Scientists around the globe pretty much rally to the call that yes Virginia, global warming is indeed a reality. Those of us on the side of ecology for the last thirty years have been saying a simple message: we can’t continue to dump pollutants in and on Mother Earth faster than she can naturally clean them up. And as we all know, it’s not nice to make Mothers mad. With all of the statistics, study and results-driven charts, there are still some nay-sayers that believe global warming is simply a myth.

The first thing that must really be called to everyone’s attention is that the topic of global warming is not just about harming the earth and us; it’s about the business of big business. There are billions of dollars at stake in the corporate world regarding the topic of global warming and many of those dollars will go into the red if this is a reality. So before we go any further, we must always ask who the doubters are and if they have any hidden agendas.

In more recent years, one of the top excuses used by those that doubt the existence of global warming is the release of some questionable scientific studies. Both the numbers submitted and the reasons the scientists took the side of such a radical supposition became the torch that was raised and in turn promoted to raise doubt about global warming altogether. A number of right wing organizations (mostly made up of engineers and big business corporate suits) have used this torch to lay waste to anyone that brings the topic of global warming up.

A second and more prevalent selection of reasoning behind the ‘global warming isn’t real’ stand is contained in the natural changes that occur on the earth. Scientists have pulled ice from the deepest areas of the poles to show a real ebb and flow of climate change that does naturally occur. Those that don’t believe in global warming, point to the natural changes with an attitude of self-confidence. The only problem is, these changes usually take thousands of years to happen and they are actually happening now in a frighteningly close range. Many scientists are now quite concerned that the marketing efforts of those that don’t believe in global warming will cause a significant delay in actions needed to reverse the process.

The decision of the U.S. Government as a non-participate in the Kyoto meetings on climate change carries a lot of weight. One doesn’t need a magnifying glass to figure this out, as big business seems to have its investments in high places. Meanwhile the temperature is increasing world wide. Yes, it is increasing on a minute level, but every increase in temperature has a catastrophic effect.

The United Nations sponsored an individual scientific study that included eight different nations. The resulting information dictated that global warming was causing the polar caps to melt so badly and at such a quick rate that large sections of the polar caps will be completely gone by the end of this century.

There may have been some convoluted studies that were indeed blended with the real facts, but it seems that there may be some hidden agendas, financially based, that have decided to risk all of our lives and the lives of future generations. Whether you believe it or not – it really just makes sense to stop the pollution. Only time will tell if we have taken it too far to reverse.

According to scientists and various studies that were conducted on sea level rise due to global warming, the seas could be as much as a meter (3 feet) higher by the end of the century than what they are today. After that the impacts of sea level rise are projected to continue with a sea level increase of about one meter (3 feet) for every one hundred years. However, no one can confirm this for certain, as there are too many unknown variables, but what they are sure of is that the sea level rise is due to global warming, the dynamics of which are still poorly understood.

The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Control), which is a global climate scientist partnership, came to a conclusion that over the next century there will be an average increase in sea levels between 19 and 89 centimeters. According to them, this is largely caused by anthropogenic global warming and is mainly due to thermal expansion. The localized changes in sea levels will vary greatly, according to the IPCC, but their overall projection is nothing short of disaster.

The most vulnerable region for rising sea levels in the U.S. is the Gulf Coast (to read about oil drilling in the Gulf, click here), especially around Louisiana. The IPCC issued a recent report where the estimated sea level costs of one meter were going to be between $275 and 400 billion for the United States. In addition, if we don’t start taking the necessary measures, one increase of one meter (3 feet) of sea levels would result in losing about 14,000 square miles of the coast of United States.

Among other areas under threat are mainly those located on Deltas, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Egypt, where the population near the projected one meter sea level rise numbers 8-10 million. Some significant change in climate is already taking place in some of these regions. Moreover, there are half a million or so inhabitants on various islands around the globe that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise. Some regions will suffer the effects a little differently via changes of marine ecology, like the market of fish and seafood. Regions like Shanghai, Sydney, and Louisiana are dependent on their fisheries economically.

The impacts of sea levels rise could spell disastrous difficulties for communities that are based on the coast over the next century and beyond. Some major cities such as New Orleans and London are already requiring storm-surge defenses, and they would be in need of more because of the rising sea levels in the future. The impacts of sea levels rise is projected to also leave a lot of people homeless. For example, a rise of as little as 200 mm could leave about 740,000 people homeless in Nigeria. The Maldives could be left completely uninhabitable by 2100.

For more information on global warming, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_sea_level_rise
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

For centuries there has been a thick sheet of ice covering much of the Arctic, but recently it has been discovered to shrink at an increasing rate. As this past winter began, larger areas than ever recorded before remained free of ice, according to climate scientists. This is a very important sign of the rate at which North Pole global warming is taking place, and it has widespread effects. The first of these effects is on fisheries, which are forced to move from one coast to another to keep up with the shifting marine life. For example, plankton and algae increase in certain areas, but disappear in others.

According to global warming research in the North Pole, the arctic wildlife is suffering too. Since the ice is melting, animals living in the region become endangered. This is also a threat for polar bears. The reason for this is that these animals need the thick ice sheet for their survival, as they often use it for traveling across and hunting for food. If there is less ice to walk on, quite simply, polar bears will have trouble finding food.

The thick perennial ice of the North Pole is generally strong enough to survive even the warm months in summer, but satellite images taken recently show that about 10 percent of this thick ice is already cracked because of summer storms, leading up to North Pole global warming. This region is quite large and covers an area that is larger than the British Isles. According to global warming research done by scientists, human beings are mostly responsible for this Arctic ice meltdown by burning so much oil, gas, and coal. To learn more about fossil fuels, click here.

However, it isn’t just individuals contributing to the North Pole global warming. Factories, for one, are a big one. Fuel that is not completely burned emits vast amounts of soot, which, in turn, speeds up the meltdown of the Arctic ice in a major way. Other Arctic ice meltdown perpetrators are dark carbon (To read more about carbon emmisions, click here), ozone, and methane (To learn about methane and global warming, click here). Researches say that these gases accelerate the melting of the thick ice sheets a lot more than sunlight or general global heating. There are some studies, however, which state that the North Pole global warming is also a result of a certain natural phenomena, and not just soot and poisonous gases.

Whatever the causes, this phenomenon is happening, and it is happening fast. Just not long ago scientists were predicting that the Arctic would be completely ice free by the end of this century, given the current melting rate. Now this prediction has moved up to the year 2040, if the present warming rate continues to be unchecked.

For more information on global warming, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

We’ve all heard about how bad global warming is for the world and how little hope there is with the current way things are going. But has anyone ever thought of the positive effects global warming could bring? According to various anthropologists and economists, there are a small number of regions that could potentially benefit from the effects of global warming, and they are located primarily in Scandinavia, Russia, and, of course, Canada. These experts claim that by the year 2050 the effects of global warming in Canada could actually make it a global superpower, while the rest of the world suffers.

Canada and global warming is not a new issue on the block, and it is little wonder. Canada has so much unused territory at the moment and it is just begging to be utilized in an efficient way. Canada is projected to have a growing population and a more developed north, as well as shipping lanes going through the Arctic Ocean, which was impossible before. Other effects of global warming in Canada include freeing up natural resources hidden in the north, such as fresh water, gas and oil. This will lead to building more infrastructure and attract more immigrants to the northern rim.

Another important aspect for Canada and global warming is tourism (to read some interesting facts on global warming, click here). As the temperatures go up, Canada is projected to experience an increase in its tourist influx. It’s a fact that people like warmer temperatures, so Canada will become a more favorable destination. Also, people tend to be healthier in warmer temperatures. One of the effects of global warming in Canada is that there will be less flu epidemics in the winter, which cost the healthcare system hefty amounts annually.

Another benefit of global warming for Canada is that its forests should become more productive. Southern forests are projected to grow better, and the northern ones should be expanding well into the tundra, which will lead to an overall change in the type of trees that grow in different regions. This could also lead to a number of advantages for farmers in Canada, if they can learn to benefit from increased precipitation that is due to come with global warming.

Having said all this, there is no reason to celebrate just yet. While the northern regions may see some benefits from the planet that is warming up, the rest of the world will be suffering from tremendous losses. For example, the tropics that are now considered “lungs of the planet” are projected to become complete desert, which will have catastrophic effects on the earth’s overall well-being. After all, Canada is only a small part of the world, and it is unfair to regard its effects as “benefits” on a backdrop of a world of suffering. Overall, the negative effects on the rest of the world will far outweigh the local positive climatic changes for Canada.

For more information on global warming, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

It is now a confirmed fact that in Antarctica the impact of global warming is greater than anywhere else in the world. There has been an almost 5 degree F rise in temperature over the past 50 years in Antarctica, and it is leading to a shrinking of the surface area thickness of the ice shelves, of which the continent largely consists. The following are some of the latest Antarctica Global warming facts and the global warming consequences of the impacts on its flora and fauna.

The first to give clues of oncoming danger are the “dinner-jacketed” penguins, who seem to be suffering more than others, as they like cold temperatures more than most other species of penguins. Next in line are the Adelie penguins, many of which seem to be dying out, as they reside in the more northern part of Antarctica. Since the peninsula as a whole has been observed to have warmed up faster than anywhere else in the world, one of the global warming consequences is that the food supply of these penguins is being disrupted.

The sea fauna has suffered somewhat as well. The Southern Ocean temperatures have risen by more than 1.5 degrees F over a period of 50 years, which has affected Antarctic sea urchins more than any other species. The temperature increase has forced them to search for better living conditions elsewhere. Among other ocean species affected by the Antarctica global warming facts are the Krill, which are shrimp-like crustaceans who require polar ice caps in order to reproduce. The temperature rise decreases the size of the ice cap and takes away the shelter available for the continuation of the species. Krill are important to the fauna, because they serve as a food source for various Antarctic mammals and birds, such as seals, penguins, and whales. As the reduction in the krill population continues, other animals up the food chain are affected and become subject to starvation.

Another species that seem to be in danger in the Antarctic region is the limpets, which are a type of snail in the region. What happens when the temperature of the water increases is that when they are flipped over, limpets are no longer able to turn themselves back up. It’s important to point out that skill is crucial in order for them to survive in an environment where icebergs prevail.

However, despite all of these Antarctica global warming facts, it’s important to note that penguins (which are some of the most important species of the continent) are not dying out and they are not under threat of extinction. There are millions of them around, and there is even one particular kind that seems to be enjoying the increase in temperatures, which is the chinstrap penguin. Nevertheless, most other penguins are suffering, and these are the ones that provide a big warning about the global warming consequences. To read more about the impact of global warming, click here..

For more information on global warming, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

The impact of global warming on forests around the world will vary according to the opinion of different scientists, as is the case with most global climate change issues. (To read about Google earth and climate change, click here). For some forests the increased rainfall, warmer weather conditions, and carbon dioxide fertilization effects will actually be beneficial. At the same time, the effects of global warming on forests in other areas will be detrimental, with increased pest outbreaks, forest fires, and drought.

Most typically, the impact of global warming on forests considered temperate should be minimal. However, there are large regional risks, which are still an issue. It is likely that productivity will increase in forests that are temperate and closer to the poles, and that it will decrease in those bordering the subtropics. Storms are projected to be more numerous as well, which could cause serious disturbances.

The U.S.

The United States has more than twenty types of forests across its continental part, and the forest ecosystems here are expected to respond to climate change in various ways. The increase in temperature that is projected for the next couple of decades will likely mean that many of the species found in these forests will migrate about 200 miles north. If climate change takes place slowly enough, then tree species found further south will have a chance to colonize the north. The long-term effects of global warming will only be evident when we can see the pace at which the north is being colonized by trees from the south.

Tropical rainforests (To read about the loss of tropical biome, click here).

Global warming may also lead to a lack of sufficient rainfall in other areas (along with other effects), and this may lead to forest cover being lost in southern and tropical areas, since tropical rainforests require a lot moisture in order to survive. In addition, the higher temperature that are expected will cause the photosynthesis rates of plants to decline. This may put a cap on plant growth and the rainforests will not be as capable to sequester carbon dioxide as a result.

The most serious contributor to the effects of global warming is carbon dioxide. (To read about the impact of carbon emissions on human mortality rate click here). To keep temperatures stable, its removal or reduction in the atmosphere is crucial. The irony of carbon dioxide and the impact of global warming on forests is that unwillingly tropical rainforests may become unwilling contributors to global warming because of deforestation. During the deforestation process, freshly cut or burnt trees release copious amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, which as we said, is one of global warming’s major causes.

Moreover, climate change and global warming have a largely negative impact on rainforest animals. Some tropical species like amphibians are already becoming extinct, and many more species of animals and plants are projected to be put on the danger lists of complete extinction in the 21st century.

For more information on global warming, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://globalwarming.com/

Low-oxygen areas

The first impact of global warming on oceans is the increasing number of low-oxygen areas. These are projected to increase over 10-fold if global warming remains unchecked. These so-called ‘dead zones’ could stay there for thousands of years to come. The dead zones caused by global warming are not like those caused by human activity, which are usually able to recover if the activity is controlled.

Raising sea levels and temperatures

One of the other effects of global warming on oceans is the expansion of water bodies. Because the polar ice caps are melting, the oceans receive more water. A 15 to 95 centimetre rise has been noted by scientists for a rise in temperature of 1 to 4 degrees. Since the Ice Age the levels of the oceans have been rising steadily up until the 19th century. However, over the last hundred years the sea levels have had an annual rise of about 2mm.

The marine flora and fauna, as well as the entire marine ecosystem are greatly affected by this. For example, there are many fish that will only lay eggs at specific temperatures, and even a tiny variation in temperature will confuse them. Algae growth is also affected by changing temperatures, and this is alarming, because many species feed on it.

Melting glaciers, perhaps the most talked-about impact of global warming affects non-marine species of animals, such as caribou and polar bears. Because of melting glaciers the vast tracts of the tundra can no longer support wildlife. (To read more about melting glaciers click here).

Ocean acidification

Another of the not so well-known effects of global warming is ocean acidification. This takes place when the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere reacts with ocean waters, which creates carbonic acid. The result is that the ocean’s acidity has already increased by 30 percent. This doesn’t seem like much, and even a 150 percent increase would not even be detected by humans. However, there is a variety of species that are greatly affected by even small pH changes, such as crustaceans, molluscs, phytoplankton, algae, and reef-forming corals. These species are also referred to as marine calcifiers.

The effects on harvested species like squid and fish are less known. There is one area that particularly concerns scientists, and that is acidosis, which happens when body fluids have a build-up of carbonic acid. This process can disrupt reproduction, growth, and respiration. One indirect impact of global warming is that other species will suffer if marine calcifiers are lost, because they provide essential food for these species, and even habitat (as in the case of coral reefs).

There are many other effects of global warming on oceans, but the ones we talked about are the core few. (To read about the impact of global warming on earth click here).

For more information on global warming, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://globalwarming.com/

There is a number of predicted effects of global warming, including extreme weather conditions like droughts, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and heat waves. Melting ice caps are also among the predictions, with the consequent rising sea levels that will threaten the lives of millions inhabitants living along the coastlines. However, with all these predicted disasters, there are also a few predicted positive effects of global warming, and I have summarized the main ones in this article:

1) Warmer winters. With the winters being warmer, there is likely to be less damage to people’s health and property. Less illnesses will be caused by cold-related stress and lack of vitamin D. Less damage will occur to people’s cars and houses, because there will be less winter storms and snow blizzards.

2) Increased plant growth and food production. Crops need three things in order to grow bigger and more lush – water, heat, and carbon dioxide. If global warming continues, there will be more of all these three things. Also, billions of acres of land will become available for crop growth, which are currently unsuitable because they are too cold. Although some losses of crops are bound to be suffered in certain zones because of global warming and droughts it will bring, other areas will benefit immensely, like the vast unused land of the north.

3) More habitat. Another reason why global warming is good is that species that can currently reside until certain latitudes will be able to do so further north. The tree line has already seen a northward shift in the Canadian prairies, and this will actually help reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, acting as a negative balance

4) New estuaries. The rising sea levels caused by the melting glaciers and ice caps will spur the creation of new estuaries. These are extremely productive ecosystems, and will be another reason that global warming is good.

5) More shipping lanes. There is currently a number of shipping lanes, which can be hard to navigate through, or remain completely impassable. One of the positive effects of global warming is that these lanes will become more open, and there will be more traffic between Europe, Asia, and North America.

6) Increased tidal energy. This is another positive effect of the melting ice caps. Because the sea level will increase, the energy of the ocean’s tides should increase accordingly. This may allow for revolutionary developments in the area of renewable tidal energy.

Having said all this, these six positive effects do not negate the endless negative effects of global warming, which still greatly outweigh the positive. So there’s no excuse for going and buying an even more powerful car! Saying that though, it’s important to remember that the human and animal species are very adaptable to external conditions. Global warming will not bring the end of the world, although some massive changes will occur, some which will cause great difficulties for our children. If we can keep temperature increases as low as possible, by emitting fewer greenhouse gases, it will be better for us all.

For more information on global warming, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
globalwarming.org

The global warming controversy has been going on for years and the debate on whether global warming is fact or fiction only continues to intensify. Environmentalists all across the globe are warning us about the deadly consequences global warming will have on the planet, while the skeptics of global warming refuse to budge. The concept of global warming states that basically our planet is getting warmer all the time, and a lot of it is attributed to unnatural causes. These causes are also referred to as anthropogenic causes (i.e. manmade).

In the global warming controversy, a lot of people don’t believe that it actually happening. The global warming skeptics still have an arsenal of arguments against global warming and even call it an outright hoax. Still, there are many who understand the facts and the hazards associated with global warming, and they are also armed with a hefty amount of arguments to defend their case.

There are a lot of global warming facts and fiction out there. Perhaps the biggest fiction is about global warming is that humans play an insignificant role in climate change and the increasing global temperatures. The simple fact is that the amount of CO2 created by the actions of humans is far too great to be referred to as ‘insignificant’. Besides carbon dioxide, there are numerous other ‘manmade’ (emitted as a result of the actions of humans) greenhouse gases that have accumulated in the atmosphere,such as methane.

The accumulation of these greenhouse gases plays a key role in global warming. The way it works is when the sunlight enters the atmosphere, the accumulated gases trap it, resulting in increasing temperatures of the planet. By the end of the current century, the overall predicted temperature rise is 1.4C to 5.8C. This may not look like that much on the surface, but it is huge on a global scale, considering that the ice age was triggered by a drop of 5C all those centuries ago. A 5 degree increase is sure to have a very significant impact on our planet, causing some major calamities that could wipe out animal and plant species, as well as other serious consequences.

A recent U.S. survey of 3,146 scientists has only confirmed that the effects of human actions on global warming are real. This may seem like an incongruity, considering the latest harsh winters across Europe and North America. However, all of the scientists confirmed that the overall temperatures have been rising. There are still some divided opinions though as to the exact degree to which humans are responsible.

Whether you believe that global warming is fact or fiction is up to you, but the evidence produced over the last two decades points very clearly to ‘fact,’ rather than ‘fiction.’ Man’s actions are in large part responsible, say the scientists. The oil industry is the most powerful in the world though, and it is in their interests to keep the ‘fiction’ side of the debate going for as long as possible.

For more information on global warming, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
globalwarming.org

Global warming and its effects are no doubt one of the hottest topics in the media today. Some sources insist that global warming will have positive effects, but the general consensus is that the negative effects of global warming will still outweigh them by far. Whilst that is a lot of information on the impacts of global warming on the world as a whole, in this article I have zoomed in and looked at the specific negative effects of global warming on the United States.

The number one problem of global warming for the U.S. will be water – either too much in some areas, or too little in others. States may start having conflicts over the water supply from shared rivers, and for some, new sources of drinking water will need to be found. The Great Lakes are predicted to shrink, and certain fish species will be eliminated as a result. In contrast, the coastal areas (both east and west) will have the problem of too much water and floods, as the sea levels are predicted to rise.

When talking about global warming and its effects, it’s important to understand that everything is connected (cause and effect). For example, shortages of water could occur because there will be less snow in some areas, and because of this there will be less snow melt to gather water. Some predictions say that precisely because of this, in areas like the Sacramento Valley CA there will not be enough water by 2020. Florida, on the other hand, will get more water though floods, which may damage its biodiversity. This is already seen through the increasing intensity of Florida’s seasonal hurricanes.

Other negative effects of global warming in the U.S. include threats to animals and plants in national parks because of less precipitation and warmer temperatures. Because of increased droughts and wildfires, a lot of the park flora is at a risk of being eliminated completely. Human pollution and global warming are a very serious threat to our national parks, and all scientists agree on this one.

But how does any of this affect you? Maybe you don’t live in the coastal areas and don’t visit national parks. The negative effects of global warming will also be felt in your pocket book, as insurance premiums are projected to skyrocket for residents of certain areas. Homeowners who live in a presumable “high-storm-risk zones” have already had their insurance policies cancelled. Others are seeing their premiums increase sharply.

Another personal effect of global warming that you should really think about is your children’s future. Whilst you (hopefully!) grew up in an environment with stable shelter, a food supply, and protection from natural disasters, this may not be the case for your children if we don’t make a collective effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The next generation’s future depends on what the current generation does today, and that is something to really think about.

For more information on global warming, go to:
en.wikipedia.org,
globalwarming.org