Global Warming
Matthew Burkhart; News
The subject of global warming is one that many people are well acquainted with nowadays. Global warming is a subset of climate change, regarding the slow but steady global rise in temperature. It is expected that by 2030, Earth's temperature will have risen by 2.7°F (1.5°C) since the 19th century. While this may not sound like much, it poses a serious threat to the environment.
Many generally lay the blame for this increase in temperature on human activity and industry. One of the primary culprits is our excessive burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, etc.), which has resulted in mass amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere; the numbers we are seeing now exceed concentrations that have been recorded from the past 800,000 years. And as these gases continue to build up, they slowly drive the global temperature up, resulting in a domino effect of damage.
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Global warming has tampered and altered natural weather patterns over time, subjecting areas to extreme fluctuations in heat or cold, or to natural disasters. Greenland experienced a large heatwave in 2019 that melted a significant amount of snow and ice, while East Africa has been hit with heavy seasonal rainfall over the past few years that has resulted in severe flooding. Abnormal weather patterns and events like these not only deal damage to environmental health, but also put people's lives and livelihoods in danger, and have significant economic impacts.
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Another drastic effect of the rising global temperature is the melting of glaciers. Over periods of 30-100 years, many glaciers have receded by hundreds, or even thousands of meters. As these glaciers melt, not only do arctic environments deteriorate, but sea levels rise from the excess water, introducing the threat of increased flooding and coastlines being pushed back over time. It may also cause heavier rainfall, as more water is introduced into the water cycle and cycled through the atmosphere.
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Global warming also threatens many species with extinction. Animals in arctic climates, like penguins, polar bears, and seals, are especially at risk. Penguins', for example, have feathers, blubber, and thick skin to keep them warm in their cold habitat. Should the temperature rise, the heat could cause lung problems, over-exhaustion, or suffocation; should this not prove immediately lethal, it would reduce their mobility and ability to survive. So much as one species going extinct, regardless of how it occurs, has the capacity to throw whole ecosystems out of balance and cause collateral damage to other species.
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Global warming has posed a serious risk to the wellbeing of our planet for decades now, and it shows no signs of slowing down or stopping. We have already reached the point where significant damage will occur even if we do change our ways. But that doesn't mean we are at a point of no return; we still have the opportunity to improve our habits, and combat the debilitating effects of global warming, and climate change as a whole. By reducing our use of fossil fuels, cutting down on unsustainable practices, and taking steps to heal damaged environments and restore balance to ecosystems, we can ensure that life on this planet can continue to thrive.
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-overview/
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https://www.earth.com/news/centralized-global-warming-greenhouse/
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Thumbnial Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/greenhouse-effect/
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