Implications to Society

  • Greenhouse effect

Due to the intensive combustion of fossil fuels, the concentration of carbon dioxide rises . As a result,  the heat is trapped by carbon dioxide on the surface on the earth and re-radiates the heat to the earth. This phenomenon causes the average temperature of the earth to elevate at a relatively fast rate.

global-warming-4

Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/global-warming2.htm

  • Global Warming

As its name implies, it causes the earth to become hotter. According to the following figure, the temperature is increasing exponentially in the past few thousand years. Therefore, this effect has a great influence on human life as well as animal life due to its mass spillover effect that it triggers.

temp-difference

Source: http://www.livescience.com/37003-global-warming.html

Here are some examples of the effects of global warming.

1. Melting Ice Caps and Glaciers

According to the comparison between 1980 and 2012, the ice caps distinctly disappear. As a result, sea levels rise, and as the global temperature rises, marine reefs are relatively degrading and people living along the coastal areas are affected with the rising waters.

Before-After-NASA-Arctic-Ice-Cap-Melting

Source: http://thenewstalkers.com/forum/topics/climate-change-causing-sea-ice-to-prevent-ocean-heat-from

2. Fluctuating Weather Patterns

Due to global warming, the weather become weird recently. In some area, the frequency of happening storms, hurricanes, tornados have increased dramatically over the past decade. Hurricane Katrina is one example that has caused massive destruction and resulted in huge economic losses.

weathers450

Source: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110907/full/477148a.html

3. Droughts

Because of global warming, western part of the United Stated will suffer the worst droughts in the last 1000 years. Water levels have dipped into an all-time low, and many countries have to invest in new water technologies for self-sustenance. Singapore on its own initiative, has begun to provide for its industrial use by turning to NEWater and desalination plants.

Worst-droughts-in-the-last-1000-years-due-to-climate-change

Source: http://www.trinitynewsdaily.com/worst-droughts-in-the-last-1000-years-due-to-climate-change/883/

4. Rising Sea Levels

Rising sea levels is another huge concern of global warming. There are a lot of cities in danger of disappearing especially those who are just above sea level.

100-places1

Source: http://makewealthhistory.org/2011/03/29/100-places-to-go-before-they-disappear/

5. Ocean Acidification

As a result of  increasing concentration of carbon dioxide, the ocean starts a chain reaction. Eventually, it leads to ocean acidification.

pmel-oa-imageee_med

Source: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification

 

What has been done so far to minimize effects of global warming?

 

Global greenhouse gas emissions have to stop rising and the international community have come to an agreement to prevent the temperatures from rising >2 degrees Celsius, or else agriculture growth and our daily lives would be greatly affected.  The Kyoto Protocol is another measure that has been implemented to reduce emissions.

One major goal of the European Union is to increase reliance on biomass, solar and wind power as they are renewable energy sources, unlike fossil fuels.  Green buildings are also part of the master plan and general direction that many countries have undertaken so as to increase sustenance and green energy that is clean and just as effective.