There are various studies and opinions on how severe the climate change will be, and how global warming will affect the earth. What does seem to be agreed upon is that immediate action is required to prevent irreversible damage to the earth, water resources and ecosystem.
Global Warming Study Findings and Predictions:
- Precipitation has increased in the U.S. 10% in the last century and is predicted to increase another 10% over the next 10-40 years according to the current values.
- A study submitted to IPCC predicts sea levels to rise by 7 to 23 inches by the year 2100. That particular study did not take into account the increase of ice melting in Greenland or Antarctica. A newer study published after IPCC’s deadline, predicts sea levels to rise 20 to 55 times this century.
- Increased sea levels could threaten the levees in San Francisco Bay that provides a portion of water to over 20 million Californians.
- In the last century, the climate has warmed an average of 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Experts predict temperatures to rise further. This will lead to rising sea levels, larger streamflows, less alpine snow pack and extreme weather events such as floods, drought and severe storms.
- Up to 38% of water may be unable to sustain coldwater fish because of rising temperatures.
- Snow levels are predicted to retreat by 500 feet in elevation for every rise of one degree Celsius (1.9 degree Fahrenheit)
- Concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased 30% in the last century and are predicted to raise 2 to 3 times the levels since the late 1800’s.
An Extreme Climate Change Scenario:
These climate changes will not necessarily be gradual or smooth. Scientists based research on both present trends and paleoclimatic evidence and conducted an extreme scenario study.(An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and It’s Implications for Unites States National Security, Peter Schwartz and Doug Randall, Oct.2003) An abrupt climate change occurred 8,200 years ago and if duplicated the altered patterns could last as much as a century. Droughts would continue for a decade in agricultural regions. Winter storms and wind would increase and intensify, disrupting and damaging the earth further.
Food shortages, decreased fresh water and interrupted energy supplies would be a result of the climate changes. Diminishing resources would lead to starvation and disease. This could then lead to warfare, which is not only common sense but is the pattern of humans’ behavior whenever their resources become depleted.
Prevention:
- Since cars are responsible for a large percentage of the carbon dioxide being released, expanding clean car programs would help reduce greenhouse gas effects.
- Making recycling mandatory would help combat global warming. Recycling programs have been successful where they are in place but still have not been made mandatory in many locations.
- Educate individuals about how they can make a difference doing small things like using less electricity, planting trees, carpooling etc.
Humans cause most of the global warming so it is up to us to try to control the altering greenhouse effects. Enforcing mandatory national caps on pollution is one of the most important strategies governments should initiate.
Sources: An Abrupt Climate Change Scenario and It’s Implications for Unites States National Security, Peter Schwartz and Doug Randall, Oct.2003, In Hot Water: Water Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming,Barry Nelson, Monty Schmitt, Ronnie Cohen, Noushin Ketabi, NRDC, Robert C. Wilkinson, July 2007
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