Warming Fast FActs." Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National Geographic News. 14 June 2007. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com>.

Smith, David. "Global Warming Frequently Asked Questions." NCDC: * National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) *. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://ncdc.noaa.gov>.

"Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming." Global Warming Facts and How to Stop Global Warming. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://globalwarming-facts.info>.

United States Global Change Research Program. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. <http://globalchange.gov>.