Global warming has become a « hot » topic. No pun intended. The phenomenon has raised multiple conferences upon the international community to the local governments’ city councils. Global warming affects climate change which inevitably becomes a concern among the environment as well as humanity. Over the last decade, there have been multiple governmental organization, non-governmental organization, multi corporations and other individuals who have put this issue on the world agenda. Promising new technologies as well as greater energy efficiency have become vital components for reducing greenhouse gases.
There are multiple concerns with the issue of global warming. There are natural causes as well as human causes. From the natural perspective, the Earth’s orbit around the sun has changed over time. The intensity has changed the circulation of the ocean and the atmosphere as well as enhanced volcanic activity. Although this is a crucial factor for explaining the state of the planet, natural causes cannot stand alone. Human activity has clearly impinged the matter. From burning fossil fuels to cutting down entire forests and the urbanization of our highly globalize world, these activities have released a great amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Climate change has a great impact on ecosystems, health effects and society. Global warming affects the ecosystems by creating nuances and deviations for habitats for animals and plants, invasive species, changes patterns of migrations and life cycle, biodiversity, forests and oceans. In the case of climate change affecting health, heat-related illnesses and deaths have dramatically increased, respiratory problems are common, allergies and diseases have mutated in ways we could never believe. We are all at risk, especially the young generations, the elderly, those living in poverty and so on. As for climate change taking a toll on society, we have all heard about the issue with availability of drinkable water, food production has clearly changed due to the variation in temperature and energy use and supply has become scarce. Other issues such as decreased snowfall, changing wildlife, fishing, skiing, camping, tourism, heat waves and much more are, if not already, going to feel the affects of global warming.
It has become evident that climate change is currently happening. This issue is affecting every continent to every ocean. The evidence is shocking. Global surface temperatures have risen by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit (ºF) over the last 100 years. Climate change has grown beyond the global surface. It is also changing precipitation patterns, melting the Artic, increasing ocean temperature, raising sea level and much more. This has also taken a toll on animals and plants.
Comments from Genetically Modified Foods II:
ReplyDeleteLearned:
-There are also natural reasons for global warming like the changes in the earths orbit around the sun and the circulation of the ocean as well as there being an increase in volcanic activity.
-Solar activity has been constant and doesn't effect global warming at all.
-The earth's orbit around the sun has changed over time.
-there is still room for more CO2 which contributes to global warming
-the climate has become more extreme and less variable
-sea level is rising
Interesting/surprising facts:
-While weather patterns are getting more extreme, they are not getting more variable (I always thought they were also getting more variable but when I think about it the summers do seem hotter and the winters have been colder).
-I didn't realize that allergies and diseases mutated with climate change or global warming it makes sense because the number of people with severe allergies to foods or nature from my perspective has increased or people are more aware of their severe allergies.
Subject matter:
-Subject matter (personally) went in line with my point of view. This past month alone has been a prime example of the trend towards more extreme temperatures. Water temperatures are noticeable warmer than usual for this time of year.
-I've done a lot of reading on the issue and agree that although global warming is a cycle and occurs naturally many of the causes for extreme weather and variation can be attributed to human factors. Everyone on the planet has an impact on the balance of our ecosystems.
-I would have to agree with the authors of the blog in that humans obviously do play a large role in global warming. I liked that they also mentioned that global warming is partially because of natural factors because that is often left out to make global warming seem more scary.
From: Genetically Modified Foods, I
ReplyDelete1)What did you learn from the blog?
-There are both natural and human causes to global warming, although human activity has caused greater global warming. Changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun, changes in ocean tides, and increased volcanic activity has all lead to increased global warming. Human activities greatly enhance global warming—burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, urbanization, and capitalism greatly influence global warming. Greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap the sun’s reflected rays and bounce back toward Earth, increasing the Earth’s temperature. As the amount greenhouse gases increase, more energy is reflected, in effect further increasing the temperature.
-Global warming affects ecosystems by changing habitats for animals and plants, changing patterns in migration and lifecycle, and biodiversity.
-I learned that the earth is not getting warmer because of increased solar radiation, and that it is even decreasing
2)What information did you find interesting or surprising?
-I found the fact that the Earth’s surface e temperature has risen approximately 1 degree Fahrenheit since the 1970s and is rising at a rate of 0.29 degrees per decade very surprising—it seems like it is increasing at a very high rate. I found it even more interesting that the 8 warmest years since 1880 have all occurred in the 21st century. Increased warming is having detrimental affects on the environment and the habitat of plants and animals.
-I found the part about the climate change of global warming being not variable interesting. It is interesting that instead of just temperatures rising that the extremes on both ends are producing more days of very unusual weather.
3)Did the information provided change your mind about the subject matter?
-I’ve always been aware of global warming and as an individual I try to reduce the amount of fossil fuels I use and my amount of emissions by recycling, using alternative transportation, and attending rallies to help spread information. As a world, we need to change our consumption patterns and lifestyles to reduce the amount of fossil fuels we use and the amount of forests we clear for uses that are really not necessary and further our consumerism. Since I was young, I’ve had a love for animals—global warming is destroying the habitat of many species of animals. The faster the rate of these changes, the more difficult it will be for these animals to adapt. It’s sad to think that some animals we love may be extinct a few generations from now.
-Not really, global warming has been such a public issue as of the last five years that I think I had a good understanding of it before the blog. I think the most important thing for all of us to help the Earth is to lower our carbon footprints.
-I do believe that humans have the greatest effect on global warming by their actions every day. I don't think our country does enough to keep our citizens "green". There are other countries who have taken on a more "natural" approach to living their daily lives, and others could learn from them. For instance, the fact that we cut down thousands of trees (natural habitats to some), to build either homes or businesses, why do we do that? Because it just makes building easier? We need to keep the trees up, they help our entire ecosystem. Another big factor is the amount of cars that are on our streets. If we had more public transportation and walk/bikeways, not only could it make us healthier, but decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. I realize that this all takes money, a lot of money, but maybe someday, someone will decide that it is worth it.
Chris O'Neill, Annie Flanagan, Vicky Bandy, Erin Benefiel, Scott Sender
Learned:
ReplyDeleteWhat I have learned about this blog is that not all causes of Global Warming are natural. I have learned that global warming is also the affect from human behaviors. Toxic fumes from cars is extremely harmful to the environment. Also other behaviors like not recycling or wasting and leaving trash on the Earth can harm the plants and the environment.
Interesting/Surprising:
Since I am already somewhat familiar with global warming, I was not all that surprised with the information given. I know both global warming is due to many factors, both human and natural affects. However, I found the information given to be interesting and well-written. I'm glad the author covered both aspects of global warming and not just the "natural" causes.
Thoughts:
I have always had mixed feelings about the cause of global warming. Many people think it is inevitable. Others think that it can be reversed. However, I think it is impossible to reverse what is already occurring. It would take the ENTIRE world to be eco-friendly and to stop harmful human behaviors in order to keep global warming from getting worse. I think it will be impossible to get the entire world to do this. The United States efforts to recycle or to buy environmentally friendly cars that run on batteries is not going to save the world alone. It is a working together of ALL people from ALL countries. Trying to accomplish this task will be VERY difficult. This is why I believe it cannot be reversed.
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