Global Warming

Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth’s

atmosphere, land, and oceans that many scientists predict for the near future changing
weather moves hot and cold air around the planet, making difference places hotter and
colder through out the year. However, the earth’s overall temperature is rising and has
been doing so far same time. In 1995, scientists estimated that between the year 1990 and
2100 the temperature of the earth’s surface as a whole would increase by 3.6 F (2 C).
Though it may not seem much, this rise could bring the sea level up by 1 ½ feet (50cm).
These changes would have dramatic effects for communities all across the would. For
example, some regions of the tropics and subtropics would become too hot for crops to
grow. These areas would turn to desert in time. In addiction, sea levels would rise and
low-lying regions of the world including coastal cities, such as new orleans, would
become flooded.
Many scientists believe that global warming is a direct result of humans burning
huge amounts of fossil fuels and destroying forests to farm or raise millions of domestic
animals. Although many scientists believe global warming is happening right now, it is
difficult to be sure. First, the world’s climate has its natural ups and downs. Scientists
estimate that in the last 10,000 years, the earth has warmed and cooled slightly many
times, on some occasions by as much as 11F (6C) from one year to the next. Second, the
global climate is made up of many local climates. The climates of New York city, for
example, is very difficult from that of Madrid, Spain, despite both cities being equally
close to the north pole. To decide whether global warming is happening, measurement
must be taken at different places on the earth’s surface to see. If the whole world is
getting hotter and if the changes are large enough to be important.
If global warming is taking place, the most likely cause is the effect of air
pollution on the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a natural feature of the
earth’s atmosphere. Scientists are worried because air pollution may be strengthening the
greenhouse effect and so causing global warming.
Several kinds of gas are responsible for the atmosphere’s greenhouse effect.
Living organisms, such as animals, give out carbon dioxide from aerobic respiration
(which produces energy for life processes), whole plants and other organisms, such as
blue, green, algae, take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis (to make food).
Other greenhouse gases include methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs
(chlorofluorocarbons). The levels of same of these are also increasing. Methane is
produced naturally by breakdown of animal and plant remains in oxygen-poor conditions
(a process called anaerobic respiration).
Although scientists cannot be sure exactly what will happen if global warming
continues, most believe there will be major changes. Three of the most dramatic and far-
reaching changes could include a rise include a rise in sea level, shortages of food, and
the extinction of many organisms.
If the planet warms, the sea level will begin to rise partly because the polar ice
caps will melt, but ,mostly because water expands as it warms. One estimate is that the
sea level will rise, on average by 20 inches (50cm) by the year 2100. This modest
increase is enough to flood many low lying areas along the east coast of the United
States, and will affect the large percentage of the V.S. population that lives within 20
miles of a coastline. Some low-lying tropical islands, such as the Malaives in the Indian
ocean, might shrink or even disappear entirely. Salty seawater could flood low-lying farm
land, leaving marshes. The effect at global warming on agriculture worldwide could be
dramatic. In many desert regions, farming is just barely possible now. A rise in
temperature of just a few degrees will be enough to make the temperature to high to farm
at all, resulting in more food shortages and famines. Else where, climatic changes could
drastically affect yields of wheat and rice crops.
If global warming does take place, same organisms might not be able to cope with
the changes in climate. All sorts of species that could not adapt might became extinct.