What are the potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and how they can be arrested?
Global warming is arguably the most critical and controversial issue facing the world in the twenty-first century, one that will affect every living creature on the planet. What exactly global warming is? In general, it can be defined as an increase of the Earth’s temperature gradually due to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. For the past century, our planet’s has warmed by approximately 0.3°C and it will keep hiking. (Riebeek 2007) The global warming certainly brings negative effects on the environment in terms of climate change and measurements need to be taken immediately to avert this issue from deterioration.
One of the most potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change is the rise of sea levels. The expansions of water molecules cause the rise of sea levels as the oceans are heated in consequence of global warming. The melting of the glaciers and ice sheets that release more water into the oceans is also one of the reasons too. Rise in the sea level may possibly result in the disappearance of low-lying grounds such as Florida, California, Bangladesh and Maldives. According to the researches, the sea levels have increased by 3 cm per decade and it is expected to rise from 10 cm to 100cm by 2100. (Woodford 2006) This situation is happening now as a result of human activities. (Riebeek 2007)
Besides this, the other possible effect is erratic weather patterns. Global warming will cause some parts of the earth hotter which lengthen the drought period and some parts receive a heavier rainfall at the same time. This situation is likely to cause water shortage, homeless people and it will severely affect the developing countries. Another situation that worries the scientist is it may cause more storms and hurricanes that are more intense than El-Nino. In the film The Inconvenient Truth (2007), Al Gore, explained when the water temperature in the oceans increases, a much stronger storm is formed as the wind’s velocity and the moisture of the storm increases. This incident happens during the formation of hurricane Katrina, which badly affects New Orleans. This proves that the warmer the oceans, the stronger the storm that can be formed.
Furthermore, global warming also affects the ecosystem and may cause extinction in some species of animals and plants. As global warming worsens, some parts of the world may experience significant climate change. The poles may become too warm for the animal that used to be living in extreme cold. Meanwhile, the temperature in the tropics may drop hugely and it become unfavorable to the plants and animal that used to live in the tropics area. The plants and animal may not be able to adapt quickly with the rapid change of the climate and many of them will experience extinction. (Woodford 2006) The extinction of the species is such a huge loss to the future generation and it is our fault if this happens.
Nevertheless, it is still not too late to prevent the global warming from getting worse. The best way to arrest this is by reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide. To obtain this, the usage of energy must be reduced or used efficiently. It can be done by using energy-saving fluorescent and renewable energy or reducing the usage of car, fuel and air conditioner. All these actions does not require much effort to do but it will make a huge different to our world. It might be difficult for government to reduce the usage of energy as it is also means slower economic growth. However, according to the Stern Report, it is better to avert climate change now because the cost to eliminate it will be higher later. (Woodford 2006) According to Al Gore, if we are united, any problem can be solved. Hence, it is very important for all countries government cooperate together to deter the global warming now before it is too late.
In conclusion, there are many potential effects of global warming in terms of climate change and it is all detrimental to our Earth and any living organism on it. It is necessary for us to curb this problem quickly as it will bring more harm if it is ignored. Hence, we need to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and thus prevent the global warming from getting worse. To do this we need the cooperation from all people that live in this world because it is our problem together and all of us are responsible for it. We must restore the balance back for the sake of world.
