It seems that global warming has all ready had a negative effect in the northern state of Michigan. According to research collected by the Michigan Environmental Council, a two degree raise in tempurature during the last twenty seven years has had an adverse effect on the ability of Michigan's farmers to produce cherries, apples, pumpkins, corn, and other crops. Unfortunately for the state of Michigan, the selling of produce has always been one of the state's biggest exports.
A two degree raise may not seem like a big difference but to plants and animals this is a very drastic change. Consider the following research: because of this raise in tempurature, winter is not lasting as long and spring is coming up to six weeks faster. For this reason crops do not have enough time to go through a natural dormant cycle to prepare for the upcoming season. This is especially true for the fruit that grows on trees such as the apples and cherries.
There seems to be other effects due to global warming in Michigan as well. Grand Traverse Bay located in Traverse City, MI has not frozen completely solid since 2001. For over one hundred and thirty years the bay froze eighty five percent of the time. This doesn't really pose much of a threat but it is more of a trend that has developed. The lake just isn't getting cold enough to freeze completely through. Evidence that the planet is getting warmer due to the greenhouse gases that are burned relentlessly.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Polar ice caps are going fast
A significant amount of research being conducted by scientists for global warming concerns the melting of the polar ice caps. Located at the north and south poles are gigantic sheets of solid ice. These sheets have been frozen for thousands of years and contain approximately one fifth of the world's fresh water. If the planet is truly getting warmer then these are the regions that are going to be affected the most. Since the early nineteen seventies there has been a steady trend of this ice melting very quickly and it has the scientific community awestruck.
Since the global warming research has began approximately thirty years ago the temperature of the world's polar regions have all ready increased by four to seven degrees Fahrenheit. This gradual warming effect has shrank these ice caps by 13,000 square kilometers in the last fifty years according to news.bbc, an organization of British scientists. If this trend continue then these rates of melting are only going to increase.
As the ice caps continue to disappear there will be other long term effects that emerge. Wildlife that is native to the polar regions such as polar bears, seals, penguins, walruses, and several species of birds will die from there loss of habitat. Also due to this melting of the ice, sea levels will rise drastically. Low lying areas such as Florida, and Louisiana will be enveloped by the oceans creating massive destruction and economical hardships.
Even though the planet is getting warmer according to research, there is still hope. If humans simply cut down on fossil fuels,we can easily extend the amount of time before any of these horrible effects become to late. Also technology is producing new ways for us to harness natural energy that will not have the after effects of the fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases.
References
http://www.news.bbc.com
http://www.news.nationalgeographic.com/
Since the global warming research has began approximately thirty years ago the temperature of the world's polar regions have all ready increased by four to seven degrees Fahrenheit. This gradual warming effect has shrank these ice caps by 13,000 square kilometers in the last fifty years according to news.bbc, an organization of British scientists. If this trend continue then these rates of melting are only going to increase.
As the ice caps continue to disappear there will be other long term effects that emerge. Wildlife that is native to the polar regions such as polar bears, seals, penguins, walruses, and several species of birds will die from there loss of habitat. Also due to this melting of the ice, sea levels will rise drastically. Low lying areas such as Florida, and Louisiana will be enveloped by the oceans creating massive destruction and economical hardships.
Even though the planet is getting warmer according to research, there is still hope. If humans simply cut down on fossil fuels,we can easily extend the amount of time before any of these horrible effects become to late. Also technology is producing new ways for us to harness natural energy that will not have the after effects of the fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases.
References
http://www.news.bbc.com
http://www.news.nationalgeographic.com/
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Global Warming: is it real?
During the last several years there has been countless hours of scientific research conducted to answer one question: is global warming for real? Is human activity really to blame for an increase in the earth's tempurature? Maybe people are the reason for the planet getting warmer or possibly the planet could be going through some type of natural climate change. Either way , we owe it to our future generations to explore this phenomenon and figure out if there is a way we can correct this problem and leave our planet pristine for our children.
To truly understand what global warming is one would have to start with understanding the definition: an increase in the average tempurature of the earth's surface and oceans. The scientific experimentation being conducted to determine whether global warming is for real is tested on both natural and human activities. Some of the natural effects that have contributed to global warming are volcanic eruptions and grazing live stock. Scientists are not very concerned about these effects. Humans seem to be contributing through relentless burning of fossil fuels. The byproducts of fossil fuels are both carbon dioxide and methane gases. This has the scientists worried.
If people are to blame for this warming process and continue the trend then some of the long term effects may be an increase in sea levels (due to the melting of polar ice caps), droughts, and frequent, violent tornados, hurricanes, and tsunamis. Several wild life species of plants and animals may become extinct or endangered.
At this point I am still not sure if global warming exists, the earth has gone through climate changes before. So during the next several weeks I am going to research this topic relentlessly so I can come up with my own conclusions. I owe this to my daughter and to our next generation so they can continue to be happy on planet earth.
To truly understand what global warming is one would have to start with understanding the definition: an increase in the average tempurature of the earth's surface and oceans. The scientific experimentation being conducted to determine whether global warming is for real is tested on both natural and human activities. Some of the natural effects that have contributed to global warming are volcanic eruptions and grazing live stock. Scientists are not very concerned about these effects. Humans seem to be contributing through relentless burning of fossil fuels. The byproducts of fossil fuels are both carbon dioxide and methane gases. This has the scientists worried.
If people are to blame for this warming process and continue the trend then some of the long term effects may be an increase in sea levels (due to the melting of polar ice caps), droughts, and frequent, violent tornados, hurricanes, and tsunamis. Several wild life species of plants and animals may become extinct or endangered.
At this point I am still not sure if global warming exists, the earth has gone through climate changes before. So during the next several weeks I am going to research this topic relentlessly so I can come up with my own conclusions. I owe this to my daughter and to our next generation so they can continue to be happy on planet earth.
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