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Chelsea Payne
Professor James
ENG 201-001
13 April 2012
Word Count: 2,113
A Planet Worth More Care
Imagine an instance in which earth’s average temperature exponentially rises.
Consequentially, glaciers melt and ocean levels rise. Ecosystems fail, and human lives and
communities are in jeopardy. The southeast North Carolina coast floods; our small town of
Wilmington is underwater. This is the scary reality of the prevailing climate change known as
global warming. This is the most important problem we are facing, and unless individuals change
their daily habits, climate change will take over our planet and eventually put an end to our
existence.
The Problem
Global warming is by definition, “the increase in the earth’s average temperature that
occurs naturally, or as theorized in recent years, is induced by human activity” (Driscoll). Global
warming is an all-too-familiar problem for climatologists (scientists who study climate).
According to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, average temperatures have climbed
1.4 degrees Fahrenheit worldwide since 1880 (National Geographic). In Table 1 below, each of
the four agencies that report global temperature trends-NOAA, NASA, HADCRU, and JMAshow the warming trend to be an overall increase across history. And, according to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global surface temperature will most
likely rise another 2.0 to 11.5 degrees during the twenty-first century (GWS)! Along with a
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general rise, the pattern at which this increase is occurring is daunting also. The rate is increasing
with time. The United Nations’ IPCC reported that eleven of the past twelve years are among the
dozen warmest since 1850 (National Geographic). Among these statistics, the arctic region is
experiencing much higher temperature changes than the global averages. Average temperatures
in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have raised twice the global average, according to
the multinational Arctic Climate Impact Assessment report compiled between 2000 and 2004
(National Geographic). As average temperatures are rising, water temperatures are also rising,
arctic ice is disappearing, animal species are suffering, and glaciers and mountain snows are
melting.
Table 1 “World Global Temperature Departures Datasets” Rising temperature trend over time.
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Scientists use a variety of research procedures as a way to formally record the problem
and to present its trends via graphs and reports. The way experts have done this has sophisticated
over time. The foundation for research pertaining to global warming dates back to the nineteenth
century when scientists first noticed a correlation between the level of carbon dioxide and the
earth’s temperature. It was also noted that there was an increase in carbon dioxide during the
Industrial Revolution. Before 1850, proxy records were the only reliable way of documenting
climate statistics. Since this time, weather stations worldwide have been compiling temperature
records. Weather satellites are an addition to the tracking process that weather stations and
scientists adopted into practice in 1979 to help in monitoring global atmospheric temperatures
(EDF). With the use of tools such as these, scientists have been able to conclude that global
temperatures are in fact rising and can validate by what degree. The evidence is substantial; there
is no denying that the planet is suffering from climate changes, but what exactly is causing this
phenomenon?
Causes
Human expansion of the greenhouse effect is the primary cause of global warming
(NRDC). The greenhouse effect is warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating
from Earth toward space (NASA). Certain gases, known as greenhouse gases, block heat from
escaping the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are naturally-occurring gases found in the
atmosphere that can absorb electromagnetic radiation and, with the exception of ozone, are
dispersed throughout the atmosphere. These include gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor,
methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. If the concentration of these gases were to
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increase, heat would have an even harder time escaping the atmosphere, causing an increase in
atmospheric temperature. That is exactly what has been gradually happening for hundreds, even
thousands, of years on Earth. Carbon dioxide and other air pollutants are collecting in the
atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun’s heat and causing the planet to warm up
(NRDC). The effects of an escalation of the greenhouse effect area damaging to the environment
and detrimental to the lives of all species.
Effects
It is the scary truth that one event can cause a series of new events. If the one event is
global warming, the chain reaction is even scarier. Global warming is at fault for creating
numerous problems, and the fact that it all stems from one primary cause is irrational, but also
makes a solution that much more feasible. The effects are overwhelming, and so a closer look is
needed to accommodate a sensible solution.
Environment
The easiest way to be persuaded that global warming is in fact among us and affecting
our everyday lives is to take a look at environmental changes that have occurred due to a rise in
temperature. Warmer atmospheric temperatures lead to warmer water temperatures. A rise in
water temperature negatively affects all species living within the world’s waters. For example,
coral reefs, which are highly sensitive to small changes in water temperature, suffered the worst
bleaching ever recorded in 1998. Bleaching is the event in which coral reefs die off in response
to stress. That year some area saw bleach rates as high as seventy percent. National Geographic
experts expect similar events to increase in frequency and intensity in the next fifty years as sea
temperatures rise. Warmer water in the oceans pumps more energy into tropical storms, making
them stronger and potentially more destructive (NRDC). The count of category four and five
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storms has greatly increased over the past thirty-five years. For example, Hurricane Katrina of
August 2005 was the most costly and one of the deadliest hurricanes in US history. This tragic
event caused an economic loss of $125 billion (NRDC). As a result of warmer waters, arctic ice
is rapidly disappearing. It is such a problem that scientists claim that the region may have its first
completely ice-free summer by 2040 (National Geographic). That is beyond alarming once we
think about how many animal species depend on ice for survival, such as polar bears and other
indigenous cultures. Climbing global temperatures will speed the melting of glaciers and ice
caps, causing early ice thaw on rivers and lakes, hence causing a rise in sea levels. For example,
in the United States, Montana’s Glacier National Park now has only twenty-seven glaciers
compared to the fifty it did in 1910 (National Geographic). High sea levels cause flooding.
Flooding is already a problem we often experience in Wilmington, and global warming’s effects
will only intensify this. All of New Hanover County is within thirty to forty miles of the coast,
making our home extremely vulnerable. Other environmental conditions such as droughts,
wildfires, and even intense rainstorms can result from changes in the atmospheric pressure alone.
This proves that global warming’s effects on the environment unpredictable, and therefore
dangerous, which put people’s lives at risk. Global warming’s impact on the environment
provides a chain reaction for events to follow. Just as the greenhouse effect causes more extreme
weather conditions, those same conditions cause health issues and wildlife concerns.
Health
Numerous health conditions are shown to be a direct correlation of the increase in global
temperature. Carbon dioxide in the air, along with smog pollution, aggravates asthma and
allergies. This is because carbon dioxide spurs the growth of plants, producing more pollen in the
air. Extreme heat related deaths are claiming more lives as deadly heat waves become
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increasingly prevalent. Warming temperatures, alternating periods of drought and deluges, and
ecosystem disruption have contributed to more widespread outbreaks of infections like malaria,
dengue fever, tick-borne encephalitis, diarrheal illnesses, as well as food and waterborne
illnesses are appearing (NRDC). These diseases and illnesses are linked to rising temperature as
disease-carrying mosquitoes are spreading as the climate allows them to survive in formerly
inhospitable areas (NRDC). Heavy rainfall events can wash pathogens from contaminated soils,
farms, and streets into drinking water supplies (NRDC). Without surprise, people living in
poverty will be most vulnerable to such infectious diseases. While the human population is
fighting for their health, much of the Earth’s wildlife is fighting for their lives.
Wildlife
Many species rely on colder temperatures for survival. If their habitats were to become
too hot, these species would be forced to relocate. Once ecosystem shifts are no longer sufficient,
the species would die off and become extinct. The latest IPCC report found that approximately
20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species assessed so far are likely to be at an increased risk of
extinction if global average temperature increases by more than 2.7 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit
(NRDC). This would in turn affect others by disrupting the food chain and creating a need to
compensate for a loss of environmental roles. The effects of global warming are overwhelmingly
broad; however, each consequence can be linked back to its initial cause: human expansion of
the greenhouse effect.
The Solution
Human activity is what is causing the problem, and so there must also be ways that we, as
human beings, can help stop or slow the problem down. Global warming is extremely
detrimental to the human population’s present and future. We should want to take care of the
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place we live in to ensure a quality life for generations to come. If individuals were to take
simple measures to reduce their personal contribution that fuels the greenhouse effect, together
we could make a large impact on saving our planet.
Some may argue that global warming is a naturally-occurring event; however, this does
not mean that we should not take all precautions to help control it. Truth be told, it does not
matter if global warming is a natural or man-made problem. Either way, our actions will make a
difference in saving our planet. We should want to be a part of the solution, not the problem.
Lifestyle changes need to be put into action to help fight against global warming’s firm
grasp. As a learning community, UNCW needs to contribute. Students, in particular, need to
adopt various environmental friendly activities, such as pollution-reducing and power-saving
actions.
Pollution and carbon dioxide emissions in the air greatly contribute to the greenhouse
effect. To reduce the amount that we put in the air, we can take numerous precautions. For
example, each gallon of gas cars use is responsible for twenty-five pounds of heat-trapping gases
in the atmosphere. To eliminate the amount of emissions output of cars, students would simply
need to avoid driving if possible. Walking, biking, and riding on the shuttle buses are easy ways
to do so around campus. This simple idea is already known by most, but not all emissionreducing actions are.
All appliances still use energy if they are plugged into an outlet, no matter if they are
actually turned on. This is something that many may not be aware of, but should be. Unplugging
your mini fridge in your dorm room when it is not in use, namely over school breaks and
summer, can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly ten percent. This also goes for any other
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appliances a college student may have in their dorm room or on-campus apartment, including
kitchen and bathroom plug-ins. It is that easy, just as numerous small beneficial activities are.
If every household in the United States replaced just one regular light bulb with an
energy-saving model, we could reduce global warming pollution by more than 90 billion pounds
over the life of the bulbs. That is the same as taking 6.3 million cars off of the road (UCSUSA).
This statistic can be brought down to a smaller scale, making it relatable to UNCW’s student
body. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2011 the number of people living in the United
States was 311,591,917. The number of students living on campus at UNCW is 4,100. And so, if
each person living on campus replaced just one bulb, as a campus we could save 1,184,241
pounds of emissions. This proves just how big of an impact we could make by just adopting
small practices.
Global warming is the most important problem our planet is facing today. It is so easy to
take measures to help join the fight against this climate change. Three actions for UNCW
students I have proposed will make such an impact. We should held accountable for our own
personal actions, seeing as our lifestyles can make or break our planet at this point. Wilmington
is such a beautiful town and it should stay that way. Individual actions will help preserve the
town and keep it clean and attractive.
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Works Cited
"An Introduction to Climate Change." Climate Change Facts. NRDC. Web. 08 Apr.
2012.
"Climate Change: Causes." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. NASA. Web. 08
Apr. 2012.
Driscoll, Sally. “Global Warming: An Overview”. Points of View: Global Warming
(2011): 1-1
"Global Warming Facts." EDF: Environmental Defense Fund. Web. 01 Apr. 2012.
"Global Warming Fast Facts." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 14
June 2007. Web. 02 Apr. 2012.
Rich, Alex K. and Warhol, Tom. “Counterpoint: Scientists Know that Human Activity
has Caused Global Warming”. Points of View: Global Warming (2011): 3-3
"Ten Personal Solutions to Global Warming." Global Warming. Union of Concerned
Scientists UCSUSA. Web. Apr. 2012.
"The Global Warming Statistics." GWS: Global Warming Statistics. Web. 01 Apr. 2012.