In the past two to three decades, the Earth’s climate has been rising. The most common theory as to why this is happening is an abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While greenhouse gases are needed in the atmosphere to capture heat from the sun and keep the Earth livable. Without these gases the Earth would be a freezing barren wasteland, however, the abundance is proving to be just as dangerous.
In the 1700’s industry took off. This lead to an increase in the burning of fossil fuels adding to the natural supply in the atmosphere. Throughout the centuries, these gases have continued to build. With newer inventions and an increase in use of automobiles, planes, factories, and power plants, we’ve created a blanket of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Over the course of a century, the climate raised around one degree, but in the last two decades, we’ve seen an even bigger increase. There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than at any time in the past 800,000 years. Scientists predict that by 2100, the increase in temperature will be up by two to eleven percent (Patterson, 2011).
The effects of global warming can be seen all around. In 2008, due to the melting of polar ice caps polar bears were the first species to be added to the Endangered Species Act list due to global warming. While the ice caps melt, the ocean level rises. It was reported that by 2100, the Earth’s oceans could rise as much as 23 inches. In addition to melting ice caps and rising water levels, the oceans worldwide are acidifying. Around one third of carbon dioxide emissions are being absorbed by the oceans. This is causing the oceans to acidify at a rate unprecedented in the last 65 million years (Environmental Defense Fund, n.d.). As all of this happens, animals are shifting their habitat, moving towards the poles and higher altitudes.
The rise in the average temperature has also been shown to have a direct connection to the rise in natural disasters and extreme weather occurring around the world. It was reported that 2000 to 2009 was the hottest decade on record (Environmental Defense Fund, n.d.). Natural disasters include hurricanes, tropical storms, tornados, wild fires, drought, flooding, and earthquakes. Since the early 1900’s, the rise of fatal natural disasters has increased substantially. This change in natural disasters has shown an increase in negative financial and physical effects on basic state security functions. The rising frequency and intensity of such storms has cost billions of dollars in damage in the last few years alone. In 2011 alone, major disasters include the tornado of Joplin, Missouri, the 9.8 magnitude earthquake hitting Japan, and the powerful storm that hit in April spawning 137 tornadoes throughout the south and killing at least 180 people. In the eight months of 2011, 2011 has been the costliest year in the new millennium, and we haven’t even hit hurricane season yet.
The rise in temperature is affecting people worldwide. There has been an increase in deaths and illnesses. In 1995 Chicago suffered a heat wave that was responsible for the deaths of more than 700 people (Environmental Defense Fund, n.d.). It is estimated that by 2100, the world could experience heat waves three times greater than the heat wave of 1995 every other year. As the temperature rises, we will see a rise in malaria and dengue fever. Typically these diseases are confined to areas due to the warm weather, with the temperatures rising, the diseases will be able to spread further and further. It’s estimated that this has been the cause of 150,000 extra deaths since 1970, a figure that could be doubled by 2030. Higher temperatures are also causing drought and famine around the world. Africa and Asia are the most impacted by drought and famine.
The effects are endless and in some cases unknown. The impact is obvious. The rise in climates has a negative effect on everything around. The question now isn’t will this affect the Earth, it’s how it will affect the Earth. The facts are there. In February 2007, the thousands of scientific experts collectively known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that there is greater than 90 percent likelihood that people are causing global warming (IPCC, 2007).