Global Warming

It is used to travel every day. It is convenient and gets people to places fast. It runs on gas, and carries families to their destination. It is the automobile! Although the automobile is a great help to man, it is one of the many greenhouse gas producers. These gasses are used to heat the earth. Over-production of these greenhouse gasses has caused global warming. Global warming is slowly destroying the earth. Rising temperatures, changing weather and rising seas are some of the changes slowly occurring within the earth's climate. Global warming may also cause economic problems. Global warming can be slowed by using fewer natural resources and reducing greenhouse gasses.

The greenhouse effect occurs when light from the sun hits the earth's surface, and turns into heat or infra-red energy. Some of that heat is taken in by plants and water. The rest of the heat is reflected back into space. Not all of the heat is sent back into space, some of the leftover heat is absorbed by greenhouse gasses. These gases heat the earth. Some of those gases are natural, like carbon dioxide and nitrogen and they help keep balance to the climate (Pringle, 1990). Carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and methane all contain heat that help keep the temperature stay balanced (Handwerk, 12/6/2004). A gas like Chlorofluorocarbon (or CFC) is artificially made and overused (Pringle, 1990).

Many human activities have raised the levels of greenhouse gases. This has caused the earth's temperature to rise (Handwerk, 12/6/2004). The most dangerous gas is CFC. One CFC gas molecule is ten thousand times stronger than one molecule of carbon dioxide. The ozone layer of the atmosphere shields us from the ultra violet rays of the sun. Ultra violet rays cause damage to tissue around the eye and also cause skin cancer. These rays are also bad for plants and animals. CFC gasses are thinning the ozone layer. Therefore, the earth is heating up. These gasses are mostly found in air conditioners, insulation, and air spray cans (Pringle, 1990). The more people that use products similar to these, the more CFC gasses are produced. The use of products which produce CFC gasses is harming our earth.

Rising temperature is the biggest effect of global warming. Approximately eighteen thousand years ago the earth's temperature was nine degrees lower than it is today. Once water is heated it expands. Therefore, the warming earth has and will cause oceans and seas to expand and rise. By the year 2030 the seas are predicted to rise a foot. Melting ice caps in the Artic Ocean will cause catastrophic floods world wide (Pringle, 1990).

Many economic problems can occur due to rising temperature. Many fresh water animals could be wiped out from the floods. Tsunamis, hurricanes and other catastrophic storms will become more common due to rising sea levels (Handwerk, 12/6/2004). Many fresh water rivers could be flooded and polluted due to near by salt water seas. Countless breeding places for fish and other water dwelling animals may not be able to adapt to the warming and rising seas therefore they may die. Many Islands and fertile land near deltas will flood under the rising seas (Pringle, 1990). Prices on foreign foods and fresh water imports and exports will rise. Global warming could change the availability of the food supply.

Many trees have been deforested and made into the junk mail or paper that is used everyday. If one million people stopped receiving junk mail it would save one million five hundred thousand trees. The average American uses about a one hundred foot fur tree for paper per year. Therefore one third of the earths forests have been cut down (DEQ, 1999). Deforestation is another cause of global warming. Trees help take carbon out of the air and put oxygen into the air. The best way to help take carbon out of the air is to plant trees or reforest (Pringle, 1990). Another way to help save trees is to recycle. Recycling reuses paper, plastic, aluminum, metal and other reusable items. Reusing items will help use less trees and other recourses. Recycling also can turn something old into something new (DEQ, 1999). Reforesting and recycling can help slow down global warming.

There are also many little things that the average American can do at home that can make a difference. Leaving tap water running is a bad habit to develop. All that water running down the drain is brought into a cleaning facility in which energy is used to clean all that dirty water (West, 1/2/2006). Remembering to turn the water off when not used helps conserve water. Unplugging unused appliances will also help. Even if the appliance is not used it still may be using up some energy if it has a light or a clock. If there are lights left on in an empty room that is wasting energy. The biggest impact people could make is to avoid using the car more. Walking and riding a bike are all efficient ways of getting around (Leon, 2001). Cars put a lot of carbon into the air and they runs on gas which is becoming a limited resource. Using less water, unplugging unused appliances and using the car less are some of the things people can do that will slow the process of global warming (DEQ, 1999)

Greenhouse gases are slowly warming the earth, causing many economic problems. The ozone layer of the atmosphere is in danger. The earth's biosphere will change over time from the massive floods and loss of animals. The climate is slowly warming. Many animals and food sources are in danger of dying off. Even though this catastrophic effect is taking place, slowing down the process is an option. Although cars and other products such as aerosol cans are convenient to use, over usage of them can be harmful to the earth and its atmosphere. Using less natural resources and avoiding products that may produce unwanted greenhouse gasses can help slow down global warming.