The melting of the polar ice caps not only endangers the polar bears, but create four other problems for the Earth. First, it will make the sea levels rise because there are 5,773,000 cubic miles of water in these ice caps and researchers say that if everything melts, then the sea levels can rise up to 230 feet! Second, since the ice caps are made out of fresh water, the fresh water will mix in with the salt water from the ocean. This will alter ocean currents, which control temperatures. This change will make north-east America and Western Europe a little cooler. Third, the altering of the sea levels, the melting of the ice caps and the desalination of the ocean are all forcing animals to adapt, those who are able to adapt will survive, and those who aren’t able to, won’t. Fourth, because there are less and less polar ice caps, there is less and less white. White makes the sunlight reflect into space, and because there is less, that means that less sunlight is being reflected and more is being absorbed by the dark ocean.
All I really have to say is that we really should just change at least one of our ways to contribute to saving ourselves from global warming. Would one rather end up drowning?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Week Post Three: Impact On Animals
We, as in humans, are not the most important things on the planet. What about the animals and plants we feed on? Without the life of animals and plants, there isn't life at all.
Global warming is affecting every single living creature to change their ways, otherwise called adaptation. As the impact continues to grow stronger and stronger, animals can not keep up and eventually they get extinct. For example, in the tropical forests, a degree or two of temperature rise messes eveything up because the animals that live there are so used to a very small temperature range. Fortunately, for now, many small animals like squirrels, some birds, and insects have the ability to adapt rather quickly. Because of their size and rapid life cycles, they can reproduce faster. On the other hand, larger animals are having difficulty adapting because of their size and longer life cycles.
Because of the oceans heating up, a necessary plant is dying. This plant is algae. Algea is very important because it feeds most fish. If this continues, there will be less fish for us to eat.
If you are an animal lover, you should change some of your ways like recycling, riding a bike to places, or turning off any electrical objects when not in use. Even if your not an animal lover, you have no choice. Your options are either you starving or taking a little effort to change some habits. Which one will you choose?
Global warming is affecting every single living creature to change their ways, otherwise called adaptation. As the impact continues to grow stronger and stronger, animals can not keep up and eventually they get extinct. For example, in the tropical forests, a degree or two of temperature rise messes eveything up because the animals that live there are so used to a very small temperature range. Fortunately, for now, many small animals like squirrels, some birds, and insects have the ability to adapt rather quickly. Because of their size and rapid life cycles, they can reproduce faster. On the other hand, larger animals are having difficulty adapting because of their size and longer life cycles.
Because of the oceans heating up, a necessary plant is dying. This plant is algae. Algea is very important because it feeds most fish. If this continues, there will be less fish for us to eat.
If you are an animal lover, you should change some of your ways like recycling, riding a bike to places, or turning off any electrical objects when not in use. Even if your not an animal lover, you have no choice. Your options are either you starving or taking a little effort to change some habits. Which one will you choose?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Week Post Two: Impact on Humans
The ice caps are melting, the temperatures are rising, and humans are dying? Yes it’s true. Researchers say that 150,000 deaths every year are from global warming and they say that the deaths will double by 2030 even if people will try to reduce the amount of emissions being released. Because the weather is getting warmer everywhere, disease infected insects start to move upwards, or migrate, to the north. These bugs will cause some diseases and plagues to spread. Other factors like heat waves and strokes, smog, heart attacks, mold and ragweed that lead to allergies and asthma, and the spread of other various diseases are caused by global warming and can make humans die.
I believe people really should try in some way to help out in the environment. Sure many stores are offering those cloth-like reusable bags for people to buy, but it's up to the shoppers to actually follow through and actually use them in place of the plastic bags. Before doing this blog, I never knew that global warming posed this big of a threat to humans. I knew that it really affected the environment and if we don't stop it, we'll die because of the way it's affecting the environment. But then again, everyone learns something new everyday. But we, as a whole, have to do something to prevent further global warming because if saving the environment isn't a good enough reason, then saving yourself should be.
I believe people really should try in some way to help out in the environment. Sure many stores are offering those cloth-like reusable bags for people to buy, but it's up to the shoppers to actually follow through and actually use them in place of the plastic bags. Before doing this blog, I never knew that global warming posed this big of a threat to humans. I knew that it really affected the environment and if we don't stop it, we'll die because of the way it's affecting the environment. But then again, everyone learns something new everyday. But we, as a whole, have to do something to prevent further global warming because if saving the environment isn't a good enough reason, then saving yourself should be.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Week Post One: Causes
A lot of the temperature increase that has been observed is caused from greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and ozone and others. Methane is from landfills and agriculture, nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases that are used in the process of refrigeration and industrial use. But the main reason is the burning of fossil fuels, which leads to the emission of carbon dioxide. People contribute to the emission of these fossil fuels by driving cars, operating factories, and the production of electricity. Not only is global warming caused from an abundance of gases, but it also comes from the lack of trees. Trees store carbon dioxide, and now that it is the biggest contributor to global warming, so it would be nice if people would plant more and use less of them. Not only do trees store carbon dioxide, but oceans do too, and it holds about 50 times as much as the atmosphere! But because the carbon level is increasing and increasing, the oceans may run out of room to store these things, which will lead to more carbon in the air.
I’ve always wanted to help reduce global warming but it never really worked out because I thought I wouldn’t make a difference. But if everyone thinks that, then the people who don’t think they’ll make a difference will outweigh the amount of people who are trying to make a difference. So as of now, I’ll try my hardest to avoid wasting little things like paper and in the summer, I’ll ride my bike as much as possible to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
I’ve always wanted to help reduce global warming but it never really worked out because I thought I wouldn’t make a difference. But if everyone thinks that, then the people who don’t think they’ll make a difference will outweigh the amount of people who are trying to make a difference. So as of now, I’ll try my hardest to avoid wasting little things like paper and in the summer, I’ll ride my bike as much as possible to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
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