Before I even begin discussing about global warming, I have to ask, what is global warming? Sure we’ve all heard of it or seen it on the news with scientists explaining the complicated events in their own scientific jargon, but do the majority of people really know what global warming actually is? Well for those that don’t, here it is; the truth about the global warming crisis.

What is global warming? Global warming is simply the steady increase of Earth’s surface and sea temperature, which is causing a drastic climate change. The global warming fiasco started back in the eighteen hundreds and over the past two hundred years the fossil fuels we’ve burned has triggered this global crisis. By burning large amounts of fossil fuels such as coal and oil; we’ve increased the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere as well. Since greenhouse gases trap heat and prevent it from leaving our atmosphere, Earth’s temperature is steadily rising each year. The planet’s surface temperature has already risen about 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the last one hundred years. If humans keep up their current rate of fossil fuel consumption, scientists predict that Earth’s surface temperature will rise another 3.2 to 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.

The rise of a few degrees may seem miniscule in our minds, but the effects are disastrous. The effect global warming has on animals seems to be the worse. Global warming experts predict that by 2050 about one fourth of Earth’s species will be extinct. Polar bears are expected to leave the face of the planet in less than a hundred years due to the rapid shrinking of glaciers in the Arctic. Another effect of global warming is the rising sea levels. Due to Earth’s steady rise in temperature sea levels are increasing as well. The rising sea levels are a major threat to islands, and can erode shorelines, destroy natural biomes, and devastate the human population near the coast. The sea level has already risen four to eight inches in the past one hundred years, but is predicted to rise another four to thirty-six inches in the next one hundred years. A thirty-six inch increase in Earth’s sea level would submerge every city on the East Coast of the United States from Miami to Boston. Thus, the fifteen or so states along with thirty-six percent of the country’s population will all have the same fate as Atlantis, at the bottom of the ocean.

Another devastating effect of the global warming crisis is nature’s fiery: tropical storms and hurricanes. With rising ocean temperatures, tropical storms and hurricanes are expected to become more vicious with a longer duration time. These disasters gather their energy from warm water, and with the increase of ocean temperatures the outcome looks pretty grim. The storms are predicted to have fiercer winds and higher waves of destruction. Try to imagine a hurricane more powerful than Hurricane Katrina or Irene. Imagine how much worse the devastation would be, if those hurricanes were to strike again with a more powerful blow. With the increased fury of the storms damages would be twice as catastrophic, the death toll would spiral, and the cost of repair is likely to double.

Luckily, not all hope is lost. Many are already springing in action, but there are still not enough individuals to calm this crisis down. Here’s what you can do to help in the battle of global warming.
1.
Recycle and Reuse- Next time when you go shopping pick reusable products instead of disposable ones. Recycle more often to help lower the amount of waste and carbon dioxide going into the world’s dumpsters.
2.
Drive Less- Driving a car produces the emissions that trap heat and cause global warming. Choose other options like biking or walking, which produce no gases, and are powered my sheer muscle power. Plus, both options are great for exercise than sitting all day behind a wheel.
3.
Start Planting Trees- A tree may seem to be no big deal, but trees absorb carbon dioxide another harmful greenhouse gas and produce oxygen. They help clean the air, while revitalizing it with fresh oxygen vital to human survival.
Global warming is obviously not a pretty thing. Its disastrous outcomes of higher sea levels, stronger storms, and animal extinction are definitely not what people want. Unfortunately, if no action is taken; Earth will not be Earth after a hundred years; it will be warped and tainted from the drastic effects of global warming. Instead of supporting life as Earth has done over the centuries, our own loving planet will turn against us turning its living conditions inhospitable, driving away the human population.

Bibliography:
http://epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/climatechange/threatsimpacts/wildlife-at-risk.xml
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/climatechange/threatsimpacts/stronger-storms.xml
http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/7390_large_hadcrut.jpg
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/globalwarming.html