is global warming really such a big deal? in what ways is it affecting the earth and its climate?
As we all know, global warming is melting ice at both our northern and southern poles which includes glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and Arctic sea ice. This is causing many difficulties for the polar bears and many other Arctic and Antarctic species. For example, the Adélie penguins in Antarctica have had a decrease in population from 32,000 to 11,000 in the past 30 years! The change in climate will and is causing animals in need of a cool climate to become endangered or extinct and it will allow organisms requiring a moderate climate to move north. For example, certain butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have already started moving north in order to have the proper temperatures to survive. The migrating of species north ward will cause ecosystems to become out of sync, such as flowers blooming earlier than when the bees come out, so they can't pollinate the flowers.
The sea level has been rising at a faster rate than normal as well and scientists levels to rise between 7-23 inches (18-59cm) by the end of the century, not even including ice at the poles. In fact, scientists predict that California could sink within the next 100 years. Many of us rely on glacial ice for a fresh water source and if all these glaciers melt, we won't have a lot of usable water left. For example, if the Quelccaya ice cap in Peru continues to melt at its current rate, it will be gone by 2100, leaving thousands of people who rely on it for drinking water and electricity without a source of either.
On average, precipitation is expected to increase across the globe. In areas near bodies of water, there could be massive floods because higher temperatures will cause more water to evaporate and therefore more rainfall and snowfall (less likely though). In dry areas, however, terrible droughts could occur because higher temperatures and heat waves will cause these areas to dry out even more, since they don't have a body of water to moderate their climate.
As global warming gets worse, disease could also break out. For example, mosquitoes carrying malaria could start a malaria epidemic.
Lastly, storms and natural disasters (ex. hurricanes) are more likely to occur with greater magnitude. Scientist believe that the strength of hurricane Sandy was extra strong because of the effects of global warming.
As you can see, climate change not only has a huge impact on the polar bears, but on so many other organisms and features of the Earth as well.
The sea level has been rising at a faster rate than normal as well and scientists levels to rise between 7-23 inches (18-59cm) by the end of the century, not even including ice at the poles. In fact, scientists predict that California could sink within the next 100 years. Many of us rely on glacial ice for a fresh water source and if all these glaciers melt, we won't have a lot of usable water left. For example, if the Quelccaya ice cap in Peru continues to melt at its current rate, it will be gone by 2100, leaving thousands of people who rely on it for drinking water and electricity without a source of either.
On average, precipitation is expected to increase across the globe. In areas near bodies of water, there could be massive floods because higher temperatures will cause more water to evaporate and therefore more rainfall and snowfall (less likely though). In dry areas, however, terrible droughts could occur because higher temperatures and heat waves will cause these areas to dry out even more, since they don't have a body of water to moderate their climate.
As global warming gets worse, disease could also break out. For example, mosquitoes carrying malaria could start a malaria epidemic.
Lastly, storms and natural disasters (ex. hurricanes) are more likely to occur with greater magnitude. Scientist believe that the strength of hurricane Sandy was extra strong because of the effects of global warming.
As you can see, climate change not only has a huge impact on the polar bears, but on so many other organisms and features of the Earth as well.