Being the smartest creatures on Earth, humans have made a huge impact with population and technology. Global warming is beginning to grow and even though people are always trying to make it a better world for numerous reasons, the inhabitants might be destroying the planet rather than helping it. People need to start spreading the word about global warming and educate others about it.
According to an article by Thomas Maugh on Feb. 2, 2007, global warming has not been proved, but there is plenty of evidence to prove some certainty of it. Scientists have been aware of global warming since the 1970s when they suspected that climate changes would only occur hundreds of years from now. Maugh also stated that “the United Nations (UN) reports [that] it strongly links human activities to global warming, which will ‘continue for centuries’. ”
“Global warming has not been proved [that it exists and] we should be proactive about it now than reactive later on,” said Professor of Oceanography and Geology John Makevich. He is also the faculty advisor for the Environmental club “Project Earth Tomorrow” on campus.
In the fall 2006, Makevich screened Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth” at the GCC’s Planetarium. “I feel like there is still a lack of awareness about global warming,” said Makevich. ” I think that a lot of us are more concerned about today’s problems, rather than the long run [problems that may affect us in the future].”
It is astonishing to know that many people are still in denial of global warming. The primary reason must be because most of us are not being directly affected by it. According to Maugh, some scientists still do not believe that global warming will affect the world population and that there are other explanations.
The warming up of the Earth’s oceans is causing powerful storms and hurricanes never seen before. The 2004 Indian Tsunami, also known as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, was such a powerful oceanic earthquake that left hundreds dead and missing and another thousand without shelter, food or water.
In Gore’s book, also named “An Inconvenient Truth,” he explains how the oceans are getting warmer; causing stronger hurricanes, such as hurricane Katrina. Gore also said that if the climate gets hotter and so do the oceans there may be even larger hurricanes all over the country and heat waves occur in many parts of the world.
Hansen of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York held a study in September 2006 and said, “If further global warming reaches 2 or 3 degrees Celsius, we will likely see changes that make Earth a different planet than the one we know. The last time it was that warm was in the middle Pliocene, about 3 million years ago, when the sea level was estimated to have been about 25 meters (80 feet) higher than today.”
The Earth’s atmosphere is trapped by greenhouse gasses everyday and it makes the planet very warm. These gasses are mainly made out of carbon dioxide, and it is found in gasoline, oil, coal, and when forest fires occur. Sadly, the UN also reports in a 20-page summary that “the warming of the earth and increases in sea levels would continue for centuries… even if greenhouse gas concentrations were to be stabilized.”
In comparison to 1961 to 1990, the Union of Concerned Scientists summarized how California may be affected by the year 2070 to 2099 in climate changes. There can be between 22 to 30 inches of seal level rise and 3 to 4 times as many heat wave days in major urban cities. There may also be a 90 percent loss on the Sierra Snow pack.
“We should consider investing into a hybrid vehicle [since it helps conserve gas and pollute less],” said Makevich. “We should also be aware of how global warming could affect us. We need to pay attention to government policies and how they are linked with making our environment a better place [especially as a community],” adds Makevich.
On Feb. 16, Gore announced his “Live Earth Concert” to gather people around seven different countries to help stop global warming. The pop-concert will run for 24 hours starting on July 7 and will bring together more than 100 of the world’s top musical acts. The names of the performers have yet to be released.
“In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to reach billions of people” said Gore in a statement to CNN.
“We are launching SOS and Live Earth to begin a process of communication that will mobilize people all over the world to take action…this climate crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement,” added Gore.
Some Americans may believe that global warming may never come around, while others do not even know what it is. People need to act now and save energy by recycling, taking public transportation, walk or ride a bike to school or work, and plant more trees to eliminate carbon dioxide.
If people are smart enough to make space rockets, iPods and tv dinners (as a way of survival) then they should be smart enough to prevent a disaster such as global warming affect the whole population on this planet.
Everyone is affected by global warming. This is why people should inform others about the issue and think about the long run effects will have on Earth.