Earthly matters

Our environment is in trouble. We hear about global warming, carbon dioxide, emissions and greenhouse gasses. We are told the ozone layer is depleting and the arctic is melting. What does it all mean and how are we affected?

The explanation begins with global warming.

What is Global Warming
Global warming refers to the gradual heating of the atmosphere and includes temperatures on the earth’s surface. This means outside temperatures will be slightly warmer as time goes on. While people living in northern cities might be excited to hear their winters may become warmer over the next few years, the reality is that such a rapid climate change can negatively impact our lives in many other ways.

Definition of Common Terms
There are several ways that humans contribute to global warming. The most common is burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. Fossil fuels consist of dead animals and plants that have been transformed into energy sources by a process that takes millions of years. We use these energy sources to create electricity and heat, run our cars, manufacture products, and so on.

When global warming is discussed, certain terms stand out. Some of the most common terms include: greenhouses gasses; carbon dioxide; emissions; and the ozone layer.

Greenhouse gasses are any type of gas which absorbs and then re-emits infra-red radiation in the form of heat. Greenhouse gasses warm the earth’s surface and contribute to potential climate changes. Common greenhouse gasses include carbon dioxide, water vapor, sulfate and methane. The “greenhouse effect” refers to the warming of the earth because these gasses are trapped in our atmosphere. A major contributor to the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide is a non-poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless. It is created when humans and animals exhale during breathing. Carbon dioxide is also created by burning fossil fuels in our motor vehicles, homes and factories. Plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide back into the oxygen we breathe. However, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been steadily increasing over the past few decades due to deforestation (cutting down trees), the burning of fossil fuels and land-use changes. Too much carbon dioxide in the air creates an imbalance which has long-term effects such as global warming and climate change. Excess carbon dioxide traps infra-red radiation being released from the earth to space causing temperatures to rise. The more carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, the more radiation is trapped. This is why carbon dioxide is considered a harmful greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.

Emissions are the release of gasses, liquids or solids into the atmosphere. Examples include greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, liquids like water vapor and particles found in smoke. The release of gases from a car’s exhaust pipe is an example of an emission. Emissions released into the atmosphere causes the greenhouse effect which contributes to global warming.

The ozone layer is a protective layer of atmospheric gas that surrounds the earth. It is about 15 miles above the ground. Ozone helps block the amount of harmful radiation coming from the sun to earth’s surface, kind of like suntan lotion. Certain types of pollution being released around the world, such as Freon, are depleting the ozone layer to the extent that an increase in harmful radiation from the sun is becoming increasingly evident.

Who Does Global Warming Affect?
Essentially, everyone on earth is affected by the changes. As the atmosphere gets warmer, the surface of the earth heats up contributing to the following types of problems.

One problem involves something as basic as our drinking water. If there is less snow in the mountains during the winter, less ice will melt in the springtime which reduces the amount of available clean, fresh water for residential and commercial use. This is happening in many places today where people are forced to conserve water and restrictions are placed on watering lawns and crops. Governmental legislation could make it illegal to water lawns more than once per week.

Another problem regarding water has to do with the polar ice caps - which are giant sheets of ice found primarily in Alaska and Greenland. As they melt, more water goes into the world’s oceans and causes water levels to rise. This can result in low-lying places around the world, such as the island of Manhattan and the State of Florida, to be covered in water. Refugees by the hundreds of millions may need to seek new places to live.

In addition many scientists believe the increase in energy from global warming creates climate changes that can result in more frequent storms and extreme weather. Recent news reports appear to support this.

Because the protective ozone layer is being depleted, exposure to direct sunlight is causing greater risk of cancer than in previous times. Going on vacation with your children and spending all day on the beach may not be such a great idea anymore.

The plant and animal worlds are also affected by climate changes. Every species relies on a particular temperature range for their survival. With the climate changing rapidly, weather patterns that took millions of years to adapt to may be radically changed in a matter of decades. This suggests there may be a tremendous reduction in the variety of plant and animal species at best, and life as we know it may change all together.

Conclusion
Global warming and climate change is a serious problem. We must act now and do our part to stop polluting and destroying our environment. Protecting the planet we live on today will help our offspring survive in the future.