Archive for August, 2007
Impact of Global Warming on our Environment
Monday, August 27th, 2007 by Global WarmerAlthough this term is largely used in economics, it conveniently describes the cascade of events that is the result of Global Warming.
Each aspect of warming has multiple effects on the climate. Just some examples of these effects include:
Rising ocean temperatures, which could cause -
- The sea level to rise from ice melting, thus eroding and flooding coastal regions causing destruction of marshlands and their ecosystems.
- Some corals and other small organisms to be overheated, thus killing them and any ocean life that in turn depends on them.
Rising of ocean levels and flooding of coastal regions which may cause -
- Increase vulnerability to storms with the loss of natural and man made levees.
- Economic loss to businesses relying on coastal sea life.
- Valuable ecosystems to be destroyed or damaged.
Increased temperatures may cause -
- Animals to migrate for longer stretches in search of water, resulting in many dying off.
- Changes in the growing season, by over extending it beyond normal or damaging crops due to poor rainfall and snowfall.
- Improved growth conditions for disease bearing insects (such as mosquitoes that carry malaria), letting them live longer and travel further, infecting more people.
- Droughts brought about by low rainfall which damages crops and contributes to wild fires.
- More elderly and young children dying due to heatstroke and heat related stress.
Polar regions melting and altering which could cause -
- Polar animals such as seals and bears being unable to live, affecting the food source of native peoples.
- Increased water levels around the Earth and the destruction and flooding of coastal areas.
- Less ice to deflect the Sun’s rays, with more dark ocean to absorb heat, which would accelerate global temperatures.
Ancient glaciers melting and disappearing may cause -
- Lack of fresh water for inhabitants that rely on melt run-off.
- Loss of economic income from tourism, such as the example of diminishing snows of Kilimanjaro.
- The loss of habitat and food sources that result with normal spring runoff of glaciers, and also the animal life that depend on these food sources.
Increase of major intense storms which may cause -
- Economic disasters.
- Loss of human and animal life.
- Damage and destruction of forests and plants.
Dramatic changes in eco-systems which may cause -
- Larger animals to migrate or die if their food source dwindles (for example, the lack of plankton can affect the food chain all the way up to whales).
- Damage to animal and plant life that communities rely upon for their living and economic survival.
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Deadly Heat Waves From Global Warming
Monday, August 27th, 2007 by Global WarmerTechnorati Tags: Deadly Heat Waves From Global Warming
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UN Forecast Come True
Saturday, August 25th, 2007 by Global WarmerIn April, UN has announced the possible dangers from Global Warming. As of today, many countries in Asia and Europe are feeling the lashback.
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Global Warming Affects The Food Supply
Friday, August 17th, 2007 by Global WarmerThere’s little doubt that food producers, large or small, are vital to our life.
Farming has typically been a difficult profession. Agriculture at best is quite susceptible to seasonal changes, not to mention extremes such as drought, flooding, and major storms. So will Global Warming seriously affect the food growing?
On the surface it would seem that all food growers would benefit from an extended season and hotter weather. Plus, increased quantities of carbon dioxide in the air might also aid productivity.
Nevertheless, the problem of Global Warming is that the excessive heat and temperatures will create wide variations in the climate. There could be massive precipitation in one place and extreme drought in another. This is way beyond what might be considered a normal range.
Impact on Food Supply
This change would require adaption that may prove too expensive for privately owned farms in North America, let alone farms that can barely get by in many underdeveloped countries. It is estimated that the result would be much greater hunger and famine in the world. What isn’t easy to tell is how these changes could affect the world’s economy.
To add to this, it’s yet unknown how certain plant diseases and insects may respond to these longer and warmer seasons. And don’t forget that weeds would prosper as well. Some expect this would lead to producers using even more dangerous herbicides and pesticides causing even further harm to the planet.
It is hoped that through advances in technology and ongoing research agricultural growers may be helped to be more adaptable. This would be important if crop selection and management have to change from year to year in response to weather changes.
Some items that are under study at present include:
- Government assistance in the farming infrastructure.
- Changes in crop variety or rotation.
- Shifting crop planting dates.
- Additional provision of irrigation water.
- Estimating how much stress water and land resources can support.
Food is essential to our way of life. Global Warming will put our food supply in danger. With so many persons in the world currently malnourished and starving the problem of Global Warming and its results takes on a vital urgency.
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