| Each year the United States spends over 20 | | | | that release carbon dioxide when they are burned. |
| million dollars buying fossil fuels. This country emits | | | | This reaction is unfortunately unavoidable. The |
| one fourth of the world's greenhouse gases; the | | | | only solution is a different fuel source. Carbon |
| most prominent of these gases is carbon dioxide, | | | | dioxide, once released, lasts up to 100 years in |
| which is released from the burning of fossil fuels. | | | | the atmosphere. It is the most abundant |
| Global warming has been a global issue for many | | | | heat-absorbent gas besides water vapor, which is |
| years now. Some countries and people claim to | | | | not considered as a greenhouse gas because it |
| be only vaguely concerned with the cause | | | | rains back to the earth in a continuous cycle. |
| because they were unaware or uninformed of | | | | The Mauna Loa Observatory has been measuring |
| the issue. Roger Revelle, an oceanographer, helped | | | | the level of carbon dioxide daily since 1958. Since |
| to call out the problem to the public. After not | | | | their research began, the level in the atmosphere |
| receiving much feedback towards his cause, he | | | | has drastically increased by 47 parts per million. |
| criticized different governments in a jocular | | | | Carbon dioxide makes up about one-half of the |
| manner. He called warming "the great geophysical | | | | causes of global warming. |
| experiment." He said, "The experiment is to load | | | | Although carbon dioxide largely harms the |
| the atmosphere with as much carbon dioxide as | | | | environment, the other greenhouse gases have a |
| possible, add a few other harmful gases, and see | | | | large impact in the atmosphere. Methane, the |
| what happens." Recently, several countries have | | | | next most prominent harmful gas, comes from |
| been passing laws to prevent the world's | | | | cattle, asphalt, coal, oil, and rice fields. Lasting only |
| overheated destiny. Even with the setting of new | | | | ten years, methane absorbs thirty times more |
| rules and regulations, the earth continues to warm | | | | heat than carbon dioxide. Another greenhouse |
| each year. Minimal efforts made to reduce the | | | | gas, nitrous oxide, lasts approximately 180 years |
| release of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon | | | | and absorbs 200 times more heat than carbon |
| dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels, increase | | | | dioxide. Nitrous oxide comes from microbes in soil |
| the rate and intensity of global warming. | | | | that are found in fertilizers. Slash-and-burn farming |
| The most prominent effect of global warming | | | | and the burning of some fossil fuels also emit |
| exists in the climate change over the past years. | | | | nitrous oxide. The final greenhouse gas, |
| Many people are unaware that global warming | | | | chlorofluocarbon, lasts 400 years in the air and |
| causes and changes all types of weather. The | | | | retains 16, 000 times more heat. |
| heating of the earth causes the magnitude and | | | | Chlorofluocarbons escape from various cooling |
| strength of weather conditions to increase. As the | | | | systems. The combination of these four gases |
| oceans get warmer, the intensity of hurricanes | | | | results in the retention of intense amounts of |
| amplifies in power and devastation. In addition, | | | | heat. |
| many costal cities and regions have recently been | | | | Throughout the world, various nations have been |
| experiencing flooding, caused by the melting of | | | | joining to help prevent or slow the process of |
| the polar icecaps. The Arctic's perennial icecaps | | | | global warming. On February 3, 2007, French |
| decline in area by nine percent each year. In the | | | | president, Jacques Chirac, proposed a new plan to |
| past thirty years, over ten national records were | | | | prevent global warming. He stated, "It's our |
| set for the highest temperatures in the summer | | | | responsibility. The future of humanity demands it." |
| and winter. Droughts and forest fires have been | | | | Forty-five nations, not including the United States, |
| occurring dramatically more often in the past | | | | joined him in his efforts. Al Gore, however, is |
| century. All of these effects have been directly | | | | very involved with global warming and the |
| linked to the release of greenhouse gases. | | | | greenhouse effect; he supports Chirac and plans |
| Another area affected by global warming is the | | | | to help. As it is the largest contributor to global |
| animal kingdom and nature. The number of | | | | warming, the United States unfortunately |
| animals per specie has been decreasing annually | | | | supports only voluntary reduction programs. |
| due to harsh environmental changes. As the polar | | | | The issue of global warming affects nature, |
| icecaps melt, all creatures that live there are left | | | | people, and the economy. To some people, global |
| without shelter. For example, as seal dens have | | | | warming is not of their concern because they feel |
| been melting, the number of seals has dropped. | | | | it does not affect them. Although they may not |
| Events that occur in the spring, such as mating, | | | | realize it, global warming affects everyone, |
| migrating, laying eggs, and returning from | | | | especially the future generations. Scientists |
| hibernation have been taking place approximately | | | | mathematically simulate the globe's weather |
| 5.1 days earlier than they were fifty years ago. | | | | systems. Their complex equations, called general |
| The early occurrence of these events proves | | | | circulation models (GCMs), are so complex and |
| that the earth is getting warmer each year. More | | | | involve countless elements that they can take |
| proof of warming is the evidence of many | | | | days to solve. Environmentalists verify that the |
| animals traveling farther from the equator as | | | | hazardous combination of flooding and drought will |
| they migrate. Although this change has been | | | | significantly increase within the next century. The |
| occurring with various creatures, butterflies and | | | | standard sea level has been rising annually for a |
| mosquitoes are being found the farthest from | | | | while now. Some say that if the earth continues |
| their natural habitats. Even though butterflies do | | | | on the path it is on, then 95% of the Great |
| not cause any known problems with the | | | | Barrier Reef will disappear by 2075. They calculate |
| environment, mosquitoes are carries of malaria. | | | | that the glaciers in Glacier National Park could melt |
| This deadly disease has dangerously spread to | | | | by 2030, and 37% of all species could be extinct |
| new regions across the globe. If the world | | | | by 2050. |
| continues to warm, this issue, along with many | | | | Scientists directly link disease to global warming. |
| others, will continue to grow. | | | | Exposure to various climate or animal related |
| A third type of evidence of global warming can | | | | diseases will increase in number and possibly |
| be found in plants. Vegetation in an area differs | | | | brutality. Experts agree that skin cancer's rapid |
| concurrently with the climate of that same area. | | | | rate of increase could be caused by the holes in |
| Throughout many parts of the world, flowers | | | | the ozone layer. As these holes grow in size and |
| bloom 7 days earlier and trees reproduce 10 days | | | | number, the quantity of patients will also increase. |
| earlier, both since 1900. As the growing seasons | | | | Aside from natural and heath issues, the world's |
| vary from very wet to very dry, agricultural | | | | economy is also at risk. Ross Gelbspan, author of |
| growth cannot adapt. In some recent years, | | | | Boiling Point, a book about Earth's climate change |
| regions' crops have been both flooded and dried | | | | from global warming, spoke about his book to the |
| out. Due to the depletion of the ozone, many | | | | public in 2004 stating, "Climate issues will |
| crops cannot survive. Another problem is the | | | | eventually tear holes in the global economy." |
| movement and increase of allergens. Carbon in | | | | Research can show that if current weather |
| the atmosphere allows plants to go through | | | | patterns continue, the cost of insurance will |
| photosynthesis more rapidly, allowing allergens to | | | | increase drastically over the next few years. |
| grow in number. This evidence found throughout | | | | Gelbspan is one of many authors and scientists |
| all of nature makes it very clear that global | | | | who look into the future to warn people what is |
| warming is a huge issue. | | | | to come; unfortunately, most people do not listen. |
| A combination of various actions and, in some | | | | When people are trying to get others involved in |
| cases, not enough action causes global warming in | | | | the cause, a common problem that arises is the |
| the world today. The leading cause of global | | | | lack of motivation. Many people do not realize that |
| warming is the ongoing burning of fossil fuels, | | | | if they can slow the rapid warming process, then |
| which releases carbon dioxide into the | | | | there will be more time to develop alternate |
| atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, along with the other | | | | energy sources, such as nuclear fusion. Holland |
| greenhouse gases of methane, nitrous oxide, and | | | | and Germany, along with several small countries, |
| chlorofluocarbons, is the cause of the greenhouse | | | | have recognized this possibility and have |
| effect. This effect is dangerously increasing as the | | | | committed to an 80% reduction of all greenhouse |
| gases are being released in greater quantities. | | | | gas emissions. If the United States would get |
| These gases not only build up to keep heat in the | | | | involved in a program such as this, then the |
| atmosphere, but they also thin the ozone layer. | | | | greenhouse effect would occur much slower than |
| Some areas have been so thinned by the gases | | | | it does today. The world, especially America, |
| that there are holes present in the ozone. These | | | | needs to take action now. Stephen H. Schneider |
| dangerous holes allow harmful UV rays from the | | | | of the National Center of Atmospheric Research |
| sun to reach the earth. UV rays are the main | | | | (NCRA) once stated, "By the time we find the |
| cause of skin cancer. As the earth continues to | | | | greenhouse warming had damaged earth's ability |
| increase its pollution level each year, the number | | | | to feed its people, it will be too late to do much |
| of skin cancer patients increases. | | | | about it." |
| Because it releases carbon dioxide into the air, the | | | | In conclusion, the world needs to put forth a |
| burning of fossil fuels is an environmentally harmful | | | | stronger effort to prevent global warming; the |
| practice. Carbon dioxide can be absorbed by | | | | greenhouse gasses suffocate the earth more |
| seawater. If the water is cold, it can hold more | | | | each day. If countries make a greater effort to |
| gas. Unfortunately, with global warming, the | | | | slow global warming, the world's predestination |
| temperature of the oceans has been increasing. | | | | may not be reached until many years later. |
| As the temperatures increase, more carbon | | | | Individually, people can recycle, use fuel-efficient |
| dioxide is released. This vicious circle will continue | | | | cars, carpool, and simply raise awareness. As said |
| to occur unless scientists cannot this from | | | | by Elmer Robinson, the director of Mauna Loa |
| occurring. Particularly, petrol, or gasoline, is a | | | | Observatory had once said while speaking of |
| leading source of the release of these carbon | | | | global warming, "The true enemy is us. |
| dioxide compounds. Petrol contains hydrocarbons | | | | |