Earth Day was Saturday
“Climate change is the most severe problem we are facing today, more serious than even the threat of terrorism.”
David King, UK Government Advisor, January 2004.
What is happening as a result of climate change?
An increase in overall temperature is changing weather patterns. Hurricanes and other extreme weather are likely to be more severe and devastating, as witnessed recently by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
We are currently caught in a vicious cycle, as the temperature increases due to the use of fossil fuels and other activities the ice caps are melting. Not only does the melting of this ice raise water levels, but it releases carbon dioxide that has been trapped in ice for millions of years. This carbon dioxide further adds to the warming of the planet. If we cannot stem the melting of the ice through a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions we are inadvertently adding millions more tones of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Some scientists are predicting that rain and snow will increase in some places and decrease in other places. This would lead to floods in some areas and droughts in others. Severe weather, such as heat waves, extreme cold, tornados, wind storms, typhoons, blizzards, etc., may happen more often. Sea levels may rise, flooding low lands near oceans where millions of people live. Some of these areas may stay under water permanently. Vector borne diseases may spread to new areas. Species of plants, animals, and fish may become extinct as their habitats change.
David King, UK Government Advisor, January 2004.
What is happening as a result of climate change?
An increase in overall temperature is changing weather patterns. Hurricanes and other extreme weather are likely to be more severe and devastating, as witnessed recently by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
We are currently caught in a vicious cycle, as the temperature increases due to the use of fossil fuels and other activities the ice caps are melting. Not only does the melting of this ice raise water levels, but it releases carbon dioxide that has been trapped in ice for millions of years. This carbon dioxide further adds to the warming of the planet. If we cannot stem the melting of the ice through a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions we are inadvertently adding millions more tones of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Some scientists are predicting that rain and snow will increase in some places and decrease in other places. This would lead to floods in some areas and droughts in others. Severe weather, such as heat waves, extreme cold, tornados, wind storms, typhoons, blizzards, etc., may happen more often. Sea levels may rise, flooding low lands near oceans where millions of people live. Some of these areas may stay under water permanently. Vector borne diseases may spread to new areas. Species of plants, animals, and fish may become extinct as their habitats change.
posted by Mike Rea at 8:15 PM
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