GLOBAL WARMING SCIENTIFIC THEORIES

With global warming comes multiple controversies.  Some of these controversies include the cause of global warming, whether global warming itself is even real, what the consequences of global warming will be, and what actions should be taken to prevent them.  The majority of people do believe that global warming is in fact real, and that it is human-caused, but there are also a group of people that don't.  Although there is scientific consensus on the subject, people don't believe that there is a great enough trend pertaining to the increase in global temperatures.  This isn't necessarily because there is not enough data that supports this... but because there is not enough long-term data, or because it is just not clear enough to read.  Others believe that scientists who already believe that global warming is real, are looking at the statistics and trying to find signs that point to global warming instead of simply reading what is there. And lastly, there are just people that believe the increase of global temperatures is just natural and that we should still do our best to reduce greenhouse gases, but it is not the cause.
      The next controversy is if global warming will even have an affect on our planet. There are scientists that believe global warming is a real thing, but that it will not lead to anything catastrophic.  They believe that if the temperature change is subtle, plants and animals will adapt to change, and that longer growing seasons, changing weather patterns, and stronger storms are not the worst thing in the world.  WORST OF ALL, they believe that if we do cut down on the emission of green house gases, we will be harming human worse than the affects of global warming would.
      All in all, the main conclusion that we have come to is that global warming is in fact a very REAL thing, the only questions that remain unanswered are when we will start to undergo the consequences, and to what extent we will be affected


References: 


http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/global-warming7.htm

CORAL REEFS!

OUR NEWEST TOPIC...CORAL REEFS! YAY

Dead coral as a result of global warming

    So as many things have negatively affected coral reefs such as over fishing, and water pollution... GLOBAL WARMING has been listed as the greatest threat to coral reefs!!!It is said that as a result of global warming... Coral Reefs will be the first major ecosystem to be wiped off the planet.  Why does this happen?As the temperature of the water continues to increase, the algae in the ocean will produce toxic oxygen compounds known as superoxides which damage the corals. In order to defend themselves, the coral ejects algal lodgers( a defense mechanism,) which leaves the reefs longing for nutrients.  This process is known as bleaching, and if global warming progresses, it will affect one third of planet marines, in addition to other ecosystems related to coral reefs.  Another effect of global warming is the increase of C02 in our ocean waters.  The NOS organization (National Ocean Service) says that an increase in C02 levels results in the reduction of calcification in coral reefs which is going to affect all of the organisms in the coral reef.  This happens because when the ocean waters absorb C02, it causes something called "ocean acidification," which adversely affects the coral reef and its organisms.  As all of this scientific information is hard for the average person to understand... it is extremely important that we make ourselves aware of what is going on, because one day we could wake up and coral reefs as we know them will be gone.  Of course it wont happen that quickly, but gradually, this theory that scientists have, may eventually become a truth.

References: buzzle.com, suite101.com ( Global Warming Effects on Coral Reef Ecosystems)

Healthy Coral Reef

EFFECTS ON PLANTS!

As temps are increasing, plants are not able to keep up with the change.   With the seasons being longer or shorter because of the temperatures, plants growing cycles are being altered, resulting in the reproduction cycle being completely thrown off. Ultimately, this is KILLING the plant population!!!  Not only are the temperatures affecting the plants but the weather cycle is as well! With the heavy rain fall, plant fields are either flooded, or with no rain, they experience droughts.  What types of plants will be affected first? It seems that plants in the mountain and Polar Regions will be affected first because as the ICE melts away,the ground becomes warmer than the plants are used to and will not be able to adapt as quickly as they need to.Another way plants will be affected by global warming is with the extinction of animals.  So lets say that a certain type of carnivore becomes extinct.  The animals that it used to eat was an herbivore.  With the increase of herbivores, suddenly we will see the number of plants go down drastically!!  As a result of all of this, there are certain plant species that are expected to become extinct because of global warming.  

Isn't the topic of global warming refreshing ? :)

References: ehow.com/facts, buzzle.com

SEA LEVELS RISING!!

By now, everyone is probably well aware that because of global warming, scientists predict that the sea levels will rise approximately 2-3 feet!! This will affect all coastal regions around the United States as well as the rest of the world.  What could the sea level rise cause? Well, there is certainly no good effects of a level rise.  Coastal cities, islands, and beaches could be greatly reduced in some areas, and completely underwater in others.  This means everyone should spend some time on there favorite beaches before there gone, as the every day citizen contributes very little to reducing global warming. Ground water aquifers could be polluted as well as harbors, tunnels, and coastal wetlands!

West Antarctic Ice Sheet- If the temperature of the sea continues to rise, than the sea level would rise 30 FEET!!! Say goodbye to coastal cities, and beaches!  

Not only is this a big concern, but scientists say that the Arctic WILL be the first area affected.  So far in 2010, temperatures have been a RECORD pace!  As a result, winter-storms in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States have been brutal, and according to glaciologists this is because of the arctic temperatures.

Some good news? YES! Many geologists say that we may not see this for another 5,000 YEARS! 

References: detnews.com ,whyfiles.org

Eastern US and South Asia

CHANGES IN WEATHER!

So not only does global warming affect our animals, and disease, but it also will affect our weather patterns! Studies show that global warming is going to intensify  weather patterns to the extreme!! So what does this mean?  It simply means we will have rougher hurricanes, increase of wildfires, droughts, floods, and heat waves.  As much as weather changes will affect us, this is not our only problem.  

HURRICANES: Because the climate is increasing, insurance companies are recalculating the cost of protection, resulting in the INCREASE in price of a premium. 


WILDFIRES:  With an increase in temperatures, hot, dry summers will be common... the PERFECT conditions for forest fires. Forest fires are 
dangerous and can result in the loss of LAND, NATURAL RESOURCES, and LIVES!!!!

Man in Costa Rica whose crops are affected
from the increase of temperatures

DROUGHTS: With scorching summers, this could mean less grain production in the United States which means an increase in the price of food and less food being shipped to third world countries.  This also means that places like Colorado, Nevada, and California will most likely have reduced water supply because of longer seasons


FLOODS: With excessive amounts of rain, our water could be contaminated.  If the water is not cleaned, this can also result in an increase of disease and sickness. Floods can also result in loss of lives, property, and crop-loss which can affect our amount of U.S crops produced


HEAT WAVES: Heat waves will result in an increase of smog, as well as increase of wildfires, crop-loss, heat-trapping emissions, and hospitalization.  


These are just a few affects of weather patterns changing.  It really will never end.  Everything is interconnected, so when one thing is affected, another is, and so on, resulting in a domino effect... Its something that we cannot escape.

References: Environmental Defense Fund

SPREAD OF DISEASE!!

OK, so here's our newest topic on global warming... THE SPREAD OF DISEASE! I thought that I had been well educated about the affects of global warming on the world but apparently I haven't! The newest discovery I've made... spread of disease! Global warmings'  new best friend  is disease!  Why?! Well simply because as temperatures increase, so does the geographic range in which animals, insects, and microorganisms ( not to mention the germs and viruses they carry) can survive!  We're not talking about a sudden increase of temperature over a short period of time, but a very small increase of temperature over a long period of time.  Diseases that were once only able to survive in tropical regions, are now going to be able to come down to the cooler areas.. GREAT!  What diseases will come with global warming you ask? Oh nothing to bad.. just Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Encephalitis, and Respiratory Disease... not to mention the increase of insect and rodent-borne diseases also!  What is even better about this is that there is no way to stop it.  We can try to help prevent it by doing the usual things... using less energy, using efficient cars but ultimately there is no solution.  So who is most prone to these diseases? The population living in higher altitudes and latitudes will be affected first.  These areas that were once Malaria-free for example, will begin to experience seasonal epidemics!  This is just another great effect of global warming, aren't you so excited?!


References : 


-- http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/early-warning-signs-of-global-9.html
-- buzzer.com

Dengue Fever Rash

Malaria Spreading Insects

Poor Polar Bears!

I cant believe that the polar bears are left to cling onto the ice as it slowly melts away.  As temperatures increase, and the polar caps melt, we are leaving these animals to fend for themselves as their food source disappears along with there habitat. What choices do they have? Many people say that soon polar bears will turn cannibalistic (eww) and even though there is no proof that this will happen, when your left starving with nothing to eat what other choices do you have?! Polar bears are now listed as an endangered species, but what's funny about that is that they are one of the first species to be listed as endangered simply because of a threat to their habitat.  This is extremely controversial because while some believe that the animal should be on the endangered species list because of its threatened habitat, others believe... Why should we list an animal as endangered when the animal itself isn't endangered AND there might even be ways that we can prevent or prolong the polar caps from melting? I think that until we can be sure to find a way to stop the melting of these poor animals natural habitat... they should remain on the endangered species list!  I wish there was a way that we could help them.... Although there are multiple organizations that try to help polar bears, and show support in saving them, there really is nothing we can do that will STOP global warming altogether.  On the positive note, all throughout the world there are laws and policies that are trying to reduce green house gases.  The WWF is one organization that has taken huge steps in protecting arctic wildlife and have been extremely successful in doing so! This is not an issue that can be handled lightly, we cant ignore the facts, and continue to live blind sighted to reality! We have to take part and help our environment, because we are the ones that are living here and causing these problems... and we are the only ones that can fix it.






Credit: www.WWF.com, www.CNN.com, www.bearplanet.org