Sustainable Planet Today

Whether you agree with the global warming theory or not, there are some major effects on the planet and its inhabitants that could stem from the phenomenon.

Essentially, global warming is defined as the average temperature increase of the air near the Earth’s surface and the increase in ocean temperatures as measured since the mid 20th century. Its projected continuation also makes up the global warming equation.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, has stated that human activity resulting in increased levels of greenhouse gasses has been responsible for most of the recorded temperature increase during the measured time period. During this century, the IPCC predicts that the Earth’s surface temperature will likely rise another 1.1 to 6.4 degrees Celsius.

Typically, it is hard to pinpoint specific weather patterns attributed to global warming. It is anticipated that the changes will be more widespread and vague and will include more intense precipitation events occurring more frequently.

To no one’s surprise, glaciers are also affected by global warming. I recently saw a documentary on glacial retreat. The show compared two images of a particular glacier in Glacier National Park. The first photo, taken in 1980, was vastly different from the one taken in 2007. In just 27 year’s time the glacier was almost 95% gone!

This same effect is being seen in the Artic as well. In fact, the entire Arctic ice region has shrunk at measurable levels. Some research predicts the Arctic sea will be free of summer ice by the year 2075. These effects of global warming are increasing sea levels throughout the world. Whether this change will make places in the United States like the California coast and New Orleans a memory some day remains to be seen. However, it does seem likely to me.

Another startling point to make about the effects of global warming on the environment and the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also relates to the oceans. As more carbon dioxide is available in the air, more is dissolved into the surface of the ocean. This reacts with the water to form carbonic acid which is responsible for lowering the surface pH of the oceans. Many organisms are adapted to narrow pH ranges and variations outside that level could produce extinctions of some species. This, in turn, could be responsible for a disruption of food chains in the ocean environments.

A side note to this extinction argument should be made. The nature of our planet produces a great deal of diversification and adaptation. It is my thought that, if the pH change is not too rapid, species will adapt. It’s the rate of change that is uncertain and a bit unsettling.

These are just a few of the possible environmental effects of global warming that are being discussed today. Hopefully the efforts of humans to reduce these effects will be successful.

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